|   | 
Details
   web
Records
Author Sathiya, M.; Thomas, J.; Batuk, D.; Pimenta, V.; Gopalan, R.; Tarascon, J.-M.
Title Dual stabilization and sacrificial effect of Na2CO3 for increasing capacities of Na-Ion cells based on P2-NaxMO2 electrodes Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Chemistry of materials Abbreviated Journal Chem Mater
Volume 29 Issue 14 Pages 5948-5956
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract (down) Sodium ion battery technology is gradually advancing and can be viewed as a viable alternative to lithium ion batteries in niche applications. One of the promising positive electrode candidates is P2 type layered sodium transition metal oxide, which offers attractive sodium ion conductivity. However, the reversible capacity of P2 phases is limited by the inability to directly synthesize stoichiometric compounds with a sodium to transition metal ratio equal to 1. To alleviate this issue, we report herein the in situ synthesis of P2-NaxO2 (x <= 0.7, M = transition metal ions)-Na2CO3 composites. We find that sodium carbonate acts as a sacrificial salt, providing Na+ ion to increase the reversible capacity of the P2 phase in sodium ion full cells, and also as a useful additive that stabilizes the formation of P2 over competing P3 phases. We offer a new phase diagram for tuning the synthesis of the P2 phase under various experimental conditions and demonstrate, by in situ XRD analysis, the role of Na2CO3 as a sodium reservoir in full sodium ion cells. These results provide insights into the practical use of P2 layered materials and can be extended to a variety of other layered phases.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher American Chemical Society Place of Publication Washington, D.C Editor
Language Wos 000406573200026 Publication Date 2017-07-03
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0897-4756 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 9.466 Times cited 26 Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes ; M.S., J.T., and R.G. acknowledge the financial support received from the Department of Science and Technology (DST-SERC), Government of India under the funding from the TRC Grant Agreement No. AI/1/65/ARCI/2014. The authors are thankful to Dr. Sundararajan, Chairman, TRC and Dr. G. Padmanabham, Director, ARCI for helpful discussions. Initial microscopy analysis by Dr. M. B. Sahana, Dr. Prabu, and Mr. Ravi Gautham of ARCI are greatly acknowledged. The elemental analysis by Dr. Domitille Giaume, IRCP – ENSCP, Chimie Paris Tech, Paris is greatly acknowledged. ; Approved Most recent IF: 9.466
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:145759 Serial 4740
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Bez, R.; Zehani, K.; Batuk, M.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Mliki, N.; Bessais, L.
Title Structure and magnetic properties of Sm(Fe,Si)(9)C/alpha-Fe nanocomposite magnets Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Journal of alloys and compounds Abbreviated Journal J Alloy Compd
Volume 695 Issue 695 Pages 810-817
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract (down) SmFe8.75 Si-0.25 C/alpha-Fe nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized using high energy milling, followed by annealing at 750 degrees C. The crystal structure of these compounds was characterized by the Rietveld method using powder X-ray diffraction data. By increasing the concentration of Sm, we observed a decrease in the amount of alpha-Fe phase. The morphology of the samples was determined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The average grain size is about 20 nm. The magnetic properties were investigated at room temperature and at 10 K. A ferromagnetic behavior was observed in all samples at both temperatures. An increase of the soft magnetic phase alpha-Fe induced an increase in the magnetization and a decrease in coercivity. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Amsterdam Editor
Language Wos 000391817600098 Publication Date 2016-10-19
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0925-8388 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.133 Times cited 1 Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes ; This work is main supported by the CNRS and the “Ministere de l'Enseignement Superieur, de la Recherche Scientifique” (LR99ES17) (Tunisia), PHC-Utique (Project 11/G 1301) and PHC-Maghreb (Project 15MAG07). The authors acknowledge the French SIE doctoral school of the University Paris Est for its support. ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.133
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:140380 Serial 4448
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Moretti, M.; Njakou Djomo, S.; Azadi, H.; May, K.; De Vos, K.; Van Passel, S.; Witters, N.
Title A systematic review of environmental and economic impacts of smart grids Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews Abbreviated Journal Renew Sust Energ Rev
Volume 68 Issue 2 Pages 888-898
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract (down) Smart grids (SGs) have a central role in the development of the global power sector. Cost-benefit analyses and environmental impact assessments are used to support policy on the deployment of SG systems and technologies. However, the conflicting and widely varying estimates of costs, benefits, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction, and energy savings in literature leave policy makers struggling with how to advise regarding SG deployment. Identifying the causes for the wide variation of individual estimates in the literature is crucial if evaluations are to be used in decision-making. This paper (i) summarizes and compares the methodologies used for economic and environmental evaluation of SGs (ii) identifies the sources of variation in estimates across studies, and (iii) point to gap in research on economic and environmental analyses of SG systems. Seventeen studies (nine articles and eight reports published between 2000 and 2015) addressing the economic costs versus benefits, energy efficiency, and GHG emissions of SGs were systematically searched, located, selected, and reviewed. Their methods and data were subsequently extracted and analysed. The results show that no standardized method currently exists for assessing the economic and environmental impacts of SG systems. The costs varied between 0.03 and 1143 M/yr, while the benefits ranged from 0.04 to 804 M/yr, suggesting that SG systems do not result in cost savings The primary energy savings ranged from 0.03 to 0.95 MJ/kWh, whereas the GHG emission reduction ranged from 10 to 180 gCO2/kWh, depending on the country grid mix and the system boundary of the SG system considered. The findings demonstrate that although SG systems are energy efficient and reduce GHG emissions, investments in SG systems may not yield any benefits. Standardizing some methodologies and assumptions such as discount rates, time horizon and scrutinizing some key input data will result in more consistent estimates of costs and benefits, GHG emission reduction, and energy savings.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000391899400006 Publication Date 2016-03-24
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1364-0321; 1879-0690 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 8.05 Times cited 27 Open Access
Notes ; We would like to thank the editor and the anonymous referees for their helpful suggestions and insightful comments that have significantly improved the paper. This research paper has been implemented within the GREAT (Growing Renewable Energy Applications and Technologies) project funded by the European INTERREG IVB North-Western Europe Programme. Nele Witters was financed by FWO (Research Foundation Flanders). ; Approved Most recent IF: 8.05
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:139036 Serial 6260
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Ozden, A.; Ay, F.; Sevik, C.; Perkgoz, N.K.
Title CVD growth of monolayer MoS2: Role of growth zone configuration and precursors ratio Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Japanese journal of applied physics Abbreviated Journal
Volume 56 Issue 6s:[1] Pages 06gg05
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract (down) Single-layer, large-scale two-dimensional material growth is still a challenge for their wide-range usage. Therefore, we carried out a comprehensive study of monolayer MoS2 growth by CVD investigating the influence of growth zone configuration and precursors ratio. We first compared the two commonly used approaches regarding the relative substrate and precursor positions, namely, horizontal and face-down configurations where facedown approach is found to be more favorable to obtain larger flakes under identical growth conditions. Secondly, we used different types of substrate holders to investigate the influence of the Mo and S vapor confinement on the resulting diffusion environment. We suggest that local changes of the S to Mo vapor ratio in the growth zone is a key factor for the change of shape, size and uniformity of the resulting MoS2 formations, which is also confirmed by performing depositions under different precursor ratios. Therefore, to obtain continuous monolayer films, the S to Mo vapor ratio is needed to be kept within a certain range throughout the substrate. As a conclusion, we obtained monolayer triangles with a side length of 90 mu m and circles with a diameter of 500 mu m and continuous films with an area of 85 0 mu m x 1 cm when the S-to-Mo vapor ratio is optimized. (C) 2017 The Japan Society of Applied Physics
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000401059800003 Publication Date 2017-05-08
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0021-4922; 1347-4065 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:193783 Serial 7747
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Sui, Y.; Vlaeminck, S.E.
