• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.08a
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• pp.75.2-75.2
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• 2013

Atomic layer deposition (ALD), utilizing self-limiting surface reactions, could offer promising perspectives for future efficient energy conversion devices. The capabilities of ALD for surface/interface modification and construction of novel architectures with sub-nanometer precision and exceptional conformality over high aspect ratio make it more valuable than any other deposition methods in nanoscale science and technology. In the context, a variety of researches on fabrication of active materials for energy conversion applications by ALD are emerging. Among those materials, one-dimensional nanotubular titanium dioxide, providing not only high specific surface area but also efficient carrier transport pathway, is a class of the most intensively explored materials for energy conversion systems, such as photovoltaic cells and photo/electrochemical devices. The monodisperse, stoichiometric, anatase, TiO2 nanotubes with smooth surface morphology and controlled wall thickness were fabricated via low-temperature template-directed ALD followed by subsequent annealing. The ALD-grown, anatase, TiO2 nanotubes in alumina template show unusual crystal growth behavior which allows to form remarkably large grains along axial direction over certain wall thickness. We also fabricated dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) introducing our anatase TiO2 nanotubes as photoanodes, and studied the effect of blocking layer, TiO2 thin films formed by ALD, on overall device efficiency. The photon convertsion efficiency ~7% were measured for our TiO2 nanotubebased DSCs with blocking layers, which is ~1% higher than ones without blocking layer. We also performed open circuit voltage decay measurement to estimate recombination rate in our cells, which is 3 times longer than conventional nanoparticulate photoanodes. The high efficiency of our ALD-grown, anatase, TiO2 nanotube-based DSCs may be attributed to both enhanced charge transport property of our TiO2 nanotubes photoanode and the suppression of recombination at the interface between transparent conducting electrode and iodine electrolytes by blocking layer.

• Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.2241-2255
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• 2018

RSM methodology was applied to present mathematical models for the fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) dual-layer hollow fibers in membrane distillation process. The design of experiments was used to investigate three main parameters in terms of polymer concentration in both outer and inner layers and the flow rate of dope solutions by the Box-Behnken method. According to obtained results, the optimization was done to present the proper membrane with desirable properties. The characteristics of the optimized membrane (named HF-O) suggested by the Box-Behnken (at the predicted point) showed that the proposed models are strongly valid. Then, a morphology study was done to modify the fiber by a combination of three types of a structure such as macro-void, sponge-like and sharp finger-like. It also improved the hydrophobicity of outer surface from 87 to $113^{\circ}$ and the mean pore size of the inner surface from 108.12 to 560.14 nm. The DCMD flux of modified fiber (named HF-M) enhanced 62% more than HF-O when it was fabricated by considering both of RSM and morphology study results. Finally, HF-M was conducted for long-term desalination process up to 100 hr and showed stable flux and wetting resistance during the test. These stepwise approaches are proposed to easily predict the main properties of PVDF dual-layer hollow fibers by valid models and to effectively modify its structure.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.91-96
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• 2021

This study was conducted to improve the operating conditions of an adsorption tower filled with potassium impregnated activated carbon for high hydrogen sulfide capture capacity. Heat treatment modified the surface properties of activated carbon, and ultimately determined its adsorption capacity. The activated carbon doped with potassium showed 57 times more adsorption at room temperature than that of using the raw adsorbent. It is believed that uniform pore formation and strong bonding of the potassium on the surface of carbon contributed to the chemical and physical absorption of hydrogen sulfide. The SEM analysis on the surface structure of various commercial carbons showed that the modification of surface properties through the heat treatment generated the destruction of pore structures resulted in the decrease of the absorption performance. The pressure drop across the activated carbon bed was closely related with the grain size and shape. The optimum size of irregularly shaped activated carbon granules was 2~4 mesh indicating economical feasibility.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.534-539
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• 2010

Polystyrene (PS)/multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites were prepared via latex technology and the effect of nanotube length on rheological properties were investigated. Monodisperse PS particle was synthesized by the emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization and two types of MWCNTs were used after surface modification to improve dispersion state and to remove impurities. Final nanocomposites were prepared by the freeze-drying process after dispersing the PS particles and the surface-modified MWCNTs in a ultrasonic bath. The effects of MWCNT content and nanotube length on rheological properties were evaluated by imposing the small-amplitude oscillatory shear flow. The PS/MWCNT nanocomposites showed that rheological properties were enhanced as the amount and length of MWCNT increased. It is speculated that the rheological characteristics of nanocomposites change from liquid-like to solid-like as the MWCNT amount increases, and the critical concentration to achieve network structure decreases as the nanotube length increases.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.15-29
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• 2016

A low cost environmentally benign surface coating binder is highly desirable in the field of material science. In this report, castor oil based hyperbranched polyester/bitumen modified fly ash nanocomposites were fabricated to achieve the desired performance. The hyperbranched polyester resin was synthesized by a three-step one pot condensation reaction using monoglyceride of castor oil based carboxyl terminated pre-polymer and 2,2-bis (hydroxymethyl) propionic acid. Also, the bulk fly ash of paper industry waste was converted to hydrophilic nano fly ash by ultrasonication followed by transforming it to an organonano fly ash by the modification with bitumen. The synthesized polyester resin and its nanocomposites were characterized by different analytical and spectroscopic tools. The nanocomposite obtained in presence of 20 wt% styrene (with respect to polyester) was found to be more homogeneous and stable compared to nanocomposite without styrene. The performance in terms of tensile strength, impact resistance, scratch hardness, chemical resistance and thermal stability was found to be improved significantly after formation of nanocomposite compared to the pristine system after curing with bisphenol-A based epoxy and poly(amido amine). The overall results of transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis and performance showed good exfoliation of the nano fly ash in the polyester matrix. Thus the studied nanocomposites would open up a new avenue on development of low cost high performing surface coating materials.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.209-213
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• 2011

