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Author Vega-Paredes, M.; Aymerich-Armengol, R.; Arenas Esteban, D.; Marti-Sanchez, S.; Bals, S.; Scheu, C.; Manjon, A.G.
Title Electrochemical stability of rhodium-platinum core-shell nanoparticles : an identical location scanning transmission electron microscopy study Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ACS nano Abbreviated Journal
Volume 17 Issue 17 Pages 16943-16951
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Rhodium-platinum core-shell nanoparticleson a carbonsupport (Rh@Pt/C NPs) are promising candidates as anode catalystsfor polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. However, their electrochemicalstability needs to be further explored for successful applicationin commercial fuel cells. Here we employ identical location scanningtransmission electron microscopy to track the morphological and compositionalchanges of Rh@Pt/C NPs during potential cycling (10 000 cycles,0.06-0.8 V-RHE, 0.5 H2SO4)down to the atomic level, which are then used for understanding thecurrent evolution occurring during the potential cycles. Our resultsreveal a high stability of the Rh@Pt/C system and point toward particledetachment from the carbon support as the main degradation mechanism.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001051495900001 Publication Date 2023-08-21
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1936-0851 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 17.1 Times cited 2 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes The authors would like to thank C. Bodirsky for providing the samples, N. Rivas Rivas for his corrections on the manuscript, and D. Chatain for providing her expertise on the equilibrium shape of nanoparticles. Special thanks to B. Breitbach for performing the XRD experiments. A.G.M. acknowledges the Grant RYC2021-033479- I funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and, as appropriate, by European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR. Approved Most recent IF: 17.1; 2023 IF: 13.942
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199253 Serial 8859
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Author Beckwee, E.J.; Watson, G.; Houlleberghs, M.; Arenas Esteban, D.; Bals, S.; Van Der Voort, P.; Breynaert, E.; Martens, J.; Baron, G.V.; Denayer, J.F.M.
Title Enabling hydrate-based methane storage under mild operating conditions by periodic mesoporous organosilica nanotubes Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Heliyon Abbreviated Journal
Volume 9 Issue 7 Pages e17662-14
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Biomethane is a renewable natural gas substitute produced from biogas. Storage of this sustainable energy vector in confined clathrate hydrates, encapsulated in the pores of a host material, is a highly promising avenue to improve storage capacity and energy efficiency. Herein, a new type of periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) nanotubes, referred to as hollow ring PMO (HR-PMO), capable of promoting methane clathrate hydrate formation under mild working conditions (273 K, 3.5 MPa) and at high water loading (5.1 g water/g HR-PMO) is reported. Gravimetric uptake measurements reveal a steep single-stepped isotherm and a noticeably high methane storage capacity (0.55 g methane/g HR-PMO; 0.11 g methane/g water at 3.5 MPa). The large working capacity throughout consecutive pressure-induced clathrate hydrate formationdissociation cycles demonstrates the material's excellent recyclability (97% preservation of capacity). Supported by ex situ cryo-electron tomography and x-ray diffraction, HR-PMO nanotubes are hypothesized to promote clathrate hydrate nucleation and growth by distribution and confinement of water in the mesopores of their outer wall, along the central channels of the nanotubes and on the external nanotube surface. These findings showcase the potential for application of organosilica materials with hierarchical and interconnected pore systems for pressure-based storage of biomethane in confined clathrate hydrates.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001056264100001 Publication Date 2023-06-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2405-8440 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited 4 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes E.J.B., G.W. and M.H. contributed equally to this work. M.H. acknowledges FWO for an FWO-SB fellowship. All authors acknowledge VLAIO for Moonshot funding (ARCLATH, n ? HBC.2019.0110, ARCLATH2, n ? HBC.2021.0254) . J.A.M. acknowledges the Flemish Government for long-term structural funding (Methusalem) and department EWI for infrastructure investment via the Hermes Fund (AH.2016.134) . NMRCoRe acknowledges the Flemish government, department EWI for financial support as International Research Infrastructure (I001321N: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Platform for Molecular Water Research) . J.A.M. acknowledges the European Research Council (ERC) for an Advanced Research Grant under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 834134 (WATUSO) . S.B acknowledges financial support by the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO grant G.0381.16N) . This project also received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 731019 (EUSMI) and No 815128 (REALNANO) . Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199249 Serial 8862
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Author Drăgan, A.-M.; Feier, B.G.; Tertis, M.; Bodoki, E.; Truta, F.; Stefan, M.-G.; Kiss, B.; Van Durme, F.; De Wael, K.; Oprean, R.; Cristea, C.
Title Forensic analysis of synthetic cathinones on nanomaterials-based platforms : chemometric-assisted voltametric and UPLC-MS/MS investigation Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Nanomaterials Abbreviated Journal
Volume 13 Issue 17 Pages 2393-19
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
Abstract Synthetic cathinones (SCs) are a group of new psychoactive substances often referred to as “legal highs” or “bath salts”, being characterized by a dynamic change, new compounds continuously emerging on the market. This creates a lack of fast screening tests, making SCs a constant concern for law enforcement agencies. Herein, we present a fast and simple method for the detection of four SCs (alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone, N-ethylhexedrone, 4-chloroethcathinone, and 3-chloromethcathinone) based on their electrochemical profiles in a decentralized manner. In this regard, the voltametric characterization of the SCs was performed by cyclic and square wave voltammetry. The elucidation of the SCs redox pathways was successfully achieved using liquid chromatography coupled to (tandem) mass spectrometry. For the rational identification of the ideal experimental conditions, chemometric data processing was employed, considering two critical qualitative and quantitative variables: the type of the electrochemical platform and the pH of the electrolyte. The analytical figures of merit were determined on standard working solutions using the optimized method, which exhibited wide linear ranges and LODs suitable for confiscated sample screening. Finally, the performance of the method was evaluated on real confiscated samples, the resulting validation parameters being similar to those obtained with another portable device (i.e., Raman spectrometer).
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001061205100001 Publication Date 2023-08-23
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2079-4991 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 5.3 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5.3; 2023 IF: 3.553
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199221 Serial 8869
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Author Chen, Q.; Skorikov, A.; van der Hoeven, J.E.S.; van Blaaderen, A.; Albrecht, W.; Perez-Garza, H.H.; Bals, S.
