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Author Pandey, T.; Covaci, L.; Peeters, F.M.
Title Tuning flexoelectricty and electronic properties of zig-zag graphene nanoribbons by functionalization Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Carbon Abbreviated Journal Carbon
Volume 171 Issue Pages 551-559
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract The flexoelectric and electronic properties of zig-zag graphene nanoribbons are explored under mechanical bending using state of the art first principles calculations. A linear dependence of the bending induced out of plane polarization on the applied strain gradient is found. The inferior flexoelectric properties of graphene nanoribbons can be improved by more than two orders of magnitude by hydrogen and fluorine functionalization (CH and CF nanoribbons). A large out of plane flexoelectric effect is predicted for CF nanoribbons. The origin of this enhancement lies in the electro-negativity difference between carbon and fluorine atoms, which breaks the out of plane charge symmetry even for a small strain gradient. The flexoelectric effect can be further improved by co-functionalization with hydrogen and fluorine (CHF Janus-type nanoribbon), where a spontaneous out of plane dipole moment is formed even for flat nanoribbons. We also find that bending can control the charge localization of valence band maxima and therefore enables the tuning of the hole effective masses and band gaps. These results present an important advance towards the understanding of flexoelectric and electronic properties of hydrogen and fluorine functionalized graphene nanoribbons, which can have important implications for flexible electronic applications. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000598371500058 Publication Date 2020-09-17
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0008-6223 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 6.337 Times cited 11 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes ; The computational resources and services used for the first-principles calculations in this work were provided by the VSC (Flemish Supercomputer Center), funded by the Flemish Science Foundation (FWO-VI). T. P. is supported by a postdoctoral research fellowship from BOF-UAntwerpen. ; Approved Most recent IF: 6.337
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175014 Serial 6700
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Author Milovanović, S.P.; Andelkovic, M.; Covaci, L.; Peeters, F.M.
Title Band flattening in buckled monolayer graphene Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Physical Review B Abbreviated Journal Phys Rev B
Volume 102 Issue 24 Pages 245427
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract The strain fields of periodically buckled graphene induce a periodic pseudomagnetic field (PMF) that modifies the electronic band structure. From the geometry, amplitude, and period of the periodic pseudomagnetic field, we determine the necessary conditions to access the regime of correlated phases by examining the band flattening. As compared to twisted bilayer graphene the proposed system has the advantages that (1) only a single layer of graphene is needed, (2) one is not limited to hexagonal superlattices, and (3) narrower flat bandwidth and larger separation between flat bands can be induced. We, therefore, propose that periodically strained graphene single layers can become a platform for the exploration of exotic many-body phases.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000602844600007 Publication Date 2020-12-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2469-9969; 2469-9950 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.7 Times cited 11 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes ; S.P.M. is supported by the Flemish Science Foundation (FWO). We thank E. Y. Andrei, Y. Jiang, and J. Mao for fruitful discussions. ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.7; 2020 IF: 3.836
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175021 Serial 6684
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Author Frolov, A.S.; Sanchez-Barriga, J.; Callaert, C.; Hadermann, J.; Fedorov, A., V; Usachov, D.Y.; Chaika, A.N.; Walls, B.C.; Zhussupbekov, K.; Shvets, I., V.; Muntwiler, M.; Amati, M.; Gregoratti, L.; Varykhalov, A.Y.; Rader, O.; Yashina, L., V.
Title Atomic and electronic structure of a multidomain GeTe crystal Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Acs Nano Abbreviated Journal Acs Nano
Volume 14 Issue 12 Pages 16576-16589
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Renewed interest in the ferroelectric semi-conductor germanium telluride was recently triggered by the direct observation of a giant Rashba effect and a 30-year-old dream about a functional spin field-effect transistor. In this respect, all-electrical control of the spin texture in this material in combination with ferroelectric properties at the nanoscale would create advanced functionalities in spintronics and data information processing. Here, we investigate the atomic and electronic properties of GeTe bulk single crystals and their (111) surfaces. We succeeded in growing crystals possessing solely inversion domains of similar to 10 nm thickness parallel to each other. Using HAADF-TEM we observe two types of domain boundaries, one of them being similar in structure to the van der Waals gap in layered materials. This structure is responsible for the formation of surface domains with preferential Te-termination (similar to 68%) as we determined using photoelectron diffraction and XPS. The lateral dimensions of the surface domains are in the range of similar to 10-100 nm, and both Ge- and Te-terminations reveal no reconstruction. Using spin-ARPES we establish an intrinsic quantitative relationship between the spin polarization of pure bulk states and the relative contribution of different terminations, a result that is consistent with a reversal of the spin texture of the bulk Rashba bands for opposite configurations of the ferroelectric polarization within individual nanodomains. Our findings are important for potential applications of ferroelectric Rashba semiconductors in nonvolatile spintronic devices with advanced memory and computing capabilities at the nanoscale.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000603308800022 Publication Date 2020-11-02
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1936-0851 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 17.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 17.1; 2020 IF: 13.942
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175027 Serial 6716
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Author Wang, H.; Su, L.; Yagmurcukardes, M.; Chen, J.; Jiang, Y.; Li, Z.; Quan, A.; Peeters, F.M.; Wang, C.; Geim, A.K.; Hu, S.
Title Blue energy conversion from holey-graphene-like membranes with a high density of subnanometer pores Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Nano Letters Abbreviated Journal Nano Lett
Volume 20 Issue 12 Pages 8634-8639
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Blue energy converts the chemical potential difference from salinity gradients into electricity via reverse electrodialysis and provides a renewable source of clean energy. To achieve high energy conversion efficiency and power density, nanoporous membrane materials with both high ionic conductivity and ion selectivity are required. Here, we report ion transport through a network of holey-graphene-like sheets made by bottom-up polymerization. The resulting ultrathin membranes provide controlled pores of <10 angstrom in diameter with an estimated density of about 10(12) cm(-2). The pores' interior contains NH2 groups that become electrically charged with varying pH and allow tunable ion selectivity. Using the holey-graphene-like membranes, we demonstrate power outputs reaching hundreds of watts per square meter. The work shows a viable route toward creating membranes with high-density angstrom-scale pores, which can be used for energy generation, ion separation, and related technologies.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000599507100032 Publication Date 2020-11-12
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1530-6984 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 10.8 Times cited 29 Open Access
Notes ; The authors acknowledge supported from National Key Research and Development Program of China (2019YFA0705400, 2018YFA0209500), and National Natural Science Foundation of China (21972121, 21671162). M. Y. acknowledges the Flemish Science Foundation (FWO-Vl) postdoctoral fellowship. ; Approved Most recent IF: 10.8; 2020 IF: 12.712
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175048 Serial 6685
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Author Shekarforoush, S.; Jalali, H.; Yagmurcukardes, M.; Milošević, M.V.; Neek-Amal, M.
