• Current Applied Physics
• /
• v.18 no.12
• /
• pp.1540-1545
• /
• 2018

SiGe alloy is widely used thermoelectric materials for high temperature thermoelectric generator applications. However, its high thermoelectric performance has been thus far realized only in alloys synthesized employing mechanical alloying techniques, which are time-consuming and employ several materials processing steps. In the current study, for the first time, we report an enhanced thermoelectric figure-of-merit (ZT) ~ 1.1 at $900^{\circ}C$ in ntype $Si_{80}Ge_{20}$ nano-alloys, synthesized using a facile and up-scalable methodology consisting of rapid solidification at high optimized cooling rate ${\sim}3.4{\times}10^7K/s$, employing melt spinning followed by spark plasma sintering of the resulting nano-crystalline melt-spun ribbons. This enhancement in ZT > 20% over its bulk counterpart, owes its origin to the nano-crystalline microstructure formed at high cooling rates, which results in crystallite size ~7 nm leading to high density of grain boundaries, which scatter heat-carrying phonons. This abundant scattering resulted in a very low thermal conductivity ${\sim}2.1Wm^{-1}K^{-1}$, which corresponds to ~50% reduction over its bulk counterpart and is amongst the lowest reported thus far in n-type SiGe alloys. The synthesized samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, based on which the enhancement in their thermoelectric performance has been discussed.

• Korean Journal of Metals and Materials
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.194-202
• /
• 2010

Application of a stronger and more durable material for reactor pressure vessels (RPVs) might be an effective way to insure the integrity and increase the efficiency of nuclear power plants. A series of research projects to apply the SA508 Gr.4 steel in ASME code to RPVs are in progress because of its excellent strength and durability compared to commercial RPV steel (SA508 Gr.3 steel). In this study, the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of SA508 Gr.3 Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel and SA508 Gr.4N Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel were investigated. The differences in the stable phases between these two low alloy steels were evaluated by means of a thermodynamic calculation using ThermoCalc. They were then compared to microstructural features and correlated with mechanical properties. Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel shows the upper bainite structure that has coarse cementite in the lath boundaries. However, Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel shows the mixture of lower bainite and tempered martensite structure that homogeneously precipitates the small carbides such as $M_{23}C_6$ and $M_7C_3$ due to an increase of hardenability and Cr addition. In the mechanical properties, Ni-Mo-Cr low alloy steel has higher strength and toughness than Mn-Mo-Ni low alloy steel. Ni and Cr additions increase the strength by solid solution hardening. In addition, microstructural changes from upper bainite to tempered martensite improve the strength of the low alloy steel by grain refining effect, and the changes in the precipitation behavior by Cr addition improve the ductile-brittle transition behavior along with a toughening effect of Ni addition.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.54 no.7
• /
• pp.2395-2407
• /
• 2022

The sodium-cooled fast reactor is among the innovative nuclear technologies selected in the framework of the development of Generation IV concepts, allowing the irradiation of uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuels (MOX). A fundamental step for the safety assessment of MOX-fuelled pins for fast reactor applications is the evaluation, by means of fuel performance codes, of the integral thermal-mechanical behaviour under irradiation, involving the fission gas behaviour and release in the fuel-cladding gap. This work is dedicated to the performance analysis of an inner-core fuel pin representative of the ASTRID sodium-cooled concept design, selected as case study for the benchmark between the GERMINAL and TRANSURANUS fuel performance codes. The focus is on fission gas-related mechanisms and integral outcomes as predicted by means of the SCIANTIX module (allowing the physics-based treatment of inert gas behaviour and release) coupled to both fuel performance codes. The benchmark activity involves the application of both GERMINAL and TRANSURANUS in their "pre-INSPYRE" versions, i.e., adopting the state-of-the-art recommended correlations available in the codes, compared with the "post-INSPYRE" code results, obtained by implementing novel models for MOX fuel properties and phenomena (SCIANTIX included) developed in the framework of the INSPYRE H2020 Project. The SCIANTIX modelling includes the consideration of burst releases of the fission gas stored at the grain boundaries occurring during power transients of shutdown and start-up, whose effect on a fast reactor fuel concept is analysed. A clear need to further extend and validate the SCIANTIX module for application to fast reactor MOX emerges from this work; nevertheless, the GERMINAL-TRANSURANUS benchmark on the ASTRID case study highlights the achieved code capabilities for fast reactor conditions and paves the way towards the proper application of fuel performance codes to safety evaluations on Generation IV reactor concepts.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.55 no.8
• /
• pp.2797-2801
• /
• 2023