Title Estimation of temperature homogeneity in MEMS-based heating nanochips via quantitative HAADF-STEM tomography Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Particle and particle systems characterization Abbreviated Journal
Volume 41 Issue 2 Pages 1-8
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Sample holders for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) based on micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) have recently become popular for investigating the behavior of nanomaterials under in situ or environmental conditions. The accuracy and reproducibility of these in situ holders are essential to ensure the reliability of experimental results. In addition, the uniformity of an applied temperature trigger across the MEMS chip is a crucial parameter. In this work, it is measured the temperature homogeneity of MEMS-based heating sample supports by locally analyzing the dynamics of heat-induced alloying of Au@Ag nanoparticles located in different regions of the support through quantitative fast high-angle annular dark-field scanning TEM tomography. These results demonstrate the superior temperature homogeneity of a microheater design based on a heating element shaped as a circular spiral with a width decreasing outwards compared to a double spiral-shaped designed microheater. The proposed approach to measure the local temperature homogeneity based on the thermal properties of bimetallic nanoparticles will support the future development of MEMS-based heating supports with improved thermal properties and in situ studies where high precision in the temperature at a certain position is required. This schematic delineates an approach to quantifying potential localized temperature deviation within a nanochip. Employing two comparable nanoparticles as thermal probes in discrete nanochip regions, the alloying kinetics of these nanoparticles are monitorable using in situ quantitative high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) tomography, thus enabling the precise estimation of local temperature deviations.image
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001060394600001 Publication Date 2023-09-08
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0934-0866 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 2.7 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes This project was funded from the European Commission and The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network MUMMERING (Grant Agreement no. 765604) Approved Most recent IF: 2.7; 2023 IF: 4.474
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199219 Serial 8863
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Author Moggia, G.; Hoekx, S.; Daems, N.; Bals, S.; Breugelmans, T.
Title Synthesis and characterization of a highly electroactive composite based on Au nanoparticles supported on nanoporous activated carbon for electrocatalysis Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ChemElectroChem Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-11
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT)
Abstract A facile, “one-pot”, chemical approach to synthesize gold-based nanoparticles finely dispersed on porous activated carbon (Norit) was demonstrated in this work. The pH of the synthesis bath played a critical role in determining the optimal gold-carbon interaction, which enabled a successful deposition of the gold nanoparticles onto the carbon matrix with a maximized metal utilization of 93 %. The obtained AuNP/C nanocomposite was characterized using SEM, HAADF-STEM electron tomography and electrochemical techniques. It was found that the Au nanoparticles, with diameters between 5 and 20 nm, were evenly distributed over the carbon matrix, both inside and outside the pores. Electrochemical characterization indicated that the composite had a very large electroactive surface area (EASA), as high as 282.4 m2 gAu-1. By exploiting its very high EASA, the catalyst was intended to boost the productivity of glucaric acid in the electrooxidation of its precursor, gluconic acid. However, cyclic voltammetry experiments revealed a very limited reactivity towards gluconic acid oxidation, due to the spacial hindrance of gluconic acid molecule which prevented diffusion inside the catalyst nanopores. On the other hand, the as-synthesized nanocomposite promises to be effective towards the ORR, and might thus find potential application as anode catalyst for fuel cells as well as for the scalability of all those electrochemical reactions involving small molecules with high diffusivity and catalysed by noble metals (i. e. CO2, CH4, N2, etc..). Electrocatalysis: Gold nanoparticles with diameter between 5 and 20 nm evenly distributed onto porous activated carbon (Norit) were obtained using a facile “one-pot” chemical synthesis technique with very high metal utilization. The AuNP/C nanocomposite was characterized using SEM, HAADF-STEM electron tomography and electrochemical techniques, revealing a very large electroactive surface area (EASA). The figure shows the HAADF-STEM image (a) and the respective EDX elemental distribution (b) for the AuNP/C composite with 9.3 % Au-loading developed in this work (Au is marked in red and C in green).image
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001060398900001 Publication Date 2023-09-08
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2196-0216 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4 Times cited 1 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes The research described in this article has not been supported by the Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency of the European Commission. The views expressed in this article have not been adopted or in any way approved by the European Commission and do not constitute a statement of the European Commission & apos;s views.r S. Hoekx was supported by Research Foundation Flanders (FWO 1S42623N). The authors would like to thank Prof. Dr. Christophe Vande Velde, University of Antwerp, for the XRD analysis. Approved Most recent IF: 4; 2023 IF: 4.136
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199210 Serial 8941
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Author Phuttaro, C.; Krishnan, S.; Saritpongteeraka, K.; Charnnok, B.; Diels, L.; Chaiprapat, S.
Title Integrated poultry waste management by co-digestion with perennial grass : effects of mixing ratio, pretreatments, reaction temperature, and effluent recycle on biomethanation yield Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Biochemical engineering journal Abbreviated Journal
Volume 196 Issue Pages 108937-12
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract This work aims to enhance the efficiency of integrated poultry waste management in bio-circular-green economy by maximizing the co-digestion of chicken manure and its digestate-grown biomass. In a series of batch assays, Napier grass (NG) was mixed with chicken manure (CM) at various proportions (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100) to identify co-substrate synergism, followed by physiochemical conditioning (size reduction and ultrasonication) of NG before co-digestion. Results indicated that NG mix of at least 80% was required to gain a full methanation potential of the individual substrates; no synergistic ratio above unity was found. However, the combined effect of size reduction and sonication was found to markedly improve the cosubstrate's biodegradability by 88.7%. The findings were then used to run continuous co-digestion at various operating regimes. In optimal continuous co-digestion condition, NG particle size of 0.6-2.4 mm combined with sonication intensity at 1111 kJ/kgTS improved biomethanation yield as high as 106.3%. Sub-thermophilic digestion at 45 degrees C was shown to give a higher and more stable CH4 yield than at 55 degrees C. Finally, it was also found that recycling liquid effluent at 40% to replace freshwater in feed, although showed no significant difference in CH4 yield (& alpha; = 0.05), noticeably increased system buffer capacity. This optimized biodegradation regime could give co-digestion waste management a higher overall plant efficiency and economic return.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001054826200001 Publication Date 2023-04-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1369-703x; 1873-295x ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 3.9 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9; 2023 IF: 2.892
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199209 Serial 8887
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Author Reynaert, S.; Vienne, A.; de Boeck, H.J.; D'Hose, T.; Janssens, I.; Nijs, I.; Portillo-Estrada, M.; Verbruggen, E.; Vicca, S.
