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At least 1,657 records · Page 92

High Energy Storage Capacity Low Cost Iron Flow Battery

A new flow battery was proposed that utilizes low cost materials: iron as the only active element, cheap aqueous electrolytes, and inexpensive separators. During charging, ferrous iron (Fe 2+ ) is oxidized to ferric iron (Fe 3+ ) at the positive electrode while it (Fe 2+ ) is reduced to form iron metal (Fe 0 ) at the negative electrode. Because iron is plated at the negative electrode during charging, conventional electrode structures couple the energy storage capacity and the power rating of the battery. In order to decouple the energy and power ratings and regain the economic advantages of a flow battery, a slurry electrode design was proposed for use as the negative electrode. The slurry electrode is made by flowing electrically conductive particles in an electrolyte containing the dissolved iron species. On charging, iron is plated onto the particles. The particles can then carry the iron metal out of the cell to be stored in external reservoirs. This project looked to develop a slurry for the negative electrode of the all-iron flow battery that can operate at 200 mA/cm 2 with <100 mV overpotential, be pumped with parasitic energy costs < 10%, and promote plating on the particles. A scalable and stackable cell design of 1100 cm 2 was developed. The project was initially under contract in mid-January 2013. The project was converted from a one-year proof of concept seedling to an additional two-year program, then extended with an 18-month plus-up, and finally with an additional 6-month approved cost-overrun. During the seeding project, the concept of plating on carbon particles in a slurry was demonstrated. However, this was accomplished with high-cost multi-walled carbon nanotubes as the slurry material. The following two-year program discovered several low-cost carbon blacks that could also be used in this application. These findings were supported by an analysis that demonstrated the effectiveness of the carbon that takes into account not just the effective electronic conductivity of the slurry, but also the surface area per volume of the slurry. It was demonstrated that stable, flowable slurries could be created with these carbons, even when the carbons where fully loaded with iron during charging. During the two-year program, laboratory-scale 50 cm 2 single-cells demonstrated charge-discharge cycling at current densities of 150 mA/cm 2 and energy efficiencies of >50%. Meanwhile, cost modeling continued to show promise for this energy storage approach. Following the conversion period, the overall objective of the nominally 18-month plus up period was to close the technical gap of a 25X scale-up and reduce risk to enable commercial investment required to develop a slurry iron flow battery product. A specific objective was to demonstrate 150 cycles of performance exceeding 70% energy efficiency with a 10-cell stack of 1156 cm 2 cells operating at 100 mA/cm 2 . The 10-cell short stack was designed to have a power delivery rating of approximately 1 kW, which represents a size commensurate with the requirements of our commercialization partner at that time. A complete battery support system for the full-size cell was designed, fabricated, and tested. This includes pumps (multiple types were considered, and constant volume hose pumps were found to be acceptable for performance and cost), electrolyte rebalance reactor, and sensors and control systems. The support system proved to be well-behaved and worked well. A new low-cost membrane was developed for this system based on a microporous polymer support with a layer of hydrogel polymer. The membrane had low resistivity, and significantly reduced pressure driven fluid flow across the membrane (as compared to the un-coated microporous support). This membrane approach was scaled-up in conjunction with a commercial toll coating company, and a large amount of membrane was manufactured to support large cell and stack testing. A new concept for an electrolyte rebalance reactor to react hydrogen gas from the negative electrolyte (from plating inefficiency) with excess ferric ion in the positive electrolyte was developed. This design was very simple, low cost, and effective. The full scale 1156 cm 2 single-cell was designed, modeled, fabricated and tested. Modeling showed that uniform flow-distribution should be obtained with the designed flow distributor. The design took into consideration the need to stack the cells, and components were fabricated for a ten-cell stack. Testing of the cell for charge and discharge demonstrated current densities of 50 mA/cm 2 with efficiencies of 50%. However, optimization and long cycling could not be accomplished because the slurry electrode would plug within the cell and block the flow. This would shut down the cell after several charge-discharge cycles. Various approaches were pursued to address this problem with some progress. However, there was not adequate time to find solutions to the problem although several promising approaches were identified for future work. The final deliverable for this proposed 18-month effort was to be a 1 kW, 6 kWh slurry flow battery, with complete balance of plant, ready for testing at an ARPA-E ‘Charges’ site with an estimated capital cost less than $\$ $45/kWh for a six-hour system (excluding power electronics). The deliverable milestone was not achieved for reasons mentioned above related to the slurry plugging. At the completion of this project, it was determined that the cost targets are achievable. The cost estimate for a 1 MW system with a one-hour capacity was estimated at $\$ $140/kWh (including power electronics) and for a six-hour system was estimated at $\$ $40/kWh (including power electronics). These costs include the battery, the balance of plant, the power conditioning and a concrete pad. This program resulted in three patents including the slurry-based iron flow battery, the rebalance reactor, and the membrane separator. At the time of this report, slurry-based iron flow battery patents have been issued in the US, China, Japan, Korea, and Europe. The other patent applications were under various stages of examination. A licensee was identified and the company initiated a scale-up and development program to take this technology to the marketplace, and CWRU staff have transferred their know-how and knowledge base to the company. This technology will enhance the economic and energy security of the United States by enabling the use of intermittent renewable energy technology, such as wind and solar power, as dispatchable resources. This report summarizes the results of this research and development program.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Site Suitability and Hazard Assessment Guide for Small Modular Reactors

