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Author |
Lin, A.; Gromov, M.; Nikiforov, A.; Smits, E.; Bogaerts, A. |
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Title |
Characterization of Non-Thermal Dielectric Barrier Discharges for Plasma Medicine: From Plastic Well Plates to Skin Surfaces |
Type |
A1 Journal Article |
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Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing |
Abbreviated Journal |
Plasma Chem Plasma Process |
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Volume |
43 |
Issue |
6 |
Pages |
1587-1612 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal Article; Non-thermal plasma · Plasma medicine · Dielectric barrier discharge · Plasma diagnostics · Plasma surface interaction · In situ plasma monitoring; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ; |
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Abstract |
technologies have been expanding, and one of the most exciting and rapidly growing
applications is in biology and medicine. Most biomedical studies with DBD plasma systems are performed in vitro, which include cells grown on the surface of plastic well plates, or in vivo, which include animal research models (e.g. mice, pigs). Since many DBD systems use the biological target as the secondary electrode for direct plasma generation and treatment, they are sensitive to the surface properties of the target, and thus can be altered based on the in vitro or in vivo system used. This could consequently affect biological response from plasma treatment. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the DBD plasma behavior both in vitro (i.e. 96-well flat bottom plates, 96-well U-bottom plates, and 24-well flat bottom plates), and in vivo (i.e. mouse skin). Intensified charge coupled device (ICCD) imaging was performed and the plasma discharges were visually distinguishable between the different systems. The geometry of the wells did not affect DBD plasma generation for low application distances (≤ 2 mm), but differentially affected plasma uniformity on the bottom of the well at greater distances. Since DBD plasma treatment in vitro is rarely performed in dry wells for plasma medicine experiments, the effect of well wetness was also investigated. In all in vitro cases, the uniformity of the DBD plasma was affected when comparing wet versus dry wells, with the plasma in the wide-bottom wells appearing the most similar to plasma generated on mouse skin. Interestingly, based on quantification of ICCD images, the DBD plasma intensity per surface area demonstrated an exponential one-phase decay with increasing application distance, regardless of the in vitro or in vivo system. This trend is similar to that of the energy per pulse of plasma, which is used to determine the total plasma treatment energy for biological systems. Optical emission spectroscopy performed on the plasma revealed similar trends in radical species generation between the plastic well plates and mouse skin. Therefore, taken together, DBD plasma intensity per surface area may be a valuable parameter to be used as a simple method for in situ monitoring during biological treatment and active plasma treatment control, which can be applied for in vitro and in vivo systems. |
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Wos |
001072607700001 |
Publication Date |
2023-09-27 |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0272-4324 |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
3.6 |
Times cited |
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Open Access  |
Not_Open_Access |
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Notes |
This work was partially funded by the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO) and supported by the following Grants: 12S9221N (A. L.), G044420N (A. L. and A. B.), and G033020N (A.B.). We would also like to thank several patrons, as part of this research was funded by donations from different donors, including Dedert Schilde vzw, Mr Willy Floren, and the Vereycken family. We would also like to acknowledge the support from the European Cooperation in Science & Technology (COST) Action on “Therapeutical applications of Cold Plasmas” (CA20114; PlasTHER). |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 3.6; 2023 IF: 2.355 |
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Call Number |
PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:200285 |
Serial |
8970 |
| Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Zhang, Z.; Lobato, I.; Brown, H.; Jannis, D.; Verbeeck, J.; Van Aert, S.; Nellist, P. |
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Title |
Generalised oscillator strength for core-shell electron excitation by fast electrons based on Dirac solutions |
Type |
Dataset |
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Year |
2023 |
Publication |
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Keywords |
Dataset; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
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Abstract |
Inelastic excitation as exploited in Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) contains a rich source of information that is revealed in the scattering process. To accurately quantify core-loss EELS, it is common practice to fit the observed spectrum with scattering cross-sections calculated using experimental parameters and a Generalized Oscillator Strength (GOS) database [1]. The GOS is computed using Fermi’s Golden Rule and orbitals of bound and excited states. Previously, the GOS was based on Hartree-Fock solutions [2], but more recently Density Functional Theory (DFT) has been used [3]. In this work, we have chosen to use the Dirac equation to incorporate relativistic effects and have performed calculations using Flexible Atomic Code (FAC) [4]. This repository contains a tabulated GOS database based on Dirac solutions for computing double differential cross-sections under experimental conditions. We hope the Dirac-based GOS database can benefit the EELS community for both academic use and industry integration. Database Details: – Covers all elements (Z: 1-108) and all edges – Large energy range: 0.01 – 4000 eV – Large momentum range: 0.05 -50 Å-1 – Fine log sampling: 128 points for energy and 256 points for momentum – Data format: GOSH [3] Calculation Details: – Single atoms only; solid-state effects are not considered – Unoccupied states before continuum states of ionization are not considered; no fine structure – Plane Wave Born Approximation – Frozen Core Approximation is employed; electrostatic potential remains unchanged for orthogonal states when – core-shell electron is excited – Self-consistent Dirac–Fock–Slater iteration is used for Dirac calculations; Local Density Approximation is assumed for electron exchange interactions; continuum states are normalized against asymptotic form at large distances – Both large and small component contributions of Dirac solutions are included in GOS – Final state contributions are included until the contribution of the previous three states falls below 0.1%. A convergence log is provided for reference. Version 1.1 release note: – Update to be consistent with GOSH data format [3], all the edges are now within a single hdf5 file. A notable change in particular, the sampling in momentum is in 1/m, instead of previously in 1/Å. Great thanks to Gulio Guzzinati for his suggestions and sending conversion script. Version 1.2 release note: – Add “File Type / File version” information [1] Verbeeck, J., and S. Van Aert. Ultramicroscopy 101.2-4 (2004): 207-224. [2] Leapman, R. D., P. Rez, and D. F. Mayers. The Journal of Chemical Physics 72.2 (1980): 1232-1243. [3] Segger, L, Guzzinati, G, & Kohl, H. Zenodo (2023). doi:10.5281/zenodo.7645765 [4] Gu, M. F. Canadian Journal of Physics 86(5) (2008): 675-689. |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:203392 |
Serial |
9042 |
| Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Hugenschmidt, M.; Jannis, D.; Kadu, A.A.; Grünewald, L.; De Marchi, S.; Perez-Juste, J.; Verbeeck, J.; Van Aert, S.; Bals, S. |
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Title |
Low-dose 4D-STEM tomography for beam-sensitive nanocomposites |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2023 |
Publication |
ACS materials letters |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
6 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
165-173 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
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Abstract |
Electron tomography is essential for investigating the three-dimensional (3D) structure of nanomaterials. However, many of these materials, such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), are extremely sensitive to electron radiation, making it difficult to acquire a series of projection images for electron tomography without inducing electron-beam damage. Another significant challenge is the high contrast in high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy that can be expected for nanocomposites composed of a metal nanoparticle and an MOF. This strong contrast leads to so-called metal artifacts in the 3D reconstruction. To overcome these limitations, we here present low-dose electron tomography based on four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM) data sets, collected using an ultrafast and highly sensitive direct electron detector. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the applicability of the method for an Au nanostar embedded in a ZIF-8 MOF, which is of great interest for applications in various fields, including drug delivery. |
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Wos |
001141178500001 |
Publication Date |
2023-12-11 |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
2639-4979 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record |
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Impact Factor |
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Times cited |
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Open Access |
Not_Open_Access |
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Notes |
This work was supported by the European Research Council (Grant 815128 REALNANO to S.B., Grant 770887 PICOMETRICS to S.V.A.). J.P.-J. and S.M. acknowledge financial support from the MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (Grants No. PID2019-108954RB-I00) and EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 883390 (SERSing). J.V., S.B., S.V.A., and L.G. acknowledge funding from the Flemish government (iBOF-21-085 PERsist). |
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:202771 |
Serial |
9053 |
| Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Johnson, G.; Yang, M.Y.; Liu, C.; Zhou, H.; Zuo, X.; Dickie, D.A.; Wang, S.; Gao, W.; Anaclet, B.; Perras, F.A.; Ma, F.; Zeng, C.; Wang, D.; Bals, S.; Dai, S.; Xu, Z.; Liu, G.; Goddard III, W.A.; Zhang, S. |
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Title |
Nanocluster superstructures assembled via surface ligand switching at high temperature |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Nature synthesis |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
2 |
Issue |
9 |
Pages |
828-837 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
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Abstract |
Superstructures with nanoscale building blocks, when coupled with precise control of the constituent units, open opportunities in rationally designing and manufacturing desired functional materials. Yet, synthetic strategies for the large-scale production of superstructures are scarce. We report a scalable and generalized approach to synthesizing superstructures assembled from atomically precise Ce24O28(OH)8 and other rare-earth metal-oxide nanoclusters alongside a detailed description of the self-assembly mechanism. Combining operando small-angle X-ray scattering, ex situ molecular and structural characterizations, and molecular dynamics simulations indicates that a high-temperature ligand-switching mechanism, from oleate to benzoate, governs the formation of the nanocluster assembly. The chemical tuning of surface ligands controls superstructure disassembly and reassembly, and furthermore, enables the synthesis of multicomponent superstructures. This synthetic approach, and the accurate mechanistic understanding, are promising for the preparation of superstructures for use in electronics, plasmonics, magnetics and catalysis. Synthesizing superstructures with precisely controlled nanoscale building blocks is challenging. Here the assembly of superstructures is reported from atomically precise Ce24O28(OH)8 and other rare-earth metal-oxide nanoclusters and their multicomponent combinations. A high-temperature ligand-switching mechanism controls the self-assembly. |
