• Applied Microscopy
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• v.50
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• pp.2.1-2.7
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• 2020

Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) is an analytical technique that can provide the structural, physical and chemical information of materials. The EELS spectra can be obtained by combining with TEM at sub-nanometer spatial resolution. However, EELS spectral information can't be obtained easily because in order to interpret EELS spectra, we need to refer to and/or compare many reference data with each other. And in addition to that, we should consider the different experimental variables used to produce each data. Therefore, reliable and easily interpretable EELS standard reference data are needed. Our Electron Energy Loss Data Center (EELDC) has been designated as National Standard Electron Energy Loss Data Center No. 34 to develop EELS standard reference (SR) data and to play a role in dissemination and diffusion of the SR data to users. EELDC has developed and collected EEL SR data for the materials required by major industries and has a total of 82 EEL SR data. Also, we have created an online platform that provides a one-stop-place to help users interpret quickly EELS spectra and get various spectral information. In this paper, we introduce EEL SR data, the homepage of EELDC and how to use them.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2016

The oxidation states of structural Fe in clay minerals often reflect the paleo-redox conditions of the depositional environments. It is inevitable to utilize the high resolution of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate the mechanism of mineral transformation at nano-scale. The applications of TEM- electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) for quantification of $Fe(III)/{\Sigma}Fe$ from the K-nontronite formation associated with structural Fe(III) reduction in nontronite under deep subseafloor environment were demonstrated. In particular, quantification of the changes in Fe-oxidation state at nanoscale is essential to understand the mechanisms of minerals formation. The procedure of EELS acquisition, quantitative determination of Fe-oxidation states, and advantages of EELS techniques were discussed.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.63-69
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• 2019

The oxidation states of structural Fe in minerals reflect the paleo-depositional redox conditions for the biologically or abiotically induced mineral formation. Particularly, nano-scale analysis using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) is necessary to identify evidence for the microbial role in the biomineralization. HRTEM-EELS analysis of oxidation states of structural Fe and carbon bonding structure differentiate biological factors in mineralization by mapping the distribution of Fe(II)/Fe(III) and source of organic C. HRTEM-EELS technique provides geomicrobiologists with the direct nano-scale evidence of microbe-mineral interaction.

• Proceedings of the Petrological Society of Korea Conference
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.9-9
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• 2009

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.14 no.3 s.62
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• pp.157-164
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• 2007

An electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) instrument attached on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) becomes a powerful and analytical tool for extracting the noble information of materials using the enhancement of TEM images, elemental analysis, elemental or chemical mapping images, electron energy loss near edge structure (ELNES), and extended energy-loss fine structure (EXELFS). In this review, the principle and applications of EELS which is widely used in material, life, and electronic sciences were introduced.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.50
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• pp.8.1-8.7
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• 2020

Two thickness measurement methods using an electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and 10a convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) were compared in an Fe-18Mn-0.7C alloy. The thin foil specimen was firstly tilted to satisfy 10a two-beam condition. Low loss spectra of EELS and CBED patterns were acquired in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and TEM-CBED modes under the two-beam condition. The log-ratio method was used for measuring the thin foil thickness. Kossel-Möllenstedt (K-M) fringe of the $13{\ba{1}}$ diffracted disk of austenite was analyzed to evaluate the thickness. The results prove the good coherency between both methods in the thickness range of 72 ~ 113 nm with a difference of less than 5%.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.189-194
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• 2012

The consequences of microbe-mineral interaction often resulted in the chemical, structural modification, or both in the biologically induced mineral. It is inevitable to utilize the high powered resolution of electron microscopy to investigate the mechanism of biogenic mineral transformation at nano-scale. The applications of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) capable of electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) to the study of microbe-mineral interaction were demonstrated for two examples: 1) biogenic illite formation associated with structural Fe(III) reduction in nontronite by Fereducing bacteria; 2) siderite phase formation induced by microbial Fe(III) reduction in magnetite. In particular, quantification of the changes in Fe-oxidation state at nanoscale is essential to understand the dynamic modification of minerals resulted from microbial Fe reduction. The procedure of EELS acquisition and advantages of EELS techniques were discussed.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.179-179
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• 2016

A radio-frequency (RF) Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) torch system was used for boron-nitride nano-tube (BNNT) synthesis. Because of electrodeless plasma generation, no electrode pollution and effective heating transfer during nano-material synthesis can be realized. For stable plasma generation, argon and nitrogen gases were injected with 60 kW grid power in the difference pressure from 200 Torr to 630 Torr. Varying hydrogen gas flow rate from 0 to 20 slpm, the electrical and optical plasma properties were investigated. Through the spectroscopic analysis of atomic argon line, hydrogen line and nitrogen molecular band, we investigated the plasma electron excitation temperature, gas temperature and electron density. Based on the plasma characterization, we performed the synthesis of BNNT by inserting 0.5~1 um hexagonal-boron nitride (h-BN) powder into the plasma. We analysis the structure characterization of BNNT by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) and TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy), also grasp the ingredient of BNNT by EELS (Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy) and Raman spectroscopy. We treated bundles of BNNT with the atmospheric pressure plasma, so that we grow the surface morphology in the water attachment of BNNT. We reduce the advancing contact angle to purity bundles of BNNT.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.668-674
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• 2017

Experimental verification of boron species in fuel CRUD (Chalk River Unidentified Deposit) would provide essential and important information about the root cause of CRUD-induced power shifts (CIPS). To date, only bonaccordite and elemental boron were reported to exist in fuel CRUD in CIPS-troubled pressurized water reactor (PWR) cores and lithium tetraborate to exist in simulated PWR fuel CRUD from some autoclave tests. We have reevaluated previous analysis of similar threadlike crystals along with examining some similar threadlike crystals from CRUD samples collected from a PWR cycle that had no indications of CIPS. These threadlike crystals have a typical [Ni]/[Fe] atomic ratio of ~2 and similar crystal morphology as the one (bonaccordite) reported previously. In addition to electron diffraction study, we have applied electron energy loss spectroscopy to determine boron content in such a crystal and found a good agreement with that of bonaccordite. Surprisingly, such crystals seem to appear also on corroded surfaces of Alloy 600 that was exposed to simulated PWR primary water with a dissolved hydrogen level of $5mL\;H_2/kg\;H_2O$, but absent when exposed under $75mL\;H_2/kg\;H_2O$ condition. It remains to be verified as to what extent and in which chemical environment this phase would be formed in PWR primary systems.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.369-369
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• 2011

In the current work, we demonstrate the gas phase plasma synthesis of ultrafine boron nanoparticles by decomposing boron trichloride (BCl3) gas in an argon-hydrogen thermal plasma and quenching the hot plasma by expansion through a ceramic nozzle, driving the homogeneous nucleation of nanoparticles. It is shown that ultrafine nanoparticles can be produced from the experiments. We also show the characterization results regarding the oxidation of boron nanoparticles at room temperature using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and the combined Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope (STEM) and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS).