• Applied Microscopy
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• v.50
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• pp.26.1-26.3
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• 2020

The biocompatible polyurethane acrylate (PUA) nanopillars were fabricated by soft lithography using three different sizes of nanobeads (350, 500, and 1000 nm), and the human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) were cultured on the nanopillars. The hASCs and their various behaviors, such as cytoplasmic projections, migration, and morphology, were observed by high resolution images using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). With the accurate analysis by SEM for the controlled sizes of nanopillars, the deflections are observed at pillars fabricated with 350- and 500- nm nanobeads. These high-resolution images could offer crucial information to elucidate the complicated correlations between nanopillars and the cells, such as morphology and cytoplasmic projections.

• Clean Technology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2019

Monodisperse microparticles has been particularly enabling for various applications in the encapsulation and delivery of pharmaceutical agents. The microfluidic devices are attractive candidates to produce highly uniform droplets that serve as templates to form monodisperse microparticles. The microfluidic devices that have micro-scale channel allow precise control of the balance between surface tension and viscous forces in two-phase flows. One of its essential abilities is to generate highly monodisperse droplets. In this paper, a microfluidic approach for preparing monodisperse polycaprolactone (PCL) microparticles is presented. The microfluidic devices that have a flow-focusing generator are manufactured by soft-lithography using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The crucial factors in the droplet generation are the controllability of size and monodispersity of the microdroplets. For this, the volumetric flow rates of the dispersed phase of oil solution and the continuous phase of water to generate monodisperse droplets are optimized. As a result, the optimal flow condition for droplet dripping region that is able to generate uniform droplet is found. Furthermore, the droplets containing PCL polymer by solvent evaporation after collection of droplet from device is solidified to generate the microparticle. The particle size can be controlled by tuning the flow rate and the size of the microchannel. The monodispersity of the PCL particles is measured by a coefficient of variation (CV) below 5%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 1999.07a
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• pp.114-114
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• 1999

Boron nitride (BN)는 매우 뛰어난 물리적, 화학적 성질을 가지고 있는 재료로 많은 연구가 진행되고 있다. hexagonal 형태의 hBN의 경우 큰 전기 저항과 열 전도도를 가지고 있고 열적 안정성을 가지고 있어 반도체 소자에서 절연층으로 쓰일 수 있다. 또한 X-ray와 가시광선을 투과시키기 때문에 X-ray와 가시광선을 투과시키기 때문에 X-ray lithography이 mask 기판으로 사용될 수 있다. Boron-carbon-nitrogen (BCN) 역시 뛰어난 기계적 성질과 투명성을 가지고 있어 보호 코팅이나 X-ray lithography에 이용될 수 있다. 또한 원자 조성이나 구성을 변화시켜 band gap을 조절할 수 있는 가능성을 가지고 있기 때문에 전기, 광소자의 재료로 이용될 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 여러 합성 조건 변화에 따른 hBN 막의 합성 거동을 관찰하고, 카본 농도변화에 따른 BCN 막의 기계적 성질과 구조의 변화, 그리고 실리콘 첨가에 의한 물성 변화를 관찰하였다. BN박막은 실리콘 (100) 기판 위에 r.f. plasma assisted CVD를 이용하여 합성하였다. 합성 압력 0.015 torr, 원료 가스로 BCl3 1.5 sccm, NH3 6sccm을 Ar 15 sccm을 사용하여 기판 bias (-300~-700V)와 합성온도 (상온~50$0^{\circ}C$)를 변화시켜 BN막을 합성하였다. BCN 박막은 상온에서 기판 bias를 -700V로 고정시킨 후 CH4 공급량과 Ar 가스의 첨가 유무를 변화시켜 합성하였다. 또한 SiH4 가스를 이용하여 실리콘을 함유하는 Si-BCN 막을 합성하였다. 합성된 BN 막의 경우, 기판 bias와 합성 온도가 증가할수록 증착속도는 감소하는 경향을 보여 주었다. 기판 bias와 합성온도에 따른 구조 변화를 SEM과 Xray로 분석하였다. 상온에서 합성한 경우는 표면형상이 비정질 형태를 나타내었고, X-ray peak이 거의 관찰되지 않았다. 합성온도가 증가하게 되면 hBN (100) peak이 나타나게 되고 이것은 합성된 막이 turbostratic BN (tBN) 형태를 가지고 있다는 것을 나타낸다. 50$0^{\circ}C$의 합성 온도에서 기판 bias가 -300V에서 hBN (002) peak이 관찰되었고, -500, -700 V에서는 hBN (100) peak만이 관찰되었다. 따라서 고온에서의 큰 ion bombardment는 합성되는 막의 결정성을 저해하는 요소로 작용한다는 것을 확인 할 수 있었다. 합성된 BN 막은 ball on disk type의 tribometer를 이용하여 마모 거동을 관찰한 결과 대부분 1이상의 매우 큰 friction coefficient를 나타내었고, nano-indenter로 측정한 BN막의 hardness는 매우 soft한 막에서부터 10 GPa 정도 까지의 값을 나타내었고, nano-indenter로 측정한 BN 막의 hardness는 매우 soft한 막에서부터 10GPa 정도 까지의 값을 가지며 변하였다. 합성된 BCN, Si-BCN 막은 FT-IR, Raman, S-ray, TEM 분석을 통하여 그 구조와 합성된 상에 관하여 분석하였다. FT-IR 분석을 통해 B-N 결합과 C-N 결합을 확인할 수 있었고, Raman 분석을 통하여 DLC의 특성을 분석하였다. 마모 거동에서는 BCN 막의 경우 0.6~0.8 정도의 friction coefficient를 나타내었고 Si-BCN 막은 0.3이하의 낮은 friction coefficient를 나타내었다. Hardness는 carbon의 함유량과 Ar 가스의 첨가 유무에 따라 각각을 측정하였고 이것은 BN 막 보다 향상된 값을 나타내었다.

