|   | 
Details
   web
Records
Author Zhang, Y.; van Schayck, J.P.; Pedrazo-Tardajos, A.; Claes, N.; Noteborn, W.E.M.; Lu, P.-H.; Duimel, H.; Dunin-Borkowski, R.E.; Bals, S.; Peters, P.J.; Ravelli, R.B.G.
Title Charging of vitreous samples in cryogenic electron microscopy mitigated by graphene Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ACS nano Abbreviated Journal
Volume 17 Issue 16 Pages 15836-15846
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Cryogenic electronmicroscopy can provide high-resolution reconstructionsof macromolecules embedded in a thin layer of ice from which atomicmodels can be built de novo. However, the interactionbetween the ionizing electron beam and the sample results in beam-inducedmotion and image distortion, which limit the attainable resolutions.Sample charging is one contributing factor of beam-induced motionsand image distortions, which is normally alleviated by including partof the supporting conducting film within the beam-exposed region.However, routine data collection schemes avoid strategies wherebythe beam is not in contact with the supporting film, whose rationaleis not fully understood. Here we characterize electrostatic chargingof vitreous samples, both in imaging and in diffraction mode. We mitigatesample charging by depositing a single layer of conductive grapheneon top of regular EM grids. We obtained high-resolution single-particleanalysis (SPA) reconstructions at 2 & ANGS; when the electron beamonly irradiates the middle of the hole on graphene-coated grids, usingdata collection schemes that previously failed to produce sub 3 & ANGS;reconstructions without the graphene layer. We also observe that theSPA data obtained with the graphene-coated grids exhibit a higher b factor and reduced particle movement compared to dataobtained without the graphene layer. This mitigation of charging couldhave broad implications for various EM techniques, including SPA andcryotomography, and for the study of radiation damage and the developmentof future sample carriers. Furthermore, it may facilitate the explorationof more dose-efficient, scanning transmission EM based SPA techniques.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001041649900001 Publication Date 2023-08-02
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1936-0851 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 17.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes We thank H. Nguyen for editing the manuscript. We warmly thank the M4i Microscopy CORE Lab team of FHML Maastricht University (MU) for their support and collaboration and Eve Timlin and Ye Gao (MU) for providing protein samples. Members of the Amsterdam Scientific Instruments team are acknowledged for their Timepix detector support. This work benefited from access to The Netherlands Centre for Electron Nanoscopy (NeCEN) with assistance from Ludovic Renault and Meindert Lamers. The authors acknowledge financial support of the Netherlands Electron Microscopy Infrastructure (NEMI), project number 184.034.014 of the National Roadmap for Large-Scale Research Infrastructure of the Dutch Research Council (NWO), the PPP Allowance made available by Health-Holland, Top Sector Life Sciences & Health, to stimulate public-private partnerships, project 4DEM, number LSHM21029, and the LINK program from the Province of Limburg, The Netherlands, as well as financial support from the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Programme by grant no. 815128 (REALNANO). Approved Most recent IF: 17.1; 2023 IF: 13.942
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198376 Serial 8840
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Wang, Y.; Yuan, Y.; Liao, X.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Zhao, Y.; Sun, C.
Title Chip-based in situ TEM investigation of structural thermal instability in aged layered cathode Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Nanoscale Advances Abbreviated Journal
Volume 5 Issue 16 Pages 4182-4190
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Thermally induced oxygen release is an intrinsic structural instability in layered cathodes, which causes thermal runaway issues and becomes increasingly critical with the continuous improvement in energy density. Furthermore, thermal runaway events always occur in electrochemically aged cathodes, where the coupling of the thermal and electrochemical effect remains elusive. Herein, we report the anomalous segregation of cobalt metal in an aged LiCoO2 cathode, which is attributed to the local exposure of the high-energy (100) surface of LiCoO2 and weak interface Co-O dangling bonds significantly promoting the diffusion of Co. The presence of the LCO-Co interface severely aggregated the oxygen release in the form of dramatic Co growth. A unique particle-to-particle oxygen release pathway was also found, starting from the isolated high reduction areas induced by the cycling heterogeneity. This study provides atomistic insight into the robust coupling between the intrinsic structural instability and electrochemical cycling.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001030149900001 Publication Date 2023-07-14
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2516-0230 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 4.7 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.7; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198281 Serial 8841
Permanent link to this record
 

 
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 (up) 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 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
Permanent link to this record
 

 
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 (up) 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.
Address
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 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
Permanent link to this record
 

 
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 (up) 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.
Address
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 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
Permanent link to this record
 

