• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.36 no.6
• /
• pp.627-632
• /
• 2023

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in various applications, including electric vehicles and portable electronics, due to their high energy density and long cycle life. The performance of lithium-ion batteries can be improved by using solid electrolytes, in terms of higher safety, stability, and energy density. Li_1.5Al_0.5Ti_1.5(PO₄)₃ (LATP) is a promising solid electrolyte for all-solid-state lithium batteries due to its high ionic conductivity and excellent stability. However, the ionic conductivity of LATP needs to be improved for commercializing all-solid-state lithium battery systems. In this study, we investigate the microstructures and ionic conductivities of LATP by incorporating B₂O₃ glass ceramics. The smaller grain size and narrow size distribution were obtained after the introduction of B₂O₃ in LATP, which is attributed to the B₂O₃ glass on grain boundaries of LATP. Moreover, higher ionic conductivity can be obtained after B₂O₃ incorporation, where the optimal composition is 0.1 wt% B₂O₃ incorporated LATP and the ionic conductivity reaches 8.8×10^-5 S/cm, more than 3 times higher value than pristine LATP. More research could be followed for having higher ionic conductivity and density by optimizing the processing conditions. This facile approach for establishing higher ionic conductivity in LATP solid electrolytes could accelerate the commercialization of all-solid-state lithium batteries.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.174-180
• /
• 2023

Porcelain (white ware, celadon ware) coated with a ferrous sulfate and ferrous/cobalt sulfate was sintered at 1250℃. The specimens were investigated by HR-XRD, FE-SEM, HR-EDS, and UV-vis spectrophotometer. Through X-ray rietveld quantitative analysis, quartz and mullite were found to be the main phases for white ware, and mullite and plagioclase were found to be the main phases for celadon ware. When the pigment of ferrous/cobalt sulfate was applied, were identified as an andradite phase for celadon ware and a spinel phase for the white ware, and the amorphous phase, respectively. The L^* value, which was the brightness of the specimen, was 72.01, 60.92 for white ware and celadon ware, respectively. The ferrous and ferrous/cobalt pigment coated porcelain had L^* values of 44.89, 52.27 for white ware and celadon ware, respectively; with a^* values of 2.12, 1.40, an d at b^* values of 1.45 and 13.79. As for the color of the specimens, it was found that the L^* value was greatly affected by the white ware, and the b^* value differed greatly depending on the clay. It was thought to be closely related to the production of the secondary phase such as Fe₂O₃ and andradite phase produced in the surface layer.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.297-303
• /
• 2024

In this study, KTN heterolayer thin films were fabricated by alternately stacking films of K(Ta_0.70Nb_0.30)O₃ and K(Ta_0.55Nb_0.45)O₃ synthesized using the sol-gel method. The sintering temperature and time were 750℃ and 1 hour, respectively. All specimens exhibited a polycrystalline pseudo-cubic crystal structure, with a lattice constant of approximately 0.398 nm. The average grain size was around 130~150 nm, indicating relatively uniform sizes regardless of the number of coatings. The average thickness of a single-coated film was approximately 70 nm. The phase transition temperature of the KTN heterolayer films was found to be approximately 8~12℃. Moreover, the 6-coated KTN heterolayer film displayed an excellent dielectric constant of about 11,000. As the number of coatings increased, and consequently the film thickness, the remanent polarization increased, while the coercive field decreased. The 6-coated KTN heterolayer film exhibited a remanent polarization and coercive field of 11.4 μC/cm² and 69.3 kV/cm at room temperature, respectively. ΔT showed the highest value at a temperature slightly above the Curie temperature, and for the 6-coated KTN heterolayer film, the ΔT and ΔT/ΔE were approximately 1.93 K and 0.128×10^-6 K·m/V around 40℃, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.116-124
• /
• 2024

