• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.201-213
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• 2023

Corrosion management of an aircraft and its engine relies on rinsing and cleaning using tap water. Few studies have reported effects of tap water species on corrosion behaviors of structural materials. In this study, a series of experiments were conducted based on the design of experiment. Solutions with different levels of chloride and sulfate ions were prepared using a full factorial design. Two structural materials (aluminum alloy and steel) were used for an alternate immersion test. Weight loss was then measured. In addition, a silver specimen was utilized as a sensor for chloride deposition measurement. The silver specimen was examined using the electrochemical reduction method, XPS, and SEM-EDS. Surface analysis revealed that levels of chloride and sulfate ions were sufficient for the formation of silver chloride and silver surface. Statistical analysis of weight loss and chloride deposition rate showed significant differences in measured values. Concentration of chloride ions greatly affected corrosion behaviors of structural materials. Sulfate ion hindered the adsorption reaction. These results emphasize the importance of controlling ion concentration of tap water used for cleaning and rinsing an aircraft.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.388-396
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• 2023

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a vital source of clean and sustainable hydrogen energy. Moreover, the large-scale H₂ production is currently necessary, while long-term stability and high PEC activity still remain important issues. In this study, a GaN-based photoelectrode was modified by an additional NH₃ treatment (900℃ for 10 min) and its PEC behavior was monitored. The bare GaN exhibited a highly crystalline wurtzite structure with the (002) plane and the optical bandgap was approximately 3.2 eV. In comparison, the NH₃-treated GaN film exhibited slightly reduced crystallinity and a small improvement in light absorption, resulting from the lattice stress or cracks induced by the excessive N supply. The minor surface nanotexturing created more surface area, providing electroactive reacting sites. From the surface XPS analysis, the formation of an N-Ga-O phase on the surface region of the GaN film was confirmed, which suppressed the charge recombination process and the positive shift of E_FB. Therefore, these effects boosted the PEC activity of the NH₃-treated GaN film, with J values of approximately 0.35 and 0.78 mA·cm^-2 at 0.0 and 1.23 V_RHE, respectively, and an onset potential (V_on) of -0.24 V_RHE. In addition, there was an approximate 50% improvement in the J value within the highly applied potential region with a positive shift of V_on. This result could be explained by the increased nanotexturing on the surface structure, the newly formed defect/trap states correlated to the positive V_on shift, and the formation of a GaO_xN_1-x phase, which partially blocked the charge recombination reaction.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.558-564
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• 2023

In this study, we designed and manufactured a large angular contact ball bearing (LACBB) with low deformation using JIS-SUJ2 steel and analyzed changes in its structural characteristics and chemical composition upon heat treatment. The bearing was produced by hot forging and heat treatment including a quenching and tempering (Q/T) process, and its properties were analyzed using 4 mm thick specimens. A difference in the size distribution of the carbide in the outer and inner parts of the bearing was observed and it was confirmed that large and non-uniform carbide was distributed in the inner part of the bearing. After heat treatment, the hardness value of the outer part increased from 13.4 HRC to 61 HRC and the inner part increased from 8.0 HRC to 59.7 HRC. As a result of X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, the volume fraction of the retained austenite contained in the outer part was calculated to be 3.5~4.8 % and the inner part was calculated to be 3.6~5.0 %. The surface chemical composition and the content of chemical bonds were quantified through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and a decrease in C=C bonds and an increase in Fe-C bonds were confirmed.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.530-536
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• 2023

The theoretical capacity of silicon-based anode materials is more than 10 times higher than the capacity of graphite, so silicon can be used as an alternative to graphite anode materials. However, silicon has a much higher contraction and expansion rate due to lithiation of the anode material during the charge and discharge processes, compared to graphite anode materials, resulting in the pulverization of silicon particles during repeated charge and discharge. To compensate for the above issues, there is a growing interest in SiO_x materials with a silica or carbon coating to minimize the expansion of the silicon. In this study, spherical silica (SiO₂) was synthesized using TEOS as a starting material for the fabrication of such SiO_x through heating in a reduction atmosphere. SiO_x powder was produced by adding PVA as a carbon source and inducing the reduction of silica by the carbothermal reduction method. The ratio of TEOS to distilled water, the stirring time, and the amount of PVA added were adjusted to induce size and morphology, resulting in uniform nanosized spherical silica particles. For the reduction of the spherical monodisperse silica particles, a nitrogen gas atmosphere mixed with 5 % hydrogen was applied, and oxygen atoms in the silica were selectively removed by the carbothermal reduction method. The produced SiO_x powder was characterized by FE-SEM to examine the morphology and size changes of the particles, and XPS and FT-IR were used to examine the x value (O/Si ratio) of the synthesized SiO_x.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.24-32
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• 2023

Continuous increase of domestic meat consumption has inevitably increased generation of livestock manure and caused severe environmental impacts on ecosystem and human beings. This work produced biochar from cattle manure samples with different composting aging stages and investigated the properties of the produced biochar. The result of thermogravimetric analysis showed that thermal decomposition of the manure initiated at <600℃. The biochar yield was higher for the manure with a longer pre-composting period due to the elimination of microbially metabolized carbons during composting process. The result of FT-IR analysis showed that the number of surface functional groups were reduced during pyrolysis while enhancing the graphitic structures of the carbon framework. Manure samples tended to leach out N and P in leaching tests, with its amount higher for aged one than fresh one. However, their leaching was substantially suppressed when the manure was produced into biochar. In XPS spectra, it was found that N and P in the manure incorporated into biochar surface to form N-doped graphitic carbon and P-N-moieties, respectively. The findings of this work suggest that the thermochemical process can be of a viable option to valorize into biochar for potential environmental applications as well as to alleviate undesired nutrients loading to the environment.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.299-308
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• 2023

