• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.50 no.5
• /
• pp.341-352
• /
• 2017

Along with Cs-137 (half-life: 30.17 years), Sr-90 (half-life: 28.8 years) is one of the most important environmental monitoring radioactive elements. Rapid and easy monitoring method for Sr-90 using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) has been studied. Strontium belongs to a bivalent alkaline earth metal such as calcium and has similar electron arrangement and size. Due to these similar chemical properties, it can easily enter into the human body through the food chain via water, soil, and crops when leaked into the environment. In addition, it is immersed into the bone at the case of human influx and causes the toxicity for a long time (biological half-life: about 50 years). It is a very reductive and related with the specific reaction that makes wet analysis difficult. In particular, radioactive strontium should be monitored by nuclear power plants but it is very difficult to be analysed from high-cost problems as well as low accuracy of analysis due to complicated analysis procedures, expensive analysis equipment, and a pretreatment process of using massive chemicals. Therefore, we introduce the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) analysis method that analyzes the elements in the sample using the inherent spectrum by generating plasma on the sample using pulse energy, and it can be analyzed in a few seconds without preprocessing. A variety of analytical plates for samples were developed to improve the analytical sensitivity by optimizing the laser, wavelength, and time resolution. This can be effectively applied to real-time monitoring of radioactive wastewater discharged from a nuclear power plant, and furthermore, it can be applied as an emergency monitoring means such as possible future accidents at a nuclear power plants.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.235-244
• /
• 2013

Detection of halogens using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) in open air is very difficult since their strong atomic emission lines are located in VUV region. In NIR region, there are other emission lines of halogens through electronic transitions between excited states. However, these lines undergo Stark broadening severely. We report the observation of the emission lines of halogens in laser-induced plasma (LIP) spectra in NIR region using a helium gas flow. Particularly, the emission lines of iodine at 804.374 and 905.833 nm from LIPs have been observed for the first time. In the helium ambient gas, Stark broadening of the emission lines and background continuum emission could be suppressed significantly. Variations of the line intensity, plasma temperature, and electron density with the helium flow rate was investigated. Detection of chlorine and bromine in flame retardant of rubbers was demonstrated using this method. Finally, we suggest a pulsed helium gas jet as a practical and ecomonical helium gas source for the LIBS analysis of halogens in open air.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.191-197
• /
• 2017

The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has developed a safeguards technology for pyroprocessing based on the Safeguards-By-Design (SBD) concept. KAERI took part in a Member-State Support Program (MSSP) to establish a pyroprocessing safeguards approach. A Reference Engineering-scale Pyroprocessing Facility (REPF) concept was designed on which KAERI developed its safeguards system. Recently the REPF is being upgraded to the REPF+, a scaled-up facility. For assessment of the nuclear-material accountancy (NMA) system, KAERI has developed a simulation program named Pyroprocessing Material Flow and MUF Uncertainty Simulation (PYMUS). The PYMUS is currently being upgraded to include a Near-Real-Time Accountancy (NRTA) statistical analysis function. The Advanced Spent Fuel Conditioning Process Safeguards Neutron Counter (ASNC) has been updated as Non-Destructive Assay (NDA) equipment for input-material accountancy, and a Hybrid Induced-fission-based Pu-Accounting Instrument (HIPAI) has been developed for the NMA of uranium/transuranic (U/TRU) ingots. Currently, performance testing of Compton-suppressed Gamma-ray measurement, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), and homogenization sampling are underway. These efforts will provide an essential basis for the realization of an advanced nuclear-fuel cycle in the ROK.

• New Physics: Sae Mulli
• /
• v.68 no.12
• /
• pp.1315-1323
• /
• 2018

We studied the carbonization due to the annealing condition of waste coffee powder for application as an active anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The coffee powder used as an active anode material for LIBs was obtained from coffee beans, not from a coffee shells. The waste coffee powder was dried in air and heat-treated in an $Ar/H_2$ atmosphere to obtain a pore-forming activated carbon powder. The specific capacity of the sample annealed at $700^{\circ}C$ was still 303 mAh/g after 1000 cycles at a current density of 1000 mA/g and with a coulombic efficiency of over 99.5%. The number of pores and the pore size of the waste coffee powder were increased due to chemical treatment with KOH, which had the some effect as an increased specific surface area. The waste coffee powder is considered to be a very promising active anode material because of both its excellent electrochemical properties due to enhanced carrier conduction and its being a cost effective resource for use in LIBs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
• /
• 2011.11a
• /
• pp.608-611
• /
• 2011

