• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.105-110
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• 2014

It is required to improve the efficiency and the reliability of the polymer solar cells (PSCs) as the energy saving optical device for the future application of the smart farm facilities. In this study, we fabricated the bulk hetero junction PSCs with organic passivation film layer for the reliability improvement of the devices. The effects of the passivation layer on the electrical properties of the PSCs were studied. The materials of passivation layer are composed of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) and ammonium dichromate, and the passivation films were fabricated by the spin coating method on the P3HT:$PC_{61}BM$/LiF/Al substrate. The prepared structure of the device is the glass/ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:$PC_{61}BM$/LiF/Al/passivation layer. The performances of the PSCs with the organic passivation film showed better electrical properties compared with the PSCs without passivation layers. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) values of passivated PSCs decreased from 3.0 to 1.3% after air exposure for 140 hrs. In contrast, the PCE values for the devices without passivation decreased sharply from 3.5 to 0.1% under the same exposure condition.

• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.184-188
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• 2013

Two types of polymer-based optical splitters with $200{\mu}m$ large core are presented for optical multimode networks, such as smart home networks, intelligent automotive networks, etc. Optical splitters that have 1:1 symmetric and 9:1 asymmetric structure were fabricated by a ultra violet(UV)-imprint technology using a deep etched Si(silicon) master by the Bosch process. In this paper, we successfully fabricated the symmetric and asymmetric optical splitters with suitable optical network applications.

• Composites Research
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.357-372
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• 2021

The energy harvesting device is known to be promising as an alternative to solve the resource shortage caused by the depletion of petroleum resources. In order to overcome the limitations (environmental pollution and low mechanical properties) of piezoelectric elements capable of converting mechanical motion into electrical energy, many studies have been conducted on a polymer matrix-based composite piezoelectric energy harvesting device. In this paper, the output performance and related applications of the reported piezoelectric composites are reviewed based on the applied materials and processes. As for the piezoelectric fillers, zinc oxide, which is advantageous in terms of eco-friendliness, biocompatibility, and flexibility, as well as ceramic fillers based on lead zirconate titanate and barium titanate, were reviewed. The polymer matrix was classified into piezoelectric polymers composed of polyvinylidene fluoride and copolymers, and flexible polymers based on epoxy and polydimethylsiloxane, to discuss piezoelectric synergy of composite materials and improvement of piezoelectric output by high external force application, respectively. In addition, the effect of improving the conductivity or the mechanical properties of composite material by the application of a metal or carbon-based secondary filler on the output performance of the piezoelectric harvesting device was explained in terms of the structure of the composite material. Composite material-based piezoelectric harvesting devices, which can be applied to small electronic devices, smart sensors, and medicine with improved performance, can provide potential insights as a power source for wireless electronic devices expected to be encountered in future daily life.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.133-146
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• 2007

This paper addresses a new type of broad and stage-based hybrid carbon fiber reinforced polymer (HCFRP) sensor that is suitable for the sensing of infrastructures. The HCFRP sensors, a type of composite sensor, are fabricated with three types of carbon tows of different strength and moduli. For all of the specimens, the active materials are carbon tows by virtue of their electrical conductivity and piezoresistivity. The measurement principles are based on the micro- and macro-fractures of different types of carbon tows. A series of experiments are carried out to investigate the sensing performances of the HCFRP sensors. The main variables include the stack order and volume fractions of different types of carbon tows. It is shown that the change in electrical resistance is in direct proportion to the strain/load in low strain ranges. However, the fractional change in electrical resistance (${\Delta}R/R_0$) is smaller than 2% prior to the macrofractures of carbon tows. In order to improve the resistance changes, measures are taken that can enhance the values of ${\Delta}R/R_0$ by more than 2 times during low strain ranges. In high strain ranges, the electrical resistance changes markedly with strain/load in a step-wise manner due to the gradual ruptures of different types of carbon tows at different strain amplitudes. The values of ${\Delta}R/R_0$ due to the fracture of high modulus carbon tows are larger than 36%. Thus, it is demonstrated that the HCFRP sensors have a broad and stage-based sensing capability.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.471-486
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• 2011

Various types of strain sensors have been developed and widely used in the field for monitoring the mechanical deformation of structures. However, conventional strain sensors are not suited for measuring large strains associated with impact damage and local crack propagation. In addition, strain sensors are resistive-type transducers, which mean that the sensors require an external electrical or power source. In this study, a gold nanoparticle (GNP)-based polymer composite is proposed for large strain sensing. Fabrication of the composites relies on a novel and simple in situ GNP reduction technique that is performed directly within the elastomeric poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) matrix. First, the reducing and stabilizing capacities of PDMS constituents and mixtures are evaluated via visual observation, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The large strain sensing capacity of the GNP-PDMS thin film is then validated by correlating changes in thin film optical properties (e.g., maximum UV-Vis light absorption) with applied tensile strains. Also, the composite's strain sensing performance (e.g., sensitivity and sensing range) is also characterized with respect to gold chloride concentrations within the PDMS mixture.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.157-174
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• 2020