Commercial nuclear reactor projects in the U.S. have traditionally employed large light water reactors (LWR) to generate regional supplies of electricity. Although large LWRs have consistently dominated commercial nuclear markets both domestically and abroad, the concept of small modular reactors (SMRs) capable of producing between 30 MW(t) and 900 MW(t) to generating steam for electricity is not new. Nor is the idea of locating small nuclear reactors in close proximity to and in physical connection with industrial processes to provide a long-term source of thermal energy. Growing problems associated continued use of fossil fuels and enhancements in efficiency and safety because of recent advancements in reactor technology suggest that the likelihood of near-term SMR technology(s) deployment at multiple locations within the United States is growing. Many different types of SMR technology are viable for siting in the domestic commercial energy market. However, the potential application of a particular proprietary SMR design will vary according to the target heat end-use application and the site upon which it is proposed to be located. Reactor heat applications most commonly referenced in connection with the SMR market include electric power production, district heating, desalinization, and the supply of thermal energy to various processes that require high temperature over long time periods, or a combination thereof. Indeed, the modular construction, reliability and long operational life purported to be associated with some SMR concepts now being discussed may offer flexibility and benefits no other technology can offer. Effective siting is one of the many early challenges that face a proposed SMR installation project. Site-specific factors dealing with support to facility construction and operation, risks to the plant and the surrounding area, and the consequences subsequent to those risks must be fully identified, analyzed, and possibly mitigated before a license will be granted to construct and operate a nuclear facility. Examples of significant site-related concerns include area geotechnical and geological hazard properties, local climatology and meteorology, water resource availability, the vulnerability of surrounding populations and the environmental to adverse effects in the unlikely event of radionuclide release, the socioeconomic impacts of SMR plant installation and the effects it has on aesthetics, proximity to energy use customers, the topography and area infrastructure that affect plant constructability and security, and concerns related to the transport, installation, operation and decommissioning of major plant components.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Electromethanogenesis reactor

Generation of energy and storage of energy for subsequent use is provided by electromethanogenesis of carbon dioxide into a fuel gas and the storage of the fuel gas for subsequent use. An electromethanogenic reactor includes an anode conductor and a cathode conductor wherein the cathode conductor includes submicron to micron scale pores. Electromethanogenesis microbes and/or enzymes are located in the micron scale pores of the cathode electrode conductor. Carbon dioxide is introduced into the electromethanogenic reactor and the electromethanogenesis microbes/enzymes and the carbon dioxide interact and produce a fuel gas. The fuel gas is stored for subsequent use, for example use in power generation.

