• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.99-105
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• 2023

Recently, 2D materials greatly impact in the various applications especially in the energy conversion and storage devices. Among the 2D materials, nowadays researchers are showing their propensity towards the MXenes due to their potential structural and physical properties as well as their use in various applications. Recently, MXenes have been used as filler in polymer electrolytes membranes and as catalytic support to increase the performance of fuel cells (FCs). But this review covers only recent progress and application of MXenes in proton and anion exchange membranes for FCs. Also, this review will provide a significant guidance and broad overview for future research in MXenes based polymer electrolyte membrane for FCs.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.565-571
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• 2014

Nitrogen-doped ZnO nanoparticle-carbon nanofiber composites were prepared using electrospinning. As the relative amounts of N-doped ZnO nanoparticles in the composites were controlled to levels of 3.4, 9.6, and 13.8 wt%, the morphological, structural, and chemical properties of the composites were characterized by means of field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In particular, the carbon nanofiber composites containing 13.8 wt% N-doped ZnO nanoparticles exhibited superior catalytic properties, making them suitable for use as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). This result can be attributed to the enhanced surface roughness of the composites, which offers sites for $I_3{^-}$ ion reductions and the formation of Zn3N2 phases that facilitate electron transfer. Therefore, DSSCs fabricated with 13.8 wt% N-doped ZnO nanoparticle-carbon nanofiber composites showed high current density ($16.3mA/cm^2$), high fill factor (57.8%), and excellent power-conversion efficiency (6.69%); at the same time, these DSSCs displayed power-conversion efficiency almost identical to that of DSSCs fabricated with a pure Pt counter electrode (6.57%).

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.243.1-243.1
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• 2015

To replace the based on silicon solar cells, the third generation solar cells, Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), is low fabrication than silicon solar cells, environmentally friendly and can be applied to various field. For this reason, the DSSCs have been continuously researched. But DSSCs have one drawback that is the low power conversion efficiency (PCE) than silicon solar cells. To solve the problem, we used the backr-eflector the Al foil that can be easily obtained from the surrounding in order to improve the efficiency of the DSSCs. Easily detachable Al foil back-reflector increases the photocurrent by enhancing the harvesting light because the discarded light is reused. It also leads to enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE). In addition, we compared with the efficiency of the DSSCs that is applied and does not be applied with back-reflector according to the thickness of the TiO2 photoelectrode. When the back-reflector is applied to DSSCs, the photocurrent is increased. It leads to affect the efficiency. We used to solar simulator and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to confirm the PCE and resistance. The DSSCs were also measured by External Quantum effect (EQE). At the same time, FE-SEM and XRD were used to confirm the thickness of layer and crystal structural of photoelectrode.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.673-680
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• 2009

Conversion of the normal soluble form of prion protein, PrP ($PrP^C$), to proteinase K-resistant form ($PrP^{Sc}$) is a common molecular etiology of prion diseases. Proteinase K-resistance is attributed to a drastic conformational change from ${\alpha}$-helix to ${\beta}$-sheet and subsequent fibril formation. Compelling evidence suggests that membranes play a role in the conformational conversion of PrP. However, biophysical mechanisms underlying the conformational changes of PrP and membrane binding are still elusive. Recently, we demonstrated that the putative transmembrane domain (TMD; residues 111-135) of Syrian hamster PrP penetrates into the membrane upon the reduction of the conserved disulfide bond of PrP. To understand the mechanism underlying the membrane insertion of the TMD, here we explored changes in conformation and membrane binding abilities of PrP using wild type and cysteine-free mutant. We show that the reduction of the disulfide bond of PrP removes motional restriction of the TMD, which might, in turn, expose the TMD into solvent. The released TMD then penetrates into the membrane. We suggest that the disulfide bond regulates the membrane binding mode of PrP by controlling the motional freedom of the TMD.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2013

Background: We examined perioperative predictors of sustained sinus rhythm (SR) in patients undergoing the Cox maze operation and concomitant cardiac surgery for structural heart disease. Materials and Methods: From October 1999 to December 2008, 90 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) underwent the Cox maze operation and other concomitant cardiac surgery. Eighty-nine patients, all except for one postoperative death, were followed-up with serial electrocardiographic studies, 24-hour Holter monitoring tests, and regular echocardiographic studies. Results: Eighty-nine patients undergoing the maze operation were divided into two groups according to the presence of SR. At the time of last follow-up (mean follow-up period, $51.0{\pm}30.8$ months), 79 patients (88.8%) showed SR (SR group) and 10 patients (11.2%) had recurrent AF (AF group). Factors predictive of sustained SR were the immediate postoperative conversion to SR (odds ratio, 97.2; p=0.001) and the presence of SR at the 6th month postoperatively (odds ratio, 155.7; p=0.002). Duration of AF, mitral valve surgery, number of valves undergoing surgery, left atrial dimension, and perioperative left ventricular dimensions and ejection fractions were not predictors of postoperative maintenance of SR. Conclusion: Immediate postoperative SR conversion and the presence of SR at the 6th postoperative month were independent predictors of sustained SR after the maze operation.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.666-673
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• 2015

