• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.2795-2799
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• 2013

Irradiation of gold nanorods (GNRs) with laser light corresponding to the longitudinal surface plasmon oscillation results in rapid conversion of electromagnetic energy into heat, a phenomenon commonly known as the photothermal effect of GNRs. Herein, we propose a facile strategy for increasing the photothermal conversion efficiency of GNRs by integration to form graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites. Moreover, conjugation of iron oxide (IO) with the GO-GNR nanohybrid allowed magnetic enrichment at a specific target site and the separated GO-IO-GNR assembly was rapidly heated by laser irradiation. The present GO-IO-GNR nanocomposites hold great promise for application in various biomedical fields, including surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy imaging, photoacoustic tomography imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and photothermal cancer therapy.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.52
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• pp.7.1-7.6
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• 2022

The process of encapsulating cobalt nanoparticles using a graphene layer is mainly direct pyrolysis. The encapsulation structure of hybrids prepared in this way improves the catalyst stability, which greatly reduces the leaching of non-metals and prevents metal nanoparticles from growing beyond a certain size. In this study, cobalt particles surrounded by graphene layers were formed by increasing the temperature in a transmission electron microscope, and they were analyzed using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Synthesized cobalt hydroxide nanosheets were used to obtain cobalt particles using an in-situ heating holder inside a TEM column. The cobalt nanoparticles are surrounded by layers of graphene, and the number of layers increases as the temperature increases. The interlayer spacing of the graphene layers was also investigated using atomic imaging. The success achieved in the encapsulation of metallic nanoparticles in graphene layers paves the way for the design of highly active and reusable heterogeneous catalysts for more challenging molecules.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.127-127
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• 2012

We carried out the high-resolution dielectric mapping of graphenes on $SiO_2$/Si substrate, using the scattering Apertureless Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy (s-ANSOM) in both visible (633 nm) and infrared (3.6 um) wavelengths. In the visible wavelength, the dielectric contrasts are almost proportional to the number of the graphene layers, which indicates that the near-field interaction between the tip and individual graphene layers leads to an image charge oscillation in two-dimension. In the infrared region, on the other hand, we observe unique layer-specific contrasts that do not linearly increase with number of layers. It is attributed to the layer-dependent band- structure of graphenes.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.130-135
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• 2012

We present a method of graphene synthesis with high thickness uniformity using the thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD) technique; we demonstrate its application to a grid supporting membrane using transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation, particularly for nanomaterials that have smaller dimensions than the pitch of commercial grid mesh. Graphene was synthesized on electron-beam-evaporated Ni catalytic thin films. Methane and hydrogen gases were used as carbon feedstock and dilution gas, respectively. The effects of synthesis temperature and flow rate of feedstock on graphene structures have been investigated. The most effective condition for large area growth synthesis and high thickness uniformity was found to be $1000^{\circ}C$ and 5 sccm of methane. Among the various applications of the synthesized graphenes, their use as a supporting membrane of a TEM grid has been demonstrated; such a grid is useful for high resolution TEM imaging of nanoscale materials because it preserves the same focal plane over the whole grid mesh. After the graphene synthesis, we were able successfully to transfer the graphenes from the Ni substrates to the TEM grid without a polymeric mediator, so that we were able to preserve the clean surface of the as-synthesized graphene. Then, a drop of carbon nanotube (CNT) suspension was deposited onto the graphene-covered TEM grid. Finally, we performed high resolution TEM observation and obtained clear image of the carbon nanotubes, which were deposited on the graphene supporting membrane.

