• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.15-24
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• 2014

Recently, a variety of printing technologies, including ink jet, gravure, and roll-to-roll (R2R) printing, has generated intensive interest in the application of flexible and wearable electronic devices. However, the actual use of printing technique is much limited because the sintering process of the printed nanoparticle inks remains as a huge practical drawback. In the fabrication of the conductive metal film, a post-sintering process is required to achieve high conductivity of the printed film. The conventional thermal sintering takes considerable sintering times, and requires high temperatures. For application to flexible devices, the sintering temperature should be as low as possible to minimize the damage of polymer substrate. Several alternative sintering methods were suggested, such as laser, halogen lamp, infrared, plasma, ohmic, microwave, and etc. Eventually, the new sintering technique should be applicable to large area, R2R, and polymer substrate as well as low cost. This article reviews progress in recent technologies for several sintering methods. The advantages and disadvantages of each technology will be reviewed. Several issues for the application in R2R process are discussed.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.2290-2294
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• 2014

For the present study, rhEGF was encapsulated into solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). The SLNs were prepared by the $W_1/O/W_2$ double emulsification method combined with the high pressure homogenization method and the physical properties such as particle size, zeta-potential and encapsulation efficiency were measured. The overall particle morphology of SLNs was investigated using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The percutaneous skin permeation and accumulation property of rhEGF was evaluated using Franz diffusion cell system along with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The mean particle size of rhEGF-loaded SLNs was $104.00{\pm}3.99nm$ and the zeta-potential value was in the range of -$36.99{\pm}0.54mV$, providing a good colloidal stability. The TEM image revealed a spherical shape of SLNs about 100 nm and the encapsulation efficiency was $18.47{\pm}0.22%$. The skin accumulation of rhEGF was enhanced by SLNs. CLSM image analysis provided that the rhEGF rat skin accumulation is facilitated by an entry of SLNs through the pores of skin.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.466.2-466.2
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• 2014

The Quantum dot (QD) solar cells have been under active research due to their high light harvesting efficiencies and low fabrication cost. In spite of these advantages, there have been some problems on the charge collection due to the limitation of the diffusion length. The modification of advanced nanostructure is capable of solving the charge collection problem by increasing diffusion length of electron. One dimensional nanomaterials such as nanorods, nanowires, and nanotubes may enhance charge collection efficiency in QD solar cells. In this study, we synthesized $TiO_2$ anatase nanorod arrays with length of 200 nm by two-step sol-gel method. The morphology and crystal structure for the nanorod were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The anatase nanorods are single-crystalline and possess preferred orientation along with (001) direction. The photovoltaic properties for the heterojunction structure QD solar cells based on the anatase nanorod were also characterized. Compared with conventional $TiO_2$ nanoparticle based QD solar cells, these nanostructure solar cells exhibited better charge collection properties due to long life time measured by transient open circuit studies. Our findings demonstrate that the single crystalline anatase nanorod arrays are promising charge transport semiconductors for heterojunction QD solar cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.165-165
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• 2014

In this study, we demonstrated that the soft lithographic patterning processing of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene and rGO sheets as large scale, low cost, high quality and simplicity for future industrial applications. Recently, a previous study has reported that single layer graphene grown via CVD was patterned and transferred to a target surface by controlling the surface energy of the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp [1]. Using this approach, the surface of a relief-patterned elastomeric stamp was functionalized with hydrophilic dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) molecules to enhance the surface energy of the stamp and to remove the graphene-based layer from the initial substrate and transfer it to a target surface [2]. Further, we developed a soft lithographic patterning process via surface energy modification for advanced graphene-based flexible devices such as transistors or simple and efficient chemical sensor consisting of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and a metallic nanoparticle composite. A flexible graphene-based device on a biocompatible silk fibroin substrate, which is attachable to an arbitrary target surface, was also successfully fabricated.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.683-689
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• 2015

In this study, the properties of Ag-coated $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were observed, while varying the molar ratio of water and $Ag^+$ for the surfactant and $TiO_2$. According to the XRD results, each nanoparticle showed a distinctive diffraction pattern. The intensity of the respective peaks and the sizes of the nanoparticles increased in the order of AT1($R_1=5$)(33.3 nm), AT2($R_1=10$)(38.1 nm), AT3($R_1=20$)(45.7 nm), AT4($R_1=40$)(48.6 nm) as well as AT5($R_2=0.2$, $R_3=0.5$)(41.4 nm), AT6($R_2=0.3$, $R_3=1$)(45.1 nm), AT7($R_2=0.5$, $R_3=1.5$)(49.3 nm), AT8($R_2=0.7$, $R_3=2$)(57.2 nm), which values were consistent with the results of the UV-Vis. spectrum. The surface resistance of the conductive pastes fabricated using the prepared Ag-coated $TiO_2$ nanoparticles exhibited a range 7.0~9.0($274{\sim}328{\mu}{\Omega}/cm^2$) times that of pure silver paste(ATP)($52{\mu}{\Omega}/cm^2$).

