Polymer nanocomposites incorporating inorganic nanofillers have emerged as highly promising electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials, combining mechanical compliance with robust conductive percolation networks. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are particularly attractive as conductive fillers because their high aspect ratio facilitates percolation at low loadings. Also, CNTs offer superior mechanical durability under deformation compared to rigid, fracture-prone metal nanowires. For EMI shielding, high electrical conductivity is critical as it enhances both reflection and absorption through efficient charge dissipation and conduction losses. However, achieving highly aligned conductive pathways without degrading the intrinsic electrical properties of CNTs remains a significant challenge. Here, we demonstrate a non-destructive magnetic surface-functionalization and alignment strategy. Using a polydopamine (PDA)-mediated route, pristine multiwalled CNTs are uniformly decorated with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (FMWCNTs). This enables highly effective magnetic field-driven alignment at fields as low as 10 mT, promoting the strategic formation of percolation networks. By optimizing the Fe₃O₄/MWCNT ratio for high saturation magnetization and uniform coverage, the aligned FMWCNTs exhibit significant electrical anisotropy, delivering a 10.7-fold higher electrical conductivity in the parallel configuration compared to the vertical configuration. These findings present a scalable, room-temperature platform for engineering directionally enhanced conductivity in polymer nanocomposites, with broad applicability in advanced EMI shielding, flexible electronics, and advanced packaging technologies.
In this study, we fabricated single grain YBCO bulk superconductors with control of the distance between the seed and the upper surface of the YBCO compacts. The magnetic levitation force of the YBa2Cu3O7 superconducting bulk, which corresponds to the energy amount of the superconducting bulk, was measured to be 32.634 N at the center of the bulk where the seed was placed. Under field cooling conditions, a capture magnetic force of 2.17 kG was observed at the center of the bulk. The trapped magnetic force curve corresponding to the stability of the superconducting bulk means that the superconducting specimens were well grown in the form of single grains.
For electronic paper displays using electrophoresis, the response time and reflectivity of the image panel fabricated by filtering are analyzed. For the filtering process, a square wave and ramp wave are applied to white charged particles with a unique q/m value. We divide the sample panels into #1 to #4 according to the applied waveform in the filtering process. Step waves comprising two steps are used to drive the panel; therefore, we divide the driving conditions into D1~D4. The applied voltage at the first stage of the half cycle of the driving waveform moves the charged particles attached via the image force from the electrode, and the applied voltage at the second stage moves the floating charged particles by detaching. As mentioned, four types of driving conditions (D1 to D4) classified according to the half cycle of the driving waveform are applied to the samples #1 to #4), which are classified according to four types of filtering process. When driving condition D1 is applied to the four types of sample panels, the rise time of #1 is 1.59s, #2 is 1.706s, #3 is 1.853s, and #4 is 1.235s, resulting in #4 being relatively faster compared with other sample panels, and showing the same trend in other driving conditions. As a result, we confirm that applying the driving condition D1 causes abrupt movement of the white charged particles injected into the cell. When the same driving waveform (D1) is applied to each sample, reflectivities of 32.1% for #1, 31.4% for #2, 27.9% for #3, and 63.4% for #4 are measured. From the experiment, we confirm that the driving condition D1 (1s of 3.5 V, 9s of 3.0 V) and ramp wave #4 in filtering are desirable for good reflectivity and response time. Our research is expected to contribute to the improvement of the filtering process and optimization of the driving waveform.
Controlling the shape of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) is very difficult. In the present work, urchin Ag NPs with different sizes and pod length control have been synthesized successfully in high yield by the concentration of a reducing agent. Unique Ag NPs were observed by TEM and SEM. These nanocrystals exhibit tunable surface plasmon resonance properties from the visible to near-infrared regions. They were applied to surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates using rhodamine 6G (R6G), benzenethiol (BT), and 4-amino benznethiol (4-ABT) molecules. The enhanced local field effect due to the sharp pod length, size, and surface plasmon of the urchin Ag NPs resulted in enhanced SERS properties and can serve as high-sensitivity substrates for SERS measurements.