 
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 (up) 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
Address
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 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
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Soltan, S.; Macke, S.; Ilse, S.E.; Pennycook, T.; Zhang, Z.L.; Christiani, G.; Benckiser, E.; Schuetz, G.; Goering, E.
Title Ferromagnetic order controlled by the magnetic interface of LaNiO3/La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 superlattices Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Scientific reports Abbreviated Journal
Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 1-9
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Interface engineering in complex oxide superlattices is a growing field, enabling manipulation of the exceptional properties of these materials, and also providing access to new phases and emergent physical phenomena. Here we demonstrate how interfacial interactions can induce a complex charge and spin structure in a bulk paramagnetic material. We investigate a superlattice (SLs) consisting of paramagnetic LaNiO3 (LNO) and highly spin-polarized ferromagnetic La2/3Ca1/3MnO3 (LCMO), grown on SrTiO3 (001) substrate. We observed emerging magnetism in LNO through an exchange bias mechanism at the interfaces in X-ray resonant magnetic reflectivity. We find non-symmetric interface induced magnetization profiles in LNO and LCMO which we relate to a periodic complex charge and spin superstructure. High resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy images reveal that the upper and lower interfaces exhibit no significant structural variations. The different long range magnetic order emerging in LNO layers demonstrates the enormous potential of interfacial reconstruction as a tool for tailored electronic properties.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000985158100013 Publication Date 2023-03-26
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2045-2322 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.6 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.6; 2023 IF: 4.259
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:197426 Serial 8867
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Ying, J.; Xiao, Y.; Chen, J.; Hu, Z.-Y.; Tian, G.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Zhang, Y.; Symes, M.D.D.; Janiak, C.; Yang, X.-Y.
Title Fractal design of hierarchical PtPd with enhanced exposed surface atoms for highly catalytic activity and stability Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Nano letters Abbreviated Journal
Volume 23 Issue 16 Pages 7371-7378
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Hierarchicalassembly of arc-like fractal nanostructures not onlyhas its unique self-similarity feature for stability enhancement butalso possesses the structural advantages of highly exposed surface-activesites for activity enhancement, remaining a great challenge for high-performancemetallic nanocatalyst design. Herein, we report a facile strategyto synthesize a novel arc-like hierarchical fractal structure of PtPdbimetallic nanoparticles (h-PtPd) by using pyridinium-type ionic liquidsas the structure-directing agent. Growth mechanisms of the arc-likenanostructured PtPd nanoparticles have been fully studied, and precisecontrol of the particle sizes and pore sizes has been achieved. Dueto the structural features, such as size control by self-similaritygrowth of subunits, structural stability by nanofusion of subunits,and increased numbers of exposed active atoms by the curved homoepitaxialgrowth, h-PtPd displays outstanding electrocatalytic activity towardoxygen reduction reaction and excellent stability during hydrothermaltreatment and catalytic process.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001042181100001 Publication Date 2023-08-03
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1530-6984 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 10.8 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 10.8; 2023 IF: 12.712
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198408 Serial 8870
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Mangnus, M.J.J.; de Wit, J.W.; Vonk, S.J.W.; Geuchies, J.J.; Albrecht, W.; Bals, S.; Houtepen, A.J.; Rabouw, F.T.
Title High-throughput characterization of single-quantum-dot emission spectra and spectral diffusion by multiparticle spectroscopy Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ACS Photonics Abbreviated Journal
Volume 10 Issue 8 Pages 2688-2698
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract In recent years, quantum dots (QDs) have emerged as bright,color-tunablelight sources for various applications such as light-emitting devices,lasing, and bioimaging. One important next step to advance their applicabilityis to reduce particle-to-particle variations of the emission propertiesas well as fluctuations of a single QD's emission spectrum,also known as spectral diffusion (SD). Characterizing SD is typicallyinefficient as it requires time-consuming measurements at the single-particlelevel. Here, however, we demonstrate multiparticle spectroscopy (MPS)as a high-throughput method to acquire statistically relevant informationabout both fluctuations at the single-particle level and variationsat the level of a synthesis batch. In MPS, we simultaneously measureemission spectra of many (20-100) QDs with a high time resolution.We obtain statistics on single-particle emission line broadening fora batch of traditional CdSe-based core-shell QDs and a batchof the less toxic InP-based core-shell QDs. The CdSe-basedQDs show significantly narrower homogeneous line widths, less SD,and less inhomogeneous broadening than the InP-based QDs. The timescales of SD are longer in the InP-based QDs than in the CdSe-basedQDs. Based on the distributions and correlations in single-particleproperties, we discuss the possible origins of line-width broadeningof the two types of QDs. Our experiments pave the way to large-scale,high-throughput characterization of single-QD emission propertiesand will ultimately contribute to facilitating rational design offuture QD structures.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001009443500001 Publication Date 2023-06-18
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2330-4022 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7 Times cited 1 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This work was supported by 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. The electron microscopy experiments at EMAT were supported by the European Commission (EUSMI grant E210100474). Approved Most recent IF: 7; 2023 IF: 6.756
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:197337 Serial 8879
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Yu, R.; Zeng, W.; Zhou, L.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Mai, L.; Yao, Z.; Wu, J.
Title Layer-by-layer delithiation during lattice collapse as the origin of planar gliding and microcracking in Ni-rich cathodes Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Cell reports physical science Abbreviated Journal
Volume 4 Issue 7 Pages 101480-14
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract High-energy-density nickel (Ni)-rich cathode materials are used in commercial lithium (Li)-ion batteries for electric vehicles, but they suffer from severe structural degradation upon cycling. Planar gliding and microcracking are seeds for fatal mechanical fracture, but their origin remains unclear. Herein, we show that “layer-by -layer delithiation”is activated at high voltages during the charge process when the “lattice collapse”(a characteristic high-voltage lattice evolution in Ni-rich cathodes) occurs. Layer-by-layer deli-thiation is evidenced by direct observation of the consecutive lattice collapse using in situ scanning transmission electron micro-scopy (STEM). The collapsing of the lattice initiates in the expanded planes and consecutively extends to the whole crystal. Localized strain will be induced at lattice-collapsing interface where planar gliding and intragranular microcracks are generated to release this strain. Our study reveals that layer-by-layer delithia-tion during lattice collapse is the fundamental origin of the mechanical instability in single-crystalline Ni-rich cathodes.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001048074500001 Publication Date 2023-06-30
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Additional Links 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:198299 Serial 8893
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Gheysen, J.; Kashiwar, A.; Idrissi, H.; Villanova, J.; Simar, A.
Title Suppressing hydrogen blistering in a magnesium-rich healable laser powder bed fusion aluminum alloy analyzed by in-situ high resolution techniques Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Materials & design Abbreviated Journal
Volume 231 Issue Pages 112024-11
