• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.3367-3378
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• 2021

The design phase and safety assessment of Generation IV liquid metal-cooled fast reactors calls for the improvement of fuel pin performance codes, in particular the enhancement of their predictive capabilities towards uranium-plutonium mixed oxide fuels and stainless-steel cladding under irradiation in fast reactor environments. To this end, the current capabilities of fuel performance codes must be critically assessed against experimental data from available irradiation experiments. This work is devoted to the assessment of three European fuel performance codes, namely GERMINAL, MACROS and TRANSURANUS, against the irradiation of two fuel pins selected from the SUPERFACT-1 experimental campaign. The pins are characterized by a low enrichment (~ 2 wt.%) of minor actinides (neptunium and americium) in the fuel, and by plutonium content and cladding material in line with design choices envisaged for liquid metal-cooled Generation IV reactor fuels. The predictions of the codes are compared to several experimental measurements, allowing the identification of the current code capabilities in predicting fuel restructuring, cladding deformation, redistribution of actinides and volatile fission products. The integral assessment against experimental data is complemented by a code-to-code benchmark focused on the evolution of quantities of engineering interest over time. The benchmark analysis points out the differences in the code predictions of fuel central temperature, fuel-cladding gap width, cladding outer radius, pin internal pressure and fission gas release and suggests potential modelling development paths towards an improved description of the fuel pin behaviour in fast reactor irradiation conditions.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.92-96
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• 2019

Transition metal oxide is widely used as a water electrolysis catalyst to substitute for a noble metal catalyst such as $IrO_2$ and $RuO_2$. In this study, the sol-gel method is used to synthesize the $Cu_xCo_{3-x}O_4$ catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER),. The CuxCo3-xO4 is synthesized at various calcination temperatures from $250^{\circ}C$ to $400^{\circ}C$ for 4 h. The $Cu_xCo_{3-x}O_4$ synthesized at $300^{\circ}C$ has a perfect spinel structure without residues of the precursor and secondary phases, such as CuO. The particle size of $Cu_xCo_{3-x}O_4$ increases with an increase in calcination temperature. Amongst all the samples studied, $Cu_xCo_{3-x}O_4$, which is synthesized at 300?, has the highest activity for the OER. Its onset potential for the OER is 370 mV and the overpotential at $10mA/cm^2$ is 438 mV. The tafel slope of $Cu_xCo_{3-x}O_4$ synthesized at $300^{\circ}C$ has a low value of 58 mV/dec. These results are mainly explained by the increase in the available active surface area of the $Cu_xCo_{3-x}O_4$ catalyst.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.395-399
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• 2011

Material of the gasket for lithium ion battery requires the chemical resistance, the electrical insulting property, the compression set, the anti-contamination level and the low temperature resistance. We compounded ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), which showed widely different solubility parameter index, with adjusting the amount of metal oxide as an activator. We did long-term test and compression set against an electrolyte with consideration for operating conditions in lithium-ion battery. In these tests, we checked the physical, chemical characteristics and the effect to lithium ion battery with different kinds of activators. In case of rubber with ZnO as an activator, through 1000 h depositing test in propylene carbonate which is one of representative solvents, we could get the satisfying characteristics and result. However, $Zn^{2+}$ had eluted in the ion elution test. So, ZnO should be limited in EPDM compound for the gasket material in lithium-ion battery.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.209-217
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• 2022

We have developed photosensitive electrochromic smart windows that does not require any transparent conducting oxide (TCO) substrate. In our previous study, we demonstrated that a flexible film-type device made with a low temperature curing WO₃ sol and TiO₂ sol could show a reversible and rapid switching between colored and bleached state via incorporation of platinum catalysts on the surface of WO₃ layer. However, when these devices were exposed to sunlight over 4 hour, it was confirmed that they did not return to fully bleached state in the darkened state due to their overcoloring process. In this study, we added 4-hydroxy-(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPOL) as an additive to the electrolyte of photosensitive electrochromic device to effectively prevent the undesired overcoloring process. The resulting device with TEMPOL indeed did not undergo excessive coloration and showed great reversibility even after being exposed to sunlight for over 4 hours. Various concentrations of TEMPOL were applied to compare changes in the visible transmittance and coloring/bleaching kinetics of devices. In terms of energetic point of view, we proposed a plausible mechanism of TEMPOL to prevent excessive coloration.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.464-470
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• 2009

