|   | 
Details
   web
Records
Author Schnepf, M.J.; Mayer, M.; Kuttner, C.; Tebbe, M.; Wolf, D.; Dulle, M.; Altantzis, T.; Formanek, P.; Förster, S.; Bals, S.; König, T.A.F.; Fery, A.
Title Nanorattles with tailored electric field enhancement Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 9 Issue 9 Pages 9376-9385
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Nanorattles are metallic core–shell particles with core and shell separated by a dielectric spacer. These

nanorattles have been identified as a promising class of nanoparticles, due to their extraordinary high

electric-field enhancement inside the cavity. Limiting factors are reproducibility and loss of axial symmetry

owing to the movable metal core; movement of the core results in fluctuation of the nanocavity dimensions

and commensurate variations in enhancement factor. We present a novel synthetic approach for

the robust fixation of the central gold rod within a well-defined box, which results in an axisymmetric

nanorattle. We determine the structure of the resulting axisymmetric nanorattles by advanced transmission

electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Optical absorption and scattering

cross-sections obtained from UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy quantitatively agree with finite-difference

time-domain (FDTD) simulations based on the structural model derived from SAXS. The predictions of

high and homogenous field enhancement are evidenced by scanning TEM electron energy loss spectroscopy

(STEM-EELS) measurement on single-particle level. Thus, comprehensive understanding of

structural and optical properties is achieved for this class of nanoparticles, paving the way for photonic

