• Carbon letters
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2010

Carbon materials such as graphite and graphene exhibit high electrical conductivity. We examined the electrical conductivity of synthetic and natural graphene powders after the chemical reduction of synthetic and natural graphite oxide from synthetic and natural graphite. The trend of electrical conductivity of both graphene (synthetic and natural) was compared with different graphite materials (synthetic, natural, and expanded) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under compression from 0.3 to 60 MPa. We found that synthetic graphene showed a marked increment in electrical conductivity compared to natural graphene. Interestingly, the total increment in electrical conductivity was greater for denser graphite; however, an opposite behavior was observed in nanocarbon materials such as graphene and CNTs, probably due to the differing layer arrangement of nanocarbon materials.

• Clean Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2011

Scientists and engineers have altered the properties of materials such as metals, alloys, polymers, ceramics, and so on, to suit the ever changing needs of our society. Man-made engineering materials generally demonstrate excellent mechanical properties, which often tar exceed those of natural materials. However, all such engineering materials lack the ability of self-healing, i.e. the ability to remove or neutralize microcracks without intentional human interaction. The damage management paradigm observed in nature can be reproduced successfully in man-made engineering materials, provided the intrinsic character of the various types of engineering materials is taken into account. Various self-healing ptotocols that can be applied for the organic materials such as polymers, ionomers and composites can be developed by utilizing suitable chemical reactions and physical intermolecular interactions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.251.2-251.2
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• 2013

Natural photosynthesis utilizes two proteins, photosystem I and photosystem II, to efficiently oxidize water and reduce NADP+ to NADPH. Artificial photosynthesis which mimics this process achieve water splitting through a two-step Z-schematic water splitting process using man-made synthetic materials for hydrogen fuel production. In this study, Z-scheme system was achieved from the hybrid materials which composed of hydrogen production part as photosystem I protein and water oxidizing part as semiconductor BiVO4. Utilizing photosystem I as the hydrogen evolving part overcomes the problems of existing hydrogen evolving p-type semiconductors such as water instability, expensive cost, few available choices and poor red light (>600 nm) absorbance. Some problems of photosystem II, oxygen evolving part of natural photosynthesis, such as demanding isolation process and D1 photo-damage can also be solved by utilizing BiVO4 as the oxygen evolving part. Preceding research has not suggested any protein-inorganic-hybrid Z-scheme composed of both materials from natural photosynthesis and artificial photosynthesis. In this study, to realize this Z-schematic electron transfer, diffusion step of electron carrier, which usually degrades natural photosynthesis efficiency, was eliminated. Instead, BiVO4 and Pt-photosystem I were all linked together by the mediator gold. Synthesized all-solid-state hybrid materials show enhanced hydrogen evolution ability directly from water when illuminated with visible light.

• Korean Membrane Journal
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2009

We investigated the effect of organic materials on membrane fouling in advanced drinking water treatment by a hybrid module packed with granular activated carbon (GAC) outside multi-channel ceramic microfiltration membrane. Synthetic water was prepared with humic acid and kaolin to simulate natural water resouces consisting of natural organic matter and inorganic particles. Kaolin concentration was fixed at 30 mg/L and humic acid was changed as 2~10 mg/L to inspect the effect of organic matters. Periodic back-flushing using permeate water was performed for 10 sec per filtration of 10 min. As a result, both resistance of membrane fouling (Rf) and permeate flux (J) were influenced highly by concentration of humic acid. It proved that NOM like humic acid could be an important factor on membrane fouling in drinking water treatment. Turbidity and UV254 absorbance were removed up to above 97.4% and 59.2% respectively.

• Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.673-697
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Cartilage tissue engineering (CTE) aims to obtain a structure mimicking native cartilage tissue through the combination of relevant cells, three-dimensional scaffolds, and extraneous signals. Implantation of 'matured' constructs is thus expected to provide solution for treating large injury of articular cartilage. Type I collagen is widely used as scaffolds for CTE products undergoing clinical trial, owing to its ubiquitous biocompatibility and vast clinical approval. However, the long-term performance of pure type I collagen scaffolds would suffer from its limited chondrogenic capacity and inferior mechanical properties. This paper aims to provide insights necessary for advancing type I collagen scaffolds in the CTE applications. METHODS: Initially, the interactions of type I/II collagen with CTE-relevant cells [i.e., articular chondrocytes (ACs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)] are discussed. Next, the physical features and chemical composition of the scaffolds crucial to support chondrogenic activities of AC and MSC are highlighted. Attempts to optimize the collagen scaffolds by blending with natural/synthetic polymers are described. Hybrid strategy in which collagen and structural polymers are combined in non-blending manner is detailed. RESULTS: Type I collagen is sufficient to support cellular activities of ACs and MSCs; however it shows limited chondrogenic performance than type II collagen. Nonetheless, type I collagen is the clinically feasible option since type II collagen shows arthritogenic potency. Physical features of scaffolds such as internal structure, pore size, stiffness, etc. are shown to be crucial in influencing the differentiation fate and secreting extracellular matrixes from ACs and MSCs. Collagen can be blended with native or synthetic polymer to improve the mechanical and bioactivities of final composites. However, the versatility of blending strategy is limited due to denaturation of type I collagen at harsh processing condition. Hybrid strategy is successful in maximizing bioactivity of collagen scaffolds and mechanical robustness of structural polymer. CONCLUSION: Considering the previous improvements of physical and compositional properties of collagen scaffolds and recent manufacturing developments of structural polymer, it is concluded that hybrid strategy is a promising approach to advance further collagen-based scaffolds in CTE.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2007

The AOPs research defined by creating a sufficient amount of OH radicals from the dissolution of organic materials through photoxidation and research for a complete elimination of residual organic materials by membrane are actively ongoing. This research focuses on the hybrid processing of AOPs and M/F membrane to dissolve and eliminate organic chemicals in drinking water which are suspected of carcinogens. For this purpose, underground water was used as a source of drinking water for the hybrid processing of AOPs oxidation and M/F membrane, and a pilot plant test device was installed indoor. Carcinogenic chemicals of VOCs and pesticide were artificially mixed with the drinking water, which was then diluted close to natural water in order to examine treatment efficiency and draw optimal operation conditions. The samples used for this experiment include four chemicals phenol, chloroform, in VOCs and parathion, carbaryl in pesticide. As a result of the experiments conducted with simple, and compound solutions, the conditions to sufficiently dissolve and eliminate carcinogenic chemicals from the hybrid processing of where carcinogens were artificially added are : (hydrogen peroxide) prescribed solution 100 mg/L under pH 5.5~6.0, and the temperature $12{\sim}16^{\circ}C$, at the normal temperature and pressure. $d-O_3$ volume of 5.0 ppm and above and 30-40 minutes of reaction time are most appropriate and using MF/UF for membrane was ideal.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.46-55
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• 2015

There is a limit for deforestation in order to keep the environmental cycle undisturbed. The heart of the paper is to replace the wood to a maximum extent to obtain a sustainable environment. This research aims at new natural composites in which treated hemp fiber used as reinforcement, synthetic cellulose used as particulate to improve the adhesion between matrix - fiber interface and Epoxy LY556 acted as matrix fabricated by hand layup technique. The density, water absorption, tensile properties, impact strength, hardness, flexural properties and compressive properties have been evaluated under ASTM standards and compare the results with existing materials such as wood, aluminium, etc., The composite hemp fiber reinforced polymer (HFRP) could be exploited as an effective replacement for wood and it would be suitable for automotive applications by comparing results.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.12.1-12.1
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• 2009

