• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.3401-3408
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• 2023

In this study, we used the Monte Carlo N-Particle program to simulate the gamma-ray spectra obtained from plastic scintillators holes filled with bismuth nanoparticles. We confirmed that the incorporation of bismuth nanoparticles into a plastic scintillator enhances its performance for gamma-ray spectroscopy using the subtraction method. The subtracted energy spectra obtained from the bismuth-nanoparticle-incorporated and the original plastic scintillator exhibit a distinct energy peak that does not appear in the corresponding original spectra. We varied the diameter and depth of the bismuth-filled holes to determine the optimal hole design for gamma-ray spectroscopy using the subtraction method. We evaluated the energy resolutions of the energy peaks in the gamma-ray spectra to estimate the effects of the bismuth nanoparticles and determine their optimum volume in the plastic scintillator. In addition, we calculated the peak-to-total ratio of the energy spectrum to evaluate the energy measuring limit of the bismuth nanoparticle-containing plastic scintillator using the subtraction method.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2012

Bismuth(Bi) nanoparticles were synthesized at room temperature by a modified polyol process using bismuth(III) carbonate basic as precursor. In addition, some characteristics of the synthesis with respect to the exchange of a capping agent/surface stabilizer and solvent type were observed. When polyvinylpyrroldone was added, the finest Bi nanoparticles were synthesized in diethylene glycol(DEG), while the coarsest nanoparticles were formed in polyethylene glycol(PEG). The particle size immediately after synthesis was proportionate to final particle size which was determined by particle growth through coalescence and aggregation during drying. As a result, the finest Bi particles with the diameter range of several tens of nanometers - 300 nm were finally obtained in DEG. Regardless of the type of capping agent/surface stabilizer, extensive coalescence and aggregation behavior occurred in PEG, resulting in final products agglomerated with coarse particles.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.1783-1790
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• 2023

Barium Bismuth Oxide Borate (BBOB) has been synthesized for the first time using solution combustion technique. SEM analysis reveal flower shape of the nanoparticles. The formation of the nanoparticles has been confirmed through XRD & FTIR studies which gives the physical and chemical structure of the novel material. The UV light absorption is observed in the range 200-300 nm. The present study highlights the radiation shielding ability of BBOB for different radiations like X/Gamma rays, Bremsstrauhlung and neutrons. The gamma shielding efficiency is comparable to that of lead in lower energy range and lesser than lead in the higher energy range. The bremsstrauhlung exposure constant is comparably larger for BBOB NPs than that of concrete and steel however it is lesser than that of lead. The beauty of BBOB nanoparticles lies in, high absorption of radiations and low emission of secondary radiations when compared to lead. In addition, the neutron shielding parameters like scattering length, absorption and scattering cross sections of BBOB are found to be much better than lead, steel and concrete. Thus, BBOB nanoparticles are highly efficient in absorbing X/Gamma rays, neutrons and bremsstrauhlung radiations.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2015

In this study, the authors attempted to produce a medical radiation shielding fiber that can be produced at a nanosize scale and that is, unlike lead, harmless to the human body. The performance of the proposed medical radiation shielding fiber was then evaluated. First, diamagnetic bismuth oxide, an element which, among elements that have a high atomic number and density, is harmless to the human body, was selected as the shielding material. Next, 10-100 nm sized nanoparticles in powder form were prepared by ball milling the bismuth oxide ($Bi_2O_3$), the average particle size of which is $1-500{\mu}m$, for approximately 10 minutes. The manufactured bismuth oxide was formed into a colloidal solution, and the radiation shielding fabric was fabricated by curing after coating the solution on one side or both sides of the fabric. The thicknesses of the shielding sheets prepared with bismuth oxide were 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, and 1.0 mm. An experimental method was used to measure the absorbed dose and irradiation dose by using the lead equivalent test method of X-ray protection goods presented by Korean Industrial Standards; the resultant shielding rate was then calculated. From the results of this study, the X-ray shielding effect of the shielding sheet with 0.1 mm thickness was about 55.37% against 50 keV X-ray, and the X-ray shielding effect in the case of 1.0 mm thickness showed shielding characteristics of about 99.36% against 50 keV X-ray. In conclusion, it is considered that nanosized-bismuth radiation shielding fiber developed in this research will contribute to reducing the effects of primary X-ray and secondary X-ray such as when using a scattering beam at a low level exposure.

