• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2014

$FeS_2$ has been widely used for cathode materials in thermal battery because of its high stability and current capability at high operation temperature. Salts such as a LiCl-KCl were added as a binder for improving electrical performance and formability of $FeS_2$ cathode powder. In this study, the effects of the addition of $Li_2O$ in LiCl-KCl binder on the formability of $FeS_2$ powder compact were investigated. With the increasing amount of $Li_2O$ addition to LiCl-KCl binder salts, the strength of the pressed compacts increased considerably when the powder mixture were pre-heat-treated above $350^{\circ}C$. The heat-treatment resulted in promoting the coating coverage of $FeS_2$ particles by the salts as $Li_2O$ was added. The observed coating as $Li_2O$ addition might be attributed to the enhanced wettability of the salt rather than its reduced melting temperature. The high strength of compacts by the $Li_2O$ addition and pre-heat-treatment could improve the formability of $FeS_2$ raw materials.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2014

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 (WAgNPs) 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-AgNPs were highly dispersed even at high concentrations, whereas W-AgNPs exhibited significant aggregation in the polymer layer. Both dispersion and blending concentration of the Ag nanoparticles in P3HT:PCBM matrix had critical effects on the device performance as well as light absorption. The significant changes in short-circuit current density ($J_{SC}$) of the solar cells seemed to be related to the change in the polymer morphology according to the concentration of AgNPs introduced. These findings suggested the importance of uniform dispersion of plasmonic metal nanoparticles and their blending concentration conditions in order to boost the solar cell performance.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2014

This study manufactured a CIG-based composite coating layer utilizing a new warm spray process, and a mixed powder of Cu-20at.%Ga and Cu-20at.%In. In order to obtain the mixed powder with desired composition, the Cu-20at.%Ga and Cu-20at.%In powders were mixed with a 7:1 ratio. The mixed powder had an average particle size of $35.4{\mu}m$. Through the utilization of a warm spray process, a CIG-based composite coating layer of $180{\mu}m$ thickness could be manufactured on a pure Al matrix. To analyze the microstructure and phase, the warm sprayed coating layer underwent XRD, SEM/EDS and EMPA analyses. In addition, to improve the physical properties of the coating layer, an annealing heat treatment was conducted at temperatures of $200^{\circ}C$, $400^{\circ}C$ and $600^{\circ}C$ for 1 hour each. The microstructure analysis identified ${\alpha}$-Cu, $Cu_4In$ and $Cu_3Ga$ phases in the early mixed powder, while $Cu_4In$ disappeared, and additional $Cu_9In_4$ and $Cu_9Ga_4$ phases were identified in the warm sprayed coating layer. Porosity after annealing heat treatment reduced from 0.75% (warm sprayed coating layer) to 0.6% (after $600^{\circ}C/1hr$. heat treatment), and hardness reduced from 288 Hv to 190 Hv. No significant phase changes were found after annealing heat treatment.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.14 no.2 s.61
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• pp.132-139
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• 2007

In the Ti(CN)-Co/Ni cermet, WC is an effective additive for increasing sinterability and mechanical properties such as toughness and hardness. In this work, WC, (WTi)C and (WTi)(CN) were used as the source of WC and their effects were investigated in the respect of microstructural evolution and mechanical properties. Regardless of the kinds of WC sources, the hard phase with dark core and bright rim structure was observed in the Ti(CN)-Co/Ni cermet under the incorporation of relatively small amount of WC. However, hard phases with bright core began to appear and their frequency increased with the increase of all kinds of WC source addition. The ratio of bright core to dark one in the (TiW)(CN)-Co/Ni cermet was greatest under the incorporation of (WTi)C compared at the same equivalent amount of WC. The mechanical properties were improved with the addition of WC irrespective of the kinds of sources, but the addition of (WTi)(CN) was less effective for the increase of fracture toughness.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.372-379
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• 2007

The microstructure, mechanical and electrochemical properties of plasma electrolytic coatings (PEO) coatings on Mg-4.3 wt%Zn-1.0 wt%Y and Mg-1.0 wt%Zn-2.0 wt%Y alloys prepared by gas atomization, followed by compaction at 320 for 10 min under the pressure of 700 MPa and sintering at 380 and 420 respectively for 24 h, were investigated, which was compared with the cast Mg-1.0 wt%Zn alloy. All coatings consisting of MgO and $Mg_2SiO_4$ oxides showed porous and coarse surface features with some volcano top-like pores distributed disorderly and cracks between pores. In particular, the surface of coatings on Mg-1.0 wt%Zn-2.0 wt%Y alloy showed smaller area of pores and cracks compared to the Mg-4.3 wt%Zn-1.0 wt%Y and Mg-1.0 wt%Zn alloys. The cross section micro-hardness of coatings on the gas atomized Mg-Zn-Y alloys was higher than that on the cast Mg-1.0 wt%Zn alloy. Additionally, the coated Mg-1.0 wt%Zn-2.0 wt%Y alloy exhibited the best corrosion resistance in 3.5%NaCl solution. It could be concluded that the addition of Y has a beneficial effect on the formation of protective and hard coatings on Mg alloys by plasma electrolytic oxidation treatment.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.453-459
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• 2013

