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Author Rogolino, A.; Claes, N.; Cizaurre, J.; Marauri, A.; Jumbo-Nogales, A.; Lawera, Z.; Kruse, J.; Sanroman-Iglesias, M.; Zarketa, I.; Calvo, U.; Jimenez-Izal, E.; Rakovich, Y.P.; Bals, S.; Matxain, J.M.; Grzelczak, M.
Title Metal-polymer heterojunction in colloidal-phase plasmonic catalysis Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2022 Publication The journal of physical chemistry letters Abbreviated Journal J Phys Chem Lett
Volume 13 Issue 10 Pages 2264-2272
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Plasmonic catalysis in the colloidal phase requires robust surface ligands that prevent particles from aggregation in adverse chemical environments and allow carrier flow from reagents to nanoparticles. This work describes the use of a water-soluble conjugated polymer comprising a thiophene moiety as a surface ligand for gold nanoparticles to create a hybrid system that, under the action of visible light, drives the conversion of the biorelevant NAD+ to its highly energetic reduced form NADH. A combination of advanced microscopy techniques and numerical simulations revealed that the robust metal-polymer heterojunction, rich in sulfonate functional groups, directs the interaction of electron-donor molecules with the plasmonic photocatalyst. The tight binding of polymer to the gold surface precludes the need for conventional transition-metal surface cocatalysts, which were previously shown to be essential for photocatalytic NAD(+) reduction but are known to hinder the optical properties of plasmonic nanocrystals. Moreover, computational studies indicated that the coating polymer fosters a closer interaction between the sacrificial electron-donor triethanolamine and the nanoparticles, thus enhancing the reactivity.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000776518000001 Publication Date 0000-00-00
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1948-7185 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 5.7 Times cited 1 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This work was supported by grant PID2019-111772RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and grant IT 1254-19 funded by Basque Government. The authors acknowledge the financial support of the European Commission (EUSMI, Grant 731019). S.B. is grateful to the European Research Council (ERC-CoG-2019 815128). The authors acknowledge the contributions by Dr. Adrian Pedrazo Tardajos related to sample support and electron microscopy experiments.; realnano;sygmaSB Approved Most recent IF: 5.7
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:188008 Serial 7062
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Author Monico, L.; Rosi, F.; Vivani, R.; Cartechini, L.; Janssens, K.; Gauquelin, N.; Chezganov, D.; Verbeeck, J.; Cotte, M.; D'Acapito, F.; Barni, L.; Grazia, C.; Buemi, L.P.; Andral, J.-L.; Miliani, C.; Romani, A.
Title Deeper insights into the photoluminescence properties and (photo)chemical reactivity of cadmium red (CdS1-xSex) paints in renowned twentieth century paintings by state-of-the-art investigations at multiple length scales Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2022 Publication The European Physical Journal Plus Abbreviated Journal Eur Phys J Plus
Volume 137 Issue 3 Pages 311
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Antwerp X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (AXIS)
Abstract Cadmium red is the name used for denoting a class of twentieth century artists' pigments described by the general formula CdS1-xSex. For their vibrant hues and excellent covering power, a number of renowned modern and contemporary painters, including Jackson Pollock, often used cadmium reds. As direct band gap semiconductors, CdS1-xSex compounds undergo direct radiative recombination (with emissions from the green to orange region) and radiative deactivation from intragap trapping states due to crystal defects, which give rise to two peculiar red-NIR emissions, known as deep level emissions (DLEs). The positions of the DLEs mainly depend on the Se content of CdS1-xSex; thus, photoluminescence and diffuse reflectance vis-NIR spectroscopy have been profitably used for the non-invasive identification of different cadmium red varieties in artworks over the last decade. Systematic knowledge is however currently lacking on what are the parameters related to intrinsic crystal defects of CdS1-xSex and environmental factors influencing the spectral properties of DLEs as well as on the overall (photo)chemical reactivity of cadmium reds in paint matrixes. Here, we present the application of a novel multi-length scale and multi-method approach to deepen insights into the photoluminescence properties and (photo)chemical reactivity of cadmium reds in oil paintings by combining both well established and new non-invasive/non-destructive analytical techniques, including macro-scale vis-NIR and vibrational spectroscopies and micro-/nano-scale advanced electron microscopy mapping and X-ray methods employing synchrotron radiation and conventional sources. Macro-scale vis-NIR spectroscopy data obtained from the in situ non-invasive analysis of nine masterpieces by Gerardo Dottori, Jackson Pollock and Nicolas de Stael allowed classifying the CdS1-xSex-paints in three groups, according to the relative intensity of the two DLE bands. These outcomes, combined with results from micro-/nano-scale electron microscopy mapping and X-ray analysis of a set of CdS1-xSex powders and artificially aged paint mock-ups, indicated that the relative intensity of DLEs is not affected by the morphology, microstructure and local atomic environment of the pigment particles but it is influenced by the presence of moisture. Furthermore, the extensive study of artificially aged oil paint mock-ups permitted us to provide first evidence of the tendency of cadmium reds toward photo-degradation and to establish that the conversion of CdS1-xSex to CdSO4 and/or oxalates is triggered by the oil binding medium and moisture level and depends on the Se content. Based on these findings, we could interpret the localized presence of CdSO4 and cadmium oxalate as alteration products of the original cadmium red paints in two paintings by Pollock.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000765807600002 Publication Date 0000-00-00
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2190-5444 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.4 Times cited 3 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes g The research was financially supported by the EU FP7 and Horizon 2020 Projects CHARISMA (FP7-INFRASTRUCTURES, GA No. 228330), IPERION-CH (H2020-INFRAIA-2014-2015, GA No. 654028), IPERION-HS (H2020-INFRAIA-2019-1, GA No. 871034) and ESTEEM3 (Research and innovation programme, GA No. 823717) and the Italian project AMIS (Dipartimenti di Eccellenza 2018–2022, funded by MIUR and Perugia University). For the beamtime grants received, we thank ESRF-ID21 (Experiment No. HG156 and in-house beamtimes) and the CERIC-ERIC Research Infrastructure for the investigations at ESRF-BM08 (LISA) beamline (Proposal Id: 20207042). D.C. acknowledges TOP/BOF funding of the University of Antwerp.; esteem3reported; esteem3TA Approved Most recent IF: 3.4
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:187375 Serial 7060
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Author Van Alphen, S.; Ahmadi Eshtehardi, H.; O'Modhrain, C.; Bogaerts, J.; Van Poyer, H.; Creel, J.; Delplancke, M.-P.; Snyders, R.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Effusion nozzle for energy-efficient NOx production in a rotating gliding arc plasma reactor Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2022 Publication Chemical Engineering Journal Abbreviated Journal Chem Eng J
Volume 443 Issue Pages 136529
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Plasma-based NOx production is of interest for sustainable N2 fixation, but more research is needed to improve its performance. One of the current limitations is recombination of NO back into N2 and O2 molecules immediately after the plasma reactor. Therefore, we developed a novel so-called “effusion nozzle”, to improve the perfor­mance of a rotating gliding arc plasma reactor for NOx production, but the same principle can also be applied to other plasma types. Experiments in a wide range of applied power, gas flow rates and N2/O2 ratios demonstrate an enhancement in NOx concentration by about 8%, and a reduction in energy cost by 22.5%. In absolute terms, we obtain NOx concentrations up to 5.9%, at an energy cost down to 2.1 MJ/mol, which are the best values reported to date in literature. In addition, we developed four complementary models to describe the gas flow, plasma temperature and plasma chemistry, aiming to reveal why the effusion nozzle yields better performance. Our simulations reveal that the effusion nozzle acts as very efficient heat sink, causing a fast drop in gas tem­perature when the gas molecules leave the plasma, hence limiting the recombination of NO back into N2 and O2. This yields an overall higher NOx concentration than without the effusion nozzle. This immediate quenching right at the end of the plasma makes our effusion nozzle superior to more conventional cooling options, like water cooling In addition, this higher NOx concentration can be obtained at a slightly lower power, because the effusion nozzle allows for the ignition and sustainment of the plasma at somewhat lower power. Hence, this also explains the lower energy cost. Overall, our experimental results and detailed modeling analysis will be useful to improve plasma-based NOx production in other plasma reactors as well.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000800010600003 Publication Date 0000-00-00
