• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.45.2-45.2
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• 2011

Metal organic frameworks (MOF) have generated considerable interests as a potential candidate for hydrogen storage owing to their extremely high surface-to-volume ratio and low density. In this study, Pt nanoparticles of about 3 nm in size were introduced outside MOF-5 [$Zn_4O$(1,4-benzenedicarbocylate)3], which was then encapsulated with hydrophobic microporous carbon black (denoted CB@Pt/MOF-5) in order to enhance hydrogen uptake capacity without decreasing the specific surface area and hydrostability. To study the chemical composition, morphology, crystal information, and properties of the synthesized material, a variety of techniques is employed, including WXRD, XPS, ICP-AES, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, and N2 adsorption-desorption, confirming the formation of novel hybrid composite designated CB@Pt/MOF-5 with highly crystalline structure, large specific surface area and pore volume. In addition, $H_2$ storage capacity for resulting material was measured using magnetic suspension microbalance at 77 and 298 K under high-pressure condition, and the hydrostability was also tested by exposing the sample to 33% relative humidity at $23^{\circ}C$ and measuring XRD as a function of time.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.369.1-369.1
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• 2014

Au-functionalized $WO_3$ nanotubes were synthesized using ZnO nanowire templates. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the Au nanoparticles on the outer surface of a typical $WO_3$ nanotube ranged from 5 to 25 nm. The multiple networked Au-functionalized $WO_3$ nanotube sensors showed responses of 820-3, 924% in the $NO_2$ concentration range of 1-5 ppm at $300^{\circ}C$. These responses were approximately 5-12 fold higher than those observed for pristine $WO_3$ nanotube sensors over the same $NO_2$ concentration range. A model describing the gas sensing mechanism of Au-functionalized $WO_3$ nanotubes is discussed.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.27.2-27.2
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• 2010

In recent years, there is a strong requirement of low cost, stable microelectro mechanical systems (MEMS) for resonators, microswitches and sensors. Most of these devices consist of freely suspended microcantilevers, which are usually made by the etching of some sacrificial materials. Herein, we have attempted to use Si nanowires, inherited from the parent Si wafer, as a sacrificial material due to its porosity, low cost and ease of fabrication. Prior to the fabrication of the Si nanowires silver nanoparticles were continuously formed on the surface of Si wafer. Vertically aligned Si nanowires were fabricated from the parent Si wafers by aqueous chemical route at $50^{\circ}C$. Afterwards, the morphological and structural characteristics of the Si nanowires were investigated. The morphology of nanowires was strongly modulated by the resistivity of the parent wafer. The 3-step etching of nanowires in diluted KOH solution was carried out at room temperature in order to control the fast etching. A layer of $Si_3N_4$ (300 nm) was used for the selective fabrication of nanowires. Finally, a freely suspended bridge of zinc oxide (ZnO) was fabricated after the removal of nanowires from the parent wafer. At present, we believe that this technique may provide a platform for the inexpensive fabrication of futuristic MEMS.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.222-224
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• 2006

A non-vacuum process for $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ (CIGS) thin film solar cells from nanoparticle precursors was described in this work CIGS nanoparticle precursors was prepared by a low temperature colloidal route by reacting the starting materials $(CuI,\;InI_3,\;GaI_3\;and\;Na_2Se)$ in organic solvents, by which fine CIGS nanoparticles of about 20nm in diameter were obtained. The nanoparticle precursors were mixed with organic binder material for the rheology of the mixture to be adjusted for the doctor blade method. After depositing the mixture of CIGS with binder on Mo/glass substrate, the samples were preheated on the hot plate in air to evaporate remaining solvents ud to burn the organic binder material. Subsequently, the resultant (porous) CIGS/Mo/glass simple was selenized in a two-zone Rapid Thermal Process (RTP) furnace in order to get a solar ceil applicable dense CIGS absorber layer. Complete solar cell structure was obtained by depositing. The other layers including CdS buffer layer, ZnO window layer and Al electrodes by conventional methods. The resultant solar cell showed a conversion efficiency of 0.5%.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.1519-1526
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• 2023

For the first time Aluminium-BariumeZinc oxide nanocomposite (ZABONC) was synthesized by solution combustion method where calcination was carried out at low temperatures (600℃) to study the electromagnetic (EM) (X/γ) radiation shielding properties. Further for characterization purpose standard techniques like PXRD, SEM, UV-VISIBLE, FTIR were used to find phase purity, functional groups, surface morphology, and to do structural analysis and energy band gap determination. The PXRD pattern shows (hkl) planes corresponding to spinel cubic phase of ZnAl₂O4, cubic Ba(NO₃)₂, α and γ phase of Al₂O₃ which clearly confirms the formation of complex nano composite. From SEM histogram mean size of nano particles was calculated and is in the order of 17 nm. Wood and Tauc's relation direct energy band gap calculation gives energy gap of 2.9 eV. In addition, EM (X/γ) shielding properties were measured and compared with the theoretical ones using standard procedures (NaI (Tl) detector and multi channel analyzer MCA). For energy above 356 keV the measured shielding parameters agree well with the theory, while below this value slight deviation is observed, due to the influence of atomic/crystallite size of the ZABONC. Hence synthesized ZABONC can be used as a shielding material in EM (X/γ) radiation shielding.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.312-312
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• 2012