applications where a defined and robust unit cell is crucial.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000405387100015 Publication Date 2017-06-22
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 69 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This study was funded by the European Research Council under grant Template-assisted assembly of METAmaterials using MECHanical instabilities (METAMECH) ERC-2012-StG 306686. This work was also supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within the Cluster of Excellence ‘Center for Advancing Electronics Dresden’ (cfaed). M. T. wants to acknowledge funding by the Elite Network of Bavaria, the Bavarian Ministry of State according to the Bavarian elite promotion act (BayEFG), as well as the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for a Feodor-Lynen Research Fellowship. S. B. acknowledges 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. We thank Ken Harris from the National Research Council Canada for valuable discussion of the manuscript. (ROMEO:yellow; preprint:; postprint:restricted ; pdfversion:cannot); saraecas; ECAS_Sara; Approved Most recent IF: 7.367
Call Number (down) EMAT @ emat @ c:irua:144797UA @ admin @ c:irua:144797 Serial 4631
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author De Backer, A.; Jones, L.; Lobato, I.; Altantzis, T.; Goris, B.; Nellist, P.D.; Bals, S.; Van Aert, S.
Title Three-dimensional atomic models from a single projection using Z-contrast imaging: verification by electron tomography and opportunities Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 9 Issue 9 Pages 8791-8798
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract In order to fully exploit structure–property relations of nanomaterials, three-dimensional (3D) characterization at the atomic scale is often required. In recent years, the resolution of electron tomography has reached the atomic scale. However, such tomography typically requires several projection images demanding substantial electron dose. A newly developed alternative circumvents this by counting the number of atoms across a single projection. These atom counts can be used to create an initial atomic model with which an energy minimization can be applied to obtain a relaxed 3D reconstruction of the nanoparticle. Here, we compare, at the atomic scale, this single projection reconstruction approach with tomography and find an excellent agreement. This new approach allows for the characterization of beam-sensitive materials or where the acquisition of a tilt series is impossible. As an example, the utility is illustrated by the 3D atomic scale characterization of a nanodumbbell on an in situ heating holder of limited tilt range.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000404614700031 Publication Date 2017-06-09
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 33 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, Belgium) through project fundings (G.0374.13N, G.0369.15N, G.0368.15N, and WO.010.16N) and postdoctoral grants to T. Altantzis, A. De Backer, and B. Goris. S. Bals acknowledges financial support from the European Research Council (Starting Grant No. COLOURATOM 335078). Funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme under Grant Agreement 312483 – ESTEEM2 (Integrated Infrastructure Initiatieve-I3) is acknowledged. The authors would also like to thank Luis Liz-Marzán, Marek Grzelczak, and Ana Sánchez-Iglesias for sample provision. (ROMEO:yellow; preprint:; postprint:restricted ; pdfversion:cannot); saraecas; ECAS_Sara; Approved Most recent IF: 7.367
Call Number (down) EMAT @ emat @ c:irua:144436UA @ admin @ c:irua:144436 Serial 4617
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Pramanik, G.; Kvakova, K.; Thottappali, M.A.; Rais, D.; Pfleger, J.; Greben, M.; El-Zoka, A.; Bals, S.; Dracinsky, M.; Valenta, J.; Cigler, P.
Title Inverse heavy-atom effect in near infrared photoluminescent gold nanoclusters Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2021 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 13 Issue 23 Pages 10462-10467
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) ;
Abstract Fluorophores functionalized with heavy elements show enhanced intersystem crossing due to increased spin–orbit coupling, which in turn shortens the fluorescence decay lifetime (<italic>τ</italic><sup>PL</sup>). This phenomenon is known as the heavy-atom effect (HAE). Here, we report the observation of increased<italic>τ</italic><sup>PL</sup>upon functionalisation of near-infrared photoluminescent gold nanoclusters with iodine. The heavy atom-mediated increase in<italic>τ</italic><sup>PL</sup>is in striking contrast with the HAE and referred to as inverse HAE. Femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy revealed overcompensation of a slight decrease in lifetime of the transition associated with the Au core (ps) by a large increase in the long-lived triplet state lifetime associated with the Au shell, which contributed to the observed inverse HAE. This unique observation of inverse HAE in gold nanoclusters provides the means to enhance the triplet excited state lifetime.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date 2021-05-24
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2040-3364 ISBN Additional Links
Impact Factor 7.367 Times cited 7 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes The authors acknowledge support from GACR project Nr.18- 12533S. G. P. acknowledges support from EUSMI project No. E180200060; J.P. from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic – Program INTER-EXCELLENCE (LTAUSA19066). Approved Most recent IF: 7.367
Call Number (down) EMAT @ emat @ Serial 6950
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Kinnear, C.; Rodriguez-Lorenzo, L.; Clift, M.J.D.; Goris, B.; Bals, S.; Rothen, B.; Fink, A.S.
Title Decoupling the shape parameter to assess gold nanorod uptake by mammalian cells Type A1 Journal article
