• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.113-117
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• 2016

Recently, hydrogen is regarded as important energy in the future, because it is clean and renewable. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) system, which produce hydrogen using water splitting by solar energy, is one of the most promising energy systems because it has abundant energy sources and good theoretical efficiency. GaN has recently been regarded as suitable photoelectrode that could be used to split water to generate hydrogen without extra bias because its band edge position include water redox potential ($V_{redox}=1.23$ vs. SHE). GaN also shows considerable corrosion resistance in aqueous solutions and it is possible to control its properties, such as structure, band gap, and catalyst characteristics, in order to improve solar energy conversion efficiency. But, even if the band edge position of GaN make PEC reaction facilitate without bias, the overpotential of oxygen evolution reaction could reduce the efficiency of system. One of the ways to decrease overpotential is introduction of co-catalyst on photoelectrode. In this paper, we will investigate the effect of manganese dioxide ($MnO_2$) as a co-catalyst. $MnO_2$ particles were dispersed on GaN photoelectrode by spincoater and analyzed properties of the PEC system using potentiostat (PARSTAT4000). After coating $MnO_2$, the flat-band potential ($V_{fb}$) and the onset voltage ($V_{onset}$) were moved negatively by 0.195 V and 0.116 V, respectively. The photocurrent density increased on $MnO_2$ coated sample and time dependence was also improved. These results showed $MnO_2$ has an effect as a co-catalyst and it would enhance the efficiency of overall PEC system.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1-7
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• 2017

Cobalt silicide was used as a counter electrode in order to confirm its reliability in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) devices. 100 nm-Co/300 nm-Si/quartz was formed by an evaporator and cobalt silicide was formed by vacuum heat treatment at $700^{\circ}C$ for 60 min to form approximately 350 nm-CoSi. This process was followed by etching in $80^{\circ}C$-30% $H_2SO_4$ to remove the cobalt residue on the cobalt silicide surface. Also, for the comparison against Pt, we prepared a 100 nm-Pt/glass counter electrode. Cobalt silicide was used for the counter electrode in order to confirm its reliability in DSSC devices and maintained for 0, 168, 336, 504, 672, and 840 hours at $80^{\circ}C$. The photovoltaic properties of the DSSCs employing cobalt silicide were confirmed by using a simulator and potentiostat. Cyclic-voltammetry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectrometry analyses were used to confirm the catalytic activity, microstructure, and composition, respectively. The energy conversion efficiency (ECE) as a function of time and ECE of the DSSC with Pt and CoSi counter electrodes were maintained for 504 hours. However, after 672 hours, the ECEs decreased to a half of their initial values. The results of the catalytic activity analysis showed that the catalytic activities of the Pt and CoSi counter electrodes decreased to 64% and 57% of their initial values, respectively(after 840 hours). The microstructure analysis showed that the CoSi layer improved the durability in the electrolyte, but because the stress concentrates on the contact surface between the lower quartz substrate and the CoSi layer, cracks are formed locally and flaking occurs. Thus, deterioration occurs due to the residual stress built up during the silicidation of the CoSi counter electrode, so it is necessary to take measures against these residual stresses, in order to ensure the reliability of the electrode.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.62-67
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• 2009

Ti and Ti-alloys have good biocompatibility, appropriate mechanical properties and excellent corrosion resistance. However, the widely used Ti-6Al-4V is found to release toxic ions (Al and V) into the body, leading to undesirable long-term effects. Ti-6Al-4V has much higher elastic modulus (100 GPa) than cortical bone (20 GPa). Therefore, titanium alloys with low elastic modulus have been developed as biomaterials to minimize stress shielding. The electrochemical behavior of surface-modified and MC3T3-E1 cell-cultured Ti-30(Nb,Ta) alloys with low elastic modulus have been investigated using various electrochemical methods. Surfaces of test samples were treated as follows: $0.3{\mu}m$ polished; $25{\mu}m$, $50{\mu}m$ and $125{\mu}m$ sandblasted. Specimen surfaces were cultured with MC3T3-E1 cells for 2 days. Average surface roughness ($R_a$) and morphology of specimens were determined using a surface profilometer, OM, and FE-SEM. Corrosion behavior was investigated using a potentiostat(EG&G PARSTAT 2273), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed (10 mHz to 100 kHz) in 0.9% NaCl solution at $36.5{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. The microstructures of the Ti-30(Ta,Nb) alloys had a needle-like appearance. The $R_a$ of polished Ti-30Ta and Ti-30Nb alloys was lower than that of the sandblasted Ti alloy. Cultured cells displayed round shapes. For polished alloy samples, cells were well-cultured on all surfaces compared to sandblasted alloy samples. In sandblasted and cell-cultured Ti-30(Nb,Ta) alloy, the pitting potential decreased and passive current density increased as $R_a$ increased. Anodic polarization curves of cell-cultured Ti alloys showed unstable behavior in the passive region compared to non-cell-cultured alloys. From impedance tests of sandblasted and cell-cultured alloys, the polarization resistance decreased as $R_a$ increased, whereas, $R_a$ for cell-cultured Ti alloys increased compared to non-cell-cultured Ti alloys.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.33-41
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• 2005

