• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.132-138
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• 2021

Electrochromic devices (ECDs) have been drawing great attention due to their high color contrast, low power consumption, and memory effect, and can be used in smart windows, automatic dimming mirrors, and information display devices. As with other electronic devices such as LEDs (light emitting diodes), solar cells, and transistors, the mechanical flexibility of ECDs is one of the most important issue for their potential applications. In this paper, we report on flexible ECDs (f-ECDs) fabricated using an all-in-one EC gel, which is a mixture of electrolyte and EC material. The f-ECDs are compared with rigid ECDs (r-ECDs) on ITO glass substrate in terms of color contrast, coloration efficiency, and switching speed. It is confirmed that the f-ECDs embedding all-in-one gel show strong blue absorption and have competitive EC performance. Repetitive bending tests show a degradation of electrochromic performance, which must be improved using an optimized device fabrication process.

• Proceedings of the National Institute of Ecology of the Republic of Korea
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.62-69
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• 2021

This study aimed to verify the suitability of an air quality regulating service for wetland ecosystem service evaluation by investigating the effect of reducing particulate matter (PM) on vegetation in wetlands. We installed tunnel-type experimental plots at Yonghwasil Pond in the National Institute of Ecology and set up the input and output of PM by applying the natural vegetation of the relevant wetlands. We took measurements by replicating four different conditions four times each. The air quality regulating service in each experimental plot was measured based on PM10 concentration; further, the difference between the input and the output concentration of PM passing through the Phragmites australis community tunnel was measured using a light scattering method. For the Phragmites australis community in the outdoor conditions and bare land, the PM concentration was measured with the same specifications as tunnel-type experimental plots without setting up the input and output. For the tunnel-type experimental plots, PM10 concentration was significantly lower in the output than in the input. Furthermore, in the outdoor conditions, a comparison between the Phragmites australis community and bare land showed that the concentration was relatively low in the former than in the latter. This confirmed the PM reducing effect due to the blockage and absorption of PM depending on the growth of Phragmites australis. Based on the results of this study, we assessed the air quality regulating service in wetlands as an evaluation indicator.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.55-64
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• 2023

Properties of a lesser-used wood species were investigated to determine its potential for structural utilization. Trees of Delonix regia were felled and sampled at the base, middle and top and then sectioned to inner wood, middle wood, and outer wood for variation across the axial and radial directions. Hence, selected physical and mechanical properties as well as natural durability of D. regia along the radial and axial directions were examined. Obtained data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at α_0.05. There was no significant difference in the Moisture content (MC) of the wood but specific gravity (SG) decreased from base to top ranging from 0.35-0.44. Water absorption, volumetric swelling, and volumetric shrinkage range from 46.18-51.86%, 2.57-4.02%, and 2.26-3.96% respectively along the axial plane. The weight loss for graveyard exposure and accelerated laboratory decay test ranged from 25.14-48.00% and 32.02-44.45% respectively. Modulus of Rupture and Modulus of Elasticity values range from 29.42-72.68 Nmm² and 3,834.54-8,830.37 Nmm² respectively. The SG values has confirmed the species as a medium density wood and values of other properties tested showed that the wood is dimensional stable and moderately resistance to fungi and termite. Hence, it could be used for light construction purposes such as furniture and other interior woodwork.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.50.2-51
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• 2021

