• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.649-655
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• 2016

Ni nanoparticles (NPs)-graphitic carbon nanofiber (GCNF) composites were fabricated using an electrospinning method. The amounts of Ni precursor used as catalyst for the catalytic graphitization were controlled at 0, 2, 5, and 8 wt% to improve the photovoltaic performances of the nanoparticles and make them suitable for use as counter electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). As a result, Ni NPs-GCNF composites that were fabricated with 8 wt% Ni precursors showed a high circuit voltage (0.73 V), high photocurrent density ($14.26mA/cm^2$), and superb power-conversion efficiency (6.72%) when compared to those characteristics of other samples. These performance improvements can be attributed to the reduced charge transport resistance that results from the synergetic effect of the superior catalytic activity of Ni NPs and the efficient charge transfer due to the formation of GCNF with high electrical conductivity. Thus, Ni NPs-GCNF composites may be used as promising counter electrodes in DSSCs.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2013

Well-distributed $SnO_2$-Sn-$Ag_3Sn$ nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanofibers were fabricated using a co-electrospinning method, which is set up with two coaxial capillaries. Their formation mechanisms were successfully demonstrated. The structural, morphological, and chemical compositional properties were investigated by field-emission scanning electron spectroscopy (FESEM), bright-field transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In particular, to obtain well-distributed $SnO_2$ and Sn and $Ag_3Sn$ nanoparticles in carbon nanofibers, the relative molar ratios of the Ag precursor to the Sn precursor including 7 wt% polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were controlled at 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3. The FESEM, bright-field TEM, XRD, and XPS results show that the nanoparticles consisting of $SnO_2$-Sn-$Ag_3Sn$ phases were in the range of ~4 nm-6 nm for sample A, ~5 nm-15 nm for sample B, ~9 nm-22 nm for sample C. In particular, for sample A, the nanoparticles were uniformly grown in the carbon nanofibers. Furthermore, when the amount of the Ag precursor and the Sn precursor was increased, the inorganic nanofibers consisting of the $SnO_2$-Sn-$Ag_3Sn$ nanoparticles were formed due to the decreased amount of the carbon nanofibers. Thus, well-distributed nanoparticles embedded in the carbon nanofibers were successfully synthesized at the optimum molar ratio (0.1) of the Ag precursor to the Sn precursor after calcination of $800^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.192-197
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• 2009

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) were used as a catalyst support where catalytically active Pd and Pt metal particles decorated the outside of the external CNT walls. In this study, Pd and Pt nanoparticles supported on $HNO_3$-treated CNT were prepared by microwave-assisted heating of the polyol process using $PdCl_2$ and $H_2PtCl_6{\codt}6H_2O$ precursors, respectively, and were then characterized by SEM, TEM, and Raman. Raman spectroscopy showed that the acid treated CNT had a higher intensity ratio of $I_D/I_G$ compared to that of non-treated CNT, indicating the formation of defects or functional groups on CNT after chemical oxidation. Microwave irradiation for total two minutes resulted in the formation of Pd and Pt nanoparticles on the acid treated CNT. The sizes of Pd and Pt nanoparticles were found to be less than 10 nm and 3 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the $SnO_2$ films doped with CNT decorated by Pd and Pt nanoparticles were prepared, and then the $NO_2$ gas response of these sensor films was evaluated under $1{\sim}5\;ppm$ $NO_2$ concentration at $200^{\circ}C$. It was found that the sensing property of the $SnO_2$ film sensor on $NO_2$ gas was greatly improved by the addition of CNT-supported Pd and Pt nanoparticles.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-42
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• 2014

Well-distributed ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles decorated on porous carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were synthesized using an electrospinning method and a reduction method for use in high-performance elctrochemical capacitors. The formation mechanisms including structural, morphological, and chemical bonding properties are demonstrated by means of field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). To investigate the optimum amount of the Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs, we controlled three different weight ratios (0 wt%, 20 wt%, and 40 wt%) of the Ru nanoparticles on the porous CNFs. For the case of 20 wt% Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs, TEM results indicate that the Ru nanoparticles with ~2-4 nm size are uniformly distributed on the porous CNFs. In addition, 40 wt% Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs exhibit agglomerated Ru nanoparticles, which causes low performance of electrodes in electrochemical capacitors. Thus, proper distribution of 20 wt% Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs presents superior specific capacitance (~280.5 F/g at 10 mV/s) as compared to the 40 wt% Ru nanoparticles decorated on the porous CNFs and the only porous CNFs. This enhancement can be attributed to the synergistic effects of well-distributed Ru nanoparticles and porous CNF supports having high surface area.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.470-477
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• 2021

Energy storage systems should address issues such as power fluctuations and rapid charge-discharge; to meet this requirement, CoFe₂O₄ (CFO) spinel nanoparticles with a suitable electrical conductivity and various redox states are synthesized and used as electrode materials for supercapacitors. In particular, CFO electrodes combined with carbon nanofibers (CNFs) can provide long-term cycling stability by fabricating binder-free three-dimensional electrodes. In this study, CFO-decorated CNFs are prepared by electrospinning and a low-cost hydrothermal method. The effects of heat treatment, such as the activation of CNFs (ACNFs) and calcination of CFO-decorated CNFs (C-CFO/ACNFs), are investigated. The C-CFO/ACNF electrode exhibits a high specific capacitance of 142.9 F/g at a scan rate of 5 mV/s and superior rate capability of 77.6% capacitance retention at a high scan rate of 500 mV/s. This electrode also achieves the lowest charge transfer resistance of 0.0063 Ω and excellent cycling stability (93.5% retention after 5,000 cycles) because of the improved ion conductivity by pathway formation and structural stability. The results of our work are expected to open a new route for manufacturing hybrid capacitor electrodes containing the C-CFO/ACNF electrode that can be easily prepared with a low-cost and simple process with enhanced electrochemical performance.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.458-464
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• 2021