Title Optoelectronic properties of confined water in angstrom-scale slits Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Physical Review B Abbreviated Journal Phys Rev B
Volume 102 Issue 23 Pages 235406
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract The optoelectronic properties of confined water form one of the most active research areas in the past few years. Here we present the multiscale methodology to discern the out-of-plane electronic and dipolar dielectric constants (epsilon(el)(perpendicular to) and epsilon(diP)(perpendicular to)) of strongly confined water. We reveal that epsilon(perpendicular to el) and epsilon(diP)(perpendicular to) become comparable for water confined in angstrom-scale channels (with a height of less than 15 angstrom) within graphene (GE) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) bilayers. Channel height (h) associated with a minimum in both epsilon(e)(l)(perpendicular to) and epsilon(dip)(perpendicular to) is linked to the formation of the ordered structure of ice for h approximate to (7 -7.5) angstrom. The recently measured total dielectric constant epsilon(T)(perpendicular to) of nanoconfined water [L. Fumagalli et al., Science 360, 1339 (2018)] is corroborated by our results. Furthermore, we evaluate the contribution from the encapsulating membranes to the dielectric properties, as a function of the interlayer spacing, i.e., the height of the confining channel for water. Finally, we conduct analysis of the optical properties of both confined water and GE membranes, and show that the electron energy loss function of confined water strongly differs from that of bulk water.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000595856100004 Publication Date 2020-12-04
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2469-9969; 2469-9950 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.7 Times cited 1 Open Access
Notes ; This work was supported by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO). M.Y. gratefully acknowledges his FWO postdoctoral mandate. ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.7; 2020 IF: 3.836
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175051 Serial 6695
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Author Álvarez-Martín, A.; De Winter, S.; Nuyts, G.; Hermans, J.; Janssens, K.; van der Snickt, G.
Title Multi-modal approach for the characterization of resin carriers in Daylight Fluorescent Pigments Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Microchemical Journal Abbreviated Journal Microchem J
Volume 159 Issue Pages 105340
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation); Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)
Abstract Almost seventy years after artists such as Frank Stella (1936), Andy Warhol (1928-1987), James Rosenquist (1933-2017), Herb Aach (1923-1985) and Richard Bowman (1918-2001) started to incorporate Daylight Fluorescent Pigments (DFPs) in their artworks, the extent of the conservation problems that are associated with these pigments has increased progressively. Since their first appearance on the market, their composition has constantly been improved in terms of permanency. However, conservation practices on the artworks that are used in, are complicated by the fact that the composition of DFPs is proprietary and the information provided by the manufactures is limited. To be able to propose adequate conservation strategies for artworks containing DFPs, a thorough understanding of the DFPs composition must be acquired. In contrast with previous research that concentrated on identification of the coloring dye, this paper focuses on the characterization of the resin, used as the carrier for the dye. The proposed approach, involving ATR-FTIR, SPME-GC-MS and XRF analysis, provided additional insights on the organic and inorganic components of the resin. Using this approach, we investigated historical DFPs and new formulations, as well as different series from the main manufacturing companies (DayGlo, Swada, Radiant Color and Kremer) in order to obtain a full characterization of DFPs used by the artists along the years. First, the initial PCA-assisted ATR-FTIR spectroscopy allowed for an efficient classification of the main monomers in the resin polymer. Next, a further distinction was made by mass spectrometry and XRF which were optimized to allow a more specific classification of the resin and for detection of additives. In this paper we show the potential of SPME-GC-MS, never applied for the characterization of artistic materials, at present undervalued for heritage science purposes. We anticipate that this information will be highly relevant in the future stability studies and for defining (preventive) conservation strategies of fluorescent artworks.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000598761400009 Publication Date 2020-07-30
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0026-265x; 0026-265x ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.8 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.8; 2020 IF: 3.034
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175083 Serial 8286
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Author Eliaerts, J.; Meert, N.; Dardenne, P.; Baeten, V.; Pierna, J.-A.F.; Van Durme, F.; De Wael, K.; Samyn, N.
Title Comparison of spectroscopic techniques combined with chemometrics for cocaine powder analysis Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Journal Of Analytical Toxicology Abbreviated Journal J Anal Toxicol
Volume 44 Issue 8 Pages 851-860
Keywords A1 Journal article; Pharmacology. Therapy; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract Spectroscopic techniques combined with chemometrics are a promising tool for analysis of seized drug powders. In this study, the performance of three spectroscopic techniques [Mid-InfraRed (MIR), Raman and Near-InfraRed (NIR)] was compared. In total, 364 seized powders were analyzed and consisted of 276 cocaine powders (with concentrations ranging from 4 to 99 w%) and 88 powders without cocaine. A classification model (using Support Vector Machines [SVM] discriminant analysis) and a quantification model (using SVM regression) were constructed with each spectral dataset in order to discriminate cocaine powders from other powders and quantify cocaine in powders classified as cocaine positive. The performances of the models were compared with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection (GC-FID). Different evaluation criteria were used: number of false negatives (FNs), number of false positives (FPs), accuracy, root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) and determination coefficients (R-2). Ten colored powders were excluded from the classification data set due to fluorescence background observed in Raman spectra. For the classification, the best accuracy (99.7%) was obtained with MIR spectra. With Raman and NIR spectra, the accuracy was 99.5% and 98.9%, respectively. For the quantification, the best results were obtained with NIR spectra. The cocaine content was determined with a RMSECV of 3.79% and a R-2 of 0.97. The performance of MIR and Raman to predict cocaine concentrations was lower than NIR, with RMSECV of 6.76% and 6.79%, respectively and both with a R-2 of 0.90. The three spectroscopic techniques can be applied for both classification and quantification of cocaine, but some differences in performance were detected. The best classification was obtained with MIR spectra. For quantification, however, the RMSECV of MIR and Raman was twice as high in comparison with NIR. Spectroscopic techniques combined with chemometrics can reduce the workload for confirmation analysis (e.g., chromatography based) and therefore save time and resources.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000606735000011 Publication Date 2020-08-04
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0146-4760; 1945-2403 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 2.5 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.5; 2020 IF: 2.409
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175117 Serial 7697
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Author Peeters, M.; Compernolle, T.; Van Passel, S.
Title Influence of information provided at the moment of a fire alarm on the choice of exit Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Fire Safety Journal Abbreviated Journal Fire Safety J
Volume 117 Issue Pages 103221-103228
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM); Center for Oncological Research (CORE)
Abstract The data generated in buildings are used for all types of purposes. The quality of information used in assisting people to escape an emergency situation is of importance. In practice today, none of the data-generating systems that aid in the escape from emergency situations is validated on a regular basis. This study is based on the smart building concept. The rationale behind this concept is to provide information about a building and the usage of that building at each moment in time. An experiment was conducted to measure the impact of different types of information on participants' choice of exit, exit time and distance travelled. Seven identical floors of one building were used with different setups to see if the choice of exit is influenced by the type of information provided at the moment of an alarm. It was found that the information does have a significant impact on the choice of exit, escape speed and distance travelled. Furthermore, it was shown that false information can increase the time it takes to leave the building and the distance travelled, impacting the survival rate. The more imperative information is visualised, the stronger its influence is on the choices made.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000579650800011 Publication Date 2020-09-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0379-7112 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.1 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.1; 2020 IF: 1.165
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175125 Serial 6929
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Author Benito Llorens, J.; Embon, L.; Correa, A.; Gonzalez, J.D.; Herrera, E.; Guillamon, I.; Luccas, R.F.; Azpeitia, J.; Mompean, F.J.; Garcia-Hernandez, M.; Munuera, C.; Aragon Sanchez, J.; Fasano, Y.; Milošević, M.V.; Suderow, H.; Anahory, Y.
