“Homogeneity and composition of AlInGaN : a multiprobe nanostructure study”. Krause FF, Ahl JP, Tytko D, Choi PP, Egoavil R, Schowalter M, Mehrtens T, Müller-Caspary K, Verbeeck J, Raabe D, Hertkorn J, Engl K, Rosenauer A, Ultramicroscopy 156, 29 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2015.04.012
Abstract: The electronic properties of quaternary AlInGaN devices significantly depend on the homogeneity of the alloy. The identification of compositional fluctuations or verification of random-alloy distribution is hence of grave importance. Here, a comprehensive multiprobe study of composition and compositional homogeneity is presented, investigating AlInGaN layers with indium concentrations ranging from 0 to 17 at% and aluminium concentrations between 0 and 39 at% employing high-angle annular dark field scanning electron microscopy (HAADF STEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and atom probe tomography (APT). EDX mappings reveal distributions of local concentrations which are in good agreement with random alloy atomic distributions. This was hence investigated with HAADF STEM by comparison with theoretical random alloy expectations using statistical tests. To validate the performance of these tests, HAADF STEM image simulations were carried out for the case of a random-alloy distribution of atoms and for the case of In-rich clusters with nanometer dimensions. The investigated samples, which were grown by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE), were thereby found to be homogeneous on this nanometer scale. Analysis of reconstructions obtained from APT measurements yielded matching results. Though HAADF STEM only allows for the reduction of possible combinations of indium and aluminium concentrations to the proximity of isolines in the two-dimensional composition space. The observed ranges of composition are in good agreement with the EDX and APT results within the respective precisions.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.843
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultramic.2015.04.012
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“Systematic errors in 14-MeV neutron activation analysis for oxygen : part 1 : neutron and γ-ray attenuation effects”. Vandecasteele C, van Grieken R, Gijbels R, Speecke A, Analytica chimica acta 64, 187 (1973). http://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-2670(01)82436-3
Abstract: A detailed account is given of neutron and γ-ray attenuation effects in 14-MeV neutron activation analysis of oxygen. Appropriate neutron cross-section values have been determined in two different ways and compared with literature values. It appears that the attenuation process is best described in terms of nonelastic scattering cross-sections. It is also shown that the narrow beam total γ-ray attenuation coefficients at 6 MeV, given in the literature are suitable for correction purposes if 16N γ-rays are counted with a window of 4.56.5 MeV. Attention was paid to the contribution of β-rays when the 16N activity is counted in this energy interval with a NaI(Tl) detector.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Impact Factor: 4.513
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1016/S0003-2670(01)82436-3
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“Multi-level molecular modelling for plasma medicine”. Bogaerts A, Khosravian N, Van der Paal J, Verlackt CCW, Yusupov M, Kamaraj B, Neyts EC, Journal of physics: D: applied physics 49, 054002 (2016). http://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3727/49/5/054002
Abstract: Modelling at the molecular or atomic scale can be very useful for obtaining a better insight in plasma medicine. This paper gives an overview of different atomic/molecular scale modelling approaches that can be used to study the direct interaction of plasma species with biomolecules or the consequences of these interactions for the biomolecules on a somewhat longer time-scale. These approaches include density functional theory (DFT), density functional based tight binding (DFTB), classical reactive and non-reactive molecular dynamics (MD) and united-atom or coarse-grained MD, as well as hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods. Specific examples will be given for three important types of biomolecules, present in human cells, i.e. proteins, DNA and phospholipids found in the cell membrane. The results show that each of these modelling approaches has its specific strengths and limitations, and is particularly useful for certain applications. A multi-level approach is therefore most suitable for obtaining a global picture of the plasma–biomolecule interactions.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 2.588
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1088/0022-3727/49/5/054002
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“Direct Imaging of ALD Deposited Pt Nanoclusters inside the Giant Pores of MIL-101”. Meledina M, Turner S, Filippousi M, Leus K, Lobato I, Ramachandran RK, Dendooven J, Detavernier C, Van Der Voort P, Van Tendeloo G, Particle and particle systems characterization 33, 382 (2016). http://doi.org/10.1002/ppsc.201500252