Stars form exclusively in cold and dense molecular clouds. To fully understand star formation processes, it is hence a key to investigate how molecular clouds form out of the surrounding diffuse atomic gas. With an aim of shedding light in the process of the atomic-to-molecular transition in the interstellar medium, we analyze Arecibo HI emission and absorption spectral pairs along with TRAO/PMO 12CO(1-0) emission spectra toward 58 lines of sight probing in and around molecular clouds in the solar neighborhood, i.e., Perseus, Taurus, and California. 12CO(1-0) is detected from 19 out of 58 lines of sight, and we report the physical properties of HI (e.g., central velocity, spin temperature, and column density) in the vicinity of CO. Our preliminary results show that the velocity difference between the cold HI (Cold Neutral Medium or CNM) and CO (median ~ 0.7 km/s) is on average more than a factor of two smaller than the velocity difference between the warm HI (Warm Neutral Medium or WNM) and CO (median ~ 1.7 km/s). In addition, we find that the CNM tends to become colder (median spin temperature ~ 43 K) and abundant (median CNM fraction ~ 0.55) as it gets closer to CO. These results hints at the evolution of the CNM in the vicinity of CO, implying a close association between the CNM and molecular gas. Finally, in order to examine the role of HI in the formation of molecular gas, we compare the observed CNM properties to the theoretical model by Bialy & Sternberg (2016), where the HI column density for the HI-to-H2 transition point is predicted as a function of density, metallicity, and UV radiation field. Our comparison shows that while the model reproduces the observations reasonably well on average, the observed CNM components with high column densities are much denser than the model prediction. Several sources of this discrepancy, e.g., missing physical and chemical ingredients in the model such as the multi-phase ISM, non-equilibrium chemistry, and turbulence, will be discussed.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.219-228
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• 1980

The ultrastructures of the granular glands in the asiatic land salamander (Hynobius leechi) skin were observed by means of electron microsope The results were as follows; 1. The granular gland of the asiatic land salamander skin consisted of a body of gland and a duct. The body of the granular gland consisted of the glandular epithelial cells and the myoepithelial cells. The duct of the granular gland consisted of the keratinocytes. 2. The glandular epithelial cells in the asiatic land salamander skin were divided into the dark cell and the light cells in accordance with the electron density of the cytoplasm. 3. The secretory granules of the granular glands were round or oval in form and were divided into the various granules, showing the secretory granules showing weak electron density had the parts showing strong electron density near the granular membrane. 4. It is supposed that showing the different electron densities of the granules in a glandular epithelial cell is due to different mature stages and to different level of water absorption, and the chemical components of the granules showing different electron densities are identical.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.388-396
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• 2023

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a vital source of clean and sustainable hydrogen energy. Moreover, the large-scale H₂ production is currently necessary, while long-term stability and high PEC activity still remain important issues. In this study, a GaN-based photoelectrode was modified by an additional NH₃ treatment (900℃ for 10 min) and its PEC behavior was monitored. The bare GaN exhibited a highly crystalline wurtzite structure with the (002) plane and the optical bandgap was approximately 3.2 eV. In comparison, the NH₃-treated GaN film exhibited slightly reduced crystallinity and a small improvement in light absorption, resulting from the lattice stress or cracks induced by the excessive N supply. The minor surface nanotexturing created more surface area, providing electroactive reacting sites. From the surface XPS analysis, the formation of an N-Ga-O phase on the surface region of the GaN film was confirmed, which suppressed the charge recombination process and the positive shift of E_FB. Therefore, these effects boosted the PEC activity of the NH₃-treated GaN film, with J values of approximately 0.35 and 0.78 mA·cm^-2 at 0.0 and 1.23 V_RHE, respectively, and an onset potential (V_on) of -0.24 V_RHE. In addition, there was an approximate 50% improvement in the J value within the highly applied potential region with a positive shift of V_on. This result could be explained by the increased nanotexturing on the surface structure, the newly formed defect/trap states correlated to the positive V_on shift, and the formation of a GaO_xN_1-x phase, which partially blocked the charge recombination reaction.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.85-102
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• 2023