Title Observation of a gel of quantum vortices in a superconductor at very low magnetic fields Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Physical review research Abbreviated Journal
Volume 2 Issue 1 Pages 013329
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract A gel consists of a network of particles or molecules formed for example using the sol-gel process, by which a solution transforms into a porous solid. Particles or molecules in a gel are mainly organized on a scaffold that makes up a porous system. Quantized vortices in type-II superconductors mostly form spatially homogeneous ordered or amorphous solids. Here we present high-resolution imaging of the vortex lattice displaying dense vortex clusters separated by sparse or entirely vortex-free regions in beta-Bi2Pd superconductor. We find that the intervortex distance diverges upon decreasing the magnetic field and that vortex lattice images follow a multifractal behavior. These properties, characteristic of gels, establish the presence of a novel vortex distribution, distinctly different from the well-studied disordered and glassy phases observed in high-temperature and conventional superconductors. The observed behavior is caused by a scaffold of one-dimensional structural defects with enhanced stress close to the defects. The vortex gel might often occur in type-II superconductors at low magnetic fields. Such vortex distributions should allow to considerably simplify control over vortex positions and manipulation of quantum vortex states.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000602698100008 Publication Date 2020-03-18
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited 14 Open Access
Notes ; We acknowledge support, discussions and critical reading of the manuscript from Eli Zeldov, who also devised and setup the SOT system. We also acknowledge critical reading and suggestions of Vladimir Kogan and Alexander Buzdin. Work performed in Spain was supported by the MINECO (FIS2017-84330-R, MAT2017-87134-C2-2-R, RYC-2014-16626 and RYC-2014-15093) and by the Region of Madrid through programs NANOFRONTMAG-CM (S2013/MIT-2850) and MAD2D-CM (S2013/ MIT-3007). The SEGAINVEX at UAM is also acknowledged as well as PEOPLE, Graphene Flagship, NMP programs of EU (Grant Agreements FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG 618321, 604391 and AMPHIBIAN H2020-NMBP-03-2016 NMP3-SL 2012-310516). Work in Israel was supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant No. 802952). Y.F. acknowledges the support of grant PICT 2017-2182 from the ANPCyT. R.F.L. acknowledges the support of grant PICT 2017-2898 from the ANPCyT. E.H. acknowledges support of Departamento Administrativo de Ciencia, Tecnologia e Innovacion, COLCIENCIAS (Colombia) Programa de estancias Postdoctorales convocatoria 784-2017 and the Cluster de investigacin en ciencias y tecnologas convergentes de la Universidad Central (Colombia). I.G. was supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (Grant No. 679080). M.V.M. acknowledges support from Research FoundationFlanders (FWO). The international collaboration on this work was fostered by the EU-COST Action CA16218 Nanoscale Coherent Hybrid Devices for Superconducting Quantum Technologies (NANOCOHYBRI). J.D.G. and M.V.M. gratefully acknowledge support from the Research Fund (FONCIENCIAS) of Universidad del Magdalena. ; Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175138 Serial 6694
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Author Wiorek, A.; Parrilla, M.; Cuartero, M.; Crespo, G.A.
Title Epidermal patch with glucose biosensor : pH and temperature correction toward more accurate sweat analysis during sport practice Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Analytical Chemistry Abbreviated Journal Anal Chem
Volume 92 Issue 14 Pages 10153-10161
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract We present an epidermal patch for glucose analysis in sweat incorporating for the first time pH and temperature correction according to local dynamic fluctuations in sweat during on-body tests. This sort of correction is indeed the main novelty of the paper, being crucial toward reliable measurements in every sensor based on an enzymatic element whose activity strongly depends on pH and temperature. The results herein reported for corrected glucose detection during on-body measurements are supported by a two-step validation protocol: with the biosensor operating off- and on-bodily, correlating the results with UV-vis spectrometry and/or ion chromatography. Importantly, the wearable device is a flexible skin patch that comprises a microfluidic cell designed with a sweat collection zone coupled to a fluidic channel in where the needed electrodes are placed: glucose biosensor, pH potentiometric electrode and a temperature sensor. The glucose biosensor presents a linear range of response within the expected physiological levels of glucose in sweat (10-200 mu M), and the calibration parameters are dynamically adjusted to any change in pH and temperature during the sport practice by means of a new “correction approach”. In addition, the sensor displays a fast response time, appropriate selectivity, and excellent reversibility. A total of 9 validated on-body tests are presented: the outcomes revealed a great potential of the wearable glucose sensor toward the provision of reliable physiological data linked to individuals during sport activity. In particular, the developed “correction approach” is expected to impact into the next generation of wearable devices that digitalize physiological activities through chemical information in a trustable manner for both sport and healthcare applications.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000554986200089 Publication Date 2020-06-26
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-2700; 5206-882x ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.4 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.4; 2020 IF: 6.32
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175265 Serial 7931
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Author Fuoco, T.; Cuartero, M.; Parrilla, M.; García-Guzmán, J.J.; Crespo, G.A.; Finne-Wistrand, A.
Title Capturing the real-time hydrolytic degradation of a library of biomedical polymers by combining traditional assessment and electrochemical sensors Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Biomacromolecules Abbreviated Journal Biomacromolecules
Volume 22 Issue 2 Pages 949-960
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract We have developed an innovative methodology to overcome the lack of techniques for real-time assessment of degradable biomedical polymers at physiological conditions. The methodology was established by combining polymer characterization techniques with electrochemical sensors. The in vitro hydrolytic degradation of a series of aliphatic polyesters was evaluated by following the molar mass decrease and the mass loss at different incubation times while tracing pH and l-lactate released into the incubation media with customized miniaturized electrochemical sensors. The combination of different analytical approaches provided new insights into the mechanistic and kinetics aspects of the degradation of these biomedical materials. Although molar mass had to reach threshold values for soluble oligomers to be formed and specimens’ resorption to occur, the pH variation and l-lactate concentration were direct evidence of the resorption of the polymers and indicative of the extent of chain scission. Linear models were found for pH and released l-lactate as a function of mass loss for the l-lactide-based copolymers. The methodology should enable the sequential screening of degradable polymers at physiological conditions and has potential to be used for preclinical material’s evaluation aiming at reducing animal tests.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date 2021-01-27
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1525-7797 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record
Impact Factor 5.246 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5.246
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175296 Serial 7575
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Author Safdar, M.; Khan, S.U.; Jänis, J.