Title Exploring Dunaliella salina as single cell protein (SCP) : the influence of light/dark regime on the growth and protein synthesis Type A2 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Communications in agricultural and applied biological sciences Abbreviated Journal
Volume 82 Issue 1 Pages 6-11
Keywords A2 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract (down) Single cell protein (SCP), or originally named microbial protein, is the edible microbial biomass derived from e.g. microalgae, bacteria and fungi, which can be used as protein sources replacing conventional protein sources for animal feed or human food such as fishmeal and soybean (Anupama & Ravindra 2000). SCP presents great potential as protein supplement to alleviate the problem of food scarcity in the future (Nasseri et al. 2011). In general, microalgae as SCP contains above 50% protein over dry weight and specifically for the marine microalgae Dunaliella salina the amount stays around 57% (Becker 2007). Commercially the most common system for Dunaliella sp. production is the outdoor open pond, thus the microalgal cells are subjected to a natural light/dark cycle (Hosseini Tafreshi & Shariati 2009). Being photo-autotrophic microorganisms, the lack of light energy sources is a risk leading to night biomass loss (Ogbonna & Tanaka 1996). On the other hand, for some microalgae species cell division occurs primarily during the night suggesting its night protein synthesis (Cuhel et al. 1984). As a consequence, day and night metabolisms of microalgae introduced by light/dark cycles potentially will have big impacts on the biomass development, both in growth and biochemical composition. In this study, the effect of the light/dark cycle on the growth and protein synthesis of Dunaliella salina was explored in comparison with continuous light cultivation.
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 1379-1176 ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:151148 Serial 7950
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Lu, A.K.A.; Houssa, M.; Radu, I.P.; Pourtois, G.
Title Toward an understanding of the electric field-induced electrostatic doping in van der Waals heterostructures : a first-principles study Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
Volume 9 Issue 8 Pages 7725-7734
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Since the discovery of graphene, a broad range of two-dimensional (2D) materials has captured the attention of the scientific communities. Materials, such as hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) family, have shown promising semiconducting and insulating properties that are very appealing for the semiconductor industry. Recently, the possibility of taking advantage of the properties of 2D-based heterostructures has been investigated for low-power nanoelectronic applications. In this work, we aim at evaluating the relation between the nature of the materials used in such heterostructures and the amplitude of the layer-to-layer charge transfer induced by an external electric field, as is typically present in nanoelectronic gated devices. A broad range of combinations of TMDs, graphene, and hBN has been investigated using density functional theory. Our results show that the electric field induced charge transfer strongly depends on the nature of the 2D materials used in the van der Waals heterostructures and to a lesser extent on the relative orientation of the materials in the structure. Our findings contribute to the building of the fundamental understanding required to engineer electrostatically the doping of 2D materials and to establish the factors that drive the charge transfer mechanisms in electron tunneling-based devices. These are key ingredients for the development of 2D -based nanoelectronic devices.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000395494200119 Publication Date 2017-02-13
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 10 Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.504
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:142483 Serial 4696
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Yang, W.; Misko, V.R.; Tempère, J.; Kong, M.; Peeters, F.M.
Title Artificial living crystals in confined environment Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Physical Review E Abbreviated Journal Phys Rev E
Volume 95 Issue 6 Pages 062602
Keywords A1 Journal article; Theory of quantum systems and complex systems; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract (down) Similar to the spontaneous formation of colonies of bacteria, flocks of birds, or schools of fish, “living crystals” can be formed by artificial self-propelled particles such as Janus colloids. Unlike usual solids, these “crystals” are far from thermodynamic equilibrium. They fluctuate in time forming a crystalline structure, breaking apart and re-forming again. We propose a method to stabilize living crystals by applying a weak confinement potential that does not suppress the ability of the particles to perform self-propelled motion, but it stabilizes the structure and shape of the dynamical clusters. This gives rise to such configurations of living crystals as “living shells” formed by Janus colloids. Moreover, the shape of the stable living clusters can be controlled by tuning the potential strength. Our proposal can be verified experimentally with either artificial microswimmers such as Janus colloids, or with living active matter.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000402667600006 Publication Date 2017-06-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2470-0045;2470-0053; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 2.366 Times cited 10 Open Access
Notes ; This work was supported by the “Odysseus” Program of the Flemish Government and the Flemish Research Foundation (FWO-Vl) (Belgium), the Flemish Research Foundation (through Projects No. G.0115.12N, No. G.0119.12N, No. G.0122.12N, and No. G.0429.15N), and the Research Fund of the University of Antwerp. W.Y. acknowledges the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grants No. 11204199 and No. 51135007, the China Scholarship Council, the 131 project and the Program for the Outstanding Innovative Teams of Higher Learning Institutions of Shanxi, and a project under Grant No. 2016-096 by Shanxi Scholarship Council of China. ; Approved Most recent IF: 2.366
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:144205 Serial 4641
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Asapu, R.; Ciocarlan, R.-G.; Claes, N.; Blommaerts, N.; Minjauw, M.; Ahmad, T.; Dendooven, J.; Cool, P.; Bals, S.; Denys, S.; Detavernier, C.; Lenaerts, S.; Verbruggen, S.W.
Title Plasmonic Near-Field Localization of Silver Core–Shell Nanoparticle Assemblies via Wet Chemistry Nanogap Engineering Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
Volume 9 Issue 9 Pages 41577-41585
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract (down) Silver nanoparticles are widely used in the field of plasmonics because of their unique optical properties. The wavelength-dependent surface plasmon resonance gives rise to a strongly enhanced electromagnetic field, especially at so-called hot spots located in the nanogap in-between metal nanoparticle assemblies. Therefore, the interparticle distance is a decisive factor in plasmonic applications, such as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). In this study, the aim is to engineer this interparticle distance for silver nanospheres using a convenient wet-chemical approach and to predict and quantify the corresponding enhancement factor using both theoretical and experimental tools. This was done by building a tunable ultrathin polymer shell around the nanoparticles using the layer-by-layer method, in which the polymer shell acts as the separating interparticle spacer layer. Comparison of different theoretical approaches and corroborating the results with SERS analytical experiments using silver and silver−polymer core−shell nanoparticle clusters as SERS substrates was also done. Herewith, an approach is provided to estimate the extent of plasmonic near-field enhancement both theoretically as well as experimentally.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000417005900057 Publication Date 2017-11-29
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 29 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes financial support through a research fellowship. C.D. wishes to thank the Hercules foundation for the financial support (SPINAL). P.C. and R.-G.C. acknowledge financial support by FWO Vlaanderen (project no. G038215N). N.C. and S.B. acknowledge the financial support from the European Research Council (ERC starting grant #335078-COLOURATOM). (ROMEO:white; preprint:; postprint:restricted 12 months embargo; pdfversion:cannot); saraecas; ECAS_Sara; Approved Most recent IF: 7.504
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:147243 Serial 4804
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Zheng, G.; Chen, Z.; Sentosun, K.; Pérez-Juste, I.; Bals, S.; Liz-Marzán, L.M.; Pastoriza-Santos, I.; Pérez-Juste, J.; Hong, M.
