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Author Wang, J. url  openurl
  Title Plasma catalysis : study of CO2 reforming of CH4 in a DBD reactor Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages XVI, 232 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract The plasma-based dry reforming in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor is important to achieve sustainable goals, but many challenges remain. For example, the conversion and energy yield of DBD reactors are relatively low, and the catalysts or packing materials used in existing studies cannot improve them, possibly due to the unsuitable properties and structures of catalysts or packing materials for plasma processes. In order to study the effect of catalyst structure on plasma-based dry reforming, a controllable synthesis of the catalyst supports or templates was explored. In Chapter 2, an initially immiscible synthesis method was proposed to synthesize uniform silica spheres, which can replace the organic solvent-based Stöber method to successfully synthesize silica particles with the same size ranges as the original Stöber process without addition of organic solvents. Using the silica spheres as templates, 3D porous Cu and CuO catalysts with different pore sizes were synthesized in Chapter 3 to study the effect of catalyst pore size on the plasma-catalytic dry reforming. In most cases, the smaller the pore size, the higher the conversion of CH4 and CO2 due to the reaction of radicals and ions formed in the plasma. An exception are the samples synthesized from 1 μm silica, which show better performance due to the electric field enhancement for pore sizes close to the Debye length. Besides the pore size, the particle diameter of the catalyst or packing is also one of the important factors affecting the interaction between plasma and catalyst. In Chapter 4, SiO2 spheres (with or without supported metal) were used to study the effect of different support particle sizes on plasma-based dry reforming. We found that a uniform SiO2 packing improves the conversion of plasma-based dry reforming. The conversion of plasma-based dry reforming first increases and then decreases with increasing particle size, due to the balance between the promoting and hindering effect of the particle filling on the plasma discharge. Chapter 5 is to improve the design of the DBD reactor itself, in order to try to increase its low energy yield. Some stainless steel rings were put over the inner electrode rod of the DBD reactor. The presence of rings increases the local electric field, the displaced charges and the discharge fraction, and also makes the discharge more stable and with more uniform intensity. The placement of the rings improves the performance of the reactor at 30 W supplied power.  
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  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:194045 Serial 7273  
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Author Penders, A.G. url  openurl
  Title Microstructural investigation of irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking mechanisms based on focused ion beam analysis of tested and industrial specimens Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages xxxviii, 226 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Irradiation assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC) is an intergranular cracking effect which can occur in heavily irradiated internal structural components of nuclear reactor cores. It is a complex phenomenon which is not yet fully understood because it occurs through an interplay of several material degradation processes. The factors that influence IASCC susceptibility include irradiation damage (neutrons and other irradiation particles stemming from the nuclear fission reaction), the operating temperature of the nuclear reactor, water corrosion, operating stresses, and the composition of materials susceptible to IASCC. Such materials are typically fabricated from austenitic stainless steels because of their relatively high strength, ductility, and fracture toughness. However, besides excellent metallurgical and corrosion resistant qualities, the operating conditions may still cause severe material degradation and component failure, which is extremely important for nuclear power plant safety and lifetime managements. Despite much accumulated data in the literature, both crack initiation and crack propagation mechanisms still need to be further elucidated. To that end, a probabilistic fracture model entitled the subcritical crack propagation (SCP) was recently developed, which assumes that the oxidized part of stainless steel in front of the crack plays an essential role in the crack initiation and crack propagation in sample failures. Still, despite a very good agreement with experimental observations, the SCP model but also other contemporary models favoured within the literature, require further experimental verification to what concerns the investigation of (IA)SCC. To that end, the main objective of this doctorate was to utilize experimental instrumentations like SEM, FIB-SEM and (S)TEM to conduct the investigation of the crack initiation and propagation processes in both tested and industrial specimens. Some of the investigated materials were retrieved within a nuclear reactor and are thus considered as unique test material to investigate the material degradation processes relevant for cracking. Other specimens were tailor-made to simulate the cracking processes of irradiated materials in otherwise un-irradiated materials. The newly acquired experimental results in this doctorate help rationalize existing models and methodologies used in the literature to analyse the IASCC failures of structural materials of reactor components. These results also facilitate in the development of predictive methodologies and mitigation strategies towards IASCC cracking and provide more information on IASCC from a microstructural perspective.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:192431 Serial 7323  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Hao, Y. url  openurl
  Title A joint experimental-modeling study of the structure and properties of functional molecular monolayers for the control of organic crystal growth Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages xiii, 174 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Among all types of discovered crystals, those formed by organic molecules show the greatest diversity, which results from the intrinsic complexity of the organic molecules and the weak interactions between them. Even for a given compound, different crystal structures can exist. This feature is referred to as polymorphism in the modern crystallographic context and those different crystal forms are called polymorphs. In reality, the crystallization of organic molecules is often performed at the surface of a substrate, giving rise to heterogeneous crystallization. Except for the well-known catalyzing effects, the existence of substrates brings more possibilities to the polymorphic behaviors of organic molecules, promoting the formation of new polymorphs that are only stable in the vicinity of the substrates. For this reason, these new polymorphic forms are often described as substrate-induced polymorphs (SIPs). It is of great importance to understand the formation of SIPs for organic molecules as it has been reported that SIPs can show superior properties with respect to their bulk form counterparts. Up to now, most studies focus on the identifying and characterizing the presence of SIPs, which relies mainly on X-ray diffraction techniques. However, a detailed explanation about the origin of SIPs is still missing. In this work, we have combined several powerful experimental characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in order to reach an integrated view over the formation of SIPs. These experimental studies are strongly supported by computational chemistry simulations, such as density functional theory and molecular dynamics. A big advantage of using atomistic simulations is that it enables the possibility to predict a priori the crystal structures of SIPs and to establish a posteriori the general rules for the formation of SIPs. In practice, this thesis employs state-of-art atomistic simulation approaches in order to bridge substrate-induced polymorphism with a conceptually-connected research area: the self-assembly of molecular networks (SAMNs), also called 2D crystallization. Unlike SIPs, which extend at least several molecular layers, SAMNs are composed of a single layer of molecules with ordered packing. Our simulations have enabled a more comprehensive understanding about the role of substrate during the formation of SIPs and we elucidate how the positional and orientational order of molecules propagates from the substrate to the upper 2D and even 3D crystal layers. In this way, a fundamental understanding of the substrate-induced crystallization is gained by connecting 2D and 3D crystallization using substrate-induced approaches.  