Title Basalt addition improves the performance of young grassland monocultures under more persistent weather featuring longer dry and wet spells Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Agricultural and forest meteorology Abbreviated Journal
Volume 340 Issue 1 Pages 109610
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Abstract Global warming is altering the intra-annual variability of precipitation patterns in the mid-latitudes, including a shift towards longer dry and wet spells compared to historic averages. Such fluctuations will likely alter soil water and nutrient dynamics of managed ecosystems which could negatively influence their functioning (e.g., productivity and fodder quality). Here, we investigated whether basalt addition could attenuate effects of increasingly persistent precipitation regimes (PR) on two agricultural grassland monocultures differing in drought resistance (low: Lolium perenne (LP) vs high: Festulolium (FL)) and digestibility (high: LP, low: FL), while improving soil C sequestration. In total, 32 experimental mesocosms were subjected to either a low (1-day wet/ dry alternation) or a highly (30-day wet/dry alternation) persistent PR over 120 days, keeping total precipitation equal. In half of these mesocosms, we mixed basalt with the top 20 cm soil layer at a rate of 50 t ha-1. Overall, 30-day PR increased average water availability resulting in improved aboveground biomass and shoot digestibility for both species, in spite of elevated physiological stress. These PR also increased shoot Si, K, N and C but reduced Ca accumulation. Basalt addition generally increased soil Al, Ni, Mg, Ca, P, K and Si availability without altering root biomass or total soil carbon. Moreover, differences in root N content and C:N ratio between species were reduced. Interestingly, basalt modified the PR effects on productivity. Within 30-day PR, basalt stimulated aboveground biomass (& PLUSMN;14%) and root Si and K contents without altering plant digestibility, palatability, crude protein content or Ni/Al content. These results indicate that basalt can stimulate grassland productivity and soil nutrient availability under more persistent PR without negatively affecting fodder quality. Hence, basalt application may improve the performance of young temperate grassland monocultures under climate change, though dry soil conditions may limit effects on soil C sequestration during summer.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001051084500001 Publication Date 2023-07-21
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0168-1923 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199204 Serial 9189
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Author Soenen, M.; Milošević, M.V.
Title Tunable magnon topology in monolayer CrI₃ under external stimuli Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Physical review materials Abbreviated Journal
Volume 7 Issue 8 Pages 084402-84409
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Two-dimensional (2D) honeycomb ferromagnets, such as monolayer chromium trihalides, are predicted to behave as topological magnon insulators, characterized by an insulating bulk and topologically protected edge states, giving rise to a thermal magnon Hall effect. Here we report the behavior of the topological magnons in monolayer CrI3 under external stimuli, including biaxial and uniaxial strain, electric gating, as well as in-plane and out-of-plane magnetic field, revealing that one can thereby tailor the magnetic states as well as the size and the topology of the magnonic bandgap. These findings broaden the perspective of using 2D magnetic materials to design topological magnonic devices.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001052941600003 Publication Date 2023-08-08
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2475-9953 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 3.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.4; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199201 Serial 8947
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Author Finizola e Silva, M.; Van Schoubroeck, S.; Cools, J.; Aboge, D.O.; Ouma, M.; Olweny, C.; Van Passel, S.
Title Local actors' perspectives on sustainable food value chains : evidence from a Q-methodology study in Kenya Type Administrative Services
Year 2024 Publication Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences Abbreviated Journal
Volume 14 Issue 1 Pages 36-51
Keywords Administrative Services; A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Governments and international organizations are increasingly determined to create more sustainable food value chains (SFVCs). However, only little empirical evidence is available on how SFVCs are understood. Enquiring African food value chain actors allows gathering valuable insights into their perception of sustainability, which characteristics of sustainable food value chains they prioritize, and which obstacles to a sustainable transformation they identify. By means of a Q-methodology involving interviews with 33 Kenyan respondents, four perspectives were distinguished. The first perspective, “economic productivity and growth,” prioritizes economic growth and has only limited attention to the social dimension of sustainability. The second perspective, “food security and food availability,” believes that ensuring food security should be the key goal of SFVCs. The third perspective, “environment first,” is dedicated to the environmental dimension of sustainability; the perspective implies that protecting natural resources is the primary way to sustain this level of production. The fourth perspective, “transformative knowledge,” entails that by innovating and sharing knowledge, food value chains can become more sustainable in different areas. Overall, this study provides reliable insights into how Kenyan food value chain actors perceive sustainability in their sector and which elements they believe should be prioritized when rethinking food systems. The study results are valuable for policy-making to further define an SFVC in Kenya and to pave the way for a sustainable transformation of the food sector in developing countries.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001063371200001 Publication Date 2023-09-11
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2190-6483 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199200 Serial 9210
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Author Yang, S.; An, H.; Arnouts, S.; Wang, H.; Yu, X.; de Ruiter, J.; Bals, S.; Altantzis, T.; Weckhuysen, B.M.; van der Stam, W.