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1385-8947 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 15.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This research was supported by the Excellence of Science FWO-FNRS project (FWO grant ID GoF9618n, EOS ID 30505023), the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 810182 – SCOPE ERC Synergy project), and through long-term structural funding (Methusalem). The calculations were performed using the Turing HPC infrastructure at the CalcUA core facility of the Universiteit Antwerpen (UAntwerpen), a division of the Flemish Supercomputer Center VSC, funded by the Hercules Foundation, the Flemish Government (depart­ment EWI) and the UAntwerpen. Approved Most recent IF: 15.1
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:188283 Serial 7057
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Author Tschulkow, M.
Title A techno-environmental economic assessment of a lignin-first biorefinery : a dynamic and prospective framework for emerging technologies Type Doctoral thesis
Year (down) 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 175 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Novel emerging biorefinery technologies have gained interest and have the potential to tackle several sustainability challenges in our society. A lignin-first biorefinery process – reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) – is currently under development with the aim to process wood into high-value end-products that replace highly polluting fossil oil-based products. However, such emerging technologies are not matured yet, holding a certain degree of technological, economic, and environmental uncertainty. Hence, an appropriate assessment method is required to assess techno-economic feasibility and environmental impacts of emerging uncertain technologies (e.g lignin-first RCF process). This dissertation aims to develop an integrated techno-environmental economic assessment framework to assess emerging technologies dynamically and prospectively from economic and environmental points of view. First, a techno-economic assessment (TEA) is performed to assess the economic feasibility and the most influential economic and technological parameters of the lignin-first RCF biorefinery taking the whole wood value chain into account. By making the relations across the wood value chain, the scale of the biorefinery, wood species, and output prices highly determine the economic feasibility. The economic feasibility can be reached by a sufficient capacity level which depends on wood species-specific conditions. Also, waste wood proves to be the most profitable feedstock in comparison to virgin wood. Second, an analytical real options analysis (ROA) is performed taking two correlated market uncertainties and the value of flexibility into account to identify the optimal investment decision in an RCF biorefinery. Two different investment options, separated and united investments in harvesting equipment and RCF biorefinery, are analyzed. In both scenarios, market uncertainty postpones the investment. When both investment decisions are united, the probability of investment increases in comparison to separated investments. The study reveals that RCF has the potential to stimulate investments within the wood value chain. Third, a consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) is performed to assess the carbon emissions and the environmental consequences of the lignin-first RCF process and its products. The study reveals that at the current stage RCF products have higher carbon emissions than their alternative counterparts. Several options to improve the environmental performance are discussed such as different RCF technology configurations, targeting different RCF products with the ability to replace higher polluting alternative counterparts on the markets. Other discussion points such as transportation type and the distance, (in-)direct land-use change, the use stage and disposal stages implications, and a more comprehensive environmental view of the RCF products, show the potential to improve the environmental performance of the RCF technology. Overall, the study shows that the RCF process can be environmentally desirable if the appropriate RCF configuration and products are chosen. Finally, the above-mentioned methods – techno-economic assessment, analytical real options analysis, and consequential life cycle assessment – are uniquely integrated within the newly developed integrated assessment framework. The framework has the aim to complement the shortcomings and combine the advantages of all three methods. The framework assesses emerging technologies to give predictive insights about the time-specific economic and environmental performance under the newly developed three threshold conditions: technological readiness, economic feasibility, and environmental desirability. The developed integrated assessment framework assesses dynamically and prospectively the RCF biorefinery implementation under Belgian conditions. It reveals that the economic feasibility increases and carbon emissions decrease over time. The RCF biorefinery fulfills all three threshold conditions – technological readiness, economic feasibility, and environmental desirability – consecutively. The newly developed integrated assessment framework offers decision support to several stakeholders of emerging technologies starting from low technology readiness level (TRL). Practitioners such as the technology developers, researchers, and policymakers can use the framework to evaluate emerging technologies that deal with high levels of technological, economic, and environmental uncertainties. The framework assesses emerging technologies on a detailed level to give decision-makers in-depth insights into the intertwined nature of the technological, economic, and environmental dimensions. It offers insights into the expected time-specific economic and environmental performances, potential, and challenges of the emerging technology to further improve the technology and direct R&Ds along the right path.
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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:188968 Serial 7369
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Author Larraín, M.
Title Recycling of plastics : linking technical, economic and policy aspects of post-consumer plastic packaging Type Doctoral thesis
Year (down) 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages x, 165 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)
Abstract The rise in plastic packaging production and disposal has encouraged the progress of recycling technologies and aroused policy discussion on how to increase recycling rates. However, the effect that these policy instruments will have on the development of the different recycling technologies has not been studied holistically yet. This dissertation explores how new and existing technologies will behave under the market and policy conditions observed at present and after the implementation of the policy instruments that are under discussion. The technologies that are analyzed in this thesis are mechanical recycling and thermochemical recycling of post-consumer polyolefin waste. Using a techno-economic assessment that takes into account the physical properties of the different plastic fractions and their contamination level, the study shows that both mechanical and thermochemical recycling can be profitable if oil prices remain steady or increase. Specifically, mechanical recycling will show better results than thermochemical recycling for plastic fractions with low contamination levels. On the contrary, thermochemical recycling is more profitable for fractions with a higher contamination level from which high-quality products cannot be obtained with mechanical recycling, such as PE films. Moreover, it demonstrates that besides the oil prices and sorted waste prices, waste purity and the plant capacity are the variables that influence more the net present value of thermochemical recycling and the labor cost and waste purity the ones of mechanical recycling. The thesis explores the dynamics between the stakeholders of the circular value chain and predicts the recycling rates under the implementation of several policy instruments. This is done with a supply chain equilibrium model, based on the extended producer responsibility scheme implemented in Flanders, that uses as an input the cost structures of mechanical and thermochemical recycling obtained from the techno-economic assessments. Direct interventions like recycled content standards, can decouple the recycling industry from the oil market, but in the long term, they may not present incentives to achieve recycling levels beyond the targeted amounts and thus limit technological innovation. On the contrary, economic interventions such as taxes, create economic incentives for recycling and allow fund collection from the government but leave the recycled levels dependent on external markets. Results also show that higher recycling rates does not necessarily mean better environmental performance. Therefore, when designing circular economy policies, policymakers should carefully analyze whether the intention is to increase circularity or improve the sustainability of the value chains.
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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:191730 Serial 7366
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Author Van Tendeloo, M.
Title Resource-efficient nitrogen removal from sewage : kinetic, physical and chemical tools for mainstream partial nitritation/anammox Type Doctoral thesis
