• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.292-301
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• 2010

To restore visual sensation of blind patients, we have proposed a fully implantable retinal prosthesis comprising an three dimensionally (3D) stacked retinal chip for transforming optical signal to electrical signal, a flexible cable with stimulus electrode array for stimulating retina cells, and coupling coils for power transmission. The 3D stacked retinal chip is consisted of several LSI chips such as photodetector, signal processing circuit, and stimulus current generator. They are vertically stacked and electrically connected using 3D integration technology. Our retinal prosthesis has a small size and lightweight with high resolution, therefore it could increase the patients` quality of life (QOL). For realizing the fully implantable retinal prosthesis, we developed a retinal prosthesis module comprising a retinal prosthesis chip and a flexible cable with stimulus electrode array for generating optimal stimulus current. In this study, we used a 2D retinal chip as a prototype retinal prosthesis chip. We fabricated the polymide-based flexible cable of $20{\mu}m$ thickness where 16 channels Pt stimulus electrode array was formed in the cable. Pt electrode has an impedance of $9.9k{\Omega}$ at 400Hz frequency. The retinal prosthesis chip was mounted on the flexible cable by an epoxy and electrically connected by Au wire. The retinal prosthesis chip was cappted by a silicone to pretect from corrosive environments in an eyeball. Then, the fabricated retinal prosthesis module was implanted into an eyeball of a rabbit. We successfully recorded electrically evoked potential (EEP) elicited from the rabbit brain by the current stimulation supplied from the implanted retinal prosthesis module. EEP amplitude was increased linearly with illumination intensity and irradiation time of incident light. The retinal prosthesis chip was well functioned after implanting into the eyeball of the rabbit.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.400-403
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• 2013

The piezoelectric composite film of ferroelectric PZT ceramic ($PbZr_xTi_{1-x}O_3$) and polymer (PDMS, Polydimethylsiloxane) was prepared to improve the flexibility of piezoelectric material. The bar coating method was applied to fabricate flexible nanocomposite film with large surface area by low cost process. In the case of using metal electrode on the composite film, although there is no problem by bending process, the electrode is usually broken away from the film by stretching process. However, the well-attached, flexible CNT electrode on PZT/PDMS film improved flexibility, especially stretchability. PZT particles was usually settled down into polymer matrix due to gravity of the weighty particle, so to improve the dispersion of PZT powder in polymer matrix, small amount of additives (CNT powder, Carbon nanotube powder) was physically mixed with the matrix. By stretching the film, an output voltage of PZT(70 wt%)/PDMS with CNT (0.5 wt%) was measured.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.215-218
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• 2015

As several innovative technologies for flexible electric devices are being realized, demand for in-situ strain monitoring for flexible electric devices is being emphasized. Because flexible devices are commonly influenced by substrate strain, suitable strain sensors for flexible devices are essential for the sophisticated maneuvering of flexible devices. In this study, a flexible strain sensor based on an Ag electrode is prepared on a polyimide substrate using the LDW (laser direct writing) process. In this process, first, the Ag nanoparticles are coated on the substrate and selectively sintered using a focused laser. Because of the advantages of the LDW process (such as being mask-less, using low temperatures, and having non-vacuum characteristics), the entire fabrication process has been dramatically simplified; as a final outcome, a highly reliable strain sensor has been fabricated. Using this strain sensor, various strain conditions that arise from different bending radii can be detected by measuring real-time electrical signals.

• Applied Science and Convergence Technology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.23-25
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• 2018

With respect to the electrode structure and the discharge characteristics, the atmospheric pressure plasma sheet of a thin polyimide film is introduced in this study; here, the flexible plasma device of a dielectric-barrier discharge with the ground electrode and the high-voltage electrode formulated on each surface of a polyimide film whose thickness is approximately $100{\mu}m$, that is operated with a sinusoidal voltage at a frequency of 25 kHz and a low voltage from 1 kV to 2 kV is used. The streamer discharge is appeared along the cross-sectional boundary line between two electrodes at the ignition stage, and the plasma is diffused on the dielectric-layer surface over the high-voltage electrode. In the development of a plasma sheet with thin dielectric films, the avoidance of the insulation breakdown and the reduction of the leakage current have a direct influence on the low-voltage operation.

• Journal of Information Display
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.97-99
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• 2011

We report flexible, bistable cholesteric displays utilizing polyester (PET) substrates with printed internal black electrodes. The black electrodes consist of carbon ink dispersed in butyl carbitol using a patented roll-to-roll gravure-offset printing. A transparent conducting polymer printed on PET serves as the counter electrode. The electro-optic material is a chiral nematic mixture dispersed in a low-concentration polymer binder. The device can be switched between scattering (black) and reflective (vibrant green) states upon application of an electric pulse. The internal black electrode enhances the contrast of the display and simplifies the roll-to-roll manufacture of flexible displays.

