본 연구는 에너지 저장 응용을 위한 PVI-PGMA/LiTFSI 고분자 막 전해질 및 CxNy-C 유연 전극의 합성 및 특성 에 관한 연구이다. 이중 기능을 갖는 PVI-PGMA 공중합체는 우수한 이온 전도성을 나타내었으며, PVI-GMA73/LiTFSI200 막 전해질은 1.0 × 10-3 S cm-1의 최고 전도도를 달성하였다. CxNy-C 전극의 전기화학적 성능을 체계적으로 분석하였으며, C3N2-C는 나노와이어와 다면체로 구성된 높은 연결성을 갖는 하이브리드 구조와 이중 Co/Ni 산화물을 포함하여 풍부한 산 화환원 활성 부위와 이온 확산을 용이하게 하는 특징으로 인해 958 F g-1의 최고용량 및 최소한의 전하 전달 저항(Rct)을 달성 하였다. 흑연 탄소 껍질의 존재는 충전-방전 동안 높은 전기화학적 안정성에 기여하였다. 이러한 결과들은 고성능 에너지 저 장 장치인 슈퍼커패시터 및 리튬 이온 전지와 같은 첨단 에너지 저장 장비에 PVI-PGMA/LiTFSI 고분자 막 전해질과 CxNy-C 전극을 활용하는 잠재력을 보여주었으며, 지속 가능하고 고성능의 에너지 저장 기술을 더욱 발전시키는 길을 열어가 고 있다.

In this study, an Al82Ni7Co3Y8 (at%) bulk metallic glass is fabricated using gas-atomized Al82Ni7Co3Y8 metallic glass powder and subsequent spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effect of powder size on the consolidation of bulk metallic glass is considered by dividing it into 5 m or less and 20–45 m. The sintered Al82Ni7Co3Y8 bulk metallic glasses exhibit crystallization behavior and crystallization enthalpy similar to those of the Al82Ni7Co3Y8 powder with 5 m or less and it is confirmed that no crystallization occurred during the sintering process. From these results, we conclude that the Z-position-controlled spark plasma sintering process, using superplastic deformation by viscous flow in the supercooled liquid-phase region of amorphous powder, is an effective process for manufacturing bulk metallic glass.

According to the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission (NSSC) Notice No. 2021-26 “Delivery Regulations for the Low- and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste (LILW)”, the activity of 3H, 14C, 55Fe, 58Co, 60Co, 59Ni, 63Ni, 90Sr, 94Nb, 99Tc, 129I, 137Cs, 144Ce, and gross alpha must be identified. Currently, the scaling factor of the dry active waste (DAW) for LILW is applied as an indirect evaluation method in Korea. The analyses are used the destructive methods and 55Fe, 60Co, 59Ni, 63Ni, 90Sr, 94Nb, 99Tc, and 137Cs, which are classified as nonvolatile nuclides, are separated through sequential separation and then measured by gamma detector, liquid scintillation counter (LSC), alpha/beta total counter (Gas Proportional Counter, GPC), and ICP-MS. We will introduce how to apply the existing nuclide separation method and improve the measurement method to supplement it.

Extensive research is being carried out on Ni-rich Li(NixCoyMn1-x-y)O2 (NCM) due to the growing demand for electric vehicles and reduced cost. In particular, Ni-rich Li(NixCoyMn1-x-y-zAlz)O2 (NCMA) is attracting great attention as a promising candidate for the rapid development of Co-free but electrochemically more stable cathodes. Al, an inactive element in the structure, helps to improve structural stability and is also used as a doping element to improve cycle capability in Ni-rich NCM. In this study, NCMA was successfully synthesized with the desired composition by direct coprecipitation. Boron and tin were also used as dopants to improve the battery performance. Macro- and microstructures in the cathodes were examined by microscopy and X-ray diffraction. While Sn was not successfully doped into NCMA, boron could be doped into NCMA, leading to changes in its physicochemical properties. NCMA doped with boron revealed substantially improved electrochemical properties in terms of capacity retention and rate capability compared to the undoped NCMA.

Carbon-encapsulated Ni catalysts are synthesized by an electrical explosion of wires (EEW) method and applied for CO2 methanation. We find that the presence of carbon shell on Ni nanoparticles as catalyst can positively affect CO2 methanation reaction. Ni@5C that is produced under 5% CH4 partial pressure in Ar gas has highest conversions of 68 % at 350 oC and 70% at 400 oC, which are 73 and 75% of the thermodynamic equilibrium conversion, respectively. The catalyst of Ni@10C with thicker carbon layer shows much reduced activity. The EEW-produced Ni catalysts with low specific surface area outperform Ni catalysts with high surface area synthesized by solution-based precipitation methods. Our finding in this study shows the possibility of utilizing carbon-encapsulated metal catalysts for heterogeneous catalysis reaction including CO2 methanation. Furthermore, EEW, which is a highly promising method for massive production of metal nanoparticles, can be applied for various catalysis system, requiring scaled-up synthesis of catalysts.