The facile synthesis of shape-controlled Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) with ascorbic acid as a reducing agent and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a capping agent is presented in this study. The synthesized PdNPs were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman Spectroscopy. The prepared PdNPs show efficient surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties. SERS studies on the adsorption characteristics of 1,4-phenylene diisocyanide (1,4-PDI) on colloidal PdNPs have revealed that the relative peak intensity of the (NC)free and (NC)bound modes distinctly depends on the 1,4-PDI concentration as well as the shape of the PdNPs. Furthermore, we found that the PdNPs are also efficient photoelectron emitters such that the SERS spectrum of 4-nitrobenzenethiol (4-NBT) on PdNPs is readily converted to that of 4-aminobenzenethiol (4-ABT) under 632.8 nm radiation.
Nanoscale gold particles have been intensively researched due to their potential applications in catalysis, electronics, plasmonics, and biological assays. In our study, we fabricated gold nanoparticles (NPs) that were synthesized in an aqueous environment via the reduction of HAuCl4 by ascorbic acid (AC) with a sodium citrate (SC) surfactant. Highly monodispersed gold particles with sizes ranging from 123 to 184 nm were prepared in high-yield by a surfactant concentration. The structural and optical properties of the synthesized gold nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV-vis spectroscopy. The prepared nanoparticles exhibited efficient surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties that were dependent on their on size.
SiOx nanoparticles were granulated, and their microstructures and effects on electrochemical behaviors were investigated. In spite of the promising electrochemical performance of SiOx, nanoparticles have limitations such as high surface area, low density, and difficulty in handling during slurry processing. Granulation can be one solution. In this study, pelletizing and annealing were conducted to create particles with sizes of several decades of micron. Decrease in surface area directly influences the initial charge and discharge process when granules are applied as anode materials for Li-ion batteries. Lower surface area is key to decreasing the amount of irreversible phase-formation, such as Li2Si2O5, Li2SiO3 and LuSiO4, as well as forming the solid electrolyte interface. Additionally, aggregation of nanoparticles is required to obtain further enhancement of the electrochemical behavior due to restrictions that there be no Li4SiO4-related reaction during the first discharge process.
In this paper, the ZnS nanoparticles were synthesized according to the process conditions of hydrothermal synthesis. When the molar ratio of Zn to S was 1:1.2, it was confirmed that it had a cubic single phase and a high crystal phase. After the molar ratio is fixed, hydrothermal synthesis was conducted at 180℃ for 24, 36, 72 and 96 h in order to confirm the structural change with the change of hydrothermal synthesis times. As the hydrothermal synthesis times increased, the particle size increased. The hydrothermal synthesized particle size for 72 h was considered to be suitable for sintering. The ZnS ceramic had a density of 99.7% and an excellent transmittance of ~70% in the long-wavelength region.
Nanomaterials have considerable potential to solve several key challenges in various electrochemical devices, such as fuel cells. However, the use of nanoparticles in high-temperature devices like solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is considered problematic because the nanostructured surface typically prepared by deposition techniques may easily coarsen and thus deactivate, especially when used in high-temperature redox conditions. Herein we report the synthesis of a self-regenerated Pd metal nanoparticle on the perovskite oxide anode surface for SOFCs that exhibit self-recovery from their degradation in redox cycle and CH4 fuel running. Using Pd-doped perovskite, La(Sr)Fe(Mn, Pd)O3, as an anode, fairly high maximum power densities of 0.5 and 0.2 cm-2 were achieved at 1,073 K in H2 and CH4 respectively, despite using thick electrolyte support-type cell. Long-term stability was also examined in CH4 and the redox cycle, when the anode is exposed to air. The cell with Pd-doped perovskite anode had high tolerance against re-oxidation and recovered the behavior of anodic performance from catalytic degradation. This recovery of power density can be explained by the surface segregation of Pd nanoparticles, which are self-recovered via re-oxidation and reduction. In addition, self-recovery of the anode by oxidation treatment was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
In this study, e-beam equipment was used to form silver nanoparticles on thin films of TiO2 to increase the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells and improve the annealing process. TiO2 thin films with nanoparticle photoelectrodes were fabricated in individual units for use in dye-sensitized solar cells. The characteristics of dye-sensitized solar cells were compared to those of the prepared TiO2 photoelectrode with and without nanoparticles. The dye-sensitized solar cells with silver nanoparticles showed a significant increase in the electric current density compared with the pure TiO2 dye-sensitized solar cell and improved the solar conversion efficiency to 27.89%. The increased density of electric current increased the extent of light absorption of the dye owing to the plasmon resonance of the nanoparticles at the local surfaces. This phenomenon led to increased light scattering, which in turn increased the current density of the dye-sensitized solar cells and improved the solar conversion efficiency.