Laser-induced combustions and explosions generated by high laser irradiances were explored by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) in rich, and stoichiometric conditions. The laser used for target ablation is a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with 7 ns pulse duration at wavelength of 1064 nm laser energies from 40 mJ to 2500 mJ ($6.88{\times}10^{10}-6.53{\times}10^{11}\;W/cm^2$). The plasma light source from aluminum detected by the echelle grating spectrometer and coupled to the gated ICCD(a resolution (${\lambda}/{\Delta}{\lambda}$) of 5000). This spectroscopic study has been investigated for obtaining both the atomic signals of aluminum (fuel) - oxygen (oxidizer) and the calculated ambient condition (plasma temperature and electron density). The essence of the paper is observing specific electron density ratio which can support the processes of combustion and explosion between ablated aluminum plume and oxygen from air by inducing high power laser.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.1-11
• /
• 2012

Recently lithium ion secondary batteries (LIB) have rapidly developed because of their advantages such as high energy densities and capacities. Among them, an electrical vehicle which is the one of the environmental-friendly transportation facilities has been received a great attention, but, it is needed to overcome several obstacles of the LIB performances. LIB is practically adapted to Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV), but the issues for high capacities, long life time and safety should be solved. Moreover, LIBs still have some possibilities of explosion in the case of overheating of the used organic electrolyte and overcharging of the cell. Hence, it is urgently needed to replace the liquid electrolytes into the solid electrolytes due to the safety issues. Therefore, in this review, we summarized and discussed the research trends of the solid electrolyte to solve the concerns of safety and capacity of LIBs and published patents and articles.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.352-360
• /
• 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 Society of Propulsion Engineers
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2020

The characterization of aging of the pyrotechnic device is conducted thermally, chemically, and spectroscopically. The device is comprised of two parts: (i) igniter composed of Zr and (ii) pyrotechnic delay composed of ZrNi alloy. The thermally induced chemical reaction is identified through Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetry Analysis (TGA). The peak deconvolution of the themo-chemical data is used to estimate the enthalpy change of each metallic fuel component. Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) are used for chemical species analysis. The decomposition of oxidants by moisture significantly affected the fuel aging, and the formation of oxide film and metal oxide on the fuel surface gave rise to the thermal energy decrease.

• Proceedings of the Korean Radioactive Waste Society Conference
• /
• 2005.06a
• /
• pp.426-427
• /
• 2005

Advanced Spent Fuel Conditioning Process (ACP) is a pyrochemical process in which the spent fuel of PWR is transformed into the uranic metal ingot. Through this process, which has been developed in KAERI since 1998, the radioactivity, the radiotoxicity, the heat and the volume of the PWR spent fuel are reduced by a quarter of the original. To demonstrate a lab-scale process and extract the data for the later pilot-scale process, a demonstration facility of ACP (ACPF) is under construction and the lab-scale demonstration is slated for 2006. To establish the safeguardability of ACPF, a safeguards system including a neutron counter based on non-destructive assay, which is named as ACP Safeguards Neutron Counter (ASNC), the ACP Safeguards Surveillance System (ASSS) which consists of two neutron monitors and five IAEA cameras, and Laser Induced Breakdown System (LIBS) have been developed and are ready to be installed at ACPF. The target materials of ACP to assay with ASNC are categorized into three types among which the first is the uranic metal ingot, the second is the salt waste and the last is $UO_2$ and $U_{3}O_8$ powders, rod cuts and hulls. The Pu content of process nuclear materials can be accounted with ASNC. The ASSS is integrated in the ACP Intelligent Surveillance Software (AISS) in which the IAEA camera images and background signals at the rear doors of ACPF are displayed. The composition of special nuclear materials of ACP can be measured with LIBS which can be a supporting measurement tool for ASNC. The conceptual picture of safeguards system of ACPF is shown in Fig. 1.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.139-142
• /
• 2018

Silicon (Si) is a promising anode material for next-generation lithium ion batteries (LIBs) because of its high capacity of 4,200 mAh/g ($Li_{4.4}Si$ phase). However, the large volume expansion of Si during lithiation leads to electrical failure of electrode and rapid capacity decrease. Generally, a binder is homogeneously mixed with active materials to maintain electrical contact, so that Si needs a particular binding system due to its large volume expansion. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is known to form a hydrogen bond with partially hydrolyzed silicon oxide layer on Si nanoparticles. However, the decrease of its cohesiveness followed by the repeated volume change of Si still remains unsolved. To overcome this problem, we have introduced the electrospinning method to weave active materials in a stable nanofibrous PVA structure, where stresses from the large volume change of Si can be contained. We have confirmed that the capacity retention of Si-based LIBs using electrospun PVA matrix is higher compared to the conservative method (only dissolving in the slurry); the $25^{th}$ cycle capacity retention ratio based on the $2^{nd}$ cycle was 37% for the electrode with electrospun PVA matrix, compared to 27% and 8% for the electrodes with PVdF and PVA binders.