• Membrane Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.325-343
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• 2023

Direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) have been attracting attention as energy conversion devices that can directly supply methanol liquid fuel without a fuel reforming process. The commercial polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) currently applied to DMFC are perfluorosulfonic acid ionomer-based PEMs, which exhibit high proton conductivity and physicochemical stability during the operation. However, problems such as high methanol permeability and environmental pollutants generated during decomposition require the development of PEMs for DMFCs using novel ionomers. Recently, studies have been reported to develop PEMs using hydrocarbon-based ionomers that exhibit low fuel permeability and high physicochemical stability. This review introduces the following studies on hydrocarbon-based PEMs for DMFC applications: 1) synthesis of grafting copolymers that exhibit distinct hydrophilic/hydrophobic phase-separated structure to improve both proton conductivity and methanol selectivity, 2) introduction of cross-linked structure during PEM fabrication to reduce the methanol permeability and improve dimensional stability, and 3) incorporation of organic/inorganic composites or reinforcing substrates to develop reinforced composite membranes showing improved PEM performances and durability.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.677-683
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• 2012

1-octanethiol and vinyl acetate telomers ($R_8S$-nVAc) were synthesized and hydrolyzed with sodium hydroxide subsequently, 1.2-epoxyhexane was then introduced to the telomers. In addition, we prepared cotelomers of multi-alkylated nonionic surfactants with a molecular structure of xRnMA-yVA (x; hydrophobic group, y; hydrophilic group, MA; methacrylic ester, VA; vinyl alcohol, R; and alkyl group) and cross-linked with sodium tetraborate decahydrate. Their active surface properties were investigated by several techniques such as surface tension, foaming property, and emulsification power measurements. The surface tension of $R_8S$-8.8VA decreased without the introduction of 1.2-Epoxy hexane, and the degree of emulsification and foaming abilities of $R_8S$-8.8VA increased without the introduction of 1.2-Epoxy hexane. However, the differences were insignificant. The epoxy groups were attached to a $R_8S$-8.8VA cotelomer with a limited variation of the active surface properties. The surface tension of $1.1R_6MA$-8.8VA decreased after cross-linking subsequently, the degree of emulsification and foaming abilities of $1.1R_6MA$-8.8VA increased after cross-linking. However, there was no clear difference between them. The B-O bonds were attached to a $1.1R_6MA$-8.8VA cotelomer with a limited variation of the active surface properties.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.112-119
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• 2011

Purpose: Collagen membranes are used extensively as bioabsorbable barriers in guided bone regeneration. However, collagen has different effects on tissue restoration depending on the type, structure, degree of cross-linking and chemical treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inflammatory reaction, bone formation, and degradation of dehydrothermal treated porcine type I atelocollagen (CollaGuide$^{(R)}$) compared to of the non-crosslinked porcine type I, III collagen (BioGide$^{(R)}$) and the glutaldehyde cross-linked bovine type I collagen (BioMend$^{(R)}$) in surgically created bone defects in rat mandible. Methods: Bone defect model was based upon 3 mm sized full-thickness transcortical bone defects in the mandibular ramus of Sprague-Dawley rats. The defects were covered bucolingually with CollaGuide$^{(R)}$, BioMend$^{(R)}$, or BioGide$^{(R)}$ (n=12). For control, the defects were not covered by any membrane. Lymphocyte, multinucleated giant cell infiltration, bone formation over the defect area and membrane absorption were evaluated at 4 weeks postimplantation. For comparison of the membrane effect over the bone augmentation, rats received a bone graft plus different covering of membrane. A $3{\times}4$ mm sized block graft was harvested from the mandibular angle and was laid and stabilized with a microscrew on the naturally existing curvature of mandibular inferior border. After 10 weeks postimplantation, same histologic analysis were done. Results: In the defect model at 4 weeks post-implantation, the amount of new bone formed in defects was similar for all types of membrane. Bio-Gide$^{(R)}$ membranes induced significantly greater inflammatory response and membrane resorption than other two membranes; characterized by lymphocytes and multinucleated giant cells. At 10 weeks postoperatively, all membranes were completely resorbed. Conclusion: Dehydrotheramal treated cross-linked collagen was safe and effective in guiding bone regeneration in alveolar ridge defects and bone augmentation in rats, similar to BioGide$^{(R)}$ and BioMend$^{(R)}$, thus, could be clinically useful.