Knipe, Jennifer Marie↗

Electromethanogenesis reactor

Generation of energy and storage of energy for subsequent use is provided by electromethanogenesis of carbon dioxide into a fuel gas and the storage of the fuel gas for subsequent use. An electromethanogenic reactor includes an anode conductor and a cathode conductor wherein the cathode conductor includes submicron to micron scale pores. Electromethanogenesis microbes and/or enzymes are located in the micron scale pores of the cathode electrode conductor. Carbon dioxide is introduced into the electromethanogenic reactor and the electromethanogenesis microbes/enzymes and the carbon dioxide interact and produce a fuel gas. The fuel gas is stored for subsequent use, for example use in power generation.

Knipe, Jennifer Marie↗

Modernization of Technical Requirements for Licensing of Advanced Non-Light Water Reactors: Risk-Informed and Performance-Based Evaluation of Defense-in-Depth Adequacy

This document supports the work contained in Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) 18-04 “Risk-Informed Performance-Based Technology Inclusive Guidance for Advanced Reactor Licensing Basis Development” Revision 0. NEI 18-04 presents a modern, technology-inclusive, risk-informed, and performance-based (TI-RIPB) process for selection of Licensing Basis Events (LBEs); safety classification of structures, systems, and components (SSCs) and associated risk-informed special treatments; and determination of defense-in-depth (DID) adequacy for non-LWRs. The NEI guidance document provides one acceptable means for addressing the aforementioned topics as part of demonstrating a specific design provides reasonable assurance of adequate radiological protection. This report provides the framework and associated methodology guidelines and discussion for establishing, then evaluating, confirming, and documenting the adequacy of defense-in-depth (DID) for advanced non-light-water reactor technologies. It was developed as part of the Licensing Modernization Project led by Southern Company and cost-shared by the United States Department of Energy and has benefited from considerable NRC formal reviews and public workshops. The methodology converts the DID philosophy into a structured process that is implementable, embraces existing United States and international definitions and philosophies of DID that set the foundation for the process. It builds on the DID framework developed in the Department of Energy Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project and earlier works on this subject. The approach to establishing DID adequacy involves the incorporation of DID attributes into the plant capabilities and programmatic elements of DID. The integrated evaluation of DID adequacy includes both quantitative elements to incorporate risk-informed and performance-based (RIPB) considerations and qualitative elements that address uncertainties and limitations in the quantitative models and supporting data. Demonstration of DID adequacy ensures that there are multiple layers of defense for risk-significant challenges to the design and that the plant capabilities and programs that support each layer are provided in a manner that minimizes dependencies among these layers. The focus of this report is assurance of DID adequacy with respect to protection of the public from radiological exposures resulting from accidental releases of radioactive material. While other hazards are not specifically addressed, this methodology is expected to be beneficial for determining DID adequacy for them as well. Risk-informed evaluation of DID considers the integrated performance of all plant SSCs and associated programs to manage daily operational activities, transients, and accidents, including the evaluation of strategies for accident prevention and mitigation. The RIPB LBE scenario methodology used in this evaluation defines the challenges to the plant safety features included in the plant design basis and beyond, and the scope of all deterministic and probabilistic safety evaluations. By examining event sequences across the whole spectrum of LBEs, a systematic assessment of DID can be accomplished.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Irradiation performance of AGR-1 high temperature reactor fuel

The AGR-1 experiment contained 72 low-enriched uranium oxide/uranium carbide TRISO coated particle fuel compacts in six capsules irradiated to burnups of 11.2 to 19.6% FIMA, with zero TRISO coating failures detected during the irradiation. The irradiation performance of the fuel including the extent of fission product release and the evolution of kernel and coating microstructures was evaluated based on detailed examination of the irradiation capsules, the fuel compacts, and individual particles. Fractional release of 110m Ag from the fuel compacts was often significant, with capsule-average values ranging from 0.01 to 0.38. Analysis of silver release from individual compacts indicated that it was primarily dependent on fuel temperature history. Europium and strontium were released in small amounts through intact coatings, but were found to be significantly retained in the outer pyrocarbon and compact matrix. The capsule-average fractional release from the compacts was 1 × 10 –4 to 5 × 10 –4 for 154 Eu and 8 × 10 –7 to 3 × 10 –5 for 90 Sr. The average 134 Cs fractional release from compacts was <3 × 10 –6 when all particles maintained intact SiC. An estimated four particles out of 2.98 × 10 5 in the experiment experienced partial cesium release due to SiC failure during the irradiation, driving 134 Cs fractional release in two capsules to approximately 10 –5 . Identification and characterization of these particles has provided unprecedented insight into the nature and causes of SiC coating failure in high-quality TRISO fuel. In general, changes in coating morphology were found to be dominated by the behavior of the buffer and inner pyrolytic carbon (IPyC), and infrequently observed SiC layer damage was usually related to cracks in the IPyC. Palladium attack of the SiC layer was relatively minor, except for the particles that released cesium during irradiation, where SiC corrosion was found adjacent to IPyC cracks. In conclusion, palladium, silver, and uranium were found in the SiC layer of irradiated particles, and characterization of these elements within the SiC microstructure is the subject of ongoing focused study.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Accelerated Fuel Qualification of Fast Modular Reactor Fuel in a Thermal Reactor: Modeling and Simulation Paired with Irradiation Testing