CdZnTeSe (CZTS) has attracted attention for applications in X- and gamma-ray detectors owing to its improved properties compared to those of CdZnTe (CZT). In this study, we grew and processed single crystals of CZT and CZTS using the Bridgeman method to confirm the feasibility of using a dosimeter for high-energy X-rays in radiotherapy. We evaluated their linearity and precision using the coefficient of determination (R²) and relative standard deviation (RSD). CZTS showed sufficient RSD values lower than 1.5% of the standard for X-ray dosimetry, whereas CZT's RSD values increased dramatically under some conditions. CZTS exhibited an R² value of 0.9968 at 500 V/cm, whereas CZT has an R² value of 0.9373 under the same conditions. The X-ray response of CZTS maintains its pulse shape at various dose rates, and its properties are improved by adding selenium to the CdTe matrix to lower the defect density and sub-grain boundaries. Thus, we validated that CZTS shows a better response than CZT to high-energy X-rays used for radiotherapy. Further, the applicability of an onboard imager, a high-energy X-ray (>6 MV) image, is presented. The proposed methodology and results can guide future advances in X-ray dose detection.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.153-160
• /
• 2023

The use of biogas is an industrially necessary means to achieve resource circulation. However, since biogas obtained from waste frequently causes corrosion in pipes, it is important to elucidate corrosion mechanisms of the pipes used for biogas transportation. Recently, corrosion failure occurred in a pipe which supplied for the biogas at the speed of 12.5 m/s. Pinholes and pits were found in a straight line along the seamline of the pipe. By using corrosion-damaged samples, residual thickness, microstructure, and composition of oxide film and inclusion were examined to analyze the cause of the failure. It was revealed that the thickness reduction of biogas pipe was ~0.11 mm per year. A thin sulfuric acid film was formed on the surface of the interior of a pipe due to moisture and hydrogen sulfide contained in a biogas. Near the seamline, microstructure was heterogeneous and manganese sulfide (MnS) was found. Pits were generated by micro-galvanic corrosion between the manganese sulfide and the matrix in the interior of the pipe along the seamline. In addition, microcracks formed along the grain boundaries beneath the pits revealed that hydrogen-induced cracking (HIC) also contributed to accelerating the pitting corrosion.

• Advances in nano research
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.313-323
• /
• 2022

The microstructure and mechanical properties of Cr-Ni steel and Cr-Ni steel-matrix nanocomposites reinforced with nano-ZrO₂ particles were investigated in this study. Cr-Ni steel and Cr-Ni/ZrO₂ nanocomposites were produced using a combination of high-energy ball milling, pressing, and sintering processes. The microstructures of the specimens were analyzed using EDX and XRD. Compression and hardness tests were performed to determine the mechanical properties of the specimens. Nano-ZrO₂ particles were effective in preventing chrome carbide precipitate at the grain boundaries. While t-ZrO₂ was detected in Cr-Ni/ZrO₂ nanocomposites, m-ZrO₂ could not be found. Few α'-martensite and deformation bands were formed in the microstructures of Cr-Ni/ZrO₂ nanocomposites. Although nano-ZrO₂ particles had a negligible impact on the strength improvement provided by deformation-induced plasticity mechanisms in Cr-Ni/ZrO₂ nanocomposites, the mechanical properties of Cr-Ni steel were significantly improved by using nano-ZrO₂ particles. The hardness and compressive strength of Cr-Ni/ZrO₂ nanocomposite were higher than those of Cr-Ni steel and enhanced as the weight fraction of nano-ZrO₂ particles increased. Cr-Ni/ZrO₂ nanocomposite with 5wt.% nano-ZrO₂ particles had almost twofold the hardness and compressive strength of Cr-Ni steel. The nano-ZrO₂ particles were considerably more effective on particle-strengthening mechanisms than deformation-induced strengthening mechanisms in Cr-Ni/ZrO₂ nanocomposites.