Lanthanum/gadolinium zirconate coatings are deposited via suspension plasma spray with suspensions fabricated by a planetary mill and compared with hot-pressed samples via solid-state reaction. With increase in processing time of the planetary mill, the mean size and BET surface area change rapidly in the case of lanthanum oxide powder. By using suspensions of planetary-milled mixture between lanthanum or gadolinium oxide and nano zirconia, dense thick coatings with fully-developed pyrochlore phases are obtained. The possibilities of these SPS-prepared coatings for TBC application are also discussed.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.474-478
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• 2013

The most general photocatalyst, $TiO_2$ and $WO_3$, are acknowledged to be ineffective in range of visible light. Therefore, many efforts have been directed at improving their activity such as: band-gap narrowing with non-metal element doping and making composites with high specific surface area to effectively separate electrons and holes. In this paper, the method was introduced to prepare a photo-active catalyst to visible irradiation by making a mixture with $TiO_2$ and $WO_3$. In the $TiO_2-WO_3$ composite, $WO_3$ absorbs visible light creating excited electrons and holes while some of the excited electrons move to $TiO_2$ and the holes remain in $WO_3$. This charge separation reduces electron-hole recombination resulting in an enhancement of photocatalytic activity. Added Ag plays the role of electron acceptor, retarding the recombination rate of excited electrons and holes. In making a mixture of $TiO_2-WO_3$ composite, the mixing route affects the photocatalytic activity. The planetary ball-mill method is more effective than magnetic stirring route, owing to a more effective dispersion of aggregated powders. The volume ratio of $TiO_2(4)$ and $WO_3(6)$ shows the most effective photocatalytic activity in the range of visible light in the view point of effective separation of electrons and holes.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.460-466
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• 2013

4 mol% Yttria-stabilized zirconia (4YSZ) coatings with $200{\mu}m$ thick are fabricated by Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition (EB-PVD) for thermal barrier coating (TBC). $150{\mu}m$ of NiCrAlY based bond coat is prepared by conventional APS (Air Plasma Spray) method on the NiCrCoAl alloy substrate before deposition of top coating. 4 mol% YSZ top coating shows typical tetragonal phase and columnar structure due to vapor phase deposition process. The adhesion strength of coating is measured about 40 MPa. There is no delamination or cracking of coatings after thermal cyclic fatigue and shock test at $850^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.445-452
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• 2013

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings are fabricated via suspension plasma spray (SPS) for thermal barrier applications. Three different suspension sets are prepared by using a planetary mill as well as ball mill in order to examine the effect of starting suspension on the phase evolution and the microstructure of SPS prepared coatings. In the case of planetary-milled commercial YSZ powder, a deposited thick coating turns out to have a dense, vertically-cracked microstructure. In addition, a dense YSZ coating with fully developed phase can be obtained via suspension plasma spray with suspension from planetary-milled mixture of $Y_2O_3$ and $ZrO_2$.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.405-410
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• 2013

During sintering of Ni-electrode multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), the Ni electrode often becomes discontinuous because of its lower sintering temperature relative to that of $BaTiO_3$. In an attempt to retard the sintering of Ni, we introduced passivation of the Ni powder. To find the optimal passivation conditions, a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted in air. After passivation at $250^{\circ}C$ for 11 h in air, a nickel oxide shell with a thickness of 4-5 nm was formed on nickel nanoparticles of 180 nm size. As anticipated, densification of the compacts of the passivated Ni/NiO core-shell powder was retarded: the starting temperature of densification increased from ${\sim}400^{\circ}C$ to ${\sim}600^{\circ}C$ in a $97N_2-3H_2$ (vol %) atmosphere. Grain growth was also retarded during sintering at temperatures of 750 and $1000^{\circ}C$. When the sintering atmosphere was changed from wet $99.93N_2-0.07H_2$ to wet $99.98N_2-0.02H_2$, the average grain size decreased at the same sintering temperature. The conductivity of the passivated powder sample sintered at $1150^{\circ}C$ for 8 h in wet $99.93N_2-0.07H_2$ was measured to be $3.9{\times}10^4S/cm$, which is comparable with that, $4.6{\times}10^4S/cm$, of the Ni powder compact without passivation. These results demonstrate that passivation of Ni is a viable means of retarding sintering of a Ni electrode and hence improving its continuity in the fabrication of $BaTiO_3$-based multi-layer ceramic capacitors.