• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.59.1-59.1
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• 2015

In the Linford group at Brigham Young University we have recently developed three new sets of materials for three different areas of separations science: thin layer chromatography (TLC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and solid phase microextraction (SPME). First, via microfabrication we have grown patterned carbon nanotube (CNT) forests on planar substrates that we have infiltrated with inorganic materials such as silicon nitride. The coatings on the CNTs are conformal and typically deposited in a process like low pressure chemical vapor deposition. The resulting materials have high surface areas, are porous, and function as effective separation devices, where separations on our new TLC plates are typically significantly faster than on conventional devices. Second, we used the layer-by-layer (electrostatically driven) deposition of poly (allylamine) and nanodiamond onto carbonized poly (divinylbenzene) microspheres to create superficially porous particles for HPLC. Many interesting classes of molecules have been separated with these particles, including various cannabinoids, pesticides, tricyclic antidepressants, etc. Third, we have developed new materials for SPME by sputtering silicon onto cylindrical fiber substrates in a way that creates shadowing of the incoming flux so that materials with high porosity are obtained. These materials are currently outperforming their commercial counterparts. Throughout this work, the new materials we have made have been characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, etc.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.2187-2193
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• 2002

We present a novel method for 3D microfabrication with LIGA process that utilizes a deep X-ray mask in which a micro-actuator is integrated. The integrated micro-actuator oscillates the X-ray absorber, which is formed on the shuttle mass of the micro-actuator, during X-ray exposures to modify the absorbed dose profile in X-ray resist, typically PMMA. 3D PMMA microstructures according to the modulated dose contour are revealed after GG development. An X-ray mask with integrated comb drive actuator is fabricated using deep reactive ion etching, absorber electroplating, and bulk micromachining with silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. 1mm $\times$ 1 mm, 20 $\mu$m thick silicon shuttle mass as a mask blank is supported by four 1 mm long suspension beams and is driven by the comb electrodes. A 10 $\mu$m thick, 50 $\mu$m line and spaced gold absorber pattern is electroplated on the shuttle mass before the release step. The fundamental frequency and amplitude are around 3.6 kHz and 20 $\mu$m, respectively, for a do bias of 100 V and an ac bias of 20 $V_{p-p}$ (peak-peak). Fabricated PMMA microstructure shows 15.4 $\mu$m deep, S-shaped cross section in the case of 1.6 kJ $cm^{-3}$ surface dose and GG development at 35$^{\circ}C$ for 40 minutes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2011.06a
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• pp.185-186
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• 2011

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.113-115
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• 2003

Droplet impinging into a cavity at micro-scale is one of important fluidic issues for microfabrications, e.g. bio-chip applications and inkjet deposition processes in the PLED panel manufacturing. The droplets generally dispensing from an inkjet head, which contains an array of nozzles, have a volume in several picoliters, while each nozzle jets the droplets into cavities with micron-meter size located on substrates. Due to measurement difficulties at micro-scale, the numerical simulation could serve as an efficient and preliminary way to evaluate the micro-sized droplet impinging behavior into a cavity. The micro-fluidic flow is computed by solving the three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations through a finite volume discretization. The droplet front is predicted by a volume-of-fluid approach, in which the surface tension is modeled as a function of the fluid concentration. This paper discusses the influence of fluid properties, such as surface tension and fluid viscosity, on micro-fluidic characteristics at different jetting speeds in the deposition process via the proposed numerical approach.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.107-114
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• 2023

Graphene oxide (GO) membranes have attracted extensive attention in water treatment and related fields. However, GO films are unstable and have low permeability, which have hindered their further development. In this paper, a simple and effective method was used in which GO and single-layer graphene (GN) were mixed, and the layer spacing was effectively controlled by accurately controlling the ratio of GO to GN. GO-GN composite membranes have excellent stability, salt rejection (95.4%), and water flux (26 L m^-2 h^-1 bar^-1). This unique design structure can be used for precise and effective regulation of the layer spacing in GO, improving the rejection rate, and increasing water flux via the enhancement of low-friction capillary action. The rational development and use of this unique composite membrane provides a reference for the water treatment field.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 2008

Dense and fine polymer patterns often collapse, as they come into contact with each other at their protruding tips. Resist pattern collapse depends on the aspect ratio of patterns and the surface tension of rinsing materials. The pattern collapse is a very serious problem in microfabrication, because it is one of the factors which limit the device dimensions. The reasons for the pattern collapse are known as the surface tension of rinse liquid, centrifugal force and rinse liquid flow produced in the developing process. In this work, we tried to evaluate the pattern collapse of three-dimensional microstructures that were fabricated by two-photon induced photopolymerization, and showed the way how to reduce the deformation of microstructures.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.573-579
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• 2009

A thermal mass air flow sensor, which consists of a micro-heater and thermal sensors on the silicon-nitride thin membrane structure, is micro-fabricated by MEMS processes. Three thermo-resistive sensors, one for the measurement of microheater temperature, the others for the measurement of membrane temperature upstream and downstream of the micro-heater respectively, are used. The micro-heater is operated under the constant temperature difference mode via a real time controller, based on inlet air temperature. Two design models for microfabricated flow sensor are compared with experimental results and confirmed their applicabilities and limitations. The thermal characteristics are measured to find the best flow indicator. It is found that two normalized temperature indicators can be adopted with some advantages in practice. The flow sensor with this control mode can be adopted for wide capability of high speed and sensitivity in the very low and medium velocity ranges.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.90-100
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• 2010

Micro-conductive patterns were microfabricated on an insulating substrate ($SiO_2$) surface by a selective electroless nickel plating process in order to investigate the formation of seed layers. To fabricate micro-conductive patterns, a thin layer of metal (Cu.Cr) was deposited in the desired micropattern using laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT). and above this layer, a second layer was plated by selective electroless plating. The LIFT process. which was carried out in multi-scan mode, was used to fabricate micro-conductive patterns via electroless nickel plating. This method helps to improve the deposition process for forming seed patterns on the insulating substrate surface and the electrical conductivity of the resulting patterns. This study analyzes the effect of seed pattern formation by LIFT and key parameters in electroless nickel plating during micro-conductive pattern fabrication. The effects of the process variables on the cross-sectional shape and surface quality of the deposited patterns are examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and an optical microscope.