• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2005.07b
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• pp.1521-1523
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• 2005

High voltage plasma power supply was adopted to control polluted gases and an ozone generation. Bidirectional pulse power supply consisted of power semiconductor switch devices, a high voltage transformer, and a control board adapted switching method. Plasma power supply with sinusoidal bidirectional pulse, which has output voltage range of 0-20kV and output frequency range of 1kHz-20kHz, is realized. Using proposed system, pulsed high voltage/high frequency discharges were tested in a DBD(dielectric barrier discharge) reactor, and the spatial distribution of a glow discharge was observed. The system showed stable operational characteristics, even though the voltage and the frequency increased. Above features were verified by experiments.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.811-816
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• 2022

This work presents the methodology used to expand the capabilities of the Monte Carlo code OpenMC for the calculation of reactor kinetic parameters: effective delayed neutron fraction β_eff and neutron generation time L. The modified code, OpenMC(Time-Dependent) or OpenMC(TD), was then used to calculate the effective delayed neutron fraction by using the prompt method, while the neutron generation time was estimated using the pulsed method, fitting Λ to the decay of the neutron population. OpenMC(TD) is intended to serve as an alternative for the estimation of kinetic parameters when licensed codes are not available. The results obtained are compared to experimental data and MCNP calculated values for 18 benchmark configurations.

• The Transactions of The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.80-84
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• 2014

The discharge characteristics of Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharge (SDBD) reactor are investigated to find optimal driving condition with adjusting various parameter. When the high voltage with sine wave form is applied to SDBD source, successive pulsed current waveforms are observed owing to multiple ignitions through the long discharge channel and wall charge accumulation on the dielectric surface. The discharge voltage, total charge between dielectrics, mean energy and power are calculated from measured current and voltage according to electrode gap and dielectric thickness. Discharge mode transition from filamentary to diffusive glow is observed for narrow gap and high applied voltage case. However, when the diffusive discharge is occurred with high applied voltage, the actual firing voltage is always lower than that with low driving voltage. The $Si_3N_4$, $MgF_2$, $Al_2O_3$ and $TiO_2$ are considered for dielectric protection and high secondary electron emission coefficient. SDBD with $MgF_2$ shows the lowest breakdown voltage. $MgF_2$ thin film is proposed as a protection layer for low voltage atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge devices.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.2206-2214
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• 2023

The existing wet reconversion processes for the recovery of scraps generated in manufacturing of nuclear fuel are complex and require several unit operation steps. In this study, it is attempted to simplify the recovery process of high-quality fuel-grade UO₂ powder. A novel wet reconversion process for uranyl nitrate hexahydrate solution is suggested by using a newly developed pulsed fluidized bed reactor, and the resultant chemical characteristics are evaluated for the intermediate ammonium uranate hydrate product and subsequently converted UO₂ powder, as well as the compliance with nuclear fuel specifications and advantages over existing wet processes. The UO₂ powder obtained by the suggested process improved fuel pellet properties compared to those derived from the existing wet conversion processes. Powder performance tests revealed that the produced UO₂ powder satisfies all specifications required for fuel pellets, including the sintered density, increase in re-sintered density, and grain size. Therefore, the processes described herein can aid realizing a simplified manufacturing process for nuclear-grade UO₂ powders that can be used for nuclear power generation.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.181-189
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• 2012

We developed a new high-yield synthesis method of free-standing germanium nanocrystals (Ge NCs) by means of the gas-phase photolysis of tetramethyl germanium in a closed reactor using an Nd-YAG pulsed laser. Size control (5-100 nm) can be simply achieved using a quenching gas. The $Ge_{1-x}Si_x$ NCs were synthesized by the photolysis of a tetramethyl silicon gas mixture and their composition was controlled by the partial pressure of precursors. The as-grown NCs are sheathed with thin (1-2 nm) carbon layers, and well dispersed to form a stable colloidal solution. Both Ge NC and Ge-RGO hybrids exhibit excellent cycling performance and high capacity of the lithium ion battery (800 and 1100 mAh/g after 50 cycles, respectively) as promising anode materials for the development of high-performance lithium batteries. This novel synthesis method of Ge NCs is expected to contribute to expand their applications in high-performance energy conversion systems.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.270-276
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• 2008

$N_2$ doped $TiO_2$ nano-sized powder was prepared using a DC arc plasma jet and investigated with XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, and photo-catalytic decomposition. Recently the research interest about the nano-sized $TiO_2$ powder has been increased to improve its photo-catalytic activity for the removal of environmental pollutants. Nitrogen gas, reacting gas, and titanium tetrachloride ($TiCl_4$) were used as the raw materials and injected into the plasma reactor to synthesize the $N_2$ doped $TiO_2$ power. The particle size and XRD peaks of the synthesized powder were analyzed as a function of the flow rate of the nitrogen gas. Also, the characteristics of the photo-catalytic decomposition using the prepared powder were studied. For comparing the photo-catalytic decomposition performance of $TiO_2$ powder with that of $TiO_2$ coating, $TiO_2$ thin films were prepared by the spin coating and the pulsed laser deposition. For the results of the acetaldehyde decomposition, the photo-catalytic activity of $TiO_{2-x}N_x$ powder was higher than that of the pure $TiO_2$ powder in the visible light region. For the methylene blue decomposition, the decomposition efficiency of $TiO_2$ powder was also higher than that of $TiO_2$ film.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.08a
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• pp.180-180
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• 2012

