• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.513-519
• /
• 2007

A vesicle forming polymer, poly(sodium acrylamidoundecanoate) (PSAU) and a water-soluble distyrylbenzene- based fluorophore, TPADSB-C were synthesized and characterized by using UV-vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. An inter-chain vesicle formation of PSAU was observed at ~0.01 g/L from N-phenyl naphthylamine fluorescence measurement with changing PSAU concentration in water. Above critical aggregation concentration of PSAU, optical properties of TPADSB-C were investigated to study the microenvironment modulation through dye incorporation in the polymeric vesicle. The emission of TPADSB-C in the presence of PSAU vesicles was blue-shifted and the PL quantum efficiency was increased to 90% due to the microenvironment (e.g. polarity) change in aqueous solution. This study shows that the polymeric vesicle containing molecular fluorophores has a great potential as an efficient, stable and biocompatible labeling tag in biological cell imaging.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.1181-1187
• /
• 2013

Water-dispersible ZnS:Mn nanocrystals were synthesized by capping the surface of the nanocrystal with O-(2-Aminoethyl)polyethylene glycol (PEG-$NH_2$, Mw = 10,000 g/mol) and O-(2-Carboxyethyl)polyethylene glycol (PEG-COOH, Mw = 10,000 g/mol) molecules. The modified PEG capped ZnS:Mn nanocrystal powders were thoroughly characterized by XRD, HR-TEM, EDXS, ICP-AES and FT-IR spectroscopy. The optical properties were also measured by UV/Vis and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopies. The PL spectra showed broad emission peaks at 600 nm with similar PL efficiencies of 7.68% (ZnS:Mn-PEG-NH2) and 9.18% (ZnS:Mn-PEG-COOH) respectively. The measured average particle sizes for the modified PEG capped ZnS:Mn nanocrystals by HR-TEM images were 5.6 nm (ZnS:Mn-PEG-NH2) and 6.4 nm (ZnS:Mn-PEG-COOH), which were also supported by Debye-Scherrer calculations. In addition, biological toxicity effects of the nanocrystals over the growth of wild type E. coli were investigated. They showed no biological toxicity to E. coli until very high concentration dosage of 1 mg/mL of the both nanocrystal samples.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.145-151
• /
• 2014

Solution-based Sb-doped $SnO_2$ (ATO) transparent conductive oxides using a low-temperature process were fabricated by an electrospray technique followed by spin coating. We demonstrated their structural, chemical, morphological, electrical, and optical properties by means of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Hall effect measurement system, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. In order to investigate optimum electrical and optical properties at low-temperature annealing, we systemically coated two layer, four layer, and six layers of ATO sol-solution using spin-coating on the electrosprayed ATO thin films. The resistivity and optical transmittance of the ATO thin films decreased as the thickness of ATO sol-layer increased. Then, the ATO thin films with two sol-layers exhibited superb figure of merit compared to the other samples. The performance improvement in a low temperature process ($300^{\circ}C$) can be explained by the effect of enhanced carrier concentration due to the improved densification of the ATO thin films causing the optimum sol-layer coating. Therefore, the solution-based ATO thin films prepared at $300^{\circ}C$C exhibited the superb electrical (${\sim}7.25{\times}10^{-3}{\Omega}{\cdot}cm$) and optical transmittance (~83.1 %) performances.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.40 no.10
• /
• pp.888-893
• /
• 2016

In this study, the solution plasma process was utilized with the aim of degrading synthetic dyes in water at atmospheric pressure. The experiments were conducted in a batch-type reactor consisting of a symmetric wire-wire electrode configuration with rhodamine B (RhB) as the target synthetic dye. The effects of the plasma treatment time and initial dye concentration on the RhB degradation were investigated by monitoring the change in absorbance of RhB solutions. The RhB solutions turned lighter in color and finally colorless with prolonged plasma treatment time, indicating the destruction of dye molecules. The RhB solutions were found to have degraded, following the first-order kinetic process. However, for high initial RhB concentrations, another kinetic process or factor seems to play a dominant role at the initial degradation stage. The fitted first-order rate constant decreased as the initial concentration increased. This result suggests that the degradation behavior and kinetic process of the RhB solution strongly depends on its initial concentration. The RhB degradation is considered to be due to a combination of factors, including the formation of chemically oxidative species, as well as the emission of intense UV radiation and high-energy electrons from the plasma. We believe that the solution plasma process may prove to be an effective and environment-friendly method for the degradation or remediation of synthetic dye in wastewater.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Geographic Information Studies
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.109-127
• /
• 2011

