• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.3121-3125
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• 2023

Neutron conversion detectors that use ¹⁰B-enriched boron carbide are feasible alternatives to ³He-based detectors. We prepared boron carbide films at micron-scale thickness using direct-current magnetron sputtering. The structural characteristics of natural B₄C films, including density, roughness, crystallization, and purity, were analyzed using grazing incidence X-ray reflectivity, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy. A beam profile test was conducted to verify the practicality of the ¹⁰B-enriched B₄C neutron conversion layer. A clear profile indicated the high quality of the neutron conversion of the boron carbide layer.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.170-170
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• 2013

We present a novel etching technique for 2-dimentional (2-D) hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) by using capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) of oxygen combined with a post-treatment by de-ionized (DI) water. Oxygen CCP etching process for h-BN has been systematically studied. It is found that a passivation layer was generated to obstruct further etching while it can be easily and radically removed by DI water. An essential cleaning effect also has been observed in the etching process, organic residues are successfully removed and the surface roughness has much decreased. Considering h-BN is the most important 2-D dielectric material and its potential application for graphene to silicon-based electronic devices, such an etching method can be widely used to control the 2-D h-BN thickness and improve the surface quality.

• Korean Educational Research Journal
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2016

We propose a research for detection of the fluoride ion using borane compounds. Based on the Lewis acid-base reaction, we discussed the fundamental of sensing for fluoride ion. One of the important aspects in the chemistry of organoboranes is their behaviors as Lewis acids, which is a result of the vacant $2p_{\pi}$ orbital on the tricoordinate boron center. The electronic interaction between boron atoms and ${\pi}$-orbitals of donor molecules, constructed from the carbon 2p orbitals, is generally strong. Boron atoms can reach the desired octet configuration either through ${\pi}$-overlap with a suitable X or through formation of Lewis acid-Lewis base complexes.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.127-137
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• 2004

We have investigated the structures, the energetic, and the nanomechanics of the single-wall boron-, aluminum-, and gallium-nitride nanotubes using atomistic simulations based on the Tersoff-type potential. The Tersoff-type potential for the III-nitride materials has effectively described the properties of the III-nitride nanotubes. Nanomechanics of boron-, aluminum-, and gallium-nitride nanotubes under the compression loading has been investigated and their Young's moduli were calculated.

• Proceeding of EDISON Challenge
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• 2013.04a
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• pp.273-277
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• 2013

We apply a density functional theory (DFT) and DFT-based non-equilibrium Green's function approach to study the electronic and transport properties of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) co-doped with boron-nitrogen, nitrogen-phosphorus and boron-phosphorus. We analyze the structures and charge transport properties of co-doped GNRs and particularly focus on the novel effects that are absent for the single N-, B-, or P-doped GNRs. It is found that co-doped GNRs tend to be doped at the edges and the electronic structures of co-doped GNRs are very sensitive to the doping sites. Also, in case of B-N and B-P co-doped GNRs, conductance dips of single-doped GNRs disappeared with the disappearance of localized states associated with doped atoms. This may lead to a possible method of band engineering of GNRs and benefit the design of graphene electronic devices.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.247-259
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• 2009

This study is focused on the relationship between whole rock boron contents and metamorphic P-T conditions of metasedimentary rocks from northeastern Yeongnam massif around Samcheok area, Korea. Metamorphic P-T conditions of sillimanite and garnet zones based on the Ti-biotite geothermometer is 553-687$^{\circ}C$ and 582-722$^{\circ}C$ at 4-6 kbar, respectively. In the metasedimentary rocks, boron contents in whole rock decrease with increasing metamorphic grade, from sillimanite zone (9.60-189 ppm B) to garnet zone (2.63-15.97 ppm B), except one sample (90.9 ppm B) from garnet zone containing graphites. Boron depletion in garnet zone has relation with mode of tourmaline which are broken down with increasing metamorphic temperature. Boron contents are indirectly proportional to major and trace elements such as $Al_2O_3$, MgO, $Fe_2O_3$, $K_2O$, Li, Ba, Sc, Co, Cr, Rb and Cs that are abundant in tourmalines. In conclustion, tourmalines and graphite are modulator of boron contents in metasedimentary rocks. In the biotite granitic gneisses, boron contents (2.62-12.2 ppm B) are similar or lower than those of metasedimentary rocks and have no relation with metamorphic P-T conditions.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.7
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• pp.1505-1512
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• 2017

