• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.59.1-59.1
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• 2015

In the Linford group at Brigham Young University we have recently developed three new sets of materials for three different areas of separations science: thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and solid phase microextraction (SPME). First, via microfabrication we have grown patterned carbon nanotube (CNT) forests on planar substrates that we have infiltrated with inorganic materials such as silicon nitride. The coatings on the CNTs are conformal and typically deposited in a process like low pressure chemical vapor deposition. The resulting materials have high surface areas, are porous, and function as effective separation devices, where separations on our new TLC plates are typically significantly faster than on conventional devices. Second, we used the layer-by-layer (electrostatically driven) deposition of poly (allylamine) and nanodiamond onto carbonized poly (divinylbenzene) microspheres to create superficially porous particles for HPLC. Many interesting classes of molecules have been separated with these particles, including various cannabinoids, pesticides, tricyclic antidepressants, etc. Third, we have developed new materials for SPME by sputtering silicon onto cylindrical fiber substrates in a way that creates shadowing of the incoming flux so that materials with high porosity are obtained. These materials are currently outperforming their commercial counterparts. Throughout this work, the new materials we have made have been characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, etc.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.135-142
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• 2012

Over the past few years, $LiFePO_4$ has been actively studied as a cathode material for lithium-ion batteries because of its advantageous properties such as high theoretical capacity, good cycle life, and high thermal stability. However, it does not have a very good power capability owing to the low lithium-ion diffusivity and poor electronic conductivity. Reduction in particle size of $LiFePO_4$ to the scale of nanometers has been found to dramatically enhance the above properties, according to many earlier reports. However, because of the intrinsically low tap density of nanomaterials, it is difficult to commercialize this method. Many studies are being carried out to improve the volumetric energy density of this material and many methods have been reported so far. This paper provides a brief summary of the synthesis methods and electrochemical performances of micro-spherical $LiFePO_4$ having high volumetric energy density.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.44 no.5 s.300
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• pp.184-189
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• 2007

In this study, a novel-processing route for producing microcellular cordierite ceramics has been developed. The proposed strategy for making the microcellular cordierite ceramics involves three steps: (i) fabricating ceramic-filled preceramic foams by heating a mixture of polysiloxane, expandable microspheres, talc, and alumina in a mold, (ii) cross-linking the foamed body, and (iii) transforming the body into microcellular cordierite ceramics by sintering. Cu jig was used for near net shaping in the foaming step. The experimental variables such as the shape of foaming jig and the content of expendable microsphere were investigated. By controlling the content of expendable microsphere, it was possible to make the porous cordierite ceramics with cell density of ${\sim}1.0{\times}10^9\;cells/cm^3$.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2011

Herein, macroporous carbon materials were readily prepared by carbonization of cured body of resorcinol and formaldehyde using poly(methyl methacrylate) colloid microspheres which were employed as the template in the gelation of resorcinol with formaldehyde. The gel in the water was solvent exchanged with methanol and the wet gel was dried. After carbonization of the template-gel composite at $800^{\circ}C$, it was found that pores were left corresponding to the size of the template, yielding carbon materials with a fine porous structure with enlarged surface area and significant porosity. Properties of the carbon foams including the structure, morphology, thermal stability, and porosity were investigated. Finally, it was concluded that the method using polymer colloids as the template provided a facile route to prepare carbon foams.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.69-73
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• 2005

To overcome the main disadvantages of non-viral gene delivery systems such as repeated administration due to the low transfection efficiency, poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) was applied to encapsulate pDNA in its microsphere formulation. Free pDNA or various ratios (w/w) of chitosan/pDNA complexes was used for encapsulation, with the resulting encapsulation efficiency of 44%, 5%, and 8% for free pDNA, 0.7:1 and 1:1 ratios, respectively. Scanning electron micrographs of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres encapsulating pDNA or chitosan-condensed pDNA revealed a smooth spherical shape immediately after microsphere preparation and a collapsed porous shape in 41 days due to the degradation of PLGA. In vitro release profile showed that the 0.7:1 (w/w) ratio formulation exerted 47% release in 26 days, whereas free pDNA or 1:1 (w/w) ratio formulation did only 15% or 32%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.360-367
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• 2011

Macroporous silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics were fabricated by powder processing and polymer processing using carbon-filled polysiloxane as a precursor. The effects of the starting SiC polytype, template type, and template content on porosity and flexural strength of macroporous SiC ceramics were investigated. The ${\beta}$-SiC powder as a starting material or a filler led to higher porosity than ${\alpha}$-SiC powder, owing to the impingement of growing ${\alpha}$-SiC grains, which were transformed from ${\beta}$-SiC during sintering. Typical flexural strength of powder-processed macroporous SiC ceramics fabricated from ${\alpha}$-SiC starting powder and polymer microbeads was 127 MPa at 29% porosity. In contrast, that of polymer-processed macroporous SiC ceramics fabricated from carbon-filled polysiloxane, ${\beta}$-SiC fillers, and hollow microspheres was 116MPa at 29% porosity. The combination of ${\alpha}$-SiC starting powder and a fairly large amount (10 wt%) of $Al_2O_3-Y_2O_3$ additives led to macroporous SiC ceramics with excellent flexural strength.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.722-726
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• 2008

Silica microsphere is a world leading innovative material used in adsorbent packing materials in HPLC technology. The application of microsphere lies in the ability to the surface modification of silica with the special materials such as polymers, metals and bio-active materials. Collagen is a major structural protein of connective tissues and has a good biocompatibility. In this study, we prepared the purified silica porous microsphere, having micro diameters in the range of a pore volume at least 50% by the aggregation procedure of colloidal silica with the polymerization method (PICA). The microspheres were modified by collagen hydrogel to improve the biocompatible properties for biomedical product. The silica/collagen microsphere composite doped with silver nanoparticles was prepared and investigated the capabilities of biomaterial application through the evaluation of the structure characteristics of the microsphere composit.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.228-235
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• 2002

Mastitis is the most costly disease results in lost milk production, decreased milk quality, milk discard, early culling of cows, drug costs and labor costs in dairy cow. Until now, a antibiotic administration at the end of lactation, dry cow therapy has been known the most effective and widely used mastitis control method. However, dry cow therapy do not control a new infection in the late dry and prepartum period because dry cow products have only persistent activity in the early dry period. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate clinical effect of sustained released biodegradable cephalexin microsphere using PLGA in bovine mastitis control during dry period. PLGA has been approved as controlled drug release system because of non-toxic, non-tissue reactive and bioerodible characteristics. This study revealed that cephalexin microsphere had a spherical shape with characteristic porous structure on the surface. Also, in vitro drug release studies are clearly observed that the release rate of cephalexin from PLGA microsphere decrease during the first 21 days after initial burst and then increase again between 3 and 4 weeks showing pulsatile releasing pattern. On the other hand, as tried in field the new infection rate, cure rate and mean SCC after parturition in cephalexin microsphere infused group were significantly differenced as compared to the control group. Accordingly, a sustained release of cephalexin from a biodegradable microsphere could make dry cow therapy more efficiently by preventing a new infection and decreasing the number of existing infection of mammary gland during dry period.