In this study, we investigated the microstructure and piezoelectric properties of 0.96(K_0.456Na_0.536)Nb_0.95Sb_0.05-0.04Bi_0.5(Na_0.82K_0.18)_0.5ZrO₃ (KNNS-BNKZ) ceramics based on one-step and two-step sintering processes. One-step sintering led to significant abnormal grain (AG) growth at temperatures above 1,085 ℃. With increasing sintering temperature, piezoelectric and dielectric properties were enhanced, resulting in a high d₃₃ = 506 pC/N for one-step specimen sintered at 1,100 ℃ (one-step 1,100 ℃ specimen). However, for one-step 1,115 ℃ specimen, a slight decrease in d₃₃ was observed, emphasizing the importance of a high tetragonal (T) phase fraction for superior piezoelectric properties. Achieving a relative density above 84 % for samples sintered by the one-step sintering process was challenging. Conversely, two-step sintering significantly improved the relative density of KNNS-BNKZ ceramics up to 96 %, attributed to the control of AG nucleation in the first step and grain growth rate control in the second step. The quantity of AG nucleation was affected by the duration of the first step, determining the final microstructure. Despite having a lower T phase fraction than that of the one-step 1,100 ℃ specimen, the two-step specimen exhibited higher piezoelectric coefficients (d₃₃ = 574 pC/N and k_p = 0.5) than those of the one-step 1,100 ℃ specimen due to its higher relative density. Performance evaluation of magnetoelectric composite devices composed of one-step and two-step specimens showed that despite having a higher g₃₃, the magnetoelectric composite with the one-step 1,100 ℃ specimen exhibited the lowest magnetoelectric voltage coefficient, due to its lowest k_p. This study highlights the essential role of phase fraction and relative density in enhancing the performance of piezoelectric materials and devices, showcasing the effectiveness of the two-step sintering process for controlling the microstructure of ceramic materials containing volatile elements.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.42.1-42.20
• /
• 2022

Vaccination with tumor peptide epitopes associated with MHC class I molecules is an attractive approach directed at inducing tumor-specific CTLs. However, challenges remain in improving the therapeutic efficacy of peptide epitope vaccines, including the low immunogenicity of peptide epitopes and insufficient stimulation of innate immune components in vivo. To overcome this, we aimed to develop and test an innovative strategy that elicits potent CTL responses against tumor epitopes. The essential feature of this strategy is vaccination using tumor epitope-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) in combination with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly-IC) and anti-PD1 mAb. Carboxylated NPs were prepared using poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and poly(ethylene/maleic anhydride), covalently conjugated with anti-H-2K^b mAbs, and then attached to H-2K^b molecules isolated from the tumor mass (H-2^b). Native peptides associated with the H-2K^b molecules of H-2K^b-attached NPs were exchanged with tumor peptide epitopes. Tumor peptide epitope-loaded NPs efficiently induced tumor-specific CTLs when used to immunize tumor-bearing mice as well as normal mice. This activity of the NPs significantly was increased when co-administered with poly-IC. Accordingly, the NPs exerted significant anti-tumor effects in mice implanted with EG7-OVA thymoma or B16-F10 melanoma, and the anti-tumor activity of the NPs was significantly increased when applied in combination with poly-IC. The most potent anti-tumor activity was observed when the NPs were co-administered with both poly-IC and anti-PD1 mAb. Immunization with tumor epitope-loaded NPs in combination with poly-IC and anti-PD1 mAb in tumor-bearing mice can be a powerful means to induce tumor-specific CTLs with therapeutic anti-tumor activity.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.164-168
• /
• 2024

(La_0.7Sr_0.3)(Mn_1-xFe_x)O₃ (LSMFO) (x = 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12) precursor solution are prepared by sol-gel method. LSMFO thin films are fabricated by the spin-coating method on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si substrate, and the sintering temperature and time are 800℃ and 1 hr, respectively. The average thickness of the 6-times coated LSMFO films is about 181 to 190 nm and average grain size is about 18 to 20 nm. As the amount of Fe added in the LSMFO thin film increased, the resistivity decreased, and the TCR and B_25/65-value increased. Electrical resistivity, TCR and B_25/65-value of the (La_0.7Sr_0.3)(Mn_0.88Fe_0.12)O₃ thin film are 0.0136 mΩ-cm, 0.358%/℃, and 328 K at room temperature, respectively. The resistivity properties of LSMFO thin films matched well with Mott's VRH model.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.204-208
• /
• 2024