Magnesium oxide has become focus for research activities due to its use in magnetic tunnel junctions and for understanding of do ferromagnetism. Theoretical investigations on such type of system indicate that the presence of defects greater than a threshold value is responsible for the magnetic behaviour. It has also been shown experimentally that by decreasing the film thickness and size of nanoparticles, enhancement/increase in magnetization can be achieved. Apart from the change in dimension, swift heavy ions (SHI) are well known for creating defects and modifying the properties of the materials. In the present work, we have studied the irradiation induced effects in magnesium oxide thin film deposited on quartz substrate via X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Magnesium oxide thin films of thickness 50nm were deposited on quartz substrate by using e-beam evaporation method. These films were irradiated by 200 MeV Ag15+ ion beam at fluence of $1{\times}10^{11}$, $5{\times}10^{11}$, $1{\times}10^{12}$, $3{\times}10^{12}$ and $5{\times}10^{12}ions/cm^2$ at Nuclear Science Centre, IUAC, New Delhi (India). The grain size was observed (as studied by AFM) to be decreased from 37 nm (pristine film) to 23 nm ($1{\times}10^{12}ions/cm^2$) and thereafter it increases upto a fluence of $5{\times}10^{12}ions/cm^2$. The electronic structure of the system has been investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements performed at the high energy spherical grating monochromator 20A1 XAS (HSGM) beamline in the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center (NSRRC), Taiwan. Oxides of light elements like MgO/ZnO possess many unique physical properties with potentials for novel application in various fields. These irradiated thin films are also studied with different polarization (left and right circularly polarized) of incident x-ray beam at 05B3 EPU- Soft x-ray scattering beamline of NSRRC. The detailed analysis of observed results in the wake of existing theories is discussed.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.271-278
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• 2012

In this work, we have prepared the nanocomposite by the reaction of mica and zinc oxide, and investigated the application of nanocomposite to UV protecting creams. Mica treated with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) reacted with 1,4-phenylenediisothiocyanate (PDC) to give -N=C=S functionalized surface, which was further reacted with zinc oxides coated with APTMS to give mica-zinc oxide nanocomposites. The composites were characterized by EA, EDS, TGA, SEM, zeta potential measurement, powder XRD, and DRS UV/Vis analyses. Finally, we measured transmittances of ultraviolet protection creams manufactured by using mica composite covered with zinc oxides in the range of 280~400 nm. The nanocomposites developed in this work might be applicable as inorganic hybrid materials for UV protecting creams.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.87-96
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• 2014

In the present study, a yeast species isolated from CETP, Vellore, Tamilnadu was identified as Cryptococcus sp. VITGBN2 based on molecular techniques and was found to be a potent producer of acidic diacetate sophorolipid in mineral salt media containing vegetable oil as additional carbon source. The chemical structure of the purified biosurfactant was identified as acidic diacetate sophorolipid through GC-MS analysis. This sophorolipid was used as a stabilizer for synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZON). The formation of biofunctionalized ZON was characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, XRD, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The antimicrobial activities of naked ZON and sophorolipid functionalized ZON were tested based on the diameter of inhibition zone in agar well diffusion assay, microbial growth rate determination, protein leakage analysis, and lactate dehydrogenase assay. Bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica and fungal pathogen Candida albicans showed more sensitivity to sophorolipid biofunctionalized ZON compared with naked ZON. Among the two pathogens, S. enterica showed higher sensitivity towards sophorolipid biofunctionalized ZON. SEM analysis showed that cell damage occurred through cell elongation in the case of S. enterica, whereas cell rupture was found to occur predominantly in the case of C. albicans. This is the first report on the dual role of yeast-mediated sophorolipid used as a biostabilizer for ZON synthesis as well as a novel functionalizing agent showing antimicrobial property.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2023

Since the COVID-19 crisis, the use of disposable packaging materials and delivery services, which raise environmental and social issues with waste disposal, has significantly increased. Antimicrobial active packaging has emerged as a viable solution for extending the shelf-life of foods by minimizing microbial growth and decomposition. In this review article, we provide a comprehensive overview of current research trends in antimicrobial active film and coating published over the last five years. First, we introduced various polymer materials such as film and coating that are used in active packaging. Next, various types of antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral) packaging including essential oil, extracts, biological material, metal, and nanoparticles were introduced and their activities and mechanisms were discussed. Finally, the current challenges and prospects were discussed. Overall, this review provides insights into the recent advancements in antimicrobial active packaging research and highlights the potential of the technology to enhance food safety and quality.