Abstract: MIL-101 giant-pore metal-organic framework (MOF) materials have been loaded with Pt nanoparticles using atomic layer deposition. The final structure has been investigated by aberration-corrected annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy under strictly controlled low dose conditions. By combining the acquired experimental data with image simulations, the position of the small clusters within the individual pores of a metal-organic framework has been determined. The embedding of the Pt nanoparticles is confirmed by electron tomography, which shows a distinct ordering of the highly uniform Pt nanoparticles. The results show that atomic layer deposition is particularly well-suited for the deposition of individual nanoparticles inside MOF framework pores and that, upon proper regulation of the incident electron dose, annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy is a powerful tool for the characterization of this type of materials at a local scale.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 4.474
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1002/ppsc.201500252
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“CVD diamond growth from nanodiamond seeds buried under a thin chromium layer”. Degutis G, Pobedinskas P, Turner S, Lu Y-G, Al Riyami S, Ruttens B, Yoshitake T, D'Haen J, Haenen K, Verbeeck J, Hardy A, Van Bael MK, Diamond and related materials 64, 163 (2016). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.diamond.2016.02.013
Abstract: This work presents a morphological and structural analysis of CVD diamond growth on silicon from nanodiamond seeds covered by a 50 nm thick chromium layer. The role of carbon diffusion as well as chromium and carbon silicide formation is analyzed. The local diamond environment is investigated by scanning transmission electron microscopy in combination with electron energy-loss spectroscopy. The evolution of the diamond phase composition (sp3/sp2) is evaluated by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Raman and X-ray diffraction analysis are used to identify the interfacial phases formed during CVD growth. Based upon the observed morphological and structural evolution, a diamond growth model from nanodiamond seeds buried beneath a thin Cr layer is proposed.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.561
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2016.02.013
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“Extension of the basis set of linearized augmented plane wave (LAPW) method by using supplemented tight binding basis functions”. Nikolaev AV, Lamoen D, Partoens B, The journal of chemical physics 145, 014101 (2016). http://doi.org/10.1063/1.4954962
Abstract: In order to increase the accuracy of the linearized augmented plane wave (LAPW) method, we present a new approach where the plane wave basis function is augmented by two different atomic radial components constructed at two different linearization energies corresponding to two different electron bands (or energy windows). We demonstrate that this case can be reduced to the standard treatment within the LAPW paradigm where the usual basis set is enriched by the basis functions of the tight binding type, which go to zero with zero derivative at the sphere boundary. We show that the task is closely related with the problem of extended core states which is currently solved by applying the LAPW method with local orbitals (LAPW+LO). In comparison with LAPW+LO, the number of supplemented basis functions in our approach is doubled, which opens up a new channel for the extension of the LAPW and LAPW+LO basis sets. The appearance of new supplemented basis functions absent in the LAPW+LO treatment is closely related with the existence of the ul-component in the canonical LAPW method. We discuss properties of additional tight binding basis functions and apply the extended basis set for computation of electron energy bands of lanthanum (face and body centered structures) and hexagonal close packed lattice of cadmium. We demonstrate that the new treatment gives lower total energies in comparison with both canonical LAPW and LAPW+LO, with the energy difference more pronounced for intermediate and poor LAPW basis sets.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 2.965
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1063/1.4954962
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“Influence of defect distribution on the reducibility of CeO2-x nanoparticles”. Spadaro MC, Luches P, Bertoni G, Grillo V, Turner S, Van Tendeloo G, Valeri S, D'Addato S, Nanotechnology 27, 425705 (2016). http://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/27/42/425705
Abstract: Ceria nanoparticles (NPs) are fundamental in heterogeneous catalysis because of their ability to store or release oxygen depending on the ambient conditions. Their oxygen storage capacity is strictly related to the exposed planes, crystallinity, density and distribution of defects. In this work a study of ceria NPs produced with a ligand-free, physical synthesis method is presented. The NP films were grown by a magnetron sputtering based gas aggregation source and studied by high resolution- and scanning-transmission electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In particular, the influence of the oxidation procedure on the NP reducibility has been investigated. The different reducibility has been correlated to the exposed planes, crystallinity and density and distribution of structural defects. The results obtained in this work represent a basis to obtain cerium oxide NP with desired oxygen transport properties.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.44