Title Halide-guided active site exposure in bismuth electrocatalysts for selective CO₂ conversion into formic acid Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Nature Catalysis Abbreviated Journal
Volume 6 Issue 9 Pages 796-806
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT)
Abstract It remains a challenge to identify the active sites of bismuth catalysts in the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction. Here we show through in situ characterization that the activation of bismuth oxyhalide electrocatalysts to metallic bismuth is guided by the halides. In situ X-ray diffraction results show that bromide promotes the selective exposure of planar bismuth surfaces, whereas chloride and iodide result in more disordered active sites. Furthermore, we find that bromide-activated bismuth catalysts outperform the chloride and iodide counterparts, achieving high current density (>100 mA cm(-2)) and formic acid selectivity (>90%), suggesting that planar bismuth surfaces are more active for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction. In addition, in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements reveal that the reconstruction proceeds rapidly in chloride-activated bismuth and gradually when bromide is present, facilitating the formation of ordered planar surfaces. These findings show the pivotal role of halogens on selective facet exposure in activated bismuth-based electrocatalysts during the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001050367400001 Publication Date 2023-08-17
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2520-1158 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 37.8 Times cited 13 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes B.M.W. acknowledges support from the Strategic UU-TU/e Alliance project 'Joint Centre for Chemergy Research' as well as from the Netherlands Center for Multiscale Catalytic Energy Conversion (MCEC), an NWO gravitation programme funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the government of the Netherlands. S.B. acknowledges support from the European Research Council (ERC Consolidator Grant #815128 REALNANO). S.A. and T.A. acknowledge funding from the University of Antwerp Research fund (BOF). We also thank J. Wijten, J. Janssens and T. Prins (all from the Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, Utrecht University) for helpful technical support. S. Deelen (Faculty of Science, Utrecht University) and L. Wu (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group, Utrecht University) are acknowledged for the design of the in situ XRD cell. We also acknowledge B. Detlefs, P. Glatzel and V. Paidi (ESRF) for the support during the HERFD-XANES measurements on the ID26 beamline of the ESRF. Approved Most recent IF: 37.8; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199190 Serial 8877
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Author Arenas Esteban, D.; Pacquets, L.; Choukroun, D.; Hoekx, S.; Kadu, A.A.; Schalck, J.; Daems, N.; Breugelmans, T.; Bals, S.
Title 3D characterization of the structural transformation undergone by Cu@Ag core-shell nanoparticles following CO₂ reduction reaction Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Chemistry of materials Abbreviated Journal
Volume 35 Issue 17 Pages 6682-6691
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT)
Abstract The increasing use of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) is significantly advancing the field of electrocatalysis. In particular, Cu/Ag bimetallic interfaces are widely used to enhance the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (eCO(2)RR) toward CO and, more recently, C-2 products. However, drastic changes in the product distribution and performance when Cu@Ag core-shell configurations are used can often be observed under electrochemical reaction conditions, especially during the first few minutes of the reaction. Possible structural changes that generate these observations remain underexplored; therefore, the structure-property relationship is hardly understood. In this study, we use electron tomography to investigate the structural transformation mechanism of Cu@Ag core-shells NPs during the critical first minutes of the eCO(2)RR. In this manner, we found that the crystallinity of the Cu seed determines whether the formation of a complete and homogeneous Ag shell is possible. Moreover, by tracking the particles' transformations, we conclude that modifications of the Cu-Ag interface and Cu2O enrichment at the surface of the NPs are key factors contributing to the product generation changes. These insights provide a better understanding of how bimetallic core-shell NPs transform under electrochemical conditions.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001061530700001 Publication Date 2023-08-31
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0897-4756; 1520-5002 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 8.6 Times cited 1 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes L.P. was supported through a PhD fellowship for strategicbasic research (1S56920N) of the Research Foundation – Flanders(FWO). S.H. was supported through a PhD fellowship for strategic basicresearch (1S42623N) of the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO).S.B., D.A.E., and A.A.K. acknowledge financial support from ERC Consolidator Grant Number 815128 REALNANO. This research was financed by the researchcouncil of the University of Antwerp (BOF-GOA 33928). Approved Most recent IF: 8.6; 2023 IF: 9.466
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199187 Serial 8825
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Author Wagaarachchige, J.D.; Idris, Z.; Arstad, B.; Kummamuru, N.B.; Sætre, K.A.S.; Halstensen, M.; Jens, K.-J.
Title Low-viscosity nonaqueous sulfolane–amine–methanol solvent blend for reversible CO2 capture Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Industrial and engineering chemistry research Abbreviated Journal
Volume 61 Issue 17 Pages 5942-5951
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract In this work, the absorption–desorption performance of CO2 in six new solvent blends of amine (diisopropylamine (DPA), 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP), methyldiethanolamine (MDEA), diethanolamine (DEA), diisopropanolamine (DIPA), and ethanolamine (MEA)), sulfolane, and methanol has been monitored using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Additionally, NMR-based species confirmation and solvent viscosity analysis were done for DPA solvent samples. The identified CO2 capture products are monomethyl carbonate (MMC), carbamate, carbonate, and bicarbonate anions in different ratios. The DPA solvent formed MMC entirely with 0.88 molCO2/molamine capture capacity, 0.48 molCO2/molamine cyclic capacity, and 3.28 mPa·s CO2-loaded solvent viscosity. MEA, DEA, DIPA, and MDEA were shown to produce a low or a negligible amount of MMC while AMP occupied an intermediate position.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date 2022-04-25
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0888-5885; 1520-5045 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199111 Serial 8895
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Author Drăgan, A.-M.
Title Investigation of the electrochemical behaviour of illicit substances and their redox pathways in the development of nanomaterial-modified platforms for decentralized analysis Type Doctoral thesis
Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 169 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
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 (down) UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199086 Serial 8892
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Author Zhu, W.; Van Tendeloo, M.; De Paepe, J.; Vlaeminck, S.E.
