• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.2004-2010
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• 2022

Quantification of sensitive material is of vital importance when it comes to the movement of nuclear fuel throughout its life cycle. Within the electrorefiner vessel of electrochemical separation facilities, the task of quantifying plutonium by neutron analysis is especially challenging due to it being in a constant mixture with curium. It is for this reason that current neutron multiplicity methods would prove ineffective as a safeguards measure. An alternative means of plutonium verification is investigated that utilizes the (𝛼,n) signature that comes as a result of the eutectic salt within the electrorefiner. This is done by utilizing the multiplicity variable a and breaking it down into its constituent components: spontaneous fission neutrons and (𝛼,n) yield. From there, the (𝛼,n) signature is related to the plutonium content of the fuel.

• Journal of Ceramic Processing Research
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.774-777
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• 2022

In this paper, we successfully fabricated Al-modified Li4Ti5O12 in one-step, easily, simply, and quickly. The structural properties of Li4Ti5O12 by Al modification were favorable to electrochemical activity compared to pristine Li4Ti5O12, and thus, it was confirmed that electrochemical performances such as cell balancing and initial discharge capacitance were effectively improved. The optimized anode/cathode thickness was selected 70 ㎛/240 ㎛. Al modified Li4Ti5O12 realized high discharge capacitance of 61 F/g. Therefore, Al modification can be considered as one of the effective methods for the electrochemical performances of Li4Ti5O12 anodes for next-generation hybrid supercapacitors.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.352-360
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• 2020

Lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO₂, LCO) has been widely used as a cathode material for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to its excellent electrochemical performance and highly reproducible synthesis even with mass production. To improve the energy density of the LIBs for their deployment in electro-mobility, the full capacity and voltage of the cathode materials need to exploited, especially by operating them at a higher voltage. Herein, we doped LCO with divalent calcium-ion (Ca²⁺) to stabilize its layered structure during the batteries' operation. The Ca-doped LCO was synthesized by two different routes, namely solid-state and co-precipitation methods, which led to different average particle sizes and levels of dopant's homogeneity. Of these two, the solid-state synthesis resulted in smaller particles with a better homogeneity of the dopant, which led to better electrochemical performance, specifically when operated at a high voltage of 4.5 V. Electrochemical simulations based on a single particle model provided theoretical corroboration for the positive effects of the reduced particle size on the higher rate capability.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.107-114
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• 2015

Electrochemical fabrication of nanostructured Au surfaces has received increased attention. In the present work, electrochemical modification of Au surfaces for fabricating nanostructured Au surfaces in the absence of externally added precursors is presented, which is different to the previous methods utilizing electrochemical deposition of externally added precursors. Application of anodic potential at Au surfaces in phosphate buffers containing $Br^-$ resulted in the anodic dissolution of Au, which produced Au precursors at the electrode surfaces. The resulting Au precursors were further reduced at the surface to produce nanostructured Au structures. The effects of applied potential and time on the morphology of Au nanostructures were systematically examined, from which a unique backbone type Au nanostructures was produced. The backbone type Au nanostructures exhibited high surface-enhanced Raman activity. The present work would give insights into the formation of electrochemical fabrication of nanostructured Au surfaces.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.9
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• pp.2025-2033
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• 2020

Signature-based safeguards (SBS) is being developed to assist tradition nuclear material accountancy methods in tracking material in pyroprocessing facilities. SBS involves identifying off-normal scenarios that would result in improper movement of material in a pyroprocessing facilities and determining associated sensor response signatures. SBS investigations are undertaken in the computational space utilizing an electrochemical transport code known as enhanced REFIN with anodic dissolution (ERAD) to calculate the affect of off-normal conditions in the electrorefiner (ER) on material movement. Work is undertaken to experimentally validate the predictions and assumptions made by ERAD for off-normal occurrences. These experiments were undertaken on a benchtop scale and involved operating an electrochemical cell at 10 separate current densities for constant current operations to deposit U and Gd at a W cathode. These experiments were then modeled using ERAD to compare calculated predictions versus analytical experimental results it was found. It was discovered both the experimental and calculated results reflect a trend of increased codeposition of U and Gd with increasing current density. ERAD was thus demonstrated to be useful for predicting trends from anomalous operation but will require further optimization to be utilized as a quantitative design tool.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.103-109
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• 2011