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  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191758 Serial 7176  
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Author de Paula Miranda, L. url  openurl
  Title Electronic transport in two dimensional systems with defects Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 104 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)  
  Abstract The pursuit for the next generation of nanodevices made scientists focus the attention to two dimensional materials. Experimental works of two dimensional materials are hardly free of structural defects, which, in turn, modify drastically the physical properties of its defect-free counterpart. In this work the presence of structural defects is study in two different materials. First, the dependence of the Hall, bend and longitudinal resistances to a perpendicular magnetic field and to vacancy defects in a four-terminal phosphorene single layer Hall bar is investigated. A tight-binding model in combination with the Landauer-Büttiker formalism is used to calculate the energy spectrum, the lead-to-lead transmissions, and the Hall and bend resistances of the system. It is shown that the terminals with zigzag edge orientation are responsible for the absence of quantized plateaus in the Hall resistance and peaks in the longitudinal resistance. A negative bend resistance in the ballistic regime is found due to the presence of high- and low- energy transport modes in the armchair and zigzag terminals, respectively. The system density of states, with single vacancy defects, shows that the presence of in-gap states is proportional to the number of vacancies. Quantized plateaus in the Hall resistance are only formed in a sufficiently clean system. The effects of different kinds of vacancies in the regime where the quantized plateaus are destroyed and a diffusive regime appears in the bend resistance are investigated. Next, we explore effects due to point defect clustering on the electronic and transport properties of bilayer graphene nanoribbons, for AA and AB stacking and zigzag and armchair boundaries, by means of the tight-binding approach and scattering matrix formalism. Evidence of vacancy concentration signatures exhibiting a maximum amplitude and an universality regardless of the system size, stacking and boundary types, in the density of states around the zero-energy level are observed. Our results are explained via the coalescence analysis of the strong sizeable vacancy clustering effect in the system and the breaking of inversion symmetry at high vacancy densities, demonstrating a similar density of states for two equivalent degrees of concentration disorder, below and above the maximum value.  
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  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
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  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191340 Serial 7151  
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Author Pacquets, L. url  openurl
  Title Towards stable Cu-Ag bimetallic nanoparticles to boost the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages xvi, 188 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT)  
  Abstract Ever since the industrial revolution, the emission of greenhouse gasses dramatically increased, resulting in high CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. The electrochemical conversion of CO2 to value added products, such as carbon monoxide, formic acid, methane, ethylene and ethanol is a very promising strategy to inhibit CO2 emissions. Nevertheless, at the moment, the electrochemical CO2 reduction (eCO2R) is not yet industrially viable, mainly due to the lack of good electrocatalysts. On the other hand, core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged over the last couple of years as promising candidates. It is believed that bimetallic enhancement effects are behind the improved performance of these core-shell NPs when compared to the individual metals. Although widely investigated, there are still some remaining issues and/or open questions. Indeed, the development of a robust and straightforward synthesis method along with fundamental insight into their resistance towards electrochemical stress remains absent. A good control over morphology, size and composition is key in determining which properties are beneficial for the eCO2R. Since these catalysts are designed to be implemented in electrolyzers, they have to maintain long-term performance. This makes the design of a reproducible method, unveiling structure-performance relationships the effect of electrochemical stress, a crucial aspect. Exploring and modifying existing synthesis methods, have led to the acquisition of a robust and reproducible synthesis method where thermal decomposition of the Cu core is combined with the galvanic replacement of Ag in organic solvents. The implementation of this method has led to the design of a wide variety of Cu-Ag bimetallic NPs and enabled to investigate their composition-selectivity profile. Introducing Ag on Cu suppressed hydrogen and increased the CO formation. CO production was boosted by using Cu@Ag core-shells and was promoted even more by changing the type of electrolyte. As these nanoparticles suffered from degradation, the 3D mapping of the structural changes of Cu@Ag core-shells under operating conditions led to the hypothesis of a two-step degradation mechanism where initially Cu leaching was observed with the subsequent sintering of the Ag shells. One approach to avoid this electrochemical degradation, investigated in this research, was the application of an ultrathin carbon layer to protect the active layer. This ultrathin carbon layer operated as a protective layer, suppressing hydrogen production and increasing the stability of the electrocatalyst. In conclusion, the product selectivity can be tuned by using different Cu-Ag bimetallic nanoparticles synthesized through a robust method. Their unique degradation pathway of Cu@Ag core-shell nanoparticles has led to the proposition of a more accurate stabilization strategy. These findings can contribute significantly in the quest for improved electrocatalysts for the eCO2R.  
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  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:190236 Serial 7221  
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Author Gielis, J.; Grigolia, R. url  openurl
  Title Lamé curves and Rvachev's R-functions Type A3 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Sn – 1512-0066 Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 37 Issue Pages 1-4  
  Keywords A3 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Gielis transformations are a generalization of Lame curves. To combine domains, we can make use of the natural alliance between Lame's work and Rvachev's R-functions. A logical next step is the extension to n-valued logic dening dierent partitions.  
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  Corporate Author Thesis  
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  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189316 Serial 7178  
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Author Magalhães Cunha, S. url  openurl
  Title Wave-packet dynamics and electronic transport properties in 2D materials Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 219 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)  
  Abstract This piece of work is twofold. First, the time evolution of wave-packets in 2D systems is analyzed by the Split-Operator technique in three different scenarios: in multilayer phosphorene, the transient oscillations in the time-dependent average of position and momentum were observed due to the zitterbewegung effect, and the wave packet propagates non-uniformly along the space deforming itself into an elliptical shape. These results were corroborated by the Green’s function formalism except for large values of the wave-vector and long times; in 2D semiconductor quantum wires (QWs) with anisotropic effective masses and different angle orientations with respect to the anisotropic axis. We have shown that the greater this angle, the smaller is the energy levels spacing implying in an increase of the accessible electronic states. Additionally, for non-null magnetic field, the quantum Hall edge states are significantly affected by the edge orientation. In the anisotropic case damped oscillations in the average values of velocity in both x and y directions where obtained. Theses oscillations are originated by the QW geometry but also from subwavepackets with different momentum orientations, whereas for isotropic QWs the wavepacket disperses without splitting; in the third scenario the split-operator technique was used to study the Landau levels, the wave packet trajectories and velocities of electrons in graphene at low-energy regime described by a modified Dirac equation where the momentum-operator is written in a generalized form as result of applying the position-dependent translation operator formalism (PDTO). In the second part of this thesis, the electronic and tunneling properties of α − T3 lattices were studied. Electrons in these lattices behave analogous to integer-spin Dirac Fermions. The presence of a third atomic site in the unit cell leads to a flat band in the energy spectrum, providing unique electronic and tunneling properties. The presence of a super-periodic potential and the inclusion of symmetry-breaking terms results in deviations of the atomic equivalence between the atomic sites affecting the Dirac points and the band-gap. Small deviations in the equivalence between the atomic sites and the number of barriers change the transmission properties in these lattices. Additionally, new tunneling regions are possible by adjusting the symmetry between the atomic sites and affect the omnidirectional total transmission called super-Klein tunneling observed in these lattices. We compare those results to the tunneling probabilities through regions where the energy spectrum changes from linear with a middle flat band to a hyperbolic dispersion.  