For more convenient electrode-electrolyte interface impedance analysis in biosensor, a stand-alone impedance measurement system is required. In our study, we developed a PC-based portable system to analyze impedance of the electrochemical cell using microprocessor. The devised system consists of signal generator, programmable amplifiers, A/D converter, low pass filter, potentiostat, I/V converter, microprocessor, and PC interface. As a microprocessor, PIC16F877 which has the processing speed of 5 MIPS was used. For data acquisition, the sampling rate at 40 k samples/sec, resolution of 12 bit is used. RS-232 with 115.2 kbps speed is used for the PC communication. The square wave was used as stimuli signal for impedance analysis and voltage-controlled current measurement method of three-electrode-method were adopted. Acquired voltage and current data are calculated to multifrequency impedance signal after Fourier transform. To evaluate the implemented system, we set up the dummy cell as equivalent circuit of which was composed of resistor, parallel circuit of capacitor and resistor connected in parallel and measured the impedance of the dummy cell; the result showed that there exist accuracy within 5 % errors and reproduction within 1 % errors compared to output of Hioki LCR tester and HP impedance analyzer as a standard product. These results imply that it is possible to analyze electrode-electrolyte interface impedance quantitatively in biosensor and to implement the more portable high speed impedance analysis system compared to existing systems.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.252-259
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• 2009

Ergosterol is the significant component of the cell wall of fungi. Its presence is regarded as evidence of fungi contamination in grain and other foods. Many studies on ergosterol detection have been carried out using chemical methods, but those methods required complicated pre-treatments and long analysis times. In this study, an amperometric biosensor was developed for fast and precise ergosterol detection. The biosensor system used the electron transfer of hydrogen peroxide produced from the reaction of ergosterol with cholesterol oxidase. The biosensor system consisted of a peristaltic pump, a syringe loading sample injector, an enzyme reactor, a fabricated flow-through cell containing a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode, and a potentiostat/recorder. The working electrode was prepared by coating modified multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWNT) on glassy carbon electrode. The $MWNT-NH_2$ coated glassy carbon electrode linearly responded to hydrogen peroxide in the range of $1{\times}10^{-5}{\sim}8{\times}10^{-5}$ M with a detection limit of $10^{-7}$ M in the basic performance test. The currents produced from the ergosterol biosensor showed the linearity in a range from $1.0{\times}10^{-6}$ M to $1.0{\times}10^{-5}$ M ergosterol.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.681-682
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• 2013