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Hydrogen blistering, i.e. precipitation of supersaturated hydrogen at elevated temperatures, increases porosity during heat treatments in 4xxx series Al alloys manufactured by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), as demonstrated by 3D X-ray nano-imaging in AlSi12. This paper proposes the design of a healable Al alloy to suppress hydrogen blistering and improve the damage management. The strategy consists of solute atoms diffusing towards nano-voids and precipitating on their surface, thereby filling the damage sites. A new healable Al alloy was thus developed and successfully manufactured by LPBF. 3D X-ray nano-imaging evidenced that the addition of Mg in 4xxx series Al alloys suppresses the hydrogen blistering. This is expectedly due to Mg in solid solution which increases the hydrogen solubility in the Al matrix and due to the healing of these hydrogen pores. Moreover, a significant healing of voids smaller than 500 nm diameter is observed. In-situ heating inside transmission electron microscopy pointed out that Al matrix diffuses inside the fractured Mg2Si particles, thereby demonstrating the healing ability of the new alloy. This has opened the doors to development of new healable Al alloys manufactured by LPBF as well as to new post-treatments to tailor mechanical properties and microstructure without hydrogen blistering.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001055174900001 Publication Date 2023-05-20
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0264-1275; 1873-4197 ISBN Additional Links 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: 4.364
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:196536 Serial 8939
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Cui, W.; Lin, W.; Lu, W.; Liu, C.; Gao, Z.; Ma, H.; Zhao, W.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Zhao, W.; Zhang, Q.; Sang, X.
Title Direct observation of cation diffusion driven surface reconstruction at van der Waals gaps Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Nature communications Abbreviated Journal
Volume 14 Issue 1 Pages 554-10
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Weak interlayer van der Waals (vdW) bonding has significant impact on the surface/interface structure, electronic properties, and transport properties of vdW layered materials. Unraveling the complex atomistic dynamics and structural evolution at vdW surfaces is therefore critical for the design and synthesis of the next-generation vdW layered materials. Here, we show that Ge/Bi cation diffusion along the vdW gap in layered GeBi2Te4 (GBT) can be directly observed using in situ heating scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). The cation concentration variation during diffusion was correlated with the local Te-6 octahedron distortion based on a quantitative analysis of the atomic column intensity and position in time-elapsed STEM images. The in-plane cation diffusion leads to out-of-plane surface etching through complex structural evolutions involving the formation and propagation of a non-centrosymmetric GeTe2 triple layer surface reconstruction on fresh vdW surfaces, and GBT subsurface reconstruction from a septuple layer to a quintuple layer. Our results provide atomistic insight into the cation diffusion and surface reconstruction in vdW layered materials. Weak interlayer van der Waals (vdW) bonding has significant impact on the structure and properties of vdW layered materials. Here authors use in-situ aberration-corrected ADF-STEM for an atomistic insight into the cation diffusion in the vdW gaps and the etching of vdW surfaces at high temperatures.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001076227200001 Publication Date 2023-02-02
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2041-1723 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 16.6 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 16.6; 2023 IF: 12.124
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:201342 Serial 9021
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Jenkinson, K.; Spadaro, M.C.; Golovanova, V.; Andreu, T.; Morante, J.R.; Arbiol, J.; Bals, S.
Title Direct operando visualization of metal support interactions induced by hydrogen spillover during CO₂ hydrogenation Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Advanced materials Abbreviated Journal
Volume 35 Issue 51 Pages 2306447-10
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract The understanding of catalyst active sites is a fundamental challenge for the future rational design of optimized and bespoke catalysts. For instance, the partial reduction of Ce4+ surface sites to Ce3+ and the formation of oxygen vacancies are critical for CO2 hydrogenation, CO oxidation, and the water gas shift reaction. Furthermore, metal nanoparticles, the reducible support, and metal support interactions are prone to evolve under reaction conditions; therefore a catalyst structure must be characterized under operando conditions to identify active states and deduce structure-activity relationships. In the present work, temperature-induced morphological and chemical changes in Ni nanoparticle-decorated mesoporous CeO2 by means of in situ quantitative multimode electron tomography and in situ heating electron energy loss spectroscopy, respectively, are investigated. Moreover, operando electron energy loss spectroscopy is employed using a windowed gas cell and reveals the role of Ni-induced hydrogen spillover on active Ce3+ site formation and enhancement of the overall catalytic performance.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001106139400001 Publication Date 2023-10-22
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0935-9648 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 29.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 29.4; 2023 IF: 19.791
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:201143 Serial 9022
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Monai, M.; Jenkinson, K.; Melcherts, A.E.M.; Louwen, J.N.; Irmak, E.A.; Van Aert, S.; Altantzis, T.; Vogt, C.; van der Stam, W.; Duchon, T.; Smid, B.; Groeneveld, E.; Berben, P.; Bals, S.; Weckhuysen, B.M.
Title Restructuring of titanium oxide overlayers over nickel nanoparticles during catalysis Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Science Abbreviated Journal
Volume 380 Issue 6645 Pages 644-651
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT)
Abstract Reducible supports can affect the performance of metal catalysts by the formation of suboxide overlayers upon reduction, a process referred to as the strong metal-support interaction (SMSI). A combination of operando electron microscopy and vibrational spectroscopy revealed that thin TiOx overlayers formed on nickel/titanium dioxide catalysts during 400 degrees C reduction were completely removed under carbon dioxide hydrogenation conditions. Conversely, after 600 degrees C reduction, exposure to carbon dioxide hydrogenation reaction conditions led to only partial reexposure of nickel, forming interfacial sites in contact with TiOx and favoring carbon-carbon coupling by providing a carbon species reservoir. Our findings challenge the conventional understanding of SMSIs and call for more-detailed operando investigations of nanocatalysts at the single-particle level to revisit static models of structure-activity relationships.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000999020900010 Publication Date 2023-05-11
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0036-8075; 1095-9203 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 56.9 Times cited 29 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This work was supported by BASF and NWO CHIPP (research grant to B.M.W.); the MCEC NWO Gravitation Program (B.M.W.); the ARC-CBBC NWO Program (B.M.W.); the European Research Council (grant 770887 PICOMETRICS to S.V.A.); and the European Research Council (grant 815128 REALNANO to S.B.). Approved Most recent IF: 56.9; 2023 IF: 37.205
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:197432 Serial 8923
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Smeyers, R.; Milošević, M.V.; Covaci, L.
Title Strong gate-tunability of flat bands in bilayer graphene due to moiré encapsulation between hBN monolayers Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal
Volume 15 Issue 9 Pages 4561-4569
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract When using hexagonal boron-nitride (hBN) as a substrate for graphene, the resulting moire pattern creates secondary Dirac points. By encapsulating a multilayer graphene within aligned hBN sheets the controlled moire stacking may offer even richer benefits. Using advanced tight-binding simulations on atomistically-relaxed heterostructures, here we show that the gap at the secondary Dirac point can be opened in selected moire-stacking configurations, and is independent of any additional vertical gating of the heterostructure. On the other hand, gating can broadly tune the gap at the principal Dirac point, and may thereby strongly compress the first moire mini-band in width against the moire-induced gap at the secondary Dirac point. We reveal that in hBN-encapsulated bilayer graphene this novel mechanism can lead to isolated bands flatter than 10 meV under moderate gating, hence presenting a convenient pathway towards electronically-controlled strongly-correlated states on demand.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000933052600001 Publication Date 2023-02-07