The accelerated fuel qualification (AFQ) methodology is applied by simulating accelerated fuel tests of the General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems’ fuel system for its 44-MW(electric) gas-cooled, fast-spectrum fast modular reactor (FMR). This fuel is comprised of UO 2 pellets in SiGA® cladding, a silicon carbide ceramic matrix composite. Fast reactors, like the FMR, offer many benefits, including high fuel utilization and flexibility, but may require a lengthy material design process if tests are performed using fast neutron irradiation alone. A thermal neutron irradiation can instead be used to rapidly test how well key components of the current material models extend to high burnup. Thermal neutrons produce a different radial power distribution within the pin than fast neutrons. However, the temperature and burnup values for the two neutron types are comparable, and the differences between the simulated fuel responses are relatively small, demonstrating the weak sensitivity of the physics-based fuel model calculations on the neutron type and the irradiation rate. Furthermore, the deformation of the SiGA cladding saturates after about 1 displacement per atom for both neutron spectra. In an accelerated fuel test, the irradiation time required to reach the target fuel burnup can be reduced by a factor of 3 by using a small rodlet with a 45% smaller pellet diameter while maintaining the same linear power. Therefore, the time for data collection up to high burnup can be significantly reduced while maintaining the same temperature profile, which largely determines the material response. Tests of fuel rodlets of standard and compact size will be carried out in the Idaho National Laboratory’s Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), including full size and compact rodlets with varying gap sizes. By applying physics-based mechanistic modeling and simulation in accordance with the AFQ methodology, this type of compact rodlet testing in a thermal test reactor captures the necessary phenomena to test fuel material models up to high burnup and to simulate the expected impact of fast neutron radiation on the fuel in FMR operations. Finally, this approach to testing fast reactor fuels in existing thermal test reactors, paired with advanced physics-based mechanistic modeling and simulation, is expected to be applicable to a range of advanced fuels and will decrease the overall fuel qualification timeframe from decades to years.

Advanced test reactor (ATR)↗

Transient thermal protection of film covering circular aperture by sublimation and weak decomposition

Unwanted heating of sensitive surfaces in harsh thermal environments can be prevented by precise application of sacrificial materials such as sublimation layers and pyrolyzing films. The use of sublimation for the protection of circular polyimide membranes subjected to brief (~100 ms) heating by infrared radiation and hot (6000 K) inert gas convection is analyzed. Selection of sublimation material and sublimation layer and membrane thickness is considered with emphasis on providing sufficient thermal protection yet negligible unwanted material remaining at the end of a specified heating period. Though the analysis here is general, the motivation is protection of the polyimide films covering the laser entrance holes on IFE (inertial fusion energy) hohlraums being injected into the hot gas (xenon) protecting IFE reactor chambers. Furthermore, both one and two dimensional thermal models are used to develop a robust thermal concept. Sensitivity analyses (SA) methods are exercised to show where the design may be vulnerable and which input parameters have the greatest effect on performance and likelihood of success. For the design and conditions considered, methane sublimating layers are probably preferred over xenon or pentane.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Passive heat removal in horizontally oriented micro-HTGRs

