Hong Seok Jo

Self-junctioned copper nanofiber transparent flexible conducting film via electrospinning and electroplating

Self-junctioned copper nanofiber transparent flexible films are produced using electrospinning and electroplating processes that provide high performances of T = 97% and Rs = 0.42 Ω sq(-1) by eliminating junction resistance at wire intersections. The film remains conductive after being stretched by up to 770% (films with T = 76%) and after 1000 cycles of bending to a 5 mm radius.

Flexible, Freestanding, and Binder-free SnOx–ZnO/Carbon Nanofiber Composites for Lithium Ion Battery Anodes

Here, we demonstrate the production of electrospun SnO(x)-ZnO polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers (NFs) that are flexible, freestanding, and binder-free. This NF fabric is flexible and thus can be readily tailored into a coin for further cell fabrication. These properties allow volume expansion of the oxide materials and provide shortened diffusion pathways for Li ions than those achieved using the nanoparticle approach. Amorphous SnO(x)-ZnO particles were uniformly dispersed in the carbon NF (CNF). The SnO(x)-ZnO CNFs with a Sn:Zn ratio of 3:1 exhibited a superior reversible capacity of 963 mA·h·g(-1) after 55 cycles at a current density of 100 mA·g(-1), which is three times higher than the capacity of graphite-based anodes. The amorphous NFs facilitated Li2O decomposition, thereby enhancing the reversible capacity. ZnO prevented the aggregation of Sn, which, in turn, conferred stable and high discharge capacity to the cell. Overall, the SnO(x)-ZnO CNFs were shown to exhibit remarkably high capacity retention and high reversible and rate capacities as Li ion battery anodes.

Self-Healing Nanofiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites. 1. Tensile Testing and Recovery of Mechanical Properties

The present work aims at development of self-healing materials capable of partially restoring their mechanical properties under the conditions of prolonged periodic loading and unloading, which is characteristic, for example, of aerospace applications. Composite materials used in these and many other applications frequently reveal multiple defects stemming from their original inhomogeneity, which facilitates microcracking and delamination at ply interfaces. Self-healing nanofiber mats may effectively prevent such damage without compromising material integrity. Two types of core-shell nanofibers were simultaneously electrospun onto the same substrate in order to form a mutually entangled mat. The first type of core-shell fibers consisted of resin monomer (dimethylsiloxane) within the core and polyacrylonitrile within the shell. The second type of core-shell nanofibers consisted of cure (dimethyl-methyl hydrogen-siloxane) within the core and polyacrylonitrile within the shell. These mutually entangled nanofiber mats were used for tensile testing, and they were also encased in polydimethylsiloxane to form composites that were also subsequently subjected to tensile testing. During tensile tests, the nanofibers can be damaged in stretching up to the plastic regime of deformation. Then, the resin monomer and cure was released from the cores and the polydimethylsiloxane resin was polymerized, which might be expected to result in the self-healing properties of these materials. To reveal and evaluate the self-healing properties of the polyacrylonitrile-resin-cure nanofiber mats and their composites, the results were compared to the tensile test results of the monolithic polyacrylonitrile nanofiber mats or composites formed by encasing polyacrylonitrile nanofibers in a polydimethylsiloxane matrix. The latter do not possess self-healing properties, and indeed, do not recover their mechanical characteristics, in contrast to the polyacrylonitrile-resin-cure nanofiber mats and the composites reinforced by such mats. This is the first work, to the best of our knowledge, where self-healing nanofibers and composites based on them were developed, tested, and revealed restoration of mechanical properties (stiffness) in a 24 h rest period at room temperature.

Self-healing Nanofiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites. 2. Delamination/Debonding and Adhesive and Cohesive Properties

The capacity for core-shell nanofiber mats containing healing agents (resin monomer and cure) in their cores to adhere to a substrate was studied using blister testing. After extended periodic bending, the adhesion energy was measured, and the effect of self-healing on the composites delamination from the substrate was considered. In addition, the cohesion of two layers of the self-healing nanofibers was examined using blister testing and compared to that of ordinary nanofiber mats. The damage inflicted by prolonged periodic bending to the interface of the two nanofiber mats was demonstrated to have self-healed, and the cohesion energy was measured.

Highly flexible transparent self-healing composite based on electrospun core-shell nanofibers produced by coaxial electrospinning for anti-corrosion and electrical insulation

Coaxial electrospinning was used to fabricate two types of core-shell fibers: the first type with liquid resin monomer in the core and polyacrylonitrile in the shell, and the second type with liquid curing agent in the core and polyacrylonitrile in the shell. These two types of core-shell fibers were mutually entangled and embedded into two flexible transparent matrices thus forming transparent flexible self-healing composite materials. Such materials could be formed before only using emulsion electrospinning, rather than coaxial electrospinning. The self-healing properties of such materials are associated with release of healing agents (resin monomer and cure) from nanofiber cores in damaged locations with the subsequent polymerization reaction filing the micro-crack with polydimethylsiloxane. Transparency of these materials is measured and the anti-corrosive protection provided by them is demonstrated in electrochemical experiments.

