Nanoparticles are widely used in various fields such as electronics, medicines and getting focus on the application in food industry for developing intelligent delivery system with bioactive ingredients or functional nutrients. Basic study on possible toxicological effect of food applicable nanoparticles is required for a practical application in food industry. In this study, size-controlled bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles were prepared by a desolvation method and their cytotoxicity was investigated. BSA nanoparticles were prepared with mean diameters as 115, 137, 159, and 299 nm, then cytotoxicity was evaluated with RAW 264.7 macrophages as in vitro model. Cell viabilities were significantly affected as increasing nanoparticle concentration. Smaller the sizes of nanoparticles, LD50 values were significantly reduced. LD50 values of BSA nanoparticles were 50, 65, 126, and 170 μg/ml, respectively. Nanoparticle was supposed to induce the apoptosis of RAW 264.7 marcrophages and underlying mechanism will be investigated in future. These findings will be used as valuable basement for nanofood development with BSA nanoparticles.

The objective of this study was to evaluate size-different chitosan nanoparticles as a CO2 indicator. CO2 gas is dissolved to form H2CO3 which makes the solution acidic. Chitosan is acid soluble and its appearance (turbidity) changes depending on pH in aqueous solution. Two size-different chitosan nanoparticles were fabricated by ionic gelation between chitosan (0.30 and 0.50%, w/v) and 0.07% sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) solution. The sizes of chitosan nanoparticles were 630.77 and 1194.87 nm, respectively. To investigate the effect of chitosan nanoparticles as CO2 indicator, the initial pH of chitosan nanoparticle suspension was adjusted to 8.0. Thereafter, 100% CO2 gas was injected into the chitosan nanoparticle suspension, and the changes of pH and absorbance (600 nm of absorption wavelength) of the suspension over time were measured for 28 min. Absorbance at the appearance transition and its corresponding time was calculated using logistic function (R2> 0.99).As a result, pH of chitosan nanoparticle suspension decreased rapidly under CO2 gas injection for 10 min and finally reached around 6.0. In addition, there was significant difference in appearance transition time which was6.62 and 12.45 min for small- and large-sized chitosan nanoparticle suspensions, respectively. This study suggests that chitosan nanoparticle suspension might be useful as a food quality indicator for CO2 emitting foods such as fermented foods.

The morphology, crystal structure and size of aerosol nanoparticles generated by erosion of electrodes made of different materials (titanium, copper and aluminum) in a multi-spark discharge generator were investigated. The aerosol nanoparticle synthesis was carried out in air atmosphere at a capacitor stored energy of 6 J, a repetition rate of discharge of 0.5 Hz and a gas flow velocity of 5.4 m/s. The aerosol nanoparticles were generated in the form of oxides and had various morphologies: agglomerates of primary particles of TiO2 and Al2O3 or aggregates of primary particles of Cu2O. The average size of the primary nanoparticles ranged between 6.3 and 7.4 nm for the three substances studied. The average size of the agglomerates and aggregates varied in a wide interval from 24.6 nm for Cu2O to 46.1 nm for Al2O3.

In this study, the properties of Ag-coated TiO2 nanoparticles were observed, while varying the molar ratio of water and Ag+ for the surfactant and TiO2. According to the XRD results, each nanoparticle showed a distinctive diffraction pattern. The intensity of the respective peaks and the sizes of the nanoparticles increased in the order of AT1(R1 = 5)(33.3 nm), AT2 (R1 = 10)(38.1 nm), AT3(R1 = 20)(45.7 nm), AT4(R1 = 40)(48.6 nm) as well as AT5(R2 = 0.2, R3 = 0.5)(41.4 nm), AT6(R2 = 0.3, R3 = 1)(45.1 nm), AT7(R2 = 0.5, R3 = 1.5)(49.3 nm), AT8(R2 = 0.7, R3 = 2)(57.2 nm), which values were consistent with the results of the UV-Vis. spectrum. The surface resistance of the conductive pastes fabricated using the prepared Ag-coated TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited a range 7.0~9.0(274~328 μΩ/cm2) times that of pure silver paste(ATP)(52 μΩ/cm2).

