• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.443-443
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• 2011

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) was used to deposit $TiO_2$ on Ni particles, and changes in the catalytic activity of Ni for $CO_2$ reforming of methane (CRM) were studied. In the presence of $TiO_2$ islands on Ni surfaces, the onset temperature of the CRM reaction was lower than that of bare Ni. During the CRM reaction, carbon was deposited on the surface, reducing the catalytic activity of the surface, but $TiO_2$ was able to remove the carbon deposits from the surface. When the Ni surface was completely covered with $TiO_2$, catalytic activity disappeared, indicating that tuning of $TiO_2$ coverage on Ni is important for maximizing the activity of the CRM reaction.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2010.02a
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• pp.349-349
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• 2010

$TiO_2$ thin films were prepared on C fibers, and photocatalytic activity of these films for removing gas-phase toluene was studied. $TiO_2$ films were deposited on C fiber with 0.5 A-per-cycle growth rate by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) using TTIP (titanium tetra-isopropoxide) and $H_2O$ as precursors. The catalysts were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) for surface area and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) for morphology, respectively. Moreover, the samples were further characterized by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). As a function of $TiO_2$ thickness, no significant change in the photocatalytic activity could be identified. Interestingly, the bare-carbon fiber showed an even higher photocatalytic activity than the $TiO_2$ thin films for removing toluene. Origin of the high photocatalytic activity of the bare C fiber is discussed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.2256-2262
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• 2023

The electrochemical corrosion behaviors of SA106 Grade B (SA106B) carbon steel in H₂SO₄4-N₂H₄ and H₂SO₄-N₂H₄-CuSO₄ solutions at 95 ℃ have been investigated with the addition of commercial corrosion inhibitors (CI#30 and No. 570S), to determine the stability of SA106B in the hydrazine-based reductive metal ion decontamination (HyBRID) process. The potentiodynamic polarization experiment revealed that the corrosion inhibitors were capable of lowering the corrosion rate of SA106B in H₂SO₄-N₂H₄ solution. It was found that the corrosion inhibitors induced formation of fixed surface layer on the carbon steel upon the corrosion. This corrosion inhibition performance was reduced in the presence of CuSO₄ in the solution owing to the chemical reactions between organic compounds in the corrosion inhibitors and CuSO₄. CI#30 showed a better corrosion inhibition effect in the H₂SO₄-N₂H₄-CuSO₄ solution. Although the corrosion inhibitors can provide better stability to SA106B in the HyBRID solution, their application should be carefully considered because it may result in reduced decontamination performance and increased secondary waste generation.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 2007

A plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition(PEALD) system has been constructed adopting an inductively coupled plasma(ICP) source with an ALD system, and its plasma generation was carried out. Cobalt thin films were deposited on a p-type Si(100) wafer at $230^{\circ}C$. $Co_{2}(CO)_{6}$ was used as a cobalt precursor, $NH_{3}$ as a reactant, and Ar as a carrier and purge gas. The properties of the thin films were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM) and auger electron spectroscopy(AES). Large amounts of impurities were found in both the ALD film and the PEALD film, however, the amount of impurities in the PEALD film was reduced to about 50 % compared to that in the ALD film. It was found that $NH_{3}$ plasma, very effectively, induces the reaction with carbon in a cobalt precursor.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.297-302
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• 2022

This study compares the characteristics of a compact TiO₂ (c-TiO₂) powdery film, which is used as the electron transport layer (ETL) of perovskite solar cells, based on the manufacturing method. Additionally, its efficiency is measured by applying it to a carbon electrode solar cell. Spin-coating and spray methods are compared, and spray-based c-TiO₂ exhibits superior optical properties. Furthermore, surface analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) exhibits the excellent surface properties of spray-based TiO₂. The photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) is 14.31% when applied to planar perovskite solar cells based on metal electrodes. Finally, carbon nanotube (CNT) film electrode-based solar cells exhibits a 76% PCE compared with that of metal electrode-based solar cells, providing the possibility of commercialization.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.902-907
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• 2023

