• Advances in nano research
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.373-392
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• 2017

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully synthesized through a simple green route using the Nelumbo nucifera leaf, stem and flower extracts. These nanoparticles showed characteristic UV-Vis absorption peaks between 410-450 nm which arises due to the plasmon resonance of silver nanoparticles. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the presence of amides and which acted as the stabilizing agent. X-ray diffraction spectrum of the nanoparticles confirmed the Face centered cubic (FCC) structure of the formed AgNPs. Dynamic light scattering technique was used to measure hydrodynamic diameter (68.6 nm to 88.1 nm) and zeta potential (-55.4 mV, -57.9 mV and 98.9 mV) of prepared AgNPs. The scanning electron micrographs of dislodged nanoparticles in aqueous solution showed the production of reasonably monodispersed silver nanoparticles (1-100 nm). The antimicrobial activity of prepared AgNPs was evaluated against fungi, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria using disc diffusion method. Anti-corrosion studies were carried out using coupon method (mild steel and iron) and dye degradation studies were carried out by assessing photo-catalytic activity of Nelumbo nucifera extracts mediated AgNPs.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1366-1372
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• 2021

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a biocompatible material with a lot of potential. To make BNC commercially feasible, improvements in its production and surface qualities must be made. Here, we investigated the in situ fermentation and generation of BNC by addition of different cellulosic substrates such as Avicel and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and using Komagataeibacter sp. SFCB22-18. The addition of cellulosic substrates improved BNC production by a maximum of about 5 times and slightly modified its structural properties. The morphological and structural properties of BNC were investigated by using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, a type-A cellulose-binding protein derived from Clostridium thermocellum, CtCBD3, was used in a novel biological analytic approach to measure the surface crystallinity of the BNC. Because Avicel and CMC may adhere to microfibrils during BNC synthesis or crystallization, cellulose-binding protein could be a useful tool for identifying the crystalline properties of BNC with high sensitivity.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.44-47
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• 2019

Amorphous carbon layer (ACL) is actively used as an etch mask. Recent advances in patterning ACL requires the next level of durability of hard mask in high aspect ratio etch in near future semiconductor manufacturing, and it is worthwhile to know the surface property of ACL thin film to enhance the property of etch hard mask. In this research, ACL are deposited by 6 inch plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition system with $C_3H_6$ and $N_2$ gas mixture. Surface properties of deposited ACL are investigated depending on gas flow, pressure, RF power. Fourier transform infrared is used for the analysis of surface chemistry, and X-ray photoemission spectra is used for the structural analysis with the consideration of the contents of $sp^2$ and $sp^3$ through fitting of C1s. Also mechanical properties of deposited ACL are measured in order to evaluate hardness.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.225-231
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• 2019

Bio-based polyester polyol was synthesized via esterification between azelaic acid and isosorbide. After esterification, bio-based polyurethanes were synthesized using polyester polyol, 1,3-propanediol as the chain extender, and 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, in mixing ratios of 1:1:1.5, 1:1:1.8, 1:1:2, and 1:1:2.3. The bio TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) samples were characterized by using FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy), TGA (Thermal Gravimetric Analysis), DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry), and GPC (Gel Permeation Chromatography). The mechanical properties (tensile stress and hardness) were obtained by using UTM, a Shore A tester, and a Taber abrasion tester. The viscoelastic properties were tested by an Rubber Processing Analyzer in dynamic strain sweep and dynamic frequency test modes. The chemical resistance was tested with methanol by using the swelling test method. Based on these results, the bio TPU synthesized with the ratio of 1:1:2.3, referred to as TPU 4, showed the highest thermal decomposition temperature, the largest molecular weight, and most compact matrix structure due to the highest ratio of the hard segment in the molecular structure. It also presented the highest tensile strength, the largest elongation, and the best viscoelastic properties among the different bio TPUs synthesized herein.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.22-29
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• 2019

Chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) -bamboo charcoal/silica (CS-PVA-BC/SI) hybrid fillers with compatibilized styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) composites were fabricated by the interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) method. The structure and composition of the composite samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The viscoelastic behaviors of the rubber composites and their vulcanizates were explored using a rubber processing analyzer (RPA) in the rheometer, strain sweep and temperature sweep modes. The storage and loss moduli of SBR increased significantly with the incorporation of different hybrid fillers, which was attributed to the formation of an interphase between the hybrid fillers and rubber matrix, and the effective dispersion of the hybrid fillers. The mechanical properties (hardness, tensile strength, oxygen transmission rate, and swelling rate) of the composite samples were characterized in detail. From the results of the mechanical test, it was found that BC-CS-PVA0SBR had the best mechanical properties. Therefore, the BC-CS-PVA hybrid filler provided the best reinforcement effects for the SBR latex in this research.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.324-330
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• 2019

