• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.45-48
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• 2019

Quantum dots (QDs) are an attractive material for application in solar energy conversion devices because of their unique properties including facile band-gap tuning, a high-absorption coefficient, low-cost processing, and the potential multiple exciton generation effect. Recently, highly efficient quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs) have been developed based on CdSe, PbS, CdS, and Cu-In-Se QDs. However, for the commercialization and wide application of these QDSCs, replacing the conventional rigid glass substrates with flexible substrates is required. Here, we demonstrate flexible CISe QDSCs based on vertically aligned $TiO_2$ nanotube (NT) electrodes. The highly uniform $TiO_2$ NT electrodes are prepared by two-step anodic oxidation. Using these flexible photoanodes and semi-transparent Pt counter electrodes, we fabricate the QDSCs and examine their photovoltaic properties. In particular, photovoltaic performances are optimized by controlling the nanostructure of $TiO_2$ NT electrodes.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.131-138
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• 2010

Flexible electronics are the electronics on flexible substrates such as a plastic, fabric or paper, so that they can be folded or attached on any curved surfaces. They are currently recognized as one of the most innovating future technologies especially in the area of portable electronics. The conventional vacuum deposition and photolithographic patterning methods are well developed for inorganic microelectronics. However, flexible polymer substrates are generally chemically incompatible with resists, etchants and developers and high temperature processes used in conventional integrated circuit processing. Additionally, conventional processes are time consuming, very expensive and not environmentally friendly. Therefore, there are strong needs for new materials and a novel processing scheme to realize flexible electronics. This paper introduces current research trends for flexible electronics based on (a) nanoparticles, and (b) novel processing schemes: nanomaterial based direct patterning methods to remove any conventional vacuum deposition and photolithography processes. Among the several unique nanomaterial characteristics, dramatic melting temperature depression (Tm, 3nm particle~$150^{\circ}C$) and strong light absorption can be exploited to reduce the processing temperature and to enhance the resolution. This opens a possibility of developing a cost effective, low temperature, high resolution and environmentally friendly approach in the high performance flexible electronics fabrication area.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.86-92
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• 2024

Flexible electronic devices are exposed to repeated mechanical deformation; therefore, electrode performance is an important element. Recently, a new technology has been developed to improve the adhesion strength between polymer substrates and metal thin films through the cross-linking reaction of bovine serum albumin (BSA) bioconjugation proteins; however, additional performance evaluation as an electrode is necessary. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of adhesive strength between a flexible substrate and a metal thin film on the performance of a flexible electrode. Cracks and changes in the electrical resistance of the electrode surface were observed through outer bending fatigue tests and tensile tests. As a result of a bending fatigue test of 50,000 cycles and a tensile test at 10% strain, the change in the electrical resistance of the flexible electrode with a high adhesion strength was less than 40%, and only a few microcracks were formed on the surface; thus, the electrical performance did not significantly deteriorate. Through this study, the relationship between the adhesion strength and electrical performance was identified. This study will provide useful information for analyzing the performance of flexible electrodes in the commercialization of flexible electronic devices in the future.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.413-413
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• 2009

Silicon nanowires (Si NWs)-based top-gate field-effect transistors (FETs) are constructed by using Si NWs transferred onto flexible plastic substrates. Si NWs are obtained from the silicon wafers using photolithography and anisotropic etching process, and transferred onto flexible plastic substrates. To evaluate the electrical performance of the silicon nanowires, we examined the output and transfer characteristics of a top-gate field-effect transistor with a channel composed of a silicon nanowire selected from the nanowires on the plastic substrate. From these FETs, a field-effect mobility and transconductance are evaluated to be $47\;cm^2/Vs$ and 272 nS, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.431-431
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• 2013

Flexible Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays are required for future devices. It is possible that plastic substrates are instead of glass substrates. But the plastic substrates are permeable to moisture and oxygen. This weak point can cause the degradation of fabricated flexible devices; therefore, encapsulation process for flexible substrate is needed to protect organic devices from moisture and oxygen. Y.G. Lee et al.(2009) [1] reported organic and inorganic multilayer structure as an encapsulation barrier for enhanced reliability and life-time.Flowable Oxide process is a low-temperature process which shows the excellent gap-fill characteristics and high deposition rate. Besides, planarization is expected by covering dust smoothly on the substrate surface. So, in this research, Bi-layer structured is used for encapsulation: Flowable Oxide Thin film by PECVD process and Al2O3 thin film by ALD process. The samples were analyzed by water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) using the Calcium test and film cross section images were obtained by FE-SEM.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 2022

