• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.22-28
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• 2005

In this work, the effect of oxygen plasma treatment of nano-scaled silica on the mechanical interfacial properties and thermal stabilities of the silica/rubber composites was investigated. The surface properties of the silica were studied in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angles. And, their mechanical interfacial properties and thermal stabilities of the composites were characterized by tearing energy ($G_{IIIC}$) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. As a result, it was found that the introduction rate of oxygen-containing polar functional groups onto the silica surfaces was increased by increasing the plasma treatment time, resulting in improving the tearing energy. Also, the thermal stabilities of the composites were increased by increasing the treatment time. These results could be explained that the polar rubber, such as acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), showed relatively a high degree of interaction with oxygen-containing functional groups of the silica surfaces in a compounding system.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.170-170
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• 2013

We present a novel etching technique for 2-dimentional (2-D) hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) by using capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) of oxygen combined with a post-treatment by de-ionized (DI) water. Oxygen CCP etching process for h-BN has been systematically studied. It is found that a passivation layer was generated to obstruct further etching while it can be easily and radically removed by DI water. An essential cleaning effect also has been observed in the etching process, organic residues are successfully removed and the surface roughness has much decreased. Considering h-BN is the most important 2-D dielectric material and its potential application for graphene to silicon-based electronic devices, such an etching method can be widely used to control the 2-D h-BN thickness and improve the surface quality.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2012

para-Aramid fibers were treated by low-temperature plasma to improve the adhesion. The surface of para-aramid fibers were treated with gaseous plasma of several discharge power and treatment time in oxygen gas at 1Torr pressure. The treated fibers at low-temperature plasma were taken oxygen-containing functional groups and micro-crator on the surface. The modified fibers were measured by dynamic contact angle analyzer and XPS(X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). The Interfacial adhesion properties of aramid fabric and polyurethane resin were determined by T-peel test. The surface of aramid fibers were observed by FE-SEM photographs. It was found that surface modification and chemical component ratio of the aramid fibers were improved wettability and adhesion characterization.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.68.1-68.1
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• 2012

The best part of graphene is - charge-carriers in it are mass less particles which move in near relativistic speeds. Comparing to other materials, electrons in graphene travel much faster - at speeds of $10^8cm/s$. A graphene sheet is pure enough to ensure that electrons can travel a fair distance before colliding. Electronic devices few nanometers long that would be able to transmit charge at breath taking speeds for a fraction of power compared to present day CMOS transistors. Many researches try to check a possibility to make it a perfect replacement for silicon based devices. Graphene has shown high potential to be used as interconnects in the field of high frequency electrical devices. With all those advantages of graphene, we demonstrate characteristics of electrical and optical properties of graphene such as the effect of graphene geometry on the microwave properties using the measurements of S-parameter in range of 500 MHz - 40 GHz at room temperature condition. We confirm that impedance and resistance decrease with increasing the number of graphene layer and w/L ratio. This result shows proper geometry of graphene to be used as high frequency interconnects. This study also presents the optical properties of graphene oxide (GO), which were deposited in different substrate, or influenced by oxygen plasma, were confirmed using different characterization techniques. 4-6 layers of the polycrystalline GO layers, which were confirmed by High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and electron diffraction analysis, were shown short range order of crystallization by the substrate as well as interlayer effect with an increase in interplanar spacing, which can be attributed to the presence of oxygen functional groups on its layers. X-ray photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy confirms the presence of the $sp^2$ and $sp^3$ hybridization due to the disordered crystal structures of the carbon atoms results from oxidation, and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and XPS analysis shows the changes in oxygen functional groups with nature of substrate. Moreover, the photoluminescent (PL) peak emission wavelength varies with substrate and the broad energy level distribution produces excitation dependent PL emission in a broad wavelength ranging from 400 to 650 nm. The structural and optical properties of oxygen plasma treated GO films for possible optoelectronic applications were also investigated using various characterization techniques. HRTEM and electron diffraction analysis confirmed that the oxygen plasma treatment results short range order crystallization in GO films with an increase in interplanar spacing, which can be attributed to the presence of oxygen functional groups. In addition, Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and Raman spectroscopy confirms the presence of the $sp^2$ and $sp^3$ hybridization due to the disordered crystal structures of the carbon atoms results from oxidation and XPS analysis shows that epoxy pairs convert to more stable C=O and O-C=O groups with oxygen plasma treatment. The broad energy level distribution resulting from the broad size distribution of the $sp^2$ clusters produces excitation dependent PL emission in a broad wavelength range from 400 to 650 nm. Our results suggest that substrate influenced, or oxygen treatment GO has higher potential for future optoelectronic devices by its various optical properties and visible PL emission.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Hygiene and Safety Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.138-138
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• 2002

Oxidative stress has been associated with a number of diseases in human. Among the sources that can generate oxidative stress, it has been reported that iron can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS)with thiol. In iron overload state, increased thiol levels in plasma appeared to be associated with human mortality. In this study we examined whether iron could interact with thiols in plasma, generating ROS. In human plasma, unlike with Fe(III), Fe(II) increased lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence in concentration-dependent manner, and this was inhibited by SOD. Boiling of plasma did not affect chemiluminescence induced by Fe(II). Hovever, thiol depletion in plasma by pretreatment with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM)decreased Fe(II)-induced chemiluminescence significantly, suggesting that Fe(II) generated superoxide anion by the nonenzymatic reaction with plasma thiol. Consistent with this findings, albumin, the major thiol contributor in plasma, also generated ROS with Fe(II) and this generation was inhibited by pretreatment with NEM. Treatment with Fe(II) to plasma resulted un significant reduction of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) value, suggest that total antioxidant capacity could diminished in iron overload state. In conclusion, In iron overload state, plasma may be affected by oxidative stress mediated by nonenzymatic reaction of Fe (II)with plasma thiol.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.231-235
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• 2020