In this paper, a new Co10Fe10Mn35Ni35Zn10 high entropy alloy (HEA) is identified as a strong candidate for the single face-centered cubic (FCC) structure screened using the upgraded TCFE2000 thermodynamic CALPHAD database. The Co10Fe10Mn35Ni35Zn10 HEA is fabricated using the mechanical (MA) procedure and pressure-less sintering method. The Co10Fe10Mn35Ni35Zn10 HEA, which consists of elements with a large difference in melting point and atomic size, is successfully fabricated using powder metallurgy techniques. The MA behavior, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the Co10Fe10Mn35Ni35Zn10 HEA are systematically studied to understand the MA behavior and develop advanced techniques for fabricating HEA products. After MA, a single FCC phase is found. After sintering at 900℃, the microstructure has an FCC single phase with an average grain size of 18 μm. Finally, the Co10Fe10Mn35Ni35Zn10 HEA has a compressive yield strength of 302 MPa.

Porous graphites were synthesized by removing the template in HF after cabothermal conversion for 3 h at 900 ℃, accompanied by intercalations of pyrolyzed fuel oil (PFO) in the interlayer of Co or Ni loaded magadiite. The X-ray powder diffraction pattern of the porous graphites exhibited 00l reflections corresponding to a basal spacing of 0.7 nm. The particle morphology of the porous graphites was composed of carbon plates intergrown to form spherical nodules resembling rosettes like a magadiite template. TEM shows that the cross section of the porous graphites is composed of layers with very regular spaces. In particular, crystallization of the porous graphite was dependent on the content of Co or Ni loaded in the interlayer. The porous graphite had a surface area of 328-477 m2/g. This indicates that metals such as Co and Ni act as catalysts that accelerate graphite formation.

In this study we manufacture a Ni-Cr-B-Si +WC/12Co composite coating layer on a Cu base material using a laser cladding (LC) process, and investigate the microstructural and mechanical properties of the LC coating and Ni electroplating layers (reference material). The initial powder used for the LC coating layer is a powder feedstock with an average particle size of 125 μm. To identify the microstructural and mechanical properties, OM, SEM, XRD, room and high temperature hardness, and wear tests are implemented. Microstructural observation of the initial powder and LC coating layer confirm the layer is composed mainly of γ-Ni phases and WC and Cr23C6 carbides. The measured hardness of the LC coating and Ni electroplating layers are 653 and 154 Hv, respectively. The hardness measurement from room up to high temperatures of 700°C result in a hardness decrease as the temperature increases, but the hardness of the LC coating layer is higher for all temperature conditions. Room temperature wear results show that the wear loss of the LC coating layer is 1/12 of the wear level of the Ni electroplating layer. The measured bond strength is also greater in the LC coating than the Ni electroplating.

As precursors of cathode materials for lithium ion batteries, Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3(OH)2 powders are prepared in a continuously stirred tank reactor via a co-precipitation reaction between aqueous metal sulfates and NaOH in the presence of NH4OH in air or nitrogen ambient. Calcination of the precursors with Li2CO3 for 8 h at 1,000°C in air produces dense spherical cathode materials. The precursors and final powders are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis, tap density measurement, and thermal gravimetric analysis. The precursor powders obtained in air or nitrogen ambient show XRD patterns identified as Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3(OH)2. Regardless of the atmosphere, the final powders exhibit the XRD patterns of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (NCM). The precursor powders obtained in air have larger particle size and lower tap density than those obtained in nitrogen ambient. NCM powders show similar tendencies in terms of particle size and tap density. Electrochemical characterization is performed after fabricating a coin cell using NCM as the cathode and Li metal as the anode. The NCM powders from the precursors obtained in air and those from the precursors obtained in nitrogen have similar initial charge/discharge capacities and cycle life. In conclusion, the powders co-precipitated in air can be utilized as precursor materials, replacing those synthesized in the presence of nitrogen injection, which is the usual industrial practice.

The en-riched 58Ni powders are dissolved in acid solution and coated on a Cu target for proton irradiation at cyclotron to produce 57Co radioisotope. The condition of the plating bath and the coating process are determined using the en-riched powders. To establish the coating conditions for 57Co, non-radioactive Co ions are dissolved in an acid solution and electroplated on to a rhodium plate. The thermal diffusion of electroplated Co into a rhodium matrix was studied to apply a 57Co Mssbauer source. The diffusion depth from surface to matrix of Co is depended on the annealing temperature and time. The deposited Co atoms diffuse completely into a rhodium (Rh) matrix without substantial loss at an annealing temperature of 1200 for 4 hours.