Hydrophobic silica aerogel beads with low thermal conductivity and high porosity were prepared using a cost-effective sodium silicate as a silica source via an ambient-pressure drying process. Monolithic wet gels were first prepared by adjusting pH (~5) of a diluted sodium silicate solution. The silica aerogel beads (0.5~20 mm) were manufactured by breaking the wet gel monoliths under a simultaneous solvent exchange/surface modification process and an ambient-pressure drying process without using co-precursors or templates. Dried silica aerogel beads exhibit a comparable porosity ($593m^2/g$ of surface area, 34.9 nm of pore size, and $4.4cm^3/g$ of pore volume) to that of the aerogel powder prepared in the same conditions. Thermal conductivity of the silica aerogel beads (19.8 mW/mK at $20^{\circ}C$) is also identical to the aerogel powder.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.122-129
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• 2022

In this study, the hydrophilicity of the metal fiber is improved by introducing an oxygen-containing functional group to the fiber surface after treatment of the metal fiber using the oxygen plasma treatment time as an experimental variable. For the surface modification of metal fibers, changes in surface properties before and after plasma treatment were observed using SEM and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In order to observe the effect of the plasma treatment time on the surface of the metal fiber, the change in contact angle of the metal fiber with respect to a polar solvent and a non-polar solvent was measured. After calculating the change in surface free energy using the measured contact angle, the contact angle and the surface free energy for metal fibers before and after oxygen plasma treatment were compared, and the correlation with the adhesion work was also considered. The microdroplet specimens were prepared to investigate the effect of surface changes of these metal fibers on the improvement of shear strength at the interface when combined with other materials and the interfacial shear strength was measured, and the correlation with the adhesion work was also identified. Therefore, the oxygen plasma treatment of the metal fiber results in an increase in the physical surface area on the fiber surface and a change in contact angle and surface energy according to the introduction of the oxygen-containing functional group on the surface. This surface hydrophilization resulted in improving the interfacial shear strength with the polymer resin.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.655-663
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• 2010

Wettability is important to enhance not only CHF but also nucleate boiling heat transfer, as shown by the results of different kinds of boiling experiments. In this regard, an excellent boiling performance (a high CHF and heat transfer performance) could be achieved in the case of pool boiling by some favorable surface modifications that can satisfy the optimized wettability condition. To determine the optimized boiling condition, we design special heaters to examine how two materials, which have different wettabilities (e.g., hydrophilic and hydrophobic materials), affect the boiling phenomena. The special heaters have hydrophobic dots on a hydrophilic surface. The contact angle of the hydrophobic surface is $120^{\circ}$ to water at the room temperature. The contact angle of the hydrophilic surface is $60^{\circ}$ at same conditions. Experiments involving micro hydrophobic dots and two types of milli hydrophobic dots are performed, and the results are compared with a reference surface.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.1100-1106
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• 2008

In this study, we presented rapid and simple fabrication method of functionalized surface on various substrates as a universal platform for the selective immobilization of cells. The functionalized surface was achieved by using deposition of polyelectrolyte such as poly(allyamine hydrochloride) (PAH), poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDAC), poly(4-ammonium styrene sulfonic acid) (PSS), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and fabrication of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) microstructure through micro-molding in capillaries (MIMIC) technique on each glass, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS) and poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) substrate. The polyelectrolyte multilayer provides adhesion force via strong electrostatic attraction between cell and surface. On the other hand, PEG microstructures also lead to prevent non-specific binding of cells because of physical and biological barrier. The characteristic of each modified surface was examined by using static contact angle measurement. The modified surface onto several substrates provides appropriate environment for cellular adhesion, which is essential technology for cell patterning with high yield and viability in the micropatterning technology. The proposed method is reproducible, convenient and rapid. In addition, the fabrication process is environmentally friendly process due to the no use of harsh solvent. It can be applied to the fabrication of biological sensor, biomolecules patterning, microelectronics devices, screening system, and study of cell-surface interaction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.121-133
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• 2016

It was required to evaluate ecological restorations in a comprehensive way in order to systematically manage conservation areas such as DMZ and national parks in South Korea. In this research we developed a new approach to evaluating ecological restorations with more various indexes than vegetation covering-related indexes. By analyzing damaged areas in the vicinity of DMZ, major damaged types were identified as six classes: landform modification, surface loss, soil pollution, soil physio-chemical modification, vegetation decline and vegetation damaged. From literature review, 39 indexes were selected and were grouped into four divisions: soil property, vegetation growth & structure, habitat property and landscape structure & functions. By conducting a survey with the selected indexes targeting relevant experts, data on relative importance among the divisions and indexes by damaged type were collected. As a result, it was found that the orders and values of weighted values of the divisions were different by damaged type: for example, soil property (0.402), vegetation growth & structure (0.209), habitat property (0.225), landscape structure & function (0.163) for "landform modification"; but soil property (0.171), vegetation growth & structure (0.401), habitat property (0.270), landscape structure & function (0.158) for "vegetation decline". Similarly, evaluation indexes showed different orders and values of relative importance, easiness in field measurement and representativeness for the division by damaged type, and the values were used for calculating importance factor for each index. In the evaluation table, score1 and score2 were made by the importance factors of indexes multiplied by distribution values which present grades and by the weighted values of divisions. In conclusion, while dealing with the damaged type was considered significant for evaluating and managing restorations, further tests on this table with a range of cases were needed to improve its quality.