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Dr Kexue Li

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Kexue is using the NanoSIMS to 3D-locate hydrogen/deuterium in oxidised zirconium samples. He has also been using the NanoSIMS on a wide range of other materials including biological cells, nickel alloys, steels and solar cells.

Katie Moore       

PROJECT:

3D-characterization of deuterium distributions in oxidised Zircaloy-4 using high-resolution SIMS
Hydrogen uptake is considered to be a critical process in the corrosion of Zr Alloy because it involved the crack formation and the hydrogen embrittlement impacts the mechanical resistance of Zr cladding. Deuterium labeled 3D depth profile using NanoSIMS is a powerful tool to understand the distribution and the diffusion pathway of hydrogen in the oxide layer and its precipitation Zr alloy. Combined with high lateral resolution and high mass resolution, 3D depth profile measurement by NanoSIMS can be a competitive method to investigate the 3D distribution of particular molecules and atoms.
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CONTACT INFORMATION:

Address:          Parks Road, OX1 3PH, Oxford, UK
Phone:             +44 (0)1865 2 83740
E-mail:            kexue.li@materials.ox.ac.uk
 
 

RESEARCH & EDUCATION:

 
03.2016 – 03.2019：   Postdoc in Department of Materials, University of Oxford, NanoSIMS group, UK
The main aim of postdoc project is to use high-resolution analytical techniques to stud the key mechanisms involved in the oxidation of zirconium alloys in nuclear pressurized water reactors and the pickup of hydrogen during this aqueous corrosion process.
 
10.2015 – 03.2016： Postdoc in Max-Planck-Institute for Chemistry, NAMIP group, Germany
The main aim of postdoc project is method developing of using stable nitrogen isotope ratios measured by NanoSIMS to understand sources and reactions of reactive nitrogen in its atmospheric cycling.
 
Degree:           PhD
University:         Faculty of Geology, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz                                           Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany
Year:                04.2012 – 10.2015
Subject:            Biogeochemistry
Thesis Title:      “Species specific nitrogen isotope analysis by NanoSIMS”
 
Degree:           M.Sc.
University:        Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
Year:               09.2008 – 06.2011
Subject:           Optics, College of Mathematics, Physics and Information Engineering
Thesis title:      “The Investigation of the Laser Ablation Fast Pulse Discharge Plasma Spectroscopy Technique”
 
 

LABORATORY/EXPERIMENTAL SKILLS:

 
  1. NanoSIMS operation
  2. NanoSIMS maintenance and day-to-day management of the NanoSIMS lab.
  3. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Focused ion beam (FIB)
  4. Individual particle stable isotope (nitrogen and sulfur) techniques
  5. Nanosecond Discharge Enhanced Laser Plasma Spectroscopy
  6. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)
 
 

PUBLICATIONS: 

  • AAN Németh, DJ Crudden, DEJ Armstrong, DM Collins, K Li, AJ Wilkinson, CRM Grovenor, RC Reed: Environmentally-assisted grain boundary attack as a mechanism of embrittlement in a nickel-based superalloy, Acta Materialia, 2017, 126, 361-371.
  • K. Li, Sinha, B. and Hoppe, P.: Speciation of nitrogen bearing species using negative and positive secondary ion spectra with Nano Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, Analytical Chemistry, 2016, DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b04740
  • K. Li, Sinha, B. and Hoppe, P.: Stable N isotope analysis of NaNO3 and KNO3 by NanoSIMS using the 15N16O2- / 14N16O2-, JVST B, 2016, 34, 030601.
  • W. Zhou, X. Su, H. Qian, K. Li, X. Li, Y. Yu and Z. Ren: Discharge character and optical emission in a laser ablation nanosecond discharge enhanced silicon plasma, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 28, 5, 702-710, 2013.
  • X. Li, W. Zhou, K. Li, H. Qian and Z. Ren: Laser ablation fast pulse discharge plasma spectroscopy analysis of Pb, Mg and Sn in soil, Optics Communications, 285, 1, 54-58, 2012.
  • W. Zhou, K. Li, X. Li, H. Qian, J. Shao, X. Fang, P. Xie and W. Liu: Development of a nanosecond discharge-enhanced laser plasma spectroscopy, Optics Letters, 36, 15, 2961-2963, 2011.
  • K. Li, W. Zhou, Q. Shen, Y. Zhen, X. Li, H. Qian and J. Shao: Laser Ablation and Fast Pulse Discharge Plasma Spectroscopy Analysis of Sn in Soil, Spectroscopy and Spectral Analysis, 31, 8, 2249-2252, 2011.
  • K. Li, W. Zhou, Q. Shen, Z. Ren and B. Peng: Laser ablation assisted spark induced breakdown spectroscopy on soil samples, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 25, 9, 1475-1481, 2010.
  • K. Li, W. Zhou, Q. Shen, J. Shao and H. Qian: Signal enhancement of lead and arsenic in soil using laser ablation combined with fast electric discharge, Spectrochimica Acta Part B-Atomic Spectroscopy, 65, 5, 420-424, 2010.
  • W. Zhou, K. Li, Q. Shen, Q. Chen and J. Long: Optical emission enhancement using laser ablation combined with fast pulse discharge, Optics Express, 18, 3, 2573-2578, 2010.
 