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Wos |
001124824000001 |
Publication Date |
2023-05-01 |
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Edition |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
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Times cited |
2 |
Open Access |
Not_Open_Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:202180 |
Serial |
9060 |
| Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Grünewald, L.; Chezganov, D.; De Meyer, R.; Orekhov, A.; Van Aert, S.; Bogaerts, A.; Bals, S.; Verbeeck, J. |
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Title |
Supplementary Information for “In-situ Plasma Studies using a Direct Current Microplasma in a Scanning Electron Microscope” |
Type |
Dataset |
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Year |
2023 |
Publication |
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Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
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Issue |
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Pages |
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Keywords |
Dataset; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT) |
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Abstract |
Supplementary information for the article “In-situ Plasma Studies using a Direct Current Microplasma in a Scanning Electron Microscope” containing the videos of in-situ SEM imaging (mp4 files), raw data/images, and Jupyter notebooks (ipynb files) for data treatment and plots. Link to the preprint: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2308.15123 Explanation of the data files can be found in the Information.pdf file. The Videos folder contains the in-situ SEM image series mentioned in the paper. If there are any questions/bugs, feel free to contact me at lukas.grunewaldatuantwerpen.be |
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Additional Links |
UA library record |
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Impact Factor |
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Times cited |
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Open Access |
Not_Open_Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:203389 |
Serial |
9100 |
| Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Biondo, O.; van Deursen, C.F.A.M.; Hughes, A.; van de Steeg, A.; Bongers, W.; van de Sanden, M.C.M.; van Rooij, G.; Bogaerts, A. |
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Title |
Avoiding solid carbon deposition in plasma-based dry reforming of methane |
Type |
A1 Journal Article |
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Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Green Chemistry |
Abbreviated Journal |
Green Chem. |
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Volume |
25 |
Issue |
24 |
Pages |
10485-10497 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal Article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ; |
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Abstract |
Solid carbon deposition is a persistent challenge in dry reforming of methane (DRM), affecting both classical and plasma-based processes. In this work, we use a microwave plasma in reverse vortex flow configuration to overcome this issue in CO<sub>2</sub>/CH<sub>4</sub>plasmas. Indeed, this configuration efficiently mitigates carbon deposition, enabling operation even with pure CH<sub>4</sub>feed gas, in contrast to other configurations. At the same time, high reactor performance is achieved, with CO<sub>2</sub>and CH<sub>4</sub>conversions reaching 33% and 44% respectively, at an energy cost of 14 kJ L<sup>−1</sup>for a CO<sub>2</sub> : CH<sub>4</sub>ratio of 1 : 1. Laser scattering and optical emission imaging demonstrate that the shorter residence time in reverse vortex flow lowers the gas temperature in the discharge, facilitating a shift from full to partial CH<sub>4</sub>pyrolysis. This underscores the pivotal role of flow configuration in directing process selectivity, a crucial factor in complex chemistries like CO<sub>2</sub>/CH<sub>4</sub>mixtures and very important for industrial applications. |
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Wos |
001110100100001 |
Publication Date |
2023-11-24 |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1463-9262 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record |
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Impact Factor |
9.8 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
Universiteit Antwerpen; Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek; HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, 813393 ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 9.8; 2023 IF: 9.125 |
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Call Number |
PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:202138 |
Serial |
8978 |
| Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Živanić, M.; Espona‐Noguera, A.; Verswyvel, H.; Smits, E.; Bogaerts, A.; Lin, A.; Canal, C. |
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Title |
Injectable Plasma‐Treated Alginate Hydrogel for Oxidative Stress Delivery to Induce Immunogenic Cell Death in Osteosarcoma |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Advanced functional materials |
Abbreviated Journal |
Adv Funct Materials |
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Volume |
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Issue |
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Pages |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Center for Oncological Research (CORE) |
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Abstract |
Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a source of cell‐damaging oxidant molecules that may be used as low‐cost cancer treatment with minimal side effects. Liquids treated with cold plasma and enriched with oxidants are a modality for non‐invasive treatment of internal tumors with cold plasma via injection. However, liquids are easily diluted with body fluids which impedes high and localized delivery of oxidants to the target. As an alternative, plasma‐treated hydrogels (PTH) emerge as vehicles for the precise delivery of oxidants. This study reports an optimal protocol for the preparation of injectable alginate PTH that ensures the preservation of plasma‐generated oxidants. The generation, storage, and release of oxidants from the PTH are assessed. The efficacy of the alginate PTH in cancer treatment is demonstrated in the context of cancer cell cytotoxicity and immunogenicity–release of danger signals and phagocytosis by immature dendritic cells, up to now unexplored for PTH. These are shown in osteosarcoma, a hard‐to‐treat cancer. The study aims to consolidate PTH as a novel cold plasma treatment modality for non‐invasive or postoperative tumor treatment. The results offer a rationale for further exploration of alginate‐based PTHs as a versatile platform in biomedical engineering. |
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Wos |
001129424500001 |
Publication Date |
2023-12-21 |
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Series Editor |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1616-301X |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record |
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Impact Factor |
19 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, 1S67621N ; European Cooperation in Science and Technology, COST Action CA20114 ; Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, SGR2022‐1368 ; Agencia Estatal de Investigación, PID2019‐ 103892RB‐I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 ; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, IHRC22/00003 ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 19; 2023 IF: 12.124 |
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Call Number |
PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:202030 |
Serial |
8979 |
| Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Hofer, C.; Pennycook, T.J. |
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Title |
Reliable phase quantification in focused probe electron ptychography of thin materials |
Type |
A1 Journal Article |
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Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Ultramicroscopy |
Abbreviated Journal |
Ultramicroscopy |
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Volume |
254 |
Issue |
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Pages |
113829 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) ; |
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Abstract |
Electron ptychography provides highly sensitive, dose efficient phase images which can be corrected for aberrations after the data has been acquired. This is crucial when very precise quantification is required, such as with sensitivity to charge transfer due to bonding. Drift can now be essentially eliminated as a major impediment to focused probe ptychography, which benefits from the availability of easily interpretable simultaneous Z-contrast imaging. However challenges have remained when quantifying the ptychographic phases of atomic sites. The phase response of a single atom has a negative halo which can cause atoms to reduce in phase when brought closer together. When unaccounted for, as in integrating methods of quantification, this effect can completely obscure the effects of charge transfer. Here we provide a new method of quantification that overcomes this challenge, at least for 2D materials, and is robust to experimental parameters such as noise, sample tilt. |
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Wos |
001071608700001 |
Publication Date |
2023-08-18 |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0304-3991 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
2.2 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
FWO, G013122N ; Horizon 2020 Framework Programme; Horizon 2020; European Research Council, 802123-HDEM ; European Research Council; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 2.2; 2023 IF: 2.843 |
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Call Number |
EMAT @ emat @c:irua:200272 |
Serial |
8987 |
| Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Rouwenhorst, K.H.R.; Jardali, F.; Bogaerts, A.; Lefferts, L. |
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Title |
Correction: From the Birkeland–Eyde process towards energy-efficient plasma-based NOXsynthesis: a techno-economic analysis |
Type |
A1 Journal Article |
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Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Energy & Environmental Science |
Abbreviated Journal |
Energy Environ. Sci. |
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Volume |
16 |
Issue |
12 |
Pages |
6170-6173 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal Article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ; |
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Abstract |
Correction for ‘From the Birkeland–Eyde process towards energy-efficient plasma-based NO<sub><italic>X</italic></sub>synthesis: a techno-economic analysis’ by Kevin H. R. Rouwenhorst<italic>et al.</italic>,<italic>Energy Environ. Sci.</italic>, 2021,<bold>14</bold>, 2520–2534, https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE03763J. |
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Wos |
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Publication Date |
2023-11-27 |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1754-5692 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
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Impact Factor |
32.5 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
H2020 European Research Council; Horizon 2020, 810182 ; Ministerie van Economische Zaken en Klimaat; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 32.5; 2023 IF: 29.518 |
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Call Number |
PLASMANT @ plasmant @ |
Serial |
8980 |
| Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Bagherpour, A.; Baral, P.; Colla, M.-S.; Orekhov, A.; Idrissi, H.; Haye, E.; Pardoen, T.; Lucas, S. |