Title Comparison of typical nitrite oxidizing bacteria suppression strategies and the effect on nitrous oxide emissions in a biofilm reactor Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Bioresource technology Abbreviated Journal
Volume 387 Issue Pages 129607-129609
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract In mainstream partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A), suppression of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) and mitigation of N2O emissions are two essential operational goals. The N2O emissions linked to three typical NOB suppression strategies were tested in a covered rotating biological contactor (RBC) biofilm system at 21 degrees C: (i) low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations, and treatments with (ii) free ammonia (FA), and (iii) free nitrous acids (FNA). Low emerged DO levels effectively minimized NOB activity and decreased N2O emissions, but NOB adaptation appeared after 200 days of operation. Further NOB suppression was successfully achieved by periodic (3 h per week) treatments with FA (29.3 & PLUSMN; 2.6 mg NH3-N L-1) or FNA (3.1 & PLUSMN; 0.3 mg HNO2-N L-1). FA treatment, however, promoted N2O emissions, while FNA did not affect these. Hence, biofilm PN/A should be operated at relatively low DO levels with periodic FNA treatment to maximize nitrogen removal efficiency while avoiding high greenhouse gas emissions.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001063180200001 Publication Date 2023-08-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0960-8524 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 11.4 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 21.02.2024
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 11.4; 2023 IF: 5.651
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199051 Serial 8843
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author De Micco, V.; Amitrano, C.; Mastroleo, F.; Aronne, G.; Battistelli, A.; Carnero-Diaz, E.; De Pascale, S.; Detrell, G.; Dussap, C.-G.; Ganigué, R.; Jakobsen, Ø.M.; Poulet, L.; Van Houdt, R.; Verseux, C.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Willaert, R.; Leys, N.
Title Plant and microbial science and technology as cornerstones to Bioregenerative Life Support Systems in space Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication NPJ microgravity Abbreviated Journal
Volume 9 Issue 1 Pages 69-12
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Long-term human space exploration missions require environmental control and closed Life Support Systems (LSS) capable of producing and recycling resources, thus fulfilling all the essential metabolic needs for human survival in harsh space environments, both during travel and on orbital/planetary stations. This will become increasingly necessary as missions reach farther away from Earth, thereby limiting the technical and economic feasibility of resupplying resources from Earth. Further incorporation of biological elements into state-of-the-art (mostly abiotic) LSS, leading to bioregenerative LSS (BLSS), is needed for additional resource recovery, food production, and waste treatment solutions, and to enable more self-sustainable missions to the Moon and Mars. There is a whole suite of functions crucial to sustain human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and successful settlement on Moon or Mars such as environmental control, air regeneration, waste management, water supply, food production, cabin/habitat pressurization, radiation protection, energy supply, and means for transportation, communication, and recreation. In this paper, we focus on air, water and food production, and waste management, and address some aspects of radiation protection and recreation. We briefly discuss existing knowledge, highlight open gaps, and propose possible future experiments in the short-, medium-, and long-term to achieve the targets of crewed space exploration also leading to possible benefits on Earth.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001093834300001 Publication Date 2023-08-24
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2373-8065 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199050 Serial 8916
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Author De Paepe, J.; Garcia Gragera, D.; Arnau Jimenez, C.; Rabaey, K.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Gòdia, F.
Title Continuous cultivation of microalgae yields high nutrient recovery from nitrified urine with limited supplementation Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of environmental management Abbreviated Journal
Volume 345 Issue Pages 118500-118510
Keywords A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Microalgae can play a key role in the bioeconomy, particularly in combination with the valorisation of waste streams as cultivation media. Urine is an example of a widely available nutrient-rich waste stream, and alkaline stabilization and subsequent full nitrification in a bioreactor yields a stable nitrate-rich solution. In this study, such nitrified urine served as a culture medium for the edible microalga Limnospira indica. In batch cultivation, nitrified urine without additional supplements yielded a lower biomass concentration, nutrient uptake and protein content compared to modified Zarrouk medium, as standard medium. To enhance the nitrogen uptake efficiency and biomass production, nitrified urine was supplemented with potentially limiting elements. Limited amounts of phosphorus (36 mg L−1), magnesium (7.9 mg L−1), calcium (12.2 mg L−1), iron (2.0 mg L−1) and EDTA (88.5 mg Na2-EDTA.2H2O L−1) rendered the nitrified urine matrix as effective as modified Zarrouk medium in terms of biomass production (OD750 of 1.2), nutrient uptake (130 mg N L−1) and protein yield (47%) in batch culture. Urine precipitates formed by alkalinisation could in principle supply enough phosphorus, calcium and magnesium, requiring only external addition of iron, EDTA and inorganic carbon. Subsequently, the suitability of supplemented nitrified urine as a culture medium was confirmed in continuous Limnospira cultivation in a CSTR photobioreactor. This qualifies nitrified urine as a valuable and sustainable microalgae growth medium, thereby creating novel nutrient loops on Earth and in Space, i.e., in regenerative life support systems for human deep-space missions.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001052880800001 Publication Date 2023-08-03
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0301-4797 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 8.7 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 03.02.2024
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 8.7; 2023 IF: 4.01
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199049 Serial 8844
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Author Labey, E.; Fonteyn, F.; Wilmot, A.; El Amouri, S.; Gjurova, A.; De Cock, W.; De Wael, F.
Title Shaping utopia through law: how the law does (not) provide an answer to societal challenges Type ME2 Book as editor or co-editor
Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 210 p.
Keywords ME2 Book as editor or co-editor; Law; Government and Law
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 978-94-000-1654-5 Additional Links (down) UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198938 Serial 9227
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Ramesha, B.M.; Pawlak, B.; Arenas Esteban, D.; Reekmans, G.; Bals, S.; Marchal, W.; Carleer, R.; Adriaensens, P.; Meynen, V.
