Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Timo Rheinberger, Jonas Wolfs, Agata Paneth, Hubert Gojzewski, Piotr Paneth, Frederik R. Wurm
Summary: The research team developed a library of PLA derivatives with breaking points incorporated to accelerate degradation in artificial seawater, offering a potential solution to reduce future marine pollution.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Coatings & Films
Maman Kartaman Ajiriyanto, Anawati Anawati
Summary: Ultrasonication is used to accelerate the growth of coatings formed on zircaloy-4 by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) at low electric power. The use of ultrasonication significantly enhances the Faradaic efficiency of the coatings and does not alter their structure and composition. The coatings consist of amorphous SiO2 as the matrix and are reinforced by crystalline ZrO2.
SURFACE & COATINGS TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jong-Hoon Kim, Tian-Yi Dai, Mihyun Yang, Jeong-Min Seo, Jae Seong Lee, Do Hyung Kweon, Xing-You Lang, Kyuwook Ihm, Tae Joo Shin, Gao-Feng Han, Qing Jiang, Jong-Beom Baek
Summary: In this study, the authors demonstrate that metallic potassium can be used as a catalyst for ammonia synthesis, despite its volatility at high temperature. Metallic potassium is not used in industrial ammonia synthesis due to its tendency to separate from the catalyst in the harsh synthesis conditions. However, the authors find that using metallic potassium at lower temperatures can significantly improve the efficiency of ammonia synthesis. In their experiments, they achieved a much higher concentration of ammonia compared to the traditional Haber-Bosch process and their previous work.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
C. Juillet, Q. Auzoux, F. Datcharry, F. Martin, M. Tupin
Summary: In this study, the permeation process of tritium in nuclear pressurized water reactors was investigated by using deuterium as an isotopic tracer. The results showed that surface recombination reaction in the metal was the rate-limiting step of the permeation process, and stress in the specimens decreased the apparent activation energy of deuterium desorption.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Xuexia Zhang, Lei Huang, Yu Jiang, Long Lin, Hongbo Liao, Wentao Liu
Summary: This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the polarization processes during accelerated performance degradation in fuel cells. The study reveals that the growth of platinum oxides plays a dominant role in the accelerated decline of performance, leading to early decay at low current density and sudden concentration polarization at high current density. The formation and reduction of platinum oxide also affect voltage stability and the steady performance of loading and unloading processes.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
S. Meiyazhagan, E. R. Kavitha, S. Yugeswaran, N. Santhanamoorthi, Guangming Jiang, K. Suresh
Summary: In this study, an atmospheric microplasma reactor was used to investigate the degradation and mineralization efficiency of 4-nitrophenol (4NP) using different microplasma forming gases. It was found that air microplasma treatment showed the highest degradation and consistent mineralization efficiency compared to nitrogen, oxygen, and argon microplasma treatments. The hydroxyl radical was identified as the primary component responsible for the degradation of 4NP.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chen Tian, Jiaxin Lv, Wenchao Zhang, Han Wang, Jin Chao, Liyuan Chai, Zhang Lin
Summary: Microplastics (MPs) have become a major concern due to their resistance to degradation and persistence in ecosystems. This study discovered that MPs can be rapidly degraded in frozen environments, providing a highly efficient pathway for their degradation. The findings also shed light on unusual mechanisms of MPs disposal in nature.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yang Liu, Weifeng Wan, Fionn P. E. Dunne
Summary: This study investigates the intrinsic crystal slip system properties and their influence on stress, stress relaxation, and strain rate sensitivity (SRS) using experimental testing, digital image correlation strain measurement, electron backscatter detection, and crystal plasticity modelling. The findings show that Zircaloy-4 exhibits significant SRS behavior, which is accurately captured by the polycrystal plasticity model. The model also predicts the effects of texture and slip system activation on lattice strain rate sensitivities.