There are novel, horizontally oriented high-temperature gas-cooled micro-reactor (HTGR) designs under consideration because of their portability, simplicity, and reliable operation. These features of the micro-HTGR design can meet the fission battery attributes, such as economic, standardize, installed, unattended and reliable. Although there have been HTGR related safety studies, micro-HTGRs when horizontally oriented are expected to exhibit significantly different thermal physics. During the unavailability of helium circulation, the internal reactor core is designed to cool by block-to-block conduction and radiation, and the reactor vessel surface is cooled by the ambient air. This scenario is anticipated during the transport of the micro-HTGR in a shipping container. The conduction and radiation between the prismatic micro-HTGR blocks in the core can be influenced by variances in the thermal contacts. This work investigated the conduction within a simulated horizontal HTGR core. An experimental setup was used to validate a numerical model. The experimental setup consisted of a hexagonal assembly with scaled prismatic blocks placed within a high-temperature vacuum environment. The gaps between the blocks were well controlled and monitored. The experimental setup was designed in such a way that the temperature variation in the axial direction was minimal, such that the experiment could be observed as a 2D (r, ) heat transfer problem. The pressurized tube was equipped with Infra-Red (IR) transparent windows, and an IR camera was used to capture the spatio-temporal temperature evolution in the hexagonal block assembly during the cooldown experiments. The experimental scenario was computationally modeled with a finite element analysis (FEA) program. Once validated, the computational model was used to investigate the impact of gap conductance on overall decay heat removal. Using a conservative estimate for gap conductance value (100 W/m 2 -K) between the prismatic blocks, there is a negligible increase in temperature observed during decay heat generation.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

High-Performance Catalytic Four-Channel Hollow Fibers with Highly Dispersed Nickel Nanoparticles Prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition for Dry Reforming of Methane

In this study, highly dispersed nickel (Ni) nanoparticles (NPs) with an average particle size of 4.3 nm were uniformly deposited on the outer surface, the inner channel surface, and inside the pores of 20-cm long 4-channel α-Al 2 O 3 hollow fibers (HFs) by atomic layer deposition (ALD) for dry reforming of methane (DRM). Cerium oxide (CeO 2 ) was added to promote the catalytic performance of Ni/Al 2 O 3 -HF catalysts. Rationally designed filling methods, by tuning the reactor size and inert fillings, can reduce the catalyst bed voidage in a fixed bed reactor for better reactant gas distribution, effectively utilize the Ni reactive sites, and achieve excellent catalytic performance. It was found that the CeO 2 -promoted Ni/Al 2 O 3 -HF catalyst was highly active and highly stable without deactivation during an overall 400-hr DRM test at 850 ºC. CeO 2 with reversible valence states could participate in surface reactions; especially, the formation of CeAlO 3 provided sufficient surface Ce 3+ for CO 2 activation and enhanced the stability and reusability of the HF catalysts.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

CO Oxidation and Subsequent CO 2 Chemisorption on Alkaline Zirconates: Li 2 ZrO 3 and Na 2 ZrO 3

Here, two different alkaline zirconates (Li 2 ZrO 3 and Na 2 ZrO 3 ) were studied as possible bifunctional catalytic-captor materials for CO oxidation and the subsequent CO 2 chemisorption process. Initially, CO oxidation reactions were analyzed in a catalytic reactor coupled to a gas chromatograph, using Li 2 ZrO 3 and Na 2 ZrO 3 , under different O 2 partial flows. We found results clearly showed that Na 2 ZrO 3 possesses much better catalytic properties than Li 2 ZrO 3 . After the CO-O 2 oxidation catalytic analysis, CO2 chemisorption process was analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis, only for the Na 2 ZrO 3 ceramic. The results confirmed that Na 2 ZrO 3 is able to work as a bifunctional material (CO oxidation and subsequent CO 2 chemisorption), although the kinetic CO 2 capture process was not the best one under the physicochemical condition used in this case. For Na 2 ZrO 3 , the best CO conversions were found between 445 and 580 °C (100%), while Li 2 ZrO 3 only showed a 35% of efficiency between 460 and 503 °C. However, in the Na 2 ZrO 3 case, at temperatures higher than 580 °C its catalytic activity gradually decreases as a result of CO 2 capture process. Finally, all these experiments were compared and supported with theoretical thermodynamic data.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Bifunctional application of sodium cobaltate as a catalyst and captor through CO oxidation and subsequent CO 2 chemisorption processes

