• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.549-555
• /
• 2019

Electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) using Pt nanoparticles or bimetal on carabon was studied. Currently, the best catalyst is platinum, which is a limited resource and expensive to commercialize. In this paper, we investigated the cheaper and more active electrocatalysts by making Pt nanoparticles and adding 3D transition metal such as copper. Electrocatalysts were obtained by chemical reduction based on ethylene glycol solutions. Elemental analysis and particle size were confirmed by XRD and TEM. The electrochemical surface area (ECSA) and activity of the catalyst were determined by electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry method. The commercialized Pt support on carbon (Pt/C, JM), synthesis Pt/C and synthesis Pt3Cu1 alloy nanoparticles supported on carbon were compared. We confirmed that the synthesized Pt3-Cu1/C has high electrochemical performance than commercial Pt/C. It is expected to develop an electrocatalyst with high activity at low price by increasing the oxygen reduction reaction rate of the fuel cell.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.119-125
• /
• 2011

In the synthesis of nanoparticles, much attention has been paid to regulating the particle size. There has been a possible evident that using the central cavity (core) of the protein ferritin has a greatly significant influence on it because the core can generate the nanometer-sized mineral particles of variable metal ions. In this report, recombinant human L-ferritins produced from Saccharomyces cerevisiae were purified and their molecular properties were characterized. The cDNA for human ferritin L chain was also expressed in another host such as Escherichia coli, and the properties of recombinant L-ferritins were compared. From isoelectric focusing experiment, the L-ferritin from the recombinant yeast showed no indication of N-glycosylation. Some post-translational modifications other than N-glycosylation were speculated in the L-ferritins from yeast. A difference was made in the L-ferritins in their iron uptake rates and the initial rate of the L-ferritin from yeast was slightly increased. The reconstitution yield and size distribution of the core minerals were analyzed in the L-ferritins by transmission electron microscopy. The L-ferritin from yeast with higher reconstitution yield (54.5%) showed slightly larger sizes (mean 6.92 nm) with narrower size distribution than the L-ferritin from E. coli. It is, in conclusion, speculated that L-ferritin from yeast is relatively superior to the other, in view of the size of nanoparticle and its relative homogeneity.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.5 no.1
• /
• pp.146-150
• /
• 2010

A new type of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) based on a porous type Ti electrode without using a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer is fabricated for low-cost high-efficient solar cell application. The TCO-free DSC is composed of a glass substrate/dye-sensitized $TiO_2$ nanoparticle/porous Ti layer/electrolyte/Pt sputtered counter electrode. The porous Ti electrode (~350 nm thickness) with high conductivity can collect electrons from the $TiO_2$ layer and allows the ionic diffusion of $I^-/I_3{^-}$ through the hole. The vacuum annealing treatment is important with respect to the interfacial necking between the metal Ti and porous $TiO_2$ layer. The efficiency of the prepared TCO-free DSC sample is about 3.5% (ff: 0.48, $V_{oc}$: 0.64V, $J_{sc}$: 11.14 mA/$cm^2$).

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.239-245
• /
• 2020

Synthesizing one-dimensional nanostructures of oxide semiconductors is a promising approach to fabricate highefficiency photoelectrodes for hydrogen production from photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. In this work, vertically aligned zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays are successfully synthesized on fluorine-doped-tin-oxide (FTO) coated glass substrate via seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method with the use of a ZnO nanoparticle seed layer, which is formed by thermally oxidizing a sputtered Zn metal thin film. The structural, optical and PEC properties of the ZnO nanorod arrays synthesized at varying levels of Zn sputtering power are examined to reveal that the optimum ZnO nanorod array can be obtained at a sputtering power of 20 W. The photocurrent density and the optimal photocurrent conversion efficiency obtained for the optimum ZnO nanorod array photoanode are 0.13 mA/㎠ and 0.49 %, respectively, at a potential of 0.85 V vs. RHE. These results provide a promising avenue to fabricating earth-abundant ZnO-based photoanodes for PEC water oxidation using facile hydrothermal synthesis.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
• /
• v.51 no.4
• /
• pp.237-242
• /
• 2018

We report on the fabrication and photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of a ZnO nanorod array structure as an efficient photoelectrode for hydrogen production from sunlight-driven water splitting. Vertically aligned ZnO nanorods were grown on an indium-tin-oxide-coated glass substrate via seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method with the use of a ZnO nanoparticle seed layer, which was formed by thermally oxidizing a sputtered Zn metal thin film. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized ZnO nanorods were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, as well as Raman scattering. The PEC properties of the fabricated ZnO nanorod photoelectrode were evaluated by photocurrent conversion efficiency measurements under white light illumination. From the observed PEC current density versus voltage (J-V) behavior, the vertically aligned ZnO nanorod photoelectrode was found to exhibit a negligible dark current and high photocurrent density, e.g., $0.65mA/cm^2$ at 0.8 V vs Ag/AgCl in a 1 mM $Na_2SO_4$ electrolyte. In particular, a significant PEC performance was observed even at an applied bias of 0 V vs Ag/AgCl, which made the device self-powered.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
• /
• v.54 no.5
• /
• pp.260-266
• /
• 2021