Because accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) systems are planned for use in hospitals, entry into the medical room should be controlled as hospitals are generally assumed to be public and safe places. In this paper, computational investigation of the medical staff effective dose during BNCT has been performed in different situations using Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP4C) code and two voxel based male phantoms. The results show that the medical staff effective dose is highly dependent on the position of the medical staff. The results also show that the maximum medical staff effective dose in an emergency situation in the presence of a patient is ${\sim}25.5{\mu}Sv/s$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.407-408
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• 2011

Natural boron consists of two stable isotopes 10B and 11B with natural abundance of 18.8 atom percent of 10B and 81.2 atom percent of 11B. The thermal neutron absorption cross-section for 10B and 11B are 3837 barn and 0.005 barn respectively. 10B enriched specific compounds are used for control rods and as a reactor coolant additives. In this work 2 methods for boron enrichment were analysed: 1) Gas irradiation in static conditions. Dissociation occurs due to multiphoton absorption by specific isotopes in appropriately tuned laser field. IR shifted laser pulses are usually used in combination with increasing the laser intensity also improves selectivity up to some degree. In order to prevent recombination of dissociated molecules BCl3 is mixed with H2S 2) SILARC method. Advantages of this method: a) Gas cooling is helpful to split and shrink boron isotopes absorption bands. In order to achieve better selectivity BCl3 gas has to be substantially rarefied (~0.01%-5%) in mixture with carrier gas. b) Laser intensity is lower than in the first method. Some preliminary calculations of dissociation and recombination with carrier gas molecules energetics for both methods will be demonstrated Boron separation in SILARC method can be represented as multistage process: 1) Mixture of BCl3 with carrier gas is putted in reservoir 2) Gas overcooling due to expansion through Laval nozzle 3) IR multiphoton absorption by gas irradiated by specifically tuned laser field with subsequent gradual gas condensation in outlet chamber It is planned to develop software which includes these stages. This software will rely on the following available software based on quantum molecular dynamics in external quantized field: 1) WavePacket: Each particle is treated semiclassicaly based on Wigner transform method 2) Turbomole: It is based on local density methods like density of functional methods (DFT) and its improvement- coupled clusters approach (CC) to take into account quantum correlation. These models will be used to extract information concerning kinetic coefficients, and their dependence on applied external field. Information on radiative corrections to equation of state induced by laser field which take into account possible phase transition (or crossover?) can be also revealed. This mixed phase equation of state with quantum corrections will be further used in hydrodynamical simulations. Moreover results of these hydrodynamical simulations can be compared with results of CFD calculations. The first reasonable question to ask before starting the CFD simulations is whether turbulent effects are significant or not, and how to model turbulence? The questions of laser beam parameters and outlet chamber geometry which are most optimal to make all gas volume irradiated is also discussed. Relationship between enrichment factor and stagnation pressure and temperature based on experimental data is also reported.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.659-665
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• 2015

The self-propagating high temperature synthesis approach was applied to synthesize amorphous boron nano-powders in argon atmospheres. For this purpose, we investigated the characteristics of a thermally induced combustion wave in the $B_2O_3+{\alpha}Mg$ system(${\alpha}=1.0-8.0$) in an argon atmospheres. In this study, the exothermic nature of the $B_2O_3-Mg$ reaction was investigated using thermodynamic calculations. Experimental study was conducted based on the calculation data and the SHS products consisting of crystalline boron and other compounds were obtained starting with a different initial molar ratio of Mg. It was found that the $B_2O_3$ and Mg reaction system produced a high combustion temperature with a rapid combustion reaction. In order to regulate the combustion reaction, NaCl, $Na_2B_4O_7$ and $H_3BO_3$ additives were investigated as diluents. In an experimental study, it was found that all diluents effectively stabilized the reaction regime. The final product of the $B_2O_3+{\alpha}Mg$ system with 0.5 mole $Na_2B_4O_7$ was identified to be amorphous boron nano-powders(< 100 nm).

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.288-293
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• 1995

The separation and determination of boron with chromotropic acid (1,8-Dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6-disulfonic acid) as a complex agent has been studied using ion pair liquid chromatography. The use of tetrabutylammonium bromide added as an ion pair reagent to mobile phase (MeOH 61%, phosphate buffer 39% pH=8.5) allowed good separation of boron-chromotrophic acid complex anion and chromotrophic acid on poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) based reversed phase column (PRP-1, 15 $cm{\times}4.6$ mm i.d.). The complex formation between boric acid and chromotrophic acid was enhanced in the presence of 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium bromide, resulting in high sensitivity. The linear calibration was achieved over the boron concentration range of 0.5∼1000 ${\mu}g/L.$ The detection limit was 0.5 ${\mu}g/L$ (S/N=2). The proposed method was applied to the determination of boron in commercially available chemicals, $Na_2SO_4$, NaOH, KCl.