Year (down) 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages iv, 204 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Adequate removal of pollutants from sewage is important to protect the environment and public health. Today, sewage treatment plants are operational in many parts of the world, and although the used technologies are effective in removing pollutants from wastewater, they are energy- and resource-intensive. Reshaping sewage treatment into a two-stage system, with separated organic carbon and nitrogen removal, facilitates the transformation towards energy-positive sewage treatment. This thesis will focus on resource-efficient nitrogen removal from sewage via partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A), with reduced organic carbon and oxygen consumption compared to conventional techniques. PN/A relies on the teamwork between two microbial groups to convert ammonium into nitrogen gas. Several other groups of microbes however can proliferate in the sludge, competing for substrate with the key players, lowering the nitrogen removal efficiency and increasing the energy demand. To obtain the desired microbial community, control tools should be applied to selectively promote the desired microbes while suppressing the unwanted competitors. In this thesis, multiple control tools were studied to establish a workable framework for successful implementation of PN/A in the main stream of a sewage treatment plant. These tools can be divided into three categories: i) kinetic tools, regulating substrate availability (e.g., oxygen availability control and residual ammonium concentration), ii) physical tools, revolving around sludge retention and selection (e.g., sludge age control and sludge aggregation form), and iii) chemical tools, exposing the sludge to stress conditions for which the unwanted microbes are vulnerable (e.g., sludge treatments with a single stressor such as free ammonia). The first research chapter focussed on oxygen availability control and single-stressor sludge treatments. The following two chapters covered the development of a novel multi-stressor concept combining substrate starvation and exposure to sulphide and free ammonia. In the final research chapter, the previously obtained knowledge was combined into a demonstration study on pilot-scale. The combination of these control tools was found effective in achieving nitrogen removal via PN/A, both on lab- and pilot-scale. Consequently, the obtained results in this thesis can catalyse the implementation of mainstream PN/A by providing a toolbox with multiple control tools and clever reactor design, thus advancing the concept of energy neutrality and resource efficiency in sewage treatment plants.
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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:187665 Serial 7204
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Author Oliveira, M.C.
Title Influence of phase-separated domains on the permeability of oxidized lipid membranes Type Doctoral thesis
Year (down) 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 151 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Biological membranes are under constant attack of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), which may lead to a complex mixture of nitro-oxidized lipids that are responsible for structural and dynamic changes on the membrane. Because of that, nitro-oxidized lipids are also associated with several tumors and inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, lipid oxidation may induce membrane phase-separated domains, which also drastically affect the membrane function. Evidence suggests that domain interfaces are “hot spots” for pore formation, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. There is an urgent need for an improved understanding of oxidation-induced phase separation on membrane properties. Likewise, the molecular structure at domain interfaces still needs to be elucidated. To evaluate the effect of lipid nitro-oxidation on the permeability of single-phase (homogeneous) and phase-separated (heterogeneous) phospholipid bilayers (PLBs), we performed atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using: (1) single-phase PLBs composed of several isomers of nitrated and/or oxidized lipids; (2) phase-separated PLBs composed of coexisting liquid ordered (Lo) and liquid disordered (Ld) domains, where the Ld domain is composed of non-oxidized and/or oxidized lipids. Our results show that nitrated lipids increase the membrane permeability of single-phase PLBs by three-fold compared to oxidized lipids. In addition, we show that oxidized lipids in the presence of nitrated lipids decrease the membrane permeability, suggesting an interaction between nitrated and oxidized lipids. Overall, the permeability of single-phase and phase-separated PLBs was comparable, and the presence of oxidized lipids increases the membrane permeability only in single-phase PLBs. Despite the latter, the presence of only 1.5% of lipid aldehydes at the Lo/Ld domain interfaces of phase-separated PLBs was able to increase the membrane permeability. In consequence of this, we also performed coarse-grained MD simulations to evaluate whether lipid aldehydes have a preference to accumulate at the interface between Lo/Ld domains. Our results show that lipid aldehydes derived from mono-unsaturated lipids accumulate at the interface, but those derived from poly-unsaturated lipids remain in the Ld domain. This study is of interest for photodynamic therapy and plasma medicine for cancer treatment, to understand the effects caused by RONS in cell membranes.
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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:191039 Serial 7173
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Author Alihosseini, M.; Ghasemi, S.; Ahmadkhani, S.; Alidoosti, M.; Esfahani, D.N.; Peeters, F.M.; Neek-Amal, M.
Title Electronic properties of oxidized graphene : effects of strain and an electric field on flat bands and the energy gap Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication The journal of physical chemistry letters Abbreviated Journal J Phys Chem Lett
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract A multiscale modeling and simulation approach, including first-principles calculations, ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, and a tight binding approach, is employed to study band flattening of the electronic band structure of oxidized monolayer graphene. The width offlat bands can be tuned by strain, the external electric field, and the density of functional groups and their distribution. A transition to a conducting state is found for monolayer graphene with impurities when it is subjected to an electric field of similar to 1.0 V/angstrom. Several parallel impurity-induced flat bands appear in the low-energy spectrum of monolayer graphene when the number of epoxy groups is changed. The width of the flat band decreases with an increase in tensile strain but is independent of the electric field strength. Here an alternative and easy route for obtaining band flattening in thermodynamically stable functionalized monolayer graphene is introduced. Our work discloses a new avenue for research on band flattening in monolayer graphene.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000737988100001 Publication Date 2021-12-27
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1948-7185 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 9.353 Times cited 1 Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 9.353
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184725 Serial 6987
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Author Thiruvottriyur Shanmugam, S.; Van Echelpoel, R.; Boeye, G.; Eliaerts, J.; Samanipour, M.; Ching, H.Y.V.; Florea, A.; Van Doorslaer, S.; Van Durme, F.; Samyn, N.; Parrilla, M.; De Wael, K.
Title Towards developing a screening strategy for ecstasy : revealing the electrochemical profile Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Chemelectrochem Abbreviated Journal Chemelectrochem
Volume 8 Issue 24 Pages 4826-4834
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation); Organic synthesis (ORSY); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT); Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
Abstract This article describes the development of an electrochemical screening strategy for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), the regular psychoactive compound in ecstasy (XTC) pills. We have investigated the specific electrochemical profile of MDMA and its electro-oxidation mechanisms at disposable graphite screen-printed electrodes. We have proved that the formation of a radical cation and subsequent reactions are indeed responsible for the electrode surface passivation, as evidenced by using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and electrochemistry. Thereafter, pure cutting agents and MDMA as well as simulated binary mixtures of compounds with MDMA were subjected to square wave voltammetry at pH 7 to understand the characteristic electrochemical profile. An additional measurement at pH 12 was able to resolve false positives and negatives occurring at pH 7. Finally, validation of the screening strategy was done by measuring a set of ecstasy street samples. Overall, our proposed electrochemical screening strategy has been demonstrated for the rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of MDMA, resolving most of the false positives and negatives given by the traditional Marquis color tests, thus exhibiting remarkable promises for the on-site screening of MDMA.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000735883700020 Publication Date 2021-12-22
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2196-0216 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.136 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.136
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184371 Serial 8680
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Author Yagmurcukardes, M.; Sozen, Y.; Baskurt, M.; Peeters, F.M.; Sahin, H.