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  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189191 Serial 7227  
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Author Borah, R. url  openurl
  Title Photoactive nanostructures : from single plasmonic nanoparticles to self-assembled films Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages xxxiv, 220 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Photoactive nanoparticles and their light-driven applications have gained tremendous scientific attention towards remediation of the global environmental problems, meeting alternative energy demands, and other new technological discoveries. The research work presented in this dissertation includes a fundamental investigation of such nanoparticles to gain deeper insights that will ultimately benefit their application. In particular, the study of plasmonic metal nanoparticles and metal oxide nanoparticles for light driven applications is the major theme of this work. The investigation begins with isolated plasmonic Au and Ag nanoparticles, followed by a natural extension to nanoparticle clusters, and then further to nanoparticle films. Next, the application of such plasmonic nanoparticle films for gaseous phase sensing of volatile organic compounds is explored. Finally, the film formation of metal-oxide nanoparticles by self-assembly is investigated for the fabrication of photoactive functional interfaces. The fundamental theoretical investigation of the isolated plasmonic nanoparticles encompasses alloy and core-shell nanostructures of Au-Ag bimetallic compositions. First, the optical properties of bimetallic alloy and core-shell nanoparticles are compared for different structures such as nanospheres, nanotriangles and nanorods. Based on the optical properties, the photothermal properties of these nanostructures are also evaluated for relevant light-driven applications. Further, to bridge the gap between the theoretical and experimental optical properties of colloidal plasmonic nanoparticles, the effect of different statistical parameters pertaining to the particle size distribution is studied. Going from isolated nanoparticles to nanoparticle clusters, the changes in the optical properties of plasmonic nanoparticles when they form finite clusters is investigated. A strong effect of clustering on the absorption intensities of the nanoparticles and hence, on the photothermal properties is found. Next, for the study of plasmonic nanoparticle infinite arrays, Au and Ag nanoparticles films are experimentally obtained by the self-assembly at the air-ethylene glycol interface. Upon further validation of the computational models with the experimental optical properties of these films, the near-field and far-field optical response of the plasmonic nanoparticle arrays is investigated. An application of the self-assembled Au nanoparticle film is then demonstrated in the sensing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Finally, the focus is shifted from plasmonic nanoparticles to metal oxide nanoparticles for their self-assembly at the air-water interface to obtain self-assembled films. For this, the hydrophobic functionalization of four metal oxides nanoparticles namely, TiO2, ZnO, WO3 and CuO is investigated. The insights from this work is useful for the design and fabrication of functional nanoparticles and interfaces for light driven applications.  
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  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189155 Serial 7188  
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Author Arslan Irmak, E. url  openurl
  Title Modelling three-dimensional nanoparticle transformations based on quantitative transmission electron microscopy Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 169 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Nanomaterials are materials that have at least one dimension in the nanometer length scale, which corresponds to a billionth of a meter. When three dimensions are confined to the nanometer scale, these materials are referred to as nanoparticles. These materials are of great interest since they exhibit unique physical and chemical properties that cannot be observed for bulk systems. Due to their unique and often superior properties, nanomaterials have become central in the field of electronics, catalysis, and medicine. Moreover, they are expected to be one of the most promising systems to tackle many challenges that our society is facing, such as reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and finding effective treatments for cancer. The unique properties of nanomaterials are linked to their size, shape, structure, and composition. If one is able to measure the positions of the atoms, their chemical nature, and the bonding between them, it becomes possible to predict the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials. In this manner, the development of novel nanostructures can be triggered. However, the morphology and structure of nanomaterials are highly sensitive to the conditions for relevant applications, such as elevated temperatures or intense light illumination. Furthermore, any small change in the local structure at higher temperatures or pressures may significantly modify their performance. Hence, three-dimensional (3D) characterization of nanomaterials under application-relevant conditions is important in designing them with desired functional properties for specific applications. Among different structural characterization approaches, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is one of the most efficient and versatile tools to investigate the structure and composition of nanomaterials since it can provide atomically resolved images, which are sensitive to the local 3D structure of the investigated sample. However, TEM only provides two-dimensional (2D) images of the 3D nanoparticle, which may lead to an incomplete understanding of their structure-property relationship. The most known and powerful technique for the 3D characterization of nanomaterials is electron tomography, where the images of a nanostructured material taken from different directions are mathematically combined to retrieve its 3D structure. Although these experiments are already state-of-the-art, 3D characterization by TEM is typically performed under ultra-high vacuum conditions and at room temperature. Such conditions are unfortunately not sufficient to understand transformations during synthesis or applications of nanomaterials. This limitation can be overcome by in situ TEM where external stimuli, such as heat, gas, and liquids, can be controllably introduced inside the TEM using specialized holders. However, there are some technical limitations to successful perform 3D in situ electron tomography experiments. For example, the long acquisition time required to collect a tilt series limits this technique when one wants to observe 3D dynamic changes with atomic resolution. A solution for this problem is the estimation of the 3D structure of nanomaterials from 2D projection images acquired along a single viewing direction. For this purpose, annular dark field scanning TEM (ADF STEM) imaging mode provides a valuable tool for quantitative structural investigation of nanomaterials from single 2D images due to its thickness and mass sensitivity. For quantitative analysis, an ADF STEM image is considered as a 2D array of pixels where relative variation of pixel intensity values is proportional to the total number of atoms and the atomic number of the elements in the sample. By applying advanced statistical approaches to these images, structural information, such as the number or types of atoms, can be retrieved with high accuracy and precision. The outcome can then be used to build a 3D starting model for energy minimization by atomistic simulations, for example, molecular dynamics simulations or the Monte Carlo method. However, this methodology needs to be further evaluated for in situ experiments. This thesis is devoted to presenting robust approaches to accurately define the 3D atomic structure of nanoparticles under application-relevant conditions and understand the mechanism behind the atomic-scale dynamics in nanoparticles in response to environmental stimuli.  