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/42/425705
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“Quantitative in-situ TEM nanotensile testing of single crystal Ni facilitated by a new sample preparation approach”. Samaeeaghmiyoni V, Idrissi H, Groten J, Schwaiger R, Schryvers D, Micron 94, 66 (2017). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.micron.2016.12.005
Abstract: Twin-jet electro-polishing and Focused Ion Beam (FIB) were combined to produce small size Nickel single crystal specimens for quantitative in-situ nanotensile experiments in the transmission electron microscope. The combination of these techniques allows producing samples with nearly defect-free zones in the centre in contrast to conventional FIB-prepared samples. Since TEM investigations can be performed on the electro-polished samples prior to in-situ TEM straining, specimens with desired crystallographic orientation and initial microstructure can be prepared. The present results reveal a dislocation nucleation controlled plasticity, in which small loops induced by FIB near the edges of the samples play a central role.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 1.98
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2016.12.005
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“Atomic scale behavior of oxygen-based radicals in water”. Verlackt CCW, Neyts EC, Bogaerts A, Journal of physics: D: applied physics 50, 11LT01 (2017). http://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/aa5c60
Abstract: Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas in and in contact with liquids represent a growing field of research for various applications. Understanding the interactions between the plasma generated species and the liquid is crucial. In this work we perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations based on a quantum mechanical method, i.e. density-functional based tight-binding (DFTB), to examine the interactions of OH radicals and O atoms in bulk water. Our calculations reveal that the transport of OH radicals through water is not only governed by diffusion, but also by an equilibrium reaction of H-abstraction with water molecules. Furthermore, when two OH radicals encounter each other, they either form a stable cluster, or react, resulting in the formation of a new water molecule and an O atom. In addition,
the O atoms form either oxywater (when in singlet configuration) or they remain stable in solution (when in triplet configuration), stressing the important role that O atoms can play in aqueous solution, and in contact with biomolecules. Our observations are in line with both experimental and ab initio results from the literature.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 2.588
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/aa5c60
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“Investigations of discharge and post-discharge in a gliding arc: a 3D computational study”. Sun SR, Kolev S, Wang HX, Bogaerts A, Plasma sources science and technology 26, 055017 (2017). http://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6595/aa670a
Abstract: In this study we quantitatively investigate for the first time the plasma characteristics of an argon gliding arc with a 3D model. The model is validated by comparison with available experimental data from literature and a reasonable agreement is obtained for the calculated gas temperature and electron density. A complete arc cycle is modeled from initial ignition to arc decay. We investigate how the plasma characteristics, i.e., the electron temperature, gas temperature,
reduced electric field, and the densities of electrons, Ar+ and Ar2+ ions and Ar(4s) excited states, vary over one complete arc cycle, including their behavior in the discharge and post-discharge. These plasma characteristics exhibit a different evolution over one arc cycle, indicating that either the active discharge stage or the post-discharge stage can be beneficial for certain applications.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 3.302
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6595/aa670a
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“Characterization of silver-polymer core–shell nanoparticles using electron microscopy”. Claes N, Asapu R, Blommaerts N, Verbruggen SW, Lenaerts S, Bals S, Nanoscale 10, 9186 (2018). http://doi.org/10.1039/C7NR09517A
Abstract: Silver-polymer core–shell nanoparticles show interesting optical properties, making them widely applicable in the field of plasmonics. The uniformity, thickness and homogeneity of the polymer shell will affect the properties of the system which makes a thorough structural characterization of these core–shell silver-polymer nanoparticles of great importance. However, visualizing the shell and the particle simultaneously is far from straightforward due to the sensitivity of the polymer shell towards the electron beam. In this study, we use different 2D and 3D electron microscopy techniques to investigate different structural aspects of the polymer coating.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Impact Factor: 7.367