Petal-like nickel cobaltite ($NiCo_2O_4$)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites with different $rGO-to-NiCo_2O_4$ weight ratios were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method and subsequent thermal treatment. In the $NiCo_2O_4/rGO$ composite, the $NiCo_2O_4$ 3-dimensional nanomaterials contributed to the improvement of electrochemical properties of the final composite material by preventing the restacking of the rGO sheet and securing ion movement passages. The composite structure was examined by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The FE-SEM and TEM images showed that petal-like $NiCo_2O_4$ was supported on the rGO surface. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used for the electrochemical analysis of composites. Among the prepared composites, $0.075g\;rGO/NiCo_2O_4$ composite showed the highest specific capacitance of $1,755Fg^{-1}$ at a current density of $2Ag^{-1}$. The cycle performance and rate capability of the composite material were higher than those of using the single $NiCo_2O_4$ material. These nano-structured composites could be regarded as valuable electrode materials for supercapacitors that require superior performance.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.392-399
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• 2019

A highly transparent interfacial layer (HTIL) to enhance the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) was prepared via a polymer-assisted (PA) approach. Poly(vinyl chloride)-graft-poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) (PVC-g-POEM) was synthesized via atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and was used as a sacrificial template. The PVC-g-POEM graft copolymer induced partial coordination of a hydrophilic titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) sol-gel solution with the POEM domain, resulting in microphase separation, and in turn, the generation of mesopores upon calcination. These phenomena were confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV-visible light transmittance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The DSSCs incorporating HTIL60/20 (consisting of a top layer with a pore size of 60 nm and a bottom layer with a pore size of 20 nm) exhibited the best overall conversion efficiency (6.36%) among the tested samples, which was 25.9% higher than that of a conventional blocking layer (BL). DSSC was further characterized using the Nyquist plot and incident-photon to electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) spectra.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2019

In this study, the mesoporous $SiO_2$ (5, 10, or 15 wt%) was incorporated into the polybenzimidazole matrix in order to improve the proton conduction as well as physiochemical properties of composite membrane. The chemical structure of mesoporous $SiO_2$ and crystallinity of as-prepared membranes were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, respectively. The thermal stability of the pristine $X_1Y_9$ and composite membranes were evaluated by thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). On other side, the physical and chemical properties of the pristine $X_1Y_9$ and composite membranes were also determined by acid uptake and oxidative stability tests, respectively. With the incorporation of 15 wt% $SiO_2$, the composite membrane exhibits the higher proton conductivity that may be applicable for non-humidified high temperature fuel cell applications.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.25-32
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• 2021

Mulberry fruit (Morus alba L.) contains phytochemicals, including 1-deoxynojirimycin, quercetin-glucoside, kaempferol-glucoside, and anthocyanins, which have antioxidant effects. In this study, mulberry fruit extract was prepared at various temperatures (25-100℃) and water/ethanol solvent concentrations (0%-100% ethanol). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and circular dichroism (CD) data indicated that the content of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids was lower in 100% ethanolic extracts than in 30%-50% ethanolic extracts. Radical scavenging activity determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-di-3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays was highly correlated with polyphenol and flavonoid content. In conclusion, 30%-50% ethanolic extracts contained the highest contents of bioactive compounds and exhibited high levels of radical scavenging activity. These findings may inform the use of mulberry fruit extract as a functional food.

• Current Applied Physics
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1546-1552
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• 2018

The polymer nanocomposite as a gate dielectric film was prepared via sol-gel method. The formation of crosslinked structure among nanofillers and polymer matrix was proved by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Differential thermal analysis (DTA) results showed significant increase in the thermal stability of the nanocomposite with respect to that of pure polymer. The nanocomposite films deposited on the p- and n-type Si substrates formed very smooth surface with rms roughness of 0.045 and 0.058 nm respectively. Deconvoluted $Si_{2s}$ spectra revealed the domination of the Si-OH hydrogen bonds and Si-O-Si covalence bonds in the structure of the nanocomposite film deposited on the p- and n-type Si semiconductor layers respectively. The fabricated n-channel field-effect-transistor (FET) showed the low threshold voltage and leakage currents because of the stronger connection between the nanocomposite and n-type Si substrate. Whereas, dominated hydroxyl groups in the nanocomposite dielectric film deposited on the p-type Si substrate increased trap states in the interface, led to the drop of FET operation.