• Title/Summary/Keyword: Inert electrode

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Investigation on Nd:YAG Laser Weldability of Zircaloy-4 End Cap Closure for Nuclear Fuel Elements

  • Kim, Soo-Sung;Lee, Chul-Yung;Yang, Myung-Seung
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.33 no.2
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    • pp.175-183
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    • 2001
  • Various welding processes are now available for end cap closure of nuclear fuel element such as TG(Tungsten Inert Gas) welding, magnetic resistance welding and laser welding. Even though the resistance and TIG welding processes are widely used for manufacturing commercial fuel elements, they can not be recommended for the remote seal welding of a fuel element at a hot cell facility due to the complexity of electrode alignment, difficulity in the replacement of parts in the remote manner and a large heat input for a thin sheath. Therefore, the Nd:YAG laser system using optical fiber transmission was selected for Zircaloy-4 end cap welding inside hot cell. The laser welding apparatus was developed using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser of 500 watt average power with optical fiber transmission. The weldability of laser welding was satisfactory with respect to the microstructures and mechanical properties comparing with TIG and resistance welding. The optimum operation processes of laser welding and the optical fiber transmission system for hot cell operation in a remote manner have been developed The effects of irradiation on the properties of the laser apparatus were also being studied.

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Evaluations of Si based ternary anode materials by using RF/DC magnetron sputtering for lithium ion batteries

  • Hwang, Chang-Muk;Park, Jong-Wan
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2010.08a
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    • pp.302-303
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    • 2010
  • Generally, the high energy lithium ion batteries depend intimately on the high capacity of electrode materials. For anode materials, the capacity of commercial graphite is unlike to increase much further due to its lower theoretical capacity of 372 mAhg-1. To improve upon graphite-based negative electrode materials for Li-ion rechargeable batteries, alternative anode materials with higher capacity are needed. Therefore, some metal anodes with high theoretic capacity, such as Si, Sn, Ge, Al, and Sb have been studied extensively. This work focuses on ternary Si-M1-M2 composite system, where M1 is Ge that alloys with Li, which has good cyclability and high specific capacity and M2 is Mo that does not alloy with Li. The Si shows the highest gravimetric capacity (up to 4000mAhg-1 for Li21Si5). Although Si is the most promising of the next generation anodes, it undergoes a large volume change during lithium insertion and extraction. It results in pulverization of the Si and loss of electrical contact between the Si and the current collector during the lithiation and delithiation. Thus, its capacity fades rapidly during cycling. Si thin film is more resistant to fracture than bulk Si because the film is firmly attached to the substrate. Thus, Si film could achieve good cycleability as well as high capacity. To improve the cycle performance of Si, Suzuki et al. prepared two components active (Si)-active(Sn, like Ge) elements film by vacuum deposition, where Sn particles dispersed homogeneously in the Si matrix. This film showed excellent rate capability than pure Si thin film. In this work, second element, Ge shows also high capacity (about 2500mAhg-1 for Li21Ge5) and has good cyclability although it undergoes a large volume change likewise Si. But only Ge does not use the anode due to its costs. Therefore, the electrode should be consisted of moderately Ge contents. Third element, Mo is an element that does not alloys with Li such as Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, V, Zr. In our previous research work, we have fabricated Si-Mo (active-inactive elements) composite negative electrodes by using RF/DC magnetron sputtering method. The electrodes showed excellent cycle characteristics. The Mo-silicide (inert matrix) dispersed homogeneously in the Si matrix and prevents the active material from aggregating. However, the thicker film than $3\;{\mu}m$ with high Mo contents showed poor cycling performance, which was attributed to the internal stress related to thickness. In order to deal with the large volume expansion of Si anode, great efforts were paid on material design. One of the effective ways is to find suitably three-elements (Si-Ge-Mo) contents. In this study, the Si based composites of 45~65 Si at.% and 23~43 Ge at.%, and 12~32 Mo at.% are evaluated the electrochemical characteristics and cycle performances as an anode. Results from six different compositions of Si-Ge-Mo are presented compared to only the Si and Ge negative electrodes.

