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Author Tessema, G.A.; van der Borg, J.; Van Rompaey, A.; Van Passel, S.; Adgo, E.; Minale, A.S.; Asrese, K.; Frankl, A.; Poesen, J.
Title Benefit segmentation of tourists to geosites and its implications for sustainable development of geotourism in the Southern Lake Tana Region, Ethiopia Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Sustainability Abbreviated Journal Sustainability-Basel
Volume 14 Issue 6 Pages 3411-3425
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Geotourism is a sustainable type of tourism that focuses on the geological and geomorphological heritages of an area, and the associated cultural and biodiversity features. Though the popularity of geotourism is rapidly growing, research on the demand side, particularly on segmenting tourists to geosites and understanding their profiles, is limited. This obviously makes the designing of effective tourism policies that aim at developing geotourism sustainably very difficult. Hence, the main objectives of this study were to segment and profile tourists to geosites based on the benefits sought, and to show its implications for sustainable development of geotourism. With a survey of 415 tourists, this study clustered tourists to geosites in the southern Lake Tana region in Ethiopia based on the benefits sought. A factor-cluster method was applied to segment the tourists. The study identified four distinct segments: Activity-Nature Lovers, Culture Lovers, Nature-Culture Lovers, and Want-It-Alls. These segments differed in their demographic, trip, and behavioral characteristics. The findings implied that for sustainable development, destination managers and marketers need to customize their geotourism product development and marketing strategies based on the needs and characteristics of each market segment.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000774527600001 Publication Date 2022-03-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2071-1050 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 3.9 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:188043 Serial 7353
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Author Dehhaghi, S.; Choobchian, S.; Ghobadian, B.; Farhadian, H.; Viira, A.-H.; Stefanie, H.I.; Van Passel, S.; Azadi, H.
Title Five-year development plans of renewable energy policies in Iran : a content analysis Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Sustainability Abbreviated Journal Sustainability-Basel
Volume 14 Issue 3 Pages 1501
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Renewable energy (RE) policies can play an effective role in the development of renewable resources. The main goal of this paper was to conduct a content analysis on RE development policies in Iran's five-year National Development Plan (NDP) by investigating upstream national documents. To achieve the goal, 29 upstream documents related to RE were identified and analyzed through a systematic literature review. Then, a qualitative content analysis was applied to analyze the documents. The results showed that Iran's current RE policies need to be reviewed, reformed, and strengthened. For example, lack of sufficient attention to renewable heat and fuel was one of the deficiencies of RE policies in Iran's five-year NDP. The decentralization of policymaking in the unified organization was also one of the weaknesses in the policymaking process of the RE. Iran can develop sustainable and clean RE policies by using sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, wave, and tidal power. The paper concludes that, although RE policies have the potential for development in Iran due to environmental, social, and economic advantages, they could face some infrastructural, managerial, socio-cultural, and economic challenges. Accordingly, effective and innovative policymaking is required to meet such challenges.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000754912800001 Publication Date 2022-01-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2071-1050 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 3.9 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:186501 Serial 7358
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Author Maes, R.R.; Potters, G.; Fransen, E.; Geuens, J.; Van Schaeren, R.; Lenaerts, S.
Title Can we find an optimal fatty acid composition of biodiesel in order to improve oxidation stability? Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Sustainability Abbreviated Journal
Volume 15 Issue 13 Pages 10310-10
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Medical Genetics (MEDGEN)
Abstract Air quality currently poses a major risk for human health. Currently, diesel is widely used as fuel and is a significant source of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM), both hazardous to human health. A good alternative for mineral diesel is biodiesel, not only for the improvement of hazardous components in the exhaust gases but also because it can be produced in view of a circular economy. Biodiesel consists of a mix of different fatty acid methyl esters, which can react with oxygen. As a consequence, the oxidation stability of biodiesel has to be studied, because the oxidation of biodiesel could affect the performance of the engine due to the wear of injectors and fuel pumps. The oxidation stability could also affect the quality of the exhaust gases due to increases in NOx and PM. The basic question we try to answer in this communication is: 'Can we find an optimal fatty acid composition in order to have a maximal oxidation stability?' In this article, we try to find the optimal fatty acid composition according to the five most common fatty acid methyl esters present in biodiesel in order to reach a maximal oxidation stability. The measurements and statistical analysis show, however, that there is no useful regression model because there are statistically significant two- and three-way interactions among the different fatty acids.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001028597300001 Publication Date 2023-06-30
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2071-1050 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 3.9 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9; 2023 IF: 1.789
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198241 Serial 8839
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Author Craco, L.; Carara, S.S.; Barboza, E. da S.; Milošević, M.V.; Pereira, T.A.S.
Title Electronic and valleytronic properties of crystalline boron-arsenide tuned by strain and disorder Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication RSC advances Abbreviated Journal
Volume 13 Issue 26 Pages 17907-17913
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Ab initio density functional theory (DFT) and DFT plus coherent potential approximation (DFT + CPA) are employed to reveal, respectively, the effect of in-plane strain and site-diagonal disorder on the electronic structure of cubic boron arsenide (BAs). It is demonstrated that tensile strain and static diagonal disorder both reduce the semiconducting one-particle band gap of BAs, and a V-shaped p-band electronic state emerges – enabling advanced valleytronics based on strained and disordered semiconducting bulk crystals. At biaxial tensile strains close to 15% the valence band lineshape relevant for optoelectronics is shown to coincide with one reported for GaAs at low energies. The role played by static disorder on the As sites is to promote p-type conductivity in the unstrained BAs bulk crystal, consistent with experimental observations. These findings illuminate the intricate and interdependent changes in crystal structure and lattice disorder on the electronic degrees of freedom of semiconductors and semimetals.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001008414700001 Publication Date 2023-06-13
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2046-2069 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 3.9 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9; 2023 IF: 3.108
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:197317 Serial 8861
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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.
