• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제52권10호
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• pp.2299-2305
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• 2020

Zr alloy specimens were coated with Cr-Al alloy to enhance their resistance to oxidation. The coated samples were oxidized at 1200 ℃ in a steam environment for 300 s and showed extremely low oxidation when compared to uncoated Zr alloy specimens. The microstructure and elemental distribution of the oxides formed on the surface of Cr-Al alloys have been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). A very thin protective layer of Cr₂O₃ formed on the outer surface of the Cr-Al alloy, and a thin Al₂O₃ layer was also observed in the Cr-Al alloy matrix, near the surface. Our results suggest that these two oxide layers near the surface confers excellent oxidation resistance to the Cr-Al alloy. Even after exposure to a high temperature of 1200 ℃, inter-diffusion between the Cr-Al alloy and the Zr alloy occurred in very few regions near the interface. Analysis of the inter-diffusion layer by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) measurement confirmed its identity as Cr₂Zr.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.113-118
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• 2015

To improve the methanol electro-oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells(DMFCs), Pt electrocatalysts embedded on porous carbon nanofibers(CNFs) were synthesized by electrospinning followed by a reduction method. To fabricate the porous CNFs, we prepared three types of porous CNFs using three different amount of a styrene-co-acrylonitrile(SAN) polymer: 0.2 wt%, 0.5 wt%, and 1 wt%, respectively. A SAN polymer, which provides vacant spaces in porous CNFs, was decomposed and burn out during the carbonization. The structure and morphology of the samples were examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and their surface area were measured using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller(BET). The crystallinities and chemical compositions of the samples were examined using X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties on the methanol electro-oxidation were characterized using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Pt electrocatalysts embedded on porous CNFs containing 0.5 wt% SAN polymer exhibited the improved methanol oxidation and electrocatalytic stability compared to Pt/conventional CNFs and commercial Pt/C(40 wt% Pt on Vulcan carbon, E-TEK).

• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.458-461
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• 2019

The facile synthesis of shape-controlled Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs) with ascorbic acid as a reducing agent and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a capping agent is presented in this study. The synthesized PdNPs were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman Spectroscopy. The prepared PdNPs show efficient surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties. SERS studies on the adsorption characteristics of 1,4-phenylene diisocyanide (1,4-PDI) on colloidal PdNPs have revealed that the relative peak intensity of the $(NC)_{free}$ and $(NC)_{bound}$ modes distinctly depends on the 1,4-PDI concentration as well as the shape of the PdNPs. Furthermore, we found that the PdNPs are also efficient photoelectron emitters such that the SERS spectrum of 4-nitrobenzenethiol (4-NBT) on PdNPs is readily converted to that of 4-aminobenzenethiol (4-ABT) under 632.8 nm radiation.

• 한국분말재료학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.220-224
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• 2019

The aluminum (Al)/copper oxide (CuO) complex is known as the most promising material for thermite reactions, releasing a high heat and pressure through ignition or thermal heating. To improve the reaction rate and wettability for handling safety, nanosized primary particles are applied on Al/CuO composite for energetic materials in explosives or propellants. Herein, graphene oxide (GO) is adopted for the Al/CuO composites as the functional supporting materials, preventing a phase-separation between solvent and composites, leading to a significantly enhanced reactivity. The characterizations of Al/CuO decorated on GO(Al/CuO/GO) are performed through scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping analysis. Moreover, the functional bridging between Al/CuO and GO is suggested by identifying the chemical bonding with GO in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The reactivity of Al/CuO/GO composites is evaluated by comparing the maximum pressure and rate of the pressure increase of Al/CuO and Al/CuO/GO. The composites with a specific concentration of GO (10 wt%) demonstrate a well-dispersed mixture in hexane solution without phase separation.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.39-48
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• 2019

The feasibility of using benzotriazole (BTAH) to inhibit pitting corrosion in the sprinkler copper tubes was investigated by filling the tubes with BTAH-water solution in 829 households at an eight-year-old apartment complex. The water leakage rate was reduced by approximately 90% following BTAH treatment during 161 days from the previous year. The leakage of one of the two sprinkler copper tubes was investigated with optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis to determine the formation of Cu-BTA film inside the corrosion pits. All the inner components of the corrosion pits were coated with Cu-BTA films suggesting that BTAH molecules penetrated the corrosion products. The Cu-BTA film was about 2 nm in thickness at the bottom of a corrosion pit. A layer of CuCl and $Cu_2O$ phases lies under the Cu-BTA film. This complex structure effectively prevented the propagation of corrosion pits in the sprinkler copper tubes and reduced the water leakage.