• Clean Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2024

Bismuth is a promising anodic for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its adequate operating voltage and high-volume capacity (3,765 mAh cm^-3). Nevertheless, inevitable volume expansion during Bi alloy reactions leads to severe capacity loss and cell destruction. To address this, a complex of bismuth alloy nanoparticles (Bi@NC) embedded in an N doping-carbon coating is fabricated via a simple pyrolysis method. Nano-sized bismuth alloys can improve the reaction dynamics through a shortened Li⁺-ion diffusion path. In addition, the N-doped carbon coating effectively buffers the volume change of bismuth during the extended alloy/dealloy reaction with Li⁺ ions and maintains an effective conductive network. Based on the Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed high bismuth alloy loading (80.9 wt%) and maintained a high gravimetric capacity of 315 mAh g^-1 up to 100 cycles with high volumetric capacity of 845.6 mAh cm^-3.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.379-384
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• 2010

In the present work, bismuth nanopowders with various particle size distributions were synthesized by controlling argon (Ar) gas flow rate and chamber pressure of a gas condensation (GC) apparatus. From the analyses of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images and nitrogen gas adsorption results, it was found that as Ar gas flow rate increased, the specific surface area of bismuth increased and the average particles size decreased. On the other hand, as the chamber pressure increased, the specific surface area of bismuth decreased and the average particles size increased. The optimum gas flow rate and chamber pressure for the maximized electrochemical active surface area were determined to be 8 L/min and 50 torr, respectively. The bismuth nanopowders synthesized at the above condition exhibit 13.47 $m^2g^{-1}$ of specific surface area and 45.6 nm of average particles diameter.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.179-182
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• 2016

In this paper, 10 nm $Fe_3O_4$ nanoparticles were modified on the surface of $2{\mu}m$ flower-like bismuth oxychloride (BiOCl) spheres by a facile co-precipitation method. The results showed that the $Fe_3O_4/BiOCl$ nanocomposites exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity and superparamagnetic property ($M_s=3.22emu/g$) under visible light for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation. Moreover, the $Fe_3O_4-BiOCl$ photocatalyst possessed magnetic recyclable property, which could maintain high photocatalytic effective even after 20 cycle times. These characteristic indicates a promising application for wastewater treatment.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.29-53
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• 2023

High-strength shielding concrete against gamma radiation is a priority for many medical and industrial facilities. This paper aimed to investigate the gamma-ray shielding properties of high-strength hematite concrete mixed with silica fume (SF) with nanoparticles of lead dioxide (PbO₂), tungsten oxide (WO₃), and bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃). The effect of mixing steel fibres with the aforementioned binders was also investigated. The reference mixture was prepared for high-strength concrete (HSCC) containing 100% hematite coarse and fine aggregate. Thirteen mixtures containing 5% SF and nanoparticles of PbO₂, WO₃, and Bi₂O₃ (2%, 5%, and 7% of the cement mass, respectively) were prepared. Steel fibres were added at a volume ratio of 0.28% of the volume of concrete with 5% of nanoparticles. The slump test was conducted to workability of fresh concrete Unit weight water permeability, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity tests were conducted to assess concrete's engineering properties at 28 days. Gamma-ray radiation of 137Cs emits photons with an energy of 662 keV, and that of 60Co emits two photons with energies of 1173 and 1332 keV were applied on concrete specimens to assess radiation shielding properties. Nanoparticles partially replacing cement reduced slump in workability of fresh concrete. The compressive strength of mixtures, including nanoparticles was shown to be greater, achieving 94.5 MPa for the mixture consisting of 7.5 PbO2. In contrast, the mixture (5PbO₂-F) containing steel fibres achieved the highest values for splitting tensile, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity (11.71, 15.97, and 42,840 MPa, respectively). High-strength shielded concrete (7.5PbO2) showed the best radiation protection. It also showed the minimum concrete thickness required to prevent the transmission of radiation.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1543-1550
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• 2010

This work presents oxidation of formic acid on Bi-modified Pt nanoparticles of various sizes. The sizes of the studied Pt nanoparticles range from 1.5 to 5.6 nm (detailed in Rhee, C. K.; Kim, B.-J.; Ham, C.; Kim, Y.-J.; Song, K.; Kwon, K. Langmuir 2009, 25, 7140-7147), and the surfaces of the Pt nanoparticles are modified with irreversibly adsorbed Bi. The investigated coverages of Bi on the Pt nanoparticles are 0.12 and 0.25 as determined by coulometry of the oxidation of adsorbed hydrogen and Bi, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The cyclic voltammetric behavior of formic acid oxidation reveals that the adsorbed Bi enhances the catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles by impeding a poison-forming dehydration path with a concomitant promotion of a dehydrogenation path. The chronoamperometric results indicate that elemental Bi and partially oxidized Bi are responsible for the catalytic enhancement, when the Bi coverages on Pt nanoparticles are 0.12 and 0.25, respectively. The size effect of Bi-modified Pt nanoparticles in formic acid oxidation is discussed in terms of specific activity (current per unit surface area) and mass activity (current per unit mass).

• Proceedings of the Korean Magnestics Society Conference
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• 2016.11a
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• pp.118-118
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• 2016