• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.401-406
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• 2018

We investigated the effect of ZnO seed layer thickness on the density of ZnO nanorod arrays. ZnO has been deposited using two distinct processes consisting of the seed layer deposition using ALD and subsequent hydrothermal ZnO growth. Due to the coexistence of the growth and dissociation during ZnO hydrothermal growth process on the seed layer, the thickness of seed layer plays a critical role in determining the nanorod growth and morphology. The optimized thickness resulted in the regular ZnO nanorod growth. Moreover, the introduction of ALD to form the seed layer facilitates the growth of the nanorods on ultrathin seed layer and enables the densification of nanorods with a narrow change in the seed layer thickness. This study demonstrates that ALD technique can produce densely packed, virtually defect-free, and highly uniform seed layers and two distinctive processes may form ZnO as the final product via the initial nucleation step consisting of the reaction between $Zn^{2+}$ ions from respective zinc precursors and $OH^-$ ions from $H_2O$.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.278-283
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• 2014

In this study, we propose an immunosensor using zinc oxide nanorods (NRs) inside PDMS channel for detecting the influenza A virus subtype H7N9. ZnO with high isoelectric point (IEP, ~9.5) makes it suitable for immobilizing proteins with low IEP. In this proposed H7N9 immunosensor structure ZnO NRs were grown on the PDMS channel inner surface to immobilize H7N9 capture antibody. A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method with was used 3,3',5,5' tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) for detecting H7N9 influenza virus. The immunosensor was evaluated by amperometry at various H7N9 influenza antigen concentrations (1 pg/ml - 1 ng/ml). The redox peak voltage and current were measured by amperometry with ZnO NWs and without ZnO NWs inside PDMS channel. The measurement results of the H7N9 immunosensor showed that oxidation peak current of TMB at 0.25 V logarithmically increased from 2.3 to 3.8 uA as the H7N9 influenza antigen concentration changed from 1 pg/ml to 1 ng/ml. And then we demonstrated that ZnO NRs inside PDMS channel can improve the sensitivity of immunosensor to compare non-ZnO NRs inside PDMS channel.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.214-220
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• 2018

We report on the fabrication and photoelectrochemical(PEC) properties of a $Cu_2O$ thin film/ZnO nanorod array oxide p-n heterojunction structure with ZnO nanorods embedded in $Cu_2O$ thin film as an efficient photoelectrode for solar-driven water splitting. A vertically oriented n-type ZnO nanorod array was first prepared on an indium-tin-oxide-coated glass substrate via a seed-mediated hydrothermal synthesis method and then a p-type $Cu_2O$ thin film was directly electrodeposited onto the vertically oriented ZnO nanorods array to form an oxide semiconductor heterostructure. The crystalline phases and morphologies of the heterojunction materials were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy as well as Raman scattering. The PEC properties of the fabricated $Cu_2O/ZnO$ p-n heterojunction photoelectrode were evaluated by photocurrent conversion efficiency measurements under white light illumination. From the observed PEC current density versus voltage (J-V) behavior, the $Cu_2O/ZnO$ photoelectrode was found to exhibit a negligible dark current and high photocurrent density, e.g., $0.77mA/cm^2$ at 0.5 V vs $Hg/HgCl_2$ in a $1mM\;Na_2SO_4$ electrolyte, revealing an effective operation of the oxide heterostructure. In particular, a significant PEC performance was observed even at an applied bias of 0 V vs $Hg/HgCl_2$, which made the device self-powered. The observed PEC performance was attributed to some synergistic effect of the p-n bilayer heterostructure on the formation of a built-in potential, including the light absorption and separation processes of photoinduced charge carriers.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.3335-3339
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• 2013