• BMB Reports
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.120-125
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• 2000

M2PI is an active single chain mini-proinsulin with a 9-residue linker containing the turn-forming sequence 'YPGDV' between the B- and A-chains, but which retains about 50% of native insulin receptor binding activity. The refolding efficiency of M2PI is higher than proinsulin by 20-40% at alkaline pH, and native insulin is generated by the enzymatic conversion of M2PI. The solution structure of M2PI was determined by NMR spectroscopy. The global structure of M2PI is similar to that of native insulin, but the flexible linker between the B- and A-chains perturbed the N-terminal A-chain and C-terminal B-chain. The helix in the N-terminal A-chain is partly perturbed and the ${\beta}$-turn in the B-chain is disrupted in M2PI. However, the linker between the two chains was completely disordered indicating that the designed turn was not formed under the experimental conditions (20% acetic acid). Considering the fact that an insulin analogue, directly cross-linked between the C-terminus of the B-chain and the N-terminus of the A-chain, has negligible binding activity, a flexible linker between the two chains is sufficient to keep binding activity of M2PI, but the perturbed secondary structures are detrimental to receptor binding.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2015

In this study, we verified the relationship among the electrical conductivity, chemical durability, and structure of conductive vanadate glass in which $BO_3$ and $BO_4$ and $V^{4+}$ and $V^{5+}$ coexist simultaneously. We prepared samples of vanadium borophosphate glass with various compositions, given by $50V_2O_5-xB_2O_3-(50-x)P_2O_5$(x = 0 ~ 20 mol%) and $70V_2O_5-xB_2O_3-(70-x)P_2O_5$(x = 0 ~ 10 mol%), and analyzed the electrical conductivity, chemical durability, FT-IR spectroscopy, thermal properties, density, and molar volume. Substituting $B_2O_3$ for $P_2O_5$ was found to improve the electrical conductivity, chemical durability, and thermal properties. From these results, we can draw the following conclusions. First, the electrons shift from the electron rich $V^{4+}$ to the electron deficient $BO_3$ as the $B_2O_3$ content increases. Second, the improvement in chemical durability and thermal properties is attributed to an increase in cross-linked structures by changing from a $BO_3$ structure to a $BO_4$ structure.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.49-52
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• 2012

For TEM study of biological samples or polymers that are contained in organic structure, it is often required that the sample is prepared by using ultramicrotome and stained with proper agents to increase the contrast of organic structure. In this study, we investigated an efficient TEM sample preparation method for ductile heterogeneity material by using ultramicrotomy. Cryo-ultramicrotomy is a suitable method that is capable of rendering sample hardness for various ductile materials. However, it has several factors to consider, such as experimental cost, working time and finding the optimal staining conditions. To satisfy these considerations, we prepared TEM sample by using ultramicrotome without cryofunction, and secured the sample hardness by applying the staining process prior to ultrathin sectioning. The cross-linked polyethylene structure in the sample was stained with the 2% $RuO_4$ solution in a sealed test tube for 24 hours at $4^{\circ}C$. After the sample staining, ultrathin sections of sample were prepared using ultramicrotome. As a result, it was revealed that the difficulties associated with staining of ultrathin sections prepared by low-temperature conditions were improved. In addition, appropriate staining depth of sample could be selected for sectioning process. The quality of TEM sample obtained by using this method was better than that of cryo-ultramicroscopy. Finally, it is expected that our method could be effectively applied in TEM sample preparation for a variety of nano-bio convergence materials.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.458-464
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• 2021

Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) is a kind of rechargeable secondary battery, developed from lithium battery, lithium ions move between the positive and negative electrodes to realize the charging and discharging of external circuits. Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are porous crystalline materials in which organic imidazole esters are cross-linked to transition metals to form a framework structure. In this article, ZIF-67 is used as a sacrificial template to prepare nano porous carbon (NPC) coated cobalt nanoparticles. The final product Co/NPC composites with complete structure, regular morphology and uniform size were obtained by this method. The conductive network of cobalt and nitrogen doped carbon can shorten the lithium ion transport path and present high conductivity. In addition, amorphous carbon has more pores that can be fully in contact with the electrolyte during charging and discharging. At the same time, it also reduces the volume expansion during the cycle and slows down the rate of capacity attenuation caused by structure collapse. Co/NPC composites first discharge specific capacity up to 3115 mA h/g, under the current density of 200 mA/g, circular 200 reversible capacity as high as 751.1 mA h/g, and the excellent rate and resistance performance. The experimental results show that the Co/NPC composite material improves the electrical conductivity and electrochemical properties of the electrode. The cobalt based ZIF-67 as the precursor has opened the way for the design of highly performance electrodes for energy storage and electrochemical catalysis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.2741-2746
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• 2013

The immobilization of enzyme is one of the key issues both in the field of enzymatic research and industrialization. In this work, we reported a facile method to immobilize Candida Antarctica lipase B (CALB) in alginate carrier. In the presence of calcium cation, the enzyme-alginate suspension could be cross-linked to form beads with porous structure at room temperature, and the enzyme CALB was dispersed in the beads. Activity of the enzyme-alginate composite was verified by enzymatic hydrolysis reaction of p-nitrophenol butyrate in aqueous phase. The effects of reaction parameters such as temperature, pH, embedding and lyophilized time on the reactive behavior were discussed. Reuse cycle experiments for the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenol butyrate demonstrated that activity of the enzyme-alginate composite was maintained without marked deactivation up to 6 repeated cycles.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.239-251
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• 2016

The potential of nanocomposites have been drawing the intention of the researchers from energy storage to electrical insulation applications. Nanocomposites are known to improve dielectric properties, such as the increase in dielectric breakdown strength, suppressing the partial discharge (PD) as well as space charge, and prolonging the treeing, etc. In this review, different theories have been established to explain the reactions at the interaction zone of polymer matrix and nanofiller; the characterization methods of nanocomposites are also presented. Furthermore, the remarkable findings in the fields of epoxy, cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), polypropylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) nanocomposites are reviewed. In this study, it was observed that there is lack of comparison between results of lab scale specimens and actual field aged cables. Also, non-standardization of the preparation methods and processing parameters lead to changes in the polymer structure and its surface degradation. However, on the positive side, recent attempt of 250 kV XLPE nanocomposite HVDC cables in service may deliver a promising performance in the coming years. Moreover, materials such as self-healing polymer nanocomposites may emerge as substitutes to traditional insulations.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.329-333
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• 2013

SiOC films were prepared by capacitively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition, and the correlation between the binding energy by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Arrhenius equation for ionization energy was studied. The ionization energy decreased with increase of the potential barrier, and then the dielectric constant also decreased. The binding energy decreased with increase of the potential barrier. The dielectric constant and electrical characteristic of SiOC film was obtained by Arrhenius equation. The dielectric constant of SiOC film was decreased by lowering the polarization, which was made from the recombination between opposite polar sites, and the dissociation energy during the deposition. The SiOC film with the lowest dielectric constant had a flat surface, which depended on how carbocations recombined with other broken bonds of precursor molecules, and it became a fine cross-linked structure with low ionization energy, which contributed to decreasing the binding energy by Si 2p, C 1s electron orbital spectra and O 1s electron orbital spectra. The dielectric constant after annealing decreased, owing to the extraction of the $H_2O$ group, and lowering of the polarity.