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Morphological Structural and Electrical Properties of DC Magnetron Sputtered Mo Thin Films for Solar Cell Application

  • Fan, Rong;Jung, Sung-Hee;Chung, Chee-Won
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2012.02a
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    • pp.389-389
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    • 2012
  • Molybdenum is one of the most important materials used as a back ohmic contact for $Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)_2$ (CIGS) solar cells because it has good electrical properties as an inert and mechanically durable substrate during the absorber film growth. Sputter deposition is the common deposition process for Mo thin films. Molybdenum thin films were deposited on soda lime glass (SLG) substrates using direct-current planar magnetron sputtering technique. The outdiffusion of Na from the SLG through the Mo film to the CIGS based solar cell, also plays an important role in enhancing the device electrical properties and its performance. The structure, surface morphology and electrical characteristics of Mo thin films are generally dependent on deposition parameters such as DC power, pressure, distance between target and substrate, and deposition temperature. The aim of the present study is to show the resistivity of Mo layers, their crystallinity and morphologies, which are influenced by the substrate temperature. The thickness of Mo films is measured by Tencor-P1 profiler. The crystal structures are analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD: X'Pert MPD PRO / Philips). The resistivity of Mo thin films was measured by Hall effect measurement system (HMS-3000/0.55T). The surface morphology and grain shape of the films were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM: Hitachi S-4300). The chemical composition of the films was obtained by the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Finally the optimum substrate temperature as well as deposition conditions for Mo thin films will be developed.

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Effect of Ti substitution on electrochemical properties $Li_{0.44}MnO_2$ synthesized by solid state reaction (고상반응법에 의해 제조된 $Li_{0.44}MnO_2$의 전기화학적 성질에 미치는 Ti 치환의 영향)

  • ;Marca M. Doeff;Abraham Anapolsky;Thomas J. Richardson
    • Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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    • v.10 no.5
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    • pp.362-366
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    • 2000
  • $Li_{0.44}MnO_2$cathode material has high reversibility during lithium insertion processes and is not easily damaged through over-charging or over-discharging. $Mn_2O_3$is often present as an impurity phase, and reduce the electrochemical capacity of electrode because this phase is electrochemically inert. Adding of excess NaOH reduced the $Mn_2O_3$to the content under undetectable by X-ray diffraction. Because the capacity can be increased in the cathode materials with larger unit cell, some of the manganese was replaced with titanium having larger ion size, and powders with the formula $Li_{0.44}T_{iy}Mn_{1-y}O_2$(where y = 0.11, 0.22, 0.33, 0.44, and 0.55) was synthesized and characterized. A maximum reversible capacity of 150 mAh/g was obtained for $Li/P(EO)_8$LiTFSI/$Li_{0.44}Ti_{0.22}Mn_{0.78}O_2$cells in electrochemical potential spectroscopy (ECPS) experiments. Cells with the titanium-doped manganese oxides exhibited a fade rate of 0.12 % or less per cycle.

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Effect of Cl2 on Electrodeposition Behavior in Electrowinning Process

  • Kim, Si Hyung;Kim, Taek-Jin;Kim, Gha-Young;Shim, Jun-Bo;Paek, Seungwoo;Lee, Sung-Jai
    • Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
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    • 2017.10a
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    • pp.73-73
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    • 2017
  • Pyroprocessing at KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) consists of pretreatment, electroreduction, electrorefining and electrowinning. SFR (Sodium Fast Reactor) fuel is prepared from the electrowinning process which is composed of LCC (Liquid Cadmium Process) and Cd distillation et al. LCC is an electrochemical process to obtain actinides from spent fuel. In order to recover actinides inert anodes such as carbon material are used, where chlorine gas ($Cl_2$) evolves on the surface of the carbon material. And, stainless steel (SUS) crucible should be installed in large-scale electrowinning system. Therefore, the effect of chlorine on the SUS material needs to be studied. LiCl-KCl-$UCl_3$-$NdCl_3$-$CeCl_3$-$LaCl_3$-$YCl_3$ salt was contained in 2 kinds of electrolytic crucible having an inner diameter of 5cm, made of an insulated alumina and an SUS, respectively. And, three kinds of electrodes such as cathode, anode, reference were used for the electrochemical experiments. Both solid tungsten (W) and LCC were used as cathodes. Cd of 45 g as the cathode material was contained in alumina crucibles for the deposition experiments, where the crucible has an inner diameter of 3 cm. Glassy carbon rod with the diameter of 0.3 cm was employed as an anode, where shroud was not used for the anode. A pyrex tube containing LiCl-KCl-1mol% AgCl and silver (Ag) wire having a diameter of 0.1cm was used as a reference electrode. Electrodeposition experiments were conducted at $500^{\circ}C$ at the current densities of $50{\sim}100mA/cm^2$. In conclusion, Fe ions were produced in the salt during the electrodeposition by the reaction of chlorine evolved from the anode and Fe of the SUS crucible and thereby LCC system using SUS crucible showed very low current efficiencies compared with the system using the insulated alumina crucible. Anode shroud needs to be installed around the glassy carbon not to influence surrounding SUS material.