Title Shape control in ZIF-8 nanocrystals and metal nanoparticles@ZIF-8 heterostructures Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 9 Issue 9 Pages 16645-16651
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract (down) Shape control in metal-organic frameworks still remains a challenge. We propose a strategy based on the capping agent modulator method to control the shape of ZIF-8 nanocrystals. This approach requires the use of a surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), and a second capping agent, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS), to obtain ZIF-8 nanocrystals with morphology control in aqueous media. Semiempirical computational simulations suggest that both shape-inducing agents adsorb onto different surface facets of ZIF-8, thereby slowing down their crystal growth rates. While CTAB molecules preferentially adsorb onto the {100} facets, leading to ZIF-8 particles with cubic morphology, TRIS preferentially stabilizes the {111} facets, inducing the formation of octahedral crystals. Interestingly, the presence of both capping agents leads to nanocrystals with irregular shapes and higher index facets, such as hexapods and burr puzzles. Additionally, the combination of ZIF-8 nanocrystals with other materials is expected to impart additional properties due to the hybrid nature of the resulting nanocomposites. In the present case, the presence of CTAB and TRIS molecules as capping agents facilitates the synthesis of metal nanoparticle@ZIF-8 nanocomposites, due to synergistic effects which could be of use in a number of applications such as catalysis, gas sensing and storage.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000414960900015 Publication Date 2017-07-25
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 109 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO, Spain), under the Grants MAT2013- 45168-R and MAT2016-77809-R. This study was also funded by the Xunta de Galicia/FEDER (ED431C 2016-048). We are grateful to the financial support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (21671010), Guangdong Science and Technology Program (2013A061401002), and Shenzhen Strategic Emerging Industries (KQCX2015032709315529, CXZZ20140419131807788). Approved Most recent IF: 7.367
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:145827UA @ admin @ c:irua:145827 Serial 4705
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Kim, E.; Horckmans, L.; Spooren, J.; Vrancken, K.C.; Quaghebeur, M.; Broos, K.
Title Selective leaching of Pb, Cu, Ni and Zn from secondary lead smelting residues Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Hydrometallurgy Abbreviated Journal
Volume 169 Issue Pages 372-381
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract (down) Several HNO3-based leaching approaches were tested and optimized to selectively recover Pb and other minor metals (Cu, Ni, Zn) from secondary lead smelter residues (i.e., slag and matte). Firstly, the leaching behaviors of Pb and the matrix element Fe were studied at atmospheric pressure in the temperature range 25-70 degrees C. These elements were present in both materials studied as sulfide and oxide phases. For the sulfur-rich matte residue, the Pb leaching increased from 63% to 69% upon increasing the HNO3 concentration from 0.2 M to 0.5 M. However, by adding Fe(III) as an oxidation agent, Pb leaching from the matte amounted to 90% at 25 degrees C. At a higher temperature, Pb leaching was reduced due to PbSO4 precipitation. In this process, Cu, Zn and Ni leaching was insignificant. For the slag residue, HNO3 could not leach Pb (0.03% Pb leached), while Fe leaching was 19.8% due to a galvanic effect. However, Pb leaching of the slag was 82% in the presence of additional Fe(III). Secondly, to enhance leaching of the other base metals (Cu, Zn and Ni) from the matte, roasting followed by water leaching and (microwave assisted or autoclave) pressurized leaching in 0.5 M HNO3 were applied. During roasting, the FeS phase converted to Fe2O3 above 500 degrees C, and PbS and Pb phases were transformed into insoluble PbSO4 above 400 degrees C. Cu, Ni and Zn leaching was drastically enhanced by a roasting step at 600 degrees C followed by leaching with 0.5 M HNO3 at 50 degrees C, or by pressurized HNO3 leaching above 130 degrees C, whereby Pb leaching almost ceased due to PbSO4 precipitation. During the roasting above 600 degrees C, or microwave assisted extraction (MAE) at 160 degrees C for 15 min, FeS was completely converted to iron oxides that can be used as raw material for pig iron production. Based on the results, the methods investigated can be combined as process steps of two possible routes for the selective recovery of valuable metals and the production of a clean source of Fe oxides from the secondary lead smelting residues studied. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000401878200045 Publication Date 2017-03-02
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0304-386x ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:144299 Serial 8503
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Udayabhaskararao, T.; Altantzis, T.; Houben, L.; Coronado-Puchau, M.; Langer, J.; Popovitz-Biro, R.; Liz-Marzán, L.M.; Vuković, L.; Král, P.; Bals, S.; Klajn, R.
Title Tunable porous nanoallotropes prepared by post-assembly etching of binary nanoparticle superlattices Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Science Abbreviated Journal Science
Volume 358 Issue 358 Pages 514-518
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract (down) Self-assembly of inorganic nanoparticles has been used to prepare hundreds of different colloidal crystals, but almost invariably with the restriction that the particles must be densely packed. Here,we show that non–close-packed nanoparticle arrays can be fabricated through the selective removal of one of two components comprising binary nanoparticle superlattices. First, a variety of binary nanoparticle superlattices were prepared at the liquid-air interface, including several arrangements that were previously unknown. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the particular role of the liquid in templating the formation of superlattices not achievable through self-assembly in bulk solution. Second, upon stabilization, all of these binary superlattices could be transformed into distinct “nanoallotropes”—nanoporous materials having the same chemical composition but differing in their nanoscale architectures.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000413757500043 Publication Date 2017-10-27
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0036-8075 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 37.205 Times cited 113 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This work was supported by the European Research Council (grants 336080 CONFINEDCHEM to R.K. and 335078 COLOURATOM to S.B.), the Rothschild Caesarea Foundation (R.K.), the NSF (Division of Materials Research, grant 1506886) (P.K.), the European Commission (grant EUSMI 731019 to L.M.L.-M. and S.B.), and the startup funding from the University of Texas at El Paso (L.V.). L.M.L.-M. acknowledges funding from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (grant MAT2013- 46101-R). T.A. acknowledges funding from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, Belgium) through a postdoctoral grant. The computer support was provided by the Texas Advanced Computing Center. All data are reported in the main text and supplementary materials. ECAS_Sara (ROMEO:green; preprint:; postprint:can ; pdfversion:cannot); Approved Most recent IF: 37.205
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:147242UA @ admin @ c:irua:147242 Serial 4770
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Khalilov, U.; Bogaerts, A.; Neyts, E.C.