Background: Ecophysiological characteristics of Rosa rugosa were analyzed under different environmental factors from May to October 2022. Photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, chlorophyll content, leaf water content (LWC), osmolality, carbohydrate content, and total ion content were measured to compare the physiological characteristics of R. rugosa at two study sites (i.e., in large pots and in the Goraebul coastal sand dune area). Results: When R. rugosa was exposed to high temperatures, photosynthetic parameters including net photosynthetic rate (P_N) and stomatal conductance (g_s) in both experiment areas declined. In addition, severe photoinhibition occurs when R. rugosa is continuously exposed to high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and because of this, relatively low Y(II) (i.e., the quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in photosystem II [PSII]) and high Y(NO) (i.e., the quantum yield of non-regulated, non-photochemical energy loss in PSII) in the R. rugosa of the pot were observed. As the high Y(NPQ) (i.e., the quantum yield of regulated non-photochemical energy loss in PSII) of R. rugosa in the coastal sand dune, they dissipated the excessed photon energy through the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) mechanism when they were exposed to relatively low PAR and low temperature. Rosa rugosa in the coastal sand dune has higher chlorophyll a and carotenoid content. The high chlorophyll a + b and low chlorophyll a/b ratios seemed to optimize light absorption in response to low PAR. High carotenoid content played an important role in NPQ. As a part of the osmotic regulation in response to low LWCs, R. rugosa exposed to high temperatures and continuously high PAR used soluble carbohydrates and ions to maintain high osmolality. Conclusions: We found that F_v/F_m was lower in the potted plants than in the coastal sand dune plants, indicating the vulnerability of R. rugosa to high temperatures and PAR levels. We expect that the suitable habitat range for R. rugosa will shrink and move to north under climate change conditions.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.24-29
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• 2024

We propose a hyperbolic metastructure based on a nanopatterned metal (Ag)-dielectric (PDMS) multilayer and report on its performance in an infrared (IR) cut-off filter for imaging devices. By optimizing the size of the square-shaped Ag nanopattern and the thickness of PDMS surrounding the Ag nanopattern, the proposed IR cut-off filter blocks 99% of light in the 0.70-1.01 ㎛ wavelength band while maintaining a high transmittance of over 94% in the visible region. Here, the cut-off wavelength band starts at a region above the epsilon-near-zero wavelength of the hyperbolic metastructure and ends at the point where plasmonic absorption appears strongly. It is observed that transmittance in the wavelength region longer than the IR cut-off band increases again due to plasmonic coupling among horizontally adjacent Ag nanopatterns. This metastructure can improve the performance of IR-blocking filters as well as allow it to be manufactured ultra-thin, which is applicable to various planar optical elements and integrated optical components.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.114-123
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• 2024

Hydrogen isotopes can be categorized into light hydrogen, heavy hydrogen, and tritium based on the number of neutrons, each of which is used in specific fields. Specifically, deuterium is of interest in the electronics industry, nuclear energy industry, analytical technology industry, pharmaceutical industry, and telecommunications industry. Conventional methods such as cold distillation, thermal cycling absorption processes, Girdler sulfide processes, and water electrolysis have their own advantages and disadvantages, leading to the need for alternative technologies with high separation and energy efficiency. In this context, membrane-based hydrogen isotope separation is one of the promising solutions to reduce energy consumption. In this review, we will present the state-of-the-art in hydrogen isotope separation using membranes and their operating principles. The technology for separating hydrogen isotopes using membranes is just beginning to be conceptualized, and many challenges remain to be overcome. However, if achieved, the economic benefits are expected to be significant. We will discuss future research directions for this purpose.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.15-31
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• 2024

The antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine sulphate (HCQ) has taken much attention during the first COVID-19 pandemic phase for the treatment of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) patients. Hence it is interest to study the electrochemical properties and photocatalytic degradation of the HCQ drug. Copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles, graphene oxide (GO) and CuO/GO NC (nanocomposite) modified carbon paste electrodes (MCPE) are used for the detection of HCQ in an aqueous medium. Electrochemical behaviour of HCQ (20 μM) was observed using CuO/MCPE, GO/MCPE and CuO/GO NC/MCPE in 0.1 M phosphate buffer at pH 7 with a scan rate of 20 to 120 mV s^-1 by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) of HCQ was performed for 0.6 to 16 μM HCQ. The CuO/GO NC/MCPE showed a reasonably good sensitivity of 0.33 to 0.44 μA μM cm^-2 with LOD of 69 to 92 nM for HCQ. Furthermore, the CuO/GO NC was used as a catalyst for the photodegradation of HCQ by monitoring its UV-Vis absorption spectra. About 98% was degraded in about 34 min under visible light and after 4 cycles it was 87%. The improved photocatalytic activity may be attributed to decrease in bandgap energy and enhanced ability for the electrons to migrate. Thus, CuO/GO NC showed good results for both sensing and degradation applications as well as reproducibility.