• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.2570-2575
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• 2024

The study aims to develop a novel, lead-free, flexible and lightweight composite shielding material against ionizing radiation. For this, it was used bismuth oxide (Bi₂O₃) in RTV-2 silicon matrix. The shielding tests were carried out in both diagnostic X-ray energies and intermediate gamma-ray energy range of up to 662 keV to determine the radiation attenuation properties of this material in terms of attenuation ratio, half value layer, tenth value layer, mean free path and lead equivalency of samples in weight of 30%, 40%, 50% in Bi₂O₃. In the diagnostic X-ray energy range, half value layer, tenth value layer and lead equivalency (in mm Pb) of the produced samples were measured at 80 and 100 kVp narrow beam conditions according to the requirements of EN IEC 61331-1 standard. The results show that lead equivalent values of the produced novel sheets was measured to be 0.16 mm Pb, corresponding to a 6 mm thickness of the flexible sample when it contains 30% wt. Bi₂O₃ in RTV matrix. The experimental findings for durability and flexibility also indicated that this new RTV-based flexible, lead -free shielding composite can be used safely for especially for manufacturing aprons, garments and thyroid guards used in mammography, radiology, nuclear medicine and dental applications in practice.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.125-130
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• 2022

We describe the importance of zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO NP) concentration in the enhancement of electrical properties in a lead sulfide quantum dot (PbS QD)-based shortwave infrared (SWIR) photodetector. ZnO NPs were synthesized using the sol-gel method. The concentration of the ZnO NPs was controlled as 20, 30 and 40 mg/mL in this study. Note that the ZnO NPs layer is commonly used as an electron transport layer in PbS QDs SWIR photodetectors. The photo-to-dark ratio, which is an important parameter of a photodetector, was intensively examined to evaluate the electrical performance. The 20 mg/mL condition of ZnO NPs exhibited the highest photo-to-dark ratio value of 5 at -1 V, compared with 1.8 and 0.4 for 30 mg/mL and 40 mg/mL, respectively. This resulted because the electron mobility decreased when the concentration of ZnO NPs was higher than the optimized value. Based on our results, the concentration of ZnO NPs was observed to play an important role in the electrical performance of the PbS QDs SWIR photodetector.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.67-72
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• 2013

Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behaviors of Alloy 690 were studied in lead-containing aqueous alkaline solutions using the slow strain rate tension (SSRT) tests in 0.1M and 2.5M NaOH with and without PbO at $315^{\circ}C$. The side and fracture surfaces of the alloy were then examined using scanning electron microscopy after the SSRT test. Microstructure and composition of the surface oxide layer were analyzed by using a field emission transmission electron microscopy, equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Even though Alloy 690 was almost immune to SCC in 0.1M NaOH solution, irrespective of PbO addition, the SCC resistance of Alloy 690 decreased in a 2.5M NaOH solution and further decreased by the addition of PbO. Based on thermodynamic stability and solubility of oxide, high Cr of 30wt% in the Alloy 690 is favorable to SCC in mild alkaline and acidic solutions whereas the SCC resistance of high Cr Alloy 690 is weakened drastically in the strong alkaline solution where the oxide is not stable any longer and solubility is too high to form a passive oxide locally.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.37-40
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• 2009

In this study, we made a high efficiency x-ray detecting sensor using the lead oxide(PbO) that are used in direct method of x-ray detector. PbO with nano size particles is produced by sol-gel method for high efficiency. The produced PbO with nano size is deposited on ITO(Induim Tin Oxide) glass in several temperature using the PIB(particle-in-binder) method. The thickness of the deposited PbO is about $200{\mu}m$. Through the measurement of dark current, sensitivity and SNR(Signal To Noise Ratio), an electrical properties of the produced PbO film are analyzed. Therefore, we show that an electrical properties are changed according to a temperature and that the PbO film that was treated at $500^{\circ}C$ in O2 atmosphere is the most high efficiency x-ray detecting sensor.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.482-490
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• 1992

2,5-dimethoxy-2,5-dihydrofurfuryl alcohol was electrosynthesized from furfuryl alcohol in methanol solution by using three kinds of metal oxide anode. The electrods were prepared by the following process : Thin layer of semiconducting material such as tin(IV)oxide and antimony(III)oxide was made on the titanium base metal in an electric furnace. The titanium metal block with the layer was coated with ${\alpha}-PbO_2$, ${\beta}-PbO_2$, and $MnO_2$ in each electrolytes by anodic deposition, respectively. The lead dioxide electrodes showed better anti-corrosive property than the manganase dioxide electrode. The yield of the product was 92% which is almost the same as the one with conventional platinum electrodes.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.623-628
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• 1993

Lead monoxide has two phases at room temperature. One is a yellow orthorhombic phase, the other is a redtetragonal phase. Sometimes two phases are hybrided. The specificity of phase transitions of lead oxide is found during the milling of the batch including lead oxide. The pure orthorhombic phase of PbO can be transformed to the tetragonal phase perfectly by wet ball milling (milling liquid is distilled water) without thermal energy. However, when ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and aceton are used as milling liquid, respectively, the hybrid form of orthorhombic andtetragonal phases is obtained by wet ball milling. From the hybrid form heat-treated at $600^{\circ}C$ for 3hrs, this work results that mechanical phase transition of orthorhombic phase make a new form as distorted type orthorhombic phase of PbO.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.1565-1570
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• 2020

