• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.852-856
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• 2015

In this study, we investigate the effect of high-energy ball milling on thermoelectric transport properties in double-filled $CoSb_3$ skutterudite ($In_{0.2}Yb_{0.1}Co_4Sb_{12}$). $In_{0.2}Yb_{0.1}Co_4Sb_{12}$ powders are milled using high-energy ball milling for different periods of time (0, 5, 10, and 20 min), and the milled powders are consolidated into bulk samples by spark plasma sintering. Microstructure analysis shows that the high-energy ball milled bulk samples are composed of nano- and micro-grains. Because the filling fractions are reduced in the bulk samples due to the kinetic energy of the high-energy ball milling, the carrier concentration of the bulk samples decreases with the ball milling time. Furthermore, the mobility of the bulk samples also decreases with the ball milling time due to enhanced grain boundary scattering of electrons. Reduction of electrical conductivity by ball milling has a decisive effect on thermoelectric transport in the bulk samples, power factor decreases with the ball milling time.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.210-216
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• 2011

Capsaicin is a pungent component of red pepper, which is widely consumed as food adjuncts. The present study was performed to investigate anti-obesity effects of capsaicin in diet-induced obese rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=14) were fed with a high-fat diet (Control) or high-fat diet containing 0.016% capsaicin (w/w) (Capsaicin) for 8 weeks. The final body weight and the mass of white adipose tissue were significantly lower in capsaicin supplemented group compared to control. Dietary capsaicin ameliorated lipid profiles with decrease in the plasma concentrations of triglycerides and total cholesterol, and decrease in the levels of total lipids and triglycerides in the liver. Activity of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), an indicator of triglyceride biosynthesis in white adipose tissue, decreased by 35% in the group supplemented with capsaicin. However, consumption of capsaicin increased the expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) in white adipose tissue, which is related to energy consumption. Our data suggests that capsaicin may reduce body weight and fat accumulation in high fat diet-induced obese rats. These effects may be mediated, at least partially, by the upregulation of UCP2 gene expression and its ability to inhibit GPDH activity.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2014

Poly vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVdF-HFP) membrane were prepared by the electrospinning technique. We had applied a DLC coating process and then the surface of the membrane and the contact angle change was investigated. Electrospun fibrous PVdF-HFP membrane surface became to wrinkled shape by Ar plasma treatment and treatment conditions. The wrinkled surface of PVdF-HFP membrane became super-hydrophilic. However, after DLC coating process, it became super-hydrophobic. The resulting surfaces were characterized by water contact angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Resultantly it was recognized that the wettability characteristics of the membrane surfaces depended on the chemical composition and surface morphology.

• Journal of Surface Science and Engineering
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.126-135
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• 2005

SKD 11 steel has been widely used for tools, metallic mold and die for press working because of its favorable mechanical properties such as high toughness and creep strength as well as excellent oxidation resistance. The ion nitrided tool steel containing Mo results in improvement of corrosion resistance, strength at high temperature and pitting resistance, especially in $Cl^-$ contained environment. But the Mo addition causes a disadvantage such as lower oxidation resistance at elevated temperature. In this study, several effects of ion-disadvantage on the oxidation characteristics for SKD 11 steel with various oxidation temperature were investigated. SKD 11 steels were manufactured by using vacuum furnace and solutionized for 1 hr at $1,050^{\circ}C$. Steel surface was ion nitrided at $500^{\circ}C$ for 1 hr and 5 hr by ion nitriding equipment. ion nitrided specimen were investigated by SEM, OM and hardness tester. Oxidation was carried out by using muffle furnace in air at $500^{\circ}C,\;700^{\circ}C\;and\;900^{\circ}C$ for 1hr, respectively. Oxidation behavior of the ion nitrided specimen was investigated by SEM, EDX and surface roughness tester. The conclusions of this study are as follows: It was found that plasma nitriding for 5 hr at $500^{\circ}C$, compared with ion nitriding for 1 hr at $500^{\circ}C$, had a thick nitrided layer and produced a layer with good wear, corrosion resistance and hardness as nitriding time increased. Nitrided SKD 11 alloy for 1hr showed that wear resistance and hardness decreased, whereas surface roughness increased, compared with nitrided SKD 11 alloy for 5 hr. The oxidation surface at $900^{\circ}C$ showed a good corrosion resistance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.147-148
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• 2007