Address
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 UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 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 Oliveira, M.C.; Cordeiro, R.M.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Effect of lipid oxidation on the channel properties of Cx26 hemichannels : a molecular dynamics study Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Archives of biochemistry and biophysics Abbreviated Journal
Volume 746 Issue Pages 109741-12
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Intercellular communication plays a crucial role in cancer, as well as other diseases, such as inflammation, tissue degeneration, and neurological disorders. One of the proteins responsible for this, are connexins (Cxs), which come together to form a hemichannel. When two hemichannels of opposite cells interact with each other, they form a gap junction (GJ) channel, connecting the intracellular space of these cells. They allow the passage of ions, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), and signaling molecules from the interior of one cell to another cell, thus playing an essential role in cell growth, differentiation, and homeostasis. The importance of GJs for disease induction and therapy development is becoming more appreciated, especially in the context of oncology. Studies have shown that one of the mechanisms to control the formation and disruption of GJs is mediated by lipid oxidation pathways, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we performed atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate how lipid oxidation influences the channel properties of Cx26 hemichannels, such as channel gating and permeability. Our results demonstrate that the Cx26 hemichannel is more compact in the presence of oxidized lipids, decreasing its pore diameter at the extracellular side and increasing it at the amino terminus domains, respectively. The permeability of the Cx26 hemichannel for water and RONS molecules is higher in the presence of oxidized lipids. The latter may facilitate the intracellular accumulation of RONS, possibly increasing oxidative stress in cells. A better understanding of this process will help to enhance the efficacy of oxidative stress-based cancer treatments.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001079100300001 Publication Date 2023-09-07
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-9861; 1096-0384 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 3.9 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9; 2023 IF: 3.165
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200282 Serial 9028
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Author Rezaei, M.; Ghasemitarei, M.; Razzokov, J.; Yusupov, M.; Ghorbanalilu, M.; Ejtehadi, M.R.
Title In silico study of the impact of oxidation on pyruvate transmission across the hVDAC1 protein channel Type A1 Journal article
Year 2024 Publication Archives of biochemistry and biophysics Abbreviated Journal
Volume 751 Issue Pages 109835-109837
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract The overexpression of voltage dependent anion channels (VDACs), particularly VDAC1, in cancer cells compared to normal cells, plays a crucial role in cancer cell metabolism, apoptosis regulation, and energy homeostasis. In this study, we used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the effect of a low level of VDAC1 oxidation (induced e.g., by cold atmospheric plasma (CAP)) on the pyruvate (Pyr) uptake by VDAC1. Inhibiting Pyr uptake through VDAC1 can suppress cancer cell proliferation. Our primary target was to study the translocation of Pyr across the native and oxidized forms of hVDAC1, the human VDAC1. Specifically, we employed MD simulations to analyze the hVDAC1 structure by modifying certain cysteine residues to cysteic acids and methionine residues to methionine sulfoxides, which allowed us to investigate the effect of oxidation. Our results showed that the free energy barrier for Pyr translocation through the native and oxidized channel was approximately 4.3 +/- 0.7 kJ mol-1 and 10.8 +/- 1.8 kJ mol-1, respectively. An increase in barrier results in a decrease in rate of Pyr permeation through the oxidized channel. Thus, our results indicate that low levels of CAP oxidation reduce Pyr translocation, resulting in decreased cancer cell proliferation. Therefore, low levels of oxidation are likely sufficient to treat cancer cells given the inhibition of Pyr uptake.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001127850500001 Publication Date 2023-11-23
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-9861; 1096-0384 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 3.9 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9; 2024 IF: 3.165
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:202185 Serial 9046
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Author Ulu Okudur, F.; Batuk, M.; Hadermann, J.; Safari, M.; De Sloovere, D.; Kumar Mylavarapu, S.; Joos, B.; D'Haen, J.; Van Bael, M.K.; Hardy, A.
Title Solution-gel-based surface modification of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4-δ with amorphous Li-Ti-O coating Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication RSC advances Abbreviated Journal
Volume 13 Issue 47 Pages 33146-33158
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract LNMO (LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4-delta) is a high-energy density positive electrode material for lithium ion batteries. Unfortunately, it suffers from capacity loss and impedance rise during cycling due to electrolyte oxidation and electrode/electrolyte interface instabilities at high operating voltages. Here, a solution-gel synthesis route was used to coat 0.5-2.5 mu m LNMO particles with amorphous Li-Ti-O (LTO) for improved Li conduction, surface structural stability and cyclability. High-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) analysis coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) showed Ti-rich amorphous coatings/islands or Ti-rich spinel layers on many of the LTO-modified LNMO facets, with a thickness varying from about 1 to 10 nm. The surface modification in the form of amorphous islands was mostly possible on high-energy crystal facets. Physicochemical observations were used to propose a molecular mechanism for the surface modification, combining insights from metalorganic chemistry with the crystallographic properties of LNMO. The improvements in functional properties were investigated in half cells. The cell impedance increased faster for the bare LNMO compared to amorphous LTO modified LNMO, resulting in R-ct values as high as 1247 Omega (after 1000 cycles) for bare LNMO, against 216 Omega for the modified material. At 10C, the modified material boosted a 15% increase in average discharge capacity. The improvements in electrochemical performance were attributed to the increase in electrochemically active surface area, as well as to improved HF-scavenging, resulting in the formation of protective byproducts, generating a more stable interface during prolonged cycling.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001102666700001 Publication Date 2023-11-09
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2046-2069 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 3.9 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9; 2023 IF: 3.108
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:202091 Serial 9096
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Author Bathula, G.; Rana, S.; Bandalla, S.; Dosarapu, V.; Mavurapu, S.; Rajeevan, V.V.A.; Sharma, B.; Jonnalagadda, S.B.; Baithy, M.; Vasam, C.S.