Nano-hydroxyapatite (N-HAp)has shown the pivotal role in producing bone-regenerative materials since it has similarity to natural bone minerals in terms of size, morphology, and the composition. Currently, the combination of biopolymers and N-HAp is recognizedas an attractive approach in generating hybrid scaffolds for bone tissueengineering. Surface engineering is an important issue since it determines whether cells can effectively adhere and proliferate on porous scaffolds. We aim to develop a synthetic approach to porous 3D scaffolds by immobilizing N-HAp on pore surfaces. The discrete nano-level anchoring of N-HAp on the scaffold pore surface is achieved using surface-repellent stable colloidal N-HAp with surface phosphate functionality. This rational surface engineering enables surface-anchored N-HAp to express its overall intrinsic bioactivity,since N-HAp is not phase-mixed with the polymers. The porous polymer scaffolds with surface-immobilized N-HAp provide more favorable environments thanconventional bulk phase-mixed polymer/N-HAp scaffolds in terms of cellular interaction and growth. In vitro biological evaluation using alkalinephosphatase activity assay supports that immobilized N-HAp on pore surfaces of polymer scaffolds contributed to the more enhanced in vitro osteogenicpotential. Besides, the scaffolds with surface-exposed N-HAp provide favorable environments for enhanced in vivo bone tissue growth, estimated by characteristic biomarkers of bone formation such as collagen. The results suggest that newly developed hybrid scaffolds with surface-immobilized N-HApmay serve as a useful 3D substrate with pore surfaces featuring excellent bonetissue-regenerative properties. Acknowledgement. This research was supported by a grant (code #: 2009K000430) from 'Center for Nanostructured Materials Technology' under '21st Century Frontier R&D Programs' of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Korea.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2008

This study was designed to investigate the effect of hybridization of synthetic/natural materials for annulus fibrosus (AF) tissue regeneration in vitro and in vivo. The synthetic/natural hybrid scaffolds were prepared using PLGA (poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid), SIS (small intestinal submucosa) and DBP (demineralized bone particles). PLGA, PLGA/SIS(20%), PLGA/DBP(20%) and PLGA/SIS (10%)/DBP (10%) scaffold were manufactured by solvent casting/salt leaching method. Compressive strength was measured. Rabbit AF cells were isolated, cultured and seeded into experimental groups. Hydroxyproline production and DNA quantity of AP cells on each scaffold was measured at 2, 4 and 6 weeks after in vitro culture. Cell-scaffold composites were implanted subcutaneously into athymic mice. After 1,4 and 6 weeks postoperatively, specimens were taken and H&E, Safranin-O and type I collagen staining were carried out concerning formation of cartilagenous tissue. In vitro PLGA/SIS scaffold was evaluated for total collagen content (bydroryproline/DNA content) and PLGA scaffold was evaluated for compressive strength.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.05a
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• pp.10.2-10.2
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• 2011

The design and synthesis of protein-like polymers is a fundamental challenge in materials science. A biomimetic approach is to explore the impact of monomer sequence on non-natural polymer structure and function. We present the aqueous self-assembly of two peptoid polymers into extremely thin two-dimensional (2D) crystalline sheets directed by periodic amphiphilicity, electrostatic recognition and aromatic interactions. Peptoids are sequence-specific, oligo-N-substituted glycine polymers designed to mimic the structure and functionality of proteins. Mixing a 1:1 ratio of two oppositely charged peptoid 36 mers of a specific sequence in aqueous solution results in the formation of giant, free-floating sheets with only 2.7 nm thickness. Direct visualization of aligned individual peptoid chains in the sheet structure was achieved using aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy. Specific binding of a protein to ligand-functionalized sheets was also demonstrated. The synthetic flexibility and biocompatibility of peptoids provide a flexible and robust platform for integrating functionality into defined 2D nanostructures. In the later part of my talk, we describe the use of metal ions to construct two-dimensional hybrid films that have the ability to self-heal. Incubation of biomimetic peptoid polymers with specific divalent metal ions results in the spontaneous formation of uniform multilayers at the air-water interface. We anticipate that ease of synthesis and transfer of these two-dimensional materials may have many potential applications in catalysis, gas storage and sensing, optics, nanomaterial synthesis, and environmentally responsive scaffolds.