 

CONFERENCES:

  • K. Li, J. Liu, T. Aarholt, S. Lozano-Perez and C. Grovenor.:17th International NanoSIMS User Meeting, NanoSIMS measurements of 3D deuterium distributions in corroded zirconium alloys, Germany 2017 (talk).
  • K. Li, J. Liu, C. Jones, J. Sayers, T. Aarholt, S. Lozano-Perez, M. Preuss, K. Moore, C. Grovenor.: 21st International Conference on Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, 3D light element characterization in corroded Zr alloys using NanoSIMS, Poland 2017 (poster)
  • James.S, Susan.O, K.Li, Sergio.L,: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Environmental Degradation of Materials in Nuclear Power Systems–Water Reactors, Effect of pH on Hydrogen Pick-Up and Corrosion in Zircaloy-4, USA 2017.
  • K. Li, T. Aarholt, H. Jiang and C. Grovenor.:16th International NanoSIMS User Meeting, Hydrogen uptake in zirconium alloy and 3D depth profile analysis by NanoSIMS, Netherlands 2016 (talk).
  • K. Li, Sinha, B., Hoppe, P. and Borrmann, S.: The 15th EuCheMS International Conference on Chemistry and the Environment, Germany 2015 (talk).
  • K. Li, Sinha, B., Hoppe, P. and Borrmann, S.: The 2015 International Conference on Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, USA 2015 (talk).
  • K. Li, W. Zhou, H. Qian, X. Li, Z. Ren and B. Peng, “Quantitative analysis of elements in aluminum alloy using laser ablation fast pulse discharge plasma spectroscopy (poster) ”, Chinese Physical Society Autumn Conference 2011, 2011, Hangzhou, China, Pages 013001.1-013001.4
 
 

COMPUTER SKILLS:

  • MATLAB Programming and Software Design
  1. -        3D NanoSIMS data processing program  08.2016
  2. -        R. Jaenicke, K. Li: A Quantitative Score Calculation Software for Data Series. 04.2014 – 06.2015
  3. -        Image mode NanoSIMS data processing program based on MATLAB, based on the NanoSIMS data processing software written in the IDL language created by the NAMIP group at MPIC. 09.2013 – 10.2014
  4. -        Isotope mode NanoSIMS data processing program based on MATLAB, based on the NanoSIMS data processing software written in the IDL language created by the NAMIP group at MPIC. 09.2012 – 04.2014
  5. -        Calculation of molecule masses program: This program is used to calculate all possible molecular ions combined from the chart of nuclides that could potentially interfere with a given mass of interest at a certain mass resolving power. 02.2014
  6. -        LIBS Spectroscopy Data Processing Software,10.2010 - 10.2011
  7. -        Gyroscope Simulation, 05.2008 – 10.2008
  8. -        Optical Experiment Simulations, 01.2008 – 07.2008
 
  • IDL Programing
  • 3D CAD Design Software Solidworks, Igor, Grapher, Origin and common programs
  1. -        3D design of The Laser Ablation Fast Pulse Discharge Equipment

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