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2040-3364; 2040-3372 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 6.7 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 6.7; 2023 IF: 7.367
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:195249 Serial 7340
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Paulus, A.; Hendrickx, M.; Mayda, S.; Batuk, M.; Reekmans, G.; von Holst, M.; Elen, K.; Abakumov, A.M.; Adriaensens, P.; Lamoen, D.; Partoens, B.; Hadermann, J.; Van Bael, M.K.; Hardy, A.
Title Understanding the Activation of Anionic Redox Chemistry in Ti4+-Substituted Li2MnO3as a Cathode Material for Li-Ion Batteries Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ACS applied energy materials Abbreviated Journal ACS Appl. Energy Mater.
Volume 6 Issue 13 Pages 6956-6971
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Layered Li-rich oxides, demonstrating both cationic and anionic redox chemistry being used as positive electrodes for Li-ion batteries,have raised interest due to their high specific discharge capacities exceeding 250 mAh/g. However, irreversible structural transformations triggered by anionic redox chemistry result in pronounced voltagefade (i.e., lowering the specific energy by a gradual decay of discharge potential) upon extended galvanostatic cycling. Activating or suppressing oxygen anionic redox through structural stabilization induced by redox-inactivecation substitution is a well-known strategy. However, less emphasishas been put on the correlation between substitution degree and theactivation/suppression of the anionic redox. In this work, Ti4+-substituted Li2MnO3 was synthesizedvia a facile solution-gel method. Ti4+ is selected as adopant as it contains no partially filled d-orbitals. Our study revealedthat the layered “honeycomb-ordered” C2/m structure is preserved when increasing the Ticontent to x = 0.2 in the Li2Mn1-x Ti (x) O-3 solidsolution, as shown by electron diffraction and aberration-correctedscanning transmission electron microscopy. Galvanostatic cycling hintsat a delayed oxygen release, due to an improved reversibility of theanionic redox, during the first 10 charge-discharge cyclesfor the x = 0.2 composition compared to the parentmaterial (x = 0), followed by pronounced oxygen redoxactivity afterward. The latter originates from a low activation energybarrier toward O-O dimer formation and Mn migration in Li2Mn0.8Ti0.2O3, as deducedfrom first-principles molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for the“charged” state. Upon lowering the Ti substitution to x = 0.05, the structural stability was drastically improvedbased on our MD analysis, stressing the importance of carefully optimizingthe substitution degree to achieve the best electrochemical performance.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001018266700001 Publication Date 2023-07-10
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2574-0962 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 6.4 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 24.12.2023
Notes Universiteit Hasselt, AUHL/15/2 – GOH3816N ; Russian Science Foundation, 20-43-01012 ; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, AUHL/15/2 – GOH3816N G040116N ; 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: 6.4; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:198160 Serial 8809
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Conti, S.; Chaves, A.; Pandey, T.; Covaci, L.; Peeters, F.M.; Neilson, D.; Milošević, M.V.
Title Flattening conduction and valence bands for interlayer excitons in a moire MoS₂/WSe₂ heterobilayer Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Nanoscale Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-11
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract We explore the flatness of conduction and valence bands of interlayer excitons in MoS2/WSe2 van der Waals heterobilayers, tuned by interlayer twist angle, pressure, and external electric field. We employ an efficient continuum model where the moire pattern from lattice mismatch and/or twisting is represented by an equivalent mesoscopic periodic potential. We demonstrate that the mismatch moire potential is too weak to produce significant flattening. Moreover, we draw attention to the fact that the quasi-particle effective masses around the Gamma-point and the band flattening are reduced with twisting. As an alternative approach, we show (i) that reducing the interlayer distance by uniform vertical pressure can significantly increase the effective mass of the moire hole, and (ii) that the moire depth and its band flattening effects are strongly enhanced by accessible electric gating fields perpendicular to the heterobilayer, with resulting electron and hole effective masses increased by more than an order of magnitude – leading to record-flat bands. These findings impose boundaries on the commonly generalized benefits of moire twistronics, while also revealing alternative feasible routes to achieve truly flat electron and hole bands to carry us to strongly correlated excitonic phenomena on demand.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001047512300001 Publication Date 2023-07-25
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2040-3364; 2040-3372 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 6.7 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 25.01.2024
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 6.7; 2023 IF: 7.367
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198290 Serial 8819
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Sauve, G.; Esguerra, J.L.; Laner, D.; Johansson, J.; Svensson, N.; Van Passel, S.; Van Acker, K.
Title Integrated early-stage environmental and economic assessment of emerging technologies and its applicability to the case of plasma gasification Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of cleaner production Abbreviated Journal
Volume 382 Issue Pages 134684-14
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Economic and environmental impact assessments are increasingly being adopted in the design and implementation of emerging systems. However, their emerging nature leads to several assessment challenges that need to be addressed to ensure the validity and usefulness of results in understanding their potential performance and supporting their development. There is the need to (i) account for spatial and temporal variability to allow a broader perspective at an early stage of development; (ii) handle uncertainties to systematically identify the critical factors and their interrelations that drive the results; (iii) integrate environmental and economic results to support sound decision-making based on two sustainability aspects. To address these assessment challenges, this study presents an alternative approach with the following corresponding features: (i) multiple scenario development to conduct an exploratory assessment of the systems under varying conditions and settings, (ii) global sensitivity analysis to identify the main critical factors and their interrelations, and (iii) trade-off and ecoefficiency analysis to integrate the economic and environmental results. The integrated approach is applied to a case study on plasma gasification for solid waste management. The results of the study highlight how the approach allows the identification of the dynamic relations between project settings and surrounding conditions. For example, the choice of gasifying agent largely depends on the background energy system, which dictates the impacts of the process energy requirement and the savings from the substituted energy of the syngas output. Based on these findings, the usefulness and validity of the proposed integrated approach are discussed in terms of how the key assessment challenges are addressed and how it can provide guidance for the development of emerging systems.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000906664200001 Publication Date 2022-10-22
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0959-6526 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 11.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 11.1; 2023 IF: 5.715
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:193464 Serial 7361
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Admasu, W.F.; Van Passel, S.; Minale, A.S.; Tsegaye, E.A.; Nyssen, J.
Title Nexus between land development and the value of ecosystem services in Ethiopia : a contingent valuation study Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Environment, development and sustainability Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-21