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING A-STRUCTURAL MATERIALS PROPERTIES MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROCESSING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Robert Balerio, Hyosim Kim, Andres Morell-Pacheco, Laura Hawkins, Ching-Heng Shiau, Lin Shao
Summary: Plasma nitridation was used to modify the surface of Zircaloy-4, forming a thin layer of ZrN phase with a temperature-dependent hardness. The hardness of the polycrystalline ZrN phase increases with nitridation temperature, reaching a maximum at 700 degrees C.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
M. C. Collins, G. J. Francolini, P. Obreja, N. Scuro, R. Varga, B. Breeden, D. Rosas, B. W. N. Fitzpatrick, E. Geiger, G. Harvel, M. H. A. Piro
Summary: This study investigates the high temperature oxidation of Zircaloy-4 in light water steam and heavy water steam. The reaction kinetics are compared in both environments, and the results show that the oxidation behavior is similar, confirming the previous assumption.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yan Wang, Wenyu Sun, Huiyu Dong, Zhimin Qiang
Summary: The UV/chlorine dioxide (ClO2) process shows potential effectiveness in degrading micro-pollutants. UV irradiation promotes ClO2 decay and the formation of reactive radicals, resulting in a synergistic effect on metribuzin (MET) degradation. Reactive radicals, mainly HO· and reactive chlorine species, contribute to 59%-67% of the total degradation rate of MET during UV/ClO2. Chlorite (ClO2-) and chlorate (ClO3-) formation is a major concern in ClO2 oxidation, with ClO3- being the dominant product during MET degradation by UV/ClO2. Additionally, the formation of organic halogenated disinfection by-products (DBPs) is higher with UV/ClO2 pre-treatment compared to ClO2 pre-treatment.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
C. Juillet, M. Tupin, F. Martin, F. Jomard, Q. Auzoux, C. Berthinier, F. Gaudier
Summary: This study investigates the kinetics of diffusion and deuterium desorption from a Zircaloy-4 alloy oxidized in light primary water. The results show that deuterium desorption is controlled by a mixed regime of surface recombination and diffusion in the oxide layer within the temperature range of 600 K-1000 K. At lower temperatures, desorption is diffusion-controlled, while at higher temperatures, surface recombination reaction dominates.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhen Xu, Nuwayo Eric Munyaneza, Qikun Zhang, Mengqi Sun, Carlos Posada, Paul Venturo, Nicholas A. Rorrer, Joel Miscall, Bobby G. Sumpter, Guoliang Liu
Summary: Conversion of plastic wastes to fatty acids is an attractive and economically viable method for supplementing the sourcing of high-value chemicals. Our method achieves a conversion rate of up to 80% and produces fatty acids with high molar masses. The process can be applied to municipal PE and PP wastes, and the resulting fatty acids can be further converted into high-value surfactants without the need for subsidies.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Anand Sreeram, Ahmad Masad, Zahra Sootodeh Nia, Daniel Maschauer, Johannes Mirwald, Bernhard Hofko, Amit Bhasin
Summary: Efficient and practical techniques for simulating aging of asphalt mixtures are important for practitioners worldwide. This study developed a laboratory procedure for accelerated aging of loose asphalt specimens using highly oxidative gas, and the results showed promising chemomechanical correlations between the ROS aging method and conventional aging methods. The procedure serves as a proof of concept and provides encouraging results for further development and standardization.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Donghee Kim, Jinje Park, Kang Y. Huh, Youngjae Lee
Summary: In this study, experimental and numerical methods were used to analyze the characteristics of flameless combustion under oxygen enrichment conditions for reducing greenhouse gases and fine dust emissions. The results showed that fuel oxidation was promoted under oxygen-enriched conditions compared to the 100% CH4 case, indicating potential for reducing emissions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Liuming Wei, Jingwen Li, Yonggang Li, Qirong Zheng, Fan Cheng, Chuanguo Zhang, Jingyu Li, Gaofeng Zhao, Zhi Zeng
Summary: This study investigates the influence of He-V complexes on H behaviors on different W surfaces using DFT calculations. The results show that H dissolution is most difficult but H trapping is easiest on the W (110) surface, while the opposite is true on the W (111) surface. Moreover, the presence of He-V complexes increases the difficulty of H diffusion from bulk to surface and desorption.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yan Meng, Song Zeng, Chen Chen, Chaowen Zhu, Huahai Shen, Xiaosong Zhou, Xiaochun Han
Summary: The characteristics of magnetron sputtered Cr coatings vary with different temperature, bias voltage, and pressure. Coatings with random orientation, good crystallinity, and small grain size exhibit favorable oxidation behavior, while coatings with strong (200) texture, poor crystallinity, and large grains have many intrinsic defects that are detrimental to the protection property of the Cr coatings.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Xinyuan Xu, Zefeng Yu, Wei-Ying Chen, Aiping Chen, Arthur Motta, Xing Wang
Summary: This study presents an automated approach for characterizing grain morphology in TEM images recorded during ion irradiation. By combining a machine learning model and a computer vision algorithm, comparable results to human analysis can be achieved with significantly reduced analysis time. Researchers can train their own models following the procedures described in this study to automate grain morphology analysis of their own TEM images.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shihao Wu, Dong Wang, Yapei Zhang, Koji Okamoto, Marco Pellegrini, Wenxi Tian, Suizheng Qiu, G. H. Su
Summary: The oxidation and degradation mechanisms of Cr coating on Zr alloy cladding under high temperature steam atmosphere are summarized, and a mathematical analysis model is established to predict the changes in coating thickness. The model is applied in the analysis of structure evolution under different conditions.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