Boron-doped ZnO (BZO) nanorods were grown on quartz substrates using hydrothermal synthesis, and the temperature-dependence of their photoluminescence (PL) was measured in order to investigate the origins of their PL properties. In the UV range, near-band-edge emission (NBE) was observed from 3.1 to 3.4 eV; this was attributed to various transitions including recombination of free excitons and their longitudinal optical (LO) phonon replicas, and donor-acceptor pair (DAP) recombination, depending on the local lattice configuration and the presence of defects. At a temperature of 12 K, the NBE produces seven peaks at 3.386, 3.368, 3.337, 3.296, 3.258, 3.184, and 3.106 eV. These peaks are, respectively, assigned to free excitons (FX), neutral-donor bound excitons ($D^{\circ}X$), and the first LO phonon replicas of $D^{\circ}X$, DAP, DAP-1LO, DAP-2LO, and DAP-3LO. The peak position of the FX and DAP were also fitted to Varshni's empirical formula for the variation in the band gap energy with temperature. The activation energy of FX was about ~70 meV, while that of DAP was about ~38 meV. We also discuss the low temperature PL near 2.251 eV, related to structural defects.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.472-476
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• 2016

The nano-array of the vertically aligned rod-like particles grown on ZnO coated glass-substrates was obtained via hydrothermal process. ZnO thin film coatings were prepared on the glass substrates using a MOD (metallorganic deposition) dip-coating method with zinc chloride dihydrate as starting material and 2-ethylhexanol as solvent. ZnO nanorods were synthesized on the seeded substrates by hydrothermal method at $80^{\circ}C$ using zinc-nitrate hexahydrate as a Zn source and sodium hydroxide as a mineralizer. Under the hydrothermal condition, the rod-like nanocrystals were easily attaching on the already ZnO seeded (coated) glass surface. It has been shown that the hydrothermal synthesis parameters are key factors in the nucleation and growth of ZnO crystallites. By controlling of hydrothermal parameters, the ZnO particulate morphology could be easily tailored. Rod-shaped ZnO arrays on the glass substrates consisted of elongated crystals having 6-fold symmetry were predominantly developed at high Zn precursor concentration in the pH range 7~11.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

This is an overview paper reporting our most recent work on processing and microstructure of nano-structured oxides and their photoluminescence and photo-catalysis properties. Zinc oxide and related transition metal oxides such as vanadium pentoxide and titanium dioxide were produced by a combination of magnetron sputtering, hydrothermal growth and atmosphere controlled heat treatment. Special morphology and microstructure were created including nanorods arrays, core-brushes, nano-lollipops and multilayers with very large surface area. These structures showed special properties such as much enhanced photoluminescence and chemical reactivity. The photo-catalytic properties have also been promoted significantly. It is believed that two factors contributed to the high reactivity: the large surface area and the interaction between different oxides. The transition metal oxides with different band gaps have much enhanced photoluminescence under laser stimulation. Use of these complex oxide structures as electrodes can also improve the energy conversion efficiency of solar cells. The mixed oxide complex may provide a promising way to high-efficiency photo emitting materials and photo-catalysts.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.205-211
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• 2012

We investigated the optical and hydrophobic properties of the deposited silver (Ag) zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods (NRs) on flexible indium tin oxide (ITO) coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates (i.e., ITO/PET). The ZnO NRs were grown by an electrochemical deposition using a sputtered ZnO seed layer and the Ag was deposited by using a thermal evaporator. For comparison, the same fabrication process was carried out on the bare ITO/PET without ZnO NRAs. Due to the discrete surface of ZnO NRs, the deposited Ag was formed as nano-scale particles, while the Ag became film-like for bare ITO/PET. In order to control the size and amount of Ag particles, the Ag deposition time was changed from 100 to 600 s. When the deposition time was increased, the Ag particles became larger and denser, and the absorptance was increased. This enhanced absorptance may be due to the localized surface plasmon resonance of Ag particles. Furthermore, the relatively high hydrophobicity was observed for the deposited Ag on the ZnO NRs/ITO/PET. These improved optical and surface properties are expected to be useful for flexible photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.20 no.11
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• pp.623-627
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• 2010