Title Progress toward catalytic micro- and nanomotors for biomedical and environmental applications Type A1 Journal article
Year 2018 Publication Advanced Materials Abbreviated Journal
Volume 30 Issue 24 Pages 1703660
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract Synthetic micro‐ and nanomotors (MNMs) are tiny objects that can autonomously move under the influence of an appropriate source of energy, such as a chemical fuel, magnetic field, ultrasound, or light. Chemically driven MNMs are composed of or contain certain reactive material(s) that convert chemical energy of a fuel into kinetic energy (motion) of the particles. Several different materials have been explored over the last decade for the preparation of a wide variety of MNMs. Here, the discovery of materials and approaches to enhance the efficiency of chemically driven MNMs are reviewed. Several prominent applications of the MNMs, especially in the fields of biomedicine and environmental science, are also discussed, as well as the limitations of existing materials and future research directions.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000436455800006 Publication Date 2018-02-07
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175426 Serial 8424
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Author Ranjbar, S.
Title Mathematical model of plasma therapy on bacterial growth Type Doctoral thesis
Year 2020 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 95 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175471 Serial 6768
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Author Ysebaert, T.; Koch, K.; Samson, R.; Denys, S.
Title Green walls for mitigating urban particulate matter pollution : a review Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Urban Forestry & Urban Greening Abbreviated Journal Urban For Urban Gree
Volume 59 Issue Pages 127014
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Art; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Air pollution caused by particulate matter (PM) is a well-known health issue in urban environments. Urban green infrastructure offers opportunities as a nature-based solution to urban PM pollution. Green walls have advantages over other types of urban green infrastructure, since they can be applied to the enormous available wall area in cities and since they do not interfere with the prevailing ventilation resulting in elevated PM levels. However, this has raised questions about the effectiveness of GW in removing PM and this could explain the limited applicability of green walls to tackle PM pollution. Nevertheless, it is suggested that green walls have a significant unexploited potential and this review article aims to address current knowledge gaps and to propose future research requirements for the implementation of green walls to mitigate urban PM pollution. An in-depth analysis is given of the mechanisms behind PM deposition and the influence of vegetation properties on this process, as well as the practices followed to model PM dispersion and deposition. It was suggested that particle deposition on green walls depends on the green wall species, pollution level, and the residence time of PM in a street (canyon). Rainfall plays an important role in the PM pathway, although it is not a necessary requirement to sustain PM deposition on plant leaves. There are still some discrepancies in the literature about the ideal plant characteristics for PM deposition in terms of the macro- and microstructures that require further investigation, especially in comparison with tree and shrub species. In addition, extensively validated models are required to accurately calculate the impact of green walls on air flow and the PM concentration on site.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000632597600001 Publication Date 2021-02-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1618-8667 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 2.113 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.113
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175581 Serial 8011
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Author Schram, J.; Parrilla, M.; Sleegers, N.; Van Durme, F.; van den Berg, J.; van Nuijs, A.L.N.; De Wael, K.
Title Electrochemical profiling and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry characterization of synthetic cathinones : from methodology to detection in forensic samples Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Drug Testing And Analysis Abbreviated Journal Drug Test Anal
Volume 13 Issue 7 Pages 1282-1294
Keywords A1 Journal article; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering sciences. Technology; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation); Toxicological Centre
Abstract The emergence of new psychoactive drugs in the market demands rapid and accurate tools for the on‐site classification of illegal and legal compounds with similar structures. Herein, a novel method for the classification of synthetic cathinones (SC) is presented based on their electrochemical profile. First, the electrochemical profile of five common SC (i.e., mephedrone, ethcathinone, methylone, butylone and 4‐chloro‐alpha‐pyrrolidinovalerophenone) is collected to build calibration curves using square wave voltammetry on graphite screen‐printed electrodes (SPE). Second, the elucidation of the oxidation pathways, obtained by liquid chromatography‐high resolution mass spectrometry, allows the pairing of the oxidation products to the SC electrochemical profile, providing a selective and robust classification. Additionally, the effect of common adulterants and illicit drugs on the electrochemical profile of the SC is explored. Interestingly, a cathodic pretreatment of the SPE allows the selective detection of each SC in presence of electroactive adulterants. Finally, the electrochemical approach is validated with gas‐chromatography‐mass spectrometry by analyzing 26 confiscated samples from seizures and illegal webshops. Overall, the electrochemical method exhibits a successful classification of SC including structural derivatives, a crucial attribute in an ever‐diversifying drug market.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000624902500001 Publication Date 2021-02-24
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1942-7603; 1942-7611 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.469 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.469
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175583 Serial 7863
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Author Dingenen, F.; Verbruggen, S.W.
Title Tapping hydrogen fuel from the ocean : a review on photocatalytic, photoelectrochemical and electrolytic splitting of seawater Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews Abbreviated Journal Renew Sust Energ Rev
Volume 142 Issue Pages 110866
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Direct splitting of earth-abundant seawater provides an eco-friendly route for the production of clean H2, but is hampered by selectivity and stability issues. Direct seawater electrolysis is the most established technology, attaining high current densities in the order of 1–2 A cm−2. Alternatively, light-driven processes such as photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical seawater splitting are particularly promising as well, as they rely on renewable solar power. Solar-to-Hydrogen efficiencies have increased over the past decade from negligible values to about 2%. Especially the absence of large local pH changes (in the order of several tenths of a pH unit compared to up to 9 pH units for electrolysis) is a strong asset for pure photocatalysis. This may lead to less adverse side-reactions such as Cl2 and ClO− formation, (acid or base induced) corrosion and scaling. Besides, additional requirements for electrolytic cells, e.g. membranes and electricity input, are not needed in pure photocatalysis systems. In this review, the state-of-the-art technologies in light-driven seawater splitting are compared to electrochemical approaches with a focus on sustainability and stability. Promising advances are identified at the level of the catalyst as well as the process, and insight is provided in solutions crossing different fields.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000632316600003 Publication Date 2021-03-03
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1364-0321; 1879-0690 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 8.05 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 8.05
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175701 Serial 8642
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Author Van Schoubroeck, S.; Thomassen, G.; Van Passel, S.; Malina, R.; Springael, J.; Lizin, S.; Venditti, R.A.; Yao, Y.; Van Dael, M.
Title An integrated techno-sustainability assessment (TSA) framework for emerging technologies Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Green Chemistry Abbreviated Journal Green Chem
Volume 23 Issue 4 Pages 1700-1715
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract A better understanding of the drivers of the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of emerging (biobased) technologies and products in early development phases can help decision-makers to identify sustainability hurdles and opportunities. Furthermore, it guides additional research and development efforts and investment decisions, that will, ultimately, lead to more sustainable products and technologies entering a market. To this end, this study developed a novel techno-sustainability assessment (TSA) framework with a demonstration on a biobased chemical application. The integrated TSA compares the potential sustainability performance of different (technology) scenarios and helps to make better-informed decisions by evaluating and trading-off sustainability impacts in one holistic framework. The TSA combines methods for comprehensive indicator selection and integration of technological and country-specific data with environmental, economic, and social data. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) is used to address data uncertainty and to enable scenario comparison if indicators are expressed in different units. A hierarchical, stochastic outranking approach is followed that compares different weighting schemes and preference structures to check for the robustness of the results. The integrated TSA framework is demonstrated on an application for which the sustainability of a production and harvesting plant of microalgae-based food colorants is assessed. For a set of scenarios that vary with regard to the algae feedstock, production technology, and location, the sustainability performance is quantified and compared, and the underlying reasons for this performance are explored.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000629630600018 Publication Date 2021-02-10
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1463-9262; 1463-9270 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 9.125 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 9.125
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175716 Serial 6931
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Author Quintero-Coronel, D.A.; Lenis-Rodas, Y.A.; Corredor, L.A.; Perreault, P.; Gonzalez-Quiroga, A.