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract In Ethiopia, the state owns all lands within the territory of the country. Cities are incorporating large parcels of land from their surrounding rural agricultural areas through land expropriation. However, these land developments do not consider the nonmarket value of ecosystem services (ES), which is causing a deterioration of the existing ES and reduction on the potential supply of ES from agricultural land. The aim of this study was to estimate the monetary value of nonmarketable ES from the agricultural land using a double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method. A survey of 524 smallholder farmers was conducted. In the survey, respondents were asked to state their willingness to pay for the improvement of some of the nonmarketable ES: erosion control, air and climate regulation, water regulation, and soil fertility. The estimation was carried out using a bivariate probit model. The results revealed that farmers are willing to pay on average 276 ETB (7.9 USD) per hectare per year for a period of 10 years. We found that individual characteristics such as age, family size, and a recent land expropriation experience adversely affect the willingness to pay by the farmers. On the other hand, individuals with higher income and larger land size are willing to pay more. In general, the study indicated that the nonmarket ES, which are affected by the land expropriation for urban expansion, are valuable for the farmers. Therefore, we recommend that the government consider the value of nonmarketable ES in its land use decisions and hence achieve sustainable land development.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000907898700002 Publication Date 2023-01-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1387-585x; 1573-2975 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.9 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 05.01.2024
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.9; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:193432 Serial 7363
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Chekol Zewdie, M.; Moretti, M.; Tenessa, D.B.; Van Passel, S.
Title Farmers' preferences and willingness to pay for improved irrigation water supply program : a discrete choice experiment Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Environment, development and sustainability Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-24
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract This study examines smallholder farmers' preferences and willingness to pay for an improved irrigation water supply program in northwest Ethiopia. We employed a discrete choice experiment with five attributes and three levels. Data were collected from randomly selected sample households of both irrigation users and non-users. A total of 379 respondents participated, and a mixed logit model was used to analyze the household-level survey data. The result indicates that to deviate from the business-as-usual scenario, smallholder farmers are willing to pay between 3,228 and 8,327 Ethiopian Birr per hectare of irrigated land. Furthermore, the results showed a strong public preference for access to produce cash crops, followed by irrigation water availability in the dry season, and adequate access to improved farm inputs. The results also provide useful information for policymakers and suggested possibilities for generating finance from farmers to cover the operation and maintenance costs of irrigation schemes. Also, this study result reveals that irrigation development and expansion must be integrated into a comprehensive support package that combines irrigation water with access to improved farm inputs and access to produce cash crops on farmers' farm plots.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001048896000004 Publication Date 2023-08-14
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1387-585x; 1573-2975 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.9 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.9; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:198283 Serial 9204
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Gebremariam, Y.A.; Dessein, J.; Wondimagegnhu, B.A.; Breusers, M.; Lenaerts, L.; Adgo, E.; Van Passel, S.; Minale, A.S.; Nyssen, J.
Title Undoing the development army : a paradigm shift from transfer of technology to agricultural innovation system in Ethiopian extension Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Environment, development and sustainability Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue Pages 1-27
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Appropriate use of agricultural technologies and diversifying the farming activities is critical to addressing food security problems in Africa, including Ethiopia. The country is experimenting with the new Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) approach alongside the well-established Transfer of Technology (ToT) approach. This paper analyzes the gaps between policy discourses (as reflected in policy documents and strategic orientation documents) and extension practices (as reflected in the daily exchanges between farmers and the frontline staff of the Ethiopian extension system). It provides insights into the challenges faced and emphasizes the need for better coordination between policy formulation and implementation to enhance extension services. Policymakers, practitioners, and researchers can benefit from the valuable perspectives the findings offer. The study contributes to understanding the relationship between policy discourses and extension practices, and its implications can inform policy design and implementation in similar contexts. A qualitative research approach was deployed to analyze policy discourse and practice. Data were collected in Fogera, a district in Northwest Ethiopia, between August 2018 and February 2019. The data for the paper were obtained from 23 Focus Group Discussions conducted with men and women. 13 Informant Interviews (KIIs) were also carried out with personnel at different levels of government agricultural services and departments. Transcripts of recordings of the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were analyzed using a deductive approach. The study focuses on rice crops in the Fogera district, which are crucial for food security and reducing poverty. Although the geographic area is limited, the results can be used to improve the extension system in other areas facing similar challenges. Specifically, the study suggests switching from the traditional transfer of technology approach to the agricultural innovation system approach. Furthermore, the study's techniques, such as qualitative interviews, may have limitations and not fully capture the intricacies of policy and extension practices. The findings demonstrate that, although the policy documents strongly adhere to agricultural innovation system principles, top-down transfer of technology approaches continues to dominate in practice. Moreover, we have found potential discrepancies between the training content delivered and the specific needs of smallholder farmers. Practically, prescriptive systems are still used because agricultural innovation system approaches are not well understood by the Extension Agents. To realize a genuine agricultural innovation system, Ethiopia's extension apparatus should move forward with building committed and robust relationships between farmers, extension agents, researchers, private sectors, and non-governmental organizations. To this end, more research, enhanced training, and improved institutions are needed on what genuine agricultural innovation system could look like at the grass-roots level. This also includes understanding the roles that different actors within Ethiopia's development army should assume how a multi-actor policy dialogue can be organized.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001126500500006 Publication Date 2023-12-19
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1387-585x; 1573-2975 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 4.9 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.9; 2023 IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:202804 Serial 9238
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Calogiuri, T.; Hagens, M.; Van Groenigen, J.W.; Corbett, T.; Hartmann, J.; Hendriksen, R.; Janssens, I.; Janssens, I.A.; Ledesma Dominguez, G.; Loescher, G.; Mortier, S.; Neubeck, A.; Niron, H.; Poetra, R.P.; Rieder, L.; Struyf, E.; Van Tendeloo, M.; De Schepper, T.; Verdonck, T.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Vicca, S.; Vidal, A.
Title Design and construction of an experimental setup to enhance mineral weathering through the activity of soil organisms Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Journal of visualized experiments Abbreviated Journal
Volume Issue 201 Pages e65563-30