Title Atomic-scale mechanisms of plasma-assisted elimination of nascent base-grown carbon nanotubes Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Carbon Abbreviated Journal Carbon
Volume 118 Issue 118 Pages 452-457
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Selective etching allows for obtaining carbon nanotubes with a specific chirality. While plasma-assisted etching has already been used to separate metallic tubes from their semiconducting counterparts, little is known about the nanoscale mechanisms of the etching process. We combine (reactive) molecular dynamics (MD) and force-bias Monte Carlo (tfMC) simulations to study H-etching of CNTs. In particular, during the hydrogenation and subsequent etching of both the carbon cap and the tube, they sequentially transform to different carbon nanostructures, including carbon nanosheet, nanowall, and polyyne chains, before they are completely removed from the surface of a substrate-bound Ni-nanocluster.We also found that onset of the etching process is different in the cases of the cap and the tube, although the overall etching scenario is similar in both cases. The entire hydrogenation/etching process for both cases is analysed in detail, comparing with available theoretical and experimental evidences.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000401120800053 Publication Date 2017-03-26
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0008-6223 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 6.337 Times cited 2 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes U. K. gratefully acknowledges financial support from the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO), Belgium (Grant No. 12M1315N). The work was carried out in part using the Turing HPC infrastructure of the CalcUA core facility of the Universiteit Antwerpen, a division of the Flemish Supercomputer Centre VSC, funded by the Hercules Foundation, the Flemish Government (department EWI) and the Universiteit Antwerpen. The authors also thank Prof. A. C. T. van Duin for sharing the ReaxFF code. Approved Most recent IF: 6.337
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @ c:irua:141915 Serial 4531
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Jacquet, Q.; Perez, A.; Batuk, D.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Rousse, G.; Tarascon, J.-M.
Title The Li3RuyNb1-yO4 (0 ≤y≤ 1) System: Structural Diversity and Li Insertion and Extraction Capabilities Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Chemistry of materials Abbreviated Journal Chem Mater
Volume 29 Issue 12 Pages 5331-5343
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract (down) Searching for novel high-capacity electrode materials combining cationic and anionic redox processes is an ever-growing activity within the field of Li-ion batteries. In this respect, we report on the exploration of the Li3RuyNb1-yO4 (O <= y <= 1) system with an O/M ratio of 4 to maximize the number of oxygen lone pairs, responsible for the anionic redox. We show that this system presents a very rich crystal chemistry with the existence of four structural types, which derive from the rocksalt structure but differ in their cationic arrangement, creating either zigzag, helical, jagged chains or clusters. From an electrochemical standpoint, these compounds are active on reduction via a classical cationic insertion process. The oxidation process is more complex, because of the instability of the delithiated phase. Our results promote the use of the rich Li3MO4 family as a viable platform for a better understanding of the relationships between structure and anionic redox activity.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000404493100036 Publication Date 2017-06-27
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0897-4756 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 9.466 Times cited 17 Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes The authors thank Paul Pearce, Alexis Grimaud, Matthieu Saubanere, and Marie-Liesse Doublet for fruitful discussions, Vivian Nassif for her help in neutron diffraction experiment at the D1B diffractometer at ILL, and Dominique Foix for XPS analysis. Use of the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. Q.J. thanks the ANR “Deli-Redox” for Ph.D. funding. J.-M.T. and D.B. acknowledge funding from the European Research Council (ERC) (FP/2014)/ERC Grant -Project 670116-ARPEMA. Approved Most recent IF: 9.466
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:147506 Serial 4776
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Roefs, I.; Meulman, B.; Vreeburg, J.H.G.; Spiller, M.
Title Centralised, decentralised or hybrid sanitation systems? Economic evaluation under urban development uncertainty and phased expansion Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Water research Abbreviated Journal
Volume 109 Issue Pages 274-286
Keywords A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract (down) Sanitation systems are built to be robust, that is, they are dimensioned to cope with population growth and other variability that occurs throughout their lifetime. It was recently shown that building sanitation systems in phases is more cost effective than one robust design. This phasing can take place by building small autonomous decentralised units that operate closer to the actual demand. Research has shown that variability and uncertainty in urban development does affect the cost effectiveness of this approach. Previous studies do not, however, consider the entire sanitation system from collection to treatment. The aim of this study is to assess the economic performance of three sanitation systems with different scales and systems characteristics under a variety of urban development pathways. Three systems are studied: (I) a centralised conventional activated sludge treatment, (II) a community on site source separation grey water and black water treatment and (III) a hybrid with grey water treatment at neighbourhood scale and black water treatment off site. A modelling approach is taken that combines a simulation of greenfield urban growth, a model of the wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure design properties and a model that translates design parameters into discounted asset lifetime costs. Monte Carlo simulations are used to evaluate the economic performance under uncertain development trends. Results show that the conventional system outperforms both of the other systems when total discounted lifetime costs are assessed, because it benefits from economies of scale. However, when population growth is lower than expected, the source-separated system is more cost effective, because of reduced idle capacity. The hybrid system is not competitive under any circumstance due to the costly double piping and treatment. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000392788900028 Publication Date 2016-11-23
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0043-1354; 1879-2448 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:143853 Serial 7587
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Montanarella, F.; Altantzis, T.; Zanaga, D.; Rabouw, F.T.; Bals, S.; Baesjou, P.; Vanmaekelbergh, D.; van Blaaderen, A.
Title Composite Supraparticles with Tunable Light Emission Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication ACS nano Abbreviated Journal Acs Nano
Volume 11 Issue 11 Pages 9136-9142
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract (down) Robust luminophores emitting light with broadly tunable colors are desirable in many applications such as light-emitting diode (LED)-based lighting, displays, integrated optoelectronics and biology. Nanocrystalline quantum dots with multicolor emission, from core- and shell-localized excitons, as well as solid layers of mixed quantum dots that emit different colors have been proposed. Here, we report on colloidal supraparticles that are composed of three types of Cd(Se,ZnS) core/(Cd,Zn)S shell nanocrystals with emission in the red, green, and blue. The emission of the supraparticles can be varied from pure to composite colors over the entire visible region and finetuned into variable shades of white light by mixing the nanocrystals in controlled proportions. Our approach results in supraparticles with sizes spanning the colloidal domain and beyond that combine versatility and processability with a broad, stable, and tunable emission, promising applications in lighting devices and biological research.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000411918200062 Publication Date 2017-09-26
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1936-0851 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 13.942 Times cited 36 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes We thank J. J. Geuchies for help with the optical analysis, W. Vlug for providing silica particles filled with RITC, J. D. Meeldijk for his assistance with SE-STEM measurements, E. B. van der Wee for help with the calculation of the radial distribution functions, and M. van Huis and S. Dussi for very fruitful discussions. This work was supported by the European Comission via the Marie-Sklodowska Curie action Phonsi (H2020-MSCA-ITN-642656). D.V. wishes to thank the Dutch FOM (program DDC13), NWO−CW (Toppunt 718.015.002), and the European Research Council under HORIZON 2020 (grant 692691 FIRSTSTEP) for financial support. A.v.B. and F.M. acknowledge partial funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP-2007-2013)/ERC advanced grant agreement 291667: HierarSACol. S.B. and D.Z. acknowledge financial support from the European Research Council (starting grant no. COLOURATOM 335078), and T.A. acknowledges funding from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, Belgium) through a postdoctoral grant. ECAS_Sara (ROMEO:white; preprint:; postprint:restricted 12 months embargo; pdfversion:cannot); Approved Most recent IF: 13.942
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:146095UA @ admin @ c:irua:146095 Serial 4732
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Hafiz, H.; Suzuki, K.; Barbiellini, B.; Orikasa, Y.; Callewaert, V.; Kaprzyk, S.; Itou, M.; Yamamoto, K.; Yamada, R.; Uchimoto, Y.; Sakurai, Y.; Sakurai, H.; Bansil, A.
