• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.559-564
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• 2019

Hierarchical $ZnCo_2O_4$ hollow nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning and subsequent heat-treatment process. The spinning solution containing polystyrene (PS) nanobeads was electrospun to nanofibers. During heat-treatment process, PS nanobeads in the composite were decomposed and therefore generated numerous pores uniformly in the structure, which facilitated the heat transfer and gas penetration into the structure. The resulting hierarchical $ZnCo_2O_4$ hollow nanofibers were applied as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The discharge capacity of the nanofibers was $815mA\;h\;g^{-1}$ ($646mA\;h\;cm^{-3}$) after the 300th cycle at a high current density of $1.0A\;g^{-1}$. However, $ZnCo_2O_4$ nanopowders showed the discharge capacity of $487mA\;h\;g^{-1}$ ($450mA\;h\;cm^{-3}$) after 300th cycle. The excellent lithium ion storage property of the hierarchical $ZnCo_2O_4$ hollow nanofibers was attributed to the synergetic effects of the hollow nanofiber structure and the $ZnCo_2O_4$ nanocrystals composing the shell. The hierarchical hollow nanofiber structure introduced in this study can be extended to various metal oxides for various applications, including energy storage.

• Journal of Platform Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.59-68
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• 2018

The objective of this study is to develop an embedded antenna structure with NFC and WPC composite functions. By selecting stable materials, the optimal component ratio of the polymer sheet was determined. The low cost embedded winding method compared to the existing FPCB was devised. During the winding process, characterization and process technology were developed. We also fabricated a ferrite mold to process the WPC grooves and developed the process technology for optimizing the WPC antenna. The following conclusions were obtained. (1) Optimum composition ratio was derived as Fe 87.5%, Si 7%, Al 5.5% and selected as the final material. (2) Optimal sheet conditions were derived from the experimental evaluation method and the experimental design method through the combination test of the optimized sheet and the conventional mass production FPCB. (3) According to coil diameter and inner diameter, Q value fluctuation, resistance value and efficiency fluctuation are obtained. Therefore, the most suitable coil condition is selected and Rx matching is performed. (4) The EMV load modulation test and the cognitive distance test of the polymer sheet and the ferrite sheet showed that the recognition distance of the polymer sheet at 1k and 4K was 32-33 mm and the recognition distance of the ferrite sheet at the same condition was 30-31 mm.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.819-825
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• 2018

Porous nanofibers comprising hollow ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ nanospheres were prepared by applying both template method and Kirkendall diffusion effect to electrospinning process. During heat-treatment processes, the solid Fe nano-metals formed by initial heat-treatment in the carbon matrix were converted into the hollow structured ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ nanospheres. In particular, PS nanobeads added in the spinning solution were decomposed and formed numerous channels in the composite, which served as a good pathway for Kirkendall diffusion gas. The resulting porous nanofibers comprising hollow ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ nanospheres were applied as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The discharge capacities of the nanofibers for the 30th cycle at a high current density of $1.0A\;g^{-1}$ was $776mA\;h\;g^{-1}$. The good lithium ion storage property was attributed to the synergetic effects of the hollow ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ nanospheres and the interstitial nanovoids between the nanospheres. The synthetic method proposed in this study could be applied to the preparation of porous nanofibers comprising hollow nanospheres with various composition for various applications, including energy storage.

• Composites Research
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.421-428
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• 2018

In order to optimize the prepreg compression molding (PCM) process, the forming simulation is required to cope with any problems that may be raised during the process. For the improvement of simulation accuracy, the input data of material property should be measured accurately. However, most studies assume that the compressive properties of the prepreg are identical to the tensile properties without quantifying them separately. Therefore, in this study, the in - plane compressive properties of the prepreg are presented to improve the accuracy of the forming simulation. As a result, the compressive modulus of the fibers was measured to be about $10^{-2}$ times lower than the tensile modulus. Also we designed a square-cup mold with a tilting angle of $110^{\circ}$ to simulate the prepreg formability during the high temperature compression mold process. Shear angles were measured at each corner, which were compared with the simulation results. It was observed that the simulation results using the accurate compressive properties of the prepreg showed a similar trend with the experimental results. It was confirmed that the measured data of the in-plane compression property improved the accuracy of the forming simulation results.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.610-616
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• 2011

A series of polyurethane acrylate/ZnO (PUA/ZnO) nanocomposite films with different ZnO contents were successfully prepared via a UV-curing system. The synthesis and physical properties including morphological structure, thermal properties, barrier properties and optical properties, and antimicrobial properties were investigated as a function of ZnO concentration. FTIR and SEM results showed that these PUA/ZnO nanocomposite films did not have a strong interaction between PUA and ZnO, which may lead to no increase in thermal stability. By incorporating ZnO nanoparticles, the UV blocking and antibacterial properties increased as the content of ZnO increased. Specially, the oxygen permeability in composite films changed from $2005cc/m^2/day$ to $150cc/m^2/day$ by adding the ZnO nanoparticle, which indicates that the PUA/ZnO nanocomposite films can be applied as good barrier packaging materials. Physical properties of the UV-cured PUA/ZnO nanocomposite film are strongly dependent upon the dispersion state of ZnO nanoparticles and their morphology in the films.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.471-478
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• 2022

This paper is about research and development of Korea Aerospace University's Solar-Powered UAV System that named of KAU-SPUAV, and describes the design process of the 4.2 m solar UAV that succeeded in a long flight of 32 hours and 19 minutes at June 2020. In order to improve the long-term flight performance of the KAU-SPUAV, For reduce drag, a circular cross-section of the fuselage was designed, and manufactured light and sturdy fuselage by applying a monocoque structure using a glass fiber composite material. In addition, a solar module optimized for the wing shape of a 4.2 m solar drone was constructed and arranged, and a propulsion system applied with the 23[in] × 23[in] propeller was constructed to improve charging and flight efficiency. The developed KAU-SPUAV consumes an average of 55W when cruising and can receive up to 165W of energy during the day, and its Long-term Endurance was verified through flight tests.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.64-71
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• 2021

Research on polymer matrix composites with excellent molding processability and mechanical properties in the automotive field including hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles is expanding to Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE) to support the design of materials with specific mechanical properties. CAE automation requires the prediction of the mechanical properties and behavior of materials. Unlike single materials, the mechanical properties prediction of polymer matrix composites is difficult to explain with formulas because the mechanical behavior is complicated to be explained only by the relationship between the matrix and the filler. In this study, the stress-strain curve according to the composition of polymer matrix composites, which was difficult to predict due to its sensitivity to large plastic deformation and composition, was predicted based on machine learning of the test data. The developed model finds a complex correlation between matrix and filler types and compositions, and predicts the total stress-strain curve meaningfully even in the absence of learned test data. It is expected that the material design AI system can be completed in the future based on the developed model that predicts the mechanical properties of polymer matrix composites even for the combination and composition that have not been learned.

• Composites Research
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.378-393
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• 2022

As an emerging power generation technology, triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have received increasing attention due to their boundless promise in energy harvesting and self-powered sensing applications. The recent rise of soft robotics has sparked widespread enthusiasm for developing flexible and soft sensors and actuators. TENGs have been regarded as promising power sources for driving actuators and self-powered sensors, providing a unique approach for the development of soft robots with soft sensors and actuators. In this review, TENG-based soft robots with different morphologies and different functions are introduced. Among them, the design of biomimetic soft robots that imitate the structure, surface morphology, material properties, and sensing/generating mechanisms of nature has greatly benefited in improving the performance of TENGs. In addition, various bionic soft robots have been well improved compared to previous driving methods due to the simple structure, self-powering characteristics, and tunable output of TENGs. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive review of various studies within specific areas of TENG-enabled soft robotics applications. We first explore various recently developed TENG-based soft robots and a comparative analysis of various device structures, surface morphologies, and nature-inspired materials, and the resulting improvements in TENG performance. Various ubiquitous sensing principles and generation mechanisms used in nature and their analogous artificial TENG designs are demonstrated. Finally, biomimetic applications of TENG enabled in tactile displays as well as in wearable devices, artificial electronic skin and other devices are discussed. System designs, challenges and prospects of TENGs-based sensing and actuation devices in the practical application of soft robotics are analyzed.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.327-333
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• 2022

In this study, silicon/carbon nanotube/carbon (Si/CNT/C) composites for anode were prepared to improve the volume expansion of silicon used as a high-capacity anode material. Si/CNT were prepared by electrostatic attraction of the positively charged Si and negatively charged CNT and then hydrothermal synthesis was performed to obtain the spherical Si/CNT/C composites. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), polyacrylic acid (PAA), and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) were used as binders for electrode preparation, and coin cell was assembled using 1.0 M LiPF₆ (EC:DMC:EMC = 1:1:1 vol%) electrolyte and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) additive. The physical properties of Si/CNT/C anode materials were analyzed using SEM, EDS, XRD and TGA, and the electrochemical performances of lithium-ion batteries were investigated by charge-discharge cycle, rate performance, dQ/dV and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests. Also, it was confirmed that both capacity and rate performance were significantly improved using the PAA/SBR binder and 10 wt% FEC-added electrolyte. It is found that Si/CNT/C have the reversible capacity of 914 mAh/g, the capacity retention ratio of 83% during 50 cycles and the rate performance of 70% in 2 C/0.1 C.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2022

As the issue of reducing greenhouse gases is emerging due to global warming and extreme weather, research on materials capable of radiative cooling without energy consumption is being actively conducted. Among them, silk is known as a natural self-cooling material, but in the conventional mixing process using chemically powdered silk, there is a problem that the radiative cooling effect disappears by the collapses of the intrinsic crystal structure of silk fibroin, so it is difficult to manufacture it in the form of a film or coating agent for radiative cooling. In this study, various types of membranes were manufactured using silk powder that went through a physical pulverization process that does not damage the intrinsic structure of silk fibroin, and the study was conducted to examine its applicability as a coating agent. Electrospun membranes and flat sheet membranes were prepared by using silk fibroin powder for this purpose, and it was observed that the viscosity of the solution had a significant effect on the membrane fabrication and its properties.