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  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:188295 Serial 7063  
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Author van 't Veer, K.C. url  openurl
  Title Plasma kinetics modelling of nitrogen fixation : ammonia synthesis in dielectric barrier discharges with catalysts Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 241 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Ammonia (NH3) synthesis is crucial for the production of artificial fertilizer and is carried out through the Haber-Bosch process. With an energy consumption of 30 GJ/t-NH3 and the emission of 2 kg-CO2/kg-NH3, ammonia is the chemical with the largest environmental footprint. Haber-Bosch operates under high pressure and high temperature conditions. Plasma technology potentially allows greener ammonia production. Dielectric barrier discharges are a popular plasma source in which a catalyst is easily incorporated. The combination of plasma and catalyst can circumvent the harsh reaction conditions of the Haber-Bosch process. Plasma kinetics modelling is used to gain insight into the mechanisms of such plasma-catalytic systems. Special attention is given to the instantaneous power absorbed by the electrons, the relevant fraction of the microdischarges and the discharge volumes. The importance of vibrational excitation is investigated. Depending on the exact discharge conditions, it was found that both the strong microdischarges and vibrational excitation can be simultaneously important for the ammonia yield. The temporal behavior of filamentary dielectric barrier discharges was explicitly taken into account. Ammonia was found to decompose during the microdischarges due to electron impact dissociation. At the same time atomic nitrogen and other excited species are created. Those reactive species recombine to ammonia in the afterglow through various elementary Eley-Rideal and Langmuir-Hinshelwood surface reaction steps with a net ammonia gain. Finally, the concept of the fraction of microdischarges was generalized. It directly represents the efficiency with which the applied electric power is transferred to each individual particle in the plasma reactor. It is argued that any type of spatial or temporal non-uniformity of the plasma will cause unequal treatment of the gas molecules in the reactor, corresponding to a lower efficiency at which the power is transferred to the gas molecules. All of those insights aid in an increased understanding of plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis as a potential green chemistry solution to the synthesis of ammonia on small scale.    
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  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:188246 Serial 7193  
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Author De Tommasi, E.; Rogato, A.; Caratelli, D.; Mescia, L.; Gielis, J. url  isbn
openurl 
  Title Following the photons route : mathematical models describing the interaction of diatoms with light Type H1 Book chapter
  Year 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 1-53  
  Keywords H1 Book chapter; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract The interaction of diatoms with sunlight is fundamental in order to deeply understand their role in terrestrial ecology and biogeochemistry, essentially due to their massive contribution to global primary production through photosynthesis and its e↵ect on carbon, oxygen and silicon cycles. Following the journey of light through natural waters, its propagation through the intricate frustule micro- and nano-structure and, finally, its fate inside the photosynthetic machinery of the living cell requires several mathematical and computational models in order to accurately describe all the involved phenomena taking place at di↵erent space scales and physical regimes. In this chapter, we review the main analytical models describing the underwater optical field, the essential numerical algorithms for the study of photonic properties of the diatom frustule seen as a natural metamaterial, as well as the principal models describing photon harvesting in diatom plastids and methods for complex EM propagation problems and wave propagation in dispersive materials with multiple relaxation times. These mathematical methods will be integrated in a unifying geometric perspective.  
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  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 978-1-119-74985-1 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:186731 Serial 7165  
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Author Sevik, C.; Bekaert, J.; Petrov, M.; Milošević, M.V. url  doi
openurl 
  Title High-temperature multigap superconductivity in two-dimensional metal borides Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Physical review materials Abbreviated Journal Phys. Rev. Materials  
  Volume 6 Issue 2 Pages 024803  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)  
  Abstract  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000766666300003 Publication Date 2022-02-28  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2475-9953 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 3.4 Times cited 4 Open Access Not_Open_Access  
  Notes Universiteit Antwerpen; Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştirma Kurumu, COST-118F187 ; Air Force Office of Scientific Research, FA9550-19-1-7048 ; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek; Approved Most recent IF: 3.4  
  Call Number CMT @ cmt @c:irua:187126 Serial 7047  
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Author Biely, K.; Von Muenchhausen, S.; Van Passel, S. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Vertical integration as a strategy to increase value absorption by primary producers : the Belgian sugar beet and the German rapeseed case Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication AIMS Agriculture and Food Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 7 Issue 3 Pages 659-682  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Vertical integration is a means of increasing market power. For some agricultural products, it is easier for farmers to exert control over their product beyond the farm gate, but for others it is more difficult. Cases in the latter category have two main characteristics. First, the farmer cannot sell the respective product to final consumers without processing. Second, processing is capital-intensive. Consequently, farmers have limited sales channels, and vertical integration of the supply chain is complex and challenging. It implies cooperation among farmers to process the raw material at a profitable scale and to finance the installation of processing facilities. Thus, for these product categories, farmers are prone to market power issues, since they depend on private businesses that have the financial means to install processing facilities and the logistical capacities to organize the collection of large amounts of raw material. This paper aims to identify and analyze the role of supply chain integration for farmers who are already cooperating horizontally. Two case studies serve as the basis for the analysis: sugar beet in Flanders, Belgium, and oilseed rape in Hessen, Germany. The analysis is based on a qualitative research approach combining interviews, focus groups, and workshops with farmers and processors. While for sugar beet, the effects of market power are emerging only now with the termination of the quota system, farmers growing oilseed rape have been experiencing these problems since the 1990s. Our analysis concludes that most strategies to maintain or improve farm income have been exhausted. Even various forms of vertical integration supported by European policies do not necessarily work as a successful strategy.  