• Clean Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2007

This study investigated the flow rate changes of the heterogeneous rectangular microchannels which have different hydrophilic property on the bottom surface. The heterogeneous rectangular microchannel has three native PDMS (poly-dimethyl siloxane) surfaces which were patterned by the soft lithography. PDMS bottom surface was treated by the argon plasma and coated by the allyl alcohol (99%). The channel length was 10, 20 and 30 mm and the channel width was 100, 200 and $300\;{\mu}m$, respectively. Several external voltages were applied to make the fluid flow by the electroosmosis in the microchannel. For the same electric field strength and hydrophilicity of the bottom surface, the flow rate is almost same. This result is matched to the theoretical expectation and confirms that the experimental system is reliable. With increasing the channel width, the flow rate increased for the same hydrophilicity of the bottom surface. The flow rate of the microchannel of higher hydrophilicity was larger than that of the microchannel of lower hydrophilicity. This result implies that the hydrophilicity change of the bottom surface could be applied to control the flow rate in the microchannel.

• KSTLE International Journal
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.33-38
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• 2005

Submicron-scale patterns made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) were fabricated on silicon-wafer using a capillarity-directed soft lithographic technique. Polyurethane acrylate (PUA) stamps (Master molds) were used to fabricate the patterns. Patterns with three different aspect ratios were fabricated by varying the holding time. The patterns fabricated were the negative replica of the master mold. The patterns so obtained were investigated for their adhesion and friction properties at nano-scale using AFM. Friction tests were conducted in the range of 0-80 nN. Glass (Borosilicate) balls of diameter 1.25 mm mounted on cantilever (Contact Mode type NPS) were used as tips. Further, micro-friction tests were performed using a ball-on-flat type micro-tribe tester, under reciprocating motion, using a soda lime ball (1 mm diameter) under a normal load of 3,000 mN. All experiments were conducted at ambient temperature ($24{\pm}1^{\circ}C$) and relative humidity ($45{\pm}5\%$). Results showed that the patterned samples exhibited superior tribological properties when compared to the silicon wafer and non-patterned sample (PMMA thin film) both at the nano and micro-scales, owing to their increased hydrophobicity and reduced real area of contact. In the case of patterns it was observed that their morphology (shape factor and size factor) was decisive in defining the real area of contact.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.247-247
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• 2012

Plasmon subwavelength nanostructures enable the structurally modulated color due to the resonance conditions for the specific wavelength range of light with the nanoscale hole arrays on a metal layer. While the unique properties offered from a single layer of metal may open up the potential applications of integrated devices to displays and sensors, fabrication requirements in nanoscale, typically on the order of or smaller than the wavelength of light in a corresponding medium can limit the cost-effective implementation of the plasmonic nanostructures. Simpler nanoscale replication technologies based on the soft lithography or roll-to-roll nanoimprinting can introduce economically feasible manufacturing process for these devices. Such replication requires an optimal design of a master template to produce a stamp that can be applied for a roll-to-roll nanoimprinting. In this paper, a master mold with subwavelength nanostructures is fabricated and optimized using focused ion beam for the applications to nanoimprinting process. Au thin film layer is deposited by sputtering on a glass that serves as a dielectric substrate. Focused ion beam milling (FIB, JEOL JIB-4601F) is used to fabricate surface plasmon subwavelength nanostructures made of periodic hole arrays. The light spectrum of the fabricated nanostructures is characterized by using UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer (Agilent, Cary 5000) and the surface morphology is measured by using atomic force microscope (AFM, Park System XE-100) and scanning electron microscope (SEM, JEOL JSM-7100F). Relationship between the parameters of the hole arrays and the corresponding spectral characteristics and their potential applications are also discussed.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2009

