• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2013

LCC (Liquid cadmium cathode) is used for electrowinning in pyroprocessing to recover uranium and transuranic elements simultaneously. It is one of the core technologies in pyroprocessing with higher proliferation resistance than a wet reprocessing because LCC-cell does not separate TRU from uranium. The crucible which holds the LCC is technically important because it should be nonconducting material to prevent deposition of metallic elements on the crucible outer surface. The chemical stability is also crucial factor to choose crucible material due to the strong reactivities of TRU and possible incorporation of Li metal during the operation. In this study, the chemical stabilities of four kinds of representative ceramic materials such as $Al_2O_3$, MgO, $Yl_2O_3$ and BeO were thermodynamically and experimentally evaluated at $500^{\circ}C$ with simulated LCC. The contact angle of LCC on ceramic materials was measured as function of time to predict chemical reactivity. $All_2O_3$ showed poorest chemical stability and the pores in BeO contributed to a decreases in contact angle. MgO and $Y_2O_3$ have superior chemical stability among the materials.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.433-441
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• 2007

This work investigated the stability of a Sn-modified Pt electrode, which was used for reduction of nitrate, fabricated by an adsorption or electro-deposition of Sn on Pt. In order to find the causes for instability of the electrode, the effects of the solutions in which the electrode was used and the potential applied to the electrode on the electrochemical and metallurgical behaviors of Sn on Pt were studied. The Sn of freshly- prepared modified-Sn Pt electrode existed as Sn hydroxide form, which brought about an easy loss of the electro-activity of the electrode even staying in water, especially in acid solution. When the Sn-modified Pt electrode was used for the reduction of nitrate, the electro-activity of the electrode was affected depending on the potential applied to the electrode. When a more negative potential than the redox equilibrium potential between $Sn(OH)_2$ and Sn was applied to the electrode, the Sn hydroxide was converted to Sn that could diffused into Pt, which leaded to the loss of electro-activity of the electrode as well. The solid diffusion of Sn increased linearly with the applied potential. The Sn-electrodeposited Pt electrode which had more Sn on the electrode was more favorable to maintaining the integrity of the electrode during the reduction of nitrate than the Sn-adsorbed Pt electrode prepared in the under-potential deposition way.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.1105-1114
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• 1996

The characteristic and performance of ${\beta}-PbO_2$ layer electrodeposited on ${\alpha}-PbO_2/IrO_2-TiO_2/Ti$ substrate by adding sodium lauryl sulfate and $TiO_2$ powder in lead nitrate solution were investigated by using XRD, SEM, cyclic voltammograms, and macro-elctrolysis. Results of XRD analysis ascertain that ${\beta}-PbO_2$ layers electrodeposited in the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate and $TiO_2$, powder on ${\alpha}-PbO_2/IrO_2-TiO_2/Ti$ substrate have the same tetragonal structure as pure ${\beta}-PbO_2$ layers. The SEM results show that sodium lauryl sulfate tend to diminish crystal size of the deposited layer. The ${\beta}-PbO_2$ electrode electrodeposited in the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate and $TiO_2$ powder gives significantly improved oxygen overvoltage and durability for anodic oxidation in KOH and $HClO_4$ supporting electrolyte. Electrode performance and durability for the evolution of ozone in perchloric acid solution have been investigated by using ${\beta}-PbO_2$ electrodes electrodeposited on Titanium $madras^{(R)}$. It was ascertained that the $PbO_2$ electrode electrodeposited on ${\alpha}-PbO_2/IrO_2-TiO_2/Ti$ $madras^{(R)}$ by adding sodium lauryl sulfate and $TiO_2$ powder in $HClO_4$ supporting electrolyte had the highest current efficiency and durability.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.511-516
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• 2010

The electrochemical coating of poly(3-octylthiophene) on carbon materials was studied in order to investigate the application possibility of the modified carbon materials in the photoelectronic devices. Commercial carbon paper and carbon fiber were used as substrate electrodes for electrochemical coating. The coating behaviors were analysed with the variation of monomer and electrolyte concentration, applied potential, and cycling number in cyclovoltammetry. The coating rate of poly(3-octylthiophene) formed on the substrate were proportional to the monomer and electrolyte concentration, applied potential, and cycling number with each independent exponent. The structure and morphology of electrochemically polymerized poly(3-octylthiophene) was investigated with scanning electron microscopy and FTIR reflectance measurement.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2007

The durability problem of Prussian blue in non-aqueous $Li_+$-based electrolytes has been due to the degradation of the Prussian blue electrode matrix during the insertion/extraction processes by $Li_+$. In this work, we designed and synthesised the Prussian blue without reducing the electrochromic performance in non-aqueous $Li_+$-based electrolytes. Prussian blue was electrodeposited on a glass which has ITO coating, and the coating solution is a mixture solution of $FeCl_3\;and\;K_3Fe(CN)_6$ with deionized water added HCl, KCl, and LiCl, respectively. The durability of Prussian blue was evaluated by an in-situ transmittance measurement during a continuous and pulse potential cycling test, and measured by electroactive layer thickness due to evaluating the degradation.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.25-39
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• 2003

