• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.250-257
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• 2016

Octahedral $Co_3O_4$/carbon nanofiber (CNF) composites are fabricated using electrospinning and hydrothermal methods. Their morphological characteristics, chemical bonding states, and electrochemical properties are used to demonstrate the improved photovoltaic properties of the samples. Octahedral $Co_3O_4$ grown on CNFs is based on metallic Co nanoparticles acting as seeds in the CNFs, which seeds are directly related to the high performance of DSSCs. The octahedral $Co_3O_4$/CNFs composites exhibit high photocurrent density ($12.73mA/m^2$), superb fill factor (62.1 %), and excellent power conversion efficiency (5.61 %) compared to those characteristics of commercial $Co_3O_4$, conventional CNFs, and metallic Co-seed/CNFs. These results can be described as stemmnig from the synergistic effect of the porous and graphitized matrix formed by catalytic graphitization using the metal cobalt catalyst on CNFs, which leads to an increase in the catalytic activity for the reduction of triiodide ions. Therefore, octahedral $Co_3O_4$/CNFs composites can be used as a counter electrode for Pt-free dye-sensitized solar cells.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.138-143
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• 2011

Nanosized Pt, Pt-Ru and Pt-$CeO_2$ electrocatalysts supported on acid-treated carbon nanotube (CNT) were synthesized by microwave-assisted heating of polyol process using $H_2Cl_6Pt{\cdot}6H_2O$, $RuCl_3$, $CeCl_3$ precursors, respectively, and were characterized by XRD and TEM. And then the electrochemical activity of methanol oxidation for catalyst/CNT nanocomposite electrodes was investigated. The microwave assisted polyol process produced the nano-sized crystalline catalysts particles on CNT. The size of Pt supported on CNT was 7~12 nm but it decreased to 3~5 nm in which 10wt% sodium acetate was added as a stabilizer during the polyol process. This fine Pt catalyst particles resulted in a higher current density for Pt/CNT electrode. It was also found that 10 nm size of PtRu alloys were formed by polyol process and the onset potential decreased with Ru addition. Cyclic voltammetry analysis revealed that the $Pt_{75}Ru_{25}/CNT$ electrode had the highest electrochemical activity owing to a higher ratio of the forward to reverse anodic peak current. And the chronoamperemetry test showed that $Pt_{75}Ru_{25}$ catalyst had a good catalyst stability. The activity of Pt was also found to be improved with the addition of $CeO_2$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.133-137
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• 2011

Gold have been used as an electrode materials having a good mechanical flexibility as well as electrical conductivity, however the stretchability of the gold on a flexible substrate is poor because of its small elastic modulus. To overcome this mechanical inferiority, the reinforcing gold is necessary for the stretchable electronics. Among the reinforcing materials having a large elastic modulus, carbon nanotube (CNT) is the best candidate due to its good electrical conductivity and nanoscale diameter. Therefore, similarly to ferroconcrete technology, here we demonstrated gold electrodes mechanically reinforced by inserting fabrics of CNTs into their bodies. Flexibility and stretchability of the electrodes were determined for various densities of CNT fabrics. The roles of CNTs in resisting electrical disconnection of gold electrodes from the mechanical stress were confirmed using field emission scanning electron microscope and optical microscope. The best mechanical stability was achieved at a density of CNT fabrics manufactured by 1.5 ml spraying. The concept of the mechanical reinforced metal electrode by CNT is the first trial for the high stretchable conductive materials, and can be applied as electrodes materials in various flexible and stretchable electronic devices such as transistor, diode, sensor and solar cell and so on.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.199-203
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• 2010

Hybridization of semiconductor materials with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is a recent field of interest in which new nanodevice fabrication and applications are expected. In this work, nanowire type GaAs structures are synthesized on porous single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as templates using the molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) technique. The field emission properties of the as-synthesized products were investigated to suggest their potential applications as cold electron sources, as well. The SWCNT template was synthesized by the arc-discharge method. SWCNT samples were heat-treated at $400^{\circ}C$ under an $N_2/O_2$ atmosphere to remove amorphous carbon. After heat treatment, GaAs was grown on the SWCNT template. The growth conditions of the GaAs in the MBE system were set by changing the growth temperatures from $400^{\circ}C$ to $600^{\circ}C$. The morphology of the GaAs synthesized on the SWCNTs strongly depends on the substrate temperature. Namely, nano-crystalline beads of GaAs are formed on the CNTs under $500^{\circ}C$, while nanowire structures begin to form on the beads above $600^{\circ}C$. The crystal qualities of GaAs and SWCNT were examined by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectra. The field emission properties of the synthesized GaAs nanowires were also investigated and a low turn-on field of $2.0\;V/{\mu}m$ was achieved. But, the turn-on field was increased in the second and third measurements. It is thought that arsenic atoms were evaporated during the measurement of the field emission.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.623-627
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• 2010

Semiconducting metal oxides have been frequently used as gas sensing materials. While zinc oxide is a popular material for such applications, structures such as nanowires, nanorods and nanotubes, due to their large surface area, are natural candidates for use as gas sensors of higher sensitivity. The compound ZnO has been studied, due to its chemical and thermal stability, for use as an n-type semiconducting gas sensor. ZnO has a large exciton binding energy and a large bandgap energy at room temperature. Also, ZnO is sensitive to toxic and combustible gases. The NO gas properties of zinc oxide-single wall carbon nanotube (ZnO-SWCNT) composites were investigated. Fabrication includes the deposition of porous SWCNTs on thermally oxidized $SiO_2$ substrates followed by sputter deposition of Zn and thermal oxidation at $400^{\circ}C$ in oxygen. The Zn films were controlled to 50 nm thicknesses. The effects of microstructure and gas sensing properties were studied for process optimization through comparison of ZnO-SWCNT composites with ZnO film. The basic sensor response behavior to 10 ppm NO gas were checked at different operation temperatures in the range of $150-300^{\circ}C$. The highest sensor responses were observed at $300^{\circ}C$ in ZnO film and $250^{\circ}C$ in ZnO-SWCNT composites. The ZnO-SWCNT composite sensor showed a sensor response (~1300%) five times higher than that of pure ZnO thin film sensors at an operation temperature of $250^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.365-369
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• 2018