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1039/C7NR09517A
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“Enhancement of plasma generation in catalyst pores with different shapes”. Zhang Y-R, Neyts EC, Bogaerts A, Plasma sources science and technology 27, 055008 (2018). http://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6595/aac0e4
Abstract: Plasma generation inside catalyst pores is of utmost importance for plasma catalysis, as the existence of plasma species inside the pores affects the active surface area of the catalyst available to the plasma species for catalytic reactions. In this paper, the electric field enhancement, and thus the plasma production inside catalyst pores with different pore shapes is studied with a two-dimensional fluid model. The results indicate that the electric field will be significantly enhanced near tip-like structures. In a conical pore with small opening, the strongest electric field appears at the opening and bottom corners of the pore, giving rise to a prominent ionization rate throughout the pore. For a cylindrical pore, the electric field is only enhanced at the bottom corners of the pore, with lower absolute value, and thus the ionization rate inside the pore is only slightly enhanced. Finally, in a conical pore with large opening, the electric field is characterized by a maximum at the bottom of the pore, yielding a similar behavior for the ionization rate. These results demonstrate that the shape of the pore has a significantly influence on the electric field enhancement, and thus modifies the plasma properties.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 3.302
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6595/aac0e4
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“Deep learning-based denoising for improved dose efficiency in EDX tomography of nanoparticles”. Skorikov A, Heyvaert W, Albecht W, Pelt DM, Bals S, Nanoscale 13, 12242 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1039/D1NR03232A
Abstract: The combination of energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and electron tomography is a powerful approach to retrieve the 3D elemental distribution in nanomaterials, providing an unprecedented level of information for complex, multi-component systems, such as semiconductor devices, as well as catalytic and plasmonic nanoparticles. Unfortunately, the applicability of EDX tomography is severely limited because of extremely long acquisition times and high electron irradiation doses required to obtain 3D EDX reconstructions with an adequate signal-to-noise ratio. One possibility to address this limitation is intelligent denoising of experimental data using prior expectations about the objects of interest. Herein, this approach is followed using the deep learning methodology, which currently demonstrates state-of-the-art performance for an increasing number of data processing problems. Design choices for the denoising approach and training data are discussed with a focus on nanoparticle-like objects and extremely noisy signals typical for EDX experiments. Quantitative analysis of the proposed method demonstrates its significantly enhanced performance in comparison to classical denoising approaches. This allows for improving the tradeoff between the reconstruction quality, acquisition time and radiation dose for EDX tomography. The proposed method is therefore especially beneficial for the 3D EDX investigation of electron beam-sensitive materials and studies of nanoparticle transformations.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 7.367
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1039/D1NR03232A
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“Nanoparticle-MediatedIn SituMolecular Reprogramming of Immune Checkpoint Interactions for Cancer Immunotherapy”. Walters AA, Santacana-Font G, Li J, Routabi N, Qin Y, Claes N, Bals S, Tzu-Wen Wang J, Al-Jamal KT, Acs Nano 15, 17549 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.1c04456
Abstract: Immune checkpoint blockade involves targeting immune
regulatory molecules with antibodies. Preclinically, complex multiantibody
regimes of both inhibitory and stimulatory targets are a promising
candidate for the next generation of immunotherapy. However, in this
setting, the antibody platform may be limited due to excessive toxicity
caused by off target effects as a result of systemic administration. RNA
can be used as an alternate to antibodies as it can both downregulate
immunosuppressive checkpoints (siRNA) or induce expression of
immunostimulatory checkpoints (mRNA). In this study, we demonstrate
that the combination of both siRNA and mRNA in a single
formulation can simultaneously knockdown and induce expression of
immune checkpoint targets, thereby reprogramming the tumor
microenvironment from immunosuppressive to immunostimulatory
phenotype. To achieve this, RNA constructs were synthesized and