Title Thermochemical conversion of coal and biomass blends in a top-lit updraft fixed bed reactor : experimental assessment of the ignition front propagation velocity Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Energy Abbreviated Journal Energy
Volume 220 Issue Pages 119702-119710
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Co-thermochemical conversion of coal and biomass can potentially decrease the use of fossil carbon and pollutant emissions. This work presents experimental results for the so-called top-lit updraft fixed bed reactor, in which the ignition front starts at the top and propagates downward while the gas product flows upwards. The study focuses on the ignition front propagation velocity for the co-thermochemical conversion of palm kernel shell and high-volatile bituminous coal. Within the range of assessed air superficial velocities, the process occurred under gasification and near stoichiometric conditions. Under gasification conditions increasing coal particle size from 7.1 to 22 mm decreased ignition front velocity by around 26% regardless of the coal volume percentage. Furthermore, increasing coal volume percentage and decreasing coal particle size result in product gas with higher energy content. For the operation near stoichiometric conditions, increasing coal volume percentage from 10 to 30% negatively affected the ignition front velocity directly proportional to its particle size. Additional experiments confirmed a linear dependence of ignition front velocity on air superficial velocity. Further steps in the development of the top-lit updraft technology are implementing continuous solids feeding and variable cross-sectional area and optimizing coal particle size distribution.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000623087300003 Publication Date 2020-12-24
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0360-5442 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.52 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.52
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175861 Serial 8664
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Author Kummamuru, N.B.; Perreault, P.; Lenaerts, S.
Title A new generalized empirical correlation for predicting methane hydrate equilibrium conditions in pure water Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research Abbreviated Journal Ind Eng Chem Res
Volume 60 Issue 8 Pages 3474-3483
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract This work contributes to a new generalized empirical correlation for predicting methane (CH4) hydrate equilibrium conditions in pure water. Unlike the conventional thermodynamic approach that involves complex reckoning, the proposed empirical equation is developed by regressing 215 experimental data points from the literature and validating with 45 data points for predicting methane hydrate equilibrium conditions in pure water. The new correlation is proposed for a temperature and pressure range of 273.2–303.48 K and 2.63–72.26 MPa, respectively. The accuracy and performance of the proposed correlation is quantitatively evaluated using statistical error analysis. The proposed correlation was able to estimate CH4 hydrate equilibrium conditions satisfactorily with an R2 of 0.99987. The overall error analysis for the proposed correlation shows fair agreement with the experimental data reported within the literature. Concurrently, the new correlation showed better performance in predicting equilibrium conditions compared to those calculated by other empirical correlations available in the literature within the investigated range. In addition, the proposed empirical equation is also checked to evaluate its efficacy in fitting each set of experimental binary/ternary methane hydrates (BTMH) and binary hydrogen hydrates (BHH) for an accurate representation of equilibrium data over a wide range of composition, pressure, and temperature conditions. A maximum percentage deviation of 0.58% and 0.24% was observed between experimental and calculated equilibrium conditions for BTMH and BHH, respectively.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000626326200017 Publication Date 2021-02-19
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0888-5885; 1520-5045 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 2.843 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.843
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175862 Serial 7394
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Author Marinov, D.; de Marneffe, J.-F.; Smets, Q.; Arutchelvan, G.; Bal, K.M.; Voronina, E.; Rakhimova, T.; Mankelevich, Y.; El Kazzi, S.; Nalin Mehta, A.; Wyndaele, P.-J.; Heyne, M.H.; Zhang, J.; With, P.C.; Banerjee, S.; Neyts, E.C.; Asselberghs, I.; Lin, D.; De Gendt, S.
Title Reactive plasma cleaning and restoration of transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication npj 2D Materials and Applications Abbreviated Journal npj 2D Mater Appl
Volume 5 Issue 1 Pages 17
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract The cleaning of two-dimensional (2D) materials is an essential step in the fabrication of future devices, leveraging their unique physical, optical, and chemical properties. Part of these emerging 2D materials are transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). So far there is limited understanding of the cleaning of “monolayer” TMD materials. In this study, we report on the use of downstream H<sub>2</sub>plasma to clean the surface of monolayer WS<sub>2</sub>grown by MOCVD. We demonstrate that high-temperature processing is essential, allowing to maximize the removal rate of polymers and to mitigate damage caused to the WS<sub>2</sub>in the form of sulfur vacancies. We show that low temperature in situ carbonyl sulfide (OCS) soak is an efficient way to resulfurize the material, besides high-temperature H<sub>2</sub>S annealing. The cleaning processes and mechanisms elucidated in this work are tested on back-gated field-effect transistors, confirming that transport properties of WS<sub>2</sub>devices can be maintained by the combination of H<sub>2</sub>plasma cleaning and OCS restoration. The low-damage plasma cleaning based on H<sub>2</sub>and OCS is very reproducible, fast (completed in a few minutes) and uses a 300 mm industrial plasma etch system qualified for standard semiconductor pilot production. This process is, therefore, expected to enable the industrial scale-up of 2D-based devices, co-integrated with silicon technology.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000613258900001 Publication Date 2021-01-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2397-7132 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Daniil Marinov has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 752164. Ekaterina Voronina, Yuri Mankelevitch, and Tatyana Rakhimova are thankful to the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) for financial support (Grant No. 16-12-10361). This study was carried out using the equipment of the shared research facilities of high-performance computing resources at Lomonosov Moscow State University and the computational resources and services of the HPC core facility CalcUA of the University of Antwerp, and VSC (Flemish Supercomputer Center), funded by the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO) and the Flemish Government. Patrick With gratefully acknowledges imec’s CTO office for financial support during his stay at imec. The authors thank Mr. Surajit Sutar (imec) for his help during sample electrical characterization, and Patrick Verdonck for lab processing. Jean-François de Marneffe thank Prof. Simone Napolitano from the Free University of Brussels for useful discussions on irreversibly adsorbed polymer layers, and Cédric Huyghebaert (imec) for his continuous support in the framework of the Graphene FET Flagship core project. All authors acknowledge the support of imec’s pilot line and materials characterization and analysis (MCA) group, namely Jonathan Ludwig, Stefanie Sergeant, Thomas Nuytten, Olivier Richard, and Thierry Conard. Finally, Daniil Marinov thank Mikhail Krishtab (imec/KU Leuven) for his help in selecting the optimal plasma etch system for this work. Part of this project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 649953. Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:175871 Serial 6671
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Author Bagiński, M.; Pedrazo-Tardajos, A.; Altantzis, T.; Tupikowska, M.; Vetter, A.; Tomczyk, E.; Suryadharma, R.N.S.; Pawlak, M.; Andruszkiewicz, A.; Górecka, E.; Pociecha, D.; Rockstuhl, C.; Bals, S.; Lewandowski, W.