For the investigation of the oxidation behavior for titanium metal at various temperatures, titanium specimens were heated for 2 hours in the range of $300{\sim}1000^{\circ}C$, individually. And then X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic analyses were carried out. At $300^{\circ}C$, infrared absorption bands on the surface of the titanium specimen were shown in a spectrum by the oxygen uptake of titanium metal(hexagonal). At increased temperature, not only infrared absorption bands but also X-ray diffraction peaks for the titanium oxide were grown and shifted to low wave number ($cm^{-1}$) and angle($^{\circ}$) due to the more oxygen diffusion into titanium metal. At $700^{\circ}C$, $Ti_3O$ (hexagonal phase) was identified by X-ray diffractometer. $TiO_2$ (rutile, tetragonal phase) layer was produced on the surface of the specimen below $1{\mu}m$ in thickness at $600^{\circ}C$, and grown about $2{\mu}m$ at $700^{\circ}C$ and with $110{\mu}m$ in thickness at $1000^{\circ}C$. Above $900^{\circ}C$, (110) plane of the crystal on the surface of rutile-$TiO_2$ layer was grown.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2024

β-Ga₂O₃ is a material with a wide band gap of ~4.8 eV and a high breakdown-voltage of 8 MV/cm, and is attracting much attention in the field of power device applications. In addition, compared to representative WBG semiconductor materials such as SiC, GaN and Diamond, it has the advantage of enabling single crystal growth with high growth rate and low manufacturing cost [1-4]. In this study, we succeeded in growing a 10 mm thick β-Ga₂O₃ single crystal doped with 0.3 mol% SnO₂ through the EFG (Edge-defined Film-fed Growth) method using multi-slit structure. The growth direction and growth plane were set to [010]/(010), respectively, and the growth speed was about 12 mm/h. The grown β-Ga₂O₃ single crystal was cut into various crystal planes (010, 001, 100, ${\bar{2}}01$) and surface processed. The processed samples were compared for characteristics according to crystal plane through analysis such as XRD, UV/VIS/NIR/Spec., Mercury Probe, AFM and Etching. This research is expected to contribute to the development of power semiconductor technology in high-voltage and high-temperature applications, and selecting a substrate with better characteristics will play an important role in improving device performance and reliability.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.556-561
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• 2001

We prepared a new a SOS(silicon-on-silicide) wafer pair which is consisted of Si(100)/1000$\AA$-NiSi Si (100) layers. SOS can be employed in MEMS(micro- electronic-mechanical system) application due to low resistance of the NiSi layer. A thermally evaporated $1000\AA$-thick Ni/Si wafer and a clean Si wafer were pre-mated in the class 100 clean room, then annealed at $300~900^{\circ}C$ for 15hrs to induce silicidation reaction. SOS wafer pairs were investigated by a IR camera to measure bonded area and probed by a SEM(scanning electron microscope) and TEM(transmission electron microscope) to observe cross-sectional view of Si/NiSi. IR camera observation showed that the annealed SOS wafer pairs have over 52% bonded area in all temperature region except silicidation phase transition temperature. By probing cross-sectional view with SEM of magnification of 30,000, we found that $1000\AA$-thick uniform NiSi layer was formed at the center area of bonded wafers without void defects. However we observed debonded area at the edge area of wafers. Through TEM observation, we found that $10-20\AA$ thick amourphous layer formed between Si surface and NiSix near the counter part of SOS. This layer may be an oxide layer and lead to degradation of bonding. At the edge area of wafers, that amorphous layer was formed even to thickness of $1500\AA$ during annealing. Therefore, to increase bonding area of Si NiSi ∥ Si wafer pairs, we may lessen the amorphous layers.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.40 no.1 s.182
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• pp.1-14
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• 2007

The Guemseong mine is located near the southern margin of the Jurassic Jecheon granitoids collectively with the Cambro-Ordovician mixed dolostone-limestone series of the Yeongweol Group, Choseon Supergroup. Here, two spatially distinct types of skarn formation have been observed. The upper transitional skarn is the calcic Mo skarn which has the mineral assemblage of $garnet+hedenbergite+epidote{\pm}wollastonite{\pm}magnetite{\pm}hematite{\pm}amphibole{\pm}chlorite{\pm}vesuvianite$ within the calcite marble. On the other hand, the lower proximal skarn occurs as a discordant magnesian Fe skarn at the contact of Mo-bearing aplitic cupolas with unidirectional solidification texture(UST) within the dolomitic marble. The magnesian Fe skarn has the mineral assemlage $olivine+diopside+magnetite+tremolite+serpentine+talc+chlorite{\pm}phlogopite$. The formation of two different types of skarn and ore mineralization in Geumseong mine have been attributed to multistage and complex metasomatic replacements that ultimately resulted in silicate-oxide-sulfide sequence of metasomatism. An early prograde stage with anhydrous skarn minerals such as olivine, clinopyroxene and/or garnet with magnetite, formed from high temperature (about $500^{\circ}\;to\;400^{\circ}C$) at an environmental condition of low $CO_2$ fugacity ($XCO_2<0.1$) and 0.5 kbar. The later retrograde stage with hydrous silicates such as amphibole, serpentine, phlogopite, epidote and chlorite with molybdenite or hematite, termed from relatively lower temperature (about $400^{\circ}\;to\;300^{\circ}C$).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.603-616
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• 2007

