• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.986-992
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• 2007

This paper presents the fabrication and characterization of carbon films pyrolyzed with various photoresists for bioMEMS applications. To verify the usefulness of pyrolyzed carbon films as an electrode material in an electrochemical biosensor developed by the authors, interactions between avidin and biotin on the pyrolyzed carbon film were studied via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy based on electrostatic interactions between avidin and negatively-charged ferricyanide. The pyrolyzed carbon films were characterized using a surface profiler, a precision semiconductor parameter analyzer, a nanoindentor, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Amine conjugated biotin was immobilized on the electrode using EDC/NHS as crosslinkers after $O_2$ plasma treatment to enhance functional groups on the carbon electrode pyrolyzed at $1000^{\circ}C$ with AZ9260. The detection of avidin binding with different concentrations in a range of 0.75 nM to $7.5\;{\mu}M$ to the pyrolyzed carbon electrode modified with biotin was carried out by measuring the electrochemical impedance change. The results show that avidin binds to the biotin on the electrode not by non-specific interaction but by specific interaction, and that EIS successfully detects this binding event. Pyrolyzed carbon films are a promising material for miniaturization, integration, and low-cost fabrication in electrochemical biosensors.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.517-521
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• 2009

Si-C composite with hollow spherical structure was synthesized using ultrasonic treatment of organosilica powder formed by hydrolysis of phenyltrimethoxysilane. The prepared powder was pyrolyzed at various temperatures ranging from 900 to 1300 $^{\circ}C$ under nitrogen atmosphere to obtain optimum conditions for Li-ion battery anode materials with high capacity and cyclability. The XRD and elemental analysis results show that the pyrolyzed Si/C composite at 1100 $^{\circ}C$ has low oxygen and nitrogen levels, which is desirable for increasing the electrochemical capacity and reducing the irreversible capacity of the first discharge. The solid Si-C composite electrode shows a first charge capacity of $\sim$500 mAhg$^{-1}$ and a capacity fade within 30 cycles of 0.93% per cycle. On the other hand, the electrochemical performance of the hollow Si-C composite electrode exhibits a reversible charge capacity of $\sim$540 mAhg$^{-1}$ with an excellent capacity retention of capacity loss 0.43% per cycle up to 30 cycles. The improved electrochemical properties are attributed to facile diffusion of Li ions into the hollow shell with nanoscale thickness. In addition, the empty core space provides a buffer zone to relieve the mechanical stresses incurred during Li insertion.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.407-412
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• 2008

As an activation procedure, in this study, the oxidation treatment of needle cokes with a dilute nitric acid and sodium chlorate $(NaClO_3)$, combined with heat treatment, was attempted. The structures of acid-treated and pyrolyzed coke were examined with XRD, FESEM, elemental analyzer, BET, and Raman spectroscopy. The behavior of double layer capacitance was investigated with the analysis of charge and discharge. The structure of needle coke treated with acid was revealed to a single phase of (001) diffraction peak after 24 h. On the other hand, thecoke oxidized by heat treatment was reduced to a graphite structure of (002) at $300^{\circ}C$. The distorted graphene layer structure, derived from the process of oxidation and reduction of the inter-layer, makes the pores by the electric field activation at the first charge, and generates the double layer capacitance from the second charge. The cell using pyrolyzed coke with 24 h acid treatment and $300^{\circ}C$ heat treatment exhibited the maximum capacitance per weight and volume of 33 F/g and 30 F/mL at the two-electrode system in the potential range of 0~2.5 V.