• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.611-615
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• 2004

A neural prostheses can be designed to permit stimulation of specific sites in the nervous system to restore their functions, lost due to disease or trauma. This study focuses on the feasibility of optoelecronic stimulation into nervous system. Optoelectronic stimulation supplies, power and signal into the implanted optical detector inside the body by optics. It can be effective strategy especially on the retinal prosthesis, because it enables the non-invasive connection between the external source and internal detector through natural optical window 'eye'. Therefore, we designed an effective neural stimulating setup by optically based stimulation. Stimulating on the sciatic nerve of a rat with proper depth probe through optical stimulation needs higher ratio of current spreading through the neural surface, because of high impedance of neural interface. To increase the insertion current spreading into the neuron, we used a parallel low resistance compared to load resistance organic interface and calculated the optimized outer parallel resistance for maximum insertion current with the assumption of limited current by photodiode. Optimized outer parallel resistance was at a range of 500Ω-700Ω and a current was at a level between 580uA and 650uA. Stimulating current efficiency from initial photodiode induced current was between 47.5 and 59.7%. Various amplitude and frequency of the optical stimulation on the sciatic nerve showed the reliable visual tremble, and the action potential was also recorded near the stimulating area. These result demonstrate that optoelectronic stimulation with no bias can be applied to the retinal prosthesis and other neuroprosthetic area.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.445-454
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• 2019

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) nanoparticles have emerged as novel nanomaterials for bio-imaging applications due to its unique layered structure, physicochemical properties, and good biocompatibility. Bio-imaging is one of the most important fields for medical applications in clinical diagnostics and therapeutics of various diseases. Enhanced diagnostic techniques are needed to realize new paradigm for next-generation personalized medicine through nanoscale materials. When nanotechnology is introduced into bio-imaging system, nanoparticle probes can endow imaging techniques with enhanced ability to obtain information about biological system at the molecular level. In this review, we summarize structural features of LDH nanoparticles with current issues of bio-imaging system. LDH nanoparticle probes are also discussed through in vitro as well as in vivo studies in various bio-imaging techniques including fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and computed X-ray tomography (CT), which will have the potential in the development of the advanced nanoparticles with high sensitivity and selectivity.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.55-60
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• 2020

The PERC photovoltaic (PV) modules installed in PV power plant are still reports potential-induced degradation (PID) degradation due to high voltage potential differences. This is because Na+ ions in the cover glass of PV modules go through the encapsulant (EVA) and transferred to the surface of solar cells. As positive charges are accumulated at the ARC (SiOx/SiNx) interface where many defects are distributed, shunt-resistance (Rsh) is reduced. As a result, the leakage current is increased, and decrease in solar cell's power output. In this study, to prevent of this phenomenon, a Moth-eye nanostructure was deposited on the rear surface of an optical film using Nano-Imprint Lithography method, and a solar mini-module was constructed by inserting it between the cover glass and the EVA. To analyze the PID phenomenon, a cell-level PID acceleration test based on IEC 62804-1 standard was conducted. Also analyzed power output (Pmax), efficiency, and shunt resistance through Light I-V and Dark I-V. As a result, conventional solar cells were decreased by 6.3% from the initial efficiency of 19.76%, but the improved solar cells with the Moth-eye nanostructured optical film only decreased 0.6%, thereby preventing the PID phenomenon. As of Moth-eye nanostructured optical film, the transmittance was improved by 4%, and the solar module output was improved by 2.5%.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.375-380
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• 2009

Polyepichlorohydrin rubber was treated with sodium azide (Na$N_3$) to replace its chlorine by azide ($N_3$). Then, the azidated polyepichlorohydrin rubber (Az-PECH) was blended with thermoplastic styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer with the rubber/plastic ratio of 80/20, 70/30 and 60/40 (wt/wt). The miscibility, mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties as well as elastic recovery properties of the blends were evaluated by DMA (Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer) and tensile tests. When azidation level in azidated PECH was upto 50%, the blends exhibited excellent miscibility, manifested by a single $T_g$, and fairly good elastic recovery. When azidation level was 75%, the blends showed phase separation. The miscible Az-PECH/SAN blends exhibited typical thermoplastic elastomer like properties, ie. melt processibility and high extensibility as well as good elastic recovery rate. It was also observed from combustion test that higher energy is released with the increase in the azidation level of the Az-PECH in the blends.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.478-484
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• 2009

Three-dimensional porous scaffolds play an important role in tissue engineering strategies. They provide a void volume in which vascularization, new tissue formation, and remodeling can occur. Like any grafted materials, the ideal scaffold for bone tissue engineering should be biocompatible without causing an inflammatory response. It should also possess biodegradability, which provides a suitable three-dimensional environment for the cell function together with the capacity for gradual resorption and replacement by host bone tissue. Various scaffolds have already been developed for bone tissue engineering applications, including naturally derived materials, bioceramics, and synthetic polymers. The advantages of biodegradable synthetic polymers include the ability to tailor specific functions. The purpose of this study was to examine the osteogenic activity of periosteal-derived cells in a polydioxanone/pluronic F127 scaffold. Periosteal-derived cells were successfully differentiated into osteoblasts in the polydioxanone/pluronic F127 scaffold. ALP activity showed its peak level at 2 weeks of culture, followed by decreased activity during the culture period. Similar to biochemical data, the level of ALP mRNA in the periosteal-derived cells was also largely elevated at 2 weeks of culture. The level of osteocalcin mRNA was gradually increased during entire culture period. Calcium content was detactable at 1 week and increased in a time-dependent manner up to the entire duration of culture. Our results suggest that polydioxanone/pluronic F127 could be a suitable scaffold of periosteal-derived cells for bone tissue engineering.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.53-58
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• 2018