formulated into stable nucleic acid lipid nanoparticles (SNALPs); the SNALPs produced were 140−150 nm in size with >80%
loading efficiency. SNALPs could transfect macrophages and B16F10 cells in vitro resulting in 75% knockdown of inhibitory
checkpoint (PDL1) expression and simultaneously express high levels of stimulatory checkpoint (OX40L) with minimal
toxicity. Intratumoral treatment with the proposed formulation resulted in statistically reduced tumor growth, a greater
density of CD4+ and CD8+ infiltrates in the tumor, and immune activation within tumor-draining lymph nodes. These data
suggest that a single RNA-based formulation can successfully reprogram multiple immune checkpoint interactions on a
cellular level. Such a candidate may be able to replace future immune checkpoint therapeutic regimes composed of both
stimulatory- and inhibitory-receptor-targeting antibodies.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 13.942
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c04456
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“Signatures of enhanced out-of-plane polarization in asymmetric BaTiO3 superlattices integrated on silicon”. Chen B, Gauquelin N, Strkalj N, Huang S, Halisdemir U, Nguyen MD, Jannis D, Sarott MF, Eltes F, Abel S, Spreitzer M, Fiebig M, Trassin M, Fompeyrine J, Verbeeck J, Huijben M, Rijnders G, Koster G, Nature communications 13, 265 (2022). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27898-x
Abstract: In order to bring the diverse functionalities of transition metal oxides into modern electronics, it is imperative to integrate oxide films with controllable properties onto the silicon platform. Here, we present asymmetric LaMnO<sub>3</sub>/BaTiO<sub>3</sub>/SrTiO<sub>3</sub>superlattices fabricated on silicon with layer thickness control at the unit-cell level. By harnessing the coherent strain between the constituent layers, we overcome the biaxial thermal tension from silicon and stabilize<italic>c</italic>-axis oriented BaTiO<sub>3</sub>layers with substantially enhanced tetragonality, as revealed by atomically resolved scanning transmission electron microscopy. Optical second harmonic generation measurements signify a predominant out-of-plane polarized state with strongly enhanced net polarization in the tricolor superlattices, as compared to the BaTiO<sub>3</sub>single film and conventional BaTiO<sub>3</sub>/SrTiO<sub>3</sub>superlattice grown on silicon. Meanwhile, this coherent strain in turn suppresses the magnetism of LaMnO<sub>3</sub>as the thickness of BaTiO<sub>3</sub>increases. Our study raises the prospect of designing artificial oxide superlattices on silicon with tailored functionalities.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 16.6
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27898-x
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“Quantification of the Helical Morphology of Chiral Gold Nanorods”. Heyvaert W, Pedrazo-Tardajos A, Kadu A, Claes N, González-Rubio G, Liz-Marzán LM, Albrecht W, Bals S, ACS materials letters 4, 642 (2022). http://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.2c00055
Abstract: Chirality in inorganic nanoparticles and nanostructures has gained increasing scientific interest, because of the possibility to tune their ability to interact differently with left- and right-handed circularly polarized light. In some cases, the optical activity is hypothesized to originate from a chiral morphology of the nanomaterial. However, quantifying the degree of chirality in objects with sizes of tens of nanometers is far from straightforward. Electron tomography offers the possibility to faithfully retrieve the three-dimensional morphology of nanomaterials, but only a qualitative interpretation of the morphology of chiral nanoparticles has been possible so far. We introduce herein a methodology that enables us to quantify the helicity of complex chiral nanomaterials, based on the geometrical properties of a helix. We demonstrate that an analysis at the single particle level can provide significant insights into the origin of chiroptical properties.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.2c00055
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“Functionalization of graphitic carbon nitride systems by cobalt and cobalt-iron oxides boosts solar water oxidation performances”. Benedet M, Andrea Rizzi G, Gasparotto A, Gauquelin N, Orekhov A, Verbeeck J, Maccato C, Barreca D, Applied surface science 618, 156652 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2023.156652