We perform density functional theory calculations to study the CO and $O_2$ adsorption chemistry of Pt@X core@shell bimetallic nanoparticles (X = Pd, Rh, Ru, Au, or Ag). To prevent CO-poisoning of Pt nanoparticles, we introduce a Pt@X core-shell nanoparticle model that is composed of exposed surface sites of Pt and facets of X alloying element. We find that Pt@Pd, Pt@Rh, Pt@Ru, and Pt@Ag nanoparticles spatially bind CO and $O_2$, separately, on Pt and X, respectively. Particularly, Pt@Ag nanoparticles show the most well-balanced CO and $O_2$ binding energy values, which are required for facile CO oxidation. On the other hand, the $O_2$ binding energies of Pt@Pd, Pt@Ru, and Pt@Rh nanoparticles are too strong to catalyze further CO oxidation because of the strong oxygen affinity of Pd, Ru, and Rh. The Au shell of Pt@Au nanoparticles preferentially bond CO rather than $O_2$. From a catalysis design perspective, we believe that Pt@Ag is a better-performing Pt-based CO-tolerant CO oxidation catalyst.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2011

In this work, fabrication and electrochemical analysis of an individual multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) electrode are carried out to confirm the applicability of electrochemical sensing. The reactive ion etching (RIE) process is performed to obtain sensitive MWNT electrodes. In order to characterize the electrochemical properties, an individual MWNT is cut by RIE under oxygen atmosphere into two segments with a small gap: one segment is applied to the working electrode and the other is used as a counter electrode. Electrical contacts are provided by nanolithography to the two MWNT electrodes. Dopamine is specially selected as an analytical molecule for electrochemical detection using the MWNT electrode. Using a quasi-Ag/AgCl reference electrode, which was fabricated by us, the nanoelectrodes are subjected to cyclic voltammetry inside a $2{\mu}L$ droplet of dopamine solution. In the experiment, RIE power is found to be a more effective parameter to cut an individual MWNT and to generate "broken" open state, which shows good electrochemical performance, at the end of the MWNT segments. It is found that the pico-molar level concentration of analytical molecules can be determined by an MWNT electrode. We believe that the MWNT electrode fabricated and treated by RIE has the potential for use in high-sensitivity electrochemical measurement and that the proposed scheme can contribute to device miniaturization.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.64-71
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• 2004

The object of this study is to design the Radar Absorbing Structures (RAS) having sandwich structures in the X-band ($8.2{\sim}12.4GHz$) frequencies. Glass fabric/epoxy composites containing conductive carbon blacks and carbon fabric/epoxy composites were used for the face sheets. Polyurethane(PU) foams containing multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) were used for the core. Their permittivities in the X-band were measured using the transmission line technique. The reflection loss characteristics for multi-layered sandwich structures were calculated using the theory of transmission and reflection in a multi-layered medium. Three kinds of specimens were fabricated and their reflection losses in the X-band were measured using the free space technique. Experimental results were in good agreements with simulated ones in 10dB absorbing bandwidth.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.453-461
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• 2013

Controlling the stick and slip motions of the contact lines in a confined geometry comprised of a spherical lens with a flat substrate is useful for manufacturing polymer ring patterns. We used a sphere on a flat geometry, by which we could control the interfaces of the solution, vapor and substrate. By this method, hundreds of concentric ring-pattern formations of a linear conjugated polymer, poly [2-methoxy-5-(2-thylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV), were generated with excellent regularity over large areas after complete solvent evaporation. Subsequently, the MEH-PPV ring patterns played a role as a directed template to organize highly regular concentric rings of single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWCNTs); when a droplet of the SWCNT suspension in water was casted onto the prepared substrate, hydrophobic polymer patterns confined the water dispersed SWCNTs in between the hydrophilicized $SiO_2/Si$ substrate. As the solvent evaporated, SWCNT-rings were formed in between MEH-PPV rings with controlled density. Finally, we used a lift-off process to produce SWCNT patterns by the removal of a sacrificial polymer template with organic solvent. We also fabricated a field effect transistor using self-assembled SWCNT networks on a $SiO_2/Si$ substrate.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.333-337
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• 2003

We report a new fabrication process for carbon nanotube field emitters with high performance. The key of the fabrication process is trim-and-leveling the carbon nanotubes grown in trench structures by employing a planarization process, which leads to a uniform distance from the carbon nanotube tip to the electrode. In order to enable this processing, spin-on-glass liquid is applied over the CNTs grown in trench to have them stubborn adhesion among themselves as well as to the substrate. Thus fabricated emitters reveal an extremely stable emission and aging characteristics with a large current density of 40 ㎃/$\textrm{cm}^2$ at 4.5 V/$\mu\textrm{m}$. The field enhancement factor calculated from the F-N plot is $1.83${\times}$10^{5}$ $cm^{－1}$ , which is a very high value and indicates a superior quality of the emitter originating from the nature of open-tip and high stability of the carbon nanotubes obtained new process.