De-icing/anti-icing fluid is essential for removing ice formation on aircraft. It chemically removes ice using organic solvents, which can cause damage to the topcoat surface in the process. In this study, glycol-based deicing/anti-icing fluid was used to remove ice, and the resulting damage to the topcoat was examined. USB microscope was used to observe the formation and growth of ice, while a confocal microscope was employed to observe the surface morphology after treatment with de-icing/anti-icing fluid. Additionally, coating thickness measurements and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis were conducted to investigate the physical and chemical changes on the surface. The repeated application of de-icing/anti-icing fluid showed a reduction in the ice formation rate and an increase in the growth rate. Damage during the pressurization process and surface damage to the polyurethane topcoat caused by ethylene glycol were observed during the de-icing process. Although no chemical changes were detected, the analysis revealed that surface uniformity decreased, with physical damage such as cracks and undulations forming on the surface. It was confirmed that while de-icing/anti-icing fluid is effective in removing ice, it also causes surface damage.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.11
• /
• pp.4274-4281
• /
• 2023

Blanket is of vital importance for engineering application of the fusion reactor. Nuclear heat deposition in materials is the main heat source in blanket structure. In this paper, the three-dimensional method for thermal-hydraulics/neutronics coupling analysis is developed and applied for the full-scale module of the helium-cooled ceramic breeder tritium breeding blanket (HCCB TBB) designed for China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR). The explicit coupling scheme is used to support data transfer for coupling analysis based on cell-to-cell mapping method. The coupling algorithm is realized by the user-defined function compiled in Fluent. The three-dimensional model is established, and then the coupling analysis is performed using the paralleled Coupling Analysis of Thermal-hydraulics and Neutronics Interface Code (CATNIC). The results reveal the relatively small influence of the coupling analysis compared to the traditional method using the radial fitting function of internal heat source. However, the coupling analysis method is quite important considering the nonuniform distribution of the neutron wall loading (NWL) along the poloidal direction. Finally, the structure optimization of the blanket is carried out using the coupling method to satisfy the thermal requirement of all materials. The nonlinear effect between thermal-hydraulics and neutronics is found during the blanket structure optimization, and the tritium production performance is slightly reduced after optimization. Such an adverse effect should be thoroughly evaluated in the future work.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.2174-2181
• /
• 2024

In this work, Sr_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃-SmPO₄ dual-phase ceramics were prepared via in-situ synthesis process, which is a potential novel nuclear waste form for immobilizing the fission product ⁹⁰Sr and the trivalent actinide radionuclides in high-level waste (HLW). And the preparation technology, microstructure and chemical durability of Sr_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃-SmPO₄ dual-phase ceramics were systematically investigated. It was confirmed that the optimum microwave-sintering temperature (1050 ℃) and heat preservation time (1.5 h) is estimated by Archimedes method. Besides, the as-prepared samples that were consisted of strontium zirconium phosphate (SrZP) and monazite showed the remarkable densification, in which the two crystalline phases were intermixed well with each other. Meanwhile, the formation and evolution of microstructure was also consistent with the variational rule of Sr_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃/SmPO₄, indicating that there was not mutual reaction during the in-situ synthesis process. The PCT and MCC-1 experimental results demonstrated that the elemental normalized leaching rates of tested samples are all at a low level (LR_Sr ~10^-4 g·m^-2·d^-1, LR_Zr ~10^-8-10^-6 g·m^-2·d^-1, LR_Sm ~10^-7-10^-5 g·m^-2·d^-1 and LR_P ~10^-4 g·m^-2·d^-1). It is indicated that Sr_0.5Zr₂(PO₄)₃-SmPO₄ dual-phase ceramics possesses excellent chemical durability for HLW disposal.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.73-80
• /
• 2009

Biofilters use porous solid media to support microorganisms and allow access to the contaminants in the airflow. The characteristics of media used in biofilters vary greatly, and therefore it is important to select the appropriate media in order to obtain a large enough surface attachment area and uniform pore. This study was performed to compare hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) removal efficiencies of three biofilter media; coconut fiber, ceramic, and polyurethane. The biofilter packed with coconut fiber showed stable removal activity when inlet loading was changeable, and was restored rapidly when the moisture content decreased. However, the coconut fiber suffered from low durability. To cope with this problem a media of fibrinous polypropylene was developed to strengthen the durability of the coconut fiber. Biofilter column experiments using the fibrinous polypropylene media demonstrated over 99% of removal efficiencies at pH as low as 3 and 6 seconds of EBRT (empty bed gas residence time). Due to its superior physical characteristics, it is expected that the $H_2S$ treatment performance will increase when the new fibrinous polypropylne media is applied in commercial biofilter systems.