• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2015

PURPOSE. To describe and characterize the surface topography and cleanliness of CAD/CAM manufactured zirconia abutments after steaming and ultrasonic cleaning. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A total of 12 ceramic CAD/CAM implant abutments of various manufacturers were produced and randomly divided into two groups of six samples each (control and test group). Four two-piece hybrid abutments and two one-piece abutments made of zirconium-dioxide were assessed per each group. In the control group, cleaning by steam was performed. The test group underwent an ultrasonic cleaning procedure with acetone, ethyl alcohol and antibacterial solution. Groups were subjected to scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) to verify and characterize contaminant chemical characterization non- quantitatively. RESULTS. All zirconia CAD/CAM abutments in the present study displayed production-induced wear particles, debris as well as organic and inorganic contaminants. The abutments of the test group showed reduction of surface contamination after undergoing an ultrasonic cleaning procedure. However, an absolute removal of pollutants could not be achieved. CONCLUSION. The presence of debris on the transmucosal surface of CAD/CAM zirconia abutments of various manufacturers was confirmed. Within the limits of the study design, the results suggest that a defined ultrasonic cleaning process can be advantageously employed to reduce such debris, thus, supposedly enhancing soft tissue healing. Although the adverse long-term influence of abutment contamination on the biological stability of peri-implant tissues has been evidenced, a standardized and validated polishing and cleaning protocol still has to be implemented.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.561-566
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• 2012

PtRuW/C catalysts were prepared with the different molar ratios of Pt : Ru : W and their compositions were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The uniform distribution of particles was observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). An average crystalline size of 3.5~5.5 nm was calculated based on x-ray diffraction (XRD) data. The electrochemical properties such as electrochemically active surface areas, current densities, specific activities and poisoning rates, were analyzed via CO stripping, linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry. From the analysis, we observed that ternary alloy catalysts, except $PtRu_2W_2/C$, have higher current densities, specific activities and stabilities than those of commercial binary catalysts. Among all in-house catalysts, Pt5Ru4W/C showed the highest specific activity of $121.05mA{\cdot}m^{-2}$ and the lowest poisoning rate of $0.01%{\cdot}s^{-1}$.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.277-286
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• 2019

In 2014, the first demineralization plant, using nanofiltration (NF) membrane coupled with renewable energies was realized at Al Annouar high school of Sidi Taibi, Kenitra, Morocco. This project has revealed difficulties related to the membrane performances loss (pressure increase, flux decline, poor water quality of the produced water and increase of energy consumption), as consequences of membrane fouling. To solve this problem, an autopsy of the membrane was done in order to determine the nature and origin of the fouling. The samples of membrane and fouling were then analyzed by scanning electron microscopy using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) connected with an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) detection system and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Moreover, three cleaning solutions (hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and sulfuric acid) were tested and assessed in a single cleaning step to find the suitable one for the fouled membrane to regain its initial permeability and performances. The analysis of the experimental results showed that the fouling layer is mainly composed of calcium carbonate (inorganic fouling). Results showed also that the permeability is improved by the hydrochloric acid cleaning (pH=3) with a cleaning efficiency of 93%. Cleaning efficiency did not exceed 75 % with nitric acid (pH=3) and 40 % with sulfuric acid (pH=3).

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.254-260
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• 2024

This study is to manufacture a titanium dioxide (TiO₂) photocatalyst by recycling sludge generated using titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄) as a coagulant. Compared to general sewage, a TiCl₄ coagulant was applied to dyeing wastewater containing a large amount of non-degradable organic compounds to evaluate its performance. Then the generated sludge was dried and fired to prepare a photocatalyst (TFS). Scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and nitrogen oxide reduction experiments were conducted to analyze the surface properties and evaluate the photoactive ability of the prepared TFS. After using titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄) as a coagulant in the dyeing wastewater, the water quality characteristics were measured at 84 mg/L of chemical oxygen demand (COD), 10 mg/L of T-N, and 0.9 mg/L of T-P to satisfy the discharge water quality standards. The surface properties of the TFS were investigated and the anatase crystal structure was observed. It was confirmed that the ratio of Ti and O, the main components of TiO₂, accounted for more than 90 %. As a result of the nitric oxide (NO) reduction experiment, 1.56 uMol of NO was reduced to confirm a removal rate of 20.60 %. This is judged to be a photocatalytic performance similar to that of the existing P-25. Therefore, by applying TiCl₄ to the dyeing wastewater, it is possible to solve the problems of the existing coagulant and to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide generated, using an eco-friendly sludge treatment method. In addition, it is believed that environmental and economic advantages can be obtained by manufacturing TiO₂ at an eco-friendly and lower cost than before.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.41-44
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• 2016

Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) is a promising tool to measure isotope ratios of individual uranium particles in environmental samples for nuclear safeguards. However, the analysis requires prior identification of a small number of uranium particles that coexist with a large number of other particles without uranium. In the present study, this identification was performed by scanning electron microscopy - energy dispersive X-ray analysis with automated particle search mode. The analytical results for an environmental sample taken at a nuclear facility indicated that the observation of backscattered electron images with × 1000 magnification was appropriate to efficiently identify uranium particles. Lower magnification (less than × 500) made it difficult to detect smaller particles of approximately 1 μm diameter. After identification, each particle was manipulated and transferred for subsequent isotope ratio analysis by SIMS. Consequently, the isotope ratios of individual uranium particles were successfully determined without any molecular ion interference. It was demonstrated that the proposed technique provides a powerful tool to measure individual particles not only for nuclear safeguards but also for environmental sciences.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.550-557
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• 2013