Title Interface-dependent phononic and optical properties of GeO/MoSO heterostructures Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract The interface-dependent electronic, vibrational, piezoelectric, and optical properties of van der Waals heterobilayers, formed by buckled GeO (b-GeO) and Janus MoSO structures, are investigated by means of first-principles calculations. The electronic band dispersions show that O/Ge and S/O interface formations result in a type-II band alignment with direct and indirect band gaps, respectively. In contrast, O/O and S/Ge interfaces give rise to the formation of a type-I band alignment with an indirect band gap. By considering the Bethe-Salpeter equation (BSE) on top of G(0)W(0) approximation, it is shown that different interfaces can be distinguished from each other by means of the optical absorption spectra as a consequence of the band alignments. Additionally, the low- and high-frequency regimes of the Raman spectra are also different for each interface type. The alignment of the individual dipoles, which is interface-dependent, either weakens or strengthens the net dipole of the heterobilayers and results in tunable piezoelectric coefficients. The results indicate that the possible heterobilayers of b-GeO/MoSO asymmetric structures possess various electronic, optical, and piezoelectric properties arising from the different interface formations and can be distinguished by means of various spectroscopic techniques.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000738899600001 Publication Date 2021-12-09
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2040-3364 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.367 Times cited 2 Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.367
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184722 Serial 6998
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Author Sun, P.Z.; Yagmurcukardes, M.; Zhang, R.; Kuang, W.J.; Lozada-Hidalgo, M.; Liu, B.L.; Cheng, H.-M.; Wang, F.C.; Peeters, F.M.; Grigorieva, I.V.; Geim, A.K.
Title Exponentially selective molecular sieving through angstrom pores Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Nature Communications Abbreviated Journal Nat Commun
Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 7170
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Two-dimensional crystals with angstrom-scale pores are widely considered as candidates for a next generation of molecular separation technologies aiming to provide extreme, exponentially large selectivity combined with high flow rates. No such pores have been demonstrated experimentally. Here we study gas transport through individual graphene pores created by low intensity exposure to low kV electrons. Helium and hydrogen permeate easily through these pores whereas larger species such as xenon and methane are practically blocked. Permeating gases experience activation barriers that increase quadratically with molecules' kinetic diameter, and the effective diameter of the created pores is estimated as similar to 2 angstroms, about one missing carbon ring. Our work reveals stringent conditions for achieving the long sought-after exponential selectivity using porous two-dimensional membranes and suggests limits on their possible performance. Two-dimensional membranes with angstrom-sized pores are predicted to combine high permeability with exceptional selectivity, but experimental demonstration has been challenging. Here the authors realize angstrom-sized pores in monolayer graphene and demonstrate gas transport with activation barriers increasing quadratically with the molecular kinetic diameter.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000728562700016 Publication Date 2021-12-09
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2041-1723 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 12.124 Times cited 10 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 12.124
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184840 Serial 6989
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Author Zheng, Y.-R.; Vernieres, J.; Wang, Z.; Zhang, K.; Hochfilzer, D.; Krempl, K.; Liao, T.-W.; Presel, F.; Altantzis, T.; Fatermans, J.; Scott, S.B.; Secher, N.M.; Moon, C.; Liu, P.; Bals, S.; Van Aert, S.; Cao, A.; Anand, M.; Nørskov, J.K.; Kibsgaard, J.; Chorkendorff, I.
Title Monitoring oxygen production on mass-selected iridium–tantalum oxide electrocatalysts Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Nature Energy Abbreviated Journal Nat Energy
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT)
Abstract Development of low-cost and high-performance oxygen evolution reaction catalysts is key to implementing polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzers for hydrogen production. Iridium-based oxides are the state-of-the-art acidic oxygen evolution reactio catalysts but still suffer from inadequate activity and stability, and iridium's scarcity motivates the discovery of catalysts with lower iridium loadings. Here we report a mass-selected iridium-tantalum oxide catalyst prepared by a magnetron-based cluster source with considerably reduced noble-metal loadings beyond a commercial IrO2 catalyst. A sensitive electrochemistry/mass-spectrometry instrument coupled with isotope labelling was employed to investigate the oxygen production rate under dynamic operating conditions to account for the occurrence of side reactions and quantify the number of surface active sites. Iridium-tantalum oxide nanoparticles smaller than 2 nm exhibit a mass activity of 1.2 ± 0.5 kA “g” _“Ir” ^“-1” and a turnover frequency of 2.3 ± 0.9 s-1 at 320 mV overpotential, which are two and four times higher than those of mass-selected IrO2, respectively. Density functional theory calculations reveal that special iridium coordinations and the lowered aqueous decomposition free energy might be responsible for the enhanced performance.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000728458000001 Publication Date 2021-12-09
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2058-7546 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited 95 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Y.-R.Z. and Z.W acknowledge funding from the Toyota Research Institute. This project has received funding from VILLUM FONDEN (grant no. 9455) and the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grants no. 741860-CLUNATRA, no. 815128−REALNANO and no. 770887−PICOMETRICS). S.B. and S.V.A. acknowledge funding from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, G026718N and G050218N). T.A. acknowledges the University of Antwerp Research Fund (BOF). STEM measurements were supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research Infrastructure-Integrating Activities for Advanced Communities under grant agreement No 823717 – ESTEEM3.; sygmaSB Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:184794 Serial 6903
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Mustonen, K.; Hofer, C.; Kotrusz, P.; Markevich, A.; Hulman, M.; Mangler, C.; Susi, T.; Pennycook, T.J.; Hricovini, K.; Richter, C.M.; Meyer, J.C.; Kotakoski, J.; Skákalová, V.
Title Towards Exotic Layered Materials: 2D Cuprous Iodide Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Advanced materials Abbreviated Journal Adv Mater
Volume Issue Pages 2106922
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Heterostructures composed of two-dimensional (2D) materials are already opening many new possibilities in such fields of technology as electronics and magnonics, but far more could be achieved if the number and diversity of 2D materials is increased. So far, only a few dozen 2D crystals have been extracted from materials that exhibit a layered phase in ambient conditions, omitting entirely the large number of layered materials that may exist in other temperatures and pressures. Here, we demonstrate how these structures can be stabilized in 2D van der Waals stacks under room temperature via growing them directly in graphene encapsulation by using graphene oxide as the template material. Specifically, we produce an ambient stable 2D structure of copper and iodine, a material that normally only occurs in layered form at elevated temperatures between 645 and 675 K. Our results establish a simple route to the production of more exotic phases of materials that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to stabilize for experiments in ambient.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000744012500001 Publication Date 2021-12-07
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0935-9648 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 19.791 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes We acknowledge funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme Grant agreements No.~756277-ATMEN (A.M. and T.S.) and No.802123-HDEM (C.H. and T.J.P.). Computational resources from the Vienna Scientific Cluster (VSC) are gratefully acknowledged. V.S. was supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) (project no. I2344-N36), the Slovak Research and Development Agency (APVV-16-0319), the project CEMEA of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, ITMS project code 313021T081 of the Research & Innovation Operational Programme and from the V4-Japan Joint Research Program (BGapEng). J.K. acknowledges the FWF funding within project P31605-N36 and M.H. the funding from Slovak Research and Development Agency via the APVV-15-0693 and APVV-19-0365 project grants. Danubia NanoTech s.r.o. has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101008099 (CompSafeNano project) and also thanks Mr. Kamil Bernath for his support. Approved Most recent IF: 19.791
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:183956 Serial 6834
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Author Feng, X.; Jena, H.S.; Krishnaraj, C.; Arenas-Esteban, D.; Leus, K.; Wang, G.; Sun, J.; Rüscher, M.; Timoshenko, J.; Roldan Cuenya, B.; Bals, S.; Voort, P.V.D.
Title Creation of Exclusive Artificial Cluster Defects by Selective Metal Removal in the (Zn, Zr) Mixed-Metal UiO-66 Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Journal Of The American Chemical Society Abbreviated Journal J Am Chem Soc
Volume Issue Pages jacs.1c05357
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract The differentiation between missing linker defects