Dye-sensitized solar cell using conversion of solar energy to electrical energy appeared that which solves a environmental matter. The dye-sensitized solar cell uses nano-crystalline oxide semiconductor for absorbing dye. The $TiO_2$ is used most plentifully. The efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell changes consequently in the particle size, morphology, crystallization and surface state of the $TiO_2$. In this paper, we report The effect of titania$(TiO_2)$ thickness on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells. Using doctor blade method, It produced the thickness of the $TiO_2$ with $7\;{\mu}m,\;10\;{\mu}m,\;13\;{\mu}m$. The efficiency was the best from $10{\mu}m$. It had relatively low efficiency on the thickness from $7\;{\mu}m\;to\;13\;{\mu}m$. The reason why it presents low efficiency on $7\;{\mu}m$ thickness is that excited electrons can not be delivered enough due to thin thickness of $7\;{\mu}m\;TiO_2$. And The reason why it presents low efficiency on $13\;{\mu}m$ thickness is that thick $13\;{\mu}m\;TiO_2$ can not penetrate the sunlight enough.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.141-141
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• 2010

The effect of thermal anneal on the characteristics of structural properties and the enhancement of luminescence and photovoltaic (PV) characteristics of silicon-rich silicon-nitride films were investigated. By using an ultra high vacuum ion beam sputtering deposition, B-doped silicon-rich silicon-nitride (SRSN) thin films, with excess silicon content of 15 at. %, on P-doped (n-type) Si substrate was fabricated, sputtering a highly B doped Si wafer with a BN chip by N plasma. In order to examine the influence of thermal anneal, films were then annealed at different temperature up to $1100^{\circ}C$ under $N_2$ environment. Raman, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy did not show any reliable evidence of amorphous or crystalline Si clusters allowing us concluding that nearly no Si nano-cluster could be formed through the precipitation of excess Si from SRSN matrix during thermal anneal. Instead, results of Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy clearly indicated that defective, amorphous Si-N matrix of films was changed to be well-ordered thanks to high temperature anneal. The measurement of spectral ellipsometry in UV-visible range was carried out and we found that the optical absorption edge of film was shifted to higher energy as the anneal temperature increased as the results of thermal anneal induced formation of $Si_3N_4$-like matrix. These are consistent with the observation that higher visible photoluminescence, which is likely due to the presence of Si-N bonds, from anneals at higher temperature. Based on these films, PV cells were fabricated by the formation of front/back metal electrodes. For all cells, typical I-V characteristic of p-n diode junction was observed. We also tried to measure PV properties using a solar-simulator and confirmed successful operation of PV devices. Carrier transport mechanism depending on anneal temperature and the implication of PV cells based on SRSN films were also discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.356-356
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• 2010

Tribological behaviors of the hard film on soft substrate system were explored using the hard thin film of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coated the soft polymer of polydimethysiloxane (PDMS). A DLC film with the Young's modulus of 100 GPa was coated on PDMS substrate with Young's modulus of 10 MPa using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique. The deposition time was varied from 10 sec to 10 min, resulting in nanoscale roughness of wrinkle patterns with the thickness of 20 nm to 510 nm, respectively, at a bias voltage of $400\;V_b$, working pressure 10 mTorr. Nanoscale wrinkle patterns with 20-100 nm in width and 10-30 nm height were formed on DLC coating due to the residual stress in compression and difference in Young's modulus. Nanoscale roughness effect on tribological behaviors was observed by performing a tribo-experiment using the ball-on-disk type tribometer with a steel ball of 6 mm in diameter at the sliding speed of 220 rpm, normal load of 1N and 25% humidity at ambient temperature of $25^{\circ}C$. Friction force were measured with respect to thickness change of coated DLC thin film on PDMS. It was found that with increases the thickness of DLC coating on PDMS, the coefficient of friction decreased by comparison to that of the uncoated PDMS. The wear tracks before and after tribo-test were analyzed using SEM and AFM.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.397-397
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• 2010