This study investigated the magnetic properties and frequency dispersion of complex permeability of Ni-Zn-Co ferrites used for magnetic shielding in near field communication (NFC) system. The sintered specimens of (Ni0.7Zn0.3)1-xCoxFe2O4 composition were prepared by the conventional ceramic processing. The coercive force and saturation magnetization were measured by vibrating sample magnetometer. The complex permeability was measured by RF impedance analyzer in the range of 1 MHz~1.8 GHz. The coercive force increased and saturation magnetization decreased with increasing the Co substitution. The real and imaginary parts of complex permeability decreased and the resonance frequency increased with Co substitution, which was attributed to the increase in crystal anisotropy field and reduction in saturation magnetization. The effect of Co substitution could be found in reducing the magnetic loss to nearly zero at the operating frequency of NFC (13.56 MHz).

The effect of alpha phase on the fatigue properties of Fe-29%Ni-17%Co low thermal expansion alloy was investigated. Two kinds of alloys (Base alloy and Alpha alloy) were prepared by controlling the minimal alloy composition. Microstructure observation, tensile, high-cycle fatigue, and low-cycle fatigue results were measured in this study. The Base alloy microstructure showed typical austenite γ phase. Alpha alloy represented the dispersed phase in the austenite γ matrix. As a result of tensile testing, Alpha alloy was found to have higher strengths (Y.S. & T.S.) and lower elongation compared to those of the Base alloy. High cycle fatigue results showed that Alpha alloy had a higher fatigue limit (360MPa) than that (330MPa) of the Base alloy. The Alpha alloy exhibited the superior high cycle fatigue property in all of the fatigue stress conditions. SEM fractography results showed that the alpha phase could act to effectively retard both fatigue crack initiation and crack propagation. In the case of low-cycle fatigue, the Base alloy had longer fatigue life in the high plastic strain amplitude region and the Alpha alloy showed better fatigue property only in the low plastic strain amplitude region. The fatigue deformation behavior of the Fe-29%Ni-17%Co alloy was also discussed as related with its microstructure.

The electrochemical properties of cells assembled with the LiNiO2 (LNO) recycled from cathode materialsof waste lithium secondary batteries (Li[Ni,Co,Mn]O2), were evaluated in this study. The leaching, neutralization andsolvent extraction process were applied to produce high-purity NiSO4 solution from waste lithium secondary batteries.High-purity NiO powder was then fabricated by the heat-treatment and mixing of the NiSO4 solution and H2C2O4.Finally, LiNiO2 as a cathode material for lithium ion secondary batteries was synthesized by heat treatment and mixingof the NiO and Li2CO3 powders. We assembled the cells using the LiNiO2 powders and evaluated the electrochemicalproperties. Subsequently, we evaluated the recycling possibility of the cathode materials for waste lithium secondary bat-tery using the processes applied in this work.

Nano-sized SnO2 thick films were prepared by a screen-printing method onto Al2O3 substrates. The sensing characteristics were investigated by measuring the electrical resistance of each sensor in a test box as a function of the detection gas. The nano-sized SnO2 thick film sensors were treated in a N2 atmosphere. The structural properties of the nano SnO2with a rutile structure according to XRD showed a (110) dominant SnO2 peak. The particle size of SnO2:Ni nano powders at Ni 8 wt% was about 45 nm, and the SnO2 particles were found to contain many pores according to the SEM analysis. The sensitivity of the nano SnO2-based sensors was measured for 5 ppm CH4 gas and CH3CH2CH3 gas at room temperature by comparing the resistance in air with that in the target gases. The results showed that the best sensitivity of SnO2:Ni and SnO2:Co sensors for CH4 gas and CH3CH2CH3 gas at room temperature was observed in SnO2:Ni sensors doped with 8 wt% Ni. The response time of the SnO2:Ni gas sensors was 10 seconds and recovery time was 15 seconds for the CH4 and CH3CH2CH3 gases.