Title Visualizing redox orbitals and their potentials in advanced lithium-ion battery materials using high-resolution x-ray Compton scattering Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Science Advances Abbreviated Journal Sci. Adv.
Volume 3 Issue 8 Pages e1700971
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract (down) Reduction-oxidation (redox) reactions are the key processes that underlie the batteries powering smartphones, laptops, and electric cars. A redox process involves transfer of electrons between two species. For example, in a lithium-ion battery, current is generated when conduction electrons from the lithium anode are transferred to the redox orbitals of the cathode material. The ability to visualize or image the redox orbitals and how these orbitals evolve under lithiation and delithiation processes is thus of great fundamental and practical interest for understanding the workings of battery materials. We show that inelastic scattering spectroscopy using high-energy x-ray photons (Compton scattering) can yield faithful momentum space images of the redox orbitals by considering lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4 or LFP) as an exemplar cathode battery material. Our analysis reveals a new link between voltage and the localization of transition metal 3d orbitals and provides insight into the puzzling mechanism of potential shift and how it is connected to the modification of the bond between the transition metal and oxygen atoms. Our study thus opens a novel spectroscopic pathway for improving the performance of battery materials.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000411589900055 Publication Date 2017-08-24
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2375-2548 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited 9 Open Access
Notes The work at Northeastern University was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences (grant no. DE-FG02-07ER46352) and benefited from the Northeastern University’s Advanced Scientific Computation Center and the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center supercomputing center through DOE grant no. DEAC02-05CH11231. The work at Gunma University, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI), and Kyoto University was supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency. K.S. was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) from MEXT KAKENHI under grant nos. 24750065 and 15K17873. The Compton scattering experiments were performed with the approval of JASRI (proposal no. 2014A1289). V.C. was supported by the FWO-Vlaanderen through project no. G. 1161 0224.14N. Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number CMT @ cmt @c:irua:145034 Serial 4637
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Snoeckx, R.; Ozkan, A.; Reniers, F.; Bogaerts, A.
Title The Quest for Value-Added Products from Carbon Dioxide and Water in a Dielectric Barrier Discharge: A Chemical Kinetics Study Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Chemsuschem Abbreviated Journal Chemsuschem
Volume 10 Issue 10 Pages 409-424
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Recycling of carbon dioxide by its conversion into value-added products has gained significant interest owing to the role it can play for use in an anthropogenic carbon cycle. The combined conversion with H2O could even mimic the natural photosynthesis process. An interesting gas conversion technique currently being considered in the field of CO2 conversion is plasma technology. To investigate whether it is also promising for this combined conversion, we performed a series of experiments and developed a chemical kinetics plasma chemistry model for a deeper understanding of the process. The main products formed were the syngas components CO and H2, as well as O2 and H2O2, whereas methanol formation was only observed in the parts-per-billion to parts-per-million range. The syngas ratio, on the other hand, could easily be controlled by varying both the water content and/or energy input. On the basis of the model, which was validated with experimental results, a chemical kinetics analysis was performed, which allowed the construction and investigation of the different pathways leading to the observed experimental results and which helped to clarify these results. This approach allowed us to evaluate this technology on the basis of its underlying chemistry and to propose solutions on how to further improve the formation of value-added products by using plasma technology.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000394571900012 Publication Date 2016-11-25
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1864-5631 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.226 Times cited 25 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes The authors acknowledge financial support from the Inter-university Attraction Pole (IAP; grant number IAP-VII/12, P7/34) program “PSI-Physical Chemistry of Plasma-Surface Interactions”, financially supported by the Belgian Federal Office for Science Policy (BELSPO), as well as the Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO; grant number G.0066.12N). This work was performed in part using the Turing HPC infrastructure at the CalcUA core facility of the Universiteit Antwerpen, a division of the Flemish Supercomputer Center VSC, funded by the Hercules Foundation, the Flemish Government (department EWI) and the University of Antwerp. We also would like to thank the financial support given by “Fonds David et Alice Van Buuren”. Finally, we are very grateful to M. Kushner for providing the Global kin code, to T. Dufour for his support during the experiments, and to R. Aerts for his support during the model development. Approved Most recent IF: 7.226
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @ c:irua:139880 Serial 4412
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Dabaghmanesh, S.; Sarmadian, N.; Neyts, E.C.; Partoens, B.
Title A first principles study of p-type defects in LaCrO3 Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Physical chemistry, chemical physics Abbreviated Journal Phys Chem Chem Phys
Volume 19 Issue 34 Pages 22870-22876
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Recently, Sr-doped LaCrO3 has been experimentally introduced as a new p-type transparent conducting oxide. It is demonstrated that substituting Sr for La results in inducing p-type conductivity in LaCrO3. Performing first principles calculations we study the electronic structure and formation energy of various point defects in LaCrO3. Our results for the formation energies show that in addition to Sr, two more divalent defects, Ca and Ba, substituting for La in LaCrO3, behave as shallow acceptors in line with previous experimental reports. We further demonstrate that under oxygen-poor growth conditions, these shallow acceptors will be compensated by intrinsic donor-like defects (an oxygen vacancy and Cr on an oxygen site), but in the oxygen-rich growth regime the shallow acceptors have the lowest formation energies between all considered defects and will lead to p-type conductivity.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Cambridge Editor
Language Wos 000408671600026 Publication Date 2017-08-01
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 16 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes ; This work was supported by SIM vzw, Technologiepark 935, BE-9052 Zwijnaarde, Belgium, within the InterPoCo project of the H-INT-S horizontal program. The computational resources and services were provided by the Flemish Supercomputer Center and the HPC infrastructure of the University of Antwerp (CalcUA), both funded by the FWO-Vlaanderen and the Flemish Government. ; Approved Most recent IF: 4.123
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:145621 Serial 4735
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Li, L.L.; Moldovan, D.; Xu, W.; Peeters, F.M.
