• Biomaterials Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.352-359
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• 2018

Background: Black phosphorus (BP) has emerged as a novel class of nanomaterials owing to its unique optical and electronic properties. BP, a two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial, is a structure where phosphorenes are stacked together in layers by van der Waals interactions. However, although BP nanodots have many advantages, their biosafety and biological effect have not yet been elucidated as compared to the other nanomaterials. Therefore, it is particularly important to assess the cytotoxicity of BP nanodots for exploring their potentials as novel biomaterials. Methods: BP nanodots were prepared by exfoliation with a modified ultrasonication-assisted solution method. The physicochemical properties of BP nanodots were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. In addition, the cytotoxicity of BP nanodots against C2C12 myoblasts was evaluated. Moreover, their cell imaging potential was investigated. Results: Herein, we concentrated on evaluating the cytotoxicity of BP nanodots and investigating their cell imaging potential. It was revealed that the BP nanodots were cytocompatible at a low concentration, although the cell viability was decreased with increasing BP nanodot concentration. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that the cells took up the BP nanodots, and the BP nanodots exhibited green fluorescence. Conclusions: In conclusion, our findings suggest that the BP nanodots have suitable biocompatibility, and are promising candidates as fluorescence probes for biomedical imaging applications.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1037-1043
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• 2006

We report the enhancement of hole injection using ozone-treated Ag nanodots dispersed on indium tin oxide anode in $Ir(ppy)_3-doped$ phosphorescent OLED. Phosphorescent OLED fabricated on Ag nanodots dispersed ITO anode showed a lower turn on voltage and higher luminescence than those of OLEDS prepared commercial ITO anode. Synchrotron x-ray scattering examination results showed that the Ag nanodots dispersed on ITO anode is amorphous structure due to low deposition temperature. It was thought that decrease of the energy barrier height as Ag nanodots changed to $AgO_x$ nanodots by surface treatment using ozone for 10 min led to enhancement of hole injection in phosphorescent OLED. Futhermore, efficient hole injection can be explained by increase of contact region between anode material and organic material through introduction of $Ag_2O$ nanodots.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.5-8
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• 2009

MgO nanodots have been deposited and formed on top of the substrate surface. Mg was sputtered to form the MgO nanodots on the single crystal substrates by rf-sputtering method and followed by heat treatment in the oxygen ambient. The deposition and formation of MgO nanodots have been controlled systematically using the process variables such as substrate temperature, sputtering time, and rf-power. As the substrate temperature increased from the room temperature the density of MgO nanodots decreased. The optimal conditions of MgO nanodots formation using the rf-sputtering was investigated and the maximum density of more than $230/{\mu}m^2$ on single crystal substrates was obtained when the rf-power of 100 watts was applied for 30 seconds at room temperature. The typical size of MgO nanodots was identified to be <160 nm(diameter) and 4-30nm (height) by atomic force microscopy. The modulated surface morphology was examined through surface images and cross-section analysis and discussed for the artificial pinning sites in the superconducting films.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.6-8
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• 2008

$Y_{2}O_{3}$ nanodots have been deposited on top of the substrate surface using rf-sputtering method. This approach was adopted to be able to modulate the substrate surface with nanodots used as a seed for the flux pinning sites in the superconducting films. The nanodot density of $Y_{2}O_{3}$ was controlled mainly using the deposition time, rf-power, and substrate temperature. $Y_{2}O_{3}$ nanodots with ${\sim}\;50\;nm$ in diameter and ${\sim}\;3\;nm$ in height were obtained at rf-sputtering time of about 15 seconds using 400 watts of rf-power and $630^{\circ}C$ of substrate temperature. As deposition time increased up to about 30 seconds, the interconnected islands of $Y_{2}O_{3}$ nanodots formed, which can be clearly observed with AFM surface image. The substrate surface was covered entirely with $Y_{2}O_{3}$ layer above the deposition time of 60 seconds. The modulated surface morphologies and cross section analysis of deposited $Y_{2}O_{3}$ nanodots at various experimental conditions have been examined using AFM and discussed with respect to the flux pinning sites for the practical application.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.296-299
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• 2021

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.15-18
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• 2008

