• Carbon letters
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• v.23
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• pp.55-62
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• 2017

We report on the dispersion state of partially reduced graphene oxide (PRGO) in organic solvents, namely methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, methylene chloride, toluene, and xylene, by controlling the carbon to oxygen (C/O) atomic ratio of the PRGOs. A two-phase solvent exchange method is also proposed to transfer PRGO from water to an aprotic solvent, such as methyl ethyl ketone. We achieve relatively good dispersion in aprotic and non-polar solvents by controlling the C/O atomic ratio of the PRGOs and applying the two-phase solvent exchange method. There is an increase in the glass transition temperatures with the dispersion of PRGOs into amorphous polymers, in particular a $4.4^{\circ}C$ increase for poly(methyl methacrylate) and $3.0^{\circ}C$ increase for polycarbonate. Good dispersion of PRGO in a nonpolar polymer, such as linear low density polyethylene, is also obtained.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.129.1-129.1
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• 2013

Atomically-thin graphene is the ideal model system for studying nanoscale friction due to its intrinsic two-dimensional anisotropy. Here, we report the reduced nanoscale friction of epitaxial graphene on SiC, investigated with conductive-probe atomic force microscopy/friction force microscopy in ultra-high vacuum. The measured friction on a buffer layer was found to be 1/8 of that on a monolayer of epitaxial graphene. Conductive probe atomic force microscopy revealed a lower conductance on the buffer layer, compared to monolayer graphene. We associate this difference in friction with the difference in total lateral stiffness. Because bending stiffness is associated with flexural phonons in two-dimensional systems, nanoscale frictional energy should primarily dissipate through damping with the softest phonons. We investigated the influence of hydrogen intercalation on the nanoscale friction. We found that the friction decreased significantly after hydrogen intercalation, which is related to loose contact between the graphene and the substrate that results in a lower bending stiffness.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.278-285
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• 2021

This study produces electroconductive polycaprolactone (PCL)-based film with different amounts of graphene (G) through electrospinning, and the characteristics of the produced G/PCL composites are investigated. The G/PCL results are analyzed by comparing them with those obtained using pure PCL electrospun film as a control. The morphology of electrospun material is analyzed through scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Mechanical and electrical properties are also evaluated. Composites containing 1 % graphene have the highest elongation rate, and 5 % samples have the highest strength and elasticity. Graphene contents > 25 % show electro-conductivity, which level improves with increase of graphene content. Biological characteristics of G/PCL composites are assessed through behavioral analysis of neural cell attachment and proliferation. Cell experiments reveal that compositions < 50 % show slightly reduced cell viability. Moreover, graphene combinations facilitated cell proliferation compared to pure PCL. These results confirm that a 25 % G/PCL composition is best for application to systems that introduce external stimuli such as electric fields and electrodes to lead to synergistic efficiency of tissue regeneration.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.222-226
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• 2022

Between diaphragms made of stainless steel (SUS), which is the main component of a hydrogen gas compressor, micro-slip occurs owing to repeated bending, resulting in scratches on the surface. The surface scratch of the compressor part is a problem with airtightness, which reduces the efficiency of the compressor; in severe cases, damage is a possibility. In this study, the changes in friction and wear characteristics due to the surface polishing of SUS and carbon-based solid lubricant films (graphene and CNT) were analyzed. Bare SUS, polished SUS, graphene film, and CNT film specimens were prepared. The surface roughness of the SUS was significantly reduced by surface polishing but increased by carbon-based solid lubricating films. In contrast, the friction coefficient maintained a similar value after surface polishing but was significantly reduced by the carbon-based solid lubricant films. In particular, the graphene film exhibited the lowest initial friction coefficient, while the CNT film exhibited the lowest overall average friction coefficient. Regarding the wear rate, polished SUS exhibited the lowest value, but the surface condition of the wear track showed that the carbon-based solid lubricating films were relatively less damaged. Although the wear rate measured was largely attributed to the solid lubricating film peeling off, the SUS surface under the film was considered protected.

• Carbon letters
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• v.25
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• pp.14-24
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• 2018

Electrochemical properties and performance of composites performed by incorporating metal oxide or metal hydroxide on carbon materials based on graphene and carbon nanotube (CNT) were analyzed. From the surface analysis by field emission scanning electron microscopy and field emission transmission electron microscopy, it was confirmed that graphene, CNT and metal materials are well dispersed in the ternary composites. In addition, structural and elemental analyses of the composite were conducted. The electrochemical characteristics of the ternary composites were analyzed by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge-discharge tests, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 6 M KOH, or $1M\;Na_2SO_4$ electrolyte solution. The highest specific capacitance was $1622F\;g^{-1}$ obtained for NiCo-containing graphene with NiCo ratio of 2 to 1 (GNiCo 2:1) and the GNS/single-walled carbon $nanotubes/Ni(OH)_2$ (20 wt%) composite had the maximum specific capacitance of $1149F\;g^{-1}$. The specific capacitance and rate-capability of the $CNT/MnO_2/reduced$ graphene oxide (RGO) composites were improved as compared to the $MnO_2/RGO$ composites without CNTs. The $MnO_2/RGO$ composite containing 20 wt% CNT with reference to RGO exhibited the best specific capacitance of $208.9F\;g^{-1}$ at a current density of $0.5A\;g^{-1}$ and 77.2% capacitance retention at a current density of $10A\;g^{-1}$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.119-119
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• 2011