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The Conversion of Methane with Oxygenated Gases using Atmospheric Dielectric Barrier Discharge (배리어방전을 이용한 메탄전환반응에서 함산소 가스가 전환율 및 생성물변화에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee Kwang-Sik;Yeo Yeong-Koo;Choi Jae-Wook;Lee Hwa-Ung;Song Hyung-Keun;Na Byung-Ki
    • Journal of Energy Engineering
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    • v.15 no.1 s.45
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    • pp.52-59
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    • 2006
  • This paper examined the conversion of methane to hydrogen and other higher hydrocarbons using dielectric barrier discharge with AC pulse power. Two metal electrodes of a coaxial-type plasma reactor were separated by gas gap and an alumina tube. The inner electrode was located inside the alumina tube. The alumina tube was located inside the stainless steel tube, which was used as the outer electrode. Effect of feed gas composition (methane, oxygen, argon, water and helium), flow rate, applied frequency, input volt-age on methane conversion and product distribution were studied. The major products of plasma chemical reactions were ethylene, ethane, propane, buthane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The increment of applied voltage and the usage of inert gas as the background (helium and argon) enhanced the selectivity of hydrocarbons and methane conversion. The addition of water in the feed stream enhanced the conversion of methane and yield of hydrogen. Higher voltage leads to higher yield of $C_2H_6,\;C_3H_8,\;C_4H_{10}$ and yield or $C_2H_2\;and\;C_2H_4$ appeared highly in lower voltage.

Study of Polysulfone Membrane for Membrane-covered Oxygen Probe System (산소 전극 시스템에 사용되는 polysulfone막에 대한 연구)

  • Hong, Suk In;Kim, Hyun Joon;Park, Hee Young;Kim, Tae Jin;Jeong, Yong Seob
    • Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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    • v.7 no.5
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    • pp.877-887
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    • 1996
  • The ideal membranes for membrane-covered oxygen probes system should be selectively permeable for oxygen and chemically inert, and have good mechanical strength. Polysulfone(PSf) was selected to develop the membrane for membrane-covered oxygen electrodes system. PSf membranes have properties such as good reproducibility, good mechanical strength, chemical inertness, and high heat resistance. PSf membranes were cast from polymer solution on the glass plate at constant temperature, and casting solvents used were tetrahydrofuran(THF), methylene chloride, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone(NMP). Tricresyl phosphate(TCP) as plasicizer was added to PSf to increase the softness of membrane. The permeation characteristics were observed for pure oxygen and nitrogen through pure PSf membranes by variable volume method and membrane-covered electrode system. The permeability coefficients of oxygen and nitrogen measured by variable volume method were slightly decreased with increasing of upstream pressure. The permeation properties of PSf membrane using methylene choride as casting solvent were not affected by the PSf amount of polymer solution. The permeability coefficients of oxygen and nitrogen for PSf membrane containing TCP were very slightly lower than those for pure PSf membrane, but ideal separation factors were slightly higher. The flexibility of PSf membrane containing 2wt% TCP was better than that of pure PSf membrane. It was expected that this increase in flexibility would solve the difficulty of fixing the membrane to the cathode. The membrane-covered oxygen probes system was composed of anode, cathode and electrolyte. The type of the anode was Ag/AgCl half-cell, that of cathode was Ag, and the electrolyte was 4N KCl solution. The result of sampled current voltametry for PSf membrane showed the plateu region at -0.3V~-1.0V. The correlation coefficient of oxygen partial pressure versus current for PSf membrane was relatively high, 0.99949. It was concluded that PSf membrane was the good candidate for the membrane-covered oxygen probes system.

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