Abstract: The ever-increasing energy demand from the world population has made the intensive use of fossil fuels an overarching threat to global environment and human health. An appealing alternative is offered by sunlight-assisted photoelectrochemical water splitting to yield carbon-free hydrogen fuel, but kinetic limitations associated to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) render the development of cost-effective, eco-friendly and stable electrocatalysts an imperative issue. In the present work, OER catalysts based on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) were deposited on conducting glass substrates by a simple decantation procedure, followed by functionalization with low amounts of nanostructured CoO and CoFe2O4 by radio frequency (RF)-sputtering, and final annealing under inert atmosphere. A combination of advanced characterization tools was used to investigate the interplay between material features and electrochemical performances. The obtained results highlighted the formation of a p-n junction for the g-C3N4-CoO system, whereas a Z-scheme junction accounted for the remarkable performance enhancement yielded by g-C3N4-CoFe2O4. The intimate contact between the system components also afforded an improved electrocatalyst stability in comparison to various bare and functionalized g-C3N4-based systems. These findings emphasize the importance of tailoring g-C3N4 chemico-physical properties through the dispersion of complementary catalysts to fully exploit its applicative potential.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 6.7
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2023.156652
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“Bound states and lifetime of an electron on a bulk helium surface”. Degani MH, Farias GA, Peeters FM, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 72, 125408 (2005). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.72.125408
Abstract: We propose an effective potential for an excess electron near the helium liquid-vapor interface that takes into account the diffuseness of the liquid-vapor interface and the classical image potential. The splitting of the first two excited states of the excess electron bound to the helium liquid-vapor interface as a function of an external constant electric field applied perpendicular to the interface is in excellent agreement with recent experiments. The effect of a parallel magnetic field on the energy levels are calculated. Single-electron tunneling of the electron out of its surface state is studied as a function of the electric field applied to the system. We found that the tunneling time has a linear dependence on the electric field.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.72.125408
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“Commensurate structural modulation in the charge- and orbitally ordered phase of the quadruple perovskite (NaMn3)Mn4O12”. Prodi A, Daoud-Aladine A, Gozzo F, Schmitt B, Lebedev O, Van Tendeloo G, Gilioli E, Bolzoni F, Aruga-Katori H, Takagi H, Marezio M, Gauzzi A;, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 90, 180101 (2014). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.180101
Abstract: By means of synchrotron x-ray and electron diffraction, we studied the structural changes at the charge order transition T-CO = 176 K in the mixed-valence quadruple perovskite (NaMn3)Mn4O12. Below T-CO we find satellite peaks indicating a commensurate structural modulation with the same propagation vector q = ( 1/2,0,-1/2) of the CE magnetic structure that orders at low temperatures, similarly to the case of simple perovskites such as La0.5Ca0.5MnO3. In the present case, the modulated structure, together with the observation of a large entropy change at T-CO, gives evidence of a rare case of full Mn3+/Mn4+ charge and orbital order, consistent with the Goodenough-Kanamori model.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.90.180101
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“Competition between pure dephasing and photon losses in the dynamics of a dot-cavity system”. Vagov A, Glaessl M, Croitoru MD, Axt VM, Kuhn T, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 90, 075309 (2014). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.90.075309
Abstract: We demonstrate that in quantum-dot cavity systems, the interplay between acoustic phonons and photon losses introduces novel features and characteristic dependencies in the system dynamics. In particular, the combined action of both dephasing mechanisms strongly affects the transition from the weak-to the strong-coupling regime as well as the shape of the spectral triplet that represents the quantum-dot occupation in Fourier space. The width of the central peak in the triplet is expected to decrease with rising temperature, while the widths and heights of the side peaks depend nonmonotonically on the dot-cavity coupling.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.90.075309
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“Coupled mesoscopic superconductors : Ginzburg-Landau theory”. Baelus BJ, Yampolskii SV, Peeters FM, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 66, 024517 (2002). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.66.024517
Abstract: The magnetic coupling between two concentric mesoscopic superconductors with nonzero thickness is studied using the nonlinear Ginzburg-Landau theory. We calculated the free energy, the expelled field, the total field profile, the Cooper-pair density, and the current density distribution. By putting a smaller superconducting disk or ring in the center of a larger ring, the properties change drastically. Extra ground-state transitions are found, where the total vorticity stays the same, but the vorticity of the inner superconductor changes by 1. Due to the magnetic coupling, the current in the external ring exhibits extra jumps at the transition fields where the vorticity of the inner superconductor changes. In this case, for certain temperatures, re-entrant behavior and switching on and off of the superconducting behavior of the rings are found as a function of the magnetic field. A H-T phase diagram is obtained for the situation where the inner ring has a higher critical temperature than the outer ring. An analytic expression for the magnetic coupling is obtained for thin rings and extreme type-II superconductors.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.66.024517