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Title |
Tailoring Mechanical Properties of a-C:H:Cr Coatings |
Type |
A1 Journal Article |
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Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Coatings |
Abbreviated Journal |
Coatings |
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Volume |
13 |
Issue |
12 |
Pages |
2084 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) ; |
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Abstract |
The development of coatings with tunable performances is critical to meet a wide range of technological applications each one with different requirements. Using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process, scientists can create hydrogenated amorphous carbon coatings doped with metal (a-C:H:Me) with a broad range of mechanical properties, varying from those resembling polymers to ones resembling diamond. These diverse properties, without clear relations between the different families, make the material selection and optimization difficult but also very rich. An innovative approach is proposed here based on projected performance indices related to fracture energy, strength, and stiffness in order to classify and optimize a-C:H:Me coatings. Four different a-C:H:Cr coatings deposited by PECVD with Ar/C2H2 discharge under different bias voltage and pressures are investigated. A path is found to produce coatings with a selective critical energy release rate between 5–125 J/m2 without compromising yield strength (1.6–2.7 GPa) and elastic limit (≈0.05). Finally, fine-tuned coatings are categorized to meet desired applications under different testing conditions. |
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001136013600001 |
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2023-12-14 |
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2079-6412 |
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UA library record; WoS full record |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
Walloon region under the PDR FNRS, C 62/5—PDR/OL 33677636 ; Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research, CDR—J.0113.20 ; National Fund for Scientific Reaserch; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
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Call Number |
EMAT @ emat @c:irua:202390 |
Serial |
8982 |
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Author |
Kourmoulakis, G.; Michail, A.; Paradisanos, I.; Marie, X.; Glazov, M.M.; Jorissen, B.; Covaci, L.; Stratakis, E.; Papagelis, K.; Parthenios, J.; Kioseoglou, G. |
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Title |
Biaxial strain tuning of exciton energy and polarization in monolayer WS2 |
Type |
A1 Journal Article |
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Year |
2023 |
Publication |
Applied Physics Letters |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
123 |
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22 |
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A1 Journal Article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) ; |
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Abstract |
We perform micro-photoluminescence and Raman experiments to examine the impact of biaxial tensile strain on the optical properties of WS2 monolayers. A strong shift on the order of −130 meV per % of strain is observed in the neutral exciton emission at room temperature. Under near-resonant excitation, we measure a monotonic decrease in the circular polarization degree under the applied strain. We experimentally separate the effect of the strain-induced energy detuning and evaluate the pure effect coming from the biaxial strain. The analysis shows that the suppression of the circular polarization degree under the biaxial strain is related to an interplay of energy and polarization relaxation channels as well as to variations in the exciton oscillator strength affecting the long-range exchange interaction. |
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001124156400003 |
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2023-11-27 |
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0003-6951 |
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UA library record; WoS full record |
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Impact Factor |
4 |
Times cited |
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Notes |
Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation, HFRI-FM17-3034 ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 4; 2023 IF: 3.411 |
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Call Number |
CMT @ cmt @c:irua:202178 |
Serial |
8991 |
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Author |
Yu, CP.; Vega Ibañez, F.; Béché, A.; Verbeeck, J. |
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Title |
Quantum wavefront shaping with a 48-element programmable phase plate for electrons |
Type |
A1 Journal Article |
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Year |
2023 |
Publication |
SciPost Physics |
Abbreviated Journal |
SciPost Phys. |
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Volume |
15 |
Issue |
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Pages |
223 |
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A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) |
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Abstract |
We present a 48-element programmable phase plate for coherent electron waves produced by a combination of photolithography and focused ion beam. This brings the highly successful concept of wavefront shaping from light optics into the realm of electron optics and provides an important new degree of freedom to prepare electron quantum states. The phase plate chip is mounted on an aperture rod placed in the C2 plane of a transmission electron microscope operating in the 100-300 kV range. The phase plate's behavior is characterized by a Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm, showing a phase sensitivity of 0.075 rad/mV at 300 kV, with a phase resolution of approximately 3x10e−3π. In addition, we provide a brief overview of possible use cases and support it with both simulated and experimental results. |
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SciPost |
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English |
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001116838500002 |
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2023-12-04 |
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2542-4653 |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
5.5 |
Times cited |
1 |
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Notes |
This project is the result of a long-term effort involving many differ- ent sources of funding: JV acknowledges funding from an ERC proof of concept project DLV- 789598 ADAPTEM, as well as a University IOF proof of concept project towards launching the AdaptEM spin-off and the eBEAM project, supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program FETPROACT-EIC-07-2020: emerging paradigms and com- munities. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 823717 – ESTEEM3 and via The IMPRESS project from the HORIZON EUROPE framework program for research and innovation under grant agreement n. 101094299. FV, JV, and AB acknowledge funding from G042820N ‘Explor- ing adaptive optics in transmission electron microscopy.’ CPY acknowledges funding from a TOP-BOF project from the University of Antwerp. |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 5.5; 2023 IF: NA |
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Call Number |
EMAT @ emat @c:irua:202037 |
Serial |
8984 |
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Author |
Van Alphen, S. |
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Title |
Modelling plasma reactors for sustainable CO2 conversion and N2 fixation |
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Doctoral thesis |
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Year |
2023 |
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Pages |
202 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT) |
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Abstract |
200 years ago, humanity started the industrial revolution by discovering fossil fuels, which lead to unprecedented technological advancements. However it has become alarmingly clear that the major environmental concerns associated with fossil fuels require a short-term transition from a carbon-based energy economy to a sustainable one based on green electricity. A key step concerning this transition exists in developing electricity-driven alternatives for chemical processes that rely on fossil fuels as a raw material. A technology that is gaining increasing interest to achieve this, is plasma technology. Using plasmas to induce chemical reactions by selectively heating electrons in a gas has already delivered promising results for gas conversion applications like CO2 conversion and N2 fixation, but plasma reactors still require optimization to be considered industrially competitive to existing fossil fuel-based processes and emerging other electricity-based technologies. In this thesis I develop computational models to describe plasma reactors and identify key mechanisms in three different plasma reactors for three different gas conversion applications, i.e. N2 fixation, combined CO2-CH4 conversion and CO2 splitting. I first developed models to describe a new rotating gliding arc (GA) reactor operating in two arc modes, which, as revealed by my model, are characterized by distinct plasma chemistry pathways. Subsequently, my colleague and I study the quenching effect of an effusion nozzle to this rotating GA reactor, reaching the best results to date for N2 fixation into NOx at atmospheric pressure, i.e., NOx concentrations up to 5.9%, at an energy cost down to 2.1 MJ/mol. Afterwards, I investigate the possible improvement of N2 admixtures in plasma-based CO2 and CH4 conversion, as significant amounts of N2 are often found in industrial CO2 waste streams, and gas separations are financially costly. Through combining my models with the experiment from a fellow PhD student, we reveal that moderate amounts of N2 (i.e. around 20%) increase both the electron density and the gas temperature to yield an overall energy cost reduction of 21%. Finally, I model quenching nozzles for plasma-based CO2 conversion in a microwave reactor, to explain the enhancements in CO2 conversion that were demonstrated in experiments. Through computational modelling I reveal that the nozzle introduces fast gas quenching resulting in the suppression of recombination reactions, which have more impact at low flow rates, where recombination is the most limiting factor in the conversion process. |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:194811 |
Serial |
7270 |
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Author |
Kovács, A. |
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Title |
A structured methodology for natural deep eutectic solvent selection and formulation for enzymatic reactions |
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Doctoral thesis |
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Year |
2023 |
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Pages |
viii, 216 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS) |
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Abstract |
Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) show great promise as media for enzymatic reactions in areas where (bio)compatibility with natural or medicinal products is a must. While in theory they can be tailored to the intended reaction to ensure optimized yields, the knowledge to date is predominantly empirical, with some mechanistic reports providing a fragmented view at best. Therefore, it is not easy to explain experimental observations, let alone make predictions. The aim of this study was to develop a structured, holistic understanding of the effects of NADES media on enzymatic reactions, distinguishing between effects on solubility, solvation, viscosity, inhibition and denaturation. Experimental and computational chemistry methods were combined to separately study the interactions between enzyme, substrate, and NADES as reaction media. The initial enzyme activity and the final conversion of vinyl laurate transesterification by immobilized Candida antarctica lipase were studied experimentally. The direct effect of NADES on the same enzyme was modeled by molecular dynamics simulation. The effect of solubility was studied by both experimental and computational methods. To predict the solubility and viscosity of NADES, data-driven models were developed by combining group contribution and machine learning methods, based on the accumulated experimental knowledge on NADES found in the literature. Finally, the composed relationships and prediction models were applied to the practical example of deacetylation of mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs). The experimental findings show that the chosen NADES system has a significant effect on both the apparent initial activity and the final conversion. However, in the simulations, the enzyme retains its original structure; moreover, NADES has an additional stabilizing effect on the enzyme. In addition, changes in the molar ratio of the compounds in NADES do not show a significant effect on the stability of the enzyme. These results indicate that the main effect of NADES on the reaction is mainly related to the substrate-solvent interactions (solvation energy) and the viscosity of the system. On the other hand, the experimental results only confirmed the significance of solvation, viscosity did not show a clear correlation with the studied reaction parameters. The machine learning models built for solubility and viscosity gave quantitative predictions of these properties. The accumulated knowledge was used to optimize the yield in the deacetylation reaction of MELs. The combination of these methods provides fundamental knowledge about the effect of NADES on biocatalysis, but the results are also applicable to other uses of NADES. |
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Most recent IF: NA |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:194886 |
Serial |
7276 |
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De Backer, J. |
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Title |
The versatile nature of cytoglobin, the Swiss army knife among globins, with a preference for oxidative stress |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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XVIII, 232 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Pharmacology. Therapy; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Proteinscience, proteomics and epigenetic signaling (PPES) |
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Abstract |
Since its discovery 20 years ago, many studies have been performed to gain insight into the functional role of cytoglobin (Cygb). However, Cygb has been proven to be a promiscuous protein. Yet, there is a consensus that Cygb is a cytoprotective protein involved in redox homeostasis. CYGB is a ubiquitously expressed hexacoordinated globin that is highly expressed in melanocytes and is often found to be downregulated during melanocyte-to-melanoma transition. In Chapter III, we investigated the molecular mechanism through which CYGB could be involved in redox regulation. Here, we showed that CYGB contains two redox-sensitive cysteine residues and that the formation of an intramolecular disulfide bridge resulted in the heme group becoming more accessible to external ligands. This supports the hypothesis that Cys38 and Cys83 serve as sensitive redox sensors. In Chapter IV we showed that CYGB mRNA and protein levels were elevated upon exposure to hypoxia. Interestingly, this upregulation was most likely HIF-2α-dependent. We propose that in melanoma, HIF-2α, rather than HIF-1α, positively regulates CYGB under hypoxic conditions in a cell type specific way. In Chapter V, the cytotoxic effect of indirect NTP treatment in two melanoma cell lines with divergent endogenous CYGB expression levels was investigated. We confirmed that NTP endows cytotoxicity that induces cell death through apoptosis and that this was mediated through the production of ROS. Moreover, we showed that CYGB protects melanoma cells from ROS-induced apoptosis by the scavenging of ROS. Interestingly, CYGB expression influenced the expression of NRF2 and HO-1. We identified the lncRNA MEG3 as a possible mechanism through which NRF2 expression and its downstream target HO-1 can be regulated by CYGB. In chapter VI, increased basal ROS levels and higher degree of lipid peroxidation upon RSL3 treatment contributed to the increased sensitivity of CYGB knockdown G361 cells to ferroptosis. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis demonstrates the enrichment of multiple cancer malignancy pathways upon CYGB knockdown, supporting a tumor-suppressive role for CYGB. Remarkably, CYGB expression regulation was identified as a critical determinant of the ferroptosis–pyroptosis therapy response. This suggests that CYGB is involved in the regulation of multiple modes of programmed cell death. FInally, we sought to delineate the RONS that are responsible for plasma-induced ICD. Our results highlight the importance of the short-lived species. Furthermore, we are first to demonstrate that NTP-created vaccine is safely prepared and offers complete protection. Moreover, we provide conclusive evidence that direct application of NTP induces ICD in melanoma. |
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Most recent IF: NA |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:193568 |
Serial |
7277 |
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Khan, S.U. |
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Singlet oxygen-based photoelectrocatalysis : from photosensitizer structures to plasmonic enhancement |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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182 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab) |
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Singlet molecular oxygen (1O2) has continuously attracted researchers' interest because of its involvement in various processes, such as in photodynamic reactions in biological and chemical systems. 1O2 is an effective electrophile and potent oxidizing agent and can be easily generated by photosensitization via the illumination of organic dyes with visible light. As described in Chapter 1, 1O2 has gained prominence in various applications such as wastewater treatment, photodynamic therapy of cancer, organic synthesis, and recently developed 1O2-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing of phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds are a potential source of contaminants that originates from industrial effluents and waste products of chemical and pharmaceutical industries. These phenolic compounds pose severe threats to humans and aquatic life after reaching the environment. Therefore, it is imperative to develop photoactive materials that efficiently generate 1O2 and oxidize phenolic compounds and antibiotics. The existing 1O2 generating photosensitizers (PSs) include porphyrins, phthalocyanines (Pcs), subphthalocyanines (SubPcs), and other dyes such as derivatives of xanthene (e.g., Rose Bengal (RB)), and fluorinated boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPYs), and phenothiazinium dyes (e. g. Methylene Blue (MB)) which display long-lived triplet excited state and can be used in 1O2-based applications. This thesis focuses on preparing efficient hybrid materials based on newly synthesized Pcs, different surface area titanium dioxide (TiO2) and plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for their use in the PEC detection of phenolic compounds. The first focus was on developing a fast amperometric method to test the photo-electrocatalytic activity of 1O2 producing PSs dissolved in MeOH based on the redox cycling of an electroactive phenolic compound, hydroquinone (HQ) (Chapter 2). This method of testing PSs does not require the accumulation of a reaction product since the amperometric signal develops near instantly when the light is on, which enables dynamic monitoring of a PSs activity at varying conditions in a single experiment. This method was crucial to measure high 1O2 quantum yield and low yield in the same experimental conditions. Moreover, the obtained results revealed a range of working parameters affecting the PEC activity of PSs. The next goal was to immobilize tert-butyl substituted aluminum Pc (t-BuPcAlCl) on the solid support, which showed a high 1O2 quantum yield. However, before immobilizing Pc on a solid support such as TiO2, it is essential to know the electronic energy level of Pcs for the possible electron transfers from Pcs to TiO2. Therefore, Chapter 3 explored the (spectro)electrochemical properties of t-BuPcAlCl Pc. Next, in Chapter 4, t-BuPcAlCl Pc and other tert-butyl substituted Pcs with Zn central metal, t-BuPcZn, and its metal-free derivative t-BuPcH2 were immobilized on different surface area TiO2. The PEC activity of immobilized Pcs on TiO2 toward different phenols and antibiotics was studied, and the action mechanism was revealed and compared with sterically hindered fluorinated Pc F64PcZn. In the final part of this thesis plasmonic AuNPs were introduced combined with trimethylsilane-protected acetylene functionalized ZnPc (TMSZnPc) to study the synergistic effect that boosts the overall activity toward the detection of phenols under visible light illumination (Chapter 5) . The TMSZnPc was coupled with AuNPs via a click chemistry approach. The 1O2 quantum yield of TMSZnPc improved significantly after conjugating with AuNPs, and, subsequently, the PEC activity for detecting HQ. The theoretical and experimental investigation demonstrated that the plasmonic enhancement of TMSZnPc is driven by the near-field mechanism. This shows the importance of plasmonic AuNPs with other photoactive species for their use in 1O2-based applications. The fundamental knowledge obtained in this doctoral study will ultimately deepen the understanding of developing 1O2-based PEC sensors for detecting phenolic compounds and pharmaceuticals in the wastewater stream, helping to choose efficient materials and, in the last instance, a more sustainable future especially access to clean water for everyone. |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:193342 |
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7337 |
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Yang, T. |
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Characterization of Laves phase structural evolution and regulation of its precipitation behavior in Al-Zn-Mg based alloys |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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ii, 106 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
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Al-Zn-Mg-based high strength alloys are widely used in aerospace applications due to their low density and excellent mechanical properties. A systematic study of the structural evolution of the nano-precipitation phase and its growth mechanism is an important guide for the design of new high-strength alloys. In this work, the Laves structure precipitates in Al-Zn-Mg(-Cu/Y) alloy was systematically characterized. Based on the structure evolution, the structure of submicron Laves particles and quasicrystalline particles in the alloy at microscale, as well as the regulation of the precipitation behavior after adding Y at nanoscale were further investigated. The main innovative results are summarized as follows: (1) Investigation on coexistence of defect structures in Laves structural nanoprecipitates. Three types of Laves structures can coexist within the η-MgZn2 precipitates: C14, C15 and C36, and the Laves structure transition sequence of C14→C36→C15 in this system was determined. Meanwhile, it was found that there are diverse defect structures in the MgZn2 phase, including stacking faults, planar defects and five-fold domain structures, which have significant effects on relieving the internal stress/strain of the precipitates. (2) Investigation on multiple phase transition of Laves structural nanoprecipitates from C14 to C36 and from C14 to quasicrystal clusters. It is found that C14 precipitates can be completely transformed into the C36 precipitates. And it is also found that the C14 Laves phase structure can also transform into quasicrystalline clusters. These investigations on various phase transition mechanisms among Laves phases provide theoretical support for the microstructural characterization of materials containing multi-scale Laves phases. (3) Characterization of Laves and quasicrystal structural particles in submicron scale. Submicron-scale quasicrystal particles were obtained in conventional casting Al-Zn-Mg-Cu alloys for the first time. Industrial impurity elements Fe and Ni can induce the formation of quasicrystalline particles. When there is no Fe/Ni enriched in particles, the structure is characterized as C15-Laves phase. When Fe/Ni is as quasicrystalline core, a stable core-shell quasicrystalline structure with Al-Fe-Ni nucleus and Mg-Cu-Zn shell can be formed. (4) Investigation on the regulation of nanoscale Laves precipitates’ growth. To regulate the defect structure of the precipitates, rare earth element Y was added in Al-Zn-Mg alloys and its influence on the precipitation behavior was investigated. The addition of Y element can dynamically combine with different alloying elements during aging process, which can refine the size of precipitate and further improve the nucleation rate and precipitation rate of the precipitates. |