Title The role of WOx and dopants (ZrO₂ and SiO₂) on CeO₂-based nanostructure catalysts in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde under ambient conditions Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication RSC advances Abbreviated Journal
Volume 13 Issue 51 Pages 36242-36253
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Herein, the efficacy of WOx-promoted CeO2-SiO2 and CeO2-ZrO2 mixed oxide catalysts in the solvent-free selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde using molecular oxygen as an oxidant is reported. We evaluated the effects of the oxidant and catalyst concentration, reaction duration, and temperature on the reaction with an aim to optimize the reaction conditions. The as-prepared CeO2, CeO2-ZrO2, CeO2-SiO2, WOx/CeO2, WOx/CeO2-ZrO2, and WOx/CeO2-SiO2 catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N-2 adsorption-desorption, Raman spectroscopy, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (TPD-NH3), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These characterisation results indicated that the WOx/CeO2-SiO2 catalyst possessed improved physicochemical (i.e., structural, textural, and acidic) properties owing to the strong interactivity between WOx and CeO2-SiO2. A higher number of Ce3+ ions (I-u '''/I-Total) were created with the WOx/CeO2-SiO2 catalyst than those with the other catalysts in this work, indicating the generation of a high number of oxygen vacancies. The WOx/CeO2-SiO2 catalyst exhibited a high conversion of benzyl alcohol (>99%) and a high selectivity (100%) toward benzaldehyde compared to the other promoted catalysts (i.e., WOx/CeO2 and WOx/CeO2-ZrO2), which is attributed to the smaller particle size of the WOx and CeO2 and their high specific surface area, more significant number of acidic sites, and superior number of oxygen vacancies. The WOx/CeO2-SiO2 catalyst could be quickly recovered and utilized at least five times without suffering any appreciable activity loss.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001123102800001 Publication Date 2023-12-12
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2046-2069 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 3.9 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9; 2023 IF: 3.108
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:202115 Serial 9107
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Author Poppe, R.; Roth, N.; Neder, R.B.; Palatinus, L.; Iversen, B.B.; Hadermann, J.
Title Refining short-range order parameters from the three-dimensional diffuse scattering in single-crystal electron diffraction data Type A1 Journal article
Year 2024 Publication IUCrJ Abbreviated Journal
Volume 11 Issue 1 Pages 82-91
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Our study compares short-range order parameters refined from the diffuse scattering in single-crystal X-ray and single-crystal electron diffraction data. Nb0.84CoSb was chosen as a reference material. The correlations between neighbouring vacancies and the displacements of Sb and Co atoms were refined from the diffuse scattering using a Monte Carlo refinement in DISCUS. The difference between the Sb and Co displacements refined from the diffuse scattering and the Sb and Co displacements refined from the Bragg reflections in single-crystal X-ray diffraction data is 0.012 (7) angstrom for the refinement on diffuse scattering in single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and 0.03 (2) angstrom for the refinement on the diffuse scattering in single-crystal electron diffraction data. As electron diffraction requires much smaller crystals than X-ray diffraction, this opens up the possibility of refining short-range order parameters in many technologically relevant materials for which no crystals large enough for single-crystal X-ray diffraction are available.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001168018300012 Publication Date 2023-12-14
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2052-2525 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 3.9 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9; 2024 IF: 5.793
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:205513 Serial 9170
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Author Dixit, H.; Saniz, R.; Lamoen, D.; Partoens, B.
Title Accurate pseudopotential description of the GW bandstructure of ZnO Type A1 Journal article
Year 2011 Publication Computer physics communications Abbreviated Journal Comput Phys Commun
Volume 182 Issue 9 Pages 2029-2031
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract We present the GW band structure of ZnO in its wurtzite (WZ), zincblende (ZB) and rocksalt (RS) phases at the Γ point, calculated within the GW approximation. We have used a Zn20+ pseudopotential which is essential for the adequate treatment of the exchange interaction in the self-energy. The accuracy of the pseudopotential used is also discussed. The effect of the pd hybridization on the GW corrections to the band gap is correlated by comparing the ZB and RS phase.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Amsterdam Editor
Language Wos 000292675100062 Publication Date 2011-02-17
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0010-4655; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 3.936 Times cited 18 Open Access
Notes ; ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.936; 2011 IF: 3.268
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:90761 Serial 51
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Author Sébilleau, D.; Natoli, C.; Gavaza, G.M.; Zhao, H.; da Pieve, F.; Hatada, K.
Title MsSpec-1.0 : a multiple scattering package for electron spectroscopies in material science Type A1 Journal article
Year 2011 Publication Computer physics communications Abbreviated Journal Comput Phys Commun
Volume 182 Issue 12 Pages 2567-2579
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract We present a multiple scattering package to calculate the cross-section of various spectroscopies namely photoelectron diffraction (PED), Auger electron diffraction (AED), X-ray absorption (XAS), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and Auger photoelectron coincidence spectroscopy (APECS). This package is composed of three main codes, computing respectively the cluster, the potential and the cross-section. In the latter case, in order to cover a range of energies as wide as possible, three different algorithms are provided to perform the multiple scattering calculation: full matrix inversion, series expansion or correlation expansion of the multiple scattering matrix. Numerous other small Fortran codes or bash/csh shell scripts are also provided to perform specific tasks. The cross-section code is built by the user from a library of subroutines using a makefile.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Amsterdam Editor
Language Wos 000295769700014 Publication Date 2011-07-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0010-4655; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 3.936 Times cited 6 Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.936; 2011 IF: 3.268
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:93288 Serial 2208
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Author Arsoski, V.V.; Čukarić, N.A.; Tadic, M.Z.; Peeters, F.M.