Title Partial hydrolysis of diphosphonate ester during the formation of hybrid Tio₂ nanoparticles : role of acid concentration Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ChemPhysChem : a European journal of chemical physics and physical chemistry Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages e202300437-13
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA)
Abstract In the present work, a method was utilized to control the in‐situ partial hydrolysis of a diphosphonate ester in presence of a titania precursor and in function of acid content and its impact on the hybrid nanoparticles was assessed. The hydrolysis degree of organodiphosphonate ester linkers during the formation of hybrid organic‐inorganic metal oxide nanoparticles, are relatively underexplored . Quantitative solution NMR spectroscopy revealed that during the synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles, an increase in acid concentration introduces a higher degree of partial hydrolysis of the TEPD linker into diverse acid/ester derivatives of TEPD. Increasing the HCl/Ti ratio from 1 to 3, resulted in an increase in degree of partial hydrolysis of the TEPD linker in solution from 4% to 18.8% under the here applied conditions. As a result of the difference in partial hydrolysis, the linker‐TiO2 bonding was altered. Upon subsequent drying of the colloidal TiO2 solution, different textures, at nanoscale and macroscopic scale, were obtained dependent on the HCl/Ti ratio and thus the degree of hydrolysis of TEPD. Understanding such linker‐TiO2 nanoparticle surface dynamics is crucial for making hybrid organic‐inorganic materials (i.e. (porous) metal phosphonates) employed in applications such as electronic/photonic devices, separation technology and heterogeneous catalysts.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001071673900001 Publication Date 2023-09-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1439-4235; 1439-7641 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 2.9 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This work was supported by the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO Vlaanderen) Project G.0121.17 N. The work was further supported by Hasselt University and the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO Vlaanderen) via the Hercules project AUHL/15/2 – GOH3816 N. V. M. acknowledges the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) for project K801621 N. B. M. R. acknowledges, Prof. Dr. Christophe Detavernier and Dr. Davy Deduystche (COCOON, Ghent University) for PXRD and VT-XRD measurements, Prof. Dr. Christophe Van De Velde (iPRACS, University of Antwerp) and Dr. Radu Ciocarlan (LADCA, University of Antwerp) for helpful discussions on PXRD measurements and Dr. Nick Gys (University of Antwerp and VITO) for ICP-OES measurements. Approved Most recent IF: 2.9; 2023 IF: 3.075
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198934 Serial 8911
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Author Raes, A.; Ninakanti, R.; Van den Bergh, L.; Borah, R.; Van Doorslaer, S.; Verbruggen, S.W.
Title Black titania by sonochemistry : a critical evaluation of existing methods Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Ultrasonics sonochemistry Abbreviated Journal
Volume 100 Issue Pages 106601-106609
Keywords A1 Journal article; Theory and Spectroscopy of Molecules and Materials (TSM²); Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA)
Abstract In the field of photocatalysis, the fabrication of black titania is a booming topic, as it offers a system with improved solar light harvesting properties and increased overall efficiency. The darkening of white TiO2 powders can be ascribed to surface hydroxylation, oxygen vacancies, Ti3+ centres, or a combination thereof. A handful of studies suggests these defects can be conveniently introduced by acoustic cavitation, generated during sonochemical treatment of pristine TiO2 powders. In reproducing these studies, P25 TiO2 samples were ultrasonicated for various hours with a power density of 8000 W/L, resulting in powders that indeed became gradually darker with increasing sonication time. However, HAADF–STEM revealed that extensive erosion of the sonotrode tip took place and contaminated the samples, which appeared to be the primary reason for the observed colour change. This was confirmed by UV–Vis DRS and DRIFTS, that showed no significant alteration of the catalyst surface after sonication. EPR measurements showed that only an insignificant fraction of Ti3+ centres were produced, far less than in a TiO2 sample that was chemically reduced with NaBH4. No evidence of the presence oxygen vacancies could be found. The enhanced photocatalytic activities of ultrasonicated materials reported in literature can therefore not be ascribed to the synthesis of actual black (defected) TiO2, but rather to specific changes in morphology as a result of acoustic cavitation. Also, this study underlines the importance of considering probe erosion in sonochemical catalyst synthesis, which is an unavoidable side effect that can have an important impact on the catalyst appearance, properties and performance.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001084391500001 Publication Date 2023-09-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1350-4177 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 8.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 8.4; 2023 IF: 4.218
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198848 Serial 8838
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Vasilakou, K.; Nimmegeers, P.; Billen, P.; Van Passel, S.
Title Geospatial environmental techno-economic assessment of pretreatment technologies for bioethanol production Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Renewable and sustainable energy reviews Abbreviated Journal
Volume 187 Issue Pages 113743-16
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)
Abstract Second-generation biofuels, starting from lignocellulosic biomass, are considered as a renewable alternative for fossil fuels with lower environmental impact and potentially higher supply and energy security. The economic and environmental performance of second-generation bioethanol production from corn stover in the European Union (EU) is studied, starting in Belgium as base case. A comparative environmental techno-economic assessment has been conducted, with process simulations in Aspen Plus and corn stover availability data in thirteen EU countries to calculate minimum ethanol selling prices (MESP) and Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe). In this analysis, the emphasis is on the comparison of different pretreatment technologies, namely (i) dilute acid, (ii) alkaline, (iii) steam explosion and (iv) liquid hot water. Dilute acid showed the best economic and environmental performance for the base case scenario. Within the EU, Hungary and Romania presented the lowest MESP for the steam explosion model at 0.39 and 0.43 EUR/L respectively. Poland showed the lowest GHGe, at 0.46 kg CO2eq/L for the alkaline model, mainly due to the avoided product allocation on electricity and its high carbon intensity in the electricity generation sector. The second lowest GHGe were obtained in France for the dilute acid model and are attributed to its low agricultural emissions intensity. This study identifies a location-dependence of the economic and environmental performance of pretreatment technologies, which can be extrapolated from the EU to other large regions around the world and should be taken into consideration by decision-makers.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001082526000001 Publication Date 2023-09-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1364-0321; 1879-0690 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198804 Serial 9205
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author De Meyer, S.
Title Macroscopic X-ray powder diffraction in reflection mode : a new technique for chemical imaging of artworks Type Doctoral thesis
Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 285 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Art; Antwerp X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (AXIS)
Abstract 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.
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 (down) UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198766 Serial 8896
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Zhang, K.
Title Revealing the correlation between titania support properties and propylphosphonic acid modification by in-depth characterization Type Doctoral thesis
Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages XVI, 262 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA)
Abstract 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.
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 (down) UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198726 Serial 8924
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Wanten, B.; Vertongen, R.; De Meyer, R.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Plasma-based CO2 conversion: How to correctly analyze the performance? Type A1 journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of Energy Chemistry Abbreviated Journal Journal of Energy Chemistry
Volume 86 Issue Pages 180-196
Keywords A1 journal article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
Abstract
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001070885000001 Publication Date 2023-07-22
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2095-4956 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 13.1 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes We acknowledge financial support from the Fund for Scientific Research (FWO) Flanders (Grant ID 110221N), the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program (grant agreement No 810182 – SCOPE ERC Synergy project), and the Methusalem funding of the University of Antwerp. We acknowledge the icons from the graphical abstract made by dDara, geotatah, Spashicons and Freepik on www.flaticon.com. We also thank Stein Maerivoet, Joachim Slaets, Elizabeth Mercer, Colín Ó’Modráin, Joran Van Turnhout, Pepijn Heirman, dr. Yury Gorbanev, dr. Fanny Girard-Sahun and dr. Sean Kelly for the interesting discussions and feedback. Approved Most recent IF: 13.1; 2023 IF: 2.594
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:198709 Serial 8816
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Author Zhang, K.; Wang, J.; Ninakanti, R.; Verbruggen, S.W.