Roy Huddle, having invented the coated particle in Harwell 1957, stated in the early 1970s that we know now everything about particles and coatings and should be going over to deal with other problems. This was on the occasion of the Dragon fuel performance information meeting London 1973: How wrong a genius be! It took until 1978 that really good particles were made in Germany, then during the Japanese HTTR production in the 1990s and finally the Chinese 2000-2001 campaign for HTR-10. Here, we present a review of history and present status. Today, good fuel is measured by different standards from the seventies: where $9*10^{-4}$ initial free heavy metal fraction was typical for early AVR carbide fuel and $3*10^{-4}$ initial free heavy metal fraction was acceptable for oxide fuel in THTR, we insist on values more than an order of magnitude below this value today. Half a percent of particle failure at the end-of-irradiation, another ancient standard, is not even acceptable today, even for the most severe accidents. While legislation and licensing has not changed, one of the reasons we insist on these improvements is the preference for passive systems rather than active controls of earlier times. After renewed HTGR interest, we are reporting about the start of new or reactivated coated particle work in several parts of the world, considering the aspects of designs/ traditional and new materials, manufacturing technologies/ quality control quality assurance, irradiation and accident performance, modeling and performance predictions, and fuel cycle aspects and spent fuel treatment. In very general terms, the coated particle should be strong, reliable, retentive, and affordable. These properties have to be quantified and will be eventually optimized for a specific application system. Results obtained so far indicate that the same particle can be used for steam cycle applications with $700-750^{\circ}C$ helium coolant gas exit, for gas turbine applications at $850-900^{\circ}C$ and for process heat/hydrogen generation applications with $950^{\circ}C$ outlet temperatures. There is a clear set of standards for modem high quality fuel in terms of low levels of heavy metal contamination, manufacture-induced particle defects during fuel body and fuel element making, irradiation/accident induced particle failures and limits on fission product release from intact particles. While gas-cooled reactor design is still open-ended with blocks for the prismatic and spherical fuel elements for the pebble-bed design, there is near worldwide agreement on high quality fuel: a $500{\mu}m$ diameter $UO_2$ kernel of 10% enrichment is surrounded by a $100{\mu}m$ thick sacrificial buffer layer to be followed by a dense inner pyrocarbon layer, a high quality silicon carbide layer of $35{\mu}m$ thickness and theoretical density and another outer pyrocarbon layer. Good performance has been demonstrated both under operational and under accident conditions, i.e. to 10% FIMA and maximum $1600^{\circ}C$ afterwards. And it is the wide-ranging demonstration experience that makes this particle superior. Recommendations are made for further work: 1. Generation of data for presently manufactured materials, e.g. SiC strength and strength distribution, PyC creep and shrinkage and many more material data sets. 2. Renewed start of irradiation and accident testing of modem coated particle fuel. 3. Analysis of existing and newly created data with a view to demonstrate satisfactory performance at burnups beyond 10% FIMA and complete fission product retention even in accidents that go beyond $1600^{\circ}C$ for a short period of time. This work should proceed at both national and international level.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.157-169
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• 2019

Pseudotachylytes, produced by frictional heating during seismic slip, provide information that is critical to understanding the physics of earthquakes. We report the results of occurrence, structural characteristics, scanning electron microscopic observation and geochemical analysis of pseudotachylytes, which is presumed to have formed after the Late Cretaceous in outcrops of the Paleoproterozoic granitic gneiss on the Bulil waterfall of the Jirisan area, Yeongnam massif, Korea. Fault rocks, which are the products of brittle deformation under the same shear stress regime in the study area, are classified as pseudotachylyte and foliated cataclasite. The occurrences of pseudotachylyte identified on the basis of thickness and morphology are fault vein-type and injection vein-type pseudotachylyte. A number of fault vein-type pseudotachylytes occur as thin (as thick as 2 cm) layers generated on the fault plane, and are cutting general foliation and sheared foliation developed in granitic gneiss. Smaller injection vein-type pseudotachylytes are found along the fault vein-type pseudotachylytes, and appear in a variety of shapes based on field occurrence and vein geometry. At a first glance fault vein-type seudotachylyte looks like a mafic vein, but it has a chemical composition almost identical to the wall rock of granitic gneiss. Also, it has many subrounded clasts which consist predominantly of quartz, feldspar, biotite and secondary minerals including clay minerals, calcite and glassy materials. Embayed clasts, phenocryst with reaction rim, oxide droplets, amygdules, and flow structures are also observed. All of these evidences indicate the pseudotachylyte formed due to frictional melting of the wall rock minerals during fault slip related to strong seismic faulting events in the shallow depth of low temperature-low pressure. Further studies will be conducted to determine the age and mechanical aspect of the pseudotachylyte formation.