Title An efficient finite-difference scheme for computation of electron states in free-standing and core-shell quantum wires Type A1 Journal article
Year 2015 Publication Computer physics communications Abbreviated Journal Comput Phys Commun
Volume 197 Issue 197 Pages 17-26
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract The electron states in axially symmetric quantum wires are computed by means of the effective-mass Schrodinger equation, which is written in cylindrical coordinates phi, rho, and z. We show that a direct discretization of the Schrodinger equation by central finite differences leads to a non-symmetric Hamiltonian matrix. Because diagonalization of such matrices is more complex it is advantageous to transform it in a symmetric form. This can be done by the Liouville-like transformation proposed by Rizea et al. (2008), which replaces the wave function psi(rho) with the function F(rho) = psi(rho)root rho and transforms the Hamiltonian accordingly. Even though a symmetric Hamiltonian matrix is produced by this procedure, the computed wave functions are found to be inaccurate near the origin, and the accuracy of the energy levels is not very high. In order to improve on this, we devised a finite-difference scheme which discretizes the Schrodinger equation in the first step, and then applies the Liouville-like transformation to the difference equation. Such a procedure gives a symmetric Hamiltonian matrix, resulting in an accuracy comparable to the one obtained with the finite element method. The superior efficiency of the new finite-difference scheme (FDM) is demonstrated for a few p-dependent one-dimensional potentials which are usually employed to model the electron states in free-standing and core shell quantum wires. The new scheme is compared with the other FDM schemes for solving the effective-mass Schrodinger equation, and is found to deliver energy levels with much smaller numerical error for all the analyzed potentials. It also gives more accurate results than the scheme of Rizea et al., except for the ground state of an infinite rectangular potential in freestanding quantum wires. Moreover, the PT symmetry is invoked to explain similarities and differences between the considered FDM schemes. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Amsterdam Editor
Language Wos 000362919500003 Publication Date 2015-08-08
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0010-4655 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 3.936 Times cited 4 Open Access
Notes ; This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development of Serbia (project III 45003) and the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (Belgium). ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.936; 2015 IF: 3.112
Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:129412 Serial 4139
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Author Puglisi, A.; Bassini, S.; Reimhult, E.
Title Cyclodextrin-appended superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as cholesterol-mopping agents Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Frontiers In Chemistry Abbreviated Journal Front Chem
Volume 9 Issue Pages 795598
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation); Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
Abstract Cholesterol plays a crucial role in major cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and rare genetic disorders showing altered cholesterol metabolism. Cyclodextrins (CDs) have shown promising therapeutic efficacy based on their capacity to sequester and mobilise cholesterol. However, the administration of monomeric CDs suffers from several drawbacks due to their lack of specificity and poor pharmacokinetics. We present core-shell superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) functionalised with CDs appended to poly (2-methyl-2-oxazoline) polymers grafted in a dense brush to the iron oxide core. The CD-decorated nanoparticles (CySPIONs) are designed so that the macrocycle is specifically cleaved off the nanoparticle’s shell at a slightly acidic pH. In the intended use, free monomeric CDs will then mobilise cholesterol out of the lysosome to the cytosol and beyond through the formation of an inclusion complex. Hence, its suitability as a therapeutic platform to remove cholesterol in the lysosomal compartment. Synthesis and full characterization of the polymer as well as of the core-shell SPION are presented. Cholesterol-binding activity is shown through an enzymatic assay.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos Publication Date 2021-11-18
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2296-2646 ISBN Additional Links UA library record
Impact Factor (up) 3.994 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.994
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:192273 Serial 7749
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Author Dragan, A.-M.; Truta, F.M.; Tertis, M.; Florea, A.; Schram, J.; Cernat, A.; Feier, B.; De Wael, K.; Cristea, C.; Oprean, R.
Title Electrochemical fingerprints of illicit drugs on graphene and multi-walled carbon nanotubes Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Frontiers In Chemistry Abbreviated Journal Front Chem
Volume 9 Issue Pages 641147
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract Illicit drugs use and abuse remains an increasing challenge for worldwide authorities and, therefore, it is important to have accurate methods to detect them in seized samples, biological fluids and wastewaters. They are recently classified as the latest group of emerging pollutants as their consumption increased tremendously in recent years. Nanomaterials have gained much attention over the last decade in the development of sensors for a myriad of applications. The applicability of these nanomaterials, functionalized or not, significantly increases and it is therefore highly suitable for use in the detection of illicit drugs. We have assessed the suitability of various nanoplatforms, such as graphene (GPH), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) for the electrochemical detection of illicit drugs. GPH and MWCNTs were chosen as the most suitable platforms and cocaine, 3,4-methylendioxymethamfetamine (MDMA), 3-methylmethcathinone (MMC) and alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (PVP) were tested. Due to the hydrophobicity of the nanomaterials-based platforms which led to low signals, two strategies were followed namely, pretreatment of the electrodes in sulfuric acid by cyclic voltammetry and addition of Tween 20 to the detection buffer. Both strategies led to an increase in the oxidation signal of illicit drugs. Binary mixtures of illicit drugs with common adulterants found in street samples were also investigated. The proposed strategies allowed the sensitive detection of illicit drugs in the presence of most adulterants. The suitability of the proposed sensors for the detection of illicit drugs in spiked wastewaters was finally assessed.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000634708900001 Publication Date 2021-03-16
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2296-2646 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 3.994 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.994
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:177704 Serial 7861
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Author Wang, J.; Gauquelin, N.; Huijben, M.; Verbeeck, J.; Rijnders, G.; Koster, G.
Title Metal-insulator transition of SrVO 3 ultrathin films embedded in SrVO 3 / SrTiO 3 superlattices Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Applied Physics Letters Abbreviated Journal Appl Phys Lett
Volume 117 Issue 13 Pages 133105
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract The metal-insulator transition (MIT) in strongly correlated oxides is a topic of great interest for its potential applications, such as Mott field effect transistors and sensors. We report that the MIT in high quality epitaxial SrVO3 (SVO) thin films is present as the film thickness is reduced, lowering the dimensionality of the system, and electron-electron correlations start to become the dominant interactions. The critical thickness of 3 u.c is achieved by avoiding effects due to off-stoichiometry using optimal growth conditions and excluding any surface effects by a STO capping layer. Compared to the single SVO thin films, conductivity enhancement in SVO/STO superlattices is observed. This can be explained by the interlayer coupling effect between SVO sublayers in the superlattices. Magnetoresistance and Hall measurements indicate that the dominant driving force of MIT is the electron–electron interaction.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000577126100001 Publication Date 2020-09-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-6951 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited 8 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, 13HTSM01 ; Approved Most recent IF: 4; 2020 IF: 3.411
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:172461 Serial 6415
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Author Vanherck, J.; Bacaksiz, C.; Sorée, B.; Milošević, M.V.; Magnus, W.