Year 2016 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 8 Issue 8 Pages 16416-16426
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract The impact of nanoparticles (NPs) upon biological systems can be fundamentally associated with their physicochemical parameters. A further often-stated tenet is the importance of NP shape on rates of endocytosis. However, given the convoluted parameters concerning the NP-cell interaction, it is experimentally challenging to attribute any findings to shape alone. Herein we demonstrate that shape, below a certain limit, which is specific to nanomedicine, is not important for the endocytosis of spherocylinders by either epithelial or macrophage cells in vitro. Through a systematic approach, we reshaped a single batch of gold nanorods into different aspect ratios resulting in near-spheres and studied their cytotoxicity, (pro-)inflammatory status, and endocytosis/exocytosis. It was found that on a length scale of ~10-90 nm and at aspect ratios less than 5, NP shape has little impact upon their entry into either macrophages or epithelial cells. Conversely, nanorods with an aspect ratio above 5 were preferentially endocytosed by epithelial cells, whereas there was a lack of shape dependent uptake following exposure to macrophages in vitro. These findings have implications both in the understanding of nanoparticle reshaping mechanisms, as well as in the future rational design of nanomaterials for biomedical applications.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000384531600036 Publication Date 2016-08-08
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 23 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes The authors would like to thank C. Endes for her help and technical assistance with all cell culture experiments. The work was supported by the Adolphe Merkle Foundation, the Swiss National Science Foundation (PP00P2123373), the Swiss National Science Foundation through the National Centre of Competence in Research Bio-Inspired Materials, the Flemish Fund for Scientific Research (FWO Vlaanderen) through a postdoctoral research grant, and the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant #335078-COLOURATOMS). The authors also appreciate financial support from the European Union under the Seventh Framework Program (Integrated Infrastructure Initiative N. 262348 European Soft Matter Infrastructure, ESMI).; ECASSara; (ROMEO:yellow; preprint:; postprint:restricted ; pdfversion:cannot); Approved Most recent IF: 7.367
Call Number (down) c:irua:135087 c:irua:135087 Serial 4109
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Zanaga, D.; Bleichrodt, F.; Altantzis, T.; Winckelmans, N.; Palenstijn, W.J.; Sijbers, J.; de Nijs, B.; van Huis, M.A.; Sanchez-Iglesias, A.; Liz-Marzan, L.M.; van Blaaderen, A.; Joost Batenburg, K.; Bals, S.; Van Tendeloo, G.
Title Quantitative 3D analysis of huge nanoparticle assemblies Type A1 Journal article
Year 2016 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 8 Issue 8 Pages 292-299
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Vision lab
Abstract Nanoparticle assemblies can be investigated in 3 dimensions using electron tomography. However, it is not straightforward to obtain quantitative information such as the number of particles or their relative position. This becomes particularly difficult when the number of particles increases. We propose a novel approach in which prior information on the shape of the individual particles is exploited. It improves the quality of the reconstruction of these complex assemblies significantly. Moreover, this quantitative Sparse Sphere Reconstruction approach yields directly the number of particles and their position as an output of the reconstruction technique, enabling a detailed 3D analysis of assemblies with as many as 10 000 particles. The approach can also be used to reconstruct objects based on a very limited number of projections, which opens up possibilities to investigate beam sensitive assemblies where previous reconstructions with the available electron tomography techniques failed.
Address EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium. sara.bals@uantwerpen.be
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Wos 000366911700028 Publication Date 2015-11-19
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 34 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes The authors acknowledge financial support from European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant # 335078-COLOURATOMS, ERC Advanced Grant # 291667 HierarSACol and ERC Advanced Grant 267867 – PLASMAQUO), the European Union under the FP7 (Integrated Infrastructure Initiative N. 262348 European Soft Matter Infrastructure, ESMI and N. 312483 ESTEEM2), and from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), project number 639.072.005 and NWO CW 700.57.026. Networking support was provided by COST Action MP1207.; esteem2jra4; ECASSara; (ROMEO:yellow; preprint:; postprint:restricted ; pdfversion:cannot); Approved Most recent IF: 7.367
Call Number (down) c:irua:131062 c:irua:131062 Serial 3979
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Egoavil, R.; Huehn, S.; Jungbauer, M.; Gauquelin, N.; Béché, A.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Verbeeck; Moshnyaga, V.
Title Phase problem in the B-site ordering of La2CoMnO6 : impact on structure and magnetism Type A1 Journal article
Year 2015 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 7 Issue 7 Pages 9835-9843