• Journal of The Geomorphological Association of Korea
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.39-54
• /
• 2019

In this paper, based on evidence of coastal sediment, we show that erosion and sedimentation environments are very sensitive to sea level changes during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the Little Ice Age (LIA). We identified four sedimentary units(4.57-3.07m), which formed in the Dark Age Cool Period (DACP), MWP and LIA were classified based on the lithostratigraphy, grain size distribution, magnetic susceptibility and geochemistry of a drilling core taken from the west coast of Hwaseong City. The unconformity surfaces as boundaries of the units were also identified by the lithostratigraphy shown on the drilling core. We propoese that sedimentation was dominant in the area during the periods of sea level rise, whereas erosion prevailed during the periods of sea level fall. Particularly, extreme events, such as floods and typhoons are believed to have accelerated these processes, and we found the associated evidence in sediments of two units. This study provides an example of estimating the relative sea level variation using coastal sediments and may be useful for studying past sea level changes around the Korean Peninsula.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.128-133
• /
• 2024

Although antisolvent-assisted crystallization is one of the promising processes to produce high-quality perovskite films, general antisolvents such as chlorobenzene (CB) have toxic and volatile properties. In addition, CB is not suitable to control the crystallization of perovskite in the atmospheric air. In this work, isopropyl acetate (IA) is used as an eco-friendly antisolvent to demonstrate air-processed perovskite solar cells, and ethyl-4-cyanocinnamate (E4CN) with a cyano group, carbonyl group, and aromatic ring is introduced in IA to improve the performance and stability of devices. Defects at the surface and grain boundaries of the perovskite layer, such as un-coordinated Pb²⁺ and iodine, can be decreased resulting from the interaction of E4CN and perovskite, and thus reduced recombination and enhanced carrier transport can be expected. As a result, the perovskite device with E4CN achieves a high maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.89% and outstanding stability, maintaining 60% of the initial efficiency for 300 h in the air without any encapsulation.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.227-244
• /
• 2010

Abundant spinel lherzolite xenoliths showing distinctively different textural types such as protogranular, porphyroclastic, and mylonitic texture are trapped in the basaltic rocks from southeastern part of Jeju Island. These xenoliths show the textural spectrum from coarse-grained protogranular through porphyroclastic with bimodal grain size to fine-grained and foliated mylonitic texture. They tend to decrease in grain sizes and show more linear grain boundaries and more frequent triple junctions from protogranular through porphyroclastic to mylonitic. Spinel has different occurrence mode according the textural type. Spinel is always associated with orthopyroxene in protogranular texture, whereas it is scattered and independent of orthopyroxene in mylonitic texture. Additionally, porphyroblast from porphyroclastic and mylonitic textures has internal deformation features such as kink band, undulatory extinction and curved lamella, whereas neoblast is strain-free. These textural features indicate increasing degree of static/dynamic recrystallization from protogranular through porphyroclastic to mylonitic texture. The mg#[$=100{\times}Mg/(Mg+Fe_t)$] of olivine, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene is relatively constant (ol: 88-91; opx: 89-92; cpx: 89-92) regardless of textural differences. The mg# of constituent minerals, NiO content (0.3~0.4 wt%) and MnO content (0.1~0.2 wt%) of olivine are similar to those of mantle xenoliths worldwide, also indicating that studied spinel lherzolite xenoliths were mantle residues having experienced 20~25% partial melting. The geochemical and textural characteristics have close relations showing that LREE and incompatible trace elements content of orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene increases from protogranular through porphyroclastic to mylonitic. These observations suggest that the studied mantle xenoliths experienced metasomatism by LREE enriched melt or fluid after partial melting, indicating a close relation between deformation and metasomatism. The metasomatism was possibly confined to narrow shear zones from where porphyroclastic and mylonitic textured xenoliths originated. These shear zones might favorably drive the percolation of LREE-enriched melts/fluids responsible for the metasomatism in the lithospheric mantle below the Jeju Island.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.61-67
• /
• 2009

Electrolessly deposited Co (Re,P) was investigated as a possible capping layer for Cu wires. 50 nm Co (Re,P) films were deposited on Cu/Ti-coated silicon wafers which acted as a catalytic seed and an adhesion layer, respectively. To obtain the optimized bath composition, electroless deposition was studied through an electrochemical approach via a linear sweep voltammetry analysis. The results of using this method showed that the best deposition conditions were a $CoSO_4$ concentration of 0.082 mol/l, a solution pH of 9, a $KReO_4$ concentration of 0.0003 mol/l and sodium hypophosphite concentration of 0.1 mol/L at $80^{\circ}C$. The thermal stability of the Co (Re,P) layer as a barrier preventing Cu was evaluated using Auger electron spectroscopy and a Scanning calorimeter. The measurement results showed that Re impurities stabilized the h.c.p. phase up to $550^{\circ}C$ and that the Co (Re,P) film efficiently blocked Cu diffusion under an annealing temperature of $400^{\circ}C$ for 1hr. The good barrier properties that were observed can be explained by the nano-sized grains along with the blocking effect of the impurities at the fast diffusion path of the grain boundaries. The transformation temperature from the amorphous to crystal structure is increased by doping the Re.