• 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.

• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.38-40
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• 2010

Carbon supported electrocatalysts are commonly used as electrode materials for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs). These kinds of electrocatalysts provide large surface area and sufficient electrical conductivity. The support of typical PEM fuel cell catalysts has been a traditional conductive type of carbon black. However, even though the carbon particles conduct electrons, there is still significant portion of Pt that is isolated from the external circuit and the PEM, resulting in a low Pt utilization. Herein, new types of carbon materials to effectively utilize the Pt catalyst are being evaluated. Carbon nanofiber/activated carbon fiber (CNF/ACF) composite with multifunctional surfaces were prepared through catalytic growth of CNFs on ACFs. Nickel nitrate was used as a precursor of the catalyst to synthesize carbon nanofibers(CNFs). CNFs were synthesized by pyrolysising $CH_4$ using catalysts dispersed in acetone and ACF(activated carbon fiber). The as-prepared samples were characterized with transmission electron microscopy(TEM), scanning electron microscopy(SEM). In TEM image, carbon nanofibers were synthesized on the ACF to form a three-dimensional network. Pt/CNF/ACF was employed as a catalyst for PEMFC. As the ratio of prepared catalyst to commercial catalyst was changed from 0 to 50%, the performance of the mixture of 30 wt% of Pt/CNF/ACF and 70wt% of Pt/C commercial catalyst showed better perfromance than that of 100% commercial catalyst. The unique structure of CNF can supply the significant site for the stabilization of Pt particles. CNF/ACF is expected to be promising support to improve the performance in PEMFC.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.609-614
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• 2012

We report on the NO gas sensing properties of non-directional ZnO nanofibers synthesized using a typical electrospinning technique. These non-directional ZnO nanofibers were electrospun on an $SiO_2$/Si substrate from a solution containing poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and zinc nitrate hexahydrate dissolved in distilled water. Calcination processing of the ZnO/PVA composite nanofibers resulted in a random network of polycrystalline ZnO nanofibers of 50 nm to 100 nm in diameter. The diameter of the nanofibers was found to depend primarily on the solution viscosity; a proper viscosity was maintained by adding PVA to fabricate uniform ZnO nanofibers. Microstructural measurements using scanning electron microscopy revealed that our synthesized ZnO nanofibers after calcination had coarser surface morphology than those before calcination, indicating that the calcination processing was sufficient to remove organic contents. From the gas sensing response measurements for various NO gas concentrations in dry air at several working temperatures, it was found that gas sensors based on electrospun ZnO nanofibers showed quite good responses, exhibiting a maximum sensitivity to NO gas in dry air at an operating temperature of $200^{\circ}C$. In particular, the non-directional electrospun ZnO nanofiber gas sensors were found to have a good NO gas detection limit of sub-ppm levels in dry air. These results illustrate that non-directional electrospun ZnO nanofibers are promising for use in low-cost, high-performance practical NO gas sensors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.96-96
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• 2016

나노섬유(nanofiber), 나노선(nanowire), 그리고 나노튜브(nanotube)와 같은 1차원 구조의(one-dimensional structure) 나노재료는 벌크(bulk) 및 박막(film) 재료와는 다르게 물리적, 화학적으로 특이한 성질을 가지고 있으며, 이러한 성질은 나노재료의 구조, 형상, 크기 등에 큰 영향을 받는다. 첫 째, 전기방사(electrospinning) 공정을 이용한 나노섬유의 합성; 용액의 특성, 전기장 세기, 방사시간 등의 변수를 조절하게 되면 방출되는 재료의 형상을 입자 혹은 섬유상의 형태로 얻을 수 있으며, 전기방사를 통해 합성된 나노재료의 소결 온도 및 시간을 달리함으로써 나노입자의 크기를 조절할 수 있다. 또한, 템플레이트 합성법(template synthesis) 및 이중노즐(coaxial nozzle)을 이용해 속이 빈 형태인 중공(hollow) 구조의 나노섬유를 얻을 수 있으며, 전기방사에 사용되는 전구물질에 원하는 금속 및 산화물을 첨가함으로써 복합체(composite) 나노섬유를 얻을 수 있다. 둘 째, VLS(Vapor-Liquid-Solid) 공정을 이용한 나노선의 성장; 온도, 압력, 전구물질의 양, 그리고 시간 등의 변수를 조절하게 되면 원하는 직경 및 길이를 갖는 나노선을 성장시킬 수 있다. 그리고 ALD(Atomic Layer Deposition)를 이용해 나노선에 추가적인 층을 형성함으로써 코어-셀 구조를 형성할 수 있으며, 감마선, UV와 같은 공정을 이용해 귀금속 촉매를 나노선에 기능화 시킬 수도 있다. 코어-셀 구조를 갖는 나노선/나노섬유는 코어 혹은 셀 층의 전자나 홀의 이동을 유발하여 전자공핍층(electron depletion layer) 또는 정공축적층(hole accumulation layer)을 확대 및 축소시켜 센서의 초기저항을 증가시키거나 감소시키는 역할로써 이용되고 있으며, 특히, 셀 층의 두께가 셀 층 재료의 Debye length와 유사한 크기를 갖게 되면, 셀 층은 완전공핍층(fully depleted layer)을 형성해 최대의 감도를 나타낼 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 다양한 제조 공정을 통해 제작될 수 있는 1차원 나노-구조물을 가스센서에 적용하는 사례들을 소개하고, 이러한 가스센서의 감응성능을 향상시키기 위한 방법의 한 가지로 원자층증착법으로 나노선/나노섬유의 표면에 셀층을 형성하여 감응성 향상 메커니즘 및 관련 주요 변수들을 조사하고자 한다.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.850-855
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• 2009