• Laser Solutions
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.1-5
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• 2012

We demonstrate that reduced graphene oxide (rGO) coated thin aluminum film is an effective optoacoustic transmitter for generating high pressure and high frequency ultrasound previously unattainable by other techniques. The rGO layer of different thickness is deposited between a 100 nm-thick aluminum film and a glass substrate. Under a pulsed laser excitation, the transmitter generates enhanced optoacoustic pressure of 64 times the aluminum-alone transmitter. A promising optoacoustic wave generation is possible by optimizing thermoelasticity of metal film and thermal conductivity of rGO in the proposed transmitter for laser-induced ultrasound (LIUS) applications.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.50
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• pp.28.1-28.6
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• 2020

Contamination on two-dimensional (2D) crystal surfaces poses serious limitations on fundamental studies and applications of 2D crystals. Surface residues induce uncontrolled doping and charge carrier scattering in 2D crystals, and trapped residues in mechanically assembled 2D vertical heterostructures often hinder coupling between stacked layers. Developing a process that can reduce the surface residues on 2D crystals is important. In this study, we explored the use of atomic force microscopy (AFM) to remove surface residues from 2D crystals. Using various transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations, we confirmed that surface residues on graphene samples can be effectively removed via contact-mode AFM scanning. The mechanical cleaning process dramatically increases the residue-free areas, where high-resolution imaging of graphene layers can be obtained. We believe that our mechanical cleaning process can be utilized to prepare high-quality 2D crystal samples with minimum surface residues.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.630-630
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• 2013

Recently, atomically smooth hexagonal boron nitride(h-BN) known as a white graphene has drawn great attention since the discovery of graphene. h-BN is a III-V compound and has a honeycomb structure very similar to graphene with smaller lattice mismatch. Because of strong covalent sp2bonds like graphene, h-BN provides a high thermal conductivity and mechanical strength as well as chemical stability of h-BN superior to graphene. While graphene has a high electrical conductivity, h-BN has a highly dielectric property as an insulator with optical band gap up to 6eV. Similar to the graphene, h-BN can be applied to a variety of field, such as gate dielectric layers/substrate, ultraviolet emitter, transparent membrane, and protective coatings. However, up until recently, obtaining and controlling good quality monolayer h-BN layers have been too difficult and challenging. In this work, we investigate the controlled synthesis of h-BN layers according to the growth condition, time, temperature, and gas partial pressure. h-BN is obtained by using chemical vapor deposition on Cu foil with ammonia borane (BH3NH3) as a source for h-BN. Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM, JEOL-JEM-ARM200F) is used for imaging and structural analysis of h-BN layer. Sample's surface morphology is characterized by Field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM, JEOL JSM-7100F). h-BN is analyzed by Raman spectroscopy (HORIBA, ARAMIS) and its topographic variations by Atomic force microscopy (AFM, Park Systems XE-100).

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.903-909
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• 2015

In this study, we used GO (graphene oxide) in order to enhance the adhesion between Ag NWs (nanowires) and substrates. By using a mixture solution of GO and Ag NW, a vacuum filtration process was used to fabricate a 50nm diameter thin film. Next, by using a light annealing process, the mechanical and electrical stability of Ag NW network was improved without any other treatment. The physical properties of the Ag NW - GO hybrid transparent conductive thin film was characterized in terms of a bending test, resistance and transmittance test, and nanoscale imaging using field-emission scanning electron microscopy.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.391-396
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• 2017

Human body motion detection is important in several industry sectors, such as entertainment, healthcare, rehabilitation, and so on. In this paper, we first discuss commercial human motion detection technologies (optical markers, MEMS acceleration sensors, infrared imaging, etc.) and then explain recent advances in the development of flexible and stretchable strain sensors for human motion detection. In particular, flexible and stretchable strain sensors that are fabricated using carbon nanotubes, silver nanowires, graphene, and other materials are reviewed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.87.1-87.1
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• 2016

The unique properties of 2D materials significantly rely on the atomic structure and defects. Thus study at atomic scale is crucial for in-depth understanding of 2D materials and provides insights into its future applications. Using aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopes, atomic resolution imaging of individual atoms has been achieved even at a low kV. Ongoing optimization of aberration correction improves the spatial resolution better than angstrom and moreover boosts the contrast of light atoms. I present the recent progress of the study on the atomic structure and defects of monolayer and multilayer graphene, hBN and MoS2. Furthermore, the defect formation mechanisms of graphene, hexagonal boron nitride and MoS2 are discussed.