Title 2D ferromagnetism at finite temperatures under quantum scrutiny Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Applied Physics Letters Abbreviated Journal Appl Phys Lett
Volume 117 Issue 5 Pages 052401
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Recent years have seen a tremendous rise of two-dimensional (2D) magnetic materials, several of which were verified experimentally. However, most of the theoretical predictions to date rely on ab initio methods, at zero temperature and fluctuation-free, while one certainly expects detrimental quantum fluctuations at finite temperatures. Here, we present the solution of the quantum Heisenberg model for honeycomb/hexagonal lattices with anisotropic exchange interaction up to third nearest neighbors and in an applied field in arbitrary direction, which answers the question whether long-range magnetization can indeed survive in the ultrathin limit of materials, up to which temperature, and what the characteristic excitation (magnon) frequencies are, all essential to envisaged applications of magnetic 2D materials. We find that long-range magnetic order persists at finite temperature for materials with overall easy-axis anisotropy. We validate the calculations on the examples of monolayers CrI3, CrBr3, and MnSe2. Moreover, we provide an easy-to-use tool to calculate Curie temperatures of new 2D computational materials.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000559330100001 Publication Date 2020-08-03
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-6951; 1077-3118 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited 8 Open Access
Notes ; This work was supported by the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO) and the special research funds of the University of Antwerp (BOF-UA). ; Approved Most recent IF: 4; 2020 IF: 3.411
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:171176 Serial 6445
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Author Paulus, A.; Hendrickx, M.; Bercx, M.; Karakulina, O.M.; Kirsanova, M.A.; Lamoen, D.; Hadermann, J.; Abakumov, A.M.; Van Bael, M.K.; Hardy, A.
Title An in-depth study of Sn substitution in Li-rich/Mn-rich NMC as a cathode material for Li-ion batteries Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Journal of the Chemical Society : Dalton transactions Abbreviated Journal
Volume 49 Issue 30 Pages 10486-10497
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Layered Li-rich/Mn-rich NMC (LMR-NMC) is characterized by high initial specific capacities of more than 250 mA h g(-1), lower cost due to a lower Co content and higher thermal stability than LiCoO2. However, its commercialisation is currently still hampered by significant voltage fade, which is caused by irreversible transition metal ion migration to emptied Li positionsviatetrahedral interstices upon electrochemical cycling. This structural change is strongly correlated with anionic redox chemistry of the oxygen sublattice and has a detrimental effect on electrochemical performance. In a fully charged state, up to 4.8 Vvs.Li/Li+, Mn4+ is prone to migrate to the Li layer. The replacement of Mn4+ for an isovalent cation such as Sn4+ which does not tend to adopt tetrahedral coordination and shows a higher metal-oxygen bond strength is considered to be a viable strategy to stabilize the layered structure upon extended electrochemical cycling, hereby decreasing voltage fade. The influence of Sn4+ on the voltage fade in partially charged LMR-NMC is not yet reported in the literature, and therefore, we have investigated the structure and the corresponding electrochemical properties of LMR-NMC with different Sn concentrations. We determined the substitution limit of Sn4+ in Li1.2Ni0.13Co0.13Mn0.54-xSnxO2 by powder X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy to be x approximate to 0.045. The limited solubility of Sn is subsequently confirmed by density functional theory calculations. Voltage fade for x= 0 andx= 0.027 has been comparatively assessed within the 3.00 V-4.55 V (vs.Li/Li+) potential window, from which it is concluded that replacing Mn4+ by Sn4+ cannot be considered as a viable strategy to inhibit voltage fade within this window, at least with the given restricted doping level.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000555330900018 Publication Date 2020-07-09
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0300-9246; 1477-9226; 1472-7773 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes ; The authors acknowledge Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) project number G040116N for funding. The authors are grateful to Dr Ken Elen and Greet Cuyvers (imo-imomec, UHasselt and imec) for respectively preliminary PXRD measurements and performing ICP-AES on the monometal precursors. Dr Dmitry Rupasov (Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology) is acknowledged for performing TGA measurements on the metal sulfate precursors. The computational resources and services used in this work were provided by the VSC (Flemish Supercomputer Center) and the HPC infrastructure of the University of Antwerp (CalcUA), both funded by the FWO-Vlaanderen and the Flemish Government-department EWI. ; Approved Most recent IF: 4; 2020 IF: 4.029
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:171149 Serial 6450
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Author Li, L.; Kong, X.; Chen, X.; Li, J.; Sanyal, B.; Peeters, F.M.
Title Monolayer 1T-LaN₂ : Dirac spin-gapless semiconductor of p-state and Chern insulator with a high Chern number Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Applied Physics Letters Abbreviated Journal Appl Phys Lett
Volume 117 Issue 14 Pages 143101
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Two-dimensional transition-metal dinitrides have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their rich magnetic properties. Here, we focus on rare-earth-metal elements and propose a monolayer of lanthanum dinitride with a 1T structural phase, 1T-LaN2. Using first-principles calculations, we systematically investigated the structure, stability, magnetism, and band structure of this material. It is a flexible and stable monolayer exhibiting a low lattice thermal conductivity, which is promising for future thermoelectric devices. The monolayer shows the ferromagnetic ground state with a spin-polarized band structure. Two linear spin-polarized bands cross at the Fermi level forming a Dirac point, which is formed by the p atomic orbitals of the N atoms, indicating that monolayer 1T-LaN2 is a Dirac spin-gapless semiconductor of p-state. When the spin-orbit coupling is taken into account, a large nontrivial indirect bandgap (86/354meV) can be opened at the Dirac point, and three chiral edge states are obtained, corresponding to a high Chern number of C=3, implying that monolayer 1T-LaN2 is a Chern insulator. Importantly, this kind of band structure is expected to occur in more monolayers of rare-earth-metal dinitride with a 1T structural phase.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000578551800001 Publication Date 2020-10-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-6951; 1077-3118 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited 19 Open Access
Notes ; This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province (Grant No. A2020202031), the FLAG-ERA project TRANS2DTMD, the Swedish Research Council project grant (No. 2016-05366), and the Swedish Research Links program grant (No. 2017-05447). The resources and services used in this work were provided by the VSC (Flemish Supercomputer Center), funded by the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO) and the Flemish Government, and Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing (SNIC). A portion of this research (Xiangru Kong) was conducted at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, which is a DOE Office of Science User Facility. Xin Chen thanks the China scholarship council for financial support from the China Scholarship Council (CSC, No. 201606220031). ; Approved Most recent IF: 4; 2020 IF: 3.411
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:172674 Serial 6564
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Author Dong, H.M.; Tao, Z.H.; Li, L.L.; Huang, F.; Xu, W.; Peeters, F.M.