Keratin is an important protein used in wound healing and tissue recovery. In this study, keratin was modified chemically with iodoacetic acid (IAA) to enhance its solubility in organic solvent. Poly(hydroxybutylate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and modified keratin were dissolved in hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and electrospun to produce nanofibrous mats. The resulting mats were surface-characterized by ATR-FTIR, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). The pure m-keratin mat was cross-linked with glutaraldehyde vapor to make it insoluble in water. The biodegradation test in vitro showed that the mats could be biodegraded by PHB depolymerase and trypsin aqueous solution. The results of the cell adhesion experiment showed that the NIH 3T3 cells adhered more to the PHBV/m-keratin nanofibrous mats than the PHBV film. The BrdU assay showed that the keratin and PHBV/m-keratin nanofibrous mats could accelerate the proliferation of fibroblast cells compared to the PHBV nanofibrous mats.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.702-708
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• 2018

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as a significant air pollutant, is generated mainly from the burning of fossil fuels, building materials using painting, etc. The inhalation of a certain amount of VOCs can be deleterious to human health, e.g., headaches, nausea and vomiting. In addition, it can also cause memory loss and even increase the rate of leukemia. Therefore, as one of the methods for reducing VOCs in air, polyacrylonitrile/fly ash (PAN/FA) composite nanofibrous membranes were fabricated by electrospinning. To observe their VOCs adsorption capacity, the morphological structure of PAN/FA nanofibrous mats was investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and the VOCs (chloroform, benzene, toluene, and xylene) adsorption capacity of PAN/FA membranes were tested by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The results indicated that the PAN nanofiber containing 40 wt. % FA powder had the smallest fiber diameter of 283 nm; they also showed the highest VOCs adsorption capacity compared to other composite membranes.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.228-241
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• 2020

Separators, which produces physical layer between a cathode and anode, are getting enormous attention as the quality of the separator determines the performance of lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Porous membranes based on polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) are generally utilized as the separator of LIBs because of their high electrochemical stability and suitable mechanical strength. However, low thermal resistance and wettability of PE and PP membranes limited the potential of LIBs. Operating at the temperature exceeding the melting point of membranes, the separators change their structures which lead to short circuit of LIBs. Low wettability of the separators corresponds to low ionic conductivity which increases the cell resistance. To overcome these weaknesses of PE and PP separators, different types of separator were prepared by co-electrospinning, applying coating layer, forming core shell around membrane, and papermaking method. The synthesized separator greatly enhanced the heat resistance and wettability of separator and mechanical properties like flexibility and tensile strength. In this review different type of polymer membrane used as separator in lithium ion battery are discussed.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2023

In this study, waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was recycled to produce a support and then polyetherimide (PEI) was used for environmentally friendly organic solvent nanofiltration. The prepared composite membrane was first prepared by electrospinning a PET support, then casted on the support using PEI having excellent solvent resistance, and organic solvent nanoparticles using a Non-solvent Induced Phase Separation (NIPS) method. A filtration membrane was prepared. First, the fiber diameter and tensile strength of the PET scaffold prepared prior to membrane fabrication were identified through morphology analysis, and the optimal scaffold for the organic solvent nanofiltration membrane was identified. Afterward, the PET/PEI composite membrane prepared was checked for the DEA removal rate of Congo red having a molecular weight of 697 g/mol in ethanol to understand the performance as an organic solvent nanofiltration membrane according to the concentration of PEI. Finally, the removal rate of Congo red was 90% or more.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2023

Growing environmental concerns regarding pollution caused by conventional plastics have increased interest in biodegradable polymers as alternative materials. The purpose of this study is to develop a 100% biodegradable nanocomposite material by introducing organic nucleating agents into the biodegradable and thermoplastic resin, poly(lactic acid), to improve its properties. Accordingly, cellulose nanofibers, an eco-friendly material, were adopted as a substitute for inorganic nucleating agents. To achieve a uniform dispersion of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) within PLA, the aqueous solution of nanofibers was lyophilized to maintain their fibrous shape. Then, they were subjected to primary mixing using a twin-screw extruder. Test specimens with double mixing were then produced by injection molding. Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to confirm the reinforced physical properties, and it was found that the addition of 1 wt% CNFs acted as a reinforcing material and nucleating agent, reducing the cold crystallization temperature by approximately 14℃ and increasing the degree of crystallization. This study provides an environmentally friendly alternative for developing plastic materials with enhanced properties, which can contribute to a sustainable future without consuming inorganic nucleating agents. It serves as a basis for developing 100% biodegradable green nanocomposites.