To understand the eutectic reaction mechanism and the relocation behavior of the core debris is indispensable for the safety assessment of core disruptive accidents (CDAs) in sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs). This paper addresses reaction products and their distribution of the eutectic melting/solidifying reaction of boron carbide (B₄C) and stainless-steel (SS). The influence of the existence of carbon on the B₄C-SS eutectic reaction was investigated by comparing the iron boride (FeB)-SS reaction by Raman spectroscopy with Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR) analysis. The scanning electron microscopy with dispersive X-ray spectrometer was also used to investigate the elemental information of the pure metals such as Cr, Ni, and Fe. In the B₄C-SS samples, a new layer was formed between B₄C/SS interface, and the layer was confirmed that the formed layer corresponded to amorphous carbon (graphite) or FeB or Fe₂B. In contrast, a new layer was not clearly formed between FeB and SS interface in the FeB-SS samples. All samples observed the Cr-rich domain and Fe and Ni-rich domain after the reaction. These domains might be formed during the solidifying process.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.495-500
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• 2010

In this study, $Al_2O_3$ and $TiO_2$ films was deposited on to PES (poly(ethersulfon) substrate by using atomic layer deposition as functions of deposition temperature and plasma power. The density and carbon contents of $Al_2O_3$ and $TiO_2$ films was changed by varying process conditions. High density thin films was achieved through optimizing the process conditions. Buffer layer was deposited prior to the processing of upper thin films to avoid PES surface destruction during the high power plasma process and to enhances the tortuous path for water vapor permeation for the defect decoupling effect. The water vapor transmission rate by using MOCON test was investigated to analyze the effect. Water vaper permeation properties was improved by using the inorganic multi-layer passivation layer and activation energy of the water vapor permeation was increased.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.1630-1634
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• 2011

Electroless plating of metallic nickel on carbon fiber surfaces was carried out to control specific electric resistivity of the fibers, and the effects of the nickel content and coating thickness on the electric properties were studied. The structural and surface properties of the carbon fibers were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The specific resistivity of the fibers was measured using a four-point probe testing method. From the XPS results, the oxygen and Ni atomic ratio of the fibers was greatly enhanced as the plating time increased. Additionally, it was observed that the specific electric resistivity decreased considerably in the presence of metallic nickel particles and with the formation of nickel layers on carbon fibers.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.1855-1862
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• 2023

Graphite crucibles are used for melting uranium and its alloys in VIM furnace. Various coating materials namely Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, MgO etc. are applied on the inner surface of the crucibles using paint brush or thermal spray technique to mitigate U-C interaction. These leads to significant amount of carbon pick-up in uranium. In this study, the attempts are made to develop multilayer coatings comprising of SiC/Y₂O₃ and Mo/Y₂O₃ on graphite to study the feasibility of minimizing U-C interaction. The parameters are optimized to prepare SiC coating of about 70㎛ thickness using CVD technique on graphite coupons and subsequently Y₂O₃ coating of about 250㎛ thickness using plasma spray technique. Molybdenum and Y₂O₃ layers were deposited using plasma spray technique with 70㎛ and 250㎛ thickness, respectively. Interaction studies of the coated graphite with molten uranium at 1450℃ for 20 min revealed that Y₂O₃ coating with SiC interlayer provides physical barrier for uranium-graphite interaction, however, this led to the physical separation of coating layer. Y₂O₃ coating with Mo interlayer provided superior barrier effect showing no degradation and the coatings remained intact after interaction tests. Therefore, the Mo/Y₂O₃ coating was found to be a promising solution for minimizing carbon pick-up during uranium/uranium alloy melting.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.329-344
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• 2014

In this work, quantum molecular dynamics simulations (QMD) are preformed to study the hydrogen molecules in three types of carbon nanostructures, $C_{60}$ fullerene, (5,5) and (9,0) carbon nanotubes and graphene layers. Interactions between hydrogen and the nanostructures is of importance to understand hydrogen storage for the development of hydrogen economy. The QMD method overcomes the difficulties with empirical interatomic potentials to model the interaction among hydrogen and carbon atoms in the confined geometry. In QMD, the interatomic forces are calculated by solving the Schrodinger's equation with the density functional theory (DFT) formulation, and the positions of the atomic nucleus are calculated with the Newton's second law in accordance with the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. It is found that the number of hydrogen atoms that is less than 58 can be stored in the $C_{60}$ fullerene. With larger carbon fullerenes, more hydrogen may be stored. For hydrogen molecules passing though the fullerene, a particular orientation is required to obtain least energy barrier. For carbon nanotubes and graphene, adsorption may adhere hydrogen atoms to carbon atoms. In addition, hydrogen molecules can also be stored inside the nanotubes or between the adjacent layers in graphite, multi-layer graphene.