Title Electric-and magnetic-field dependence of the electronic and optical properties of phosphorene quantum dots Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Nanotechnology Abbreviated Journal Nanotechnology
Volume 28 Issue 8 Pages 085702
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract (down) Recently, black phosphorus quantum dots were fabricated experimentally. Motivated by these experiments, we theoretically investigate the electronic and optical properties of rectangular phosphorene quantum dots (RPQDs) in the presence of an in-plane electric field and a perpendicular magnetic field. The energy spectra and wave functions of RPQDs are obtained numerically using the tight-binding approach. We find edge states within the band gap of the RPQD which are well separated from the bulk states. In an undoped RPQD and for in-plane polarized light, due to the presence of well-defined edge states, we find three types of optical transitions which are between the bulk states, between the edge and bulk states, and between the edge states. The electric and magnetic fields influence the bulk-to-bulk, edge-to-bulk, and edge-to- edge transitions differently due to the different responses of bulk and edge states to these fields.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Bristol Editor
Language Wos 000403100700001 Publication Date 2017-01-03
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0957-4484 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.44 Times cited 32 Open Access
Notes ; This work was financially supported by the China Scholarship Council (CSC), the Flemish Science Foundation (FWO-Vl), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11304316 and 11574319), and by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.44
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:144325 Serial 4648
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Zarenia, M.; Neilson, D.; Peeters, F.M.
Title Inhomogeneous phases in coupled electron-hole bilayer graphene sheets : charge density waves and coupled wigner crystals Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Scientific reports Abbreviated Journal Sci Rep-Uk
Volume 7 Issue Pages 11510
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract (down) Recently proposed accurate correlation energies are used to determine the phase diagram of strongly coupled electron-hole graphene bilayers. The control parameters of the phase diagram are the charge carrier density and the insulating barrier thickness separating the bilayers. In addition to the electron-hole superfluid phase we find two new inhomogeneous ground states, a one dimensional charge density wave phase and a coupled electron-hole Wigner crystal. The elementary crystal structure of bilayer graphene plays no role in generating these new quantum phases, which are completely determined by the electrons and holes interacting through the Coulomb interaction. The experimental parameters for the new phases lie within attainable ranges and therefore coupled electron-hole bilayer graphene presents itself as an experimental system where novel emergent many-body phases can be realized.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Nature Publishing Group Place of Publication London Editor
Language Wos 000410739000008 Publication Date 2017-09-11
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2045-2322 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.259 Times cited 13 Open Access
Notes ; We thank Alex Hamilton, Bart Partoens, and Andrea Perali for useful discussions. This work was partially supported by the Flemish Science Foundation (FWO-Vl) and the Methusalem program of the Flemish government. D.N. acknowledges support by the University of Camerino FAR project CESEMN. ; Approved Most recent IF: 4.259
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:145620 Serial 4742
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Eijt, S.W.H.; Shi, W.; Mannheim, A.; Butterling, M.; Schut, H.; Egger, W.; Dickmann, M.; Hugenschmidt, C.; Shakeri, B.; Meulenberg, R.W.; Callewaert, V.; Saniz, R.; Partoens, B.; Barbiellini, B.; Bansil, A.; Melskens, J.; Zeman, M.; Smets, A.H.M.; Kulbak, M.; Hodes, G.; Cahen, D.; Brück, E.
Title New insights into the nanostructure of innovative thin film solar cells gained by positron annihilation spectroscopy Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Journal of physics : conference series Abbreviated Journal
Volume 791 Issue 791 Pages 012021
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract (down) Recent studies showed that positron annihilation methods can provide key insights into the nanostructure and electronic structure of thin film solar cells. In this study, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) is applied to investigate CdSe quantum dot (QD) light absorbing layers, providing evidence of positron trapping at the surfaces of the QDs. This enables one to monitor their surface composition and electronic structure. Further, 2D-Angular Correlation of Annihilation Radiation (2D-ACAR) is used to investigate the nanostructure of divacancies in photovoltaic-high-quality a-Si:H films. The collected momentum distributions were converted by Fourier transformation to the direct space representation of the electron-positron autocorrelation function. The evolution of the size of the divacancies as a function of hydrogen dilution during deposition of a-Si:H thin films was examined. Finally, we present a first positron Doppler Broadening of Annihilation Radiation (DBAR) study of the emerging class of highly efficient thin film solar cells based on perovskites.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000400610500021 Publication Date 2017-02-22
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1742-6588 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited 1 Open Access
Notes The work at Delft University of Technology was supported by the China Scholarship Council (CSC) grant of W.S., by ADEM, A green Deal in Energy Materials of the Ministry of Economic Affairs of The Netherlands (www.adem- innovationlab.nl), and the STW Vidi grant of A.S., Grant No. 10782. The PALS study is based upon experiments performed at the PLEPS instrument of the NEPOMUC facility at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ), Garching, Germany, and was supported by the European Commission under the 7 th Framework Programme, Key Action: Strengthening the European Research Area, Research Infrastructures, Contract No. 226507, NMI3. The work at University of Maine was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DMR-1206940. Research at the University of Antwerp was supported by FWO grants G022414N and G015013. The work at Northeastern University was supported by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences grant number DE-FG02-07ER46352 (core research), and benefited from Northeastern University's Advanced Scientific Computation Center (ASCC), the NERSC supercomputing center through DOE grant number DE-AC02-05CH11231, and support (applications to layered materials) from the DOE EFRC: Center for the Computational Design of Functional Layered Materials (CCDM) under DE-SC0012575. The work at the Weizmann Institute was supported by the Sidney E. Frank Foundation through the Israel Science Foundation, by the Israel Ministry of Science, and the Israel National Nano-Initiative. D.C. holds the Sylvia and Rowland Schaefer Chair in Energy Research. Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number CMT @ cmt @ c:irua:140850 Serial 4426
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Yang, C.; Laberty-Robert, C.; Batuk, D.; Cibin, G.; Chadwick, A.V.; Pimenta, V.; Yin, W.; Zhang, L.; Tarascon, J.-M.; Grimaud, A.
Title Phosphate ion functionalization of perovskite surfaces for enhanced oxygen evolution reaction Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication The journal of physical chemistry letters Abbreviated Journal J Phys Chem Lett
Volume 8 Issue 15 Pages 3466-3472
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract (down) Recent findings revealed that surface oxygen can participate in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for the most active catalysts, which eventually triggers a new mechanism for which the deprotonation of surface intermediates limits the OER activity. We propose in this work a “dual strategy” in which tuning the electronic properties of the oxide, such as La1-xSrxCoO3-delta, can be dissociated from the use of surface functionalization with phosphate ion groups (P-i) that enhances the interfacial proton transfer. Results show that the P-i functionalized La0.5Sr0.5CoO3-delta gives rise to a significant enhancement of the OER activity when compared to La0.5Sr0.5Co3-delta and LaCoO3. We further demonstrate that the P-i surface functionalization selectivity enhances the activity when the OER kinetics is limited by the proton transfer. Finally, this work suggests that tuning the catalytic activity by such a “dual approach” may be a new and largely unexplored avenue for the design of novel high-performance catalysts.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher American Chemical Society Place of Publication Washington, D.C Editor
Language Wos 000407191300003 Publication Date 2017-07-07
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 31 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes ; C.Y., J.-M.T., D.B., and A.G. acknowledge funding from the European Research Council (ERC) (FP/2014)/ERC Grant-Project 670116-ARPEMA. We acknowledge Diamond Light Source for time awarded to the Energy Materials BAG on Beamline B18, under Proposal sp12559. ; Approved Most recent IF: 9.353
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:145730 Serial 4747
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Zhang, L.-F.; Flammia, L.; Covaci, L.; Perali, A.; Milošević, M.V.