Atmospheric aerosols, small particles in the atmosphere, are one of the important parameters in climate change and human health. Additionally, accurate estimates of aerosol species are increasingly important in environmental impact assessment studies. Recent advances in global satellite remote sensing provide powerful tool for air quality monitoring. This study explores the potential usage of satellite derived data such as atmospheric aerosols for air quality monitoring as well as climate change study. The objectives of this study is to understand the general features of the global distribution of type dependent aerosols. A detailed spatio-temporal variability of the each different satellite dataset shows the variation of the global zonal average and specific geographical regions where the strong emission sources are located. Especially, significantly large aerosol amounts are observed in Asia and Africa because of the desert dust storm, anthropogenic and biomass burning emissions.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.27 no.11
• /
• pp.1809-1814
• /
• 2006

The L-Valinate anion coordinating zinc complex, [$Zn(val)_2(H-2O)$], was isolated and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The crystal possess orthorhombic symmetry with a space group $P2_12_12_1$, Z = 4, and a = 7.4279(2)$\AA$, b = 9.4342(2)$\AA$, c =20.5862(7)$\AA$ respectively. The compound features a penta-coordinate zinc ion in which the two valine anion molecules are directly coordinating the central zinc metal ion via their N (amine) and O (carboxylate) atoms, and an additional coordination to zinc is made by water molecule (solvent) to form a distorted square pyramidal structure. In addition, further synthesis of the valine capped ZnS:Mn nanocrystal from the reaction of [$Zn(val)_2(H-2O)$] precursor with $Na_2S$ and 1.95 weight % of $Mn^{2+}$ dopant is described. Obtained valine capped nanocrystal was water dispersible and was optically characterized by UV-vis and solution PL spectroscopy. The solution PL spectrum for the valine capped ZnS:Mn nanocrystal showed an excitation peak at 280 nm and a very narrow emission peak at 558 nm respectively. The measured and calculated PL efficiency of the nanocrystal in water was 15.8%. The obtained powders were characterized by XRD, HR-TEM, and EDXS analyses. The particle size of the nanocrystal was also measured via a TEM image. The measured average particle size was 3.3 nm.

• Polymer(Korea)
• /
• v.38 no.6
• /
• pp.801-808
• /
• 2014

Ion diffusion and chemical binding to acrylic polymer were investigated in a solid film. The composition of acrylic monomers containing amino group and carboxylic acid was adjusted for rapid ion migration in the film. p-Methylred (PMR) and phenolphthalein derivatives were optically sensitive to the concentration of proton and hydroxyl anion, respectively and verified the ion migration through the film layers. A rapid proton migration was observed in the film of a high amino content. On the other hand, $OH^-$ migration occurred rapidly in a high content of carboxylic acid group. The proton migration occurred through the internal layer as well as surface layer of a film and was reversible during 50 repetition examination. Copper(II) ion migration was examined with a Rhodamine-containing polymer film. The light absorption and emission spectra of a Rhodamine-Cu complex showed the key contribution of carboxylic acid group to the Cu(II) migration in a film.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
• /
• v.37 no.8
• /
• pp.781-786
• /
• 2000