In this study, phosphorus (P)-doped nickel cobaltite (P-NiCo₂O₄) and nickel-cobalt layered double hydroxide (P-NiCo-LDH) were synthesized on nickel (Ni) foam as a conductive support using hydrothermal synthesis. The thermal properties, crystal structure, microscopic surface morphology, chemical distribution, electronic state of the constituent elements on the sample surface, and electrical properties of the synthesized P-NiCo₂O₄ and P-NiCo-LDH samples were analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis-differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The P-NiCo₂O₄ electrode exhibited a specific capacitance of 1,129 Fg^-1 at a current density of 1 Ag^-1, while the P-NiCo-LDH electrode displayed a specific capacitance of 1,012 Fg^-1 at a current density of 1 Ag-1. When assessing capacity changes for 3,000 cycles, the P-NiCo₂O₄ electrode exhibited a capacity retention rate of 54%, whereas the P-NiCo-LDH electrode showed a capacity retention rate of 57%.

• Advances in nano research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-52
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• 2024

In this study, rare-earth orthoferrites LnFeO₃ were synthesized using a facile hydrothermal reaction and their visible-light-induced photo-Fenton degradation of organics was optimized through Ln variation (Ln = La, Pr, or Gd). The morphological, structural, and chemical characteristics of as-prepared samples were examined in detail by using different methods, including XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, etc. On the other side, under visible light illumination, the photo-Fenton-like catalytic activities of LnFeO₃ were assessed in terms of the removal of selected organic models, i.e., pharmaceuticals (ketoprofen and tetracycline) and dyes (rhodamine B and methyl orange). As compared with PrFeO₃ or GdFeO₃, the sample of LaFeO₃ displayed more structural distortion, larger specific surface area, and narrower band gap, resulting in its higher photo-Fenton-like catalytic activity toward the degradation of organics. In organic-containing solution, in which the initial solution pH = 5, catalyst dosage = 1 g/L and H₂O₂ concentration = 10 mM, 98.2% of rhodamine B, 31.1% of methyl orange, 67.7% of ketoprofen, or 96.4% of tetracycline was removed after 90-min exposure to simulated visible light. Our findings revealed that variation of Ln site on rare-earth orthoferrites was an effective strategy for optimizing their organic removal via visible-light-induced photo-Fenton reaction.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2024

This work presents experimental data and modelling of the release of Mo from high-burnup spent nuclear fuel (63 MWd/kgU) at two different pH values, 8.4 and 13.2 in air. The release of Mo from SF to the solution is around two orders of magnitude higher at pH = 13.2 than at pH = 8.4. The high Mo release at high pH would indicate that Mo would not be congruently released with uranium and would have an important contribution to the Instant Release Fraction, with a value of 5.3%. Parallel experiments with pure non irradiated Mo(s) and XPS determinations indicated that the faster dissolution at pH = 13.2 could be the consequence of the higher releases from metallic Mo in the fuel through a surface complexation mechanism promoted by the OH^- and the oxidation of the metal to Mo(VI) via the formation of intermediate Mo(IV) and Mo(V) species.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.46-57
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• 2024

In this study, the various process conditions for high-power DC Magnetron Sputtering (DCMS) on the surface roughness of carbon thin films were investigated. The optimal conditions for Si/C coating were 40min for deposition time, which does not deviate from normal plasma, to obtain the maximum deposition rate, and the conditions for the best surface roughness were -16volt bias voltage and 400watt DC power with 1.3x10-3torr chamber pressure. Under these optimal conditions, an excellent carbon thin film with a surface roughness of 1.62nm and a thickness of 724nm was obtained. As a result of XPS analysis, it was confirmed that the GLC structure (sp² bonding) was more dominant than the DLC structure (sp³ bonding) in the thin film structure of the carbon composite layer formed by DC sputtering. Except in infrequent cases of relatively plasma instability, the lower bias voltage and applied power induces smaller surface roughness value due to the cooling effect and particle densification. For the optimal conditions for Graphite/C composite layer coating, a roughness of 36.3 nm and a thickness of 711 nm was obtained under the same conditions of the optimal process conditions for Si/C coating. This layer showed a immensely low roughness value compared to the roughness of bare graphite of 242 nm which verifies that carbon coating using DC sputtering is highly effective in modifying the surface of graphite molds for glass forming.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.152-162
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• 2024

In this study, we introduce a novel TiN/Ag embedded TiO₂/FTO resistive random-access memory (RRAM) device. This distinctive device was fabricated using an environmentally sustainable, solution-based thin film manufacturing process. Utilizing the peroxo titanium complex (PTC) method, we successfully incorporated Ag precursors into the device architecture, markedly enhancing its performance. This innovative approach effectively mitigates the random filament formation typically observed in RRAM devices, and leverages the seed effect to guide filament growth. As a result, the device demonstrates switching behavior at substantially reduced voltage and current levels, heralding a new era of low-power RRAM operation. The changes occurring within the insulator depending on Ag contents were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Additionally, we confirmed the correlation between Ag and oxygen vacancies (V_o). The current-voltage (I-V) curves obtained suggest that as the Ag content increases there is a change in the operating mechanism, from the space charge limited conduction (SCLC) model to ionic conduction mechanism. We propose a new filament model based on changes in filament configuration and the change in conduction mechanisms. Further, we propose a novel filament model that encapsulates this shift in conduction behavior. This model illustrates how introducing Ag alters the filament configuration within the device, leading to a more efficient and controlled resistive switching process.