전기는 우리 주변의 에너지 형태 중에서 가장 편리하고 광범위하게 사용되고 있다. 이러한 전기는 전자제품, 전기자동차, 에너지 저장 플랜트 등 매우 많은 분야에서 저장되고 사용되고 있다. 특히 에너지 저장 용량의 확대는 휴대폰, 노트북 PC 등 휴대용 IT 기기의 성장에 결정적인 역할을 하였다. 가볍고 작으면서도 고용량의 전기 에너지 저장 장치가 없었다면, 통신이나 인터넷 그리고 오락 등 다양한 기능을 작은 휴대용 기기에 구현할 수 없었을 것이다. 그러나 시간이 흐를수록 기기의 요구 성능이 높아지고 소비자의 니즈가 더욱더 다양해지고 고도화될수록 단일 부품으로 가장 큰 부피를 차지하는 에너지 저장 장치의 용량과 디자인은 점점 중요해지고 있다. 이러한 에너지 저장 장치에서 가장 친숙한 형태는 2차 전지 계열이다. 납 축전지를 비롯하여, 니켈수소, 니켈카드뮴, electrochemical capacitor와 Li ion 계열 등이 대표적이다. 특히 Li ion 배터리는 모바일, 자동차 및 에너지 저장 그리드 등과 같은 다양한 분야에 가장 많이 적용되고있다. Li ion 배터리에 대하여 현재의 핵심적인 연구분야는 전극 재료(cathode, anode)와 electrolyte에 대한 것이다. Anode 전극 재료 중에서 가장 많이 사용되는 재료는 카본을 기반으로 하는 재료로 안정성에 대한 장점이 있지만 에너지 밀도가 낮다는 단점이 있다. 에너지 저장 용량 증가에 대한 필요성이 증가하기 때문에 현재 많이 사용되고 있는 에너지 밀도가 낮은 카본 재료를 대체하기 위해서 이론 용량이 높다고 알려진 실리콘과 같은 메탈이나 주석 산화물과 같은 천이 금속 산화물에 대하여 많은 연구가 진행되고 있다. 특히 현재까지 알려진 많은 재료 중에서 가장 큰 capacity (~4,000 mAh/g)를 가지고 있다고 알려진 실리콘이 카본의 대체 재료로 많은 연구가 진행되고 있다. 그러나, Li 과 반응을 하며 약 300~400%에 달하는 부피팽창이 발생하고, 이러한 부피 팽창 때문에 충 방전이 진행됨에 따라 current collector로부터 박리되는 현상을 보여 빠른 용량 감소를 보여주고 있다. 본 연구에서는 adhesion layer를 current collector와 실리콘 전극 재료 사이에 삽입하여 충 방전 시 부피팽창에 의한 미세구조의 변화와 electrochemical 특성에 대한 영향을 알아보았다. 실험에 사용한 anode 전극은 상용 Cu foil current collector에 RF/DC magnetron 스퍼터링을 통해 다양한 종류(Ti, Ta 등)의 adhesion layer과 200 nm 두께의 Si 박막을 증착하였다. 또한 Bio-logic Potentiostat/ Galvanostat VMP3 와 WanAtech automatic battery cycler 장비를 사용하여 0.2 C-rate로 half-cell 타입의 코인 셀로 조립한 전극에 대한 충 방전 실험을 진행하였다. Adhesion layer의 사용으로 인해 실리콘 박막과 Cu current collector 사이의 박리 현상을 줄여줄 수 있었고, 충 방전 시 Cu 원자의 실리콘 박막으로의 확산을 통한 brittle한 Cu-Si alloy 형성을 막아 줄 수 있어 큰 특성 향상을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한, 리튬과 실리콘의 반응을 통한 형태와 미세구조 변화를 SEM, TEM 등의 다양한 장비를 사용하여 확인하였고, 이를 통해 adhesion layer의 사용이 전극의 특성향상에 큰 영향을 끼쳤다는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.4013-4018
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• 2014

A 0.45 $cm^2$ DSSC device with a glass/FTO/blocking layer/$TiO_2$/N719(dye)/electrolyte/50 nm-Pt/50 nm-Au/FTO/glass was prepared to examine the stability of the Au/Pt bilayered counter electrode (CE) with electrolyte and the energy conversion efficiency (ECE) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). For comparison, a 100 nm-thick Pt only CE DSSC was also prepared using the same method. The photovoltaic properties, such as the short circuit current density ($J_{sc}$), open circuit voltage ($V_{oc}$), fill factor (FF), and ECE, were checked using a solar simulator and potentiostat with time after assembling the DSSC. The microstructure of the Au/Pt bilayer was examined by optical microscopy after 0~25 minutes. The ECE of the Pt only CE-employed DSSC was 4.60 %, which did not show time dependence. On the other hand, for the Au/Pt CE DSSC, the ECEs after 0, 5 and 15 minutes were 5.28 %, 3.64 % and 2.09 %, respectively. The corrosion areas of the Au/Pt CE determined by optical microscopy after 0, 5, and 25 minutes were 0, 21.92 and 34.06 %. These results confirmed that the ECE and catalytic activity of Au/Pt CE decreased drastically with time. Therefore, a Au/Pt CE-employed DSSC may be superior to the Pt only CE-employed one immediately after integration of the device, but it would degrade drastically with time.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.537-541
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• 2010

Pt-Sn with various ratios was supported on carbon black after pretreatment in an acidic solution by a reduction method. The Pt/Sn ratio was controlled by varying the concentration of each component in the solution, and the influence of the composition on the electrocatalytic activities was investigated. The crystallinity of the synthesized materials was investigated by XRD (X-ray Diffraction), and the oxidation states of both the platinum and tin were determined by XPS (X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy). SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy)-EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy) was utilized to examine the morphology and composition of the synthesized electrode, and the particle size of the Pt-Sn was analyzed by TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy). The electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction was evaluated in a 0.5 M $H_2SO_4$ solution using a rotating disk electrode system. The activity and stability were found to be strongly dependent on the electrode composition (Pt/Sn ratio). The catalytic activity and stability for methanol oxidation were also measured using cyclic voltammetry (CV) in a mixture of 0.5 M $H_2SO_4$ and 0.5 M $CH_3OH$ aqueous solution. The addition of proper amount of Sn was found to significantly improve both catalytic activity and stability for methanol oxidation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.196-196
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• 2016