The guided wave technique is commonly used in structural health monitoring as the guided waves can propagate far in the structures without much energy loss. The guided waves are conventionally generated by the surface-mounted piezoelectric wafer active sensor (PWAS). However, there is still lack of understanding of the wave propagation in layered structures, especially in structures made of anisotropic materials such as carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites. In this paper, the Rayleigh-Lamb wave strain tuning curves in a PWAS-mounted unidirectional CFRP plate are analytically derived using the normal mode expansion (NME) method. The excitation frequency spectrum is then multiplied by the tuning curves to calculate the frequency response spectrum. The corresponding time domain responses are obtained through the inverse Fourier transform. The theoretical calculations are validated through finite element analysis and an experimental study. The PWAS responses under the free, debonded and bonded CFRP conditions are investigated and compared. The results demonstrate that the amplitude and travelling time of wave packet can be used to evaluate the CFRP bonding conditions. The method can work on a baseline-free manner.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.733-745
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• 2016

This paper provides a review of wearable textile strain sensors that can measure the deformation of the body surface according to the movements of the wearer. In previous studies, the requirements of textile strain sensors, materials and fabrication methods, as well as the principle of the strain sensing according to sensor structures were understood; furthermore, the factors that affect the sensing performance were critically reviewed and application studies were examined. Textile strain sensors should be able to show piezoresistive effects with consistent resistance-extension in response to the extensional deformations that are repeated when they are worn. Textile strain sensors with piezoresistivity are typically made using conductive yarn knit structures or carbon-based fillers or conducting polymer filler composite materials. For the accuracy and reliability of textile strain sensors, fabrication technologies that would minimize deformation hysteresis should be developed and processes to complement and analyze sensing results based on accurate understanding of the sensors' resistance-strain behavior are necessary. Since light-weighted, flexible, and highly elastic textile strain sensors can be worn by users without any inconvenience so that to enable the users to continuously collect data related to body movements, textile strain sensors are expected to become the core of human interface technologies with a wide range of applications in diverse areas.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.852-860
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• 2012

An Antarctic bacterial isolate displaying extracellular ${\alpha}$-galactosidic activity was named Paenibacillus sp. LX-20 based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Optimal activity for the LX-20 ${\alpha}$-galactosidase occurred at pH 6.0-6.5 and $45^{\circ}C$. The enzyme immobilized on the smart polymer Eudragit L-100 retained 70% of its original activity after incubation for 30 min at $50^{\circ}C$, while the free enzyme retained 58% of activity. The enzyme had relatively high specificity for ${\alpha}$-D-galactosides such as p-nitrophenyl-${\alpha}$-galactopyranoside, melibiose, raffinose and stachyose, and was resistant to some proteases such as trypsin, pancreatin and pronase. Enzyme activity was almost completely inhibited by $Ag^+$, $Hg^{2+}$, $Cu^{2+}$, and sodium dodecyl sulfate, but activity was not affected by ${\beta}$-mercaptoethanol or EDTA. LX-20 ${\alpha}$-galactosidase may be potentially useful as an additive for soybean processing in the feed industry.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.624-629
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• 2006

The cellulose-based, Electroactive Paper (EAPap) has recently been reported as a smart material with the advantages of lightweight, dry condition, biodegradability, sustainability, large displacement output and low actuation voltage. However, it requires high humidity.. This paper introduces an EAPap made with a cellulose solution and lithium chloride (LiCl), which can be actuated in room humidity condition. The fabrication process, performance test and effect of LiCl content of the EAPap actuator are illustrated. The bending displacement of the EAPap actuators was evaluated with actuation voltage, frequency, humidity and LiCl content changes. At a LiCl/ cellulose content of 3:10, the displacement output was maximized at a room humidity condition. Even though the displacement output was less than that of a high humidity EAPap actuator, the mechanical power output was not reduced due to the increased resonance frequency, which is promising for developing EAPap actuators that are less sensitive to humidity.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.443-455
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• 2009

The use of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement in concrete structures has been on the rise due to its advantages over conventional steel reinforcement such as corrosion. Reinforcing steel corrosion has been the primary cause of deterioration of reinforced concrete (RC) structures, resulting in tremendous annual repair costs. One application of FRP reinforcement to be further explored is its use in RC frames. Nonetheless, due to FRP's inherently elastic behavior, FRP-reinforced (FRP-RC) members exhibit low ductility and energy dissipation as well as different damage mechanisms. Furthermore, current design standards for FRP-RC structures do not address seismic design in which the beam-column joint is a key issue. During an earthquake, the safety of beam-column joints is essential to the whole structure integrity. Thus, research is needed to gain better understanding of the behavior of FRP-RC structures and their damage mechanisms under seismic loading. In this study, two full-scale beam-column joint specimens reinforced with steel and GFRP configurations were tested under quasi-static loading. The control steel-reinforced specimen was detailed according to current design code provisions. The GFRP-RC specimen was detailed in a similar scheme. The damage in the two specimens is characterized to compare their performance under simulated seismic loading.