Title Solvothermal synthesis of mesoporous TiO2 with tunable surface area, crystal size and surface hydroxylation for efficient photocatalytic acetaldehyde degradation Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Chemical engineering journal Abbreviated Journal
Volume 474 Issue Pages 145188-14
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA)
Abstract Photocatalytic acetaldehyde degradation exhibits satisfactory performance only at relatively low acetaldehyde flow rates, predominately below 10 × 10-3 mL/min, leaving ample room for improvement. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare more efficient photocatalysts for acetaldehyde degradation. Moreover, the impact of the interaction strength between the titania surface and surface water on the photocatalytic acetaldehyde efficiency is poorly understood. To address these issues, in this work a series of (0 0 1)-faceted anatase titania samples with various surface properties and structures were synthesized via a solvothermal method and tested at high acetaldehyde flow rates under UV light irradiation. With increasing solvothermal time, the pore volume, surface area, and the abundance of surface OH groups all increased, while the crystallite size decreased. These were all identified to be beneficial to promote the degradation performance. When the solvothermal temperature was 180 ℃ and the reaction time was 5 h, the prepared sample displayed the most efficient performance at 19.25× 10-3 mL/min of acetaldehyde (conversion of (74 ± 1)% versus (29 ± 1)% for P25), and achieved a 100 % conversion at 16 × 10-3 mL/min. A weaker interaction strength between surface water and the titania surface was found to improve the acetaldehyde adsorption capacity, thereby promoting the acetaldehyde degradation efficiency. The stability of the best performing sample was tested over 48 h, demonstrating a highly stable performance with no signs of deactivation. Even at a relative humidity of 30 %, the acetaldehyde conversion retains 82% of its efficiency in a dry atmosphere, highlighting its potential in practical applications.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001144928800001 Publication Date 2023-08-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1385-8947; 1873-3212 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 15.1 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 06.02.2024
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 15.1; 2023 IF: 6.216
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198652 Serial 8933
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Author Annys, A.; Jannis, D.; Verbeeck, J.; Annys, A.; Jannis, D.; Verbeeck, J.
Title Deep learning for automated materials characterisation in core-loss electron energy loss spectroscopy Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Scientific reports Abbreviated Journal
Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 13724
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) is a well established technique in electron microscopy that yields information on the elemental content of a sample in a very direct manner. One of the persisting limitations of EELS is the requirement for manual identification of core-loss edges and their corresponding elements. This can be especially bothersome in spectrum imaging, where a large amount of spectra are recorded when spatially scanning over a sample area. This paper introduces a synthetic dataset with 736,000 labeled EELS spectra, computed from available generalized oscillator strength tables, that represents 107 K, L, M or N core-loss edges and 80 chemical elements. Generic lifetime broadened peaks are used to mimic the fine structure due to band structure effects present in experimental core-loss edges. The proposed dataset is used to train and evaluate a series of neural network architectures, being a multilayer perceptron, a convolutional neural network, a U-Net, a residual neural network, a vision transformer and a compact convolutional transformer. An ensemble of neural networks is used to further increase performance. The ensemble network is used to demonstrate fully automated elemental mapping in a spectrum image, both by directly mapping the predicted elemental content and by using the predicted content as input for a physical model-based mapping.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001052937600046 Publication Date 2023-08-22
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2045-2322 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 4.6 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes A.A. would like to acknowledge the resources and services used in this work provided by the VSC (Flemish Supercomputer Center), funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) and the Flemish Government. J.V. acknowledges the IMPRESS project. The IMPRESS project has received funding from the HORIZON EUROPE framework program for research and innovation under grant agreement n. 101094299. Approved Most recent IF: 4.6; 2023 IF: 4.259
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198647 Serial 8846
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Author Blundo, E.; Faria, P.E., Jr.; Surrente, A.; Pettinari, G.; Prosnikov, M.A.; Olkowska-Pucko, K.; Zollner, K.; Wozniak, T.; Chaves, A.; Kazimierczuk, T.; Felici, M.; Babinski, A.; Molas, M.R.; Christianen, P.C.M.; Fabian, J.; Polimeni, A.
Title Strain-Induced Exciton Hybridization in WS2 Monolayers Unveiled by Zeeman-Splitting Measurements Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Physical review letters Abbreviated Journal
Volume 129 Issue 6 Pages 067402
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Mechanical deformations and ensuing strain are routinely exploited to tune the band gap energy and to enhance the functionalities of two-dimensional crystals. In this Letter, we show that strain leads also to a strong modification of the exciton magnetic moment in WS2 monolayers. Zeeman-splitting measurements under magnetic fields up to 28.5 T were performed on single, one-layer-thick WS2 microbubbles. The strain of the bubbles causes a hybridization of k-space direct and indirect excitons resulting in a sizable decrease in the modulus of they factor of the ground-state exciton. These findings indicate that strain may have major effects on the way the valley number of excitons can be used to process binary information in two-dimensional crystals.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000842367600007 Publication Date 2022-08-04
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0031-9007; 1079-7114 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198538 Serial 8936
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Author Van Hoecke, L.; Kummamuru, N.B.; Pourfallah, H.; Verbruggen, S.W.; Perreault, P.