Photons with the energy of 60 keV are regularly used for some kinds of bone density examination devices, like the single photon absorptiometry (SPA). This article reports a flexible and lightweight rare earth/polymer composite for enhancing shielding efficiency against photon radiation with the energy of 60 keV. Lead oxide (PbO) and several rare earth element oxides (La₂O₃, Ce₂O₃, Nd₂O₃) were dispersed into natural rubber (NR) and the photon radiation shielding performance of the composites were assessed using monte carlo simulation method. For 60 keV photons, the shielding efficiency of rare earthbased composites were found to be much higher than that of the traditional lead-based composite, which has bad absorbing ability for photons with energies between 40 keV and 88 keV. In comparison with the lead oxide based composite, Nd₂O₃-NR composite with the same protection standard (the lead equivalent is 0.25 mmPb, 0.35 mmPb and 0.5 mmPb, respectively), can reduce the thickness by 35.29%, 37.5% and 38.24%, and reduce the weight by 38.91%, 40.99% and 41.69%, respectively. Thus, a flexible, lightweight and lead-free rare earth/NR composite could be designed, offering efficient photon radiation protection for the users of the single photon absorptiometry (SPA) with certain energy of 60 keV.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.625-629
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• 1991

The electrical conductivity of the Niobium Oxide-Lead Oxide systems containing 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 mol% of Lead Oxide has been measured in a temperature range 700${\sim}$$1100^{\circ}C$ under oxygen partial pressure of 2.0 ${\times}$ $10^{-1}$${\sim}$1.0 ${\times}$ $10^{-5}$ atm. The electrical conductivities of the system decreased with increasing PbO mol% and varied from $10^{-5}$ to $10^{-1}$ $ohm^{-1}$ $cm^{-1}$. The activation energy for conductivity was about 1.70 eV. The oxygen pressure dependence of electrical conductivity revealed that the system was a mixed conductor between ionic and electronic conductivities at high oxygen pressures and a n-type electronic conductivity with oxygen pressure dependence of -1/4 order at low oxygen pressures. The defect structure and electrical conduction mechanism of the system have been discussed with the data obtained.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.3051-3057
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• 2021

The concrete is considered as an important radiation shielding material employed widely in nuclear reactors, particle accelerators, laboratory hot cells and other different radiation sources. The present research is dedicated to the shielding properties study of the ordinary concrete reinforced with different weight fractions of lead oxide micro/nano particles. Lead oxide particles were fabricated by chemical synthesis method and their properties including the average size, morphological structure, functional groups and thermal properties were characterized by XRD, FESEM-EDS, FTIR and TGA analysis. The gamma ray mass attenuation coefficient of concrete composites has been calculated and measured by means of the Monte Carlo simulation and experimental methods. The simulation process was based on the use of MCNP Monte Carlo code where the mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ) has been calculated as a function of different particle sizes and filler weight fractions. The simulation results showed that the employment of the lead oxide filler particles enhances the mass attenuation coefficient of the ordinary concrete, drastically. On the other hand, there are approximately no differences between micro and nano sized particles. The mass attenuation coefficient was increased by increasing the weight fraction of nanoparticles. However, a semi-saturation effect was observed at concentrations more than 10 wt%. The experimental process was based on the fabrication of concrete slabs filled by different weight fractions of nano lead oxide particles. The mass attenuation coefficients of these slabs were determined at different gamma ray energies using ²²Na, ¹³⁷Cs and ⁶⁰Co sources and NaI (Tl) scintillation detector. The experimental results showed that the HVL parameter of the ordinary concrete reinforced with 5 wt% of nano PbO particles was reduced by 64% at 511 keV and 48% at 1332 keV. Reasonable agreement was obtained between simulation and experimental results and showed that the employment of nano PbO particles is more efficient at low gamma energies up to 1Mev. The proposed concrete is less toxic and could be prepared in block form instead of toxic lead blocks.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.76-84
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• 2011

Potentiostatic oxidation of Pb-1.7%Sb alloy used in the manufacture of grids of lead-acid batteries over the potential range from -1.0V to 2.3V in 5M $H_2SO_4$ in the absence and the presence of 0.4M $H_3PO_4$ and the self-discharge characteristics of the oxide layer formed is studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Depending on the potential value, sharp variations in resistance and capacitance of the alloy are recorded during the oxidation and they can be used for identification of the various substances involved in passive layer. Addition of $H_3PO_4$ is found to deteriorate the insulating properties of the passive layer by the retardation of the formation of $PbSO_4$. $H_3PO_4$ completely inhibits the current and impedance fluctuations recorded in $H_3PO_4$-free solutions in the potential range 0.5 V-1.7 V. These fluctuations are attributed to the occurrence of competitive redox processes that involve the formation of $PbSO_4$, $PbOSO_4$, PbO and $PbO_2$ and the repeated formation and breakdown of the passive layer. Self-discharge experiments indicate that the amount of $PbO_2$ formed in the presence of $H_3PO_4$ is lesser than in the $H_3PO_4$-free solutions. The start of transformation of $PbSO_4$ into $PbO_2$ is greatly shortened. $H_3PO_4$ facilitates the diffusion process of soluble species through the passive layer ($PbSO_4$ and basic $PbSO_4$) but impedes the diffusion process through $PbO_2$.