Title Substrate dependent terahertz response of monolayer WS₂ Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Applied Physics Letters Abbreviated Journal Appl Phys Lett
Volume 116 Issue 20 Pages 1-4
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract We investigate experimentally the terahertz (THz) optoelectronic properties of monolayer (ML) tungsten disulfide (WS2) placed on different substrates using THz time-domain spectroscopy (TDS). We find that the THz optical response of n-type ML WS2 depends sensitively on the choice of the substrate. This dependence is found to be a consequence of substrate induced charge transfer, extra scattering centers, and electronic localization. Through fitting the experimental results with the Drude-Smith formula, we can determine the key sample parameters (e.g., the electronic relaxation time, electron density, and electronic localization factor) of ML WS2 on different substrates. The temperature dependence of these parameters is examined. Our results show that the THz TDS technique is an efficient non-contact method that can be utilized to characterize and investigate the optoelectronic properties of nano-devices based on ML WS2.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000536282300001 Publication Date 2020-05-20
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-6951; 1077-3118 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited 17 Open Access
Notes ; This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 2018GF09) and by the National Natural Science foundation of China (Nos. U1930116 and 11574319). ; Approved Most recent IF: 4; 2020 IF: 3.411
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:170255 Serial 6620
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Author Kong, X.; Li, L.; Liang, L.; Peeters, F.M.; Liu, X.-J.
Title The magnetic, electronic, and light-induced topological properties in two-dimensional hexagonal FeX₂ (X=Cl, Br, I) monolayers Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Applied Physics Letters Abbreviated Journal Appl Phys Lett
Volume 116 Issue 19 Pages 192404-192405
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Using Floquet-Bloch theory, we propose to realize chiral topological phases in two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal FeX2 (X=Cl, Br, I) monolayers under irradiation of circularly polarized light. Such 2D FeX2 monolayers are predicted to be dynamically stable and exhibit both ferromagnetic and semiconducting properties. To capture the full topological physics of the magnetic semiconductor under periodic driving, we adopt ab initio Wannier-based tight-binding methods for the Floquet-Bloch bands, with the light-induced bandgap closings and openings being obtained as the light field strength increases. The calculations of slabs with open boundaries show the existence of chiral edge states. Interestingly, the topological transitions with branches of chiral edge states changing from zero to one and from one to two by tuning the light amplitude are obtained, showing that the topological Floquet phase of high Chern number can be induced in the present Floquet-Bloch systems. Published under license by AIP Publishing.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000533500900001 Publication Date 2020-05-11
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-6951; 1077-3118 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited 18 Open Access
Notes ; This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (MOST) (Grant No. 2016YFA0301604), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Nos. 11574008, 11761161003, 11825401, and 11921005), the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Science (Grant No. XDB28000000), the Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO-Vl), and the FLAG-ERA Project TRANS 2D TMD. The computational resources and services used in this work were provided by the VSC (Flemish Supercomputer Center), funded by the Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO) and the Flemish Government-Department EWI-and the National Supercomputing Center in Tianjin, funded by the Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter. This research also used resources of the Compute and Data Environment for Science (CADES) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which was supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC05-00OR22725. X.K. and L.L. also acknowledge the work conducted at the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, which is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science User Facility. ; Approved Most recent IF: 4; 2020 IF: 3.411
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:169496 Serial 6623
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Author Guo, J.; Clima, S.; Pourtois, G.; Van Houdt, J.
Title Identifying alternative ferroelectric materials beyond Hf(Zr)O-₂ Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Applied Physics Letters Abbreviated Journal Appl Phys Lett
Volume 117 Issue 26 Pages 262903
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract A database-driven approach combined with ab initio density functional theory (DFT) simulations is used to identify and simulate alternative ferroelectric materials beyond Hf(Zr)O-2. The database-driven screening method identifies a class of wurtzite ferroelectric materials. DFT simulations of wurtzite magnesium chalcogenides, including MgS, MgSe, and MgTe, show their potential to achieve improved ferroelectric (FE) stability, simple atomistic unit cell structure, and large FE polarization. Strain engineering can effectively modulate the FE switching barrier height for facilitating FE switching. The effect of the piezoelectric property on the FE switching barrier heights is also examined.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000608049700003 Publication Date 2020-12-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-6951; 1077-3118 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4; 2020 IF: 3.411
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:176053 Serial 6766
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Author Mallick, S.; Zhang, W.; Batuk, M.; Gibbs, A.S.; Hadermann, J.; Halasyamani, P.S.; Hayward, M.A.