Synthesizing low-dimensional structures of oxide semiconductors is a promising approach to fabricate highly efficient gas sensors by means of possible enhancement in surface-to-volume ratios of their sensing materials. In this work, vertically aligned zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods are successfully synthesized on a transparent glass substrate via seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method with the use of a ZnO nanoparticle seed layer, which is formed by thermally oxidizing a sputtered Zn metal film. Structural and optical characterization by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy reveals the successful preparation of the ZnO nanorods array of the single hexagonal wurtzite crystalline phase. From gas sensing measurements for the nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) gas, the vertically aligned ZnO nanorod array is observed to have a highly responsive sensitivity to NO₂ gas at relatively low concentrations and operating temperatures, especially showing a high maximum sensitivity to NO₂ at 250 ℃ and a low NO₂ detection limit of 5 ppm in dry air. These results along with a facile fabrication process demonstrate that the ZnO nanorods synthesized on a transparent glass substrate are very promising for low-cost and high-performance NO₂ gas sensors.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.63 no.2
• /
• pp.94-101
• /
• 2019

Nb, Mo-doped and Nb/Mo-codoped $VO_2(M)$ nanocrystallites with various doping levels were synthesized for the first time by a hydrothermal and post thermal transformation method. The reversible phase transition characteristics of those doped $VO_2(M)$ was comparatively investigated. Nb-doping of $VO_2(M)$ by this method resulted in a very efficient lowering of the transition temperature ($T_c$) with a rate of $-16.7^{\circ}C/at.%$ that is comparable to W-doping, while Mo-doping did not give a serious reduction of $T_c$ with only a rate of $-5.1^{\circ}C/at.%$. Nb/Mo-codoping gave a similar result to Nb-doping without a noticeable difference. The thin films of Nb-doped and Nb/Mo-codoped $VO_2(M)$ with a thickness of ca. 120 nm were prepared by a wet-coating of the nanoparticle-dispersed solutions. Those films showed a good thermochromic modulation of near infrared radiation with 30-35% for Nb-doped $VO_2(M)$ and 37-40% for Nb/Mo-codoped ones. Nb/Mo-codoped $VO_2(M)$ film showed slightly enhanced thermochromic performance compared with Nb-doped $VO_2(M)$ film.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 2019

Simple fabrication of a powdered Ge-reduced graphene oxide (Ge-rGO) composite via spray pyrolysis and reduction is introduced herein. Successful incorporation of the rGO nanosheets with Ge hindered the aggregation of Ge and conferred enhanced structural stability to the composite by alleviating the mechanical stress associated with drastic volume changes during repeated cycling. The Li-ion storage performance of Ge-rGO was compared with that of powdered Ge metal. The reversible discharge capacity of Ge-rGO at the $200^{th}$ cycle was $748mA\;h\;g^{-1}$ at a current density of $1.0A\;g^{-1}$ and Ge-rGO showed a capacity of $375mA\;h\;g^{-1}$ even at a high current density of $5.0A\;g^{-1}$. The excellent performance of Ge-rGO is attributed to the structural robustness, enhanced electrical conductivity, and formation of open channels between the rGO nanosheets, which facilitated electrolyte penetration for improved Li-ion diffusion.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
• /
• v.56 no.4
• /
• pp.219-226
• /
• 2023

Utilizing low-dimensional structures of oxide semiconductors is a promising approach to fabricate relevant gas sensors by means of potential enhancement in surface-to-volume ratios of their sensing materials. In this work, vertically aligned cupric oxide (CuO) nanorods are successfully synthesized on a transparent glass substrate via seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method with the use of a CuO nanoparticle seed layer, which is formed by thermally oxidizing a sputtered Cu metal film. Structural and optical characterization by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Raman spectroscopy reveals the successful preparation of the CuO nanorods array of the single monoclinic tenorite crystalline phase. From gas sensing measurements for the nitrogen monoxide (NO) gas, the vertically aligned CuO nanorod array is observed to have a highly responsive sensitivity to NO gas at relatively low concentrations and operating temperatures, especially showing a high maximum sensitivity to NO at 200 ℃ and a low NO detection limit of 2 ppm in dry air. These results along with a facile fabrication process demonstrate that the CuO nanorods synthesized on a transparent glass substrate are very promising for low-cost and high-performance NO gas sensors.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.556-562
• /
• 2023

This paper presents the development and market trends of nano biosensors. These biosensors must possess high sensitivity and selectivity to effectively detect diseases. Presently, many research groups are focusing on the field-effect transistor aspect of nano biosensors, which can identify diseases such as Down syndrome, bladder cancer, breast cancer, and numerous other cancers, utilizing graphene and transition metal dichalcogenide materials. In the case of in-vitro diagnostics, the use of nano biosensors has been rapidly growing since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper also discusses market trends and the outlook for both national and international enterprises engaged in the nano biosensor field. Nano biosensors are expected to play a beneficial and significant role soon, contributing to the early diagnosis of diseases and subsequently improving patient outcomes.