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Epitaxial double perovskite La2CoMnO6 (LCMO) films were grown by metalorganic aerosol deposition on SrTiO3(111) substrates. A high Curie temperature, T-C = 226 K, and large magnetization close to saturation, M-S(5 K) = 5.8 mu(B)/f.u., indicate a 97% degree of B-site (Co,Mn) ordering within the film. The Co/Mn ordering was directly imaged at the atomic scale by scanning transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDX). Local electron-energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) measurements reveal that the B-sites are predominantly occupied by Co2+ and Mn4+ ions in quantitative agreement with magnetic data. Relatively small values of the (1/2 1/2 1/2) superstructure peak intensity, obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD), point out the existence of ordered domains with an arbitrary phase relationship across the domain boundary. The size of these domains is estimated to be in the range 35-170 nm according to TEM observations and modelling the magnetization data. These observations provide important information towards the complexity of the cation ordering phenomenon and its implications on magnetism in double perovskites, and similar materials.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Cambridge Editor
Language Wos 000354983100060 Publication Date 2015-05-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2040-3364;2040-3372; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.367 Times cited 37 Open Access
Notes 312483 ESTEEM2; FWO G004413N; 246102 IFOX; Hercules; esteem2_jra3 Approved Most recent IF: 7.367; 2015 IF: 7.394
Call Number (down) c:irua:126423 c:irua:126423 Serial 2586
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Turner, S.; Idrissi, H.; Sartori, A.F.; Korneychuck, S.; Lu, Y.-G.; Verbeeck, J.; Schreck, M.; Van Tendeloo, G.
Title Direct imaging of boron segregation at dislocations in B:diamond heteroepitaxial films Type A1 Journal article
Year 2016 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 8 Issue 8 Pages 2212-2218
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract A thin film of heavily B-doped diamond has been grown epitaxially by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition on an undoped diamond layer, on top of a Ir/YSZ/Si(001) substrate stack, to study the boron segregation and boron environment at the dislocations present in the film. The density and nature of the dislocations were investigated by conventional and weak-beam dark-field transmission electron microscopy techniques, revealing the presence of two types of dislocations: edge and mixed-type 45 degrees dislocations. The presence and distribution of B in the sample was studied using annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy and spatially resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Using these techniques, a segregation of B at the dislocations in the film is evidenced, which is shown to be intermittent along the dislocation. A single edge-type dislocation was selected to study the distribution of the boron surrounding the dislocation core. By imaging this defect at atomic resolution, the boron is revealed to segregate towards the tensile strain field surrounding the edge-type dislocations. An investigation of the fine structure of the B-K edge at the dislocation core shows that the boron is partially substitutionally incorporated into the diamond lattice and partially present in a lower coordination (sp(2)-like hybridization).
Address EMAT, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerp, Belgium. stuart.turner@uantwerpen.be
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Wos 000368860900053 Publication Date 2015-12-21
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 15 Open Access
Notes S. T. acknowledges the fund for scien tific research Flanders (FWO) for a post-doctoral scholarship and under contract number G.0044.13N Approved Most recent IF: 7.367
Call Number (down) c:irua:131597UA @ admin @ c:irua:131597 Serial 4121
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author La Porta, A.; Sanchez-Iglesias, A.; Altantzis, T.; Bals, S.; Grzelczak, M.; Liz-Marzan, L.M.
Title Multifunctional self-assembled composite colloids and their application to SERS detection Type A1 Journal article
Year 2015 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 7 Issue 7 Pages 10377-10381
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract We present a simple method for the co-encapsulation of gold nanostars and iron-oxide nanoparticles into hybrid colloidal composites that are highly responsive to both light and external magnetic fields. Self-assembly was driven by hydrophobic interactions between polystyrene capped gold nanostars and iron oxide nanocrystals stabilized with oleic acid, upon addition of water. A block copolymer was then used to encapsulate the resulting spherical colloidal particle clusters, which thereby became hydrophilic. Electron microscopy analysis unequivocally shows that each composite particle comprises a single Au nanostar surrounded by a few hundreds of iron oxide nanocrystals. We demonstrate that this hybrid colloidal system can be used as an efficient substrate for surface enhanced Raman scattering, using common dyes as model molecular probes. The co-encapsulation of iron oxide nanoparticles renders the system magnetically responsive, so that application of an external magnetic field leads to particle accumulation and limits of detection are in the nM range.
Address A1 Article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT);
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language English Wos 000355987300010 Publication Date 2015-04-22
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2040-3364;2040-3372; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.367 Times cited 51 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes 267867 Plasmaquo; 335078 Colouratom; 262348 Esmi; ECAS_Sara; (ROMEO:yellow; preprint:; postprint:restricted ; pdfversion:cannot); Approved Most recent IF: 7.367; 2015 IF: 7.394
Call Number (down) c:irua:127003 Serial 3940
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Mourdikoudis, S.; Chirea, M.; Zanaga, D.; Altantzis, T.; Mitrakas, M.; Bals, S.; Marzán, L.M.; Pérez-Juste, J.; Pastoriza-Santos, I.
Title Governing the morphology of PtAu heteronanocrystals with improved electrocatalytic performance Type A1 Journal article
Year 2015 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 7 Issue 7 Pages 8739-8747