To date, various techniques have been utilized to assess the contractility of cardiomyocytes and their response to drug-induced toxicity. However, these techniques are either invasive or involve complex fabrication methods and expertise. Here, we introduce the use of video-based analysis software to track the motion of cardiomyocytes and assess their contractility. The software, called "Tracker", is freely available and this is the first attempt at using it for cardiac contractility measurement. We used the software to measure the contractile properties of cells cultured on a rigid substrate and two flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates having different elastic moduli day-wise up to eight days. Contractility was found to be highest in the most flexible substrate. Subsequently, the cardiotoxicity response of the cells on three different substrates was analyzed with verapamil. It was observed that the cells on rigid substrate were primarily affected by drug-induced toxicity, while the drug had a lesser impact on cells on the more flexible PDMS substrate. Evidently, the flexible substrate aided the maturation of cells and had lower drug toxicity, while the cells on PS could not fully mature. The assessment of cardiomyocytes using "Tracker" proved to be simple and reliable.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.632-632
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• 2013

We generated single-crystal organic nanowire arrays using a direct printing method (liquidbridge- mediated nanotransfer molding) that enables the simultaneous synthesis, alignment and patterning of nanowires from molecular ink solutions. Using this method, single-crystal organic nanowires can easily be synthesized by self-assembly and crystallization of organic molecules within the nanoscale channels of molds, and these nanowires can then be directly transferred to specific positions on substrates to generate nanowire arrays by a direct printing process. The position of the nanowires on complex structures is easy to adjust, because the mold is movable on the substrates before the polar liquid layer, which acts as an adhesive lubricant, is dried. Repeated application of the direct printing process can be used to produce organic nanowire-integrated electronics with twoor three-dimensional complex structures on large-area flexible substrates. This efficient manufacturing method is used to fabricate all-organic nanowire field-effect transistors that are integrated into device arrays and inverters on flexible plastic substrates.

• 한국정보디스플레이학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.08a
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• pp.133-136
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• 2007

IGZO TFTs were fabricated by conventional photolithography and wet-etching processes on metal substrates for the flexible display. The characteristics of TFTs on metal substrates were comparable to those of TFTs on glass substrates. Moreover, AM-OLED panels based on IGZO TFT arrays on metal substrates were successfully driven, for the first time.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.42-42
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• 2008

Considerable attention has been focused on the applications of flexible liquid crystal (LC)-based displays because of their many potential advantages, such as portability, durability, light weight, thin packaging, flexibility, and low power consumption. To develop flexible LCDs that are capable of delivering high-quality moving images, like conventional glass-substrate LCDs, the LC device structure must have a stable alignment layer of LC molecules, concurrently support uniform cell gaps, and tightly bind two flexible substrates under external tension. However, stable LC molecular alignment has not been achieved because of the layerless LC alignment, and consequently high-quality images cannot be guaranteed. To solve these critical problems, we have proposed a PDMS pixel-wall based bonding method via the IB irradiation was developed for fasten the two substrates together strongly and maintain uniform cell gaps. The effect of the IB irradiation on PDMS with PI surface was also evaluated by side structure configuration and a result of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis of PDMS interlayer as a function of binder with substrates. large number of PDMS pixel-walls are tightly fastened to the surface of each flexible substrate and could maintain a constant cell gap between the LC molecules without using any other epoxy or polymer. To enhance the electro-optical performance of the LC device, we applied an alignment method that creates pretilt angle on the PI surface via ion beam irradiation. Using this approach, our flexible LCDs have a contrast ratio of 132:1 and a response time of about 15 ms, resulting in highly reliable electro-optical performance in the bent state, comparable to that of glass-substrate LCDs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.203-203
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• 2009

Low temperature annealing for oxide TFTs including IGZO on PI substrate is the essential process to fabricate flexible display devices, since low heat-resistance on PI and PEN substrates limits the temperature range. Laser annealing is one of the promising candidates for low temperature process, and it has been used for various application in semiconductor and LCD fabrication. We irradiated laser to solution-based IGZO thin films on PI substrate were irradiated to laser beam, and investigated laser damage of PI layer. Based on transmittance analysis, wavelength(532nm) and scan speed(1000mm/s) is the optimized condition for laser irradiation about ink-Jet printed oxide TFTs on PI substrates.