• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.321-329
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was performed to produce data on the pulmonary toxicity of neodymium oxide($Nd_2O_3$) by intratracheal instillation. Methods: Two groups of rats were exposed to neodymium oxide by intratracheal instillation with doses of 0.5 mg and 2.0 mg, respectively. At two days, four weeks and 12 weeks after exposure, body weight change, organ weight change and histopathological change were observed. At 12 weeks after exposure, lung function change was measured. Results: The body weight of rats in the high concentration group decreased after 12 weeks by 4-5% compared with the control group. At four weeks and 12 weeks after the administration of neodymium oxide, the absolute weight of the lungs of the high concentration group were significantly increased when compared with the control group(p<0.05). At 12 weeks after the injection of neodymium oxide, breath frequency and respiratory minute volume were increased, but inhalation time and expiratory time were decreased. Bronchiolar epithelial hyperplasia, alveolar type II cell hypertrophy/hyperplasia and foreign body granulomatous inflammation were observed in the high exposure group. Conclusions: Body weight decrease, lung absolute weight and breath frequency increase, and pathological lung change were all observed. We found that pulmonary toxicity of neodymium oxide nanoparticles by intratracheal instillation could be confirmed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.08a
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• pp.75-75
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• 2011

Recently, dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) attracts great attention as a promising alternative to conventional silicon solar cells. One of the key components for the DSSC would be the nanocrystalline TiO2 electrode, and the control of interface between TiO2 and TCO is a highly important issue in improving the photovoltaic conversion efficiency. In this work, we applied various interfacial layers, and analyzed their effect in enhancing photovoltaic properties. In overall, introduction of interfacial layers increased both the Voc and Jsc, since the back-reaction of electrons from TCO to electrolyte could be blocked. First, several metal oxides with different band gaps and positions were employed as interfacial layer. SnO2, TiO2, and ZrO2 nanoparticles in the size of 3-5 nm have been synthesized. Among them, the interfacial layer of SnO2, which has lower flat-band potential than that of TiO2, exhibited the best performance in increasing the photovoltaic efficiency of DSSC. Second, long-range ordered cubic mesoporous TiO2 films, prepared by using triblock copolymer-templated sol-gel method via evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process, were utilized as an interfacial layer. Mesoporous TiO2 films seem to be one of the best interfacial layers, due to their additional effect, improving the adhesion to TCO and showing an anti-reflective effect. Third, we handled the issues related to the optimum thickness of interfacial layers. It was also found that in fabricating DSSC at low temperature, the role of interfacial layer turned out to be a lot more important. The self-assembled interfacial layer fabricated at room temperature leads to the efficient transport of photo-injected electrons from TiO2 to TCO, as well as blocking the back-reaction from TCO to I3-. As a result, fill factor (FF) was remarkably increased, as well as increase in Voc and Jsc.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2018.06a
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• pp.141-141
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• 2018

Copper is one of the most abundant metals on earth. Its oxide (CuO) is an intrinsically p-type metal-oxide semiconductor with a bandgap ($E_g$) of 1.2-2.0 eV 1. Copper oxide nanomaterials are considered as promising materials for a wide range of applications e.g., lithium ion batteries, dye-sensitized solar cells, photocatalytic hydrogen production, photodetectors, and biogas sensors 2-7. Recently, high-density and uniform CuO nanostructures have been grown on Cu foils in alkaline solutions 3. In 2011, T. Soejima et al. proposed a facile process for the oxidation synthesis of CuO nanobelt arrays using $NH_3-H_2O_2$ aqueous solution 8. In 2017, G. Kaur et al. synthesized CuO nanostructures by treating Cu foils in $NH_4OH$ at room temperature for different treatment times 9. The surface treatment of Cu in alkaline aqueous solutions is a potential method for the mass fabrication of CuO nanostructures with high uniformity and density. It is interesting to compare the gas sensing properties among CuO nanomaterials synthesized by this approach and by others. Nevertheless, none of above studies investigated the gas sensing properties of as-synthesized CuO nanomaterials. In this study, CuO nanowalls versus nanoparticles were synthesized via the oxidation process of Cu foil in NH4OH solution at $50-70^{\circ}C$. The gas sensing properties of the as-prepared CuO nanoplates were examined with $C_2H_5OH$, $CH_3COCH_3$, and $NH_3$ at $200-360^{\circ}C$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.581-584
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• 2020