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UA @ admin @ c:irua:196404 |
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7631 |
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Voordeckers, D. |
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Design to breathe : understanding and altering wind patterns in street canyons to reduce human exposure to air pollution |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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xxii, 303 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Research Group for Urban Development; Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS) |
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Air pollution is proclaimed by the World Health Organiaation (WHO) as the biggest environmental threat to human health. Street canyons, or urban roads flanked by a continuous row of high buildings on both sides, are perceived as typical bottleneck areas for air quality due to their lack of natural ventilation. This doctoral thesis aims to integrate expert knowledge on in-canyon flow fields and pollution dispersion in street canyons from the specialized field of (bio)engineering into the field of urban planning and vice versa. In Chapter 1, a Geospatial Information System (GIS) method was developed to detect exposure zones and hotspot street canyons. A critical combination between aspect ratio (AR > 0.65) and traffic volume (TVmax > 300) was detected and subsequently used to detect hotspot street canyons in three major European cities (Antwerp, London and Paris). Chapter 2 focusses on acquiring in-depth knowledge on flow and concentration fields in street canyons by conducting an extensive literature review on over 200 studies and translates this knowledge into nineteen guidelines and eleven spatial tools, comprised in a toolbox for urban planning. Subsequently, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used into a research trough design process (Chapter 4) to illustrate how the design tools can be applied to a specific case study (Belgiëlei, Antwerp). Alternations to traffic lanes (traffic lane reduction and lateral displacement) combined with low boundary walls (LBWs), were found to reduce NO2 levels in the entire pedestrian area up to – 3.6 % and peak pollutions were reduced by -8 %. A maximum NO2 reduction was reached by combining a traffic lane displacement with hedges, adjustments to the tree planting pattern and an increased ground-level permeability, leading to reductions up to – 4.5 % in the pedestrian areas. In conclusion, urban design was found to be a valuable tool to enhance the effect of emission reduction strategies and draw in-canyon concentrations closer to the value of the background concentration. However, the background concentration seemed to dominate the efficiency of the urban design interventions and therefore, additional measures should be taken to reduce background pollution levels. This dissertation aims to contribute to the awareness of air pollution in street canyons, as well as support local governments in taking action by delivering spatial tools and guidelines applicable for urban planning and represents a framework for the dissemination of expert information on air quality in street canyons to the field of urban planning. |
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UA @ admin @ c:irua:196399 |
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7767 |
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Vizarim, N.P. |
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Dynamic behavior of Skyrmions under the influence of periodic pinning in chiral magnetic infinite thin films |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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212 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) |
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The miniaturization of transistors for application in new processors and logic devices poses a significant challenge in the field of materials. Spintronics, which relies on controlled movement of magnetic nanostructures, offers a promising solution. Among the candidates, magnetic skyrmions are considered one of the most promising. These chiral spin structures, characterized by topological protection and enhanced stability compared to vortices or magnetic bubbles, have been extensively studied. To advance in the control of skyrmion motion, essential for practical applications, we investigated their dynamic behavior in a two-dimensional chiral magnet at zero temperature. Our study focused on the influence of periodic arrays of pinning centers. The simulations considered skyrmions as point-like particles considering the following interactions: skyrmion-skyrmion interactions, interactions with pinning center arrays, a current of polarized spins, and the Magnus force. We conducted calculations for scenarios involving a single skyrmion as well as different skyrmion density values in the material. The aim was to explore possibilities for controlled skyrmion motion, investigate different dynamic regimes, and examine collective effects. The results demonstrate that by adjusting the size, strength, and density of the pinning centers, we can effectively control the motion of individual skyrmions and manage the flow of multiple skyrmions. Furthermore, we discovered that periodic arrays of pinning centers can facilitate topological selection when different species of skyrmions with distinct Magnus components are present. Employing alternating currents, we observed the significant role of the ratchet effect in the skyrmion dynamics. By fine-tuning the amplitudes of the alternating currents, we achieved direct and controlled motion of skyrmions in specific directions. These findings hold potential for advancing our understanding of skyrmion dynamics and can inspire future technological applications involving these quasi-particles. Overall, we anticipate that our results will be valuable to the scientific community, contributing to a deeper comprehension of skyrmion dynamics and paving the way for future technological applications. |
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UA @ admin @ c:irua:198101 |
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8852 |
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Hassani, H. |
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Title |
First-principles study of polarons in WO₃ |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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181 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) |
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Polarons are quasiparticles emerging in materials from the interaction of extra charge carriers with the surrounding atomic lattice. They appear in a wide va- riety of compounds and can have a profound impact on their properties, making the concept of a polaron a central and ubiquitous topic in material science. Al- though the concept is known for about 75 years, the origin of polarons is not yet fully elucidated. This thesis focuses on WO 3 as a well-known prototypical system for studying polarons, which inherent polaronic nature is linked to its remark- able electrical and chromic properties. The primary objective of this research is to provide a comprehensive atomistic description and understanding of polaron formation in WO 3 using first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calcula- tions. Additionally, the investigation explores the interactions between polarons and the possibility of bipolaron formation. Following a systematic strategy, we first extensively analyze the dielectric and lattice dynamical properties of WO 3 in both the room-temperature P 2 1 /n and ground-state P 2 1 /c phases. Our specific focus is on characterizing the zone-center phonons, which serve as the founda- tion for identifying the phonon modes involved in the polaron formation and charge localization process. Subsequently, we examine the impact of structural distortions on the electronic structure of WO 3 to elucidate the interplay between structural distortions and electronic properties, thereby laying the groundwork for understanding electron-phonon couplings. By incorporating these critical fac- tors, we address our primary research goals. The most common explanation for the polaron formation is associated with the electrostatic screening of the extra charge by the polarizable lattice. Here, we show that, even in ionic crystals, this is not necessarily the case. We demonstrate that polarons in this compound arise primarily from non-polar atomic distortions. We then unveil that this unexpected behavior originates from the undoing of distortive atomic motions, which lowers the bandgap. As such, we coin the name of anti-distortive polaron and validate its appearance through a simple quantum-dot model, in which charge localization is the result of balancing structural, electronic, and confinement energy costs. Then, we also study the polaron-polaron interaction and present the formation of the antiferromagnetic W 4+ bipolaronic state with relatively large formation energy. Our analysis of the W 4+ bipolaronic distortions on the global structure reveals the same behavior as in experiments where the highly distorted monoclinic phase transforms into a tetragonal phase as a function of doping. Additionally, leveraging our previous findings on asymmetric polaronic distortion and examin- ing different merging orientations, we stabilize the antiferromagnetic W 5+ -W 5+ bipolaronic state with an energy lower than the W 4+ state. This thesis clari- fies the formation of unusual medium-size 2D polarons and bipolarons in WO3,which might be relevant to the whole family of ABO 3 perovskites, to which WO 3 is closely related. The simplicity of the concept provides also obvious guidelines for tracking similar behavior in other families of compounds. |
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UA @ admin @ c:irua:198169 |
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8868 |
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Wittner, N. |
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Improving and characterising solid-state fungal pretreatment by Phanerochaete chrysosporium for sugar production from poplar wood |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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206 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE) |
