Microbially formed Mn(IV) oxide as a novel adsorbent for removal of Radium

Tanaka, Kazuya; Yamaji, Keiko*; Masuya, Hayato*; Tomita, Jumpei; Ozawa, Mayumi*; Yamasaki, Shinya*; Tokunaga, Kohei; Fukuyama, Kenjin*; Ohara, Yoshiyuki*; Maamoun, I.*; et al.

Chemosphere, 355, p.141837_1 - 141837_11, 2024/05

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141837

In this study, biogenic Mn(IV) oxide was applied to remove Ra from mine water collected from a U mill tailings pond in the Ningyo-toge center. Just 7.6 mg of biogenic Mn(IV) oxide removed more than 98% of the Ra from 3 L of mine water, corresponding to a distribution coefficient of 10 mL/g for Ra at pH 7. The obtained value was convincingly high for practical application of biogenic Mn(IV) oxide in water treatment.

Atomic bonding state of silicon oxide anodized in extremely diluted hydrofluoric solution

Arai, Taiki*; Yoshigoe, Akitaka; Motohashi, Mitsuya*

Zairyo No Kagaku To Kogaku, 60(5), p.153 - 158, 2023/10

Si oxide films are currently widely used as insulating materials in electronic devices and biomaterials. The atomic bonding state of these films significantly influences the properties of each device, thus it is particularly necessary to understand and control the chemical bonding state between Si and O in the films. In this study, the Si oxide films formed by anodic oxidation on Si substrate surfaces in extremely low concentrations of HF solutions were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy mainly focusing on Si2p and F1s spectra. Although the HF concentration is in the order of ppm, the films contain percent order of F atoms, suggesting the formation of Si-F and Si-O-F bonds in the films. It was also found that the different depth profiles for F and O atoms was observed, indicating that the surface reaction processes seem to be different depending on each element.

Investigation of potential of vacuum-free femtosecond laser sintering for direct printing using silicon carbide nanoparticles without inorganic binder

Kawabori, Tatsuru*; Watanabe, Masashi; Imai, Yoshiyuki; Ueta, Shohei; Yan, X.; Mizoshiri, Mizue*

Applied Physics A, 129(7), p.498_1 - 498_9, 2023/07

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-023-06774-z

We investigated a potential of femtosecond laser sintering of silicon carbide (SiC) using the nanoparticles in air. A SiC nanoparticle ink including polyvinylpyrrolidone and ethylene glycol exhibited intense absorption by SiC nanoparticles at the wavelength of 780 nm. The whole of the sintered film patterns from the surface to the bottom underwent significant oxidation at a scanning speed of 1 mm/s, suggesting that the excessive energy irradiation generated silicon oxides. In contrast, the patterns fabricated by laser scanning at a raster pitch of 30 m at which a sintered area was observed at a scanning speed of 5 mm/s, exhibited no significant difference in oxidation of the raw SiC nanoparticles except for the surfaces from 1.72 m. These results indicate that the irradiation of femtosecond laser pulses generated the sintered SiC patterns without additional atmospheric oxidation of the raw materials because of its low heat accumulation. In additions, the dispersant of polyvinylpyrrolidone and ethylene glycol did not affect the sintering by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This vacuum-free direct printing technique has the potential for additive manufacturing.

Work function lowering of LaB by monolayer hexagonal boron nitride coating for improved photo- and thermionic-cathodes

Yamaguchi, Hisato*; Yusa, Ryunosuke*; Wang, G.*; Pettes, M. T.*; Liu, F.*; Tsuda, Yasutaka; Yoshigoe, Akitaka; Abukawa, Tadashi*; Moody, N. A.*; Ogawa, Shuichi*

Applied Physics Letters, 122(14), p.141901_1 - 141901_7, 2023/04

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0142591

A lowering of work function for LaB by monolayer hexagonal BN coating is reported. Photoemission electron microcopy (PEEM) and thermionic emission electron microscopy (TEEM) both revealed that the hBN coated region of a LaB(100) single crystal has lower work function compared to the bare (i.e., non-coated) and graphene coated regions. A larger decrease of work function for the hBN coated LaB(100) compared to graphene coated LaB(100) was qualitatively supported by our density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Adding an oxide layer in the calculations improved consistency between the calculation and experimental results. We followed up our calculations with synchrotron-radiation X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (SR-XPS) and confirmed the presence of an oxide layer on our LaB.