Heteroepitaxial GaN nano- and micro-rods (NMRs) are one of the most promising structures for high performance optoelectronic devices such as light emitting diodes, lasers, solar cells integrated with Si-based electric circuits due to their low dislocation density and high surface to volume ratio. However, heteroepitaxial GaN NMRs growth using a metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE) machine is not easy due to their long surface diffusion length at high growth temperature of MOVPE above $1000^{\circ}C$. Recently some research groups reported the fabrication of the heteroepitaxial GaN NMRs by using MOVPE with vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) technique assisted by metal catalyst. However, in the case of the VLS technique, metal catalysts may act as impurities, and the GaN NMRs produced in this mathod have poor directionallity. We have successfully grown the vertically well aligned GaN NMRs on Si (111) substrate by means of self-catalystic growth methods with pulsed-flow injection of precursors. To grow the GaN NMRs with high aspect ratio, we veried the growth conditions such as the growth temperature, reactor pressure, and V/III molar ratio. We confirmed that the surface morphology of GaN was strongly influenced by the surface diffusion of Ga and N adatoms related to the surrounding environment during growth, and we carried out theoretical studies about the relation between the reactor pressure and the growth rate of GaN NMRs. From these results, we successfully explained the growth mechanism of catalyst-free and mask-free heteroepitaxial GaN NMRs on Si (111) substrates. Detailed experimental results will be discussed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.3080-3087
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• 2023

Thermoelectric (TE) materials working in radioisotope thermoelectric generators are irradiated by neutrons throughout its service; thus, investigating the neutron irradiation stability of TE devices is necessary. Herein, the influence of neutron irradiation with fluences of 4.56 × 10¹⁰ and 1 × 10¹³ n/cm² by pulsed neutron reactor on the electrical and thermal transport properties of n-type Bi₂Te_2.7Se_0.3 and p-type Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃ thermoelectric alloys prepared by cold-pressing and molding is investigated. After neutron irradiation, the properties of thermoelectric materials fluctuate, which is related to the material type and irradiation fluence. Different from p-type thermoelectric materials, neutron irradiation has a positive effect on n-type Bi₂Te_2.7Se_0.3 materials. This result might be due to the increase of carrier mobility and the optimization of electrical conductivity. Afterward, the effects of p-type and n-type TE devices with different treatments on the output performance of TE devices are further discussed. The positive and negative effects caused by irradiation can cancel each other to a certain extent. For TE devices paired with p-type Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃ and n-type Bi₂Te_2.7Se_0.3 thermoelectric legs, the generated power and conversion efficiency are stable after neutron irradiation.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.7-7
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• 2011

Quantum beam technology has been expected to develop breakthroughs for nanotechnology during the third basic plan of science and technology (2006~2010). Recently, Green- or Life Innovations has taken over the national interests in the fourth basic science and technology plan (2011~2015). The NIMS (National Institute for Materials Science) has been conducting the corresponding mid-term research plans, as well as other national projects, such as nano-Green project (Global Research for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials science). In this lecture, the research trends in Japan and NIMS are firstly reviewed, and the typical achievements are highlighted over key nanotechnology fields. As one of the key nanotechnologies, the quantum beam research in NIMS focused on synchrotron radiation, neutron beams and ion/atom beams, having complementary attributes. The facilities used are SPring-8, nuclear reactor JRR-3, pulsed neutron source J-PARC and ion-laser-combined beams as well as excited atomic beams. Materials studied are typically fuel cell materials, superconducting/magnetic/multi-ferroic materials, quasicrystals, thermoelectric materials, precipitation-hardened steels, nanoparticle-dispersed materials. Here, we introduce a few topics of neutron scattering and ion beam nanofabrication. For neutron powder diffraction, the NIMS has developed multi-purpose pattern fitting software, post RIETAN2000. An ionic conductor, doped Pr2NiO4, which is a candidate for fuel-cell material, was analyzed by neutron powder diffraction with the software developed. The nuclear-density distribution derived revealed the two-dimensional network of the diffusion paths of oxygen ions at high temperatures. Using the high sensitivity of neutron beams for light elements, hydrogen states in a precipitation-strengthened steel were successfully evaluated. The small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) demonstrated the sensitive detection of hydrogen atoms trapped at the interfaces of nano-sized NbC. This result provides evidence for hydrogen embrittlement due to trapped hydrogen at precipitates. The ion beam technology can give novel functionality on a nano-scale and is targeting applications in plasmonics, ultra-fast optical communications, high-density recording and bio-patterning. The technologies developed are an ion-and-laser combined irradiation method for spatial control of nanoparticles, and a nano-masked ion irradiation method for patterning. Furthermore, we succeeded in implanting a wide-area nanopattern using nano-masks of anodic porous alumina. The patterning of ion implantation will be further applied for controlling protein adhesivity of biopolymers. It has thus been demonstrated that the quantum beam-based nanotechnology will lead the innovations both for nano-characterization and nano-fabrication.

• Clean Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.266-273
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• 2007

The adsorption properties of the activated carbon-based adsorbents were studied to remove COS emitted from $SO_2$ catalytic reduction process on the integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) system in this work. Transition metal supported catalysts and mixed metal oxide catalysts were used for the $SO_2$ catalytic reduction. The mechanism of COS produced from the $SO_2$ reduction and the COS concentration s according to the reaction temperature were investigated. In this study, an activated carbon and a modified activated carbon doped with KOH were used to remove the very low concentration of COS effectively. The adsorption rate and the breakthrough time of COS were measured by a thermo gravity analyzer (TGA, Cahn Balance) and a fixed bed flow reactor equipped with GC-pulsed flammable photometric detector (PFPD), respectively. It was confirmed that the COS breakthrough time of the activated carbon doped with KOH was longer than that of an activated carbon. In conclusion, the modified-activated carbon having a high surface area showed a high adsorption rate of COS produced from the $SO_2$ reduction.