Industrialization and modern developments have led to an influx of toxic heavy metals into the aquatic environment, and the accumulation of heavy metals has serious adverse effects on humans. Among the various heavy metal treatment methods, adsorption is very useful and frequently used. Plastic materials, such as polypropylene and polyethylene, have been widely used as filter media due to their mechanical and chemical stability. However, the surface of plastic material is inert and therefore the adsorption capability of heavy metals is very limited. In this study, granular media and fiber media composed of polypropylene and polyethylene are used, and the surface modification was conducted in order to increase adsorption capability toward heavy metals. Oxygen plasma generated hydroxyl groups on the surface of the media to activate the surface, and then acrylic acid was synthesized on the surface. The grafted carboxyl group was confirmed by FT-IR and SEM. Heavy metal adsorption capability of pristine and surface modified adsorbents was also evaluated. Overall, heavy metal adsorption capability was increased by surface modification due to electrostatic interaction between the carboxyl groups and heavy metal ions. Fibrous PP/PE showed lower improvement compared to granular PP media because pore blockage occurred by the surface modification step, thereby inhibiting mass transfer.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.29-35
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• 2007

Titanium was oxidized with oxygen plasma and calcinated with rapid thermal annealing for degradation of humic acid dissolved in water. Titania photocatalytic plate was produced by titanium surface oxidized with oxygen plasma by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD). RF-power and deposition condition is controlled under 100 W, 150 W, 300 W and 500 W. Treatment time was controlled by 5 min and 10 min. The film properties were evaluated by the X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). From the experimental results, we found the optimal condition of titania film which exhibited good performance. Moreover photocatalytic capacity was about twice better than thermal spray titania film, and also as good as titania powder.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.519-526
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• 2021

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of cold plasma treatment on the improvement of seed germination and surface sterilization of ginseng seeds. Methods: Dehisced ginseng (Panax ginseng) seeds were exposed to dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma operated in argon (Ar) or an argon/oxygen mixture (Ar/O₂), and the resulting germination and surface sterilization were compared with those of an untreated control group. Bacterial and fungal detection assays were performed for plasma-treated ginseng seeds after serial dilution of surface-washed suspensions. The microbial colonies (fungi and bacteria) were classified according to their phenotypical morphologies and identified by molecular analysis. Furthermore, the effect of cold plasma treatment on the in vitro antifungal activity and suppression of Cylindrocarpon destructans in 4-year-old ginseng root discs was investigated. Results: Seeds treated with plasma in Ar or Ar/O₂ exhibited a higher germination rate (%) compared with the untreated controls. Furthermore, the plasma treatment exhibited bactericidal and fungicidal effects on the seed surface, and the latter effect was stronger than the former. In addition, plasma treatment exhibited in vitro antifungal activity against C. destructans and reduced the disease severity (%) of root rot in 4-year-old ginseng root discs. The results demonstrate the stimulatory effect of plasma treatment on seed germination, surface sterilization, and root rot disease suppression in ginseng. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the cold plasma treatment can suppress the microbial community on the seed surface root rot in ginseng.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.238-243
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• 2007

Nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning a solution of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and their mean diameter was 340 nm. The PLGA nanofibers were treated with a plasma in the presence of either oxygen or ammonia gas to change their surface characteristics. The hydrophilicity of the electrospun PLGA nanofibers was significantly increased by the gas plasma treatment, as confirmed by contact angle measurements. XPS analysis demonstrated that the chemical composition of the PLGA nanofiber surface was influenced by the plasma treatment, resulting in an increase in the number of polar groups, which contributed to the enhanced surface hydrophilicity. The degradation behavior of the PLGA nanofibers was accelerated by the plasma treatment, and the adhesion and proliferation of mouse fibroblasts on the plasma-treated nanofibers were significantly enhanced. This approach to controlling the surface characteristics of nanofibers prepared from biocompatible polymers could be useful in the development of novel polymeric scaffolds for tissue engineering.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.158-158
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• 2015

Myoblast are myogenic precursors that proliferate, activate, and differentiate on muscle injury to sustain the regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle; The neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS, termed also NOS-I) is expressed in normal adult skeletal muscle, suggesting important functions for Nitric oxide (NO) in muscle biology1,2,3. However, the expression and subcellular localization of NO in muscle development and myoblast differentiation are largely unknown. In this study, we examined effects of the nitric oxide generated by a microwave plasma torch, on proliferation/differentiation of rat myoblastic L6 cells. Experimental data pertaining to nitric oxide production are presented in terms of the oxygen input in units of cubic centimetres per minute. The various levels of nitric oxide are observed depending on the flow rate of nitrogen gas, the ratio of oxygen gas, and the microwave power4. In order to evaluate the potential of nitric oxide as an activator of cell differentiation, we applied nitric oxide generated from the microwave plasma torch to L6 skeletal muscles. Differentiation of L6 cells into myotubes was significantly enhanced the differentiation after nitric oxide treatment. Nitric oxide treatment also increase the expression of myogenesis marker proteins and mRNA level, such as myogenin and myosin heavy chain (MHC), as well as cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), However during the myotube differentiation we found that NO activate oxidative stress signaling erks expression. Therefore, these results establish a role of NO and cGMP in regulating myoblast differentiation and elucidate their mechanism of action, providing a direct link with oxidative stress signalling, which is a key player in myogenesis. Based on these findings, nitric oxide generated by plasma can be used as a possible activator of cell differentiation and tissue regeneration.