This study proposed a new electrolytic reduction technology that is based on the integration of simultaneous uranium oxide metallization and Li$_2$O electrowinning. In this electrolytic reduction reaction, electrolytically reduced Li deposits on cathode and simultaneously reacts with uranium oxides to produce uranium metal showing more than 99% conversion. For the verification of process feasibility, the experiments to obtain basic data on the metallization of uranium oxide, investigation of reaction mechanism, the characteristics of closed recycle of Li$_2$O and mass transfer were carried out. This evolutionary electrolytic reduction technology would give benefits over the conventional Li-reduction process improving economic viability such as: avoidance of handling of chemically active Li-LiCl molten salt increase of metallization yield, and simplification of process.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.12 no.2 s.35
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• pp.129-134
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• 2005

Electroplating copper is the important role in formation of 3D stacking interconnection in SiP (System in Package). The I-V characteristics curves are investigated at different electrolyte conditions. Inhibitor and accelerator are used simultaneously to investigate the effects of additives. Three different sizes of via are tested. All via were prepared with RIE (reactive ion etching) method. Via's diameter are 50, 75, $100{\mu}m$ and the height is $100{\mu}m$. Inside via, Ta was deposited for diffusion barrier and Cu was deposited fer seed layer using magnetron sputtering method. DC, pulse and pulse revere current are used in this study. With DC, via cannot be filled without defects. Pulse plating can improve the filling patterns however it cannot completely filled copper without defects. Via was filled completely without defects using pulse-reverse electroplating method.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.52-57
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• 2010

Although chemical sedimentation and ion exchange are usually applied to the treatment of heavy metal ions and radioactive cations, they have some serious disadvantages like a great consumption of chemicals, the disposal of valuable metals, and the secondary pollution of soil by the solid-waste. The advanced countries recently have studied the electrochemical ion exchange, combined electrochemical reduction and ion exchange, for the development of the alternative technique. This study has been performed to investigate the optimum condition for the preparation of the nickel hexacyanoferrate (NiHCNFe) which is an electrochemical ion exchanger. NiHCNFe film was deposited on the surface of nickel plate by chemical method or electrochemical method. The morphology and composition of NiHCNFe were observed by SEM and EDS, respectively. The peak current density of NiHCNFe was measured from the cyclic voltammograms of the continuous oxidation-reduction reaction in a parallel plane ion exchange electrode reactor. It was found that the chemical preparation method was better than the electrochemical method. The concentrated NiHCNFe was apparently deposited on nickel plate when dipping in the preparing solution for 118 h, especially. It also had a best durable performance as an ion exchange electrode.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2018

In case of high contents of rare earths in the LiCl-KCl salt, it is not easy to recover U and TRU metals as a usable resource form from LiCl-KCl eutectic salts generated from the pyroprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. In this study, a conversion of $UCl_3$ into an oxide form using $K_2CO_3$ and an electrodeposition of $NdCl_3$ into a metal form in $LiCl-KCl-UCl_3-NdCl_3$ system were conducted to resolve the problem. Before conducting the conversion, experimental conditions for the conversion were determined by performing a thermodynamic equilibrium calculation. In this study, almost all of $UCl_3$ disappeared in the LiCl-KCl salt when the injection of $K_2CO_3$ reached theoretical equivalent for the conversion, and then $NdCl_3$ was effectively electrodeposited as a metal form using liquid zinc cathode. After that, the LiCl-KCl salt became transparent, and uranium oxides were precipitated to the bottom of the LiCl-KCl salt. These results will be utilized in designing a process to separate U and rare earths in LiCl-KCl salt.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.65-75
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• 2021

Coin cell is a basic testing platform for battery research, discovering new materials and concepts, and contributing to fundamental research on next-generation batteries. Li metal batteries (LMBs) are promising since a high energy density (~500 Wh kg^-1) is deliverable far beyond Li-ion. However, Li dendrite-triggered volume fluctuation and high surface cause severe deterioration of performance. Given that such drawbacks are strongly dependent on the cell parameters and structure, such as the amount of electrolyte, Li thickness, and internal pressure, reliable Li metal coin cell testing is challenging. For the LMB-specialized coin cell testing platform, this study suggests the optimal coin cell structure that secures performance and reproducibility of LMBs under stringent conditions, such as lean electrolyte, high mass loading of NMC cathode, and thinner Li use. By controlling the cathode/anode (C/A) area ratio closer to 1.0, the inactive space was minimized, mitigating the cell degradation. The quantification and imaging of inner cell pressure elucidated that the uniformity of the pressure is a crucial matter to improving performance reliability. The LMB coin cells exhibit better cycling retention and reproducibility under higher (0.6 MPa → 2.13 MPa) and uniform (standard deviation: 0.43 → 0.16) stack pressure through the changes in internal parts and introducing a flexible polymer (PDMS) film.