팔라듐이 코팅된 V53Ti26Ni21 합금 분리막을 통해 수소 투과시 혼합가스의 영향에 대해 알아보았다. 순수 수소, 수소, 이산화탄소 및 일산화탄소의 혼합가스를 공급가스로 주입할 때, 450℃, 1-3 bar의 압력에서 팔라듐이 코팅된 V53Ti26Ni21 합금 분리막의 수소 투과 실험을 수행하였다. 수소만을 공급한 투과 실험에서 팔라듐 코팅된 V53Ti26Ni21 합금 분리막(두께: 0.5 mm)의 수소 투과량은 3 bar, 450℃ 조건에서 5.36mL/min/㎠였다. 또한 수소/이산화탄소, 수소/일산화탄소 및 수소/이산화탄소/일산화탄소를 공급한 투과실험에서 V53Ti26Ni21 합금 분리막의 수소 투과량은 각각 4.46, 5.20, 3.91mL/min/㎠였다. 따라서, 수소/이산화탄소, 수소/일산화탄소 및 수소/이산화탄소/일산화탄소 혼합가스를 각각 공급할 때 투과량은 온도와 압력에 상관없이 수소 분압 감소만큼 감소하였고 모든 경우 Sievert 법칙을 잘 만족시켰다. 투과 후 분리막의 XRD 결과로부터 V53Ti26Ni21 합금 분리막은 여러 혼합가스에 대해 안정성과 내구성이 우수하다는 것을 알 수 있었다.

산업화에 의해 발생되어진 여러 가지 오염물질 가운데 중금속인 니켈, 코발트, 수은은 연안 해역으로 유입 시 극히 미량일지라도 생체 내 축적되어 해양생물의 생리 및 발생에 장애를 일으키는 것으로 알려져 있으며 먹이연쇄 (food chain)를 통해 생물확대 (biomagnification)됨으로써, 해양생태계 전반에 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 본 연구는 유용 수산생물로써 조간대 암반 지역에 서식하는 말똥성게 (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus)를 이용하여 니켈, 코발트, 수은의 생태 위해성을 조사하고자 한다. 성숙한 말똥성게 (H. pulcherrimus)에 0.5 M KCl를 주입하여 방란 및 방정을 유도한 후, 수집한 정자 및 난자를 니켈 (10, 25, 50, 100, 500 ppb), 코발트 (10, 100, 500, 1000, 2500 ppb) 그리고 수은 (10, 25, 50, 100, 500 ppb) 농도에서 10분간 인공수정 한 후, 수정 및 배아발생을 관찰하였다. 실험결과 수정률은 노출 된 각각의 니켈과 코발트 농도에 유의적인 영향을 받지 않았다. 수은은 농도가 증가할수록 농도 의존적으 로 감소하는 경향을 나타내었다. 배아 발생률은 니켈, 코발트 및 수은 농도가 증가 할수록 농도 의존적으 로 유의적인 감소를 나타내었다. 말똥성게 (H. pulcherrimus)의 배아 발생률에 대한 니켈, 코발트 및 수은 의 영향을 독성치로 나타냈을 때, 무영향농도 (NOEC)는 10 ppb로 모두 같은 값으로 나타났고, 최소영향 농도 (LOEC)는 각각 25 ppb, 10 ppb, 10 ppb로 나타났으며, 반수영향농도 (EC50)는 각각 34.19 ppb, 71.84 ppb, 144.66 ppb로 나타났다. 본 연구 결과, H. pulcherrimus의 배아 발생률을 이용한 생태독성 평가시, 니켈>코발트>수은 순으로 독성이 강한 것으로 나타났으며, 이들 중금속이 연안해역에 유입되어 10 ppb를 초과할 경우 연안 생태계 내에 서식하는 생물의 재생산에 유해한 영향을 미칠 것으로 판단된다.

In this work, effect of various process-control agents (PCAs) on the mechanical alloying of amorphous alloy of has been investigated. The dependence of the particle shape, size and crystallization behavior of the amorphous alloy powders on the type of PCAs and their concentrations was investigated by using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. It was found that the additive of toluene could affect positively the amorphization and thermally induced crystallization processes, as well as the size refinement, morphology and particle-size distribution of as-milled powders in comparison with alloy obtained without PCA.

The electrocatalytic characteristics of oxygen reduction reaction of the PtxM(1-x) (M = Co, Cu, Ni) supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been evaluated in a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC). The PtxM(1-x)/MWNTs catalysts with a Pt : M atomic ratio of about 3 : 1 were synthesized and applied to the cathode of PEMFC. The crystalline structure and morphology images of the PtxM(1-x) particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The results showed that the crystalline structure of the Pt alloy particles in Pt/MWNTs and PtxM(1-x)/MWNTs catalysts are seen as FCC, and synthesized PtxM(1-x) crystals have lattice parameters smaller than the pure Pt crystal. According to the electrochemical surface area (ESA) calculated with cyclic voltammetry analysis, Pt0.77Co0.23/MWNTs catalyst has higher ESA than the other catalysts. The evaluation of a unit cell test using Pt/MWNTs or PtxM(1-x)/MWNTs as the cathode catalysts demonstrated higher cell performance than did a commercial Pt/C catalyst. Among the MWNTs-supported Pt and PtxM(1-x) (M = Co, Cu, Ni) catalysts, the Pt0.77Co0.23/MWNTs shows the highest performance with the cathode catalyst of PEMFC because they had the largest ESA.