• Current Applied Physics
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1255-1260
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• 2018

In this work, a green and simple one-pot route was developed for the synthesis of highly fluorescent aminofunctionalized graphene quantum dots (a-GQDs) via hydrothermal process without any further modification or surface passivation. We synthesized the a-GQDs using glucose as the carbon source and ammonium as a functionalizing agent without the use of a strong acid, oxidant, or other toxic chemical reagent. The as-obtained aGQDs have a uniform size of 3-4 nm, high contents of amino groups, and show a bright green emission with high quantum yield of 32.8%. Furthermore, the a-GQDs show effective fluorescence quenching for $Cu^{2+}$ ions which can serve as effective fluorescent probe for the detection of $Cu^{2+}$. The fluorescent probe using the obtained aGQDs exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity toward $Cu^{2+}$ with the limit of detection as low as 5.6 nM. The mechanism of the $Cu^{2+}$ induced fluorescence quenching of a-GQDs can be attributed to the electron transfer by the formation of metal complex between $Cu^{2+}$ and the amino groups on the surface of a-GQDs. These results suggest great potential for the simple and green synthesis of functionalized GQDs and a practical sensing platform for $Cu^{2+}$ detection in environmental and biological applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.351.2-351.2
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• 2016

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted much attention because of various advantages such as cost-effectiveness of synthesis, low toxicity, and photostability. The origins of photoluminescence (PL) in GQDs were suggested as the intrinsic states for localized sp2 carbon domains and the extrinsic states formed by oxygen-functional groups.[1,2] Nevertheless, it is still unclear to understand the information of electric band structure in GQD. Here, we observed excitation energy induced S-shaped PL behavior. The PL peak energy position shows an S-shaped shift (redshift-blueshift-redshift) as function of the excitation wavelengths. From various samples, we only observed S-shaped PL shift in the GQDs with both luminescent origins of intrinsic and extrinsic states. Therefore, this S-shaped PL shift is related to different weight of intrinsic and extrinsic states in PL spectrum depending on the excitation wavelengths. This would be the key result to understand the electric band structure of the GQDs and its derivatives.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.388-393
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• 2020

In this study, a PbS quantum dots (QDs)-based H₂ gas sensor with a Pd electrode was proposed. QDs have a size of several nanometers, and they can exhibit a high surface area when forming a thin film. In particular, the NH₂ present in the ligand of PbS QDs and H₂ gas are combined to form NH₃⁺, subsequently the electrical characteristics of the QDs change. In addition to the resistance change owing to the reaction between Pd and H₂ gas, the resistance change owing to the reaction between the NH₂ of PbS QDs and H₂ gas increases the current signal at the sensor output, which can produce a high output signal for the same concentration of H₂ gas. Using the XRD and absorbance properties, the synthesis and particle size of the synthesized PbS QDs were analyzed. Using PbS QDs, the sensitivity was significantly improved by 44%. In addition, the proposed H₂ gas sensor has high selectivity because it has low reactivity with heterogeneous gases such as C₂H₂, CO₂, and CH₄.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2015

Photoluminescent porous silicon (PSi) were prepared by an electrochemical etch of n-type silicon under the illumination with a 300 W tungsten filament bulb for the duration of etch. The red photoluminescence emitting at 620 nm with an excitation wavelength of 450 nm is due to the quantum confinement of silicon nanocrystal in porous silicon. As-prepared PSi was sonicated, fractured, and centrifuged in toluene to obtain photoluminescence silicon quantum dots. BET and BHJ methods were employed to study the specific surface area of as-prepared PSi. Optical characterization of red photoluminescent silicon nanocrystal was investigated by UV-vis and fluorescence spectrometer. Also SEM and TEM images of porous silicon and nanoparticles were investigated.

• Proceedings of the Korea Association of Crystal Growth Conference
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• 2000.06a
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• pp.87-125
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• 2000

A new paradigm of crystal growth was suggested in a charged cluster model, where charged clusters of nanometer size are suspended in the gas phase in most thin film processes and are a major flux for thin film growth. The existence of these hypothetical clusters was experimentally confirmed in the diamond and silicon CVD processes as well as in gold and tungsten evaporation. These results imply new insights as to the low pressure diamond synthesis without hydrogen, epitaxial growth, selective deposition and fabrication of quantum dots, nanometer-sized powders and nanowires or nanotubes. Based on this concept, we produced such quantum dot structures of carbon, silicon, gold and tungsten. Charged clusters land preferably on conducting substrates over on insulating substrates, resulting in selective deposition. if the behavior of selective deposition is properly controlled, charged clusters can make highly anisotropic growth, leading to nanowires or nanotubes.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.20 no.4 s.51
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• pp.259-271
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• 2005