Title Multifaceted impact of a surface step on superconductivity in atomically thin films Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Physical review B Abbreviated Journal Phys Rev B
Volume 96 Issue 10 Pages 104509
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract (down) Recent experiments show that an atomic step on the surface of atomically thin metallic films can strongly affect electronic transport. Here we reveal multiple and versatile effects that such a surface step can have on superconductivity in ultrathin films. By solving the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations self-consistently in this regime, where quantum confinement dominates the emergent physics, we show that the electronic structure is profoundly modified on the two sides of the step, as is the spatial distribution of the superconducting order parameter and its dependence on temperature and electronic gating. Furthermore, the surface step changes nontrivially the transport properties both in the proximity-induced superconducting pair correlations and the Josephson effect, depending on the step height. These results offer a new route to tailor superconducting circuits and design atomically thin heterojunctions made of one same material.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher American Physical Society Place of Publication New York, N.Y Editor
Language Wos 000411076000012 Publication Date 2017-09-18
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2469-9969; 2469-9950 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.836 Times cited 7 Open Access
Notes ; This work was supported by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen), the Special Research Funds of the University of Antwerp (TOPBOF project) and the Italian MIUR through the PRIN 2015 program (Contract No. 2015C5SEJJ001). ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.836
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:146750 Serial 4790
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Albrecht, W.; Goris, B.; Bals, S.; Hutter, E.M.; Vanmaekelbergh, D.; van Huis, M.A.; van Blaaderen, A.
Title Morphological and chemical transformations of single silica-coated CdSe/CdS nanorods upon fs-laser excitation Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 9 Issue 9 Pages 4810-4818
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract (down) Radiation-induced modifications of nanostructures are of fundamental interest and constitute a viable out-of-equilibrium approach to the development of novel nanomaterials. Herein, we investigated the structural transformation of silica-coated CdSe/CdS nanorods (NRs) under femtosecond (fs) illumination. By comparing the same nanorods before and after illumination with different fluences we found that the silica-shell did not only enhance the stability of the NRs but that the confinement of the NRs also led to novel morphological and chemical transformations. Whereas uncoated CdSe/CdS nanorods were found to sublimate under such excitations the silica-coated nanorods broke into fragments which deformed towards a more spherical shape. Furthermore, CdS decomposed which led to the formation of metallic Cd, confirmed by high-resolution electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), whereby an epitaxial interface with the remaining CdS lattice was formed. Under electron beam exposure similar transformations were found to take place which we followed in situ.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Cambridge Editor
Language Wos 000398954800022 Publication Date 2017-03-23
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 4 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes ; The authors acknowledge financial support from the European Research Council under the European Unions Seventh Framework Programme (FP-2007-2013)/ERC Advanced Grant Agreement 291667 HierarSACol. The authors furthermore acknowledge financial support from the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant 335078-COLOURATOMS and ERC Consolidator Grant 683076 NANO-INSITU). The authors also appreciate financial support from the European Union under the Seventh Framework Program (Integrated Infrastructure Initiative No. 262348 European Soft Matter Infrastructure, ESMI). This work was supported by the Flemish Fund for Scientific Research (FWO Vlaanderen) through a postdoctoral research grant to B. G. The authors furthermore thank Dave J. van den Heuvel and Hans C. Gerritsen for use of the Thorlabs powermeter. We furthermore thank Ernest van der Wee for the simulation of the confocal point spread functions. ; ecas_sara Approved Most recent IF: 7.367
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:142384UA @ admin @ c:irua:142384 Serial 4670
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Li, L.; Leenaerts, O.; Kong, X.; Chen, X.; Zhao, M.; Peeters, F.M.
Title Gallium bismuth halide GaBi-X2 (X = I, Br, Cl) monolayers with distorted hexagonal framework: Novel room-temperature quantum spin Hall insulators Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Nano Research Abbreviated Journal Nano Res
Volume 10 Issue 10 Pages 2168-2180
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract (down) Quantum spin Hall (QSH) insulators with a large topologically nontrivial bulk gap are crucial for future applications of the QSH effect. Among these, group III-V monolayers and their halides, which have a chair structure (regular hexagonal framework), have been widely studied. Using first-principles calculations, we formulate a new structure model for the functionalized group III-V monolayers, which consist of rectangular GaBi-X-2 (X = I, Br, Cl) monolayers with a distorted hexagonal framework (DHF). These structures have a far lower energy than the GaBi-X-2 monolayers with a chair structure. Remarkably, the DHF GaBi-X-2 monolayers are all QSH insulators, which exhibit sizeable nontrivial band gaps ranging from 0.17 to 0.39 eV. The band gaps can be widely tuned by applying different spin-orbit coupling strengths, resulting in a distorted Dirac cone.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000401320700029 Publication Date 2017-04-08
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1998-0124 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.354 Times cited 15 Open Access
Notes ; This work was supported by the Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO-Vl). The computational resources and services used in this work were provided by the VSC (Flemish Supercomputer Center), funded by the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO) and the Flemish Government-department EWI. ; Approved Most recent IF: 7.354
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:143739 Serial 4598
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Petrovic, M.D.; Peeters, F.M.
Title Quantum transport in graphene Hall bars : effects of side gates Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Solid state communications Abbreviated Journal Solid State Commun
Volume 257 Issue 257 Pages 20-26
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract (down) Quantum electron transport in side-gated graphene Hall bars is investigated in the presence of quantizing external magnetic fields. The asymmetric potential of four side-gates distorts the otherwise flat bands of the relativistic Landau levels, and creates new propagating states in the Landau spectrum (i.e. snake states). The existence of these new states leads to an interesting modification of the bend and Hall resistances, with new quantizing plateaus appearing in close proximity of the Landau levels. The electron guiding in this system can be understood by studying the current density profiles of the incoming and outgoing modes. From the fact that guided electrons fully transmit without any backscattering (similarly to edge states), we are able to analytically predict the values of the quantized resistances, and they match the resistance data we obtain with our numerical (tight-binding) method. These insights in the electron guiding will be useful in predicting the resistances for other side-gate configurations, and possibly in other system geometries, as long as there is no backscattering of the guided states.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication New York, N.Y. Editor
Language Wos 000401101400005 Publication Date 2017-04-02
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0038-1098 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 1.554 Times cited Open Access
Notes ; This work was supported by the Methusalem programme of the Flemish government. One of us (F. M. Peeters) acknowledges correspondence with K. Novoselov. ; Approved Most recent IF: 1.554
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:143761 Serial 4604
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Embon, L.; Anahory, Y.; Jelić, Z.L.; Lachman, E.O.; Myasoedov, Y.; Huber, M.E.; Mikitik, G.P.; Silhanek, A.V.; Milošević, M.V.; Gurevich, A.; Zeldov, E.