Zinc sulphide (ZnS) nanoparticles were fabricated by hydrothermal synthesis at 180℃ for 12 h. Two kinds of ZnS powder (hydrothermal synthesized ZnS and commercial ZnS) were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for phase and microstructure, respectively. The XRD patterns showed that all ZnS nanoparticles have a sphalerite (cubic) structure. The nanoparticles of two different ZnS powders were sintered by spark plasma sintering. The sintered ZnS were analyzed by XRD, SEM, and FT-IR. We found that the transmittance of the infrared region is highly dependent on the density and crystal structure of sintered ZnS and the purity of the starting ZnS powder.
This paper dealt with the PD (partial discharge) characteristics produced by metallic particles presented in a gas insulated switchgear. Four types of metallic particles such as a ball, a trapezoid, a rectangle, and a twist were fabricated and placed in a PD cell filled with SF6 gas. PD pulses were detected through a 50 Ω non-inductive resistor. Calibration was carried out according to IEC 60270 and the sensitivity was calculated as 4 mV/pC. Apparent charge, pulse count, DIV (discharge inception voltage), DEV (discharge extinction voltage), and TRPD (time resolved partial discharge) were analyzed. Among the metallic particle types, the twist frequently occurred PD pulse at the lowest DIV, while the rectangle showed the highest. DEV of the twist was about 2 times lower than that for the rectangle. Kurtosis of ball clustered at high value, and skewness of other three metallic particles distributed at low value. TRPD showed different distribution by metallic particle types.
B-doped Si nanoparticles were synthesized by using inductive coupled plasma and speciallydesigned double tube reactor, and their microstructures were investigated. 0∼10 sccm of B2H6 gas wasinjected during the synthesis of Si nanoparticles from SiH4 gas. Highly crystalline Si nanoparticles weresynthesized, and their crystallinity did not change with increase of B2H6 flow rates. From SEMmeasurement, their particle sizes were approximately 30 nm regardless of B2H6 flow rates. From SIMSanalysis, almost saturation of B in Si nanoparticles was detected only when 1 sccm of B2H6 was injected. When B2H6 flow rate exceeded 5 sccm, higher concentration of B than solubility limit was detected evenif any secondary phase was not detected in XRD or HR-TEM results. Due to their high electronicconductivity, those heavily B-doped Si nanoparticles can be a potential candidate for an active material inLi-ion battery anode.
In this research, nanocomposite layers consisting of poly (3,4,-ethylene dioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonic acid (PEDOT:PSS) and CuO nanoparticles were investigated as hole transport layers in organic solar cells based on poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as the electron donor and (6.6) phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as the electron acceptor. The addition of CuO nanoparticles to PEDOT:PSS layer improved the solar cell performance with 0.5% CuO nanoparticle concentration. At optimized concentration, CuO mixed PEDOT:PSS films had good electrical (4.131 Ω?cm) and optical (transmittance > 90%) properties for using hole transporting layer. We investigated that improved solar cell performance with CuO nanoparticles mixed PEDOT:PSS films.
Diameter controlled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were grown using surface modified iron nano-particle catalysts with aminpropyltriethoxysilane (ASP). Iron nano-particles were synthesized by thermal decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl-oleic acid complex. Subsequently, APS modification was done using the iron nano-particles synthesized. Agglomeration of the iron nano-particles during the CNT growth process was dffectively prevented by the surface modification of nano-particles with the ASP. Plays as a linker material between Fe nano-particles and SiO₂ substrate resulting in blocking the migration of nano-particles. ASP also formed siliceous material covering iron nano-particles that prevented agglomeration of iron nano- particles at the early stages of the CNT growth. Therefore we could obtain the diameter controlled CNTs by blocking agglomeration of iron nano-particles.
SnO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by flame spray pyrolysis, which were directly deposited on Pt interdigitated substrates. Gas sensing performance was evaluated for various gases such as H2, CO, H2S, and NH3, and it was compared with that of commercial SnO2 nanopowder. The synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles was also conducted in various solvents. As a result, the primary particle size was changed with the solvent of precursor solution, and their H2 sensing properties were significantly affected.
In this paper, nonvolatile nano-floating gate memory devices are fabricated with ZnO nanowires and Al nanoparticles on a SiO2/Si substrate. Al nanoparticles used as floating gate nodes are formed by the sputtering method. The fabricated device exhibits a threshold voltage shift of -1.5 V. In addition, we investigate the endurance and retention characteristics of the nano-floating gate memory device.