and missing cluster defects in MOFs is difficult, thereby limiting the

ability to correlate materials properties to a specific type of defects.

Herein, we present a novel and easy synthesis strategy for the

creation of solely “missing cluster defects” by preparing mixed-metal

(Zn, Zr)-UiO-66 followed by a gentle acid wash to remove the Zn

nodes. The resulting material has the reo UiO-66 structure, typical

for well-defined missing cluster defects. The missing clusters are

thoroughly characterized, including low-pressure Ar-sorption, iDPCSTEM

at a low dose (1.5 pA), and XANES/EXAFS analysis. We

show that the missing cluster UiO-66 has a negligible number of missing linkers. We show the performance of the missing cluster

UiO-66 in CO2 sorption and heterogeneous catalysis.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000730569500001 Publication Date 2021-12-07
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0002-7863 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 13.858 Times cited 29 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Agentschap Innoveren en Ondernemen, HBC.2019.0110 HBC.2021.0254 ; Universiteit Gent; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, 665501 ; Dalian University of Technology; China Scholarship Council, 201507565009 ; National Natural Science Foundation of China, 22101039 ; H2020 European Research Council, 815128 REALNANO ; sygmaSB Approved Most recent IF: 13.858
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:183951 Serial 6833
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Author Bruggeman, P.J.; Bogaerts, A.; Pouvesle, J.M.; Robert, E.; Szili, E.J.
Title Plasma–liquid interactions Type A1 Journal Article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Journal Of Applied Physics Abbreviated Journal J Appl Phys
Volume 130 Issue 20 Pages 200401
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
Abstract
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date 2021-11-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0021-8979 ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor 2.068 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.068
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:184245 Serial 6830
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Author Mushtaq, A.; Pradhan, B.; Kushavah, D.; Zhang, Y.; Wolf, M.; Schrenker, N.; Fron, E.; Bals, S.; Hofkens, J.; Debroye, E.; Pal, S.K.
Title Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Properties and Saturation of Two-Photon Absorption in Lead-Free Double Perovskite Nanocrystals under Femtosecond Excitation Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Acs Photonics Abbreviated Journal Acs Photonics
Volume 8 Issue 11 Pages 3365-3374
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Lead halide perovskites have been widely explored

in the field of photovoltaics, light-emitting diodes, and lasers due to

their outstanding linear and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties.

But, the presence of lead toxicity and low chemical stability remain

serious concerns. Lead-free double perovskite with excellent

optical properties and chemical stability could be an alternative.

However, proper examination of the NLO properties of such a

material is crucial to identify their utility for future nonlinear device

applications. Herein, we have made use of femtosecond (fs) Z-scan

technique to explore the NLO properties of Cs2AgIn0.9Bi0.1Cl6

nanocrystals (NCs). Our measurements suggest that under

nonresonant fs excitation, perovskite NCs exhibit strong twophoton

absorption (TPA). The observed saturation of TPA at high

light intensities has been explained by a customized model. Furthermore, we have demonstrated a change in the nonlinear refractive

index of the NCs under varying input intensities. The strong TPA absorption of lead-free double perovskite NCs could be used for