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“Differences between ultrananocrystalline and nanocrystalline diamond growth: theoretical investigation of CxHy species at diamond step edges”. Eckert M, Neyts E, Bogaerts A, Crystal growth &, design 10, 4123 (2010). http://doi.org/10.1021/cg100804v
Abstract: The behavior of hydrocarbon species at step edges of diamond terraces is investigated by means of combined molecular dynamics−Metropolis Monte Carlo simulations. The results show that the formation of ballas-like diamond films (like UNCD) and well-faceted diamond films (like NCD) can be related to the gas phase concentrations of CxHy in a new manner: Species that have high concentrations above the growing UNCD films suppress the extension of step edges through defect formation. The species that are present above the growing NCD film, however, enhance the extension of diamond terraces, which is believed to result in well-faceted diamond films. Furthermore, it is shown that, during UNCD growth, CxHy species with x ≥ 2 play an important role, in contrast to the currently adopted CVD diamond growth mechanism. Finally, the probabilities for the extension of the diamond (100) terrace are much higher than those for the diamond (111) terrace, which is in full agreement with the experimental observation that diamond (100) facets are more favored than diamond (111) facets during CVD diamond growth.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 4.055
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1021/cg100804v
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“Dynamics of multishell vortex structures in mesoscopic superconducting Corbino disks”. Lin NS, Misko VR, Peeters FM, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 81, 134504 (2010). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.81.134504
Abstract: We study the dynamics of vortex shells in mesoscopic superconducting Corbino disks, where vortices form shells as recently observed in micrometer-sized Nb disks. Due to the interplay between the vortex-vortex interaction, the gradient Lorentz force and the (in)commensurability between the numbers of vortices in shells, the process of angular melting of vortex-shell configurations becomes complex. Angular melting can start either from the center of the disk (where the shear stress is maximum) or from its boundary (where the shear stress is minimum) depending on the specific vortex configuration. Furthermore, we found that two kinds of defects can exist in such vortex-shell structures: intrashell and intershell defects. An intrashell defect may lead to an inverse dynamic behavior, i.e., one of the vortex shells under a stronger driving force can rotate slower than the adjacent shell that is driven by a weaker Lorentz force. An intershell defect always locks more than two shells until the gradient of the Lorentz force becomes large enough to break the rigid-body rotation of the locked shells. Such a lock-unlock process leads to hysteresis in the angular velocities of the shells.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.81.134504
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“Energy-momentum dispersion relation of plasmarons in graphene”. Krstajić, PM, Peeters FM, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 85, 205454 (2012). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.85.205454
Abstract: The many-body correction to the band structure of a quasi-free-standing graphene layer is obtained within the Overhauser approach, where the electron-plasmon interaction is described as a field theoretical problem. We find that the Dirac-like spectrum is shifted by Delta E(k = 0), which is on the order of 50-150 meV, depending on the electron concentration n(e), and is in semiquantitative agreement with experimental data. The value of the Fermi velocity is renormalized by several percents and decreases with increasing electron concentration as found experimentally.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.85.205454
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“Ion current rectification, limiting and overlimiting conductances in nanopores”. van Oeffelen L, Van Roy W, Idrissi H, Charlier D, Lagae L, Borghs G, PLoS ONE 10, e0124171 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0124171