유기 발광 다이오드(OLED)는 차세대 조명으로 많은 관심을 받고 있으며, 디스플레이로서의 상용화에 이미 성공하였고, 대체 조명 시장에까지 그 영역을 넓혀가고 있다. OLED의 급격한 기술 발전에도 불구하고, OLED의 유 기층/투명전극과 기판에서 발생하는 내부 전반사에 의해서 일반적인 OLED의 외부 광자 효율은 현재 20~30% 정도에 머무르고 있는 실정이다. 따라서, 고효율의 OLED의 구현을 위해서는 고성능의 광추출 구조의 개발이 절실히 필요하 다. 내부 광추출 구조를 소자에 적용하기 위해서는 많은 어려움이 있으며, 특히 소자의 누설전류를 방지하기 위해서 광추출 구조의 표면 거칠기를 최소화하는 것이 매우 중요하다. 본 연구에서는 ZnO 나노파티클-투명 고분자 복합 구 조의 광추출 구조를 쉬운 제작 방법으로 구현하였으며, 나노파티클의 분산에 따른 광추출 구조의 광학적 특성 및 표 면 구조의 영향에 대해서 알아보았다.

PEBAX®는 폴리에테르가 우수한 CO2용해도를 나타내어 기체분리막의 소재로 주목받고 있지만 폴리아마이드의 crystallinity로 인해 투과성능면에서 제약을 받는다고 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 PEBAX® 막의 기체투과특성을 향상시키기 위해 합성된 aluminosilicate hollow nanoparticles를 막 내부에 고르게 분산시켜 함량별로 혼합막을 제조한다. 분산된 나노입자의 함량에 따른 CO2 용해도 증가, 확산 속도의 증가로 인하여 선택도와 투과도의 향상을 예측할 수 있다. 첨가된 나노입자의 morphology와 yield를 확인하고, 첨가량이 증가할수록 선택도의 변동없이 투과도가 증가하는 것을 알 수 있다.

In this study, novel mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with hollow zeolite imidazole frameworks (H_ZIF-8) were introduced with regard to CO2/CH4 gas separation. H_ZIF-8 nanoparticles (low density and large BET surface area) and amphiphilic PVC-g-POEM (poly(vinyl chloride)-g-poly(oxyethylene methacrylate)) graft copolymer showed good interfacial properties and uniform distribution, which resulted in improved gas permeation properties interacted with PVC-g-POEM by secondary bonding interactions. Two Tg values expressed the glassy PVC chains and the rubbery POEM chains, suggesting that the copolymer had a well-defined and microphase-separated structure. We observed that H_ZIF-8 interrupted the mobility of polymer chain, contributing to the increased Tg, was dispersed homogeneously in the coopolymer matrix without noticable aggregation.

금속 유기 골격체(Metal Organic Framework, 이하 MOF) 종류의 하나인 제올라이트형 이미 다졸레이트 골격체(Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework, 이하 ZIF) 중 ZIF-8은 Zn 금속이온과 imidazole 유기 리간드의 결합으로 이루어져 있다. 본 연구에서는 여러 종류의 용매에서 합성된 ZIF-8의 1차 결정과 2차 입자의 형성이 용매가 가진 특성에 영향을 받는 것을 확인하였다. HBD(hydrogen bond donation) 값이 큰 용매에서 합성된 ZIF-8의 1차 결정은 HBD 값이 작은 용매에서의 것보다 크기가 컸고, 용매의 유전상수의 값이 작을수록 2차 입자의 크기가 큰 ZIF-8이 합성되었다.