Kerr nonlinearity-based nonlinear applications such as optical shutters for picosecond lasers.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000757024100028 Publication Date 2021-11-17
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2330-4022 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 6.756 Times cited 25 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes A.M. is thankful to IIT Mandi for his fellowship and Advanced Materials Research Centre for the experimental facilities. A.M. is also thankful to Torbjörn Pascher (Pascher Instrument) for writing the Z-scan data acquisition program. J.H. acknowledges financial support from the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO, Grant No. G983.19N, G0A5817N, and G0H6316N) and the Flemish government through long-term structural funding Methusalem (CASAS2, Meth/15/04). B.P. acknowledges postdoctoral fellowship from the Research Foundation- Flanders (FWO Grant No. 1275521N). D.K. acknowledges the financial support from Science and Engineering Research Board (Grant No. PDF/2018/003146), India. N.J.S. acknowledges financial support from the Research Foundation- Flanders via a postdoctoral fellowship (FWO Grant No. 1238622N). Approved Most recent IF: 6.756
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:184249 Serial 6832
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Author Tao, Z.H.; Dong, H.M.; Milošević, M.V.; Peeters, F.M.; Van Duppen, B.
Title Tailoring dirac plasmons via anisotropic dielectric environment by design Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Physical Review Applied Abbreviated Journal Phys Rev Appl
Volume 16 Issue 5 Pages 054030
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Dirac plasmons in a two-dimensional (2D) crystal are strongly affected by the dielectric properties of the environment, due to interaction of their electric field lines with the surrounding medium. Using graphene as a 2D reservoir of free carriers, one can engineer a material configuration that provides an anisotropic environment to the plasmons. In this work, we discuss the physical properties of Dirac plasmons in graphene surrounded by an arbitrary anisotropic dielectric and exemplify how h-BN-based heterostructures can be designed to bear the required anisotropic characteristics. We calculate how dielec-tric anisotropy impacts the spatial propagation of the plasmons and find that an anisotropy-induced plasmon mode emerges, together with a damping pathway, that stem from the out-of-plane off-diagonal elements in the dielectric tensor. Furthermore, we find that one can create hyperbolic plasmons by inher-iting the dielectric hyperbolicity of the designed material environment. Strong control over plasmon propagation patterns can be realized in a similar manner. Finally, we show that in this way one can also control the polarization of the light-matter excitations that constitute the plasmon. Taken together, our results promote the design of the dielectric environment as an effective path to tailor the plasmonic response of graphene on the nanoscopic level.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000720372500002 Publication Date 2021-11-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2331-7019 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.808 Times cited 1 Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.808
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184063 Serial 7028
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Milošević, M.V.; Mandrus, D.
Title 2D quantum materials : magnetism and superconductivity Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Journal Of Applied Physics Abbreviated Journal J Appl Phys
Volume 130 Issue 18 Pages 180401
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000720289900004 Publication Date 2021-11-11
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0021-8979; 1089-7550 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 2.068 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.068
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184090 Serial 6963
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Tiwari, S.; Van de Put, M.L.; Sorée, B.; Vandenberghe, W.G.
Title Ab initio modeling of few-layer dilute magnetic semiconductors Type P1 Proceeding
Year (down) 2021 Publication International Conference on Simulation of Semiconductor Processes and Devices : [proceedings] T2 – International Conference on Simulation of Semiconductor Processes and, Devices (SISPAD), SEP 27-29, 2021, Dallas, TX Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 141-145
Keywords P1 Proceeding; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract We present a computational model to model the magnetic structure of two-dimensional (2D) dilute-magnetic-semiconductors (DMS) both the monolayers and multilayers using first-principles density functional theory (DFT), as well as their magnetic phase transition as a function of temperature using Monte-Carlo simulations. Using our method, we model the magnetic structure of bulk, bilayer, and monolayer MoS2 substitutionally doped with Fe atoms. We find that the out-of-plane interaction in bilayer MoS2 is weakly ferromagnetic, whereas in bulk MoS2 it is strongly anti-ferromagnetic. Finally, we show that the magnetic order is more robust in bilayer Fe-doped MoS2 compared to the monolayer and results in a room-temperature FM at an atomic substitution of 14-16%.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000766985400034 Publication Date 2021-11-08
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 978-1-6654-0685-7 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:187291 Serial 7401
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Author Lavor, I.R.; Chaves, A.; Peeters, F.M.; Van Duppen, B.
Title Tunable coupling of terahertz Dirac plasmons and phonons in transition metal dichalcogenide-based van der Waals heterostructures Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication 2d Materials Abbreviated Journal 2D Mater
Volume Issue Pages 015018
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Dirac plasmons in graphene hybridize with phonons of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) when the materials are combined in so-called van der Waals heterostructures (vdWh), thus forming surface plasmon-phonon polaritons (SPPPs). The extend to which these modes are coupled depends on the TMD composition and structure, but also on the plasmons' properties. By performing realistic simulations that account for the contribution of each layer of the vdWh separately, we calculate how the strength of plasmon-phonon coupling depends on the number and composition of TMD layers, on the graphene Fermi energy and the specific phonon mode. From this, we present a semiclassical theory that is capable of capturing all relevant characteristics of the SPPPs. We find that it is possible to realize both strong and ultra-strong coupling regimes by tuning graphene's Fermi energy and changing TMD layer number.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000722020100001 Publication Date 2021-11-08
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2053-1583 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 6.937 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 6.937
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:183053 Serial 7036
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Bal, K.M.
Title Reweighted Jarzynski sampling : acceleration of rare events and free energy calculation with a bias potential learned from nonequilibrium work Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Journal Of Chemical Theory And Computation Abbreviated Journal J Chem Theory Comput
Volume 17 Issue 11 Pages 6766-6774
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract We introduce a simple enhanced sampling approach for the calculation of free energy differences and barriers along a one-dimensional reaction coordinate. First, a small number of short nonequilibrium simulations are carried out along the reaction coordinate, and the Jarzynski equality is used to learn an approximate free energy surface from the nonequilibrium work distribution. This free energy estimate is represented in a compact form as an artificial neural network and used as an external bias potential to accelerate rare events in a subsequent molecular dynamics simulation. The final free energy estimate is then obtained by reweighting the equilibrium probability distribution of the reaction coordinate sampled under the influence of the external bias. We apply our reweighted Jarzynski sampling recipe to four processes of varying scales and complexities.spanning chemical reaction in the gas phase, pair association in solution, and droplet nucleation in supersaturated vapor. In all cases, we find reweighted Jarzynski sampling to be a very efficient strategy, resulting in rapid convergence of the free energy to high precision.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000718183600008 Publication Date 2021-10-29
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1549-9618 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 5.245 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5.245
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184676 Serial 8479
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Author Van Tendeloo, M.; Bundervoet, B.; Carlier, N.; Van Beeck, W.; Mollen, H.; Lebeer, S.; Colsen, J.; Vlaeminck, S.E.
Title Piloting carbon-lean nitrogen removal for energy-autonomous sewage treatment Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Environmental Science-Water Research & Technology Abbreviated Journal Environ Sci-Wat Res
Volume 7 Issue 12 Pages 2268-2281