Title The crystal and defect structures of polar KBiNb2O7 Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Journal of the Chemical Society : Dalton transactions Abbreviated Journal Dalton T
Volume 51 Issue 5 Pages 1866-1873
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract KBiNb2O7 was prepared from RbBiNb2O7 by a sequence of cation exchange reactions which first convert RbBiNb2O7 to LiBiNb2O7, before KBiNb2O7 is formed by a further K-for-Li cation exchange. A combination of neutron, synchrotron X-ray and electron diffraction data reveal that KBiNb2O7 adopts a polar, layered, perovskite structure (space group A11m) in which the BiNb2O7 layers are stacked in a (0, ½, z) arrangement, with the K+ cations located in half of the available 10-coordinate interlayer cation sites. The inversion symmetry of the phase is broken by a large displacement of the Bi3+ cations parallel to the y-axis. HAADF-STEM images reveal that KBiNb2O7 exhibits frequent stacking faults which convert the (0. ½, z) layer stacking to (½, 0, z) stacking and vice versa, essentially switching the x- and y-axes of the material. By fitting the complex diffraction peak shape of the SXRD data collected from KBiNb2O7 it is estimated that each layer has approximately an ~11% chance of being defective – a high level which is attributed to the lack of cooperative NbO6 tilting in the material, which limits the lattice strain associated with each fault.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000741540300001 Publication Date 2022-01-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1477-9226 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Experiments at the Diamond Light Source were performed as part of the Block Allocation Group award “Oxford/Warwick Solid State Chemistry BAG to probe composition-structure-property relationships in solids” (EE18786). Experiments at the ISIS pulsed neutron facility were supported by a beam time allocation from the STFC (RB 2000148). SM thanks Somerville College for an Oxford Ryniker Lloyd scholarship. PSH and WZ thank the National Science Foundation (DMR-2002319) for support. Approved Most recent IF: 4
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:185504 Serial 6951
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Author Gao, C.; Hofer, C.; Jannis, D.; Béché, A.; Verbeeck, J.; Pennycook, T.J.
Title Overcoming contrast reversals in focused probe ptychography of thick materials: An optimal pipeline for efficiently determining local atomic structure in materials science Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Applied physics letters Abbreviated Journal Appl Phys Lett
Volume 121 Issue 8 Pages 081906
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Ptychography provides highly efficient imaging in scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), but questions have remained over its applicability to strongly scattering samples such as those most commonly seen in materials science. Although contrast reversals can appear in ptychographic phase images as the projected potentials of the sample increase, we show here how these can be easily overcome by a small amount of defocus. The amount of defocus is small enough that it not only can exist naturally when focusing using the annular dark field (ADF) signal but can also be adjusted post acquisition. The ptychographic images of strongly scattering materials are clearer at finite doses than other STEM techniques and can better reveal light atomic columns within heavy lattices. In addition, data for ptychography can now be collected simultaneously with the fastest of ADF scans. This combination of sensitivity and interpretability presents an ideal workflow for materials science.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000844403300006 Publication Date 2022-08-22
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-6951 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited 9 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes European Research Council, 802123-HDEM ; HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council, 823717-ESTEEM3 ; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, G042920N ; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, G042820N ; Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, 101017720 ; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, G013122N ; esteem3reported; esteem3jra Approved Most recent IF: 4
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:190670 Serial 7120
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Author Yu, Y.; Xie, X.; Liu, X.; Li, J.; Peeters, F.M.; Li, L.
Title Two-dimensional semimetal states in transition metal trichlorides : a first-principles study Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Applied physics letters Abbreviated Journal Appl Phys Lett
Volume 121 Issue 11 Pages 112405-112407
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract The two-dimensional (2D) transition metal trihalide (TMX3, X = Cl, Br, I) family has attracted considerable attention in recent years due to the realization of CrCl3, CrBr3, and CrI3 monolayers. Up to now, the main focus of the theoretically predicted TMX3 monolayers has been on the Chern insulator states, which can realize the quantum anomalous Hall effect. Here, using first-principles calculations, we theoretically demonstrate that the stable OsCl3 monolayer has a ferromagnetic ground state and a spin-polarized Dirac point without spin-orbit coupling (SOC), which disappears in the band structure of a Janus OsBr1.5Cl1.5 monolayer. We find that OsCl3 exhibits in-plane magnetization when SOC is included. By manipulating the magnetization direction along the C-2 symmetry axis of the OsCl3 structure, a gapless half-Dirac semimetal state with SOC can be achieved, which is different from the gapped Chern insulator state. Both semimetal states of OsCl3 monolayer without and with SOC exhibit a linear half-Dirac point (twofold degenerate) with high Fermi velocities. The achievement of the 2D semimetal state with SOC is expected to be found in other TMX3 monolayers, and we confirm it in a TiCl3 monolayer. This provides a different perspective to study the band structure with SOC of the 2D TMX3 family.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000863219400003 Publication Date 2022-09-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-6951; 1077-3118 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited 4 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191541 Serial 7223
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Author Daele, K.V.; Arenas‐Esteban, D.; Choukroun, D.; Hoekx, S.; Rossen, A.; Daems, N.; Pant, D.; Bals, S.; Breugelmans, T.
Title Enhanced Pomegranate‐Structured SnO2Electrocatalysts for the Electrochemical CO2Reduction to Formate Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ChemElectroChem Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT)
Abstract Although most state-of-the-art Sn-based electrocatalysts yield promising results in terms of selectivity and catalyst activity, their stability remains insufficient to date. Here, we demonstrate the successful application of the recently developed pomegranate-structured SnO2 (Pom. SnO2) and SnO2@C (Pom. SnO2@C) nanocomposite electrocatalysts for the efficient electrochemical conversion of CO2 to formate. With an initial selectivity of 83 and 86% towards formate and an operating potential of -0.72 V and -0.64 V vs. RHE, respectively, these pomegranate SnO2 electrocatalysts are able to compete with most of the current state-of-the-art Sn-based electrocatalysts in terms of activity and selectivity. Given the importance of electrocatalyst stability, long-term experiments (24 h) were performed and a temporary loss in selectivity for the Pom. SnO2@C electrocatalyst was largely restored to its initial selectivity upon drying and exposure to air. Of all the used (24 h) electrocatalysts, the pomegranate SnO2@C had the highest selectivity over a time period of one hour, reaching an average recovered FE of 85%, while the commercial SnO2 and bare pomegranate SnO2 electrocatalysts reached an average of 79 and 80% FE towards formate, respectively. Furthermore, the pomegranate structure of Pom. SnO2@C was largely preserved due to the presence of the heterogeneous carbon shell, which acts as a protective layer, physically inhibiting particle segregation/pulverisation and agglomeration.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000936694800001 Publication Date 2023-02-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2196-0216 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes European Regional Development Fund, E2C 2S03-019 ; Approved Most recent IF: 4; 2023 IF: 4.136
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:195228 Serial 7249
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Author Kourmoulakis, G.; Michail, A.; Paradisanos, I.; Marie, X.; Glazov, M.M.; Jorissen, B.; Covaci, L.; Stratakis, E.; Papagelis, K.; Parthenios, J.; Kioseoglou, G.