Title Understanding and Controlling the Crystallization Process in Reconfigurable Plasmonic Superlattices Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Acs Nano Abbreviated Journal Acs Nano
Volume Issue Pages acsnano.0c09746
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT)
Abstract The crystallization of nanomaterials is a primary source of solid-state, photonic structures. Thus, a detailed understanding of this process is of paramount importance for the successful application of photonic nanomaterials in emerging optoelectronic technologies. While colloidal crystallization has been thoroughly studied, for example, with advanced in situ electron microscopy methods, the noncolloidal crystallization (freezing) of nanoparticles (NPs) remains so far unexplored. To fill this gap, in this work, we present proof-of principle experiments decoding a crystallization of reconfigurable assemblies of NPs at a solid state. The chosen material corresponds to an excellent testing bed, as it enables both in situ and ex situ investigation using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and optical spectroscopy in visible and ultraviolet range (UV−vis) techniques. In particular, ensemble measurements with small-angle XRD highlighted the dependence of the correlation length in the NPs assemblies on the number of heating/cooling cycles and the rate of cooling. Ex situ TEM imaging further supported these results by revealing a dependence of domain size and structure on the sample preparation route and by showing we can control the domain size over 2 orders of magnitude. The application of HAADF-STEM tomography, combined with in situ thermal control, provided three-dimensional single-particle level information on the positional order evolution within assemblies. This combination of real and reciprocal space provides insightful information on the anisotropic, reversibly reconfigurable assemblies of NPs. TEM measurements also highlighted the importance of interfaces in the polydomain structure of nanoparticle solids, allowing us to understand experimentally observed differences in UV−vis extinction spectra of the differently prepared crystallites. Overall, the obtained results show that the combination of in situ heating HAADF-STEM tomography with XRD and ex situ TEM techniques is a powerful approach to study nanoparticle freezing processes and to reveal the crucial impact of disorder in the solid-state aggregates of NPs on their plasmonic properties.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000634569100101 Publication Date 2021-02-23
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1936-0851 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 13.942 Times cited 10 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Ministerstwo Nauki i Szkolnictwa Wyzszego, 0112/DIA/2019/48 ; European Commission, 731019 E171000009 (EUSMI) ; Narodowe Centrum Nauki, 2016/21/N/ST5/03356 ; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, RO 3640/12-1 ; Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej, First TEAM2016–2/15 ; European Research Council, 815128 (REALNANO) ; sygma; Approved Most recent IF: 13.942
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:175872 Serial 6673
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Author Loenders, B.; Engelmann, Y.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Plasma-Catalytic Partial Oxidation of Methane on Pt(111): A Microkinetic Study on the Role of Different Plasma Species Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Journal Of Physical Chemistry C Abbreviated Journal J Phys Chem C
Volume 125 Issue 5 Pages 2966-2983
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Movement Antwerp (MOVANT)
Abstract We use microkinetic modeling to examine the potential of plasma-catalytic partial oxidation (POX) of CH4 as a promising new approach to produce oxygenates. We study how different plasma species affect POX of CH4 on the Pt(111) surface, and we discuss the associated kinetic and mechanistic changes. We discuss the effect of vibrationally excited CH4 and O2, as well as plasma-generated radicals and stable intermediates. Our results show that vibrational excitation enhances the turnover frequency (TOF) of catalytic CH4 dissociation and has good potential for improving the selectivities toward CH3OH, HCOOH, and C2 hydrocarbons. Nevertheless, when also considering plasma-generated radicals, we find that these species mainly govern the surface chemistry. Additionally, we find that plasma-generated radicals and stable intermediates enhance the TOFs of COx and oxygenates, increase the selectivity toward oxygenates, and make the formation of HCOOH more significant on Pt(111). We also briefly illustrate the potential impact of Eley−Rideal reactions that involve plasma-generated radicals. Finally, we reveal how various radicals affect the catalyst surface chemistry and we link this to the formation of different products. This allows us to make suggestions on how the plasma composition should be altered to improve the formation of desired products.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000619760700017 Publication Date 2021-02-11
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1932-7447 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.536 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Universiteit Antwerpen; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, S001619N ; H2020 European Research Council, 810182 ; We thank Tom Butterworth for the interesting discussions regarding the calculation of the vibrational populations of methane and for taking the time to share his thoughts and experiences on the matter. This research is supported by the FWO-SBO project PLASMACATDesign (grant number S001619N). We also acknowledge financial support from the TOP-BOF project of the University of Antwerp and from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program (grant agreement no. 810182SCOPE ERC Synergy project). The calculations were carried out using the Turing HPC infrastructure at the CalcUA core facility of the Universiteit Antwerpen, a division of the Flemish Supercomputer Center VSC, funded by the Hercules Foundation, the Flemish Government (Department EWI), and the University of Antwerp. Approved Most recent IF: 4.536
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:175873 Serial 6672
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Author De Meyer, R.; Albrecht, W.; Bals, S.