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Energy-autonomous sewage treatment can be achieved if nitrogen (N) removal does not rely on organic carbon (∼chemical oxygen demand, COD), so that a maximum of the COD can be redirected to energy recovery. Shortcut N removal technologies such as partial nitritation/anammox and nitritation/denitritation are therefore essential, enabling carbon- and energy-lean nitrogen removal. In this study, a novel three-reactor pilot design was tested and consisted of a denitrification, an intermittent aeration, and an anammox tank. A vibrating sieve was added for differential sludge retention time (SRT) control. The 13 m3 pilot was operated on pre-treated sewage (A-stage effluent) at 12–24 °C. Selective suppression of unwanted nitrite-oxidizing bacteria over aerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria was achieved with strict floccular SRT management combined with innovative aeration control, resulting in a minimal nitrate production ratio of 17 ± 10%. Additionally, anoxic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB) activity could be maintained in the reactor for at least 150 days because of long granular SRT management and the anammox tank. Consequently, the COD/N removal ratio of 2.3 ± 0.7 demonstrated shortcut N removal almost three times lower than the currently applied nitrification/denitrification technology. The effluent total N concentrations of 17 ± 3 mg TN per L (at 21 ± 1 °C) and 17 ± 6 mg TN per L (at 15 ± 1 °C) were however too high for application at the sewage treatment plant Nieuwveer (Breda, The Netherlands). Corresponding N removal efficiencies were 52 ± 12% and 37 ± 21%, respectively. Further development should focus on redirecting more nitrite to AnAOB in the B-stage, exploring effluent-polishing options, or cycling nitrate for increased A-stage denitrification.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000714159900001 Publication Date 2021-10-29
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2053-1400 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 2.817 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.817
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:183347 Serial 8383
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Van Alphen, S.; Slaets, J.; Ceulemans, S.; Aghaei, M.; Snyders, R.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Effect of N2 on CO2-CH4 conversion in a gliding arc plasmatron: Can this major component in industrial emissions improve the energy efficiency? Type A1 Journal Article;Plasma-based CO2-CH4 conversion
Year (down) 2021 Publication Journal Of Co2 Utilization Abbreviated Journal J Co2 Util
Volume 54 Issue Pages 101767
Keywords A1 Journal Article;Plasma-based CO2-CH4 conversion; Effect of N2; Plasma chemistry; Computational modelling; Gliding arc plasmatron; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
Abstract Plasma-based CO2 and CH4 conversion is gaining increasing interest, and a great portion of research is dedicated to adapting the process to actual industrial conditions. In an industrial context, the process needs to be able to process N2 admixtures, since most industrial gas emissions contain significant amounts of N2, and gas separations are financially costly. In this paper we therefore investigate the effect of N2 on the CO2 and CH4 conversion in a gliding arc plasmatron reactor. The addition of 20 % N2 reduces the energy cost of the conversion process by 21 % compared to a pure CO2/CH4 mixture, from 2.9 down to 2.2 eV/molec (or from 11.5 to 8.7 kJ/L), yielding a CO2 and CH4 (absolute) conversion of 28.6 and 35.9 % and an energy efficiency of 58 %. These results are among the best reported in literature for plasma-based DRM, demonstrating the benefits of N2 present in the mix. Compared to DRM results in different plasma reactor types, a low energy cost was achieved. To understand the underlying mechanisms of N2 addition, we developed a combination of four different computational models, which reveal that the beneficial effect of N2 addition is attributed to (i) a rise in the electron density (increasing the plasma conductivity, and therefore reducing the plasma power needed to sustain the plasma, which reduces the energy cost), as well as (ii) a rise in the gas temperature, which accelerates the CO2 and CH4 conversion reactions.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000715057300005 Publication Date 2021-10-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2212-9820 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.292 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This research was supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innova­ tion programme (grant agreement No 810182 – SCOPE ERC Synergy project), the Excellence of Science FWO-FNRS project (FWO grant ID GoF9618n, EOS ID 30505023), and through long-term structural fund­ing (Methusalem). The calculations were performed using the Turing HPC infrastructure at the CalcUA core facility of the Universiteit Ant­werpen (UAntwerpen), a division of the Flemish Supercomputer Center VSC, funded by the Hercules Foundation, the Flemish Government (department EWI) and the UAntwerpen. Approved Most recent IF: 4.292
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:184044 Serial 6827
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Author Van Loenhout, J.; Freire Boullosa, L.; Quatannens, D.; De Waele, J.; Merlin, C.; Lambrechts, H.; Lau, H.W.; Hermans, C.; Lin, A.; Lardon, F.; Peeters, M.; Bogaerts, A.; Smits, E.; Deben, C.
Title Auranofin and Cold Atmospheric Plasma Synergize to Trigger Distinct Cell Death Mechanisms and Immunogenic Responses in Glioblastoma Type A1 Journal Article;oxidative stress
Year (down) 2021 Publication Cells Abbreviated Journal Cells
Volume 10 Issue 11 Pages 2936
Keywords A1 Journal Article;oxidative stress; auranofin; cold atmospheric plasma; glioblastoma; cancer cell death; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
Abstract Targeting the redox balance of malignant cells via the delivery of high oxidative stress unlocks a potential therapeutic strategy against glioblastoma (GBM). We investigated a novel reactive oxygen species (ROS)-inducing combination treatment strategy, by increasing exogenous ROS via cold atmospheric plasma and inhibiting the endogenous protective antioxidant system via auranofin (AF), a thioredoxin reductase 1 (TrxR) inhibitor. The sequential combination treatment of AF and cold atmospheric plasma-treated PBS (pPBS), or AF and direct plasma application, resulted in a synergistic response in 2D and 3D GBM cell cultures, respectively. Differences in the baseline protein levels related to the antioxidant systems explained the cell-line-dependent sensitivity towards the combination treatment. The highest decrease of TrxR activity and GSH levels was observed after combination treatment of AF and pPBS when compared to AF and pPBS monotherapies. This combination also led to the highest accumulation of intracellular ROS. We confirmed a ROS-mediated response to the combination of AF and pPBS, which was able to induce distinct cell death mechanisms. On the one hand, an increase in caspase-3/7 activity, with an increase in the proportion of annexin V positive cells, indicates the induction of apoptosis in the GBM cells. On the other hand, lipid peroxidation and inhibition of cell death through an iron chelator suggest the involvement of ferroptosis in the GBM cell lines. Both cell death mechanisms induced by the combination of AF and pPBS resulted in a significant increase in danger signals (ecto-calreticulin, ATP and HMGB1) and dendritic cell maturation, indicating a potential increase in immunogenicity, although the phagocytotic capacity of dendritic cells was inhibited by AF. In vivo, sequential combination treatment of AF and cold atmospheric plasma both reduced tumor growth kinetics and prolonged survival in GBM-bearing mice. Thus, our study provides a novel therapeutic strategy for GBM to enhance the efficacy of oxidative stress-inducing therapy through a combination of AF and cold atmospheric plasma.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000807134000001 Publication Date 2021-10-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2073-4409 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Olivia Hendrickx Research Fund, 21OCL06 ; University of Antwerp, FFB160231 ; The authors would express their gratitude to Hans de Reu for technical assistance with flow cytometry. Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:182915 Serial 6826
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Author Bartholomeeusen, E.; De Cremer, G.; Kennes, K.; Hammond, C.; Hermans, I.; Lu, J.-B.; Schryvers, D.; Jacobs, P.A.; Roeffaers, M.B.J.; Hofkens, J.; Sels, B.F.; Coutino-Gonzalez, E.
Title Optical encoding of luminescent carbon nanodots in confined spaces Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Chemical Communications Abbreviated Journal Chem Commun
Volume 57 Issue 90 Pages 11952-11955
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Stable emissive carbon nanodots were generated in zeolite crystals using near infrared photon irradiation gradually converting the occluded organic template, originally used to synthesize the zeolite crystals, into discrete luminescent species consisting of nano-sized carbogenic fluorophores, as ascertained using Raman microscopy, and steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques. Photoactivation in a confocal laser fluorescence microscope allows 3D resolved writing of luminescent carbon nanodot patterns inside zeolites providing a cost-effective and non-toxic alternative to previously reported metal-based nanoclusters confined in zeolites, and opens up opportunities in bio-labelling and sensing applications.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000711122000001 Publication Date 2021-10-26
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1359-7345; 1364-548x ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 6.319 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 6.319
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184147 Serial 6876
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Sanchez-Iglesias, A.; Jenkinson, K.; Bals, S.; Liz-Marzan, L.M.
Title Kinetic regulation of the synthesis of pentatwinned gold nanorods below room temperature Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Journal Of Physical Chemistry C Abbreviated Journal J Phys Chem C
Volume 125 Issue 43 Pages 23937-23944