Radiation-induced dissolution of uranium oxide materials in water

Kumagai, Yuta

Hoshasen Kagaku (Internet), (115), p.43 - 49, 2023/04

Oxidation and dissolution of uranium oxide materials has been a subject of numerous studies as a basis of the geological disposal technology for spent nuclear fuel. The understandings obtained by these studies provide useful suggestions for research and development regarding the retrieval and storage of nuclear fuel debris generated by a nuclear severe accident. Here, these research backgrounds of oxidative dissolution of uranium oxides are briefly reviewed and some studies relating to radiation-induced reactions will be introduced.

Investigation of the oxidation behavior of Zircaloy-4 cladding in a mixture of air and steam

Nemoto, Yoshiyuki; Ishijima, Yasuhiro; Kondo, Keietsu; Fujimura, Yuki; Kaji, Yoshiyuki

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 575, p.154209_1 - 154209_19, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.154209

Previous studies had shown that in certain conditions, the rate of oxidation of zirconium (Zr) based alloy fuel cladding is higher in air-steam mixtures than in dry air. In severe accidents in the spent fuel pool and in other air ingress accidents in nuclear power plants, the cladding is likely to be oxidized in an air-steam mixture, which makes it crucial to have an in-depth understanding of the nature of oxidation and its kinetics in that environment. Oxidation tests were conducted at 800C on Zircaloy-4 specimens in a mix of (air+steam) with various component ratios. Oxidation kinetics, details of the oxide layer, and hydrogen pick-up in the specimen were studied to investigate the mechanism of oxidation in each of these sets of conditions. Zirconium nitride precipitation in the oxide layer during the initial stages of the pre-breakaway oxidation stage and the widespread porous oxide growth on the cladding surface in the latter post-BA oxidation stage are related to the oxidation mechanism in the air-steam mixture. The differences in the mechanism of oxidation of the cladding in dry air and air-steam mixtures are discussed based on the experimental results.

Present status of R&D in JAEA on partitioning and transmutation technology

Nuclear Science and Engineering Center; Fuel Cycle Design Office; Plutonium Fuel Development Center; Nuclear Plant Innovation Promotion Office; Fast Reactor Cycle System Research and Development Center; J-PARC Center

JAEA-Review 2022-052, 342 Pages, 2023/02

JAEA-Review-2022-052.pdf:18.05MB

This report summarizes the current status and future plans of research and development (R&D) on partitioning and transmutation technology in Japan Atomic Energy Agency, focusing on the results during the 3rd Medium- to Long-term Plan period (FY 2015-2021). Regarding the partitioning technology, R&D of the solvent extraction method and the extraction chromatography method are described, and regarding the minor actinide containing fuel technology, R&D of the oxide fuel production using the simplified pellet method, the nitride fuel production using the external gelation method, and pyrochemical reprocessing of the nitride fuel were summarized. Regarding transmutation technology, R&D of technology using fast reactors and accelerator drive systems were summarized. Finally, the new facilities necessary for the future R&D were mentioned.

Roles of excess minority carrier recombination and chemisorbed O species at SiO/Si interfaces in Si dry oxidation; Comparison between p-Si(001) and n-Si(001) surfaces

Tsuda, Yasutaka; Yoshigoe, Akitaka; Ogawa, Shuichi*; Sakamoto, Tetsuya*; Yamamoto, Yoshiki*; Yamamoto, Yukio*; Takakuwa, Yuji*

Journal of Chemical Physics, 157(23), p.234705_1 - 234705_21, 2022/12

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0109558

Structural Approach to Understanding the Formation of Amorphous Metal Hydroxides

Kobayashi, Taishi*; Fushimi, Tomokazu*; Mizukoshi, Hirofumi*; Motokawa, Ryuhei; Sasaki, Takayuki*

Langmuir, 38(48), p.14656 - 14665, 2022/12

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02081

no abstracts in English

Restoration of oxygen vacancies on an anatase TiO(001) surface with supersonic seeded oxygen molecular beam

Katsube, Daiki*; Ono, Shinya*; Inami, Eiichi*; Yoshigoe, Akitaka; Abe, Masayuki*

Vacuum and Surface Science, 65(11), p.526 - 530, 2022/11

https://doi.org/10.1380/vss.65.526

The oxidation of oxygen vacancies at the surface of anatase TiO (001) was investigated by synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and supersonic O beam (SSMB). The oxygen vacancies at the top surface and subsurface could be eliminated by the supply of hyperthermal oxygen molecules. Oxygen vacancies are present on the surface of anatase TiO(001) when it is untreated before transfer to a vacuum chamber. These vacancies, which are stable in the ambient condition, could also be effectively eliminated by using oxygen SSMB. This result is promising as a surface processing for various functional oxides.