A glucose hydrothermal method is described for preparing hollow carbon spheres (HCS), which have a regular morphology and a high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of 28.6 m2/g. Scanning electron microscopy shows that they have thin shells and diameter between 2 and 8 ${\mu}m$. The HCSs were modified for the enhanced room temperature hydrogen storage by employing Ni nanoparticles on their surface. The Ni-decorated HCSs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy coupled with an energy dispersive spectroscope, and an inductively coupled plasma spectrometer, indicating that fine and well-distributed Ni nanoparticles can be accomplished on the HCSs. The hydrogen uptake capacity in HCSs with and without Ni loading was evaluated using a high-pressure microbalance at room temperature under a hydrogen pressure upto 9 MPa. As much as 1.23wt.% of hydrogen can be stored when uniformly distributed Ni nanoparticles are formed on the HCSs, while the hydrogen uptake capacity of as-received HCSs was 0.41 wt.%. For Ni nanoparticle-loaded HCSs, hydrogen molecules could be easily dissociated into atomic hydrogen and then chemically adsorbed by the sorbents, leading to an enhanced capacity for storing hydrogen.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2016

We fabricated a tin sulfide (SnS) layer with Sn/Mo/glass layers followed by a RTP (rapid thermal processing), and studied the film growth and structural characteristics as a function of annealing temperature and time. The elemental sulfur (S) was cracked thermally and applied to form SnS polycrystalline film out of the Sn percursor at pre-determined pressures in the RTP tube. The sulfurization was done at the temperature from $200^{\circ}C$ to $500^{\circ}C$ for a time period of 10 to 40 min. At ${\leq}300^{\circ}C$, 20 min., p-type SnS thin films was grown and showed the best composition of at.% of [S]/[Sn] $${\sim_=}$$ 1 and [111] preferred orientation as investigated from using XRD (X-ray diffraction) analysis and EDS (energy dispersive spectroscopy) and SEM (scanning electron microscopy), and optical absorption by a UV-VIS spectrometer. In this paper, we report the details of growth characteristics of single phase SnS thin film as a function of annealing temperature and time associated with the pressure and ambient gas in the RTP tube.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.49-49
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• 2007

최근 반도체 소자의 고집적화와 나노 (nano) 크기의 회로 선폭으로 인해 기존에 사용되었던 텅스텐이나 알루미늄 금속배선보다, 낮은 전기저항과 높은 electro-migration resistance가 필요한 Cu 금속배선이 주목받게 되었다. 하지만, Cu CMP 공정 시 높은 압력으로 인하여 low-k 유전체막의 손상과 디싱과 에로젼 현상으로 인한 문제점이 발생하게 되었다. 본 논문에서는, $KNO_3$ 전해액의 농도가 Cu 표면에 미치는 영향을 알아보기 위해 Tafel Curve와 CV (cyclic voltammograms)법을 사용하여 전기화학적 특징을 알아보았고 scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) 분석을 통해 금속표면을 비교 분석하였다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.724-730
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• 2018

Chromium and chromium nitride were selected as potential barriers to prevent fuel-clad chemical interaction (FCCI) between the cladding and the fuel material. In this study, ferritic/martensitic HT-9 steel and misch metal were used to simulate the reaction between the cladding and fuel fission product, respectively. Radio frequency magnetron sputtering was used to deposit Cr and CrN films onto the cladding, and the gas flow rates of argon and nitrogen were fixed at certain values for each sample to control the deposition rate and the crystal structure of the films. The samples were heated for 24 h at 933 K through the diffusion couple test, and considerable amount of interdiffusion (max. thickness: $550{\mu}m$) occurred at the interface between HT-9 and misch metal when the argon and nitrogen were used individually. The elemental contents of misch metal were detected at the HT-9 through energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy due to the interdiffusion. However, the specimens that were sputtered by mixed gases (Ar and $N_2$) exhibited excellent resistance to FCCI. The thickness of these CrN films were only $4{\mu}m$, but these films effectively prevented the FCCI due to their high adhesion strength (frictional force ${\geq}1,200{\mu}m$) and dense columnar microstructures.

• Journal of Hydrogen and New Energy
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.293-298
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• 2021

To synthesize Fe/Ni nanocatalysts loaded on carbon black, Iron(II) acetylacetonate and nickel (II) acetylacetonate and were reduced to Fe and Ni metallic nanoparticles by a spontaneous reduction reaction. The distribution of the Fe and Ni nanoparticles was observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the loading weight of Fe/Ni nanocatalysts on the carbon black was measured by thermogravimetric analyzer. The elemental ratio of Fe and Ni was estimated by energy dispersive x-ray analyzer. It was found that the loading weight of Fe/Ni nanoparticles was 6.23 wt%, and the elemental ratio of Fe and Ni was 0.53:0.40. Specific surface area was measured by BET analysis instrument and I-V characteristics were estimated.