Difference in expansion and dehydration behaviors between NH- and K-montmorillonite

Kawakita, Ryohei; Saito, Akito*; Sakuma, Hiroshi*; Anraku, Sohtaro; Kikuchi, Ryosuke*; Otake, Tsubasa*; Sato, Tsutomu*

Applied Clay Science, 231, p.106722_1 - 106722_7, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2022.106722

Origin of magnetovolume effect in a cobaltite

Miao, P.*; Tan, Z.*; Lee, S. H.*; Ishikawa, Yoshihisa*; Torii, Shuki*; Yonemura, Masao*; Koda, Akihiro*; Komatsu, Kazuki*; Machida, Shinichi*; Sano, Asami; et al.

Physical Review B, 103(9), p.094302_1 - 094302_18, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.103.094302

The layered perovskite PrBaCoO demonstrates a strong negative thermal expansion (NTE) which holds potential for being fabricated into composites with zero thermal expansion. The NTE was found to be intimately associated with the spontaneous magnetic ordering, known as magneto-volume effect (MVE). Here we report with compelling evidences that the continuous-like MVE in PrBaCoO is intrinsically of discontinuous character, originating from an magnetoelectric transition from an antiferromagnetic insulating large-volume (AFILV) phase to a ferromagnetic less-insulating small-volume (FLISV) phase. Furthermore, the magnetoelectric effect (ME) shows high sensitivity to multiple external stimuli such as temperature, carrier doping, hydrostatic pressure, magnetic field etc. In contrast to the well-known ME such as colossal magnetoresistance and multi-ferroic effect which involve symmetry breaking of crystal structure, the ME in the cobaltite is purely isostructural. Our discovery provides a new path way to realizing the ME as well as the NTE, which may find applications in new techniques.

Cesium adsorption/desorption behavior of clay minerals considering actual contamination conditions in Fukushima

Mukai, Hiroki*; Hirose, Atsushi*; Motai, Satoko*; Kikuchi, Ryosuke*; Tanoi, Keitaro*; Nakanishi, Tomoko*; Yaita, Tsuyoshi; Kogure, Toshihiro*

Scientific Reports (Internet), 6, p.21543_1 - 21543_7, 2016/02

https://doi.org/10.1038/srep21543

Suppression of time-reversal symmetry breaking superconductivity in Pr(OsRu)Sb and PrLaOsSb

Shu, L.*; Higemoto, Wataru; Aoki, Yuji*; Hillier, A. D.*; Oishi, Kazuki*; Ishida, Kenji*; Kadono, Ryosuke*; Koda, Akihiro*; Bernal, O. O.*; MacLaughlin, D. E.*; et al.

Physical Review B, 83(10), p.100504_1 - 100504_4, 2011/03

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.83.100504

Zero-field muon spin relaxation experiments have been carried out in the Pr(OsRu)Sb and PrLaOsSb alloy systems to investigate broken time-reversal symmetry (TRS) in the superconducting state, signaled by the onset of a spontaneous static local magnetic field B. In both alloy series B initially decreases linearly with solute concentration. Ru doping is considerably more efficient than La doping, with a 50% faster initial decrease. The data suggest that broken TRS is suppressed for Ru concentration 0.6 but persists for essentially all La concentrations. Our data support a crystal-field excitonic cooper pairing mechanism for TRS-breaking superconductivity.

Muon spin relaxation and hyperfine-enhanced Pr nuclear spin dynamics in Pr(Os,Ru)Sb and (Pr,La)OsSb

Shu, L.*; MacLaughlin, D. E.*; Aoki, Yuji*; Tsunashima, Yoshino*; Yonezawa, Yuki*; Sanada, Shotaro*; Kikuchi, Daisuke*; Sato, Hideyuki*; Heffner, R. H.; Higemoto, Wataru; et al.

Physical Review B, 76(1), p.014527_1 - 014527_8, 2007/07

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.76.014527

Introduction to plasma fusion energy

Takamura, Shuichi*; Kado, Shinichiro*; Fujii, Takashi*; Fujiyama, Hiroshi*; Takabe, Hideaki*; Adachi, Kazuo*; Morimiya, Osamu*; Fujimori, Naoji*; Watanabe, Takayuki*; Hayashi, Yasuaki*; et al.