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Internet Data Lab (IDLab); Applied mathematics; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Abstract Enhanced weathering (EW) is an emerging carbon dioxide (CO2) removal technology that can contribute to climate change mitigation. This technology relies on accelerating the natural process of mineral weathering in soils by manipulating the abiotic variables that govern this process, in particular mineral grain size and exposure to acids dissolved in water. EW mainly aims at reducing atmospheric CO2 concentrations by enhancing inorganic carbon sequestration. Until now, knowledge of EW has been mainly gained through experiments that focused on the abiotic variables known for stimulating mineral weathering, thereby neglecting the potential influence of biotic components. While bacteria, fungi, and earthworms are known to increase mineral weathering rates, the use of soil organisms in the context of EW remains underexplored. This protocol describes the design and construction of an experimental setup developed to enhance mineral weathering rates through soil organisms while concurrently controlling abiotic conditions. The setup is designed to maximize weathering rates while maintaining soil organisms' activity. It consists of a large number of columns filled with rock powder and organic material, located in a climate chamber and with water applied via a downflow irrigation system. Columns are placed above a fridge containing jerrycans to collect the leachate. Representative results demonstrate that this setup is suitable to ensure the activity of soil organisms and quantify their effect on inorganic carbon sequestration. Challenges remain in minimizing leachate losses, ensuring homogeneous ventilation through the climate chamber, and avoiding flooding of the columns. With this setup, an innovative and promising approach is proposed to enhance mineral weathering rates through the activity of soil biota and disentangle the effect of biotic and abiotic factors as drivers of EW.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001127854400015 Publication Date 2023-11-12
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1940-087x ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 1.2 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.2; 2023 IF: 1.232
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200770 Serial 9019
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Parrilla, M.; Vanhooydonck, A.; Johns, M.; Watts, R.; De Wael, K.
Title 3D-printed microneedle-based potentiometric sensor for pH monitoring in skin interstitial fluid Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Sensors and actuators : B : chemical Abbreviated Journal
Volume 378 Issue Pages 133159-10
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Internet Data Lab (IDLab); Product development; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
Abstract Wearable electrochemical sensors are driven by the user-friendly capability of continuous monitoring of key biomarkers for diagnostic or therapeutic operations. Particularly, microneedle (MN)-based sensors can access the interstitial fluid (ISF) in the dermis layer of skin to carry out on-body transdermal detection of analytes. Interestingly, 3D-printing technology allows for rapid and versatile prototyping reaching micrometer resolution. Herein, for the first time, we explore 3D-printed hollow MN patches (1 mm height x 1 mm base with 0.3 mm hole) which are modified with conductive inks to develop a potentiometric sensor for pH monitoring. First, the piercing capability of 3D-printed MN patches is demonstrated by using the parafilm model and their insertion in porcine skin. Subsequently, the hollow MNs are filled with conductive inks to engineer a set of microelectrodes. Thereafter, the working and reference electrodes are properly modified with polyaniline and polyvinyl butyral, respectively, toward a highly stable potentiometric cell. A full in vitro characterization is performed within a broad range of pH (i.e. pH 4 to pH 9). Besides, the MN sensor is analytically assessed in phantom gel and pierced on porcine skin to evaluate the resilience of the MN sensor. Finally, the MN sensor is pierced on the forearm of a subject and tested for its on-body monitoring capability. Overall, 3D-printed MN-based potentiometric sensing brings a versatile and affordable technology to minimally-invasively monitor key physiological parameters in the body.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000904590500008 Publication Date 2022-12-12
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0925-4005 ISBN Additional Links 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:192381 Serial 8824
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Ciocarlan, R.-G.; Blommaerts, N.; Lenaerts, S.; Cool, P.; Verbruggen, S.W.
Title Recent trends in plasmon‐assisted photocatalytic CO₂ reduction Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Chemsuschem Abbreviated Journal
Volume 16 Issue 5 Pages e202201647-25
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA)
Abstract Direct photocatalytic reduction of CO2 has become an highly active field of research. It is thus of utmost importance to maintain an overview of the various materials used to sustain this process, find common trends, and, in this way, eventually improve the current conversions and selectivities. In particular, CO2 photoreduction using plasmonic photocatalysts under solar light has gained tremendous attention, and a wide variety of materials has been developed to reduce CO2 towards more practical gases or liquid fuels (CH4, CO, CH3OH/CH3CH2OH) in this manner. This Review therefore aims at providing insights in current developments of photocatalysts consisting of only plasmonic nanoparticles and semiconductor materials. By classifying recent studies based on product selectivity, this Review aims to unravel common trends that can provide effective information on ways to improve the photoreduction yield or possible means to shift the selectivity towards desired products, thus generating new ideas for the way forward.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000926901300001 Publication Date 2023-01-10
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1864-5631 ISBN Additional Links 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: 7.226
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:193633 Serial 7335
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Kummamuru, N.B.; Watson, G.; Ciocarlan, R.-G.; Verbruggen, S.W.; Cool, P.; Van Der Voort, P.; Perreault, P.
Title Accelerated methane storage in clathrate hydrates using mesoporous (Organo-) silica materials Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Fuel Abbreviated Journal
Volume 354 Issue Pages 129403-129418
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA)
Abstract Methane (CH4) clathrate hydrates have gained much attention in the ever-growing search for novel energy storage methods; however, they are currently limited due to their poor water-to-hydrate conversions and slow formation kinetics. To surmount these bottlenecks, significant research has been centered on the design of novel methods (porous media). In this vein, the present work explores two hydrophobic mesoporous solids, an alkyl-grafted mesoporous silica (SBA-15 C8) and a periodic mesoporous organosilica (Ring-PMO), in their ability to promote CH4 clathrates. Both materials have shown to facilitate CH4 clathrate formation at mild operating conditions (6 MPa and 269–276 K). The study revealed that the maximal CH4 storage capacities are strongly linked to the critical/optimal quantity of water in the system which was determined to be at 130% and 200% of the pore volume for SBA-15 C8 and Ring-PMO, respectively. Up to 90% and 95% of the maximum water-to-hydrate conversions were achieved in 90 min at the lowest experimental temperature and critical water content for SBA-15 C8 and Ring-PMO, respectively. At these conditions, SBA-15 C8 and Ring-PMO showed a maximum gas uptake of 98.2 and 101.2 mmol CH4/mol H2O, respectively. Both the materials exhibited no chemical or morphological changes post-clathrate formations (characterized using FT-IR, N2 sorption, XRD, and TEM), inferring their viability as clathrate promoters for multiple cycles. An integrated multistep model was considered adequate for representing the hydrate crystallization kinetics and fits well with the experimental kinetic data with a low average absolute deviation in water-to-hydrate conversions among the three distinct kinetic models analyzed. Overall, the results from this study demonstrate hydrophobic porous materials as effective promoters of CH4 clathrates, which could make clathrate-based CH4 storage and transport technology industrially viable.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001059413200001 Publication Date 2023-08-07
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0016-2361 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.4 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 07.02.2024
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.4; 2023 IF: 4.601
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:197987 Serial 8829
Permanent link to this record
 

