• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.894-900
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• 2009

This study examined the charge carrier photogeneration and hole transport properties of blends of poly (9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK), $\pi$-conjugated polymer, with different weight proportions (0~29.4 wt%) of (PEA)$VOPO_4{\cdot}H_2O$ (PEA: phenethylammonium cation), a novel organic-inorganic hybrid material, using IR, UV-Vis, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), steady state photocurrent (SSPC) measurement, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The SSPC measurements showed that the photocurrent of PVK was reduced by approximately three orders of magnitude by the incorporation of a small amount (~12.5 wt%) of (PEA) $VOPO_4{\cdot}H_2O$, suggesting that hole transport occurred through the PVK carbazole groups, whereas a reverse trend was observed at high proportions (>12.5 wt%) of (PEA)$VOPO_4{\cdot}H_2O$, suggesting that transport occurred via (PEA)$VOPO_4{\cdot}H_2O$ molecules. The transition to a trap-controlled hopping mechanism was explained by the difference in ionization potential and electron affinity of the two compounds as well as the formation of charge percolation threshold pathways.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.315-323
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• 2021

In general, surface treatments of electroless Ni-P coating are extensively applied in the industry due to their excellent properties for considerable wear resistance, hardness, corrosion resistance. This study aims to determine the effect of ultrasonic conditions on the morphology, alumina content, roughness, hardness, and corrosion resistance of electroless Ni-P-Al₂O₃ composite coatings. The characteristics were analyzed by Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), x-ray diffractions (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM), etc. In this study, the effect of ultrasonic condition uniformly distributed alumina within Ni-P solution resulting in a smoother surface, lower surface roughness. Furthermore, the corrosion resistance behavior of the coating was analyzed using tafel polarization curves in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution at 25 ℃. Under ultrasonic, Al₂O₃ content in Ni-P composite solution increased from 0.5 to 5.0 g/L, Al₂O₃ content at 3.0 g/L was showed a significantly enhanced corrosion resistance. These results suggested that ultrasonic condition was an effective method to improve the properties of the composite coating.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.260-275
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• 2018

The corrosion inhibition of cast iron in 1 M HCl by Phenanthroline (Phen) was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) curves, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), surface analysis and theoretical calculations. It is found that Phen exhibits high inhibition activity towards the corrosive action of HCl and its adsorption obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The results showed that inhibition efficiency increases with Phen concentration up to a maximum value of 96% at 1.4 mM, and decreases slightly with the increase in temperature. The free adsorption energy value indicates that Phen adsorbs on cast iron surface in 1 M HCl via a simultaneous physisorption and chemisorption mechanism. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and FTIR analysis confirmed the formation of a protective film on cast iron surface, resulting in the improvement of its corrosion resistance in the studied aggressive solution. Quantum chemical calculations at the DFT level were achieved to correlate electronic structure parameters of Phen molecules with their adsorption mode.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.579-581
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• 2011

Spectroscopic evaluation of hair chemical damage was performed by SEM/EDS, CLSM, and FT-IR spectroscopy. In SEM/EDS, hydrogen peroxide treated hair showed the loose packing of surface scales, lower ratio of sulfur element and higher ratio of oxygen atom. In the optical single section by using CLSM, high fluorescent intensity appeared in untreated hair. However, in case of treated hair, low fluorescent intensity appeared. This results the aromatic amino acids which can be autofluorescent were more abundant than bleached hair. FT-IR spectra showed that cysteic acid band intensity was increased by performing the bleaching treatments. These results indicate that the oxidative damage cleaves the S-S bond and results in the lower working force of hair fiber.

• Current Applied Physics
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1300-1305
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• 2018

The tunable electronic performance of the solution-processed semiconductor metal oxide is of great significance for the printing electronics. In current work, transparent thin-film transistors (TFTs) with indium-zinc oxide (IZO) were fabricated as active layer by a simple eco-friendly aqueous route. The aqueous precursor solution is composed of water without any other organic additives and the IZO films are amorphous revealed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD). With systematic studies of atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and the semiconductor property characterizations, it was revealed that the electrical performance of the IZO TFTs is dependent on the concentration of precursor solution. As well, the optimum preparation process was obtained. The concentrations induced the regulation of the electronic performance was clearly demonstrated with a proposed mechanism. The results are expected to be beneficial for development of solution-processed metal oxide TFTs.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.47 no.9
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• pp.558-566
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• 2009