Kara Zukai, Purazuma Enerugi No Subete, P. 164, 2007/03

no abstracts in English

Selenide [Se(-II)] retention and mobilization in anoxic, iron-rich environments; Impacts of iron phase precipitation and transformation

Francisco, P. C. M.; Matsumura, Daiju; Kikuchi, Ryosuke*; Ishidera, Takamitsu; Tachi, Yukio

no journal, , 

Fe-silicate and -carbonate formations at C-steel- compacted bentonite interface hinders buffer degradation in high-level radioactive waste disposal

Kikuchi, Ryosuke*; Fujimura, Tatsuya*; Sato, Tsutomu*; Otake, Tsubasa*; Otomo, Yoko*; Goto, Takahiro*; Suzuki, Satoru*; Taniguchi, Naoki; Suzuki, Hiroyuki*

no journal, , 

Natural evidence for the cementation in bentonite buffer based on transmission electron microscopy observation of bentonite ores

Kikuchi, Ryosuke*; Horiuchi, Misato*; Saito, Masaki*; Ishiwata, Tobimaru*; Nishiki, Yuto*; Sato, Tsutomu*; Takayama, Yusuke; Mitsui, Seiichiro

no journal, , 

In geological disposal of high-level radioactive wastes, the use of swelling clay is intrinsic as a buffer around waste packages. In order to achieve long-term safety, longevity of montmorillonite, a major constituent of bentonite buffer, under disposal related conditions is important. One of the alteration processes of concern is cementation of clay layers due to precipitation of secondary minerals such as silica. In this study, we examined natural bentonite ores that could serve as natural analogues for the cementation process, especially focusing on microstructure of consolidated bentonite. Bentonite ores were collected from the Tsukinuno Mine in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. This bentonite is thought to have been formed by the diagenesis of volcanic ash. A dry polishing technique was used to form a smooth surface that well shows the original microstructure of bentonite ores, allowing petrographic discussion as in the observation of non-clayey rocks. Besides coarse quartz (probably pyroclastic origin), fine silica with grain sizes ranging from a few microns to submicron is widely observed in bentonite ores. The distribution of fine silica is characterized by discrete grains or short chains or small clusters in the fine-grained montmorillonite matrix, suggesting that they formed in closed system diagenesis and a low mobility of silica in clay matrix. Thin foils including fine silica and montmorillonite were extracted from polished sections using a focused ion beam apparatus and observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM observations demonstrated a microstructure where montmorillonite edge is directly bonded to the fine silica particles. The microstructure as seen in this study, is interpreted to be formed by the authigenic silica precipitation during diagenesis, not by a physical mixture. The silica coating of montmorillonite edge could prevent water access to its interlayer space and free swelling, which leads to a decrease in swelling pressure.

Relationship between petrographic texture and swelling property in cemented bentonite ores

Ishiwata, Tobimaru*; Kikuchi, Ryosuke*; Otake, Tsubasa*; Sato, Tsutomu*; Kawakita, Ryohei; Takayama, Yusuke; Mitsui, Seiichiro

no journal, , 

It is known that the cementation of bentontie may cause the reduction of swelling pressure. However, fundamental mechanism of this reducing swelling pressure has not been well understood. To understand the mechanism, it is essential to identify the cementitious materials and observe the changes in microstructure associated with cementation. In this study, the microstructural observation and swelling tests were conducted on several bentonite ores collected from Tsukinuno Mine in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, as natural analog of cementation, and the relationship between petrographic texture and swelling pressure was discussed. Thin sections of bentonite ores were prepared by dry polishing technique to observe flat surfaces in micro scales. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated the widespread distribution of authigenic, a few micron silica in the matrix of montmorillonite. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the micro silica minerals (commonly quartz and less commonly amorphous silica) adhered to the edge of montmorillonite grains. These observations suggest that the adherence of these cementitious materials to montmorillonite prevents water access to the interlayer of montmorillonite and swelling, resulting in a decrease in swelling pressure. While these microstructures were observed commonly in all samples collected from several bentonite beds, the relative abundance of montmorillonite and micro silica minerals varied among different beds. It is possible that the swelling pressure in the cemented bentonite is affected by the relative abundance of montmorillonite and cementitious materials.