• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.757-762
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• 2009

The micro domain structures and crystallization behavior of the binary blends of poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(pentafluorostyrene)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA-PPFS-PMMA) triblock copolymer with a low molecular weight poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) were investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), small-angle light scattering (SALS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), optical microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A symmetric, PMMA-PPFS-PMMA triblock copolymer with a PPFS weight fraction of 33% was blended with PVDF in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc). In the wide range of PVDF concentration between 10.0 and 30.0 wt%, PVDF was completely incorporated within the PMMA micro domains of PMMA-PPFS-PMMA without further phase separation on a micrometer scale. The addition of PVDF altered the phase morphology of PMMA-PPFS-PMMA from well-defined lamellar to disordered. The crystallization of PVDF significantly disturbed the domain structure of PMMA-PPFS-PMMA in the blends, resulting in a poorly-ordered morphology. PVDF displayed unique crystallization behavior as a result of the space constraints imposed by the domain structure of PMMA-PPFS-PMMA. The pre-existing microdomain structures restricted the lamellar orientation and favored a random arrangement of lamellar crystallites.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.686-694
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• 2008

We studied the molecular shapes and structural characteristics of a 33-armed, star polystyrene (PS-33A) and two $3^{rd}$-generation, dendrimer-like, star-branched poly(methyl methacrylate)s with different architectures (pMMA-G3a and PMMA-3Gb) and 32 end-branches under good solvent and theta ($\Theta$) solvent conditions by using synchrotron small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The SAXS analyses were used to determine the structural details of the star PS and dendrimer-like, star-branched PMMA polymers. PS-33A had a fuzzy-spherical shape, whereas PMMA-G3a and PMMA-G3b had fuzzy-ellipsoidal shapes of similar size, despite their different chemical architectures. The star PS polymer's arms were more extended than those of linear polystyrene. Furthermore, the branches of the dendrimer-like, star-branched polymers were more extended than those of the star PS polymer, despite having almost the same number of branches as PS-33A. The differences between the internal chain structures of these materials was attributed to their different chemical architectures.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.848-854
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• 2001

The crystallization behavior of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) /ethylene-methyl acrylate-glycidyl methacrylate copolymer (E-MeA-GMA) blend was studied. The extent of reaction and the reaction rate between PET and E-MeA-GMA were measured with torque rheometer, FT-IR and SEM. The effects of the grafting reaction on the crystallization behavior were investigated with DSC and time-resolved light scattering (TR-LS) techniques. The morphological change at the lamellar level was also examined by using a small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) method.

• Journal of the Korean Solar Energy Society
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.9-16
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• 2014

A proton exchange membrane is a core component in the proton exchange membrane fuel cell because the role of proton exchange membrane(PEM)is supplying proton conductivity to fuel cell, a gas separator, and insulating between an anode and cathode. Among various role of PEM, supplying proton conductivity is the most important and the proton conductivity is strongly related the structural evolution of PEM by hydration. Thus a lot of studies have done by past few decade based on small angle X-ray scattering and wide angle X-ray scattering for understanding morphological structure of the PEM. Resulting from these studies, several morphological models of hydrated PEM are proposed. Current sensing atomic force microscopy (CSAFM) can map morphology and conductance on the membrane simultaneously. It can be the best tool for studying heterogenous structured materials such as PEM. In this study, the hydration of the membrane is examined by using CSAFM. Conductance and morphological images are simultaneously mapped under different relative humidity. The conductance images, which are mapped from different relative humidity, are analyzed by statistical methode for understanding ionic channel variation in PEM.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.365-372
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• 2006

Poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene](SEBS) triblock copolymer was studied by dissolving the ethylene butylene midblock in selective hydrocarbon oils. These oils differ in their aromatic, paraffinic and naphthenic content. Dynamic rheological studies showed that the storage modulus (G') exceeded the loss modulus (G') for all the gels over the entire range of frequency, thereby confirming them as physical gels. However, the behavior of G' and G' as a function of frequency depended primarily on the oil type. The gelation melting temperature decreased drastically with increased oil aromaticity. Small angle X-ray scattering studies revealed that the maximum interdomain interference shifted to a higher angle depending on the composition and type of hydrocarbon oil.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.138-142
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• 2005