용액-확산 메커니즘에 의해 결정되는 기존의 고분자에서와는 달리, 촉진수송은 투과도와 선택도를 동시에 향상시킬 수 있는 기술이다. 본 연구에서는 은 나노입자, 폴리비닐피롤리돈, 7,7,8,8-테트라시야노퀴노디메탄으로 구성된 촉진수송 올레핀 분리막에 있어서, 메조기공 티타늄산화물(m-TiO2)에 대한 영향을 연구하였다. 특히 메조기공 티타늄산화물은 폴리비닐클로라이 드-g-폴리옥시에틸렌 메타크릴레이트 가지형 공중합체를 템플레이트로 하여 쉽고 대량 생산이 가능한 방법으로 제조하였다. 엑 스레이 회절분석에 따르면, 제조된 메조기공 티타늄산화물은 아나타제와 루타일 상의 혼합으로 구성되어 있으며, 결정의 크기가 약 16 nm 정도 되었다. 메조기공 티타늄산화물을 첨가하였을 때, 분리막의 확산도가 증가하여 혼합기체 투과도가 1.6에서 16 GPU로 증가하였고 선택도는 45에서 37로 약간 감소하였다. 메조기공 티타늄산화물이 첨가되지 않은 분리막은 장시간 성능이 유지되었으나, 메조기공 티타늄산화물이 첨가된 분리막의 경우 시간이 지남에 따라 투과도와 선택도가 감소하였다. 이는 티타늄 산화물과 은 사이의 화학적 상호작용으로 은 나노입자의 올레핀 운반체로써의 활성을 감소시키기 때문으로 사료된다.

TiO2 and SiO2 inorganic nanoparticles were synthesized with poly(oxyethylene methacrylate)(POEM) and blended with 1-methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide(MPII), poly(ethylene glycol)(PEG), and iodine(I2) to prepare polymer electrolyte membranes for dye-sensitized solar cells(DSSC). The modified nanoparticles were prepared by the grafting of POEM to TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles and put into PEG, MPII and I2 to produce polymer electrolyte membranes. The specific interactions of PEG with the modified nanoparticles in addition to ionic liquid were confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and DSC, providing gel formation of electrolytes. The efficiency of DSSC employing TiO2-POEM/PEG/MPII/I2(3.3%) was slightly higher than that employing SiO2-POEM/PEG/MPII/I2(2.9%) due to the different ionic conductivity of electrolytes membrane.

Soil column experiments were evaluated effects of silver nanoparticles (i.e., 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/L) on the microbial viability which is strongly associated with the degradation of organic matter, pharmaceutically active compounds(PhACs) and biological oxidation of nitrogenous compounds during river bank filtration. The addition of silver nanoparticles resulted in almost no change in the aqueous matrix. However, the intact cell concentration decreased with addition of silver nanoparticles from 2.5 to 10 mg/L, which accounted for 76% to 82% reduction compared to that of control (silver nanoparticles free surface water). The decrease in adenosine triphosphate was more pronounced; thus, the number and active cells in aqueous phase were concurrently decreased with added silver nanoparticles. Based on the florescence excitation-emission matrix and liquid chromatograph - organic carbon detection analyses, it shows that the removal of protein-like substances was relatively higher than that of humic-like substances, and polysaccharide was substantially reduced. But the extent of those substances removed during soil passage was decreased with the increasing concentration of silver nanoparticles. The attenuation of ionic PhACs ranged from 55% to 80%, depending on the concentration of silver nanoparticles. The attenuation of neutral PhACs ranged between 72% and 77%, which was relatively lower than that observed for the ionic PhACs. The microbial viability was affected by silver nanoparticles, which also resulted in inhibition of nitrifiers.