An Er-doped sulfide fiber was drawn, and its spectroscopic properties were analyzed. Compositions of a 1000 ppmwt Er3+-doped core and an undoped clad were Ge30-Ga1-Asg-S61 and Ge30-As8-S62, in at.%, respectively. Refractive index of the core composition was approximately 0.01 high than that of the clad. In order to enhance the mechanical stability as well as to prevent infiltration of impurity ions such as OH-, an UV-curable polymer was used for the coating. The optical loss of a fiber formed directly from a polymer coated core rod without cladding was ∼15 dB/m at 1.06$\mu\textrm{m}$. In the case of a fiber with core/clad structure, the optical loss was so high that the stimulated emission of erbium fluorescence was not evident. It is believed that presence of inhomogeneous core/clad interface and crystalline aggregates precipitated in the clad region were responsible for the high optical loss. On the other hand, fluorescence characteristics of Er3+ embedded in the core region were more or loss deteriorate compared to fiber preform, which is attributed to the redistribution of the Er ions along with the partial crystallization of the core glass during the fiberization process.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.35 no.11
• /
• pp.1297-1308
• /
• 2011

This research investigates the application of ZnO (zinc oxide) nanoparticles and $TiO_2$ (titanium dioxide) nanoparticles to polypropylene nonwoven fabrics via an electrospinning technique for the development of textile materials that can decompose harmful gases. To fabricate uniform ZnO nanocomposite fibers, two types of ZnO nanoparticles were applied. Colloidal $TiO_2$ nanoparticles were chosen to fabricate $TiO_2$ nano- composite fibers. ZnO/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and $TiO_2$/PVA nanocomposite fibers were electrospun under a variety of conditions that include various feed rates, electric voltages, and capillary diameters. The morphology of electrospun nanocomposite fibers was examined with a field-emission scanning electron micro- scope and a transmission electron microscope. Decomposition efficiency of gaseous materials (formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, benzene, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide) by nanocomposite fiber webs with 3wt% nano-particles (ZnO or $TiO_2$) and 7$g/m^2$ web area density was assessed. This study shows that ZnO nanoparticles in colloid were more suitable for fabricating nanocomposite fibers in which nanoparticles are evenly dispersed than in powder. A heat treatment was applied to water-soluble PVA nanofiber webs in order to stabilize the electrospun nanocomposite fibrous structure against dissolution in water. ZnO/PVA and $TiO_2$/PVA nanofiber webs exhibited a range of degradation efficiency for different types of gases. For nitrogen dioxide, the degradation efficiency was 92.2% for ZnO nanocomposite fiber web and 87% for $TiO_2$ nanocomposite fiber web after 20 hours of UV light irradiation. The results indicate that ZnO/PVA and $TiO_2$/PVA nano- composite fiber webs have possible uses in functional textiles that can decompose harmful gases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.7-14
• /
• 2013

In the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ${\alpha}$-amylase (BAA), the loop (residues 176-185; region I) that is the part of the calcium-binding site (CaI, II) has two more amino acid residues than the ${\alpha}$-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis (BLA). Arg176 in this region makes an ionic interaction with Glu126 from region II (residues 118-130), but this interaction is lost in BLA owing to substitution of R176Q and E126V. The goal of the present work was to quantitatively estimate the effect of ionic interaction on the overall stability of the enzyme. To clarify the functional and structural significance of the corresponding salt bridge, Glu126 was deleted (${\Delta}$E126) and converted to Val (E126V), Asp (E126D), and Lys (E126K) by site-directed mutagenesis. Kinetic constants, thermodynamic parameters, and structural changes were examined for the wild-type and mutated forms using UV-visible, atomic absoption, and fluorescence emission spectroscopy. Wild-type exhibited higher $k_{cat}$ and $K_m$ but lower catalytic efficiency than the mutant enzymes. A decreased thermostability and an increased flexibility were also found in all of the mutant enzymes when compared with the wild-type. Additionally, the calcium content of the wild-type was more than ${\Delta}E126$. Thus, it may be suggested that ionic interaction could decrease the mobility of the discussed region, prevent the diffusion of cations, and improve the thermostability of the whole enzyme. Based on these observations, the contribution of loop destabilization may be compensated by the formation of a salt bridge that has been used as an evolutionary mechanism or structural adaptation by the mesophilic enzyme.