Title Imaging of super-fast dynamics and flow instabilities of superconducting vortices Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Nature communications Abbreviated Journal Nat Commun
Volume 8 Issue Pages 85
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract (down) Quantized magnetic vortices driven by electric current determine key electromagnetic properties of superconductors. While the dynamic behavior of slow vortices has been thoroughly investigated, the physics of ultrafast vortices under strong currents remains largely unexplored. Here, we use a nanoscale scanning superconducting quantum interference device to image vortices penetrating into a superconducting Pb film at rates of tens of GHz and moving with velocities of up to tens of km/s, which are not only much larger than the speed of sound but also exceed the pair-breaking speed limit of superconducting condensate. These experiments reveal formation of mesoscopic vortex channels which undergo cascades of bifurcations as the current and magnetic field increase. Our numerical simulations predict metamorphosis of fast Abrikosov vortices into mixed Abrikosov-Josephson vortices at even higher velocities. This work offers an insight into the fundamental physics of dynamic vortex states of superconductors at high current densities, crucial for many applications.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000405900400002 Publication Date 2017-07-13
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 124 Open Access
Notes ; We would like to thank M.L. Rappaport for fruitful discussions and technical support. This work was supported by the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) grant No. 2014155 and the Israel Science Foundation grant No. 132/14. A.G. was also supported by the United States Department of Energy under Grant No. DE-SC0010081. M.V.M. acknowledges support from Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO). The work of Z.L.J. and A.V.S. was partially supported by “Mandat d'Impulsion Scientifique” MIS F.4527.13 of the F.R.S.-FNRS. This work benefited from the support of COST action MP-1201. ; Approved Most recent IF: 12.124
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:144832 Serial 4720
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Truong, B.; Siegert, K.; Lin, A.; Miller, V.; Krebs, F.C.
Title Apical application of nanosecond-pulsed dielectric barrier discharge plasma causes the basolateral release of adenosine triphosphate as a damage-associated molecular pattern from polarized HaCaT cells Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Plasma medicine Abbreviated Journal
Volume 7 Issue 2 Pages 117-131
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract (down) Promising biomedical uses for nonthermal plasma (NTP) in the fields of regenerative medicine, cancer therapy, and vaccine delivery involve the noninvasive application of uniform nonequilibrium plasma (including dielectric barrier discharge plasma) to living skin. Whereas most investigations have focused on achieving desired therapeutic outcomes, fewer studies have examined the mechanisms and pathways by which epithelial cells respond to NTP exposure. Using a transwell apical-basolateral-chambered system to culture the human keratinocyte HaCaT cell line, in vitro experiments were performed to demonstrate the effects of nanosecond-pulsed dielectric barrier discharge (nsDBD) plasma on polarized epithelial cell viability, monolayer permeability, intracellular oxidative stress, and the release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Application of nsDBD plasma at 60 Hz or below had minimal or no effect on HaCaT monolayer viability or permeability. nsDBD plasma exposure did, however, result in frequency-dependent reductions in intracellular glutathione (indicating direct induction of oxidative stress by nsDBD plasma) and increased extracellular ATP concentrations in the ba-solateral (subepithelial) media, which are indicators of cellular stress and an NTP-induced inflammatory response. These studies provide new insights into nsDBD plasma-induced inflammation and local innate immune responses initiated by polarized epithelial tissues.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date 2017-02-24
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 no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:155656 Serial 7465
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Jouzi, Z.; Azadi, H.; Taheri, F.; Zarafshani, K.; Gebrehiwot, K.; Van Passel, S.; Lebailly, P.
Title Organic farming and small-scale farmers : main opportunities and challenges Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Ecological Economics Abbreviated Journal Ecol Econ
Volume 132 Issue Pages 144-154
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract (down) Producing enough food to meet the needs of a growing population has always been the greatest concern of food policy-makers around the world. Given the increasing attention to organic farming (OF), we conducted this study to investigate the main opportunities and challenges of the food production system of small-scale farmers in developing countries with an emphasis on their livelihoods. The study showed that the most significant advantages of OF are environmental protection and a higher resilience to environmental changes, increasing farmers' income and reducing external input cost, enhancing social capacity and increasing employment opportunities. A s well as enhancing food security primarily by increasing the food purchasing power of local people. However, the main challenges of this food production system include lower yields in comparison to conventional systems, difficulties with soil nutrient management, certification and market barriers, and the educational and research needs of small-holders. The paper concludes that even though OF might present some significant challenges to small-scale farmers, it could/should still be considered as a part of the solution and means of improving their livelihoods.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000390825200014 Publication Date 2016-11-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0921-8009; 1873-6106 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 2.965 Times cited 39 Open Access
Notes ; ; Approved Most recent IF: 2.965
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:139034 Serial 6233
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Lepot, K.; Addad, A.; Knoll, A.H.; Wang, J.; Troadec, D.; Béché, A.; Javaux, E.J.
Title Iron minerals within specific microfossil morphospecies of the 1.88 Ga Gunflint Formation Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Nature communications Abbreviated Journal Nat Commun
Volume 8 Issue 8 Pages 14890
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract (down) Problematic microfossils dominate the palaeontological record between the Great Oxidation Event 2.4 billion years ago (Ga) and the last Palaeoproterozoic iron formations, deposited 500–600 million years later. These fossils are often associated with iron-rich sedimentary rocks, but their affinities, metabolism, and, hence, their contributions to Earth surface oxidation and Fe deposition remain unknown. Here we show that specific microfossil populations of the 1.88 Ga Gunflint Iron Formation contain Fe-silicate and Fe-carbonate nanocrystal concentrations in cell interiors. Fe minerals are absent in/on all organically preserved cell walls. These features are consistent with in vivo intracellular Fe biomineralization, with subsequent in situ recrystallization, but contrast with known patterns of post-mortem Fe mineralization. The Gunflint populations that display relatively large cells (thick-walled spheres, filament-forming rods) and intra-microfossil Fe minerals are consistent with oxygenic photosynthesizers but not with other Fe-mineralizing microorganisms studied so far. Fe biomineralization may have protected oxygenic photosynthesizers against Fe2+ toxicity during the Palaeoproterozoic.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000397129900001 Publication Date 2017-03-23
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 20 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes We thank J.-P. Cullus (thin sections), G. Spronck and C. Henrist (TEM), M. Cabié and C. Dominici (FIB), S. Bernard and C. Karunakaran (STXM), F. Bourdelle and G. Ji (EELS), P. Recourt (SEM). This study was co-funded by FRFC Grant no. 2.4558.09F (E.J.J.), CNRS-INSU (K.L.), FNRS (K.L.), ERC StG ELiTE Grant no. 308074 (E.J.J.), BELSPO IAP PLANET TOPERS (E.J.J.), NASA Astrobiology Institute (A.H.K.), Conseil Régional du Nord-Pas de Calais+European Regional Development Fund+CNRS-INSU (TEM in Lille), FP7-ESMI no. 262348 (TEM at EMAT Antwerp) and ANR-15-CE31-0003-01 (M6fossils, K.L.). We thank Noah Planavsky and two anonymous reviewers for thorough reviews that helped improve the paper. Approved Most recent IF: 12.124
Call Number EMAT @ emat @ c:irua:141919 Serial 4536
Permanent link to this record