Title Biaxial strain tuning of exciton energy and polarization in monolayer WS2 Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2023 Publication Applied Physics Letters Abbreviated Journal
Volume 123 Issue 22 Pages
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) ;
Abstract We perform micro-photoluminescence and Raman experiments to examine the impact of biaxial tensile strain on the optical properties of WS2 monolayers. A strong shift on the order of −130 meV per % of strain is observed in the neutral exciton emission at room temperature. Under near-resonant excitation, we measure a monotonic decrease in the circular polarization degree under the applied strain. We experimentally separate the effect of the strain-induced energy detuning and evaluate the pure effect coming from the biaxial strain. The analysis shows that the suppression of the circular polarization degree under the biaxial strain is related to an interplay of energy and polarization relaxation channels as well as to variations in the exciton oscillator strength affecting the long-range exchange interaction.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001124156400003 Publication Date 2023-11-27
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-6951 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited Open Access
Notes Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation, HFRI-FM17-3034 ; Approved Most recent IF: 4; 2023 IF: 3.411
Call Number CMT @ cmt @c:irua:202178 Serial 8991
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Author Li, L.L.; Gillen, R.; Palummo, M.; Milošević, M.V.; Peeters, F.M.
Title Strain tunable interlayer and intralayer excitons in vertically stacked MoSe₂/WSe₂ heterobilayers Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Applied physics letters Abbreviated Journal
Volume 123 Issue 3 Pages 033102-33106
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Recently, interlayer and intralayer excitons in transition metal dichalcogenide heterobilayers have been studied both experimentally and theoretically. In spite of a growing interest, these layer-resolved excitons in the presence of external stimuli, such as strain, remain not fully understood. Here, using density-functional theory calculations with many-body effects, we explore the excitonic properties of vertically stacked MoSe2/WSe2 heterobilayer in the presence of in-plane biaxial strain of up to 5%. We calculate the strain dependence of exciton absorption spectrum, oscillator strength, wave function, and binding energy by solving the Bethe-Salpeter equation on top of the standard GW approach. We identify the interlayer and intralayer excitons by analyzing their electron-hole weights and spatial wave functions. We show that with the increase in strain magnitude, the absorption spectrum of the interlayer and intralayer excitons is red-shifted and re-ordered, and the binding energies of these layer-resolved excitons decrease monotonically and almost linearly. We derive the sensitivity of exciton binding energy to the applied strain and find that the intralayer excitons are more sensitive to strain than the interlayer excitons. For instance, a sensitivity of -7.9 meV/% is derived for the intra-MoSe2-layer excitons, which is followed by -7.4 meV/% for the intra-WSe2-layer excitons, and by -4.2 meV/% for the interlayer excitons. Our results indicate that interlayer and intralayer excitons in vertically stacked MoSe2/WSe2 heterobilayer are efficiently tunable by in-plane biaxial strain.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001033604700003 Publication Date 2023-07-20
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-6951; 1077-3118 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited 2 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4; 2023 IF: 3.411
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198382 Serial 8823
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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 UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor (up) 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 Khan, S.U.; Matshitse, R.; Borah, R.; Nemakal, M.; Moiseeva, E.O.; Dubinina, T.V.; Nyokong, T.; Verbruggen, S.W.; De Wael, K.
Title Coupling of phthalocyanines with plasmonic gold nanoparticles by click chemistry for an enhanced singlet oxygen based photoelectrochemical sensing Type A1 Journal article
Year 2024 Publication ChemElectroChem Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-11
Keywords A1 Journal article; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab); Antwerp engineering, PhotoElectroChemistry & Sensing (A-PECS)
Abstract Coupling photosensitizers (PSs) with plasmonic nanoparticles increases the photocatalytic activity of PSs as the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of plasmonic nanoparticles leads to extreme concentration of light in their vicinity known as the near-field enhancement effect. To realize this in a colloidal phase, efficient conjugation of the PS molecules with the plasmonic nanoparticle surface is critical. In this work, we demonstrate the coupling of phthalocyanine (Pc) molecules with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the colloidal phase via click chemistry. This conjugated Pc-AuNPs colloidal system is shown to enhance the photocatalytic singlet oxygen (1O2) production over non-conjugated Pcs and hence improve the photoelectrochemical detection of phenols. The plasmonic enhancement of the 1O2 generation by Pcs was clearly elucidated by complementary experimental and computational classical electromagnetic models. The dependence of plasmonic enhancement on the spectral position of the excitation laser wavelength and the absorbance of the Pc molecules with respect to the wavelength specific near-field enhancement is clearly demonstrated. A high similar to 8 times enhancement is obtained with green laser (532 nm) at the LSPR due to the maximum near-field enhancement at the resonance wavelength. Zinc phthalocyanine is covalently linked to plasmonic AuNPs via click chemistry to investigate the synergistic effect that boosts the overall activity toward the detection of HQ under visible light illumination. The 1O2 quantum yield of ZnPc improved significantly after conjugating with AuNPs, resulting in enhanced photoelectrochemical activity. image
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001214481000001 Publication Date 2024-05-02
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2196-0216 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor (up) 4 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4; 2024 IF: 4.136
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:205962 Serial 9142
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