NiAl2O4 nanoparticle was synthesized by a reverse micelle processing for inorganic pigment. N (NO3)2·6H2O and Al(NO3)3·9H2O were used for the precursor in order to synthesize NiAl2O4 nanoparticles. The aqueous solution, which consisted of a mixing molar ratio of Ni/Al, was 1:2 and heat treated at 800~1100 oC for 2h. The average size and distribution of synthesized NiAl2O4 powders are in the range of 10-20 nm and narrow, respectively. The average size of the synthesized NiAl2O4 powders increased with an increasing water-to-surfactant molar ratio and heating temperature. The crystallinity of synthesized NiAl2O4 powder increased with an increasing heating temperature. The synthesized NiAl2O4 powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis(XRD), a field emission scanning electron microscop (FE-SEM), and a color spectrophotometer. The properties of synthesized powders were affected as a function such as a molar ratio and heating temperature. Results indicate that synthesis using a reverse miclle processing is a favorable process to obtain NiAl2O4 spinels at low temperatures. The procedure performed suggests that this new synthesis route for producing these oxides has the advantage of being fast and simple. Colorimetric coordinates indicate that the pigments obtained exhibit blue colors.

In this study, we synthesize silica-core gold-satellite nanoparticles (SGNPs) for the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) based sensing applications. They consist of gold satellite nanoparticles (AuNPs) fixed on the silica core nanoparticles, which sizes of AuNPs can be tunned by varying the amount of reactants (growth solution and reducing agent). Their surface plasmon resonance (SPR) properties were characterized by using UV-vis spectroscopy, showing that the growth of AuNPs on silica cores leads to the light absorption in the longer wavelength region. Furthermore, the size increase of AuNPs exhibited the dramatic change in SERS activity due to the formation of hot spots. The optimized SGNPs showing enhancement factor ~3.8x106 exhibited a detection limit of rhodamine 6G (R6G) as low as 10-8M. These findings suggest the importance of size control of SGNPs and their SPR properties to develop highly efficient SERS sensors.

To synthesize Sn nanoparticles (NPs) less than 30 nm in diameter, a modified polyol process was conducted at room temperature using a reducing agent, and the effects of different pH values of the initial solutions on the morphology and size of the synthesized Sn NPs were analyzed. tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate, diethylene glycol, sodium borohydride, polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and sodium hydroxide were used as a precursor, reaction medium, reducing agent, capping agent, and pH adjusting agent, respectively. It was found by transmission electron microscopy that the morphology of the synthesized Sn NPs varied according to the pH of the initial solution. Moreover, while the size decreased to 11.32 nm with an increase up to 11.66 of the pH value, the size increased rapidly to 39.25 nm with an increase to 12.69. The pH increase up to 11.66 dominantly promoted generation of electrons and increased the amount of initial nucleation in the solution, finally inducing the reduced-size of the Sn particles. However, the additional increase of pH dominantly induced a decrease of PVP by neutralization, which resulted in acceleration of the agglomeration by collisions between particles.

In this study, we investigated localized surface plasmon resonance and the related coupling phenomena with respect to various geometric parameters of Ag nanoparticles, including the size and inter-particle distance. The plasmon resonances of Ag nanoparticles were studied using three-dimensional finite difference time domain(FDTD) calculations. From the FDTD calculations, we discovered the existence of a symmetric and an anti-symmetric plasmon coupling modes in the coupled Ag nanoparticles. The dependence of the resonance wavelength with respect to the inter-particle distance was also investigated, revealing that the anti-symmetric mode is more closely correlated with the inter-particle distance of the Ag nanoparticles than the symmetric mode. We also found that higher order resonance modes are appeared in the extinction spectrum for closely spaced Ag nanoparticles. Plasmon resonance calculations for the Ag particles coated with a SiO2 layer showed enhanced plasmon coupling due to the strengthened plasmon resonance, suggesting that the inter-particle distance of the Ag nanoparticles can be estimated by measuring the transmission and absorption spectra with the plasmon resonance of symmetric and anti-symmetric localized surface plasmons.