Supersonically blown ultrathin thorny devil nanofibers for efficient air cooling

The effect of the supersonically blown below-74 nm nanofibers on cooling of high-temperature surfaces is studied experimentally and theoretically. The ultrathin supersonically blown nanofibers were deposited and then copper-plated, while their surfaces resembled those of the thorny-devil nanofibers. Here, we study for the first time the enhancement of surface cooling in gas in the cases of the forced and natural convection with the help of ultrathin thorny-devil nanofibers. These polymer core-metal shell nanofibers in nanometric scale possess a relatively high thickness of the metal shell and a high effective thermal conductivity, which facilitates heat transfer. The additional surface temperature reduction close to 5 °C in the case of the forced convection in the impinging air jet and close to 17 °C in the case of the natural convection was achieved. Correspondingly, an increase in the value of the heat transfer coefficient of about 41% in the forced convection, and about 20% in the natural convection was achieved due to the presence of the thorny devil electrospun and/or supersonically blown nanofibers.

Novel Composite Layer Based on Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers for Efficient Light Scattering

We fabricated a PAN (polyacrylonitrile) NF (nanofiber)-embedded composite layer to adjust the light-control layer in light-emitting-diode (LED) and organic-light-emitting-diode (OLED) lighting systems with unique optical characteristics, for effective light scattering. The newly designed light-control composite layers with a composition of PAN NF/SU-8 exhibited a change in the optical properties, which was identified by the diameter control of the NF using a simple process. The change in the optical properties was largely dependent on the embedded NFs features. Therefore, the NF can be applied in different types of lighting systems, depending on each lighting devices purpose.

Scalable Binder-Free Supersonic Cold Spraying of Nanotextured Cupric Oxide (CuO) Films as Efficient Photocathodes

We demonstrate production of nanotextured p-type cupric oxide (CuO) films via a low-cost scalable supersonic cold spray method in open air conditions. Simply sweeping the spray nozzle across a substrate produced a large-scale CuO film. When used as hydrogen evolution photocathodes, these films produced photocurrent densities (PCD) of up to 3.1 mA/cm(2) under AM1.5 illumination, without the use of a cocatalyst or any additional heterojunction layers. Cu2O particles were supersonically sprayed onto an indium tin oxide (ITO) coated soda lime glass (SLG) substrate, without any solvent or binder. Annealing in air converted the Cu2O films to CuO, with a corresponding decrease in the bandgap and increase in the fraction of the solar spectrum absorbed. Annealing at 600 °C maximized the PCD. Increasing the supersonic gas velocity from ∼450 to ∼700 m/s produced denser films with greater surface roughness, in turn producing higher PCD. The nanoscale texture of the films, which resembles the skin of a dinosaur, enhanced their performance, leading to one of the highest PCD values in the literature. We characterized the films by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy to elucidate the origins of their outstanding performance. This supersonic cold spraying deposition has the potential to be used on a commercial scale for low cost mass production.

Electrically-charged recyclable graphene flakes entangled with electrospun nanofibers for the adsorption of organics for water purification.

Graphene flakes were entrapped between nylon 6 nanofiber layers and the resulting assembly was used as a recyclable water purification membrane. Water purification was achieved via adsorption of the model organic pollutant (methylene blue; MB) on the surface of the graphene component. Desorption of these MB molecules was achieved by applying high voltage, which increased the removal efficiency of the recycled membrane. The adsorption and desorption mechanisms were evaluated in detail. The material characteristics of the membrane were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Raman, UV-visible, and Fourier transform infrared analyses.

Nano-textured copper oxide nanofibers for efficient air cooling

Ever decreasing of microelectronics devices is challenged by overheating and demands an increase in heat removal rate. Herein, we fabricated highly efficient heat-removal coatings comprised of copper oxide-plated polymer nanofiber layers (thorny devil nanofibers) with high surface-to-volume ratio, which facilitate heat removal from the underlying hot surfaces. The electroplating time and voltage were optimized to form fiber layers with maximal heat removal rate. The copper oxide nanofibers with the thorny devil morphology yielded a superior cooling rate compared to the pure copper nanofibers with the smooth surface morphology. This superior cooling performance is attributed to the enhanced surface area of the thorny devil nanofibers. These nanofibers were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, and a thermographic camera.