The alloying effect of a small amount of nickel on low alloy steel for application to flue gas desulfurization(FGD) systems was studied. The structural characteristics of the rust layer were investigated by scanning electron microscopy(SEM). The electrochemical properties were examined by means of potentiostatic polarization test, potentiodynamic polarization test, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) in a modified green death solution of 16.9 vol.% $H_2SO_4$+0.35 vol.% HCl at $60^{\circ}C$ and an acid rain solution of $6.25{\times}10^{-5}M\;H_2SO_4+5.5{\times}10^{-3}M\;NaCl$ at room temperature. It was found that as the amount of nickel increased, the corrosion rate increased in the modified green death solution, which seemed to result from micro-galvanic corrosion between NiS and alloy matrix. In acid rain solution, the corrosion rate decreased as the amount of nickel increased due to the repulsive force of $NiFe_2O_4$ rust against $Cl^-$ ions by electronegativity.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.373-379
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• 2021

A series of novel PBI/SrTiO₃ nanocomposite membranes composed of polybenzimidazole (PBI) and strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) with a perovskite structure were fabricated with various concentrations of SrTiO₃ through a solution casting method. Various characterization techniques such as proton nuclear magnetic resonance, thermogravimetric analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and AC impedance spectroscopy were used to investigate the chemical structure, thermal, phosphate absorption and morphological properties, and proton conductivity of the fabricated nanocomposite membranes. The optimized PBI/SrTiO₃-8 polymer nanocomposite membrane containing 8wt% of SrTiO₃ showed a higher proton conductivity of 7.95 × 10^-2 S/cm at 160℃ compared to other nanocomposite membranes. The PBI/SrTiO₃-8 composite membrane also showed higher thermal stability compared to pristine PBI. In addition, the roughness change of the polymer composite membrane was also investigated by AFM. Based on these results, nanocomposite membranes based on perovskite structures are expected to be considered as potential candidates for high-temperature PEM fuel cell applications.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.655-671
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• 2022

There are differences of spectral characteristics between different types of meat cut, which means the model established using only one type of meat cut for meat quality prediction is not suitable for other meat cut types. A novel portable visible and near-infrared (Vis/NIR) optical system was used to simultaneously predict multiple quality indicators for different commercial meat cut types (silverside, back strap, oyster, fillet, thick flank, and tenderloin) from Small-tailed Han sheep. The correlation coefficients of the calibration set (R_c) and prediction set (R_p) of the optimal prediction models were 0.82 and 0.81 for pH, 0.88 and 0.84 for L^*, 0.83 and 0.78 for a^*, 0.83 and 0.82 for b^*, 0.94 and 0.86 for cooking loss, 0.90 and 0.88 for shear force, 0.84 and 0.83 for protein, 0.93 and 0.83 for fat, 0.92 and 0.87 for moisture contents, respectively. This study demonstrates that Vis/NIR spectroscopy is a promising tool to achieve the predictions of multiple quality parameters for different commercial meat cut types.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.214-217
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• 2022

The effect of inductively coupled plasma (ICP) treatment with O₂ gas on the surface properties of poly(ether sulfone) (PES) was investigated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to analyze the chemical characteristics of the O₂ plasma-treated PES films. The surface roughness of the pristine and O₂ plasma-treated PES films for different RF powers of the ICP was determined using an atomic force microscope (AFM). The contact angles of the PES films were also measured, using which the surface free energies were calculated. The O1s XPS spectra of the PES films revealed that the number of polar functional groups increased following the O₂ plasma treatment. The AFM analysis showed the average surface roughness increased from 1.01 to 4.48 nm as the RF power of the ICP was increased. The contact angle measurements revealed that the PES films became more hydrophilic as the RF power of the ICP was increased. The total surface energy increased with the RF power of the ICP, resulting from the increased polar energy component.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.17-19
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• 2010

In this work, the optimized process condition of chemical solution deposition which is used to planarize the surface of the metal tape (which is used to grow IBAD-MgO texture template) was investigated. $Y_2O_3$ films were dip-coated on the surface of the unpolished metal tape as the seed and barrier layer. The effects of $Y_2O_3$ concentration of the solution (0.5wt.%, 1.3wt.%, 2.8wt.%, 5.6wt.%) and the number of coatings on the surface morphology and barrier capability against the diffusion from the metal tape were examined. The surface morphology and the thickness of the film were observed using the scanning electron microscope and the atomic force microscope. The presence of elements in metal tape on the film surface was analyzed using the auger electron spectroscopy. The $Y_2O_3$ film thickness increases with increasing the $Y_2O_3$ concentration in the solution, and the surface became smoother with increasing the number of coating cycles. The best result was obtained from the $Y_2O_3$ film coated 4 cycles using 2.8wt.% solution.