In this paper the selective reduction catalyst (SCR) for controlling the NOx at high temperature range was studied. XRD and FT-IR BET analysis was also performed to determine the structural properties and adsorption/desorption characteristics of the catalyst. In the case of anatase $TiO_2$ support, a negligible NOx conversion was observed, but the $W/TiO_2$ catalyst made using W as a active metal showed an excellent ability to remove NOx. In particular, the $W/TiO_2$ exhibited a rapid increase in the catalytic activity due to the presence of W for the NOx conversion compared to that of using the pure $TiO_2$ at a high temperature range over $400^{\circ}C$. In addition, the phenomenon of reduced reaction activity due to the heat shock for a long time was found to be suppressed.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.508-514
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• 2022

Piezoelectric composite films which are enabled by inorganic piezoelectric nanomaterials-embedded polymer, have attracted enormous attention as a sustainable power source for low powered electronics, because of their ease of fabrication and flexible nature. However, the absorption of applied stress by the soft polymeric matrices is a major issue that must be solved to expand the fields of piezoelectric composite applications. Herein, a flexible and porous piezoelectric composite (piezoelectric sponge) comprised of BaTiO₃ nanoparticles and polydimethylsiloxane was developed using template method to enhance the energy conversion efficiency by minimizing the stress that vanishes into the polymer matrix. In the porous structure, effective stress transfer can occur between the piezoelectric active materials in compression mode due to direct contact between the ceramic particles embedded in the pore-polymer interface. The piezoelectric sponge with 30 wt% of BaTiO₃ particles generated an open-circuit voltage of ~12 V and a short-circuit current of ~150 nA. A finite element method-based simulation was conducted to theoretically back up that the piezoelectric output performance was effectively improved by introducing the sponge structure. Furthermore, to demonstrate the feasibility of pressure detecting applications using the BaTiO₃ particles-embedded piezoelectric sponge, the composite was arranged in a 3 × 3 array and integrated into a single pressure sensor. The fabricated sensor array successfully detected the shape of the applied pressure. This work can provide a cost-effective, biocompatible, and structural strategy for realizing piezoelectric composite-based energy harvesters and self-powered sensors with improved energy conversion efficiency.

• Journal of the Institute of Convergence Signal Processing
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 2017

In this study, the original medical image, DICOM file, was converted into TIFF, BITMAP, GIF, JPEG image file, and then the conversion loss ratio according to the image compression and conversion process was quantitatively evaluated using Origin pro and ICY image analysis program. As the evaluation method, 50% MTF, structural similarity index, MSE, RMSE, maximum signal - to - noise ratio and so on were evaluated. The TIFF image file showed the same result as DICOM image in all experimental groups, Image file format. In this study, we propose a new method for evaluating the quality of digital images by applying original evaluation program such as Origin pro or ICY medical image analysis program. Is expected to be used as research data in the field of medical image processing, and TIFF image file showing the same result as DICOM image in the basic research field using digital medical image and evaluation program that does not support DICOM file Therefore, it is believed that it will help to secure reliability in digital medical image processing research using image file.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.620-626
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• 2019

In this study, the effects of the structural properties of the catalyst on CO oxidation reaction by controlling the $Cu/CeO_2$ catalyst amount and calcination temperature were studied, and also the CO conversion rate of the catalyst at the temperature range of $100{\sim}300^{\circ}C$ was evaluated. XRD, Raman, BET, $H_2-TPR$, and XPS analyses were performed to confirm the effect of changes in the structural properties on the chemical properties of the catalyst. The result confirmed that a substitution bond between Cu and Ce was formed and a lot of Cu and Ce bonds were formed when the catalyst carrying 5 wt.%. Of Cu was calcined at $400^{\circ}C$. The Cu-Ce binding was confirmed by peak shifts in Raman analysis and also peaks appeared in $H_2-TPR$. In addition, the balance state analysis demonstrated that a lot of surface labile oxygen molecules are formed, which can be more easily contributed to the reaction with $Ce^{3+}$ species known to form a substitution bond easily. It was found that CO conversion rate of the catalyst used in this study was close to 100% at $150^{\circ}C$.