We tested performance of the 4C1 beamline for analyzing structures of proteins in solution using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) at the Pohang Light Source(PLS). Structurally well-known proteins such as lysozyme and $Bcl-XL(\vartriangle TM/\vartriangle loop)$ were used for the study. Low resolution solution structures of lysozyme and $Bcl-XL(\vartriangle TM/\vartriangle loop)$ were obtained at a resolution of at least i.2 nm, and the structures were basically same as those calculated from the crystal structures of the proteins. We also used $Bcl-XL(\vartriangle TM/\vartriangle loop)$ with a long flexible loop attached [$Bcl-XL(\vartriangleTM))$] and obtained significantly different data from $Bcl-XL(\vartriangle TM/\vartriangle loop)$, although the electron density map of the loop is known to be invisible from the crystal structure of $Bcl-XL(\vartriangleTM))$. We confirm that SAXS experiment is a powerful tool for the structural study of proteins in solution and the 4Cl beamline at the PLS is well-equipped and suitable for the protein solution SAXS experiment.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09b
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• pp.319-329
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• 2003

Ursolic acid (UA) and oleanolic acid (OA) are pentacyclic triterpenoids which are widely distributed in plants, and their derivatives are aglycones of many naturally occurring saponins. It is known that pentacyclic acids may possibly enhance the mechanical barrier functions of cell membranes in plants. Recently, it has been reported that OA and UA have interesting biological activities on skin, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkle activities. Since triterpenoids are extremely insoluble and their solubility problem limits skin-care application, OA and UA were encapsulated in liposomes via micelle-to-vesicle transition to overcome poorly soluble property and enhance biological efficacy. Optimal molar ratio of OA to lecithin was found to exist for producing liposomes of small hydrodynamic size and liposomal suspensions without recrystallized precipitation of OA. From electron micrograph and dynamic light scattering studies, reconstituted OA-containing liposomes without severe mechanical treatment showed small hydrodynamic size about 150 nm. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction coupled with dynamic light scattering revealed that optimal amount of OA in liposome was 25.4 mole %. In biological evaluation, OA-containing liposome significantly increased filaggrin and transglutaminase as markers of keratinocyte differentiation in epidermal layer of hairless mouse, whereas ursolic acid-containing liposome did not show noticeable increase of filaggrin and transglutaminase compared to empty liposome. It is concluded that nano-scaled liposomes containing triterpenoids were spontaneously prepared by vesicular transition from mixed micelle and liposomal triterpenoids can enhance skin absorption of triterpenoid and biological efficacy.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2019

We introduce to prepare liquid crystalline emulsion composed of cetearyl alcohol, cetyl palmitate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan olivate, ceramide and so on which can enforce interface between oil-based particle and water phase. In terms of structural analysis, the stability of the liquid crystalline emulsion including ceramide, which is immisible ingredient, at high temperature was proved by polarized microscope, cryo-SEM, small-angle x-ray scattering, in addition to viscometer and static light scattering by physical analysis.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.348-348
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• 2006

In the present study, porcine pepsin in various pH conditions was investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in order to detailed information on the structure and its variations with pH conditions. These analyses identified the structure of pepsin, and compared with that obtained by single crystallography. Moreover, this study found the structure' variations with changing pH conditions. All the results will be discussed with considering the conformational characteristics of pepsin in solution and further correlate to the biological and spectroscopic characteristics reported previously.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Dyers and Finishers Conference
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• 2011.03a
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• pp.35-35
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• 2011

The design and preparation of novel dye rotaxanes have gained much interest recently, since such structure usually exhibits peculiar spectral and optical changes. In spite of the promising results to date, increasing pressure remains to develop novel supramolecular structures based on stimuli-responsive systems. This presentation covers the study of inclusion complexes of cyclodextrins and various chromophores, with an emphasis on our most recent outcome of anisotropic hydrogel. In this system, physical gelation prepared from simple mixture of CD and a azo dye is completed through specific host-guest interaction. The obtained hydrogel exhibits respective morphological transitions based on supramolecular assembly and dissociation, leading to either precipitation or a sol-to-gel transition. It can identify different classes of metal ions, and, among them, naked-eye differentiation of lead ion is possible due to the coordination-induced unthreading of dye molecules. Accompanying structural changes were verified by numerous characterization techniques, including 2D-ROESY, HR-MAS, UV-Visible absorption, small-angle X-ray scattering, and induced circular dichroism measurements. Such properties discussed here will find useful in analytical applications, such as metal ion sensing and removal applications.