 
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 (up) 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 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
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Andersen, Ja.; Holm, Mc.; van 't Veer, K.; Christensen, Jm.; Østberg, M.; Bogaerts, A.; Jensen, Ad.
Title Plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor: A combined experimental study and kinetic modeling Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Chemical engineering journal Abbreviated Journal
Volume 457 Issue Pages 141294
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor has emerged as a possible route for electrification of nitrogen fixation. In this study, we use a combination of experiments and a plasma kinetic model to investigate the ammonia synthesis from N2 and H2, both with and without a solid packing material in the plasma zone. The effect of plasma power, feed flow rate, N2:H2 feed ratio, gas residence time, temperature, and packing material (MgAl2O4 alone or impregnated with Co or Ru) on the ammonia synthesis rate were examined in the experiments. The kinetic model was employed to improve our understanding of the ammonia formation pathways and identify possible changes in these pathways when altering the N2:H2 feed ratio. A higher NH3 synthesis rate was achieved when increasing the feed flow rate, as well as when increasing the gas tem-perature from 100 to 200 ◦C when a packing material was present in the plasma. At the elevated temperature of 200 ◦C, an optimum in the NH3 synthesis rate was observed at an equimolar feed ratio (N2:H2 =1:1) for the plasma alone and MgAl2O4, while a N2-rich feed was favored for Ru/MgAl2O4 and Co/MgAl2O4. The optimum in the synthesis rate with the N2-rich feed, where high energy electrons are more likely to collide with N2, suggests that the rate-limiting step is the dissociation of N2 in the gas phase. This is supported by the kinetic model when packing material was used. However, for the plasma alone, the model found that the N2 dissociation is only rate limiting in H2-rich feeds, whereas the limited access to H in N2-rich feeds makes the hydrogenation of N species limiting.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001058978000001 Publication Date 2023-01-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1385-8947 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 15.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes We thank Topsoe A/S for providing the catalytic materials used in the study, the research group PLASMANT (University of Antwerp) for sharing their plasma kinetic model and allocating time on their cluster for the calculations, and the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering (Technical University of Denmark) for funding the project. Approved Most recent IF: 15.1; 2023 IF: 6.216
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:195877 Serial 7234
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Mercer, Er.; Van Alphen, S.; van Deursen, Cf.a.m.; Righart, Tw.h.; Bongers, Wa.; Snyders, R.; Bogaerts, A.; van de Sanden, Mc.m.; Peeters, Fj.j.
Title Post-plasma quenching to improve conversion and energy efficiency in a CO2 microwave plasma Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Fuel Abbreviated Journal
Volume 334 Issue Pages 126734
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Transforming CO2 into value-added chemicals is crucial to realizing a carbon–neutral economy, and plasma-based conversion, a Power-2-X technology, offers a promising route to realizing an efficient and scalable process. This paper investigates the effects of post-plasma placement of a converging–diverging nozzle in a vortex-stabilized 2.45 GHz CO2 microwave plasma reactor to increase energy efficiency and conversion. The CDN leads to a 21 % relative increase in energy efficiency (31 %) and CO2 conversion (13 %) at high flow rates and near-atmospheric conditions. The most significant performance improvement was seen at low flow rates and sub-atmospheric pressure (300 mbar), where energy efficiency was 23 % and conversion was 28 %, a 71 % relative increase over conditions without the CDN. Using CFD simulations, we found that the CDN produces a change in the flow geometry, leading to a confined temperature profile at the height of the plasma, and forced extraction of CO to the post-CDN region.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000891307400008 Publication Date 2022-11-26
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0016-2361 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This research was supported by 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 Excellence of Science FWO-FNRS project (FWO grant ID GoF9618n, EOS ID 30505023). The computational resources and services used in this work were provided by the HPC core facility CalcUA of the Universiteit Antwerpen, and VSC (Flemish Supercomputer Center), funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) and the Flemish Government. In addition, this work has been carried out as part of the Plasma Power to Gas research program with reference 15325, which is by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and Alliander N.V. Approved Most recent IF: 7.4; 2023 IF: 4.601
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:192784 Serial 7235
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Živanić, M.; Espona‐Noguera, A.; Lin, A.; Canal, C.
Title Current State of Cold Atmospheric Plasma and Cancer‐Immunity Cycle: Therapeutic Relevance and Overcoming Clinical Limitations Using Hydrogels Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Advanced Science Abbreviated Journal Adv Sci
Volume Issue Pages 2205803
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a partially ionized gas that gains attention