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.16-19
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• 2014

Anodic self-organized titania nanotube (TNT) arrays have a great potential as efficient electron-transport materials for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Herewith we report the photovoltaic and kinetic investigations for a series of heteroleptic ruthenium complexes (RD16-RD18) sensitized on TNT films for DSSC applications. We found that the RD16 device had an enhanced short-circuit current density ($J_{SC}/mAcm^{-2}=15.0$) and an efficiency of power conversion (${\eta}=7.2%$) greater than that of a N719 device (${\eta}=7.1%$) due to the increasing light-harvesting and the broadened spectral features with thiophene-based ligands. However, the device made of RD17 (adding one more hexyl chain) showed smaller $J_{SC}(14.1mAcm^{-2})$ and poorer ${\eta}(6.8%)$ compare to those of RD16 due to smaller amount of dye-loading and less efficient electron injection for the RD17 device than for the RD16 device. For the RD18 dye (adding one more thiophene unit and one more hexyl chain), we found that the device showed even lower $J_{SC}(13.2mAcm^{-2}) $ that led to a poorest device performance (${\eta}=6.2%$) for the RD18 device. These results are against to those obtained from the same dyes sensitized on $TiO_2$ nanoparticle films and they can be rationalized according to the electron transport kinetics measured using the methods of charge extraction and transient photovoltage decays.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.17 no.9
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• pp.453-457
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• 2007

Interest in use of ink-jet printing for pattern-on-demand fabrication of metal interconnects without complicated and wasteful etching process has been on rapid increase. However, ink-jet printing is a wet process and needs an additional thermal treatment such as an annealing process. Since a metal ink is a suspension containing metal nanoparticles and organic capping molecules to prevent aggregation of them, the microstructure of an ink-jet printed metal interconnect 'as dried' can be characterized as a stack of loosely packed nanoparticles. Therefore, during being treated thermally, an inkjet-printed interconnect is likely to evolve a characteristic microstructure, different from that of the conventionally vacuum-deposited metal films. Microstructure characteristics can significantly affect the corresponding electrical and mechanical properties. The characteristics of change in microstructure and electrical resistivity of inkjet-printed silver (Ag) films when annealed isothermally at a temperature between 170 and $240^{\circ}C$ were analyzed. The change in electrical resistivity was described using the first-order exponential decay kinetics. The corresponding activation energy of 0.44 eV was explained in terms of a thermally-activated mechanism, i.e., migration of point defects such as vacancy-oxygen pairs, rather than microstructure evolution such as grain growth or change in porosity.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.118-122
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• 2018

Ceria ($CeO_2$) is a rare earth oxide, which has been widely investigated to improve the property. It is important to increase the surface area of $CeO_2$, because high surface area of $CeO_2$ can improve the catalytic ability. $CeO_2$ nanoparticles were synthesized by a solvothermal process. A discussion on the influence of solvent ratio and precursors on $CeO_2$ nanoparticles was performed. The size and degree of the agglomeration of the synthesized $CeO_2$ could be tuned by controlling those parameters. The average size and distribution of prepared $CeO_2$ powders was in the range of 3 to 13 nm and narrow, respectively. The XRD pattern showed that the synthesized $CeO_2$ powders were crystalline with cubic phase of $CeO_2$. The average particle size was calculated by Scherrer equation and FE-TEM images. The morphology of the synthesized $CeO_2$ particle was objected using FE-TEM and FE-SEM. Specific surface area of the synthesized $CeO_2$ was determined using BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) equation.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.515-520
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• 2012

In this review, the fabrication of silicon based memory capacitor and organic memory thin film transistors (TFTs) was discussed for their potential identification tag applications and biosensor applications. Metal or non-metal nanoparticles (NPs) could be capped with chemicals or biomolecules such as protein and oligo-DNA, and also be self-assembly monolayered on corresponding target biomolecules conjugated dielectric layers. The monolayered NPs were formed to be charging elements of a nano floating gate layer as forming organic memody deivces. In particular, the strong and selective binding events of the NPs through biomolecular interactions exhibited effective electrostatic phenomena in memory capacitors and TFTs formats. In addition, memory devices fabricated as organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) have been intensively introduced to facilitate organic electronics era on flexible substrates. The memory OTFTs could be applicable eventually to the development of new conceptual devices.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.327-333
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• 2019

In this study, a process is developed for 3D printing with alumina ($Al_2O_3$). First, a photocurable slurry made from nanoparticle $Al_2O_3$ powder is mixed with hexanediol diacrylate binder and phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphine oxide photoinitiator. The optimum solid content of $Al_2O_3$ is determined by measuring the rheological properties of the slurry. Then, green bodies of $Al_2O_3$ with different photoinitiator contents and UV exposure times are fabricated with a digital light processing (DLP) 3D printer. The dimensional accuracy of the printed $Al_2O_3$ green bodies and the number of defects are evaluated by carefully measuring the samples and imaging them with a scanning electron microscope. The optimum photoinitiator content and exposure time are 0.5 wt% and 0.8 s, respectively. These results show that $Al_2O_3$ products of various sizes and shapes can be fabricated by DLP 3D printing.