• Current Applied Physics
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1255-1260
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• 2018

In this work, a green and simple one-pot route was developed for the synthesis of highly fluorescent aminofunctionalized graphene quantum dots (a-GQDs) via hydrothermal process without any further modification or surface passivation. We synthesized the a-GQDs using glucose as the carbon source and ammonium as a functionalizing agent without the use of a strong acid, oxidant, or other toxic chemical reagent. The as-obtained aGQDs have a uniform size of 3-4 nm, high contents of amino groups, and show a bright green emission with high quantum yield of 32.8%. Furthermore, the a-GQDs show effective fluorescence quenching for $Cu^{2+}$ ions which can serve as effective fluorescent probe for the detection of $Cu^{2+}$. The fluorescent probe using the obtained aGQDs exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity toward $Cu^{2+}$ with the limit of detection as low as 5.6 nM. The mechanism of the $Cu^{2+}$ induced fluorescence quenching of a-GQDs can be attributed to the electron transfer by the formation of metal complex between $Cu^{2+}$ and the amino groups on the surface of a-GQDs. These results suggest great potential for the simple and green synthesis of functionalized GQDs and a practical sensing platform for $Cu^{2+}$ detection in environmental and biological applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.222.1-222.1
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• 2015

Recently, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted great attention due to various properties including cost-effectiveness of synthesis, low toxicity, and high photostability. Nevertheless, the origins of photoluminescence (PL) from GQDs are unclear because of extrinsic states of the impurities, disorder structures, and oxygen-functional groups. Therefore, to utilize GQDs in various applications, their optical properties generated from the extrinsic states should be understood. In this work, we have focused on the effect of oxygen-functional groups in PL of the GQDs. The GQDs with nanoscale and single layer are synthesized by employing graphite nanoparticles (GNPs) with 4 nm. The series of GQDs with different amount of oxygen-functional groups were prepared by the chain of chemical oxidation and reduction process. The fabrication of a series of graphene oxide QDs (GOQDs) with different amounts of oxygen-contents is first reported by a direct oxidation route of GNPs. In addition, for preparing a series of reduced GOQDs (rGOQDs), we employed the conventional chemical reduction to GOQDs solution and controlled the amount of reduction agents. The GOQDs and rGOQDs showed irreversible PL properties even though both routes have similar amount of oxyen-functional groups. In the case of a series of GOQDs, the PL spectrum was clearly redshifted into blue and green-yellowish color. On the other hand, the PL spectrum of rGOQDs did not change significantly. By various optical measurement such as the PL excitation, UV-vis absorbance, and time-resolved PL, we could verify that their PL mechanisms of GOQDs and rGOQDs are closely associated with different atomic structures formed by chemical oxidation and reduction. Our study provides an important insights for understanding the optical properties of GQDs affected by oxygen-functional groups. [1]

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.351.2-351.2
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• 2016

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted much attention because of various advantages such as cost-effectiveness of synthesis, low toxicity, and photostability. The origins of photoluminescence (PL) in GQDs were suggested as the intrinsic states for localized sp2 carbon domains and the extrinsic states formed by oxygen-functional groups.[1,2] Nevertheless, it is still unclear to understand the information of electric band structure in GQD. Here, we observed excitation energy induced S-shaped PL behavior. The PL peak energy position shows an S-shaped shift (redshift-blueshift-redshift) as function of the excitation wavelengths. From various samples, we only observed S-shaped PL shift in the GQDs with both luminescent origins of intrinsic and extrinsic states. Therefore, this S-shaped PL shift is related to different weight of intrinsic and extrinsic states in PL spectrum depending on the excitation wavelengths. This would be the key result to understand the electric band structure of the GQDs and its derivatives.

• Journal of information and communication convergence engineering
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2019

Biosensors, which are analysis devices used to convert biological reactions into electric signals, are made up of a receptor component and a signal transduction part. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are new types of carbon nanoparticles that have drawn a significant amount of attention in nanoparticle research. The unique features exhibited by GQDs and CQDs are their excellent fluorescence, biocompatibility, and low cytotoxicity. As a result of these features, carbon nanomaterials have been extensively studied in bioengineering, including biosensing and bioimaging. It is extremely important to find biomaterials that participate in biological processes. Biomaterials have been studied in the development of fluorescence-based detection methods. This review provides an overview of recent advances and new trends in the area of biosensors based on GQDs and CQDs as biosensor platforms for the detection of biomaterials using fluorescence. The sensing methods are classified based on the types of biomaterials, including nucleic acids, vitamins, amino acids, and glucose.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.422.1-422.1
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• 2016