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract The synthesis of gold nanorods requires the presence of symmetry-breaking and shape-directing additives, among which bromide ions and quaternary ammonium surfactants have been reported as essential. As a result, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) has been selected as the most efficient surfactant to direct anisotropic growth. One of the difficulties arising from this selection is the low solubility of CTAB in water at room temperature, and therefore the seeded growth of gold nanorods is usually performed at 25 degrees C or above, which has restricted so far the analysis of kinetic effects derived from lower temperatures. We report a systematic study of the synthesis of gold nanorods from pentatwinned seeds using hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) as the principal surfactant and a low concentration of bromide as shape-directing agent. Under these conditions, the synthesis can be performed at temperatures as low as 8 degrees C, and the corresponding kinetic effects can be studied, resulting in temperature-controlled aspect ratio tunability.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000716453300038 Publication Date 2021-10-23
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1932-7447; 1932-7455 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.536 Times cited 6 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes realnano; sygmaSB; This work was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under award NSF CHE-1808502 (P.C. and I.J.). This work made use of the EPIC facility of Northwestern University's NUANCE Center, which has received support from the SHyNE Resource (NSF ECCS-2025633), the IIN, and Northwestern's MRSEC program (NSF DMR-1720139). D.A E. and S.B. acknowledge funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (ERC Consolidator Grants No. 815128 REALNANO and Grant Agreement No. 731019 EUSMI). Approved Most recent IF: 4.536
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184104 Serial 6868
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Author Chaney, G.; Cakir, D.; Peeters, F.M.; Ataca, C.
Title Stability of adsorption of Mg and Na on sulfur-functionalized MXenes Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics Abbreviated Journal Phys Chem Chem Phys
Volume 23 Issue 44 Pages 25424-25433
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Two-dimensional materials composed of transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) are poised to revolutionize energy conversion and storage. In this work, we used density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the adsorption of Mg and Na adatoms on five M2CS2 monolayers (where M = Mo, Nb, Ti, V, and Zr) for battery applications. We assessed the stability of the adatom (i.e. Na and Mg)-monolayer systems by calculating adsorption and formation energies, as well as voltages as a function of surface coverage. For instance, we found that Mo2CS2 cannot support a full layer of Na nor even a single Mg atom. Na and Mg exhibit the strongest binding on Zr2CS2, followed by Ti2CS2, Nb2CS2 and V2CS2. Using the nudged elastic band method (NEB), we computed promising diffusion barriers for both dilute and nearly full ion surface coverage cases. In the dilute ion adsorption case, a single Mg and Na atom on Ti2CS2 experience similar to 0.47 eV and similar to 0.10 eV diffusion barriers between the lowest energy sites, respectively. For a nearly full surface coverage, a Na ion moving on Ti2CS2 experiences a similar to 0.33 eV energy barrier, implying a concentration-dependent diffusion barrier. Our molecular dynamics results indicate that the three (one) layers (layer) of the Mg (Na) ion on both surfaces of Ti2CS2 remain stable at T = 300 K. While, according to voltage calculations, Zr2CS2 can store Na up to three atomic layers, our MD simulations predict that the outermost layers detach from the Zr2CS2 monolayer due to the weak interaction between Na ions and the monolayer. This suggests that MD simulations are essential to confirm the stability of an ion-electrode system – an insight that is mostly absent in previous studies.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000716024400001 Publication Date 2021-10-22
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1463-9076; 1463-9084 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.123 Times cited 3 Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.123
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184075 Serial 7020
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Author Quintelier, M.; Perkisas, T.; Poppe, R.; Batuk, M.; Hendrickx, M.; Hadermann, J.
Title Determination of spinel content in cycled Li1.2Ni0.13Mn0.54Co0.13O2 using three-dimensional electron diffraction and precession electron diffraction Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Symmetry-Basel Abbreviated Journal Symmetry-Basel
Volume 13 Issue 11 Pages 1989-17
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Among lithium battery cathode materials, Li1.2Ni0.13Mn0.54Co0.13O2 (LR-NMC) has a high theoretical capacity, but suffers from voltage and capacity fade during cycling. This is partially ascribed to transition metal cation migration, which involves the local transformation of the honeycomb layered structure to spinel-like nano-domains. Determination of the honeycomb layered/spinel phase ratio from powder X-ray diffraction data is hindered by the nanoscale of the functional material and the domains, diverse types of twinning, stacking faults, and the possible presence of the rock salt phase. Determining the phase ratio from transmission electron microscopy imaging can only be done for thin regions near the surfaces of the crystals, and the intense beam that is needed for imaging induces the same transformation to spinel as cycling does. In this article, it is demonstrated that the low electron dose sufficient for electron diffraction allows the collection of data without inducing a phase transformation. Using calculated electron diffraction patterns, we demonstrate that it is possible to determine the volume ratio of the different phases in the particles using a pair-wise comparison of the intensities of the reflections. Using this method, the volume ratio of spinel structure to honeycomb layered structure is determined for a submicron sized crystal from experimental three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D ED) and precession electron diffraction (PED) data. Both twinning and the possible presence of the rock salt phase are taken into account. After 150 charge-discharge cycles, 4% of the volume in LR-NMC particles was transformed irreversibly from the honeycomb layered structure to the spinel structure. The proposed method would be applicable to other multi-phase materials as well.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000815310500001 Publication Date 2021-10-21
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 1.457 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.457
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189468 Serial 7080
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Author Hoat, D.M.; Duy Khanh Nguyen; Bafekry, A.; Vo Van On; Ul Haq, B.; Hoang, D.-Q.; Cocoletzi, G.H.; Rivas-Silva, J.F.
Title Developing feature-rich electronic and magnetic properties in the beta-As monolayer for spintronic and optoelectronic applications by C and Si doping : a first-principles study Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Surfaces and interfaces Abbreviated Journal
Volume 27 Issue Pages 101534
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract In this work, the carbon (C) and silicon (Si) doping and codoping effects on beta-arsenene (As) monolayer structural, electronic, and magnetic properties have been comprehensively investigated using first-principles calculations. The studied two-dimensional (2D) materials exhibit good stability. Pristine beta-As single layer is an indirect gap semiconductor with a band gap of 1.867(2.441) eV as determined by PBE(HSE06) functional. Due to the difference in atomic size and electronic interactions, C and Si substitution induces a significant local structural distortion. Depending upon dopant concentration and doping sites, feature-rich electronic properties including non-magnetic semiconductor, magnetic semiconductor and half-metallicity may be obtained, which result from p-p interactions. High spin-polarization at the Fermi level vicinity and significant magnetism suggest As:1C, As:2C, As:1Si, As:2Si, and As:CSi systems as prospective spintronic 2D materials. While, the C-C, Si-Si, and C-Si dimer doping decreases electronic band gap, making the layer more suitable for applications in optoelectronic devices. Results presented herein may suggest an efficient approach to create novel multi-functional 2D materials from beta-As monolayer.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000711791100002 Publication Date 2021-10-19
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2468-0230 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184138 Serial 6979
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Author Lezaack, M.B.; Hannard, F.; Zhao, L.; Orekhov, A.; Adrien, J.; Miettinen, A.; Idrissi, H.; Simar, A.
Title Towards ductilization of high strength 7XXX aluminium alloys via microstructural modifications obtained by friction stir processing and heat treatments Type A1 Journal article
Year (down) 2021 Publication Materialia Abbreviated Journal
Volume 20 Issue Pages 101248
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract High strength 7XXX aluminium series reach exceptional strength, higher than all other industrial aluminium alloys. However, they suffer from a lack of ductility compared to softer series. This work presents a procedure to improve the ductility of 7475 Al alloy in high strength condition, reaching a true fracture strain of 70% at full 500 MPa T6 yield strength. Using friction stir processing (FSP) and post-FSP heat treatments, 100% of industrial rolled material T6 yield stress is maintained but a 180% increase in fracture strain is measured for the processed material. This ductility improvement is studied by in-situ synchrotron X-ray tomography and is explained by the reduction of intermetallic particles size and the homogenization of their spatial distribution. Furthermore, the microstructure after FSP shows equiaxed refined grains which favour crack deviation as opposed to large cracks parallel to the elongated coarse grains in rolled plate. These results are paving the way to better formability and crashworthiness of 7XXX alloys.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000718127100006 Publication Date 2021-10-19
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2589-1529 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:184145 Serial 6894
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