Semiconducting metal oxides have been frequently used as gas sensing materials. While zinc oxide is a popular material for such applications, structures such as nanowires, nanorods and nanotubes, due to their large surface area, are natural candidates for use as gas sensors of higher sensitivity. The compound ZnO has been studied, due to its chemical and thermal stability, for use as an n-type semiconducting gas sensor. ZnO has a large exciton binding energy and a large bandgap energy at room temperature. Also, ZnO is sensitive to toxic and combustible gases. The NO gas properties of zinc oxide-single wall carbon nanotube (ZnO-SWCNT) composites were investigated. Fabrication includes the deposition of porous SWCNTs on thermally oxidized $SiO_2$ substrates followed by sputter deposition of Zn and thermal oxidation at $400^{\circ}C$ in oxygen. The Zn films were controlled to 50 nm thicknesses. The effects of microstructure and gas sensing properties were studied for process optimization through comparison of ZnO-SWCNT composites with ZnO film. The basic sensor response behavior to 10 ppm NO gas were checked at different operation temperatures in the range of $150-300^{\circ}C$. The highest sensor responses were observed at $300^{\circ}C$ in ZnO film and $250^{\circ}C$ in ZnO-SWCNT composites. The ZnO-SWCNT composite sensor showed a sensor response (~1300%) five times higher than that of pure ZnO thin film sensors at an operation temperature of $250^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.599-602
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• 2008

Growth of well-aligned ZnO nanostructures on various substrates such as GaN, ITO/glass, and sapphire was realized via a simple aqueous solution method at low temperature of $90^{\circ}C$. Morphology of ZnO nanostructures grown on various substrates as function of substrate was studied. It was found that ZnO nanostructures is a strong function of substrate. It was clearly observed that the morphology of ZnO nanostructures could be varied by change of substrate. Morphology, crystallinity, and crystal characteristics were carried out by FE-SEM, synchrotron x-ray scattering measurements, and high-resolution electron microscopy, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.189-189
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• 2010

ZnO nanorods 구조는 광소자 및 태양광 소자의 성능을 향상시키기 위해서 무반사계수, 광추출효율, 전기적, 열적 전도도를 개선시킬 수 있어, 매우 큰 관심을 가지고 왔다. 또한 Ag 나노입자는 표면 플라즈몬 효과를 이용하여 LED나 태양전지에 응용하여 소자의 성능이 향상됨을 이론적, 실험적으로 증명되어 왔으며, 현재에도 활발한 연구가 진행되고 있다. 이러한 ZnO nanorods 특성과 Ag 나노입자의 표면 플라즈몬 효과를 이용하기 위해서, 본 연구에서는 Ag 나노 입자를 형성된 ZnO seed층에 ZnO nanorods를 성장시켰다. 시료를 제작을 위해서 비교적 성장이 간단하고 저온성장이 가능한 화학적 합성방법을 이용하였다. Ag 나노입자가 형성된 ZnO seed층 제작을 위해서 먼저 Si 기판위에 RF magnetron 스퍼터를 이용하여 고진공, $N_2$ 분위기에서 일정한 두께로 증착을 하였으며, 이후 Ag 박막을 thermal evaporator로 10 nm 두께로 증착하였다. 그 다음, 크기가 다른 Ag 나노입자를 형성을 위해서 rapid thermal annealing (RTA)을 여러 가지 온도에서 수행하였다. 그리고 이러한 시료들를 이용하여, ZnO nanorods를 성장하기 위하여, $90-95^{\circ}$의 온도에서 zinc nitrate $Zn(NO_3)_2{\cdot}6H_2O$과 hexamethylentetramines (HMT)으로 혼합된 용액에 담가두어 ZnO nanorods를 성장시켰다. Ag 나노입자의 크기에 따라 ZnO nanorods의 구조와 형태에 대하여 어떠한 영향을 주는지를 관찰하기 위해 field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM)을 이용하여 측정하였으며, Ag와 ZnO의 성분분석과 결정성을 조사하기 위해 X-ray diffraction (XRD)을 이용하여 분석하였다. 그리고 표면 플라즈몬에 의한 영향에 대하여 조사하기 위해, ZnO nanorods와 Ag 나노입자가 형성된 ZnO nanorods를 UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer을 이용하여 흡수계수와 반사계수를 비교하여 측정하였으며. 태양전지의 성능향상을 수 있음을 이론적으로 계산하였다. 그리고 또한 photoluminescence (PL) 분석을 수행하여 ZnO nanorods의 구조에 대하여 Ag 나노입자의 영향에 대한 광특성을 측정하였다.