Superconducting quantum phenomena are getting attention from the field of metrology area. Following its first successful application of Josephson effect to voltage standard, piconewton force standard was suggested as a candidate for the next application of superconducting quantum effects in metrology. It is predicted that a micron-sized superconducting Nb ring in a strong magnetic field gradient generates a quantized force of the order of sub-piconewtons. In this work, we studied the design and fabrication of Nb superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) on an ultra-thin silicon cantilever. The Nb SQUID and electrodes were structured on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer by dc magnetron sputtering and lift-off lithography. Using the resulting SOI wafer, we fabricated V-shaped and parallel-beam cantilevers, each with a $30-{\mu}m$-wide paddle; the length, width, and thickness of each cantilever arm were typically $440{\mu}m,\;4.5{\mu}m$, and $0.34{\mu}m$, respectively. However, the cantilevers underwent bending, a technical difficulty commonly encountered during the fabrication of electrical circuits on ultra-soft mechanical substrates. In order to circumvent this difficulty, we controlled the Ar pressure during Nb sputtering to minimize the intrinsic stress in the Nb film and studied the effect of residual stress on the resultant device.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.228-228
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• 2006

Conjugated oligomers, used as models for fluorene-thiophene copolymers, are compared in terms of the microscopic morphology of thin deposits and the optical properties. The AFM images and the solid-state absorption and emission spectra are interpreted in line with the structural data, in terms of the assembly of the conjugated molecules. The compound with a terthiophene central unit and fluorene end-groups shows well-defined monolayer-by-monolayer assembly into micrometer-long strip-like structures, with a crystalline herringbone-type organization within the monolayers. Polarized confocal microscopy indicates a strong orientation of the crystalline domains within the stripes. In contrast, the compound with a terfluorene central unit and thiophene end groups forms no textured aggregates. The difference in behavior between the two compounds most probably originates from their different capability of forming densely-packed assemblies of ${\pi-pi}$ interacting molecules. These assemblies are used as active elements in organic field effect transistors designed by using soft lithography technique.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.999-1005
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• 2004

A new stamp fabrication technique for the soft lithography has been developed in the range of several microns by means of a nano-replication printing (nRP) process. In the nRP process, a figure or a pattern can be replicated directly from a two-tone bitmap figure with nano-scale details. A photopolymerizable resin was polymerized by the two-photon absorption which was induced by a femtosecond laser. After the polymerization of master patterns, a gold metal layer (about 30 ㎚ thickness) was deposited on the fabricated master patterns for the purpose of preventing a join between the patterns and the PDMS, then the master patterns were transferred in order to fabricate a stamp by using the PDMS (poly-dimethylsiloxane). In the transferring process, a few of gold particles, which were isolated from the master patterns, remained on the PDMS stamp. A gold selective etchant, the potassium iodine (KI) was employed to remove the needless gold particles without any damage to the PDMS stamp. Through this work, the effectiveness of the nRP process with the PDMS molding was evaluated to make the PDMS stamp with the resolution of around 200 ㎚.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2014.02a
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• pp.390-390
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• 2014

Soft-lithography 기술 중의 하나인 Micro-Contact Printing (${\mu}$-CP) 기술은 패턴이 형성된 mold 위에 고분자 물질을 코팅하고 기판과 접촉시켜, 패턴 된 부분만 기판으로 전사시켜 패턴을 형성하는 방법이다. ${\mu}$-CP 기술은 Imprint 방식과 비교하여 잔여물을 제거하기 위한 ashing 공정이 필요 없으며, 상대적으로 패턴이 전사되기 위한 공정 온도와 압력이 낮은 장점이 있다. 한편, 기존의 Photolithography 기술로 유기기판에 패턴을 형성하는 것은 제한이 있으며, 자외선에 의해 유기기판의 특성이 변화될 수 있다. 또한 패턴 형성 후 고분자 패턴을 제거하는 용매가 기판이 손상 받게 된다. 본 실험에서는 poly (1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecyl methacrylate) polymer (PFDMA) films을 패턴 된 poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) mold 위에 코팅하고 ${\mu}$-CP 기술을 통해 poly (methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)등과 같은 유기기판 위에 고분자 패턴 형성을 하였다. 이때 전사 가능한 온도는 상온이며, 압력은 코팅된 PFDMA films이 기판과 접촉될 수 있는 정도만 필요하다. PFDMA가 상온에서 전사 가능한 이유는 유리전이온도가 상온보다 낮기 때문이다. 또한 접촉각을 측정하여 접착력을 계산하면 PFDMA와 기판과의 접착력이 상대적으로 높기 때문이다. PFDMA는 플루오르계 용매에 제거되기 때문에 유기기판의 손상을 최소화 할 수 있다. ${\mu}$-CP 기술을 이용한 PFDMA의 패턴 형성 방법은 물질의 특성으로 flexible 및 organic device 제작에 응용 될 수 있다.