as a well-tolerated cancer treatment that can enhance anti-tumor immune

responses, which are important for durable therapeutic effects. This review

offers a comprehensive and critical summary on the current understanding of

mechanisms in which CAP can assist anti-tumor immunity: induction of

immunogenic cell death, oxidative post-translational modifications of the

tumor and its microenvironment, epigenetic regulation of aberrant gene

expression, and enhancement of immune cell functions. This should provide

a rationale for the effective and meaningful clinical implementation of CAP. As

discussed here, despite its potential, CAP faces different clinical limitations

associated with the current CAP treatment modalities: direct exposure of

cancerous cells to plasma, and indirect treatment through injection of

plasma-treated liquids in the tumor. To this end, a novel modality is proposed:

plasma-treated hydrogels (PTHs) that can not only help overcome some of the

clinical limitations but also offer a convenient platform for combining CAP

with existing drugs to improve therapeutic responses and contribute to the

clinical translation of CAP. Finally, by integrating expertise in biomaterials and

plasma medicine, practical considerations and prospective for the

development of PTHs are offered.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000918224200001 Publication Date 2023-01-20
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2198-3844 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 15.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes European Research Council, 714793 ; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, 12S9221N G044420N ; Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, PID2019‐103892RB‐I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 ; Approved Most recent IF: 15.1; 2023 IF: 9.034
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:193166 Serial 7238
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Tsonev, I.; O’Modhrain, C.; Bogaerts, A.; Gorbanev, Y.
Title Nitrogen Fixation by an Arc Plasma at Elevated Pressure to Increase the Energy Efficiency and Production Rate of NOx Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering Abbreviated Journal
Volume 11 Issue 5 Pages 1888-1897
Keywords (up) A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Plasma-based nitrogen fixation for fertilizer production is an attractive alternative to the fossil fuel-based industrial processes. However, many factors hinder its applicability, e.g., the commonly observed inverse correlation between energy consumption and production rates or the necessity to enhance the selectivity toward NO2, the desired product for a more facile formation of nitrate-based fertilizers. In this work, we investigated the use of a rotating gliding arc plasma for nitrogen fixation at elevated pressures (up to 3 barg), at different feed gas flow rates and composition. Our results demonstrate a dramatic increase in the amount of NOx produced as a function of increasing pressure, with a record-low EC of 1.8 MJ/(mol N) while yielding a high production rate of 69 g/h and a high selectivity (94%) of NO2. We ascribe this improvement to the enhanced thermal Zeldovich mechanism and an increased rate of NO oxidation compared to the back reaction of NO with atomic oxygen, due to the elevated pressure.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000924366700001 Publication Date 2023-02-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2168-0485 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 8.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, G0G2322N ; Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, 965546 ; Approved Most recent IF: 8.4; 2023 IF: 5.951
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:194281 Serial 7239
Permanent link to this record