This study examined the synthesis of large area graphene and the change of its characteristics depending on the ratio of CH4/H2 by using the thermal CVD methods and performed the experiments to control the electron-hole conduction and Dirac-point of graphene by using chemical doping methods. Firstly, with regard to the characteristics of the large area graphene depending on the ratio of CH4/H2, hydrophobic characteristics of the graphene changed to hydrophilic characteristics as the ratio of CH4/H2 reduces. The angle of contact also increased to 78$^{\circ}$ from 58$^{\circ}$. According to the results of Raman spectroscopy showing the degree of defect, the ratio of I(D)/I(G) increases to 0.42% from 0.25% and the surface resistance also increased to 950 ${\Omega}$ from 750 ${\Omega}$/sq. As for the graphene synthesis at the high temperature of 1,000$^{\circ}$ by using CH4/H2 in a Cu-Foil, the possibility of graphene formation was determined as a function of the ratio of H2 included in the fixed quantity of CH4 as per specifications of every equipment. It was observed that the excessive amount of H2 prevented graphene from forming, as extra H-atoms and molecules activated the reaction to C-bond of graphene. Secondly, in the experiment for the electron-hole conduction and the Dirac-point of graphene using the chemical doping method, the shift of Dirac-point and the change in the electron-hole conduction were observed for both the N-type (PEI) and the P-type (Diazonium) dopings. The ID-VG results show that, for the N-type (PEI) doped graphene, Dirac-point shifted to the left (-voltage direction) by 90V at an hour and by 130 V at 2 hours respectively, compared to the pristine graphene. Carrier mobility was also reduced by 1,600 cm2/Vs (1 hour) and 1,100 cm2/Vs (2 hours), compared to the maximum hole mobility of the pristine graphene.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.653-653
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• 2013

In this study, ITO extended gate reduced graphene oxide field effect transistor (rGO FET) was demonstrated as a transducer for a proton sensing application. In this structure, the sensing area is isolated from the active area of the device. Therefore, it is easy to deposit or modify the sensing area without affecting on the device performance. In this case, the ITO extended gate was used as a gate electrode as well as a proton sensing material. The proton sensing properties based on the rGO FET transducer were analyzed. The rGO FET device showed a high stability in the air ambient with a TTC encapsulation layer for months. The device showed an ambipolar characteristic with the Dirac point shift with varying the pH solutions. The sensing characteristics have offered the potential for the ion sensing application.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.484-490
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• 2014

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) was fabricated using gelatin as a reductant, and it could be stably dispersed in gelatin solution without aggregation. A series of RGO/gelatin composite films with various RGO contents were prepared by a solution-casting method. The structure and thermal properties of the RGO/gelatin composite films were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The addition of RGO enhances the degree of crosslinking of gelatin films and decreases the swelling ability of the gelatin films in water, indicating that RGO/gelatin composite films have a better wet stability than gelatin films. The glass transition temperature ($T_g$) of gelatin films is also increased with the incorporation of RGO. The presence of RGO slightly increases the degradation temperature of gelatin films due to the very low content of RGO in the composite films. Since gelatin is a natural and nontoxic biomacromolecule, the RGO/gelatin composite films are expected to have potential applications in the biomedical field.

• Carbon letters
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.230-235
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• 2012

In this study, reduced graphene oxide/polyimide (r-GO/PI) composite films, which showed significant enhancement in their electrical conductivity, were successfully fabricated. GO was prepared from graphite using a modified Hummers method. The GO was used as a nanofiller material for the preparation of r-GO/PI composites by in-situ polymerization. An addition of 20 wt% of GO led to a significant decrease in the volume resistivity of composite films by less than nine orders of magnitude compared to that of pure PI films due to the electrical percolation networks of reduced GO created during imidization within the films. A tensile test indicated that the Young's modulus of the r-GO/PI composite film containing 20 wt% GO increased drastically from 2.3 GPa to 4.4 GPa, which was an improvement of approximately 84% compared to that of pure PI film. In addition, the corresponding tensile strength was found to have decreased only by 12%, from 113 MPa to 99 MPa.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.324-330
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• 2019

Petal-like nickel cobaltite ($NiCo_2O_4$)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites with different $rGO-to-NiCo_2O_4$ weight ratios were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method and subsequent thermal treatment. In the $NiCo_2O_4/rGO$ composite, the $NiCo_2O_4$ 3-dimensional nanomaterials contributed to the improvement of electrochemical properties of the final composite material by preventing the restacking of the rGO sheet and securing ion movement passages. The composite structure was examined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The FE-SEM and TEM images showed that petal-like $NiCo_2O_4$ was supported on the rGO surface. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used for the electrochemical analysis of composites. Among the prepared composites, $0.075g\;rGO/NiCo_2O_4$ composite showed the highest specific capacitance of $1,755Fg^{-1}$ at a current density of $2Ag^{-1}$. The cycle performance and rate capability of the composite material were higher than those of using the single $NiCo_2O_4$ material. These nano-structured composites could be regarded as valuable electrode materials for supercapacitors that require superior performance.