The potential bifunctional mechanism of sodium cobaltate (NaCoO 2 ) in the catalysis of CO oxidation and subsequent CO 2 chemisorption was systematically analysed. Different catalytic and gravimetric experiments were performed dynamically and isothermally at multiple temperatures. Initially, the CO oxidation process was evaluated using a catalytic reactor connected to a gas chromatograph. Once the production of CO 2 was confirmed, its chemisorption capacity with NaCoO 2 was studied gravimetrically. Catalytic and gravimetric analysis products were studied by XRD, FTIR and SEM to elucidate the double reaction mechanism. Sodium cobaltate exhibited interesting catalytic properties over a wide temperature range, although the NaCoO 2 crystalline structure and chemical composition changed during the CO 2 capture process. Furthermore, all the experiments were theoretically supported by first-principles density functional theory thermodynamic calculations. Finally, the calculated thermodynamic properties of the CO oxidation and CO 2 capture reactions with NaCoO 2 under different oxidation conditions were in good agreement with the experimental measurements.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

Catalytic co-pyrolysis of LDPE and PET with HZSM-5, H-beta, and HY: experiments and kinetic modelling

In this study, the catalytic pyrolysis of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and their mixture (1 : 1 wt/wt) with three zeolite catalysts (HZSM-5, H-beta, HY) was investigated using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and a Pyroprobe® micro-reactor coupled to a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (Py-GC/MS). The TGA results demonstrated that during pyrolysis at 10 °C min –1 , on average, zeolite catalysts decreased the maximum decomposition temperature by 149 °C for LDPE while only decreasing by 8 °C for PET. The derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curve evidenced interactions when the two polymers were catalytically co-pyrolyzed for all the three catalysts. A lumped nth order reaction scheme was able to accurately model both non-catalytic and catalytic pyrolysis and co-pyrolysis by using the least squares fitting approach for determining the kinetic parameters. The kinetic model was able to model well the interaction effects observed during catalytic co-pyrolysis of LDPE and PET with HZSM-5, H-beta, and HY (Fit% Wt% > 96%, Fit% DTG > 94%). Py-GC/MS experiments for the catalytic fast pyrolysis of LDPE revealed that HZSM-5 resulted in the highest selectivity to aromatic hydrocarbons (31.6%) and HY resulted in the highest selectivity to gasoline range C 5 –C 10 paraffins and olefins (40.9%). Catalytic fast pyrolysis of PET showed high selectivity to benzene for all the catalysts (>43%) and that HZSM-5 resulted in the highest selectivity to polyaromatic hydrocarbons (24.7%). Finally, the catalytic fast co-pyrolysis of LDPE and PET revealed interaction effects for all the three catalysts evidenced by a positive synergy% for alkylated benzenes (3–142%) and polyaromatics (105–187%) with a concomitant negative synergy% for benzene (24–36%) and C 5 –C 10 paraffins and olefins (27–53%).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A fast model for spreading of neutral particles injected locally into hot plasma

A fast model for calculation of non-stationary 3-D profiles of the density for neutral particles locally released into a hot plasma is elaborated. The approach reduces non-stationary three-dimensional transport equations to a set of one-dimensional ones describing the time evolution of the radial profiles for several parameters characterizing adequately the three-dimensional structure. The method is applied to model the spreading process of carbon atoms released by laser desorption in an experimental device and the local injection of working gas into a fusion reactor. The associated heat loads onto the first wall are assessed.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Deposition and characterization of diamond thin films by HF-CVD method

Effect of reactor pressure and methane gas concentration on the growth of diamond films on Si (100) substrate by hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) method has been studied in this work. Raman spectroscopy measurements of the obtained film confirmed the formation of a mixture of micro and nanocrystalline diamond by showing peaks at 1140 and 1334 cm{sup −1} wave shifts. Scanning electron microscopy results showed formation of well defined faceted diamond grains of 100–500 nm size. Average roughness of the films measured by a surface profilometer was in the range of 40–60 nm.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