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  Language Wos 000860666800001 Publication Date 2022-08-17  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2471-2086 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 1.8 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.8  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191514 Serial 7374  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Le Compte, M.; Cardenas De La Hoz, E.; Peeters, S.; Smits, E.; Lardon, F.; Roeyen, G.; Vanlanduit, S.; Prenen, H.; Peeters, M.; Lin, A.; Deben, C. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Multiparametric tumor organoid drug screening using widefield live-cell imaging for bulk and single-organoid analysis Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Jove-Journal Of Visualized Experiments Abbreviated Journal Jove-J Vis Exp  
  Volume Issue 190 Pages 1-18  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Antwerp Surgical Training, Anatomy and Research Centre (ASTARC); Center for Oncological Research (CORE)  
  Abstract Patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs) hold great promise for preclinical and translational research and predicting the patient therapy response from ex vivo drug screenings. However, current adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-based drug screening assays do not capture the complexity of a drug response (cytostatic or cytotoxic) and intratumor heterogeneity that has been shown to be retained in PDTOs due to a bulk readout. Live-cell imaging is a powerful tool to overcome this issue and visualize drug responses more in-depth. However, image analysis software is often not adapted to the three-dimensionality of PDTOs, requires fluorescent viability dyes, or is not compatible with a 384-well microplate format. This paper describes a semi-automated methodology to seed, treat, and image PDTOs in a high-throughput, 384-well format using conventional, widefield, live-cell imaging systems. In addition, we developed viability marker-free image analysis software to quantify growth rate-based drug response metrics that improve reproducibility and correct growth rate variations between different PDTO lines. Using the normalized drug response metric, which scores drug response based on the growth rate normalized to a positive and negative control condition, and a fluorescent cell death dye, cytotoxic and cytostatic drug responses can be easily distinguished, profoundly improving the classification of responders and non-responders. In addition, drug-response heterogeneity can by quantified from single-organoid drug response analysis to identify potential, resistant clones. Ultimately, this method aims to improve the prediction of clinical therapy response by capturing a multiparametric drug response signature, which includes kinetic growth arrest and cell death quantification. ,  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000928020400010 Publication Date 2022-12-24  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1940-087x ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 1.2 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.2  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:193168 Serial 7271  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Wang, L.; Ratkowsky, D.A.; Gielis, J.; Ricci, P.E.; Shi, P. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Effects of the numerical values of the parameters in the Gielis equation on its geometries Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Symmetry Abbreviated Journal Symmetry-Basel  
  Volume 14 Issue 12 Pages 2475-12  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract The Lamé curve is an extension of an ellipse, the latter being a special case. Dr. Johan Gielis further extended the Lamé curve in the polar coordinate system by introducing additional parameters (n1, n2, n3; m): rφ=1Acosm4φn2+1Bsinm4φn3−1/n1, which can be applied to model natural geometries. Here, r is the polar radius corresponding to the polar angle φ; A, B, n1, n2 and n3 are parameters to be estimated; m is the positive real number that determines the number of angles of the Gielis curve. Most prior studies on the Gielis equation focused mainly on its applications. However, the Gielis equation can also generate a large number of shapes that are rotationally symmetric and axisymmetric when A = B and n2 = n3, interrelated with the parameter m, with the parameters n1 and n2 determining the shapes of the curves. In this paper, we prove the relationship between m and the rotational symmetry and axial symmetry of the Gielis curve from a theoretical point of view with the condition A = B, n2 = n3. We also set n1 and n2 to take negative real numbers rather than only taking positive real numbers, then classify the curves based on extremal properties of r(φ) at φ = 0, π/m when n1 and n2 are in different intervals, and analyze how n1, n2 precisely affect the shapes of Gielis curves.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000904525700001 Publication Date 2022-11-23  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2073-8994 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 2.7 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.7  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191860 Serial 7301  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Li, Y.; Quinn, B.K.; Gielis, J.; Li, Y.; Shi, P. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Evidence that supertriangles exist in nature from the vertical projections of Koelreuteria paniculata fruit Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Symmetry Abbreviated Journal Symmetry-Basel  
  Volume 14 Issue 1 Pages 23  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Many natural radial symmetrical shapes (e.g., sea stars) follow the Gielis equation (GE) or its twin equation (TGE). A supertriangle (three triangles arranged around a central polygon) represents such a shape, but no study has tested whether natural shapes can be represented as/are supertriangles or whether the GE or TGE can describe their shape. We collected 100 pieces of Koelreuteria paniculata fruit, which have a supertriangular shape, extracted the boundary coordinates for their vertical projections, and then fitted them with the GE and TGE. The adjusted root mean square errors (RMSEadj) of the two equations were always less than 0.08, and >70% were less than 0.05. For 57/100 fruit projections, the GE had a lower RMSEadj than the TGE, although overall differences in the goodness of fit were non-significant. However, the TGE produces more symmetrical shapes than the GE as the two parameters controlling the extent of symmetry in it are approximately equal. This work demonstrates that natural supertriangles exist, validates the use of the GE and TGE to model their shapes, and suggests that different complex radially symmetrical shapes can be generated by the same equation, implying that different types of biological symmetry may result from the same biophysical mechanisms.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000746030100001 Publication Date 2021-12-27  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2073-8994 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 2.7 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.7  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:186453 Serial 7158  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Tessema, G.A.; van der Borg, J.; Van Rompaey, A.; Van Passel, S.; Adgo, E.; Minale, A.S.; Asrese, K.; Frankl, A.; Poesen, J. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Benefit segmentation of tourists to geosites and its implications for sustainable development of geotourism in the Southern Lake Tana Region, Ethiopia Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Sustainability Abbreviated Journal Sustainability-Basel  
  Volume 14 Issue 6 Pages 3411-3425  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Geotourism is a sustainable type of tourism that focuses on the geological and geomorphological heritages of an area, and the associated cultural and biodiversity features. Though the popularity of geotourism is rapidly growing, research on the demand side, particularly on segmenting tourists to geosites and understanding their profiles, is limited. This obviously makes the designing of effective tourism policies that aim at developing geotourism sustainably very difficult. Hence, the main objectives of this study were to segment and profile tourists to geosites based on the benefits sought, and to show its implications for sustainable development of geotourism. With a survey of 415 tourists, this study clustered tourists to geosites in the southern Lake Tana region in Ethiopia based on the benefits sought. A factor-cluster method was applied to segment the tourists. The study identified four distinct segments: Activity-Nature Lovers, Culture Lovers, Nature-Culture Lovers, and Want-It-Alls. These segments differed in their demographic, trip, and behavioral characteristics. The findings implied that for sustainable development, destination managers and marketers need to customize their geotourism product development and marketing strategies based on the needs and characteristics of each market segment.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000774527600001 Publication Date 2022-03-15  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2071-1050 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 3.9 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:188043 Serial 7353  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Dehhaghi, S.; Choobchian, S.; Ghobadian, B.; Farhadian, H.; Viira, A.-H.; Stefanie, H.I.; Van Passel, S.; Azadi, H. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Five-year development plans of renewable energy policies in Iran : a content analysis Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Sustainability Abbreviated Journal Sustainability-Basel  