치과나 기공소로부터 높은 원가로 인한 재료선택에 어려움을 겪고 있어 귀금속 금합금의 물성을 가질 수 있도록 하면서 가격급등으로 인한 문제 해결하기 위한 비귀금속 합금으로 대체가 필요하기에 이에 따른 연구가 이루어져 국산 제품의 상품화를 위해 파라듐을 이용하여 적합한 새로운 합금을 개발하는 것이 필요하다. 치과용 골드합금은 미국치과의사 협회의 구정에 의하면 1형부터 4형까지 분류하고 있으며 3형에 해당하는 강도와 기계적인 특성을 갖도록 파라듐으로 대체하는 연구가 진행중이거나 시판되고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 2형, 3형 및 4형을 대체가능하도록 팔라듐을 기반으로 한 새로운 합금을 설계하고 합금의 성분원 소인 Au(1~5), Pd(20~25), Ag(70~75), In(1.5) 및 Zn(2)등으로 조성을 변화시켜 측량 후 합금을 제조하기 위하여 아르곤 분위기하의 진공아크용해로를 이용하여 용해하였다. 정량된 금속을 진공아크 용해로에 장입하고 용해는 균질한 합금이 되도록 최소한 6회 이상 용융을 실시하며 합금성분의 손실이 발행하지 않도록 보정을 하였다. 합금의 미세조직 관찰을 위하여 샘플을 고속 다이아몬드 정밀 절단기(Acculom-5, STRUERS, Denmark)를 이용하여 절단한 후 2000 grit의 Sic 연마지에서 단계적으로 $0.3{\mu}m$ 알루미나 분말까지 연마한 후 초음파 세척을 하였다. 준비한 시편은 KCN과 $(NH_4)_2S_2O_8$을 1:1로 혼합한 부식액으로 에칭한 후 OM과 SEM을 이용하여 조직을 관찰하였으며 각 샘플의 성분변화는 EDS 분석을 통해 확인하고 결정구조는 XRD를 사용하여 분석하였다. 경도시험은 비커스경도시험기를 이용하여 5kg의 하중을 30초간 작동시켜 압흔을 연결된 micron으로 평균값을 측정하였다. 각 시편의 부식거동은 POTENTIOSTAT(Model PARSTAT 2273, EG&G, USA)을 이용하여 구강 내환경화 유사한 $36.5{\pm}1^{\circ}C$의 0.9% NaCl에서 실시하였다. 인가전위는 -1500mV에서 1000mV까지 1.67 mV/min의 주사속도로 인가하여 시험을 수행하였으며 분극곡선으로부터 부식전위와 부식전류밀도 및 부동태영역의 전류밀도로 금속의 용출거동을 조사하였으며 부식이 끝난 시편은 FE-SEM과 EDS를 사용하여 조사하였다. 기계적인 특성은 Pd-Ag에 3wt%의 Au를 첨가한 합금이 Pd-Ag에 1.5wt%합금을 첨가한 경우에 비하여 기계적인 특성이 증가하고 내식성이 크게 증가하였다. 이들 합금에 Cu를 11wt%를 첨가한 경우는 비커스경도가 200이상으로 높게 나타났지만 내식성이 크게 감소하였다.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.6-15
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• 1991

The purpose of this study was to observe in vitro chloride corrosion behavior from 5 kinds of amalgam (Caulk spheracal, Amalcap, Dispersalloy, Tytin, Sybralloy) as a function of time after tritruration by using potentiostat. After each amalgam alloy and Hg was triturated as the direction of the manufacturer by the mechanical amalgamator, the triturated mass was inserted the cyrindrical matal mold ($12{\times}10mm$) and was condensed by using routine manner. The specimen was removed from the mold and was stored at room temperature for 1 week, 1 month and 3 months, and standard surface preparation was routine carried out. The 0.9% saline solution was used as electrolyte in pH 6.8~7.0 at $30{\pm}0.5.^{\circ}C$. The open circuit potential was determined after 30 minutes' immersion of 1 week, 1 month and 3 month old specimens. The scan rate was 1 mV/sec and the surface area of amalgam exposed to the solution was $0.65\;Cm^2$ for each specimen. All potentials reported are with respect to a silver / silver chloride electrode (SSE). The following result was obtained. 1. All amalgam specimens became more noble corrosion potentials which represent the improved corrosion resistance as the time elapsed. 2. Three kinds of high copper amalgam always exhibited more noble potential than low copper amalgam at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months. 3. Two kinds of low copper amalgam had the similar polarization curve pattern with 3 current peaks at each time period and current densities associated with these peaks were decreased as aging especially in caulk spherical amalgam. 4. All kinds of high copper amalgam had the similar polarization curve pattern with absence of prominent current peak at each time period, but the polarization curve of D amalgam had one apparent current peak at 1 week.