Engineered nanoparticles exhibit a variety of unique and tunable chemical and physical properties. These unique properties make the nanoparticles central components and widespread potential applications in nanoindustry. However, the potential toxicities of nanoparticles have not been fully evaluated. Recently, the impacts of nanoparticles to human and environment became the emerging issue of toxicology. In this article, physicochemical properties and toxicities of carbon nanotube, fullerene, quantum dots, and other types of nanomaterials were reviewed and the strategy of risk assessment were suggested based on the frame of chemical assessment.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.10
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• pp.2895-2900
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• 2014

We fabricated quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) using cadmium sulfide (CdS) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots (QDs) as sensitizers. A spin coated $TiO_2$ nanoparticle (NP) film on tin-doped indium oxide glass and sputtered Au on fluorine-doped tin oxide glass were used as photo-anode and counter electrode, respectively. CdS QDs were deposited onto the mesoporous $TiO_2$ layer by a successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction method. Pre-synthesized CdTe QDs were deposited onto a layer of CdS QDs using a direct adsorption technique. CdS/CdTe QDSSCs had high light harvesting ability compared with CdS or CdTe QDSSCs. QDSSCs incorporating single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), sprayed onto the substrate before deposition of the next layer or mixed with $TiO_2$ NPs, mostly exhibited enhanced photo cell efficiency compared with the pristine cell. In particular, a maximum rate increase of 24% was obtained with the solar cell containing a $TiO_2$ layer mixed with SWNTs.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2016

In this study $TiO_2$/reduced graphene oxide ($TiO_2/rGO$) bipyramid with tunable nanostructure was fabricated by two-step solvothermal process and subsequent heat-treatment in air. The as-synthesized anatase $TiO_2$ nanocrystals possessed morphological bipyramid with exposed dominantly by (101) facets. Polyethylenimine was utilized during the combination of $TiO_2$ and graphene oxide (GO) to tune the surface charge, hindering the restack of graphene during solvothermal process and resulting in 1 to 5 layers of rGO wrapped on $TiO_2$ surface. After a further calcination, a portion of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with a diameter about 2 nm were produced owing to the oxidizing and cutting of rGO on $TiO_2$. The as-prepared $TiO_2/rGO$ hybrid showed a highly photocatalytic activity, which is about 3.2 and 7.7 times enhancement for photodegradation of methyl orange with compared to pure $TiO_2$ and P25, respectively. We assume that the improvement of photocatalysis is attributed to the chemical bonding between rGO/CQDs and $TiO_2$ that accelerates photogenerated electron-hole pair separation, as well as enhances light harvest.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.76-76
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• 2010

Using ab initio density functional calculations, we investigate the structural and electronic properties of porous schwarzite structures formed by $sp^2$ carbon minimal surfaces with negative Gaussian curvature. We calculate the equilibrium geometries, elastic properties and electronic structure of two systems with cubic unit cells containing 152 and 200 carbon atoms, which are metallic and very rigid. The porous schwarzite structure can be efficiently doped by electron donors as well as accepors, making it a promising candidate for the next generation of alkali ion batteries. Furthermore, the schwarzite structures can be magnetic when doped and thus act as arrays of interconnected quantum spin dots. We also propose that two interpenetrating schwarzite structures be used as a ultimate super-capacitor.

• Carbon letters
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.77-88
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• 2014

Double walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) are considered an ideal model for studying the coupling interactions between different concentric shells in multi-walled CNTs. Due to their intrinsic coaxial structures they are mechanically, thermally, and structurally more stable than single walled CNTs. Geometrically, owing to the buffer-like function of the outer tubes in DWCNTs, the inner tubes exhibit exciting transport and optical properties that lend them promise in the fabrication of field-effect transistors, stable field emitters, and lithium ion batteries. In addition, by utilizing the outer tube chemistry, DWCNTs can be useful for anchoring semiconducting quantum dots and also as effective multifunctional fillers in producing tough, conductive transparent polymer films. The inner tubes meanwhile preserve their excitonic transitions. This article reviews the synthesis of DWCNTs, their electronic structure, transport, and mechanical properties, and their potential uses.