  Volume 14 Issue 3 Pages 1501  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Renewable energy (RE) policies can play an effective role in the development of renewable resources. The main goal of this paper was to conduct a content analysis on RE development policies in Iran's five-year National Development Plan (NDP) by investigating upstream national documents. To achieve the goal, 29 upstream documents related to RE were identified and analyzed through a systematic literature review. Then, a qualitative content analysis was applied to analyze the documents. The results showed that Iran's current RE policies need to be reviewed, reformed, and strengthened. For example, lack of sufficient attention to renewable heat and fuel was one of the deficiencies of RE policies in Iran's five-year NDP. The decentralization of policymaking in the unified organization was also one of the weaknesses in the policymaking process of the RE. Iran can develop sustainable and clean RE policies by using sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, wave, and tidal power. The paper concludes that, although RE policies have the potential for development in Iran due to environmental, social, and economic advantages, they could face some infrastructural, managerial, socio-cultural, and economic challenges. Accordingly, effective and innovative policymaking is required to meet such challenges.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000754912800001 Publication Date 2022-01-28  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2071-1050 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 3.9 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:186501 Serial 7358  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Yao, W.; Niinemets, Ü.; Yao, W.; Gielis, J.; Schrader, J.; Yu, K.; Shi, P. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Comparison of two simplified versions of the Gielis equation for describing the shape of bamboo leaves Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Plants Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 11 Issue 22 Pages 3058-11  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Bamboo is an important component in subtropical and tropical forest communities. The plant has characteristic long lanceolate leaves with parallel venation. Prior studies have shown that the leaf shapes of this plant group can be well described by a simplified version (referred to as SGE-1) of the Gielis equation, a polar coordinate equation extended from the superellipse equation. SGE-1 with only two model parameters is less complex than the original Gielis equation with six parameters. Previous studies have seldom tested whether other simplified versions of the Gielis equation are superior to SGE-1 in fitting empirical leaf shape data. In the present study, we compared a three-parameter Gielis equation (referred to as SGE-2) with the two-parameter SGE-1 using the leaf boundary coordinate data of six bamboo species within the same genus that have representative long lanceolate leaves, with >300 leaves for each species. We sampled 2000 data points at approximately equidistant locations on the boundary of each leaf, and estimated the parameters for the two models. The root–mean–square error (RMSE) between the observed and predicted radii from the polar point to data points on the boundary of each leaf was used as a measure of the model goodness of fit, and the mean percent error between the RMSEs from fitting SGE-1 and SGE-2 was used to examine whether the introduction of an additional parameter in SGE-1 remarkably improves the model’s fitting. We found that the RMSE value of SGE-2 was always smaller than that of SGE-1. The mean percent errors among the two models ranged from 7.5% to 20% across the six species. These results indicate that SGE-2 is superior to SGE-1 and should be used in fitting leaf shapes. We argue that the results of the current study can be potentially extended to other lanceolate leaf shapes.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000887783400001 Publication Date 2022-11-14  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2223-7747 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191859 Serial 7289  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Wang, L.; Miao, Q.; Niinemets, Ü.; Gielis, J.; Shi, P. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Quantifying the variation in the geometries of the outer rims of corolla tubes of Vinca major L Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Plants Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 11 Issue 15 Pages 1987-12  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Many geometries of plant organs can be described by the Gielis equation, a polar coordinate equation extended from the superellipse equation, . Here, r is the polar radius corresponding to the polar angle φ; m is a positive integer that determines the number of angles of the Gielis curve when φ ∈ [0 to 2π); and the rest of the symbols are parameters to be estimated. The pentagonal radial symmetry of calyxes and corolla tubes in top view is a common feature in the flowers of many eudicots. However, prior studies have not tested whether the Gielis equation can depict the shapes of corolla tubes. We sampled randomly 366 flowers of Vinca major L., among which 360 had five petals and pentagonal corolla tubes, and six had four petals and quadrangular corolla tubes. We extracted the planar coordinates of the outer rims of corolla tubes (in top view) (ORCTs), and then fitted the data with two simplified versions of the Gielis equation with k = 1 and m = 5: (Model 1), and (Model 2). The adjusted root mean square error (RMSEadj) was used to evaluate the goodness of fit of each model. In addition, to test whether ORCTs are radially symmetrical, we correlated the estimates of n2 and n3 in Model 1 on a log-log scale. The results validated the two simplified Gielis equations. The RMSEadj values for all corolla tubes were smaller than 0.05 for both models. The numerical values of n2 and n3 were demonstrated to be statistically equal based on the regression analysis, which suggested that the ORCTs of V. major are radially symmetrical. It suggests that Model 1 can be replaced by the simpler Model 2 for fitting the ORCT in this species. This work indicates that the pentagonal or quadrangular corolla tubes (in top view) can both be modeled by the Gielis equation and demonstrates that the pentagonal or quadrangular corolla tubes of plants tend to form radial symmetrical geometries during their development and growth.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000839115100001 Publication Date 2022-08-01  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2223-7747 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189315 Serial 7200  
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Author Volders, J.; Elen, K.; Raes, A.; Ninakanti, R.; Kelchtermans, A.-S.; Sastre, F.; Hardy, A.; Cool, P.; Verbruggen, S.W.; Buskens, P.; Van Bael, M.K. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Sunlight-powered reverse water gas shift reaction catalysed by plasmonic Au/TiO₂ nanocatalysts : effects of Au particle size on the activity and selectivity Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Nanomaterials Abbreviated Journal Nanomaterials-Basel  
  Volume 12 Issue 23 Pages 4153-13  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract This study reports the low temperature and low pressure conversion (up to 160 °C, p = 3.5 bar) of CO2 and H2 to CO using plasmonic Au/TiO2 nanocatalysts and mildly concentrated artificial sunlight as the sole energy source (up to 13.9 kW·m-2 = 13.9 suns). To distinguish between photothermal and non-thermal contributors, we investigated the impact of the Au nanoparticle size and light intensity on the activity and selectivity of the catalyst. A comparative study between P25 TiO2-supported Au nanocatalysts of a size of 6 nm and 16 nm displayed a 15 times higher activity for the smaller particles, which can only partially be attributed to the higher Au surface area. Other factors that may play a role are e.g., the electronic contact between Au and TiO2 and the ratio between plasmonic absorption and scattering. Both catalysts displayed ≥84% selectivity for CO (side product is CH4). Furthermore, we demonstrated that the catalytic activity of Au/TiO2 increases exponentially with increasing light intensity, which indicated the presence of a photothermal contributor. In dark, however, both Au/TiO2 catalysts solely produced CH4 at the same catalyst bed temperature (160 °C). We propose that the difference in selectivity is caused by the promotion of CO desorption through charge transfer of plasmon generated charges (as a non-thermal contributor).  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000896093900001 Publication Date 2022-11-24  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2079-4991 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 5.3 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5.3  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191843 Serial 7341  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author McNaughton, B.; Pinto, N.; Perali, A.; Milošević, M.V. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Causes and consequences of ordering and dynamic phases of confined vortex rows in superconducting nanostripes Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Nanomaterials Abbreviated Journal Nanomaterials-Basel  
