• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.295-301
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• 2023

Thermoelectric (TE) energy harvesting, which converts available thermal resources into electrical energy, is attracting significant attention, as it facilitates wireless and self-powered electronics. Recently, as demand for portable/wearable electronic devices and sensors increases, organic-inorganic TE films with polymeric matrix are being studied to realize flexible thermoelectric energy harvesters (f-TEHs). Here, we developed flexible organic-inorganic TE films with p-type Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃ powder and polymeric matrices such as poly(3,4-eethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). The fabricated TE films with a PEDOT:PSS matrix and 1 wt% of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) exhibited a power factor value of 3.96 µW·m^-1·K^-2 which is about 2.8 times higher than that of PVDF-based TE film. We also fabricated f-TEHs using both types of TE films and investigated the TE output performance. The f-TEH made of PEDOT:PSS-based TE films harvested the maximum load voltage of 3.4 mV, with a load current of 17.4 µA, and output power of 15.7 nW at a temperature difference of 25 K, whereas the f-TEH with PVDF-based TE films generated values of 0.6 mV, 3.3 µA, and 0.54 nW. This study will broaden the fields of the research on methods to improve TE efficiency and the development of flexible organic-inorganic TE films and f-TEH.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.53-67
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• 2023

Blood circulation is one of the most important life support functions of our body. It is essential to maintain healthy blood circulation as problems with blood circulation can lead to numerous diseases and serious complications. This study developed women's leggings with gradual compression and soft surface heating functions to improve blood circulation, and evaluated their performance and wearability. A silicon print pattern was developed to provide gradual compression, and a flexible heating surface coated with MWCNT (multi-walled carbon nanotube) conductive ink was fabricated for comfort and thermal effect. For the design, incision lines and materials were applied in consideration of aesthetic aspects, and design lines and colors were altered using a 3D program. The developed leggings showed that blood circulation can be improved when gradual compression and heating functions are simultaneously applied. Results were confirmed through measurements of clothing pressure, blood flow, and surface temperature. In the subjective wearability evaluation, it was confirmed that wearers felt gradual pressure, and they showed high satisfaction with wearability and design.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.66-72
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• 2009

The detection methods are required to monitor and diagnose the abnormality on the insulation condition inside a gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). Due to a good sensitivity to the products decomposed by partial discharges (PDs) in $SF_6$ gas, the development of a SWNT gas sensor is actively in progress. However, a few numerical studies on the diffusion mechanism of the $SF_6$ decomposition products by PD have been reported. In this study, we modeled $SF_6$ decomposition process in a chamber by calculating temperature, pressure and concentration of the decomposition products by using a commercial CFD program in conjunction with experimental data. It was assumed that the mass production rate and the generation temperature of the decomposition products were $5.04{\times}10^{-10}$ [g/s] and over 773 K respectively. To calculate the concentration equation, the Schmidt number was specified to get the diffusion coefficient functioned by viscosity and density of $SF_6$ gas instead rather than setting it directly. The results showed that the drive potential is governed mainly by the gradient of the decomposition concentration. A lower concentration of the decomposition products was observed as the sensors were placed more away from the discharge region. Also, the concentration increased by increasing the discharge time. By installing multiple sensors the location of PD is expected to be identified by monitoring the response time of the sensors, and the information should be very useful for the diagnosis and maintenance of GIS.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.137-144
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• 2012

Chemical functionalization of carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) is generally carried out for increasing interfacial adhesion between filler and polymer matrix for CNM-polymer nanocomposites. The chemically functionalized CNTs can produce strong interfacial bonds with many polymers, allowing CNT based nanocomposites to possess high mechanical and functional properties. Hence, increased surface adhesion can be measured indirectly by observing increased mechanical properties. However, there is a more direct way to observe interfacial bonds between polymer and CNM by measuring piezoresistivity behavior so that we can imagine the behavior of CNM particles in polymer matrix under deflection. Fuctionalization of MWCNT and rGO was carried out by oxidization reaction of MWCNT and rGO with $H_2SO_4/HNO_3$ solution. Electrical resistivities of MWCNT-PMMA and rGO-PMMA composites were decreased after functionalization because of the destructive fuctionalization process. Meanwhile, piezoresistivities of functionalized CNM-PMMA composites showed more sensitive behavior under the same deflection as compared to pristine CNM-PMMA composites. Therefore, mobility of CNM in polymer matrix was found to be improved with chemical functionalization.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.410-418
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• 2016

In this study, we prepared electrically conducting composites using epoxy resin of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) as a matrix, triethylenetetramine (TETA) as a hardener and nickel powder or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) grafted with $-NH_2$ groups (MWCNT-$NH_2$) as electrically conducting fillers. Electrical conductivity of composite films were measured by coating on the slide glass with a doctor blade. We measured modification reactions of MWCNT and reaction of MWCNT-$NH_2$ with DGEBA epoxy resin by fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and elemental analyzer (EA). Morphology of composites was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and sheet resistances of composites were measured by 4-point probe. We found $(9.87{\pm}1.09){\times}10^4{\Omega}/sq$ of sheet resistance for epoxy composite containing both 40 wt% nickel powder and 0.5 wt% of MWCNT-$NH_2$ as fillers, equivalent to epoxy composite containing 53.3 wt% nickel powder only as a filler.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2011