Since the scaling-down of IC devices has been reached to their physical limitations, several innovative packaging technologies such as 3D packaging, embedded packaging, and fan-out wafer level packaging (FOWLP) are actively studied. In this study the fabrication of organic-inorganic dielectric material was evaluated for the use of multi-structured redistribution layers (RDL) in FOWLP. Compared to current organic dielectrics such as PI or PBO an organic-inorganic hybrid dielectric called polysilsesquioxane (PSSQ) can improve mechanical, thermal, and electrical stabilities. polysilsesquioxane has also an excellent advantage of simultaneous curing and patterning through UV exposure. The polysilsesquioxane samples were fabricated by spin-coating on 6-inch Si wafer followed by pre-baking and UV exposure. With the 10 minutes of UV exposure polysilsesquioxane was fully cured and showed $2{\mu}m$ line-pattern formation. And the dielectric constant of cured polysilsesquioxane dielectrics was ranged from 2.0 to 2.4. It has been demonstrated that polysilsesquioxane dielectric can be patterned and cured by UV exposure alone without a high temperature curing process.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.109.1-109.1
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• 2015

Understanding the reaction mechanisms and structures underlying the adsorption of biomolecules on semiconductors is important for functionalizing semiconductor surfaces for various bioapplications. Herein, we describe the characteristic behavior of a primary nucleobase adsorbed on the semiconductor Ge(100). The adsorption configuration of guanine, a primary nucleobase found in DNA and RNA, on the semiconductor Ge(100) at an atomic level was investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. When adsorbed on Ge(100) at room temperature, guanine appears dark in STM images, indicating that the adsorption of guanine on Ge(100) occurs through N-H dissociation. In addition, DFT calculations revealed that "N(1)-H dissociation through an O dative bonded structure" is the most favorable adsorption configuration of all the possible ones. We anticipate that the characterization of guanine adsorbed on Ge(100) will contribute to the development of semiconductor-based biodevices.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.132-139
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• 2006

The dispersion of organoclay in ethylene propylene diene terpolymer (EPDM) matrix was correlated with the rheological and swelling properties of nanocomposites. X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis exhibited the disordered-intercalated structure of EPDM/organoclay nanocomposite. The extent of the disordered phase increased with increasing organoclay content up to a limiting value of 3 wt% after which equilibrium tended towards intercalation. The dispersion effect of organoclay in EPDM matrix was clarified by the physicochemical properties like rheological response and swelling thermodynamics in toluene. The increase in viscoelastic properties of EPDM nanocomposite with increasing organoclay content up to 3 wt%, followed by a subsequent decrease up to 4 wt%, was correlated in terms of the disordered and ordered states of the dispersed nano-clay sheets. Swelling measurements revealed that the change in entropy of the swelling increased with the increase in disorder level but decreased with the increase in intercalation level of organoclay in the disordered-intercalated nanocomposite. The increase in solvent uptake was comparable with the free volume in EPDM matrix upon inclusion of silicate particles, whereas the inhibition in solvent uptake for higher organoclay loading was described by bridging flocculation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2003.07b
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• pp.904-907
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• 2003

We synthesized dendrimers containing light switchable units, azobenzene group. To apply to the molecular level devices or data storage system using Langmuir-Blodgett(LB) film, we firstly investigated the monolayer behavior using the surface pressure-area(${\pi}-A$) isotherms at air-water interface. And then the surface pressure shift of monolayer by light irradiation was also measured to the dendrimer with azobezene group. As a result, the monolayer of dendrimer with azobenzene group showed the reversible photo-switching behavior by the isomerization of azobenzene group in their periphery. This results suggest that the dendrimers with azobenzene group can be applied to high efficient nano-device of molecular level. And we measured the electrical properties by MIM and STM. The dendrimer with azobenzene group compared trans form and cis form at electrical properties.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.636-639
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• 2003

It is difficult to machine below 10 micrometers by conventional machining methods, such as micro-EDM. However, ultra micro machining using focused ion beam(FIB) is able to machine to 50 nanometers. In addition, 3 dimensional structures can be made by a combination of FIB and CVD to the level of 10 nanometers. Die ＆ moulds techniques are better than one-to-one machining techniques in the mass production of ultra size structures, in regards to production costs. In this case, the machining precision of die ＆ moulds affects produced parts. Also, it is advantageous to machine die ＆ moulds to the 10 micrometer level by FIB technique rather than other techniques. In this paper, the grooving characteristics for die ＆ mould materials by FIB were carried out experimentally in order to compare the machining characteristics of FIB with conventional machining methods. The results showed that the machining parameters and the scanning path of FIB affects the precision. The machined width and depth of the groove varied depending on the required depth due to the redeposition of the sputtered ion material accumulating on both the bottom and the side of the wall.