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Pretreatment is a critical step in the conversion of lignocellulose into biofuels and biochemicals. During pretreatment, the recalcitrance of lignocellulose is reduced, e.g. by removing lignin, thereby making the carbohydrates more accessible for enzymatic saccharification. Fungal delignification by white-rot fungi is a biotechnological alternative to chemical/physicochemical methods, which is carried out in solid-state fermentation with mild reaction conditions and without the formation of microbial inhibitors. However, fungal pretreatment presents some challenges, such as long pretreatment time, non-selective and low delignification, low enzymatic digestibility and feedstock sterilisation requirement, making its commercial implementation challenging compared to conventional methods. This study investigates the possibility of improving and characterising the solid-state fungal pretreatment of poplar wood by Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The individual and combined effects of MnSO4 and CuSO4 supplements on the delignification of sterilised wood are investigated using response surface methodology to improve the degree and selectivity of fungal delignification. Spore-inoculated solid-state fermentations are carried out for 4 weeks in sterile vented bottles. The mechanism of the concerted action of the metal ions on lignin degradation is then elucidated by relating fungal growth and ligninolytic enzyme activities to lignocellulose degradation as a function of pretreatment time. The optimised metal-supplemented system is then applied to the pretreatment of non-sterilised wood using different inoculation techniques (spores and pre-colonised substrate), nutrients (metal ions with or without glucose and sodium nitrate) and cultivation environments (sterile aerated bottles and open trays). The fermentations are then characterised using infrared spectroscopy, in particular NIR and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, with the aim of developing rapid lignin quantification methods as an alternative to conventional wet chemical methods. Finally, the feasibility of producing fermentable sugars from sterilised and non-sterilised poplar wood using fungal pretreatment is evaluated through a techno-economic analysis. Supplementing the pretreatment system with 2.01 µmol CuSO4 and 0.77 µmol MnSO4 g-1 wood resulted in 1.9-fold higher lignin degradation, 2.3-fold higher delignification selectivity value and 2.9-fold higher glucose yield. The improved delignification could be explained by the concerted action of Mn2+ and Cu2+ ions, with Mn2+ ions inducing and Cu2+ prolonging manganese peroxidase production responsible for delignification. Fungal pretreatment at non-sterile conditions was obtained using trays in a simple solid-state fermentation set-up without sterile aeration. A 1:3 ratio of pre-colonised and untreated wood was applied for inoculation and only Cu2+, Mn2+ and sodium nitrate as supplements. Remarkably, this technology resulted in a comparably high glucose yield (28.51 ± 0.28%) to the traditional method using sterilised wood, sterile aeration and spores as inoculum, while reducing the amount of wood to be sterilised by 71.2%. Infrared spectroscopy-based methods with high coefficients of determination (R_CV |
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UA @ admin @ c:irua:197185 |
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8883 |
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Van Putte, N. |
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Improving groundwater dynamics : a key factor for successful tidal marsh restoration |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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166 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Ecosphere |
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Tidal marshes take up and release certain elements from and to the river water. Hence, they act as a filter, improving the estuarine water quality. This filtering function depends on the interaction between the marsh soil and water that infiltrates into the marsh platform at high tide and seeps out of the creek banks at low tide. In the past centuries, many tidal marshes disappeared due to large scale land reclamations, together with their associated ecosystem services. Nowadays, tidal marshes are increasingly restored on formerly embanked agricultural areas to regain these ecosystem services. Here, we studied the effect of historical agricultural land use on the contribution of restored tidal marshes to water quality improvement, and we investigated several solutions to stimulate the water quality improving function in newly restored tidal marshes. In restored tidal marshes, the soil is often compacted due to the historical agricultural land use, leading to a reduced organic matter content and micro- and macroporosity. In this compacted soil, groundwater flow is hindered, leading to a more waterlogged soil and reduced groundwater dynamics in the restored marsh as compared to a natural marsh. The depth of groundwater drainage and the groundwater flow velocity have important implications for the processes that contribute to water quality improvement, e.g. removal of nitrogen, phosphorus retention and silica cycling. Where groundwater drains deeper, i.e. in the vicinity of tidal creeks and in a more porous soil, these processes are promoted. We suggest that, in newly restored tidal marshes, the soil porosity can be increased by amending the soil (e.g. with organic matter), and the distance to the nearest tidal creek can be reduced by creek excavation. Numerical modelling showed that the largest gain in groundwater dynamics and seepage was attained when both measures were applied together. The effect of organic soil amendments on groundwater dynamics and nutrient cycling was further explored in a large scale in situ mesocosm experiment. Where the soil was amended, groundwater drained deeper and nitrogen removal increased. For new tidal marsh restoration projects, we advise to conduct an explorative soil study. When the soil is heavily compacted, design measures, such as creek initiation and organic soil amendments can be applied to jumpstart the contribution to water quality improvement of newly restored tidal marshes. |
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UA @ admin @ c:irua:196965 |
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8884 |
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Drăgan, A.-M. |
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Investigation of the electrochemical behaviour of illicit substances and their redox pathways in the development of nanomaterial-modified platforms for decentralized analysis |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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169 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab) |
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UA @ admin @ c:irua:199086 |
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8892 |
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De Meyer, S. |
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Macroscopic X-ray powder diffraction in reflection mode : a new technique for chemical imaging of artworks |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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285 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Art; Antwerp X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (AXIS) |
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Scientific research into cultural heritage has significantly grown in importance over the past decades. The growing popularity of macroscopic imaging techniques such as X-ray fluorescence or Fourier transform infrared now means that conservators and restorers have access to highly objective information on the chemical composition of a painting without the necessity for destructive sampling. As many works of art are heterogeneous on the macroscopic scale, it is clear that solely relying on microscopic samples does not provide sufficiently representative information on the condition of a painting and that macroscopic imaging techniques should be considered a crucial part of the analytical toolkit for conservation science. The goal of this research has been to investigate the added value of reflection-mode macroscopic X-ray powder diffraction (MA-XRPD) for scientific and art historical investigations of cultural heritage artefacts. A prototype scanner was developed after careful consideration of the individual components. This mobile instrument allows for the analysis of flat objects such as oil paintings with reflection MA-XRPD. In this manner images can be obtained that show the distribution of crystalline components present at the surface of the stratigraphy. These crystalline materials can originate from different sources and include original pigments and non-original pigments. MA-XRPD offers novel insights into original pigments such as ultramarine, copper sulfates and lead white. In Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer the MA-XRPD instrument was used to prove that Vermeer used multiple subtypes of lead white to achieve subtle optical effects while in the painting The Night Watch by Rembrandt the lead white composition was studied in detail; multiple rare lead-based compounds were identified that could be linked to the usage of specific driers in the oil paint. By investigating the presence of degradation products, MA-XRPD can be used to assess the conservation state of an artwork. Secondary alteration products were identified in paintings by Nellius and Mignon, explaining why the paintings had visually deteriorated over time. MA-XRPD registered the presence of lead arsenates which were formed from the original yellow arsenic-based orpiment. By combining microscopic and macroscopic analysis, a chemical degradation pathway for the conversion of the unstable orpiment pigment was proposed. In this manner, MA-XRPD can also be used to provide highly valuable information for conservators and restorers by pinpointing areas that have undergone degradation and to guide sampling campaigns. |
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UA @ admin @ c:irua:198766 |
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8896 |
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Ysebaert, T. |
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Modelling and experimental validation of deposition on vegetation to facilitate urban particulate matter mitigation |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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xxvi, 234 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL) |
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Exposure to air pollution, such as particulate matter (PM), causes adverse health effects, particularly to the respiratory tract and cardiovascular system. PM is the collective name for all kinds of particles ranging from small particles and liquid droplets, which contain organic compounds, acids and metals, to soil or dust particles. One distinguishes PM10, PM2.5 and PM0.1, which have aerodynamic particle sizes smaller than 10, 2.5 and 0.1 µm, respectively. It is mainly the latter that is the most harmful, as PM0.1 penetrates deep into the respiratory system and carries relatively more toxic substances than the other PM fractions. Over a 15-year period, PM concentrations in European member states have fallen by about 30%. Nevertheless, the World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines, which became stricter in 2021, are exceeded in most places around the world. Particularly in cities, excessive levels of PM are measured and it is here that PM mitigation should be investigated. For this, the implementation of urban green infrastructure, including trees, shrubs, green roofs and green walls, is being looked at. Plants hinder airflow and remove PM from the air by deposition on their leaves and branches. This process is known as dry deposition. Plants can capture PM very efficiently, due to their complex structure of leaves and branches. Green walls offer significant advantages over other types of urban green infrastructure because they can grow on the huge available wall area and, because they do not hinder air circulation, as we sometimes see with trees. Green walls are believed to have a much greater, untapped potential to reduce PM pollution. However, a literature review showed that we do not know the quantitative impact of green walls and lack the tools and/or general methodology to do so. The objective of this thesis is therefore to develop a method for assessing PM removal by green walls, based on predictive models and based on relevant parameters that are experimentally determined. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a numerical method to simulate airflow in complex environments such as cities. These models can also simulate the vegetation-wind interaction in detail and are interesting tools to assess the effect of green walls on PM concentrations in real environments. It is important to first study the aerodynamic effect of green walls and parameterise it correctly in CFD models. Plants decrease the wind speed and create turbulence through a combination of viscous and form drag, which are determined by the permeability (K) and drag coefficient (Cd), respectively. Wind tunnel experiments were conducted with three commonly found climbers (Hedera helix, Parthenocissus tricuspidata and Parthenocissus quinquefolia) and the variation of leaf area density was investigated for two of them. It was observed that the air resistance depended on plant species, leaf area density and wind speed. The difference between the plant species was assigned to the functional leaf size (FLS), the ratio of the largest circle within the boundaries of the leaf to the total leaf area. FLS is likely associated with other morphological characteristics of plants that, when considered collectively, provide a more comprehensive representation of leaf complexity. The pressure and velocity measurements obtained were used to optimise the permeability and drag coefficient in a CFD model. At wind speeds below 0.6 m s-1, the resistance was mainly determined by viscous drag and a larger leaf size resulted in a higher viscous drag. At wind speeds above 1.5 m s-1, form drag was dominant and the parameterised Cd decreased with increasing wind speed due to the sheltering effect of successive plant elements. The leaf area density had a significant effect on K and Cd and, is therefore an important plant parameters in CFD models. The main conclusion here is that the common practice of using a constant Cd to model the influence of plants on the air flow leads to deviations from reality. Wind tunnels are highly suitable to study the impact of green walls on PM concentration under controlled environmental conditions. For this purpose, a new wind tunnel setup was built and great attention was paid to obtaining a uniform air flow. Thus, based on CFD models, appropriate flow controllers were chosen, consisting of honeycombs and screens with different mesh sizes. New PM generation devices and measuring equipment were installed and set up appropriately. Devices were available for generating and measuring ultrafine dust (<0.1 µm, i.e. PM0.1) and fine dust (<0.3 µm, i.e. PM0.3) consisting of soot particles, and, on the other hand, fine dust with particle sizes smaller than 2.5 (PM2.5) and 10 µm (PM10) consisting of 'Arizona fine test dust'. With the new wind tunnel setup, it was possible to measure the influence of Hedera helix (common ivy), grown in a planter against a climbing aid, on the PM concentration and this was expressed by a collection efficiency, i.e. the difference in concentration in front and behind the plants normalised for the incoming concentration. The collection efficiency of H. helix depended on the particle size of the PM and wind speed. The collection efficiency decreased when the particle size increased from 0.02 to 0.2 µm and increased again for particle sizes above 0.3 µm. The collection efficiency also increased with increasing wind speed, especially for particle sizes > 0.03 µm. On the other hand, relative humidity and the type of PM (soot or dust) did not significantly affect the collection efficiency. The main objective of this study was to obtain an optimised size-resolved deposition model. Dry deposition occurs through several mechanisms, in particular gravity, diffusion, impaction and interception, and the subsequent resuspension of deposited PM back to the environment. The modelling of these mechanisms was described by \citet{Zhang2001} and \citet{Petroff2010}. The data obtained from the wind tunnel experiments allowed validating these deposition models. It was for the first time that deposition of real PM on green walls was studied. The different PM deposition mechanisms were found to be strongly dependent on particle size and wind speed. The models of \citet{Zhang2001} and \citet{Petroff2010} each matched PM concentration measurements for only certain particle sizes. Therefore, a combination of the two models was investigated and the root mean square error was lower by on average 3.5% (PM < 0.03 µm) and 46% (PM > 0.03 µm) compared to the original models at wind speeds greater than 1.5 m s-1. For wind speeds less than 1.5 m s-1, the optimised model did not differ from the original models. The optimised model was able to meet the imposed criteria for air quality models, where a correct model exhibits low deviation from measurements ('normalised mean square error' < 1.5), low bias ('fractional bias' between -0.3 and 0.3) and high R2. In comparison, the R$2$ of the optimised model was 0.57, while that of Zhang et al. (2001) and Petroff et al. (2010) was 0.23 and 0.31, respectively. The optimised model was however characterised by a high scatter, with the fraction of modeled results located within a factor of two of the measurements being lower than 50. A model study with a green façade oriented parallel to the incoming airflow showed that deposition by interception and impaction reduced remarkably, but that the orientation had no effect on deposition by Brownian diffusion. A promising green wall form for PM mitigation is the living wall system (LWS). LWS consist of supporting structures with substrate to grow plants in and can be planted with a variety of plant species. This allows to select plant species with optimal characteristics to achieve PM deposition. These characteristics refer to the macro- and microstructure of the leaves, and research has been conducted mainly on these. On the other hand, the influence of the supporting structure and substrate on PM concentrations has rarely been studied. With the new wind tunnel setup, LWS from different manufacturers were tested for their ability to capture PM. The setups were subjected for three hours to an air flow with a low PM concentration (resuspension phase) and then for three hours to an air flow to which additional PM was added (deposition phase). Some setups were able to decrease the PM concentration during both phases, while others just caused the concentration to increase. Some systems were able to reduce particulate matter concentration during both phases, namely LWS consisting of planters (-2% and -4% for PM0.1 and PM2.5, respectively) and textile cloths (-23% and -5% for PM0.1 and PM2.5, respectively). While other systems actually resulted in an increase in concentration especially LWS existing textile fabrics consisting of geotextiles (+11% for both PM fractions) and with moss as substrate (+2% and +5% for PM0.1 and PM2.5, respectively). This highlights the importance of careful selection of suspension systems to reduce particulate matter concentrations. Further research is therefore needed on the materials used in these systems in relation to their particulate content, as well as on plant development in these systems. In addition to air measurements, measurements were taken of the amount of PM deposited on the leaves and suspension system of LWS. This allowed the difference in PM resuspension and deposition between plant species to be investigated. The amount of deposited particulate matter was determined based on 'saturation isothermal remanent magnetisation' (SIRM), a measure of magnetisable particulate matter. This was possible because the added 'Arizona fine test dust' contained iron oxide. However, no significant difference was observed between the SIRM values measured before the wind tunnel experiment, after resuspension and after deposition. This suggested that the iron oxide content in the Arizona fine test dust was too low to measure a significant difference in the SIRM values on leaves after three hours. The plant species did give rise to different SIRM values ranging between 5 and 260 µ A. In particular, SIRM values above 26 µ A were observed for the plant species that were grouped due to their significantly higher accumulation of PM. 'Specific leaf area' (SLA), specifically the ratio of the one-sided 'fresh' leaf area to its dry mass, was the significant leaf characteristic. SLA correlated with leaf complexity. In particular, plant species with elongated leaves were characterized by low SLA, high FLS and high complexity and showed significantly higher SIRM values. Finally, the optimised size-resolved deposition model was also tested in an urban model to get an idea of the impact of a green wall on PM concentrations in a so-called 'street canyon'. These are narrow streets with high buildings on both sides, making air pollution more persistent. To this end, an ideal scenario was tested in which a green wall was introduced along both sides of the street over a length of about 270 m. The model result showed a decrease in PM2.5 and PM10 of 46 ± 12% and 52 ± 14%. This result is of course for a very optimal scenario where the green wall covers the entire building façades. Since this is not feasible in reality, other ways of promoting contact between green walls and polluted air can be explored. The insights obtained illustrate that the use of climbing plants can be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution to reduce PM concentrations. Moreover, the findings showed that models can be used to investigate the impact of green walls on PM levels. These findings fit within the broader context of designing healthy and sustainable urban environments and developing innovative solutions based on solid scientific knowledge. |
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Most recent IF: NA |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:199439 |
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8900 |
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Friedrich, T. |
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Title |
Quantifying atomic structures using neural networks from 4D scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) datasets |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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127 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
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Nanoscience and nanotechnologies are of immense importance across many fields of science and for numerous practical applications. In this context, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and 4D-STEM are among the most powerful characterization methods at the atomic scale. Annular dark-field (ADF)-STEM can be used to quantify atomic structures in 3D by counting atoms based on a single projection image. In 4D-STEM a full diffraction pattern is recorded at each scan step, which enables more dose efficient imaging and the utilization of various advanced imaging modalities, which can however be complex and slow. Both, STEM and 4D-STEM suffer from noise and distortions. In the first section of this work the most important of these distortions are discussed and it is shown how image restoration with a dedicated convolutional neural network (CNN) can be beneficial for atomic structure quantifications in ADF-STEM. In the second part, a new 4D-STEM imaging method real-time-integrated-centre-of-mass (riCOM) is introduced, which is a very dose-efficient and fast algorithm that enables unprecedented live-imaging capabilities for 4D-STEM. It is based on the integrated centre-of-mass approach, but is reformulated with variable integration ranges and optional filters, which allows for a tunable contrast transfer function. This enables the imaging of light and heavy elements simultaneously at very low doses. In the third part another new 4D-STEM method, coined AIRPI (AI-assisted rapid phase imaging) is introduced, which uses a CNN to retrieve a patch of the specimen's phase image for each scan position, based on the diffraction patterns in the probe's immediate surroundings. This allows also live imaging in principle and surpasses comparable state-of-the-art algorithms in terms of resolution also at low doses. Different atomic columns can be reliably distinguished over a wide range of atomic numbers, enabling a very good image interpretability. Further, AIRPI can recover low frequency image components, which preserves thickness information. This is a unique and important feature which could make quantitative 4D-STEM feasible. |
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UA @ admin @ c:irua:196826 |
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8919 |
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Author |
Zhang, K. |
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Title |
Revealing the correlation between titania support properties and propylphosphonic acid modification by in-depth characterization |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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XVI, 262 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA) |