  Volume 12 Issue 22 Pages 4043-18  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)  
  Abstract Understanding the behaviour of vortices under nanoscale confinement in superconducting circuits is important for the development of superconducting electronics and quantum technologies. Using numerical simulations based on the Ginzburg-Landau theory for non-homogeneous superconductivity in the presence of magnetic fields, we detail how lateral confinement organises vortices in a long superconducting nanostripe, presenting a phase diagram of vortex configurations as a function of the stripe width and magnetic field. We discuss why the average vortex density is reduced and reveal that confinement influences vortex dynamics in the dissipative regime under sourced electrical current, mapping out transitions between asynchronous and synchronous vortex rows crossing the nanostripe as the current is varied. Synchronous crossings are of particular interest, since they cause single-mode modulations in the voltage drop along the stripe in a high (typically GHz to THz) frequency range.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000887683200001 Publication Date 2022-11-18  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2079-4991 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 5.3 Times cited 2 Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5.3  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:192731 Serial 7286  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Shaw, P.; Vanraes, P.; Kumar, N.; Bogaerts, A. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Possible Synergies of Nanomaterial-Assisted Tissue Regeneration in Plasma Medicine: Mechanisms and Safety Concerns Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Nanomaterials Abbreviated Journal Nanomaterials-Basel  
  Volume 12 Issue 19 Pages 3397  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Cold atmospheric plasma and nanomedicine originally emerged as individual domains, but are increasingly applied in combination with each other. Most research is performed in the context of cancer treatment, with only little focus yet on the possible synergies. Many questions remain on the potential of this promising hybrid technology, particularly regarding regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In this perspective article, we therefore start from the fundamental mechanisms in the individual technologies, in order to envision possible synergies for wound healing and tissue recovery, as well as research strategies to discover and optimize them. Among these strategies, we demonstrate how cold plasmas and nanomaterials can enhance each other’s strengths and overcome each other’s limitations. The parallels with cancer research, biotechnology and plasma surface modification further serve as inspiration for the envisioned synergies in tissue regeneration. The discovery and optimization of synergies may also be realized based on a profound understanding of the underlying redox- and field-related biological processes. Finally, we emphasize the toxicity concerns in plasma and nanomedicine, which may be partly remediated by their combination, but also partly amplified. A widespread use of standardized protocols and materials is therefore strongly recommended, to ensure both a fast and safe clinical implementation.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000866927800001 Publication Date 2022-09-28  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2079-4991 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 5.3 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes This research was funded by the Methusalem Grant of UAntwerp, and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship (BT/RLF/Re-entry/27/2019), as well as the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Core Research Grant (CRG/2021/001935), Department of Science and Technology, India. Approved Most recent IF: 5.3  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:191493 Serial 7108  
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Author Cotte, M.; Gonzalez, V.; Vanmeert, F.; Monico, L.; Dejoie, C.; Burghammer, M.; Huder, L.; de Nolf, W.; Fisher, S.; Fazlic, I.; Chauffeton, C.; Wallez, G.; Jimenez, N.; Albert-Tortosa, F.; Salvado, N.; Possenti, E.; Colombo, C.; Ghirardello, M.; Comelli, D.; Avranovich Clerici, E.; Vivani, R.; Romani, A.; Costantino, C.; Janssens, K.; Taniguchi, Y.; McCarthy, J.; Reichert, H.; Susini, J. url  doi
openurl 
  Title The “Historical Materials BAG” : a new facilitated access to synchrotron X-ray diffraction analyses for cultural heritage materials at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Molecules: a journal of synthetic chemistry and natural product chemistry Abbreviated Journal Molecules  
  Volume 27 Issue 6 Pages 1997-21  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Antwerp X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (AXIS)  
  Abstract The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) has recently commissioned the new Extremely Brilliant Source (EBS). The gain in brightness as well as the continuous development of beamline instruments boosts the beamline performances, in particular in terms of accelerated data acquisition. This has motivated the development of new access modes as an alternative to standard proposals for access to beamtime, in particular via the “block allocation group” (BAG) mode. Here, we present the recently implemented “historical materials BAG”: a community proposal giving to 10 European institutes the opportunity for guaranteed beamtime at two X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) beamlines-ID13, for 2D high lateral resolution XRPD mapping, and ID22 for high angular resolution XRPD bulk analyses-with a particular focus on applications to cultural heritage. The capabilities offered by these instruments, the specific hardware and software developments to facilitate and speed-up data acquisition and data processing are detailed, and the first results from this new access are illustrated with recent applications to pigments, paintings, ceramics and wood.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000776369800001 Publication Date 2022-03-21  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1420-3049 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 4.6 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.6  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:188053 Serial 7218  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Samal, S.K.; Soenen, S.; Puppi, D.; De Wael, K.; Pati, S.; De Smedt, S.; Braeckmans, K.; Dubruel, P. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Bio-nanohybrid gelatin/quantum dots for cellular imaging and biosensing applications Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication International journal of molecular sciences Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 23 Issue 19 Pages 11867-12  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)  
  Abstract The bio-nanohybrid gelatin protein/cadmium sulfide (Gel/CdS) quantum dots (QDs) have been designed via a facile one-pot strategy. The amino acids group of gelatin chelate Cd2+ and grow CdS QDs without any agglomeration. The H-1 NMR spectra indicate that during the above process there are no alterations of the gelatin protein structure conformation and chemical functionalities. The prepared Gel/CdS QDs were characterized and their potential as a system for cellular imaging and the electrochemical sensor for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) detection applications were investigated. The obtained results demonstrate that the developed Gel/CdS QDs system could offer a simple and convenient operating strategy both for the class of contrast agents for cell labeling and electrochemical sensors purposes.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000867759600001 Publication Date 2022-10-09  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1422-0067; 1661-6596 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191566 Serial 8836  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Privat-Maldonado, A.; Verloy, R.; Cardenas Delahoz, E.; Lin, A.; Vanlanduit, S.; Smits, E.; Bogaerts, A. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Cold Atmospheric Plasma Does Not Affect Stellate Cells Phenotype in Pancreatic Cancer Tissue in Ovo Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication International Journal Of Molecular Sciences Abbreviated Journal Int J Mol Sci  
  Volume 23 Issue 4 Pages 1954  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Center for Oncological Research (CORE)  
  Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a challenging neoplastic disease, mainly due to the development of resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is an alternative technology that can eliminate cancer cells through oxidative damage, as shown in vitro, in ovo, and in vivo. However, how CAP affects the pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), key players in the invasion and metastasis of PDAC, is poorly understood. This study aims to determine the effect of an anti-PDAC CAP treatment on PSCs tissue developed in ovo using mono- and co-cultures of RLT-PSC (PSCs) and Mia PaCa-2 cells (PDAC). We measured tissue reduction upon CAP treatment and mRNA expression of PSC activation markers and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling factors via qRT-PCR. Protein expression of selected markers was confirmed via immunohistochemistry. CAP inhibited growth in Mia PaCa-2 and co-cultured tissue, but its effectiveness was reduced in the latter, which correlates with reduced ki67 levels. CAP did not alter the mRNA expression of PSC activation and ECM remodelling markers. No changes in MMP2 and MMP9 expression were observed in RLT-PSCs, but small changes were observed in Mia PaCa-2 cells. Our findings support the ability of CAP to eliminate PDAC cells, without altering the PSCs.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000763630900001 Publication Date 2022-02-10  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1422-0067 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 5.6 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes The authors would like to thank Hanne Verswyvel for her support with sample collection from the in ovo model and Peter Ponsaerts for providing the facilities for the microscopy studies. Approved Most recent IF: 5.6  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:187155 Serial 7049  
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Author Maes, R.R.; Potters, G.; Fransen, E.; Van Schaeren, R.; Lenaerts, S. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Influence of adding low concentration of oxygenates in mineral diesel oil and biodiesel on the concentration of NO, NO₂ and particulate matter in the exhaust gas of a one-cylinder diesel generator Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication International journal of environmental research and public health Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 19 Issue 13 Pages 7637-18  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Air quality currently poses a major risk to human health worldwide. Transportation is one of the principal contributors to air pollution due to the quality of exhaust gases. For example, the widely used diesel fuel is a significant source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). To reduce the content NOx and PM, different oxygenated compounds were mixed into a mineral diesel available at the pump, and their effect on the composition of exhaust gas emissions was measured using a one-cylinder diesel generator. In this setup, adding methanol gave the best relative results. The addition of 2000 ppm of methanol decreased the content of NO by 56%, 2000 ppm of isopropanol decreased NO2 by 50%, and 2000 ppm ethanol decreased PM by 63%. An interesting question is whether it is possible to reduce the impact of hazardous components in the exhaust gas even more by adding oxygenates to biodiesels. In this article, alcohol is added to biodiesel in order to establish the impact on PM and NOx concentrations in the exhaust gases. Adding methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol at concentrations of 2000 ppm and 4000 ppm did not improve NOx emissions. The best results were using pure RME for a low NO content, pure diesel for a low NO2 content, and for PM there were no statistically significant differences.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000825645900001 Publication Date 2022-06-23  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1661-7827; 1660-4601 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189476 Serial 7172  
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Author Broos, W.; Wittner, N.; Geerts, J.; Dries, J.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Gunde-Cimerman, N.; Richel, A.; Cornet, I. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Evaluation of lignocellulosic wastewater valorization with the oleaginous yeasts R. kratochvilovae EXF7516 and C. oleaginosum ATCC 20509 Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Fermentation Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 8 Issue 5 Pages 204-221  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE)  
  Abstract During the conversion of lignocellulose, phenolic wastewaters are generated. Therefore, researchers have investigated wastewater valorization processes in which these pollutants are converted to chemicals, i.e., lipids. However, wastewaters are lean feedstocks, so these valorization processes in research typically require the addition of large quantities of sugars and sterilization, which increase costs. This paper investigates a repeated batch fermentation strategy with Rhodotorula kratochvilovae EXF7516 and Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum ATCC 20509, without these requirements. The pollutant removal and its conversion to microbial oil were evaluated. Because of the presence of non-monomeric substrates, the ligninolytic enzyme activity was also investigated. The repeated batch fermentation strategy was successful, as more lipids accumulated every cycle, up to a total of 5.4 g/L (23% cell dry weight). In addition, the yeasts consumed up to 87% of monomeric substrates, i.e., sugars, aromatics, and organics acids, and up to 23% of non-monomeric substrates, i.e., partially degraded xylan, lignin, cellulose. Interestingly, lipid production was only observed during the harvest phase of each cycle, as the cells experienced stress, possibly due to oxygen limitation. This work presents the first results on the feasibility of valorizing non-sterilized lignocellulosic wastewater with R. kratochvilovae and C. oleaginosum using a cost-effective repeated batch strategy.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000801796000001 Publication Date 2022-05-01  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2311-5637 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:187883 Serial 7157  
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Author Parrilla, M.; Slosse, A.; Van Echelpoel, R.; Montiel, F.N.; Langley, A.R.; Van Durme, F.; De Wael, K. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Rapid on-site detection of illicit drugs in smuggled samples with a portable electrochemical device Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Chemosensors Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 10 Issue 3 Pages 108-116  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)  
  Abstract The smuggling of illicit drugs urges the development of new tools for rapid on-site identification in cargos. Current methods rely on presumptive color tests and portable spectroscopic techniques. However, these methods sometimes exhibit inaccurate results due to commonly used cutting agents, the colorful nature of the sample or because the drugs are smuggled in common goods. Interestingly, electrochemical sensors can deal with these specific problems. Herein, an electrochemical device is presented that uses affordable screen-printed electrodes for the electrochemical profiling of several illicit drugs by square-wave voltammetry (SWV). The identification of the illicit compound is based on the oxidation potential of the analyte. Hence, a library of electrochemical profiles is built upon the analysis of illicit drugs and common cutting agents. This library allows the design of a tailor-made script that enables the identification of each drug through a user-friendly interface (laptop or mobile phone). Importantly, the electrochemical test is compared by analyzing 48 confiscated samples with other portable devices based on Raman and FTIR spectroscopy as well as a laboratory standard method (i.e., gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). Overall, the electrochemical results, obtained through the analysis of different samples from confiscated cargos at an end-user site, present a promising alternative to current methods, offering low-cost and rapid testing in the field.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000775813500001 Publication Date 2022-03-11  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2227-9040 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:187766 Serial 8920  
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Author Lamonier, J.-F.; Bogaerts, A. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Feature Papers to Celebrate “Environmental Catalysis”—Trends & Outlook Type Editorial
  Year 2022 Publication Catalysts Abbreviated Journal Catalysts  
  Volume 12 Issue 7 Pages 720  
  Keywords Editorial; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract This Special Issue collects three reviews, eight articles, and two communications related to the design of catalysts for environmental applications, such as the transformation of several pollutants into harmless or valuable products [...]  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000831734700001 Publication Date 2022-06-30  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2073-4344 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 3.9 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:189202 Serial 7074  
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