• 한국전기전자재료학회논문지
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.382-386
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• 2019

The alignment characteristics of liquid crystal (LC) molecules on a solution-derived lanthanum zinc oxide (LZO) film under ion-beam irradiation were demonstrated. Using the solution process, an LZO film was fabricated on the glass substrate and cured at $100^{\circ}C$. Afterwards, ion-beam irradiation was performed following the LC alignment method. Using this film, an LC cell was fabricated and the characteristics of the LC alignment were verified. Cross polarizing microscopy and the crystal rotation method were used to investigate the alignment state of the LC molecules on the LZO films. Furthermore, field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to explore the effect of the ion-beam irradiation on the LZO film. Through these, it was confirmed that the ion-beam irradiation induced surface modification, which demonstrated anisotropic physical and chemical surface characteristics. Due to this, uniform LC alignment was achieved. Finally, the residual DC and anchoring energy of the LC cell based on the LZO films were measured using a capacitance-voltage curve.

• 한국분말재료학회지
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• 제28권6호
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• pp.455-461
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• 2021

In this study, multilayered SnO nanoparticles are prepared using oleylamine as a surfactant at 165℃. The physical and chemical properties of the multilayered SnO nanoparticles are determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Interestingly, when the multilayered SnO nanoparticles are heated at 400℃ under argon for 2 h, they become more efficient anode materials, maintaining their morphology. Heat treatment of the multilayered SnO nanoparticles results in enhanced discharge capacities of up to 584 mAh/g in 70 cycles and cycle stability. These materials exhibit better coulombic efficiencies. Therefore, we believe that the heat treatment of multilayered SnO nanoparticles is a suitable approach to enable their application as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제13권3호
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• pp.377-389
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• 2022

The current global energy supply depends heavily on fossil fuels. This makes technology such as direct water splitting from harvesting solar energy in photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems potentially attractive due to its a promising route for environmentally benign hydrogen production. In this study, undoped and nickel-doped molybdenum oxide photoanodes (called photoanodes S₁ and S₂ respectively) were synthesized through electrodeposition by applying -1.377 V vs Ag/AgCl (3 M KCl) for 3 hours on an FTO-coated glass substrate immersed in molibdatecitrate aqueous solutions at pH 9. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used for microstructural and compositional characterizations of the photoanodes. In addition, the optical and photoelectrochemical characterizations of these photoanodes were performed by UV-Visible spectroscopy, and linear scanning voltammetry (LSV) respectively. The results showed that all the photoanodes produced exhibit conductivity and catalytic properties that make them attractive for water splitting application in a photoelectrochemical cell. In this context, the photoanode S₂ exhibited better photocatalytic activity than the photoanode S₁. In addition, photoanode S₂ had the lowest optical band-gap energy value (2.58 eV), which would allow better utilization of the solar spectrum.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.424-430
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• 2021

The element iron (Fe) is affordable and abundantly available, and thus, it finds use in a wide range of applications. As regards its application in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), the electrochemical reactions of Fe must be clearly understood during battery charging and discharging with the LIB electrolyte. In this study, we conducted systematic electrochemical analyses under various voltage conditions to determine the voltage at which Fe corrosion begins in general lithium salts and organic solvents used in LIBs. During cyclic voltammetry (CV) experiments, we observed a large corrosion current above 4.0 V (vs. Li/Li⁺). When a constant voltage of 3.7 V (vs. Li/Li⁺), was applied, the current did not increase significantly at the beginning, similar to the CV scenario; on the other hand, at a voltage of 3.8 V (vs. Li/Li⁺), the current increased rapidly. The impact of this difference was visually confirmed via scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. Our X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements showed that at 3.7 V, a thick organic solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) was formed atop a thin fluoride SEI, which means that at ≥3.8 V, the SEI cannot prevent Fe corrosion. This result confirms that Fe corrosion begins at 3.7 V, beyond which Fe is easily corrodible.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제55권8호
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• pp.2742-2746
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• 2023

The corrosion behavior of copper immersed in dilute oxychloride solution (100 mM) was studied through surface investigation and in-situ monitoring of open-circuit potential. The copper corrosion was initiated with copper dissolution into a form of CuCl^-₂, resulting in mass decrease within the first 40 h of immersion. This was followed by a hydrolysis reaction initiated by the CuCl^-₂ at the copper surface, after which oxide products were formed and deposited on the surface, resulting in a mass increase. The formation of nucleation sites for copper oxide and its lateral extension during the corrosion process were examined using focused ion beam (FIB)-scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The presence of metastable compounds such as atacamite (CuCl₂·3Cu(OH)₂) on the corroded copper surface was revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) analysis.