Byung Kyu Kim

Spark plasma sintering behavior of nanocrystalline WC–10Co cemented carbide powders

Abstract Microstructure and mechanical properties of WC–10Co cemented carbides fabricated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) process were investigated. Nanocrystalline precursor powders were prepared by spray drying process from solution containing ammonia meta-tungstate and cobalt nitrate, and followed by reduction and carbonization into nanocrystalline WC/Co composite powders by a mechano-chemical process. The WC particles of about 100 nm in diameter were mixed homogeneously with Co binder. The nanocrystalline WC–10Co powders were consolidated by SPS process at temperature ranged 900–1100xa0°C and under a pressure of 50 or 100 MPa, respectively. Optimum consolidation conditions, such as temperature and pressure, were determined by analysing the dimensional changes of powder compact during SPS process. Hardness and fracture toughness of consolidated WC–10Co cemented carbide were measured by using a Vickers indentation test. The solute content within the Co binder phase of WC–10Co cemented carbide was evaluated by measuring the saturated magnetic moment. It is found that the hardness of cemented carbide was dependent on the density and grain size of WC. The fracture toughness of cemented carbides increased with increasing the saturated magnetic moment, while decreased rapidly when the liquid Co phase was formed during sintering.

Free-electron creation at the 60° twin boundary in Bi2Te3

Interfaces, such as grain boundaries in a solid material, are excellent regions to explore novel properties that emerge as the result of local symmetry-breaking. For instance, at the interface of a layered-chalcogenide material, the potential reconfiguration of the atoms at the boundaries can lead to a significant modification of the electronic properties because of their complex atomic bonding structure. Here, we report the experimental observation of an electron source at 60° twin boundaries in Bi2Te3, a representative layered-chalcogenide material. First-principles calculations reveal that the modification of the interatomic distance at the 60° twin boundary to accommodate structural misfits can alter the electronic structure of Bi2Te3. The change in the electronic structure generates occupied states within the original bandgap in a favourable condition to create carriers and enlarges the density-of-states near the conduction band minimum. The present work provides insight into the various transport behaviours of thermoelectrics and topological insulators.

Controlled Molybdenum Disulfide Assembly inside Carbon Nanofiber by Boudouard Reaction Inspired Selective Carbon Oxidation

Vertical stacking and lateral growth of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2 ) are controlled with remarkable precision, and MoS2 nanotubes are directly converted from nanofibers. Predictive synthesis is enabled by identifying the specific thermodynamic region where the Boudouard reaction becomes favored. It reveals how the chemical potential of each species in the Mouf8ffSuf8ffCuf8ffO system can predict phase behaviors.