Nanocrystalline $LiFePO_4$ powders were prepared at 660-$670^{\circ}C$ in an Ar atmosphere using two different synthetic routes, solid-state and sol-gel. Both materials showed well-developed XRD patterns without any impurity peaks. Particles composed in the range of 200-300 nm from the solid-state method, and 50-100 nm from the sol-gel method, were confirmed through scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. The $LiFePO_4$ obtained by the sol-gel method offered a high discharge capacity (153 mAh/g) and stable discharge behavior, even at elevated temperatures (50 and $60^{\circ}C$), whereas poor electrochemical performance was observed from the solid-state method. Rate capability studies for sol gel-derived $LiFePO_4$ ranged from 0.2 to 30 C, which revealed excellent retention over 70 cycles with a 99.9% capacity.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.257-272
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• 2020

This study covers the stages of testing whether the azo dye with chemical name (E)-5-[(4-(benzyl(methyl)amino)phenyl)diazenyl]-1,4-dimethyl-1H-1,2,4-triazol-4-ium zinc (II) chloride (DMT), known as Maxilon Red GRL in the dye industry, can be used as an anticorrosive feasible inhibitory agent, especially in industrial areas other than carpet, yarn and fibre dyeing. These test stages consist of the electrochemical measurement techniques such as potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and linear polarization resistance (LPR) for diverse concentrations and durations. The adsorption of the viewed DMT molecule on the mild steel surface obeyed the Langmuir isotherm. The zero charge potential (PZC) of mild steel was also found to assess the inhibition mechanism in containing DMT solution. The inhibition performance of DMT on the mild steel in a 1.0 M HCl solution was also investigated using methods such as metal microscope, atomic force microscope (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM).

• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-24
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• 2010

We present a novel electrochemical method to fabricate a single Pd nanowire based on direct current assisted dielectropheresis (DEP) process between two predefined metal electrodes. The electrochemical methods was investigated as functions of frequency and voltage for optimal growth conditions of Pd nanowire. The synthesized Pd nanowire have a good resistance of $1\;k{\Omega}$, diameters of several hundred nanometers on average and lengths of $8\;{\mu}m$. Finally, the single Pd nanowire was capable of detecting hydrogen in the concentration range from 100 to 2500 ppm with high sensitivity and response time, thus demonstrating its suitability for use as a hydrogen sensor.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.163-167
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• 2011

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, $NAD^+$, and its reduced form, NADH, play important roles as coenzymes in many enzymatic reactions. Electrochemical methods for $NAD^+$ or NADH detection or generation are drawn attention because it can provide the simple and low cost platform with fairly good sensitivity. In this study, the polysiloxane viologen polymer/diaphorase/hydrophilic polyurethane (PSV/DI/HPU) modified electrodes were simply prepared and demonstrated for bio-electrocatalytic $NAD^+$ sensors. The electrodes were co-immobilized with diaphorase and polysiloxane viologen polymer as an electron mediator followed by the overcoating with HPU membrane. The mixture of the enzyme and the electron mediator was well stabilized within HPU membrane and exhibited good reversibility and stability. The sensitivity was 0.2 $nA{\cdot}{\mu}M^{-1}$ and the detection limit was 28 ${\mu}M$ with a response time of 50 s ($t_{90%}$). The capability for NADH sensor was also observed on the PSV/DI/HPU electrode.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2017

Concurrent electrocatalysis and sensing of hydrazine, sulfite ions, and nitrite ions in a mixture were studied using electrodes modified by electrodeposited Au nanostructures (NSs). The ${\beta}$-cyclodextrin-mixed silicate sol-gel composite was drop-casted on the electrode surface and nucleation guided by ${\beta}$-cyclodextrin occurred, followed by the electrodeposition of Au NSs. The additive, ${\beta}$-cyclodextrin, played an evident role as a structure-directing agent; thus, small raspberry-like Au NSs were obtained. The modified electrodes were characterized by surface characterization techniques and electrochemical methods. The Au NSs-modified electrodes effciently electrocatalyzed the oxidation of toxic molecules such as hydrazine and sulfite and nitrite ions even in the absence of any other electron transfer mediator or enzyme immobilization. Well-resolved oxidation peaks along with decreased overpotentials were noticed during the electrooxidation process. The fabricated Au nanostructured electrode clearly distinguished the electrooxidation peaks of each of the three analytes from their mixture.