The effect of a chemical pretreatment on the surface carbon was investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electrochemical methods. Primitive carbon has a reducing power likely due to incompletely oxidized functional groups on the surface. We aim to control this reducing power by chemical treatment and apply for the spontaneous deposition of nanoparticles (NPs). Highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was initially treated with a reducing agent, NaBH4 or an oxidizing agent, KMnO₄, for 5 min. Subsequently, the pretreated carbon was immersed in a platinum (Pt) precursor. Unexpectedly, SEM images showed that the reducing agent increased spontaneous PtNPs deposition while the oxidizing agent decreased Pt loading more as compared to that of using bare carbon. However, the amount of Pt on the carbon obviously decreased by NaBH₄ treatment for 50 min. Secondly, spontaneous reduction on pretreated glassy carbon (GC) was investigated using the catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). GC electrode treated with NaBH4 for a short and long time showed small (onset potential: -640 mV vs. MSE) and large overpotential for the HER, respectively. Although the mechanism is unclear, the electrochemistry results correspond to the optical data. As a proof-of-concept, these results demonstrate that chemical treatments can be used to design the shapes and amounts of deposited catalytic metal on carbon by controlling the surface state.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.429-436
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• 2012

Critical heat flux (CHF) is the thermal limit of a phenomenon in which a phase change occurs during heating (such as bubbles forming on a metal surface used to heat water), which suddenly decreases the heat transfer efficiency, thus causing localized overheating of the heating surface. The enhancement of CHF can increase the safety margins and allow operation at higher heat fluxes; thus, it can increase the economy. A very interesting characteristic of nanofluids is their ability to significantly enhance the CHF. Nanofluids are nanotechnology-based colloidal dispersions engineered through the stable suspension of nanoparticles. All experiments were performed in round tubes with an inner diameter of 0.01041 m and a length of 0.5 m under low pressure and low flow (LPLF) conditions at a fixed inlet temperature using water, 0.01 vol.% $Al_2O_3$/water nanofluid, and SiC/water nanofluid. It was found that the CHF of the nanofluids was enhanced and the CHF of the SiC/water nanofluid was more enhanced than that of the $Al_2O_3$/water nanofluid.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 2007

The most recent developments in two areas: (a) synthesis of inorganic particles with control over size and shape by polymer additives, and (b) synthesis of inorganic-polymer hybrid materials by bulk polymerization of blends of monomers with nanosized crystals are reviewed. The precipitations of inorganics, such as zinc oxide or calcium carbonate, in presence and under the control of bishydrophilic block or comb copolymers, are relevant to the field of Biomineralization. The application of surface modified latex particles, used as controlling agents, and the formation of hybrid crystals in which the latex is embedded in otherwise perfect crystals, are discussed. The formation of nano sized spheres of amorphous calcium carbonate, stabilized by surfactant-like polymers, is also discussed. Another method for the preparation of nanosized inorganic functional particles is the controlled pyrolysis of metal salt complexes of poly(acrylic acid), as demonstrated by the syntheses of lithium cobalt oxide and zinc/magnesium oxide. Bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate blends, with for example, nanosized zinc oxide, revealed that the mechanisms of tree radical polymerization respond to the presence of these particles. The termination by radical-radical interaction and the gel effect are suppressed in favor of degenerative transfer, resulting in a polymer with enhanced thermal stability. The optical properties of the resulting polymer-particle blends are addressed based on the basic discussion of the miscibility of polymers and nanosized particles.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.497-505
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• 2019

Lanthanum-based transition metal cations containing perovskites have emerged as potential catalysts for the intermediate-temperature (600-800℃) oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here, we report a facile acetylacetone-assisted combustion route for the synthesis of nanostructured La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3-δ (LSCF6428) cathodes for intermediate-temperature solid-oxide fuel cells (IT-SOFCs). The as-prepared powder was analyzed by thermogravimetry analysis-differential scanning calorimetry. The powder calcined at 800℃ was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electrode microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area measurements. It was found that the porosity of the air electrode significantly increased by utilizing the nanostructured LSCF6428 instead of commercial powder. The performance of a single cell fabricated with the nanostructured LSCF6428 cathode increased by 112%, from 0.4 to 0.85 W cm^-2, at 700℃. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed a considerable reduction in the area-specific resistance and activation energy from 133.5 to 61.5 kJ/mol, resulting in enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward ORR and overall cell performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.441-442
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• 2008

For this study, Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) particles co-doped with $Ce^{3+}$ and $Eu^{3+}$ were prepared via the combustion process using the 1:1 ratio of metal ions to reagents. The characteristics of the synthesized nano powder were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and photoluminescence (PL). The various YAG peaks, with the (420) main peak, appeared at all Eu concentrationin XRD patterns. The YAG phase crystallized with results that are in good agreement with the JCPDS diffraction file 33-0040. The SEM image showed that the resulting YAG:Ce,Eu powders had uniform sizes and good homogeneity. The grain size was about 50nm. The photoluminescence spectra of the YAG:Ce,Eu nanoparticles were investigated to determine the energy level of electron transition related to luminescence processes. It was composed a broad band of $Ce^{3+}$ activator into the weak line peak of $Eu^{3+}$ in YAG host. The PL intensity of $Ce^{3+}$ has the wavelengths of 480-650 nm and The PL intensity of $Eu^{3+}$ has main peak at 590nm.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.76-76
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• 2008

The resonance properties due to the surface plasmon(SP) excitation of metal nanoparticles make the nanocomposite films promising for various applications such as optical switching devices. In spite of the well-known ultra-sensitive operation of optical switches based on a guided wave, the application of nanocomposite film(NC) has inherent limitation originating from the excessive optical loss related with the surface plasmon resonance(SPR). In this study, we addressed this problem and present the experimental and theoretical analysis on the pump-probe optical switching in prism-coupled Au(1 vol.%):$SiO_2$ nanocomposite waveguide film. The guided mode was successfully generated using a near infrared probe beam of 1550 nm and modulated with an external pump beam of 532 nm close to the SPR wavelength. We extend our approach to ultra-fast operation using a pulsed laser with 5 ns pulse width. To improve the switching speed through the reduction in thermal loading effect accompanied by the resonant absorption of pump beam light, we adopted a metallic film as a coupling layer instead of low-index dielectric layer between the high-index SF10 prism and NC slab waveguide. We observed great enhancement in switching speed for the case of using metallic coupling layer, and founded a distinct difference in origin of optical nonlinearities induced during switching operation using cw and ns laser.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.249-255
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• 2013

Gas-sensor array technology, which has been much utilized in the field of food technology by the name of 'electronic nose' is drawing attention in diagnosing lung cancer based on the analysis of the exhaled human breath. Much understanding has been accomplished about the composition of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the human exhaled breath, in spite of some variations depending on research groups due mainly to lack of the standardization of the sensing procedures. Since VOCs may be produced during the process of cellular metabolism, difference in the cellular metabolism between healthy cells and lung cancer cells are expected to be reflected on the composition variation of the exhaled VOCs. Several studies have attempted to apply the gas-sensor array technology to lung cancer analysis using many different types of sensors including metal oxide, carbon black-polymer composite, surface acoustic wave, and gold nanoparticles. In this mini-review VOC as biomarkers, sensor array technology and application of the array technology for the diagnosis of cancer disease have been described.