Tungsten disulfide (WS₂), a typical 2D layerd structure, has received much attention as a pseudocapacitive material because of its high theoretical specific capacity and excellent ion diffusion kinetics. However, WS₂ has critical limits such as poor long-term cycling stability owing to its large volume expansion during cycling and low electrical conductivity. Therefore, to increase the high-rate performance and cycling stability for pseudocapacitors, well-dispersed WS₂ nanoparticles embedded in carbon nanofibers (WS₂-CNFs), including mesopores and S-doping, are prepared by hydrothermal synthesis and sulfurizaiton. These unique nanocomposite electrodes exhibit a high specific capacity (159.6 F g^-1 at 10 mV s^-1), excellent high-rate performance (81.3 F g^-1 at 300 mV s^-1), and long-term cycling stability (55.9 % after 1,000 cycles at 100 mV s^-1). The increased specific capacity is attributed to well-dispersed WS₂ nanoparticles embedded in CNFs that the enlarge active area; the increased high-rate performance is contributed by reduced ion diffusion pathway due to mesoporous CNFs and improved electrical conductivity due to S-doped CNFs; the long-term cycling stability is attributed to the CNFs matrix including WS₂ nanoparticles, which effectively prevent large volume expansion.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.382-393
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• 2024

The Microplotter system with a fluid dispensing method, sprays fluid based on ultrasonic pumping through piezoelectric devices. This technique can possible for various materials with a wide range of viscosities to be printed in microscale. In this paper, we introduces dispenser printing technology as well as aim to understand and apply various processes using the equipment. In addition, we will explain how to optimize the equipment by adjusting parameters such as spray intensity, tip height during printing, and patterning speed. By utilizing Microplotter's advantage of being compatible with a wide range of fluids, including metal nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, DNA, and proteins, it is expected to be used in various fields such as printed electronics, biotechnology, and chemical engineering.

• Composites Research
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.261-266
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• 2017

Polymer composites are materials in which various fillers are uniformly dispersed on the basis of organic resin. They have excellent processability and diversity for industrial products. Recently, as carbon nanomaterials are developed, there is a great deal of effort to use them as reinforcing fillers to fabricate high performance composite materials. In order to transfer the inherent properties of fillers into composite materials as much as possible, the good dispersion and orientation of fillers, and favorable interfacial interaction between fillers and matrix are considered to be very important. In this review article, we intent to derive and explain the relationship between surface chemical structure of fillers and physical properties of composites as a strategy of high strength and toughness of graphenebased polyimide composites.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.24-32
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• 2005

The object of this study is to design radar absorbing structures(RAS) with load-bearing ability in X-band. Glass/Epoxy plain-weave composites of excellent specific stiffness and strength, containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes(MWNT) added to induce dielectric loss were fabricated. The observation of microstructure and the permittivity of the composites confirmed that the materials are suitable to be used for radar absorbing material. Genetic algorithm and theory for reflection/transmission of electromagnetic waves in a multi-layered RAS were applied to conduct an optimal design of a RAS composed of the developed composites. We observed that the thickness per ply changes with the number of ply and MWNT contents. The fabrication process was proposed considering the problem and applied to fabricate a designed RAS and the theoretical and measured reflection loss of the RAS were also found in good agreement.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.80.2-80.2
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• 2012

그라핀(graphene)은 탄소 원자의 2차원 육각형 $sp^2$ 결합체로서 탄소 나노구조체가 가지는 여러 가지 우수한 특성을 보유하면서 대면적 기판 위에서 소자구현 및 투명전극 등으로의 우수한 응용성 때문에 고품질 그라핀 제조와 물리적 특성, 소자응용에 관한 연구가 활발히 진행되고 있다. 최근 그라핀 제조를 위한 여러 가지 방법이 개발되고 있으나 화학적 박리법이 저비용으로 대량생산을 위해 가장 유리한 방법으로 주목을 받고 있다. 화학적 박리법은 벌크 그라파이트를 강한 산을 이용하여 산화시켜 형성된 산화 그라파이트(graphite oxide)을 열적으로 팽창시켜 박리하고 환원하여 그라핀으로 제조하는 것이다. 보통 열적팽창을 위해서 열처리 로를 사용하게 되는데, 본 연구에서는 박리를 보다 효율적으로 진행시키고 고품질의 그라핀을 얻기 위해 마이크로웨이브를 이용한 박리법을 적용하였다. 마이크로웨이브는 설비가 간단하고 매우 균일하게 열팽창을 시킬 수 있을 뿐만 아니라 대량생산에서도 유리할 것으로 기대하였다. 천연 그라파이트(99.9%, 평균입도 $200{\mu}m$)를 Hummer 방법에 따라 $H_2SO_4$와 $KMnO_4$를 사용하여 산화시키고 필터링 후 마이크로웨이브를 조사하였다. 이후 환원 처리를 거쳐 그라핀을 제조하였다. 라만스펙트럼 및 투과전자현미경으로 분석한 결과 우수한 품질의 그라핀이 형성되었음을 알 수 있었다. 그라핀의 두께 및 품질은 마이크로웨이브의 인가시간 및 반복 횟수가 증가함에 따라 크게 영향받는 것을 확인하였다. 본 발표에서는 마이크로웨이브를 사용한 산화 그라파이트 박리 및 그라핀 제조라는 새로운 시도와 주요변수에 따른 그라핀 특성에 관한 결과를 논의할 것이다.