Title Intensified swirling reactor for the dehydrogenation of LOHC Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication International journal of hydrogen energy Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-13
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology
Abstract In the recent advances towards more sustainable global energy supply, H2 is a possible alternative for large scale energy storage. In this view, Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC) are a class of molecules that allow for easier long term energy storage compared to conventional H2 technologies. CFD simulations were used to showcase the hydrodynamics of the dehydrogenation of a LOHC in a new reactor unit, via a cold flow mock-up study. This reactor was designed to allow for a swirling motion of the liquid carrier material, favouring the removal of H2 gas from the flow and forcing the equilibrium of the reaction towards dehydrogenation, as well as to keep the catalyst particles in motion. The CFD simulations were validated qualitatively with experimental operation of the reactor, in a system with identical dimensionless numbers (Reynolds and Stokes), in order to use less costly products during the prototyping phase.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001139598200001 Publication Date 2023-08-30
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0360-3199 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 7.2 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 01.03.2024
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.2; 2023 IF: 3.582
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198534 Serial 8889
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Author Perreault, P.; Preuster, P.
Title Editorial hydrogen production storage and use Type Editorial
Year 2023 Publication Current opinion in green and sustainable chemistry Abbreviated Journal
Volume 44 Issue Pages 100861-100863
Keywords Editorial; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract In the pursuit of clean and sustainable energy sources, hydrogen has emerged as a key contender, offering high energy density and the potential to serve as a carbon-neutral fuel. However, one of the major challenges associated with hydrogen is efficient and safe storage and transportation. In this Special Edition, we delve into the exciting developments in the upcoming hydrogen economy, from its sustainable production to chemical hydrogen storage. Some of our reviews focus on particular technologies namely on liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) and the utilization of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001079651000001 Publication Date 2023-08-09
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2452-2236 ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 9.3 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 9.3; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198505 Serial 8853
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Author Li, L.
Title Untangling microbial community assembly in rainforest and grassland soils under increasing precipitation persistence Type Doctoral thesis
Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 179 p.
Keywords Doctoral thesis; Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES); Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Abstract Climate change is causing alterations in precipitation patterns, leading to adverse ecological consequences in many ecosystems. Recently, an increasingly persistent weather pattern has emerged, characterized by lengthening the duration of alternating dry and wet periods, which is more complex than exclusively drought or increasing precipitation. It is currently unclear how soil microbial communities respond to these new regimes in relation to their interactions with plants, especially in precipitation-sensitive ecosystems, such as tropical rainforests and grasslands. In this thesis, we explored responses of soil bacterial and fungal communities to increasing weather persistence in rainforests and grasslands, using high throughput sequencing technology. We firstly investigated the resistance and resilience of microbial communities to prolonged drought in a mature seasonal tropical rainforest which experiences unusually intensive dry seasons in the current century. Through excluding rainfall during and after the dry season, a simulated prolongation of the dry season by five months was compared to the control. Our results indicate that as rain exclusion progressed, the microbial communities increasingly diverged from the control, indicating a moderate resistance to prolonged drought. However, when the drought ceased, the composition and co-occurrence patterns of soil microbial communities immediately recovered to that in the control, implying a high resilience. To further investigate the ecological roles of soil microbial communities in response to increasing weather persistence, we set up grassland mesocosm experiments. In these experiments, precipitation frequency was adjusted along a series, ranging from 1 to 60 consecutive days alternating of dry and wet periods, while keeping the total precipitation constant. Our results show that microbial community assembly tended to be more stochastic processes at intermediate persistence of dry and wet alternations while more deterministic processes dominated at low and high persistence within 120 days regime exposure. Moreover, more persistent precipitation reduced the fungal diversity and network connectivity but barely impacted that of bacterial communities. The prior experiences of persistent weather events for one year caused legacy effects. The soil microbial legacy induced by soil microbial communities subjected to prior persistent weather events was more enduring in subsequent fungal communities than bacterial communities, likely due to slower growth of fungi compared to bacteria. However, a minor effect of soil microbial legacy  was observed on plant performance. In addition, we kept the grassland mesocosm experiment for two growing seasons. The effects of precipitation persistence on soil microbial communities increased in the second year. The dissimilarities of microbial communities between the first and second year were less with more persistent precipitation, potentially resulting in more vulnerable microbial communities, due to some taxa disappearing and a reduction in functional redundancy under more persistent weather. To conclude, our findings provide a comprehensive theoretical understanding of soil microbial communities in response to the current and future climate change, drawing from both natural and experimental systems. It helps in predicting and managing the impacts of future climate change on ecosystems mediated by microbial communities. Additionally, the findings of microbe-mediated legacy effects on grassland ecosystems can provide practical guidance for their application in agriculture, specifically for using an inoculum to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198498 Serial 9240
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Author Fang, C.; Verbrigghe, N.; Sigurdsson, B.D.D.; Ostonen, I.; Leblans, N.I.W.; Maranon-Jimenez, S.; Fuchslueger, L.; Sigurosson, P.; Meeran, K.; Portillo-Estrada, M.; Verbruggen, E.; Richter, A.; Sardans, J.; Penuelas, J.; Bahn, M.; Vicca, S.; Janssens, I.A.
Title Decadal soil warming decreased vascular plant above and belowground production in a subarctic grassland by inducing nitrogen limitation Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication New phytologist Abbreviated Journal
Volume 240 Issue 2 Pages 565-576
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Abstract Below and aboveground vegetation dynamics are crucial in understanding how climate warming may affect terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycling. In contrast to aboveground biomass, the response of belowground biomass to long-term warming has been poorly studied. Here, we characterized the impacts of decadal geothermal warming at two levels (on average +3.3 degrees C and +7.9 degrees C) on below and aboveground plant biomass stocks and production in a subarctic grassland. Soil warming did not change standing root biomass and even decreased fine root production and reduced aboveground biomass and production. Decadal soil warming also did not significantly alter the root-shoot ratio. The linear stepwise regression model suggested that following 10 yr of soil warming, temperature was no longer the direct driver of these responses, but losses of soil N were. Soil N losses, due to warming-induced decreases in organic matter and water retention capacity, were identified as key driver of the decreased above and belowground production. The reduction in fine root production was accompanied by thinner roots with increased specific root area. These results indicate that after a decade of soil warming, plant productivity in the studied subarctic grassland was affected by soil warming mainly by the reduction in soil N.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001043561400001 Publication Date 2023-08-07
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0028-646x ISBN Additional Links (down) UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198443 Serial 9199
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