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have been attracted much attention since they have been expected to be used in various areas by virtue of their outstanding physical, electrical, and chemical properties. In order to make full use of their prominent electric conductivity in some areas such as electron emission sources, device interconnects, and electrodes in energy storage devices, direct growth of CNT with vertical alignment is definitely beneficial issue because they can maintain mechanical stability and high conductivity at the interface between substrates. Here, we report direct growth of vertically aligned CNT (VCNT) on Cu foils using thermal chemical vapor deposition and characterize the field emission property of the VCNT. The VCNT's height was controlled by changing the growth temperature, growth time, and catalytic layer thickness. Optimum growth condition was found to be $800^{\circ}C$ for 20 min with acetylene and hydrogen mixtures on Fe catalytic layer of 1 nm thick. The diameter of VCNT grown was smaller than that of usual multi walled CNT. Based on the result of field emission characterization, we concluded that the VCNT on Cu foils can be useful in various potential applications where high conductivity through the interface between CNT and substrate is required.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.159-165
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• 2021

The fiber composites have been investigated as lightweight structure material platforms for aerospace applications because their strength can be enhanced by adding reinforcement without a significant increase in weight. In this study, the fabrication and characterization of carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced glass fiber composites are demonstrated to enhance the tensile strength of longitudinal direction along the glass fibers. Due to the reinforcement of CNT in epoxy layers, the yield strength of fiber/epoxy composites is enhanced by about 10 %. Furthermore, using scanning electron microscopy, analysis of fracture surfaces shows that mixed CNT in epoxy layers acts as necking agents between fractured surfaces of fiber/epoxy; thereby, initiation and evolution of crack across fiber composite can be suppressed by CNT necking between fractured surfaces.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.129-138
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• 2021

This study aimed to determine the effects of the shape and attachment position of stretchable textile sensors coated with carbon nanotube on their performance when used to measure children's joint movements. Moreover, the child-safe requirements for fabric motion sensors are established. The child participants were advised to wear integrated clothing equipped with the sensors of various shapes (rectangular and boat-shaped) and attachment positions (at the knee and elbow joints or 4 cm below the joints). The voltage change induced by the elongation and contraction of the fabric sensors was determined for arm and leg flexion-extension motions at 60 deg/s (three measurements of 10 repeats each for 60°and 90°angles, for a total of 60 repetitions). Their dependability was determined by comparing the fabric motion sensors to the associated acceleration sensors. The experimental results indicate that the rectangular-shaped sensor affixed 4 cm below the joint is the most effective fabric motion sensor for measuring children's arm and leg motions. In this study, we designed a textile sensor capable of tracking children's joint motion and analyzed the sensor shape and attachment position on motion sensing clothing. We demonstrated that flexible fabric sensors integrated into garments may be used to detect the joint motions of the human body.

• Journal of the Korean Recycled Construction Resources Institute
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.332-340
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• 2023

This study investigated the effects of nanoparticles on the fracture toughness of cement mortar. Three-point bending tests, compressive tests, and slump tests were conducted on cement mortars reinforced with carbon nanotubes(CNTs), nanosilica(NS), and nano calcium carbonate(NC), respectively. Cement mortar with a water-to-cement ratio and a sand-to-cement ratio of 0.45 and 1.5, respectively, and reinforced with 0 and 2 vol.% of 19.5 mm steel fibers, respectively, was used. Reinforcement with nanoparticles partially improved the fracture toughness and compressive strength of the cement mortar. However, in the case of cement mortar reinforced with steel fibers, the reinforcement with nanoparticles was found to reduce the flowability of the mortar, adversely affecting the dispersion of steel fibers, and ultimately leading to a decrease in fracture toughness, contrary to the intended enhancement. Additional research is needed to improve the decrease in mortar fluidity caused by the reinforcement with nanoparticles.

• Composites Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.138-144
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• 2017

Damage sensing of polymer composite films consisting of poly(dicyclopentadiene) p-DCPD and carbon nanotube (CNT) was studied experimentally. Only up to 1st ring-opening polymerization occurred with the addition of CNT, which made the modified film electrically conductive, while interfering with polymerization. The interfacial adhesion of composite films with varying CNT concentration was evaluated by measuring the wettability using the static contact angle method. 0.5 wt% CNT/p-DCPD was determined to be the optimal condition via electrical dispersion method and tensile test. Dynamic fatigue test was conducted to evaluate the durability of the films by measuring the change in electrical resistance. For the initial three cycles, the change in electrical resistance pattern was similar to the tensile stress-strain curve. The CNT/p-DCPD film was attached to an epoxy matrix to demonstrate its utilization as a sensor for fracture behavior. At the onset of epoxy fracture, electrical resistance showed a drastic increase, which indicated adhesive fracture between sensor and matrix. It leads to prediction of crack and fracture of matrix.