• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.84-90
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• 2009

We prepared side-chain liquid crystalline polymers comprising two monomeric units, one having a mesogenic side group that could form a smectic mesophase and the other having a phenolic group attached to the polymer backbone via a thermally reversible urethane bond. The urethane linkage between the isocyanate and phenol groups was stable at room temperature, but it cleaved to generate an isocyanate group when the temperature was increased. When annealed, the copolymers in their smectic mesophases became insoluble in common organic solvents, suggesting the formation of network structures. XRD analysis showed that the annealed polymers maintained their smectic LC structures. The crosslinking process probably proceeded via the reaction of the dissociated isocyanate groups. Some of the isocyanate groups would have first reacted with moisture in the atmosphere to yield amino groups, which underwent further reaction with other isocyanate groups, resulting in the formation of urea bonds. We presume that only polymer chains in the same layer were crosslinked by the reaction of the isocyanate groups, resulting in the formation of a layered polymer network structure. Reactions between the layers did not occur because of the wide layer spacing.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1044-1052
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• 1994

Tape casting technique was successfully applied to produce porous ceramics and multi-layered ceramics containing porous layers, where spherical hollow polymer particles were introduced as pore precursors. In the presence of extreme differences in density and size between Al2O3 and pore precursor particles, hindered settling was effective in preventing segregation of component particles and packing behavior of mixed powders was improved through bimodal packing. There were two transitions in packing behavior of mixed powders. The first transition took place at 40~50 vol% pore precursor addition, where majority of pores changed from close to open pore state. The other transition occured at 60~70 vol% pore precursor addition, where pore precursor particles formed a continuous network structure.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.484.2-484.2
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• 2014

There are many efforts to improving the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Although DSCs have a low production cost, their low PCE and low thermal stability have limited commercial applications. This study describes the preparation of a novel multifunctional polymer gel electrolyte in which a cross-linking polymerization reaction is used to encapsulate $TiO_2$ nanoparticles toward improving the power conversion efficiency and long-term stability of a quasi-solid state DSC. A series of liquid junction dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) was fabricated based on polymer membrane encapsulated dye-sensitized $TiO_2$ nanoparticles, prepared using a surface-induced cross-linking polymerization reaction, to investigate the dependence of the solar cell performance on the encapsulating membrane layer thickness. The ion conductivity decreased as the membrane thickness increased; however, the long term-stability of the devices improved with increasing membrane thickness. Nanoparticles encapsulated in a thick membrane (ca. 37 nm), obtained using a 90 min polymerization time, exhibited excellent pore filling among $TiO_2$ particles. This nanoparticle layer was used to fabricate a thin-layered, quasi-solid state DSC. The thick membrane prevented short-circuit paths from forming between the counter and the $TiO_2$ electrode, thereby reducing the minimum necessary electrode separation distance. The quasi-solid state DSC yielded a high power conversion efficiency (7.6/8.1%) and excellent stability during heating at $65^{\circ}C$ over 30 days. These performance characteristics were superior to those obtained from a conventional DSC (7.5/3.5%) prepared using a $TiO_2$ active layer with the same thickness. The reduced electrode separation distance shortened the charge transport pathways, which compensated for the reduced ion conductivity in the polymer gel electrolyte. Excellent pore filling on the $TiO_2$ particles minimized the exposure of the dye to the liquid and reduced dye detachment.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.198-205
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• 2005

Double-layered polymer films to assay the radioactive contamination were formulated using polysulfone (PSF) and cerium activated yttrium silicate (CAYS), consisting of a dense support layer and a CAYS-holding top layer prepared via the diffusion-induced phase inversion. As the vapor exposure process was omitted, the CAYS-holding layer showed a typical asymmetric structure, with CAYS being transfixed into the polymer network spread with large macropores. With the increase in vapor exposure time before immersion, morphology of the films transformed from asymmetric to sponge-like structures, with CAYS being localized in cellular structure. The border structure between the two layers reflects the phase inversion behavior of a cast solution during the coagulation. In the radioactive detection, the polymer phase in a film holding a sponge-like structure is so dense that the radionuclides, deposited on the film, could not filter through the phase, consequently resulting in the loss in the detection efficiency of the film.

• Composites Research
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.38-46
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• 2001

In this study, An optimization code that can design microwave absorbing composite laminates is developed, and 3-layered microwave absorbing composite laminates are developed by optimizing the thickness of each layer. The layers are 3 different composite laminates. Many variables including lay-up angles of electromagnetically orthotropic composite layer can be considered in this code. The developed laminate is composed of an impedance matching layer of glass/epoxy fabric laminate, a glass/epoxy fabric laminate layer containing aluminum filler and carbon/epoxy fabric laminate layer. Permittivities of the materials are obtained using a network analyzer and a coaxial air line.