Title Effectiveness of reducing the influence of CTAB at the surface of metal nanoparticles during in situ heating studies by TEM Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Micron Abbreviated Journal Micron
Volume 144 Issue Pages 103036
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract In situ TEM is a valuable technique to offer novel insights in the behavior of nanomaterials under various conditions. However, interpretation of in situ experiments is not straightforward since the electron beam can impact the outcome of such measurements. For example, ligands surrounding metal nanoparticles transform into a protective carbon layer upon electron beam irradiation and may impact the apparent thermal stability during in situ heating experiments. In this work, we explore the effect of different treatments typically proposed to remove such ligands. We found that plasma treatment prior to heating experiments for Au nanorods and nanostars increased the apparent thermal stability of the nanoparticles, while an activated carbon treatment resulted in a decrease of the observed thermal stability. Treatment with HCl barely changed the experimental outcome. These results demonstrate the importance of carefully selecting pre-treatments procedures during in situ heating experiments.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000632282600002 Publication Date 2021-02-19
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0968-4328 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 1.98 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes H2020; European Research Council; This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program [grant agreement No 823717 (ESTEEM3) and No 815128 (REALNANO)]; We acknowledge Prof. Luis M. Liz-Marzán and co-workers of the Bionanoplasmonics Laboratory, CICbiomaGUNE, Spain for providing the Au nanoparticles.; sygma; esteem3jra; esteem3reported Approved Most recent IF: 1.98
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:175874 Serial 6677
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Author van ‘t Veer, K.; van Alphen, S.; Remy, A.; Gorbanev, Y.; De Geyter, N.; Snyders, R.; Reniers, F.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Spatially and temporally non-uniform plasmas: microdischarges from the perspective of molecules in a packed bed plasma reactor Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Journal Of Physics D-Applied Physics Abbreviated Journal J Phys D Appl Phys
Volume 54 Issue 17 Pages 174002
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) typically operate in the filamentary regime and thus exhibit great spatial and temporal non-uniformity. In order to optimize DBDs for various applications, such as in plasma catalysis, more fundamental insight is needed. Here, we consider how the millions of microdischarges, characteristic for a DBD, influence individual gas molecules. We use a Monte Carlo approach to determine the number of microdischarges to which a single molecule would be exposed, by means of particle tracing simulations through a full-scale packed bed DBD reactor, as well as an empty DBD reactor. We find that the fraction of microdischarges to which the molecules are exposed can be approximated as the microdischarge volume over the entire reactor gas volume. The use of this concept provides good agreement between a plasma-catalytic kinetics model and experiments for plasma-catalytic NH3 synthesis. We also show that the concept of the fraction of microdischarges indicates the efficiency by which the plasma power is transferred to the gas molecules. This generalised concept is also applicable for other spatially and temporally non-uniform plasmas.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000618776000001 Publication Date 2021-04-29
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0022-3727 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 2.588 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Excellence of Science FWO-FNRS project, FWO grant ID GoF9618n ; Flemish Government, project P2C (HBC.2019.0108) ; H2020 European Research Council, grant agreement No 810182 – SCOPE ERC Synergy pr ; This research was supported by the Excellence of Science FWO-FNRS project (FWO Grant ID GoF9618n, EOS ID 30505023), the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No 810182—SCOPE ERC Synergy project) and by the Flemish Government through the Moonshot cSBO project P2C (HBC. 2019.0108). The calculations were performed using the Turing HPC infrastructure at the CalcUA core facility of the Universiteit Antwerpen (UAntwerpen), a division of the Flemish Supercomputer Center VSC, funded by the Hercules Foundation, the Flemish Government (department EWI) and the UAntwerpen. The authors would also like to thank Hamid Ahmadi Eshtehardi for discussions on the plasma-kinetic DBD model and Yannick Engelmann for discussions on the surface kinetics model. Approved Most recent IF: 2.588
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:175878 Serial 6674
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Author Yi, Y.; Wang, X.; Jafarzadeh, A.; Wang, L.; Liu, P.; He, B.; Yan, J.; Zhang, R.; Zhang, H.; Liu, X.; Guo, H.; Neyts, E.C.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Plasma-Catalytic Ammonia Reforming of Methane over Cu-Based Catalysts for the Production of HCN and H2at Reduced Temperature Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Acs Catalysis Abbreviated Journal Acs Catal
Volume 11 Issue 3 Pages 1765-1773
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Industrial production of HCN from NH3 and CH4 not only uses precious Pt or Pt−Rh catalysts but also requires extremely high temperatures (∼1600 K). From an energetic, operational, and safety perspective, a drastic decrease in temperature is highly desirable. Here, we report ammonia reforming of methane for the production of HCN and H2 at 673 K by the combination of CH4/NH3 plasma and a supported Cu/silicalite-1 catalyst. 30% CH4 conversion has been achieved with 79% HCN selectivity. Catalyst characterization and plasma diagnostics reveal that the excellent reaction performance is attributed to metallic Cu active sites. In addition, we propose a possible reaction pathway, viz. E-R reactions with N, NH, NH2, and CH radicals produced in the plasma, for the production of HCN, based on density functional theory calculations. Importantly, the Cu/silicalite-1 catalyst costs less than 5% of the commercial Pt mesh catalyst.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000618540300057 Publication Date 2021-02-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2155-5435 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 10.614 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Universiteit Antwerpen, 32249 ; China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, 2015M580220 2016T90217 ; PetroChina Innovation Foundation, 2018D-5007-0501 ; National Natural Science Foundation of China, 21503032 ; We acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [21503032], the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation [grant numbers 2015M580220 and 2016T90217, 2016], the PetroChina Innovation Foundation [2018D-5007-0501], and the TOP research project of the Research Fund of the University of Antwerp [grant ID 32249]. Approved Most recent IF: 10.614
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:175880 Serial 6675
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Author Kaliyappan, P.; Paulus, A.; D’Haen, J.; Samyn, P.; Uytdenhouwen, Y.; Hafezkhiabani, N.; Bogaerts, A.; Meynen, V.; Elen, K.; Hardy, A.; Van Bael, M.K.
Title Probing the impact of material properties of core-shell SiO₂@TiO₂ spheres on the plasma-catalytic CO₂ dissociation using a packed bed DBD plasma reactor Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Journal Of Co2 Utilization Abbreviated Journal J Co2 Util
Volume 46 Issue Pages 101468
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Plasma catalysis, a promising technology for conversion of CO2 into value-added chemicals near room temperature, is gaining increasing interest. A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma has attracted attention due to its simple design and operation at near ambient conditions, ease to implement catalysts in the plasma zone and upscaling ability to industrial applications. To improve its main drawbacks, being relatively low conversion and energy efficiency, a packing material is used in the plasma discharge zone of the reactor, sometimes decorated by a catalytic material. Nevertheless, the extent to which different properties of the packing material influence plasma performance is still largely unexplored and unknown. In this study, the particular effect of synthesis induced differences in the morphology of a TiO2 shell covering a SiO2 core packing material on the plasma conversion of CO2 is studied. TiO2 has been successfully deposited around 1.6–1.8 mm sized SiO2 spheres by means of spray coating, starting from aqueous citratoperoxotitanate(IV) precursors. Parameters such as concentration of the Ti(IV) precursor solutions and addition of a binder were found to affect the shells’ properties and surface morphology and to have a major impact on the CO2 conversion in a packed bed DBD plasma reactor. Core-shell SiO2@TiO2 obtained from 0.25 M citratoperoxotitante(IV) precursors with the addition of a LUDOX binder showed the highest CO2 conversion 37.7% (at a space time of 70 s corresponding to an energy efficiency of 2%) and the highest energy efficiency of 4.8% (at a space time of 2.5 s corresponding to a conversion of 3%).
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000634280300004 Publication Date 2021-02-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2212-9820 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.292 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.292
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:175958 Serial 6773
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Author Geerts, L.; Geerts-Claes, H.; Skorikov, A.; Vermeersch, J.; Vanbutsele, G.; Galvita, V.; Constales, D.; Chandran, C.V.; Radhakrishnan, S.; Seo, J.W.; Breynaert, E.; Bals, S.; Sree, S.P.; Martens, J.A.
Title Spherical core–shell alumina support particles for model platinum catalysts Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal Nanoscale
Volume 13 Issue 7 Pages 4221-4232
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract γ- and δ-alumina are popular catalyst support materials. Using a hydrothermal synthesis method starting from aluminum nitrate and urea in diluted solution, spherical core–shell particles with a uniform particle size of about 1 μm were synthesized. Upon calcination at 1000 °C, the particles adopted a core–shell structure with a γ-alumina core and δ-alumina shell as evidenced by 2D and 3D electron microscopy and<sup>27</sup>Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The spherical alumina particles were loaded with Pt nanoparticles with an average size below 1 nm using the strong electrostatic adsorption method. Electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed a homogeneous platinum dispersion over the alumina surface. These platinum loaded alumina spheres were used as a model catalyst for bifunctional catalysis. Physical mixtures of Pt/alumina spheres and spherical zeolite particles are equivalent to catalysts with platinum deposited on the zeolite itself facilitating the investigation of the catalyst components individually. The spherical alumina particles are very convenient supports for obtaining a homogeneous distribution of highly dispersed platinum nanoparticles. Obtaining such a small Pt particle size is challenging on other support materials such as zeolites. The here reported and well-characterized Pt/alumina spheres can be combined with any zeolite and used as a bifunctional model catalyst. This is an interesting strategy for the examination of the acid catalytic function without the interference of the supported platinum metal on the investigated acid material.