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), a new kind of carbon-based photo luminescent nanomaterial from chemically modified graphene oxide (CMGO) or chemically modified graphene (CMG), has attracted extensive research attention in the last few years due to its outstanding chemical, optical and electrical properties. To further extended its potential applications as optoelectronic devices, solar cells, bio and bio-sensors and so on, intensive research efforts have been devoted to the CMG. However, the CMG, a suspension of aqueous, have problematic since they are prone to agglomeration after drying a solvent. In this study, we synthesized the GQDs from graphite and deposited on silicon substrate by kinetic spray. The photo luminescent properties of deposited GQD films were analyzed and compared with initial GQDs suspension. In addition, its carbon properties were investigated with GQDs solution properties. The properties of deposited GQD films by kinetic spray were similar to that of the GQDs suspension in water. We could provide a pathway for silicon-based silicon based device applications. Finally, the well-adjusted GQD films with photo luminescence effects will show Energy-Down-Shift layer effects on silicon solar cells. The GQD layers deposited at nozzle scan speeds of 40, 30, 20, and 10 mm/s were evaluated after they were used to fabricate crystalline-silicon solar cells; the results indicate that GQDs play an important role in increasing the optical absorptivity of the cells. The short-circuit current density (Jsc) was enhanced by about 2.94 % (0.9 mA/cm2) at 30 mm/s. Compared to a reference device without a GQD energy-down-shift layer, the PCE of p-type silicon solar cells was improved by 2.7% (0.4 percentage points).

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.167-171
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• 2021

The core-shell InGaN/GaN Multi Quantum Well-Nanowires (MQW-NWs) that were selectively grown on oxide templates with perfectly circular hole patterns were highly crystalline and were shaped as high-aspect-ratio pyramids with semi-polar facets, indicating hexagonal symmetry. The formation of the InGaN active layer was characterized at its various locations for two types of the substrates, one containing defect-free MQW-NWs with GQDs and the other containing MQW-NWs with defects by using HRTEM. The TEM of the defect-free NW showed a typical diode behavior, much larger than that of the NW with defects, resulting in stronger EL from the former device, which holds promise for the realization of high-performance nonpolar core-shell InGaN/GaN MQW-NW substrates. These results suggest that well-defined nonpolar InGaN/GaN MQW-NWs can be utilized for the realization of high-performance LEDs.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.114-118
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• 2022

The stabilized all-solid-state battery structure indicate a fundamental alternative to the development of next-generation energy storage devices. Existing liquid electrolyte structures severely limit battery stability, creating safety concerns due to the growth of Li dendrites during rapid charge/discharge cycles. In this study, a low-dimensional graphene quantum dot layer structure was applied to demonstrate stable operating characteristics based on Li+ ion conductivity and excellent electrochemical performance. Transmission electron microscopy analysis was performed to elucidate the microstructure at the interface. The low-dimensional structure of GQD-based solid electrolytes has provided an important strategy for stable scalable solid-state lithium battery applications at room temperature. This study indicates that the low-dimensional carbon structure of Li-GQDs can be an effective approach for the stabilization of solid-state Li matrix architectures.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.65-65
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• 2015

In this talk, I will introduce two topics. The first topic is the polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs) using graphene oxide quantum dots as emissive center. More specifically, the energy transfer mechanism as well as the origin of white electroluminescence in the PLED were investigated. The second topic is the facile synthesis of eco-friendly III-V colloidal quantum dots and their application to light emitting diodes. Polymer (organic) light emitting diodes (PLEDs) using quantum dots (QDs) as emissive materials have received much attention as promising components for next-generation displays. Despite their outstanding properties, toxic and hazardous nature of QDs is a serious impediment to their use in future eco-friendly opto-electronic device applications. Owing to the desires to develop new types of nanomaterial without health and environmental effects but with strong opto-electrical properties similar to QDs, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted great interest as promising luminophores. However, the origin of electroluminescence (EL) from GQDs incorporated PLEDs is unclear. Herein, we synthesized graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) using a modified hydrothermal deoxidization method and characterized the PLED performance using GOQDs blended poly(N-vinyl carbazole) (PVK) as emissive layer. Simple device structure was used to reveal the origin of EL by excluding the contribution of and contamination from other layers. The energy transfer and interaction between the PVK host and GOQDs guest were investigated using steady-state PL, time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Experiments revealed that white EL emission from the PLED originated from the hybridized GOQD-PVK complex emission with the contributions from the individual GOQDs and PVK emissions. (Sci Rep., 5, 11032, 2015). New III-V colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) were synthesized using the hot-injection method and the QD-light emitting diodes (QLEDs) using these CQDs as emissive layer were demonstrated for the first time. The band gaps of the III-V CQDs were varied by varying the metal fraction and by particle size control. The X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) results show that the crystal states of the III-V CQDs consist of multi-phase states; multi-peak photoluminescence (PL) resulted from these multi-phase states. Inverted structured QLED shows green EL emission and a maximum luminance of ~45 cd/m2. This result shows that III-V CQDs can be a good substitute for conventional cadmium-containing CQDs in various opto-electronic applications, e.g., eco-friendly displays. (Un-published results).

