Papers by Author: D.W. Lee

Abstract: Nanostructured CeO2 powder was synthesized by a thermochemical process and its applicability as an oxygen gas sensor was investigated. An amorphous precursor was prepared by spray drying a cerium-nitrate solution and then heat-treated in air to induce evaporation of volatile components from the precursor powder, which then forms nanostructured ceria. The powder produced possessed a loose agglomerated structure with extremely fine CeO2 particles about 15 nm in size, resulting in a very high specific surface area (110 m2/g). The average grain size of a specimen sintered from the ceria powder at 1000 oC was about 40 nm, and its oxygen sensitivity n (logσ
log(PO2 /Po)-n) was about 1/4 at 600 oC. The response time t90, time for responding to a change of oxygen partial pressure, of the specimens sintered at 800 ~ 1100 oC was very short, i.e., 3 ~ 5 seconds: The signal output was almost identical and uniformly repeated in a stable manner.

Abstract: Magnetic oxide-coated iron nanoparticles with the mean size ranging from 6 to 75 nm were synthesized by aerosol method using iron carbonyl as a precursor under the flowing inert gas atmosphere. Oxide shells were formed by passivation of as-prepared iron particles. The influence of experimental parameters on the nanoparticles’ microstructure, phase composition and growth behavior as well as magnetic properties were investigated and discussed in this study.

Abstract: Iron and its nitride (e-Fe3N) nanoparticles were fabricated by the CVC using Fe(CO)5 precursor without the aid of LN2 chiller. The iron particles synthesized at 400 oC were a mixture of amorphous and crystalline a-Fe. Fully crystallized iron particles were then obtained above 600 oC. Iron-nitride particles that were easily formed at 500 oC at 1 atm., however, were not fully developed in vacuum unless the reaction temperature reached 850 oC. Nevertheless, the work chamber needed to be maintained in vacuum to obtain finer iron-nitride particles. The synthesized particles possessing the core-shell type structure were all nearly spherical and enclosed with Fe3O4 or Fe3O4-related amorphous layer. The iron nanoparticles (~20 nm) synthesized at 600 oC at 760 torr exhibited iHc ~ 1.0 kOe and Ms ~ 170 emu/g, whereas the iron-nitride particles (~20 nm) synthesized at 850 oC at 0.01 torr exhibited iHc ~ 0.45 kOe and Ms ~ 115 emu/g.