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Grafting organophosphonic acids modification (PAs) on metal oxides has shown to be a flexible technology to tune the surface properties of metal oxides for various applications. Nevertheless, there are still puzzles that need to be addressed, such as the correlations between metal oxides properties (types of surface reactive sites) and the modification (modification degree), the correlations between metal oxides properties and the properties of modified surfaces. Moreover, the currently used liquid-phase method for the grafting has associated impeding effects of solvent on tailoring the modification degrees, and also causes the formation of metal phosphonate side products. The solid-phase method can induce the unwanted changes in crystal phase of supports. Based on these questions, the three titania supports with divergent surface properties were selected as the metal oxides supports investigated, propylphosphonic acid (3PA) modification was carried out under the same synthesis conditions: four different concentrations, two solvents (water or toluene), and one reaction time (4 h) and temperature (90 ). MeOH chemisorption was introduced to probe the surface (un)reactive sites for 3PA modification. On the other hand, MeOH chemisorption and inverse gas chromatography (IGC) were combined to characterize the changes in surface polarity and acidic properties induced by the modification. Next, a solid-phase method, manual grinding, was proposed to graft 3PA on titania, avoiding the impeding effects of solvent on improving modification degree and the formation of the titania phosphonate side products, as well as preserving the crystal phase. The results indicate that methanol chemisorption can qualitatively analyze the surface active sites that are consumed by 3PA modification, its chemisorption capacity shows the consistent trend with the maximum modification degree, hereby revealing the kinds of interactions that are important in controlling surface coverage. Titania supports is found to play an important role in changes in surface polarity and acidic properties by charactering the three modified titania samples at a similar modification degree using the methanol chemisorption coupled with in-situ infrared and thermogravimetric-mass spectrometer, and the IGC. Moreover, IGC provides additional information about the changes in binding modes. Furthermore, grafting 3PA modification on titania was achieved by manual grinding. Compared to the liquid-phase method, the maximum modification degree obtained by the manual grinding is 25 % higher while using 83.3 % or 75.0% lower amounts of expensive 3PA and limiting the formation of titania phosphonate side products. Compared to the reactive milling method, the proposed manual grinding method preserves the crystal phase(s) of titania. |
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Most recent IF: NA |
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UA @ admin @ c:irua:198726 |
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8924 |
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Derks, K. |
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Scanning Michael Sweerts and Michaelina Wautier : uncovering the working methods of 17th-century Brussels artists by means of MA-XRF examination |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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634 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Art; Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES); Antwerp X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (AXIS) |
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This dissertation focuses on the materials and techniques used by the Brussels artists Michael Sweerts (1618-1664) and Michaelina Wautier (1614-1689). It tries to answer the following research questions: 1.Did 17th-century Brussels-based artists use idiosyncratic painting materials and techniques, and can their work be distinguished from paintings created in other artistic centers based on these materials and techniques? 2.How did Sweerts and Wautier influence each other’s work? In order to answer the research questions, a selection of relevant and representative paintings from Sweerts’ and Wautier’s oeuvre has been studied with MA-XRF scanning and microscopic examination. The results are discussed in volume 2 of this dissertation, and form the basis upon which the chapters in volume 1 are built. MA-XRF scanning is a non-destructive imaging technique based on the technique of X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The technique allows for the collection of elemental information about the materials present in a work of art. The work presented in this dissertation has shed more light on the working methods of Sweerts and Wautier. It has shown they both showed an openness and willingness to continue learning and developing as an artist. Wautier did not feel constrained to work only in one genre and apparently carried on developing her skills throughout her career, as evidenced by Flower Garland with Butterfly. She might have trained with a specialized artist to master their idiosyncratic working methods and this diverse genre. This suggests that Wautier had an interest in art education. Sweerts too had a passion for art education: he was involved in the drawing academy of Camillo Pamphilj in Rome, and later established his own academy for life drawing in Brussels. Sweerts’ work clearly shows the influence of his Italian contemporaries. Whilst living in Rome, he adapted his working methods to local customs such as working on brightly colored grounds. Wautier’s oeuvre shows that she was open to explore different genres and that she took inspiration from her contemporaries, including Theodoor van Loon and Daniël Seghers. In doing so, she furthered the development of different genres as she added original elements to her compositions. It is the conclusion of this dissertation that Michaelina Wautier can thus be considered one of the innovative artists of mid-17th-century Flemish painting, who inspired other artists in the Low Countries, including Michael Sweerts. |
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Most recent IF: NA |
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UA @ admin @ c:irua:197182 |
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8927 |
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Hasnat Rubel, A. |
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Theoretical characterization and optimization of nano-engineered superconducting scanning probe tip |
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Doctoral thesis |
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2023 |
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viii, 145 p. |
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Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) |
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Using state-of-the-art simulation methods, we optimized the performance of nanoscale superconducting scanning probe tips for advanced spatial imaging of magnetic fields. The systematic studies of the tips’ static properties as a function of the tilted magnetic field, geometric parameters, and material parameters were carried out. The sensitivity of different superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) to the magnetic field emanating from the magnetic nanoparticle, where the location of a magnetic nanoparticle is considered below the primary loop's center, was examined as a function of the primary and secondary loop dimensions. The main objective of the research was to characterize and optimize the performance of a nano-sized SQUID-on-tip (SOT) device. Optimal SOT sensitivity was sought, for different loop sizes, arm linewidth, and lead dimensions. Moreover, we revealed that a constriction in the loop arms of the SOT can substantially improve the sensitivity of the device. Finally, the properties of the theta-SOT device were examined in the presence of in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic field components, enabling nanoscale imaging of 3D distributions of the magnetic field. Altogether, the obtained results deliver an engineering solution for the optimum performance of the SOT device in desired conditions. |
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Most recent IF: NA |
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UA @ admin @ c:irua:199494 |
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8942 |
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Mayda, S.; Monico, L.; Krishnan, D.; De Meyer, S.; Cotte, M.; Garrevoet, J.; Falkenberg, G.; Sandu, I.C.A.; Partoens, B.; Lamoen, D.; Romani, A.; Miliani, C.; Verbeeck, J.; Janssens, K. |
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A combined experimental and computational approach to understanding CdS pigment oxidation in a renowned early 20th century painting |
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A1 Journal article |
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2023 |
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Chemistry of materials |
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35 |
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24 |
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10403-10415 |
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A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT); Antwerp X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (AXIS) |
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Cadmium sulfide (CdS)-based yellow pigments have been used in a number of early 20th century artworks, including The Scream series painted by Edvard Munch. Some of these unique paintings are threatened by the discoloration of these CdS-based yellow oil paints because of the oxidation of the original sulfides to sulfates. The experimental data obtained here prove that moisture and cadmium chloride compounds play a key role in promoting such oxidation. To clarify how these two factors effectively prompt the process, we studied the band alignment between CdS, CdCl2, and Cd-(OH)Cl as well as the radicals center dot OH and H3O center dot by density functional theory (DFT) methods. Our results show that a stack of several layers of Cd-(OH)Cl creates a pocket of positive holes at the Cl-terminated surface and a pocket of electrons at the OH-terminated surface by leading in a difference in ionization energy at both surfaces. The resulting band alignment indicates that Cd-(OH)Cl can indeed play the role of an oxidative catalyst for CdS in a moist environment, thus providing an explanation for the experimental evidence. |
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001133000900001 |
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2023-12-08 |
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0897-4756; 1520-5002 |
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Impact Factor |
8.6 |
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The experimental research on the cadmium yellow powders/paint mock-ups and The Scream (ca. 1910) was financially supported by the European Union, research projects IPERION-CH (H2020-INFRAIA-2014-2015, GA no. 654028) and IPERION-HS (H2020-INFRAIA-2019-1, GA no. 871034) and the project AMIS within the program Dipartimenti di Eccellenza 2018-2022 (funded by MUR and the University of Perugia). For the beamtime grants received, the authors thank the ESRF-ID21 beamline (experiments HG64 and HG95), the DESY-P06 beamline, a member of the Helmholtz Association HGF (experiments I-20130221 EC and I-20160126 EC), and the project CALIPSOplus under the GA no. 730872 from the E.U. Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020. All of the staff of the MUNCH Museum (Conservation Department) is acknowledged for their collaboration. The computational resources and services used in this work were provided by the VSC (Flemish Supercomputer Center) and the HPC infrastructure of the University of Antwerp (CalcUA), both funded by the FWO – Vlaanderen and the Flemish Government, Department EWI. |
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Most recent IF: 8.6; 2023 IF: 9.466 |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:202836 |
Serial |
8999 |
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