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Platinumgold heteronanostructures comprising either dimer (PtAu) or coresatellite (Pt@Au) configurations were synthesized by means of a seeded growth procedure using platinum nanodendrites as seeds. Careful control of the reduction kinetics of the gold precursor can be used to direct the nucleation and growth of gold nanoparticles on either one or multiple surface sites simultaneously, leading to the formation of either dimers or coresatellite nanoparticles, respectively, in high yields. Characterization by electron tomography and high resolution electron microscopy provided a better understanding of the actual three-dimensional particle morphology, as well as the AuPt interface, revealing quasi-epitaxial growth of Au on Pt. The prepared PtAu bimetallic nanostructures are highly efficient catalysts for ethanol oxidation in alkaline solution, showing accurate selectivity, high sensitivity, and improved efficiency by generating higher current densities than their monometallic counterparts.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Cambridge Editor
Language Wos 000354204400011 Publication Date 2015-03-12
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2040-3364;2040-3372; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.367 Times cited 41 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes 335078 Colouratom; 262348 Esmi; ECAS_Sara; (ROMEO:yellow; preprint:; postprint:restricted ; pdfversion:cannot); Approved Most recent IF: 7.367; 2015 IF: 7.394
Call Number (down) c:irua:126354 Serial 1360
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Chen, J.-J.; Ke, X.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Meng, J.; Zhou, Y.-B.; Liao, Z.-M.; Yu, D.-P.
Title Magnetotransport across the metal-graphene hybrid interface and its modulation by gate voltage Type A1 Journal article
Year 2015 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 7 Issue 7 Pages 5516-5524
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract The graphene-metal contact is very important for optimizing the performance of graphene based electronic devices. However, it is difficult to probe the properties of the graphene/metal interface directly via transport measurements in traditional graphene lateral devices, because the dominated transport channel is graphene, not the interface. Here, we employ the Au/graphene/Au vertical and lateral hybrid structure to unveil the metal-graphene interface properties, where the transport is dominated by the charge carriers across the interface. The magnetoresistance (MR) of Au/monolayer graphene/Au and Au/stacked two-layered graphene/Au devices is measured and modulated by gate voltage, demonstrating that the interface is a device. The gate-tunable MR is identified from the graphene lying on the SiO2 substrate and underneath the top metal electrode. Our unique structures couple the in-plane and out-of-plane transport and display linear MR with small amplitude oscillations at low temperatures. Under a magnetic field, the electronic coupling between the graphene edge states and the electrode leads to the appearance of quantum oscillations. Our results not only provide a new pathway to explore the intrinsic transport mechanism at the graphene/metal interface but also open up new vistas of magnetoelectronics.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Cambridge Editor
Language Wos 000351372400050 Publication Date 2015-02-19
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2040-3364;2040-3372; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.367 Times cited 3 Open Access
Notes 246791 Countatoms Approved Most recent IF: 7.367; 2015 IF: 7.394
Call Number (down) c:irua:125533 Serial 1931
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Meledina, M.; Turner, S.; Galvita, V.V.; Poelman, H.; Marin, G.B.; Van Tendeloo, G.
Title Local environment of Fe dopants in nanoscale Fe : CeO2-x oxygen storage material Type A1 Journal article
Year 2015 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 7 Issue 7 Pages 3196-3204
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Nanoscale Fe : CeO2-x oxygen storage material for the process of chemical looping has been investigated by advanced transmission electron microscopy and electron energy-loss spectroscopy before and after a model looping procedure, consisting of redox cycles at heightened temperature. Separately, the activity of the nanomaterial has been tested in a toluene total oxidation reaction. The results show that the material consists of ceria nanoparticles, doped with single Fe atoms and small FeOx clusters. The iron ion is partially present as Fe3+ in a solid solution within the ceria lattice. Furthermore, enrichment of reduced Fe2+ species is observed in nanovoids present in the ceria nanoparticles, as well as at the ceria surface. After chemical looping, agglomeration occurs and reduced nanoclusters appear at ceria grain boundaries formed by sintering. These clusters originate from surface Fe2+ aggregation, and from bulk Fe3+, which “leaks out” in reduced state after cycling to a slightly more agglomerated form. The activity of Fe : CeO2 during the toluene total oxidation part of the chemical looping cycle is ensured by the dopant Fe in the Fe1-xCexO2 solid solution, and by surface Fe species. These measurements on a model Fe : CeO2-x oxygen storage material give a unique insight into the behavior of dopants within a nanosized ceria host, and allow to interpret a plethora of (doped) cerium oxide-based reactions.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Cambridge Editor
Language Wos 000349473200046 Publication Date 2015-01-13
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2040-3364;2040-3372; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.367 Times cited 17 Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.367; 2015 IF: 7.394
Call Number (down) c:irua:125299 Serial 1828
Permanent link to this record