• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2012

The biological activity of particles is largely dependent on their size in biological systems. Dispersion in the aqueous phase has been both a critical impediment to and a prerequisite for particle studies. Carbon black has been used as a surrogate to investigate the biological effects of carbonaceous particles. Here, biocompatible methods were established to disperse carbon black into ultrafine and fine particles which are generally distinguished by the small size of 100 nm. Carbon black with a distinct particle size, N330 and N990 were suspended in blood plasma, cell culture media, Krebs-Ringer's solution (KR), or physiological salt solution (PSS). Large clumps were observed in all dispersion preparations; however, sonication improved dispersion - averaged particle sizes for N330 and N990 were $85.0{\pm}42.9$ and $112.4{\pm}67.9$ nm, respectively, in plasma; the corresponding sizes in culture media were $84.8{\pm}38.4$ and $164.1{\pm}77.8$ nm. However, sonication was not enough to disperse N330 less than 100 nm in either KR or PSS. Application of Tween 80 along with sonication reduced the size of N330 to less than 100 nm, and dispersed N990 larger than 100 nm ($73.6{\pm}28.8$ and $80.1{\pm}30.0$ nm for N330 and $349.5{\pm}161.8$ and $399.8{\pm}181.1$ nm for N990 in KR and PSS, respectively). In contrast, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) exhibited little effect. Electron microscopy confirmed the typical aciniform structure of the carbon arrays; however, zeta potential measurement failed to explain the dispersibility of carbon black. The methods established in this study could disperse carbon black into ultrafine and fine particles, and may serve as a useful model for the study of particle toxicity, particularly size-related effects.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.9-20
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• 2012

A brief review on the thermal plasma synthesis of nano-sized powders is presented according to the application materials, such as, metals, ceramics, glasses, carbonaceous materials and other functional composites, such as, supported metal catalyst and core-shell structured nano materials. As widely adopted plasma sources available for thermal plasma synthesis of nanosized powders, three kinds of plasma torches, such as transferred and non-transferred DC and RF plasma torches, are introduced with the main features of each torch system. In the basis of the described torch features and the properties of suggested materials, application results including synthesis mechanism are reviewed in this paper.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.211-222
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• 2008

Li secondary batteries, which have been in successful commercialization, are becoming important technology as power sources in non-IT application like HEV(Hybrid Electric Vehicle) as well as in portable electronics. It is not the overstatement that the commercialization of Li secondary battery was a result of the development of carbonaceous anode material and safety mechanisms. The R&D of electrode materials of Li secondary batteries is one of the core technologies in the development and it has enormous influences on various fields as well as on the battery industry. Here, the current research of anode materials is described and the underlying problems associated with development, advantages and drawbacks is analyzed.