• Current Optics and Photonics
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.504-510
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• 2023

An optical fiber dislocation fusion humidity sensor coated with graphene quantum dots is investigated. A Mach-Zehnder interferometer is fabricated with three dislocated single-mode fibers with graphene quantum dots coating humidity-sensitive materials. Humidity response experiments showed a good linear response and high sensitivity with easy fabrication and low-cost materials. From 22% to 98% RH, the humidity response sensitivity of the sensor is 0.24 dB/% RH, with 0.9825 linearity. To investigate the cross-response of humidity and temperature, temperature response experiments are conducted. From 30 ℃ to 70 ℃, the results showed 0.02 dB/℃ sensitivity and 0.9824 linearity. The humidity response experimental curve is compared with the temperature experimental curve. The big difference between humidity sensitivity and temperature sensitivity is very helpful to solve the cross-response of humidity and temperature. The influence of temperature fluctuations in humidity measurements is not obvious.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.352.1-352.1
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• 2016

양자점은 나노미터 크기의 반도체 결정으로 밴드갭에 따라 광학적, 전기적 성질이 달라지는 독특한 성질을 가지는 형광물질으로 활발히 연구되고 있다. 중금속을 기반으로 한 양자점은 높은 발광효율과 광안전성을 가지며, 가시광선 영역에서 빛을 내는 특징을 가지고 있다. 그러나 중금속을 사용하기 때문에 독성이 있어 인체나 환경에 유해하여 응용 연구에 제한적이다. 반면에, 탄소 기반의 양자점은 중금속 기반의 양자점과 비슷한 성질을 가질 뿐만 아니라, 높은 용해도와 낮은 독성으로 인해 생체적합성이 높다는 장점이 있다. 이를 이용하여 발광다이오드(LEDs), 태양전지, 광촉매 뿐만 아니라 바이오이미징, 바이오센서 등 생물학분야에도 응용 될 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 Bottom-up 합성 방법으로 유기전구체를 이용하여 질소를 함유하고 있는 양친매성 탄소 양자점(N-GQDs)을 합성하였다. 합성에 사용한 유기전구체는 기존에 보고된 유기전구체와 다르게 반응 진행 중에도 pH 측정 결과 중성을 나타내며, 반응 온도($225^{\circ}C$)와 유사한 온도에서도 pH 값은 여전히 6.0 이상의 값을 나타냈다. 중성을 띄는 특징으로 인해 추가적인 산제거 과정이나 표면안정화 과정이 필요 없다는 장점을 가지고 있다. 합성된 N-GQDs는 높은 결정성의 원형구조를 가지며, 원자힘현미경(AFM) 분석을 통해 높이가 ~ 1.5 nm 미만으로 3층 이하의 두께로 형성되었음을 확인하였다. 또한, 적외선 분광법(FT-IR) 분석을 통해 O-H기, 방향족 고리의 C = C (또는 C = N)기 및 C-N기가 각각 ~3250, ~1670과 ~1140 cm-1에서 확인할 수 있다. 합성된 양자점을 유기태양전지의 active layer에 소량(2 wt%) 첨가하여 양자점의 광학적, 전기적 성질을 확인하였다. 비교군 유기태양전지보다 N-GQDs가 첨가된 유기태양전지의 외부양자효율(PCE)이 7.3%에서 8.4%로 약 20%가 증가하는 것을 보였다. 이는 양자점이 상대적으로 흡수가 약한 단파장 영역의 빛을 흡수하고 PL을 내어 active layer로 에너지 트랜스퍼 현상이 일어나 전자전달을 원활하게 해 주기 때문이다. 앞으로 본 연구의 가능성과 추가적인 연구를 통해 더 많은 분야에 응용되기를 기대한다.