• Ceramist
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.12-23
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• 2018

As the flexible displays have been considered as a breakthrough to make a new electronics category, transparent electrodes have also confronted with an emerging issue, i.e., they also need to be mechanically flexible. For this to be made possible, a transparent electrode capable of withstanding large amounts of strain must be developed. Indium tin oxide (ITO) has been one of the most widely adopted transparent electrodes for displays and other transparent electronics, mainly supported by its high electrical conductivity and optical transparency. However, its brittle nature has forced the display industry to search for other alternatives. Recently, advances in nano-material researches have opened the door for various transparent conductive materials, which include carbon nanotube, graphene, Ag and Cu nanowire, and printable metal grids. Here we reviewed recently-published research works introducing flexible displays, all of which are employing the novel candidates for a conducting material.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.120-124
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• 2013

This study is carried out to develop the new process for the fabrication of ultra-fine electrodes on the flexible substrates using superhydrophobic effect. A facile method was developed to form the ultra-fine trenches on the flexible substrates treated by plasma etching and to print the fine metal electrodes using conductive nano-ink. Various plasma etching conditions were investigated for the hydrophobic surface treatment of flexible polyimide (PI) films. The micro-trench on the hydrophobic PI film fabricated under optimized conditions was obtained by mechanical scratching, which gave the hydrophilic property only to the trench area. Finally, the patterning by selective deposition of ink materials was performed using the conductive silver nano-ink. The interface between the conductive nanoparticles and the flexible substrates were characterized by scanning electron microscope. The increase of the sintering temperature and metal concentration of ink caused the reduction of electrical resistance. The sintering temperature lower than $200^{\circ}C$ resulted in good interfacial bonding between Ag electrode and PI film substrate.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.278.2-278.2
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• 2014

We have investigated the highly flexible and transparent Si-doped $In_2O_3$(ISO)/Ag/ISO multilayer grown on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates using a roll-to-roll sputtering system. The electrical and optical properties of ISO/Ag/ISO multilayer electrodes depended on the insertion of a nano-size Ag layer. Due to the high conductivity of a nano-size Ag layer, the optimized ISO/Ag/ISO multilayer electrodes showed the lowest resistivity of $3.679{\times}10^{-5}Ohm-cm$, even though the ISO/Ag/ISO multilayer electrodes was sputtered at room temperature. Furthermore, the ISO/Ag/ISO multilayer electrodes exhibited a high transmittance of 86.33%, because of the anti-reflection effect, comparable to Sn-doped $In_2O_3$ (ITO) electrodes. In addition, the ISO/Ag/ISO multilayer electrodes had a very smooth surface morphology without surface defects and showed good flexibility. The flexible OSCs fabricated on ISO(30nm)/Ag(8nm)/ISO(30nm) multilayer electrode showed a power conversion efficiency of 3.272%. This result indicates that the ISO/Ag/ISO multilayer is a promising transparent conducting electrode for flexible OSCs.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.159-164
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• 2021

As the attachable-type wearable devices have received considerable interests, the need for the development of high-performance electrode materials of fabric or textiles type is emerging. In this study, we demonstrated the electrochemical property of CNT fibers electrode as a flexible electrode material and its non-enzymatic glucose sensing performance. Surface morphology of CNT fibers was observed by SEM. And the electrochemical characteristics were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry. The CNT fibers based sensor exhibited improved sensing performances such as high sensitivity, a wide linear range, and low detection limit due to improved electrochemical properties such as low capacitive current, good electrochemical activity by efficient direct electron transfer between the redox species and the electrode interface. Therefore, this study is expected to be used as a basic research for the development of high performance flexible electrode materials based on CNT fibers.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.394.2-394.2
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• 2014

We fabricated highly transparent and flexible Ti doped In2O3 (TIO)/Ag nanowire(NW)/TIO (TAT) multilayer electrodes by linear facing target sputtering (LFTS) and brush-painting for used as flexible for anode organic solar cells(FOSCs). The characteristics of TAT transparent anode as a function of number of brush-painting cycles was also investigated. At optimized conditions we achieved highly flexible TAT multilayer electrodes with a low sheet resistance of $9.01{\Omega}/square$ and a high diffusive transmittance more than 80% in visible region as well as superior mechanical stability. The effective embedment of the Ag NW network between top and bottom TIO films led to a metallic conductivity, high transparency. Based on FE-SEM HRTEM, and XRD analysis, we can find that the Ag NW network was effectively embedded between top and bottom TIO layers due to good flexibility of Ag NW, the TAT multilayer showed superior flexibility than single TIO layer. Successful operation of FOSCs with high power conversion efficiency of 3.01% indicates that TAT hybrid electrode is a promising alternative to conventional ITO electrode for high performance FOSCs.