Inorganic pigments have high thermal stability and chemical resistance at high temperature. For these reasons, they are used in clay, paints, plastic, polymers, colored glass and ceramics. CoAl2O4 nano-powder was synthesized by reverse-micelle processing the mixed precursor(consisting of Co(NO3)2 and Al(NO3)3). The CoAl2O4 was prepared by mixing an aqueous solution at a Co:Al molar ratio of 1:2. The average particle size, and the particle-size distribution, of the powders synthesized by heat treatment (at 900; 1,000; 1,100; and 1,200˚C for 2h) were in the range of 10-20 nm and narrow, respectively. The average size of the synthesized nano-particles increased with increasing water-to-surfactant molar ratio. The synthesized CoAl2O4 powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis(XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM) and color spectrophotometry. The intensity of X-ray diffraction of the synthesized CoAl2O4 powder, increased with increasing heating temperature. As the heating temperature increased, crystal-size of the synthesized powder particles increased. As the R-value(water/surfactant) and heating temperature increased, the color of the inorganic pigments changed from dark blue-green to cerulean blue.

In this study, we prepare polymer solar cells incorporating organic ligand-modified Ag nanoparticles (O-AgNPs) highly dispersed in the P3HT:PCBM layer. Ag nanoparticles decorated with water-dispersible ligands (W-AgNPs) were also utilized as a control sample. The existence of the ligands on the Ag surface was confirmed by FT-IR spectra. Metal nanoparticles with different surface chemistries exhibited different dispersion tendencies. O-AgNPswere highly dispersed even at high concentrations, whereas W-AgNPs exhibited significant aggregation in the polymerlayer. Both dispersion and blending concentration of the Ag nanoparticles in P3HT:PCBM matrix had critical effects onthe device performance as well as light absorption. The significant changes in short-circuit current density (JSC) of thesolar cells seemed to be related to the change in the polymer morphology according to the concentration of AgNPsintroduced. These findings suggested the importance of uniform dispersion of plasmonic metal nanoparticles and theirblending concentration conditions in order to boost the solar cell performance.

Purpose: Various studies have been conducted on macromolecular materials that not only have basic characteristics but also UV-blocking capabilities. Here we report tinted hydrogel contact lens containing titanium silicon oxide nanoparticles. This study also showed the physical and optical effects of 4-iodoaniline on contact lenses, which affect UV transmissibility. Methods: Titanium silicon oxide nanoparticles were used as additives. HEMA, MA, MMA, 4-iodoaniline and a cross-linker EGDMA were copolymerized in the presence of AIBN as an initiator. The physical properties such as water content, refractive index, contact angle, spectral transmittance of produced contact lenses were measured. Results: Measurement of the physical characteristics of the copolymerized material showed the water content of 38.68~35.01%, refractive index of 1.4350~1.4418, contact angel of 34.15~57.25° and spectral transmittance of 1.0~84.8%. Also, the transmittance for UV light was reduced significantly in combinations containing titanium silicon oxide nanoparticles. Conclusions: Tinted hydrogel contact lens material containing titanium silicon oxide nanoparticles is expected to be able to be used usefully as a material for UV-block hydrogel contact lens.

In order to fabricate the porous Al₂O₃ with dispersion of nano-sized Cu particles, freeze-drying of cam-phene/Al₂O₃ slurry and solution chemistry process using Cu-nitrate are introduced. Camphene slurries with 10vol% Al₂O₃ was frozen at -25˚C. Pores were generated by sublimation of the camphene during drying in air. The sinteredsamples at 1400 and 1500oC showed the same size of large pores which were aligned parallel to the sublimable vehiclesgrowth direction. However, the size of fine pores in the internal walls of large pores decreased with increase in sinteringtemperature. It was shown that Cu particles with the size of 100 nm were homogeneously dispersed on the surfaces ofthe large pores. Antibacterial test using fungus revealed that the porous Al₂O₃/1vol% Cu composite showed antifungalproperty due to the dispersion of Cu particles. The results are suggested that the porous composites with required porecharacteristics and functional property can be fabricated by freeze-drying process and addition of functional nano par-ticles by chemical method.