V. Diaz-Mena, J. de Prado, M. Roldan, I. Izaguirre, M. Sanchez, M. Rieth, A. Urena
Summary: The brazeability of a cupronickel alloy was evaluated as a filler alloy for high-temperature joining of tungsten to steel. The study investigated the brazing conditions and the impact of the selected filler on the joint quality using numerical software. The results showed different metallurgical interactions and diffusion phenomena between the filler alloy and the base materials at different temperatures. The study emphasized the importance of selecting a suitable filler to mitigate residual stresses in the joints.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Pengcheng Zhu, Yajie Zhao, Yan-Ru Lin, Jean Henry, Steven J. Zinkle
Summary: This study investigates the effect of heavy-ion irradiation on radiation hardening in high-purity binary alloy Fe18Cr. Nanoindentation testing and high-quality TEM imaging were conducted to extract hardness and microstructure information. The strength factor was accurately calculated based on the detailed TEM characterization of irradiated microstructures, and a refined hardening superposition method was applied to quantify the mechanical properties of ion-irradiated materials.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Bin Wu, Haixia Ning, Hanzhen Zhu, Jianjun Chen, Kang Wang, Daiyu Zhang, Fu Wang, Qilong Liao
Summary: This study discusses the effects of ZrO2 and B2O3 on the phase composition and properties of SAP-based glass-ceramics. The results show that ZrO2 addition improves the formation of NZP phase while restricting the crystallization of AlPO4 phases. The correct ratios of ZrO2 and B2O3 allow only the formation of NZP phase within the SAP glass.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hwasung Yeom, Greg Johnson, Benjamin Maier, Tyler Dabney, Kumar Sridharan
Summary: Cr-Nb bilayer coatings were developed using cold spray deposition to improve the limiting operational temperature of Cr-coated Zr-alloy system. The coatings exhibited outstanding oxidation resistance at high temperatures and formed continuous intermetallic compound layers at the interfaces.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Padhraic L. Mulligan, Andrew T. Nelson, Chad M. Parish, Patrick A. Champlin, Xiang Chen, Daniel Morrall, Jason M. Harp
Summary: Environmental barrier coatings are being developed to reduce oxidation and embrittlement in Zr-based materials. Chromium nitride is a candidate for this application, but understanding its impact on irradiation-induced creep and microstructure is critical.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Dexuan Yan, Xinlei Cao, Ke Shen
Summary: This study investigated the purification mechanism of polycrystalline graphite by comparing IG-11 graphite with IG-110 nuclear grade graphite. The analysis revealed that metallic impurities in IG-11 were primarily segregated within graphite porosities, while IG-110 demonstrated a significant reduction in impurities. This research contributes to the development of innovative graphite purification techniques for greater purity and stronger oxidation resistance.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Wei Xu, Wei Peng, Lei Shi, Qi Sun
Summary: This paper investigates the oxidation and shape evolution of matrix graphite in high temperature gas-cooled reactors during air-ingress accidents. A reaction kinetics model is established and computational fluid dynamics with a dynamic mesh method is used to simulate the oxidation process. The results show that the geometric shape of graphite changes significantly with increasing flow rate, and the graphite pebbles tend to form a structure with a narrow front and wide tail.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Allison Harward, Casey Elliott, Michael Shaltry, Krista Carlson, Tae-Sic Yoo, Guy Fredrickson, Michael Patterson, Michael F. Simpson
Summary: This paper investigates the hygroscopic properties of eutectic LiCl-KCl absorbed into zeolite-4A. The study finds that water absorption and corrosion worsen with increasing salt loading. It also suggests that the salt can be stored in a non-inert atmosphere for a certain period of time.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Takaaki Koyanagi, Xunxiang Hu, Christian M. Petrie, Gyanender Singh, Caen Ang, Christian P. Deck, Weon-Ju Kim, Daejong Kim, James Braun, Yutai Katoh
Summary: This study provides critical experimental data on the effects of irradiation on the hermeticity of SiC composite cladding, finding that irradiation can cause a decrease in hermeticity and cracking, and coating the outer surface can mitigate the cracking issue.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
S. Krat, A. Prishvitsyn, Yu. Gasparyan
Summary: This study proposes a probabilistic and diffusion-based model to describe the co-deposition of multiple hydrogen isotopes with slowly grown metal layers. The model calculates the relative concentrations of different hydrogen isotopes in the co-deposited metal layers. It is found that if hydrogen isotopes have different detrapping energies, only the isotope with the highest detrapping energy shows a monotonic decrease in concentration with deposition temperature. Furthermore, the study evaluates the uncertainty of tritium concentration in the co-deposited layer based on the uncertainty in detrapping energy of tritium and deuterium, predicting a >10% tritium concentration uncertainty for a 0.01 eV difference.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tijo Vazhappilly, Arup Kumar Pathak
Summary: This study investigates the effect of Ce atom substitution in UO2 on its thermophysical properties using density functional theory. The results show that the Ce substitution levels and the oxidation state of Ce/U atoms strongly influence the band structure and specific heat capacity of the UO2 lattice. These findings provide important insights into the fuel properties of UO2 under reactor conditions.
JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS
(2024)