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Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000621767000026 Publication Date 2021-01-21
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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ISSN 2040-3364 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.367 Times cited 3 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, G0A5417N G038116N ; Vlaamse regering, Methusalem ; Hercules Foundation, AKUL/13/19 ; Approved Most recent IF: 7.367
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:176021 Serial 6679
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Author Jardali, F.; Van Alphen, S.; Creel, J.; Ahmadi Eshtehardi, H.; Axelsson, M.; Ingels, R.; Snyders, R.; Bogaerts, A.
Title NOxproduction in a rotating gliding arc plasma: potential avenue for sustainable nitrogen fixation Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Green Chemistry Abbreviated Journal Green Chem
Volume 23 Issue 4 Pages 1748-1757
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract The fast growing world population demands food to survive, and nitrogen-based fertilizers are essential to ensure sufficient food production. Today, fertilizers are mainly produced from non-sustainable fossil fuels<italic>via</italic>the Haber–Bosch process, leading to serious environmental problems. We propose here a novel rotating gliding arc plasma, operating in air, for direct NO<sub>x</sub>production, which can yield high nitrogen content organic fertilizers without pollution associated with ammonia emission. We explored the efficiency of NO<sub>x</sub>production in a wide range of feed gas ratios, and for two arc modes: rotating and steady. When the arc is in steady mode, record-value NO<sub>x</sub>concentrations up to 5.5% are achieved which are 1.7 times higher than the maximum concentration obtained by the rotating arc mode, and with an energy consumption of 2.5 MJ mol<sup>−1</sup>(or<italic>ca.</italic>50 kW h kN<sup>−1</sup>);<italic>i.e.</italic>the lowest value so far achieved by atmospheric pressure plasma reactors. Computer modelling, using a combination of five different complementary approaches, provides a comprehensive picture of NO<sub>x</sub>formation in both arc modes; in particular, the higher NO<sub>x</sub>production in the steady arc mode is due to the combined thermal and vibrationally-promoted Zeldovich mechanisms.
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Language Wos 000629630600021 Publication Date 2021-01-28
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ISSN 1463-9262 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 9.125 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, GoF9618n 30505023 ; H2020 European Research Council, 810182 ; This research was supported by a Bilateral Project with N2 Applied, the Excellence of Science FWO-FNRS project (FWO grant ID GoF9618n, EOS ID 30505023) and by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no 810182 – SCOPE ERC Synergy project). The calculations were performed using the Turing HPC infrastructure at the CalcUA core facility of the Universiteit Antwerpen (UAntwerpen), a division of the Flemish Supercomputer Center VSC, funded by the Hercules Foundation, the Flemish Government (department EWI) and the UAntwerpen. We also thank J.-L. Liu for the RGA design, L. Van ‘t dack and K. Leyssens for MS calibration and practical support, and K. Van ‘t Veer for the fruitful discussions on plasma kinetic modelling and for calculating the electron energy losses. Approved Most recent IF: 9.125
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:176022 Serial 6678
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Author Sharafi, L.; Zarafshani, K.; Keshavarz, M.; Azadi, H.; Van Passel, S.
Title Farmers' decision to use drought early warning system in developing countries Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Science Of The Total Environment Abbreviated Journal Sci Total Environ
Volume 758 Issue Pages 142761
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Drought is a persistent, sluggish natural disaster in developing countries that has generated a financial burden and an unstable climate. Farmers should adopt early warning systems (EWS) in their strategies for monitoring drought to reduce its serious consequences. However, farmers in developing countries are reluctant to use EWS as their management strategies. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the decision of farmers to use climate knowledge through the model of farming activity in Kermanshah Township, Iran. A surveyor questionnaire was used to gather data from 370 wheat farmers using random sampling methods inmulti-stage clusters. Results revealed that the decision to use climate information is affected by personal factors, attitude towards climate information, objectives of using climate information, and external/physical farming factors. The result of this study has implications for drought management practitioners. To be specific, the results can aid policymakers to design early alert programs to minimize the risk of drought and thus move from conventional to climate smart agriculture. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Language Wos 000605623800001 Publication Date 2020-10-05
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ISSN 0048-9697 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.9 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.9
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:176030 Serial 6924
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Author Ceyhan, E.; Yagmurcukardes, M.; Peeters, F.M.; Sahin, H.
Title Electronic and magnetic properties of single-layer FeCl₂ with defects Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Physical Review B Abbreviated Journal Phys Rev B
Volume 103 Issue 1 Pages 014106
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract The formation of lattice defects and their effect on the electronic properties of single-layer FeCl2 are investigated by means of first-principles calculations. Among the vacancy defects, namely mono-, di-, and three-Cl vacancies and mono-Fe vacancy, the formation of mono-Cl vacancy is the most preferable. Comparison of two different antisite defects reveals that the formation of the Fe-antisite defect is energetically preferable to the Cl-antisite defect. While a single Cl vacancy leads to a 1 mu(B) decrease in the total magnetic moment of the host lattice, each Fe vacant site reduces the magnetic moment by 4 mu(B). However, adsorption of an excess Cl atom on the surface changes the electronic structure to a ferromagnetic metal or to a ferromagnetic semiconductor depending on the adsorption site without changing the ferromagnetic state of the host lattice. Both Cl-antisite and Fe-antisite defected domains change the magnetic moment of the host lattice by -1 mu(B) and +3 mu(B), respectively. The electronic ground state of defected structures reveals that (i) single-layer FeCl2 exhibits half-metallicity under the formation of vacancy and Cl-antisite defects; (ii) ferromagnetic metallicity is obtained when a single Cl atom is adsorbed on upper-Cl and Fe sites, respectively; and (iii) ferromagnetic semiconducting behavior is found when a Cl atom is adsorbed on a lower-Cl site or a Fe-antisite defect is formed. Simulated scanning electron microscope images show that atomic-scale identification of defect types is possible from their electronic charge density. Further investigation of the periodically Fe-defected structures reveals that the formation of the single-layer FeCl3 phase, which is a dynamically stable antiferromagnetic semiconductor, is possible. Our comprehensive analysis on defects in single-layer FeCl2 will complement forthcoming experimental observations.
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Language Wos 000606969400002 Publication Date 2021-01-13
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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ISSN 2469-9969; 2469-9950 ISBN Additional Links (up) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.836 Times cited 5 Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes ; Computational resources were provided by TUBITAK ULAKBIM, High Performance and Grid Computing Center (TR-Grid e-Infrastructure), and by Flemish Supercomputer Center (VSC). H.S. acknowledges financial support from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) under Project No. 117F095. M.Y. was supported by the Flemish Science Foundation (FWO-Vl) by a postdoctoral fellowship. ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.836
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:176039 Serial 6689
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