Bone is considered as hierarchically organized biocomposites of organic (collagen) and inorganic (hydroxyapatite) materials. The precise structural dependence between hydroxyapatite (HAp, $Ca_{10}(PO_4)_6(OH)_2)$ crystals and collagen fibril is critical to unique characteristics of bone. To meet those conditions and obtain optimal properties, it is essential to understand and control the initial growth mechanisms of hydroxyapatite at the molecular level, such as other nano-structured materials. In this study, collagen fibrils were prepared by adsorbing native type I collagen molecules onto hydrophobic surface. Hydrophobicity was introduced on the Si wafer surface by using PECVD (plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition) method and cyclohexane as a precursor. Biomimetic nucleation and growth of HAp on the self-assembled collagen nanofibrils were occurred through incubation of the sample in SBF (simulated body fluid). Chemical and morphological evolution of HAp nanocrystals was investigated by surface-sensitive analytical techniques such as ToF-SIMS (Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry) and AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) in the early growth stages (< 24 hrs). The very initial stages (< 12 hrs) of mineralization could be clearly demonstrated by ToF-SIMS chemical mapping of surface. In addition to ToF-SIMS and AFM measurement, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis were conducted to characterize the HAp layer in the late stages. This study is of great importance in the growth of real bone-like materials with a structure analogous to that of natural bones and the development of biomimetic nanomaterials.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2016

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Nps), composed of magnetite, $Fe_3O_4$, or maghemite, ${\gamma}-Fe_2O_3$, core and biocompatible polymer shell, such as dextran or chitozan, have recently found wide applications in magnetic resonance imaging, contrast enhancement and hyperthermia therapy. For different diagnostic and therapeutic applications, current attempt is focusing on the synthesis and biomedical applications of various ferrite Nps, such as $CoFe_2O_4$ and $MnFe_2O_4$, differing from iron oxide Nps in charge, surface chemistry and magnetic properties. This study is focused on the synthesis of manganese ferrite, $MnFe_2O_4$, Nps by most commonly used chemical way pursuing better control of their size, purity and magnetic properties. Co-precipitation syntheses were performed using aqueous alkaline solutions of Mn(II) and Fe(III) salts and NaOH within a wide pH range using various hydrothermal treatment regimes. Different additives, such as citric acid, cysteine, glicine, polyetylene glycol, triethanolamine, chitosan, etc., were tested on purpose to obtain good yield of pure phase and monodispersed Nps with average size of ${\leq}20nm$. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), $M\ddot{o}ssbauer$ spectroscopy down to cryogenic temperatures, magnetic measurements and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were employed in this study.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.19-23
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• 2009

We have studied dielectric characteristics of low-k interlayer dielectric materials was fabricated by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). BTMSM precursor was introduced with the flow rates from 24 sccm to 32 sccm by 2 sccm step in the constant flow rate of 60 sccm $O_2$. Then, SiOCH thin film deposited at room temperature was annealed at temperature of $400^{\circ}C$ and $500^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes in vacuum. The vibrational groups of SiOCH thin films were analyzed by FT/IR absorption lines, and the dielectric constant of the low-k SiOCH thin films were obtained by measuring C-V characteristic curves. With the result that FTIR analysis, as BTMSM flow rate increase, relative carbon content of SiOCH thin film increased from 29.5% to 32.2%, and increased by 32.8% in 26 sccm specimen after $500^{\circ}C$ annealing. Dielectric constant was lowest by 2.32 in 26 sccm specimen, and decreased more by 2.05 after $500^{\circ}C$ annealing. Also, leakage current is lowest by $8.7{\times}10^{-9}A/cm^2$ in this specimen. In the result, shift phenomenon of chemical bond appeared in SiOCH thin film that BTMSM flow rate is deposited by 26 sccms, and relative carbon content was highest in this specimen and dielectric constant also was lowest value