To achieve high transport current without degradation under magnetic field, it is essential to artificially generate the pinning sites at which moving magnetic flux can be pinned. In this work, $ZrO_2$ nanodots were formed on the substrate surface using electro-spray deposition method. On top of the nanodots, the extended and effective pinning centers can be created. The positively charged Zr precursor solution was sprayed out from the needle using the corona discharge phenomena. Then, the sprayed precursor was deposited onto the negatively charged substrate surface followed by the heat treatment under the controlled atmosphere. Using the electrostatic force among the charged particles of precursor, evenly distributed and nano-sized dots were formed on the substrate surface. The size and density of the nanodots were studied by Atomic Force Microscopy. Also discussed are the effect of the deposition time and solution concentration on the size and density of the nanodot and processing variables in electro-spray method for the effective flux pinning centers in the superconducting films.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.235-240
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• 2010

We investigated the carbon monoxide (CO) gas-sensing properties of nanostructured Al-doped zinc oxide thin films deposited on self-assembled Au nanodots (ZnO/Au thin films). The Al-doped ZnO thin film was deposited onto the structure by rf sputtering, resulting in a gas-sensing element comprising a ZnO-based active layer with an embedded Pt/Ti electrode covered by the self-assembled Au nanodots. Prior to the growth of the active ZnO layer, the Au nanodots were formed via annealing a thin Au layer with a thickness of 2 nm at a moderate temperature of $500^{\circ}C$. It was found that the ZnO/Au nanostructured thin film gas sensors showed a high maximum sensitivity to CO gas at $250^{\circ}C$ and a low CO detection limit of 5 ppm in dry air. Furthermore, the ZnO/Au thin film CO gas sensors exhibited fast response and recovery behaviors. The observed excellent CO gas-sensing properties of the nanostructured ZnO/Au thin films can be ascribed to the Au nanodots, acting as both a nucleation layer for the formation of the ZnO nanostructure and a catalyst in the CO surface reaction. These results suggest that the ZnO thin films deposited on self-assembled Au nanodots are promising for practical high-performance CO gas sensors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.430.1-430.1
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• 2014

According to advanced nanotechnology in the field of biomedical engineering, many studies of the interaction between topography of surfaces and cellular responses have been focused on nanostructure. In order to investigate this interaction, it is essential to make well-controlled nanostructures. Electron beam lithography (EBL) have been considered the most typical processes to fabricate and control nano-scale patterns. In this work, $TiO_2$ nanowire array was fabricated with hybrid process (top-down and bottom-up processes). Nanodot arrays were patterned on the substrate by EBL process (top-down). In order to control the spacing between nanodots, we optimized the EBL process using Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as an electron beam resist. Metal lift-off was used to transfer the spacing-controlled nanodots as a seed pattern of $TiO_2$ nanowire array. Au or Sn nanodots which play an important role for catalyst using Vapor-Liquid-Solid (VLS) method were patterned on the substrate through the lift-off process. Then, the sample was placed in the tube furnace and heated at the synthesis temperature. After heat treatment, $TiO_2$ nanowire array was fabricated from the nanodots through VLS method (bottom-up). These results of spacing-controlled nanowire arrays will be used to study the interaction between nanostructures and cellular responses in our next steps.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.191-194
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• 2009

Porous alumina prepared by anodization has been widely studied since it shows very regular nanostructures at inexpensive prices. In this article, porous alumina is obtained by anodization of aluminum in the oxalic acid. After the first formed oxide is selectively removed from the aluminum substrate, the hexagonal nanostructures on the fresh aluminum are converted to nanodots by the second anodization in boric acid. Nanodots are arrayed in the convex of the hexagonal nanostructures. The optimization condition for the fabrication of nanodots with a height of 20 nm is investigated in detail. Subsequently, a gold film is deposited on the nanodots, resulting in the formation of gold nanodots arrays which are probably interesting substrate for biosensor applications.

• Transactions of the Society of Information Storage Systems
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.67-71
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• 2013

The fabrication method of plasmonic nanodots on silicon substrate has been developed to improve the efficiency of thin film solar cells. Nanoscale metallic nanodots arrays are fabricated by anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template mask which can have different structural parameters by varying anodization conditions. In this paper, the structural parameters of gold nanodots, which can be controlled by the diverse structures of AAO template mask, are investigated to enhance the optical properties of a-Si thin film solar cells. It is found that optical properties of the thin film solar cells are improved by finding optimization values of the structural parameters of the gold nanodot array.