Abstract: Previous reports on Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) simulations of solid-state nanopores have focused on steady state behaviour under simplified boundary conditions. These are Neumann boundary conditions for the voltage at the pore walls, and in some cases also Donnan equilibrium boundary conditions for concentrations and voltages at both entrances of the nanopore. In this paper, we report time-dependent and steady state PNP simulations under less restrictive boundary conditions, including Neumann boundary conditions applied throughout the membrane relatively far away from the nanopore. We simulated ion currents through cylindrical and conical nanopores with several surface charge configurations, studying the spatial and temporal dependence of the currents contributed by each ion species. This revealed that, due to slow co-diffusion of oppositely charged ions, steady state is generally not reached in simulations or in practice. Furthermore, it is shown that ion concentration polarization is responsible for the observed limiting conductances and ion current rectification in nanopores with asymmetric surface charges or shapes. Hence, after more than a decade of collective research attempting to understand the nature of ion current rectification in solid-state nanopores, a relatively intuitive model is retrieved. Moreover, we measured and simulated current-voltage characteristics of rectifying silicon nitride nanopores presenting overlimiting conductances. The similarity between measurement and simulation shows that overlimiting conductances can result from the increased conductance of the electric double-layer at the membrane surface at the depletion side due to voltage-induced polarization charges.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.806
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124171
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“Layered oxychlorides [PbBiO2]An+1BnO3n-1Cl2(A = Pb/Bi, B = Fe/Ti) : intergrowth of the hematophanite and sillen phases”. Batuk M, Batuk D, Tsirlin AA, Filimonov DS, Sheptyakov DV, Frontzek M, Hadermann J, Abakumov AM, Chemistry of materials 27, 2946 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b00233
Abstract: New layered structures corresponding to the general formula [PbBiO2]A(n+1)B(n)O(3n-1)Cl(2) Were prepared. Pb5BiFe3O10Cl2 (n = 3) and Pb5Bi2Fe4O13Cl2 (n = 4) are built as a stacking of truncated A(n+1)B(n)O(3n-1) perovskite blocks and alpha-PbO-type [A(2)O(2)](2+) (A = Pb, Bi) blocks combined with chlorine sheets. The alternation of these structural blocks can be represented as an intergrowth between the hematophanite and Sullen-type structural blocks. The crystal and-Magnetic structures of Pb5BiFe3O10Cl2 and Pb5Bi2Fe4O13Cl2 were investigated in the temperature range of 1.5-700 K using X-ray and neutron powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and Fe-57 Mossbauer spectroscopy. Both compounds crystallize in the I4/mmm space group with the unit cell parameters a approximate to a(p) approximate to 3.92 angstrom (a unit-cell parameter of the perovskite-structure), c approximate to 43.0 angstrom for the n = 3 member and c approximate to 53.5 angstrom for the n = 4 member. Despite the large separation between the slabs containing the Fe3+ ions (nearly 14 angstrom), long-range antiferromagnetic order sets in below similar to 600 K with the G-type arrangement of the Fe magnetic moments aligned along the c-axis. The possibility of mixing d(0) and d(n) cations at the B sublattice of these structures was also demonstrated by preparing the Ti-substituted n = 4 member Pb6BiFe3TiO13Cl2.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 9.466
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b00233
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“Lowering of the spatial symmetry at the gamma ->alpha phase transition in cerium”. Tsvyashchenko AV, Nikolaev AV, Velichkov AI, Salamatin AV, Fomicheva LN, Ryasny GK, Sorokin AA, Kochetov OI, Budzynski M, Michel KH, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 82, 1 (2010). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.82.092102
Abstract: Using time-differential perturbed angular correlation spectroscopy we have measured the electric field gradient (EFG) at 111Cd probe nuclei in solid Ce in a pressure range up to 8 GPa. Covering various allotropic phases of Ce, we find that the value of the EFG in the cubic α phase is almost four times larger than in the cubic γ phase and close to values in the noncubic phases α′ and α″. These results together with the differences in time modulation of the spectra are interpreted as evidence for quadrupolar electronic charge-density ordering and symmetry lowering at the γ→α transition while the lattice remains face-centered cubic
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.82.092102
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“Photovoltaic effect and evidence of carrier multiplication in graphene vertical homojunctions with asymmetrical metal contacts”. Chen JJ, Wang Q, Meng J, Ke X, Van Tendeloo G, Bie YQ, Liu J, Liu K, Liao ZM, Sun D, Yu D;, ACS nano 9, 8851 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.5b02356
Abstract: Graphene exhibits exciting potentials for high-speed wideband photodetection and high quantum efficiency solar energy harvest because of its broad spectral absorption, fast photoelectric response, and potential carrier multiplication. Although photocurrent can be generated near a metalgraphene interface in lateral devices, the photoactive area is usually limited to a tiny one-dimensional line-like interface region. Here, we report photoelectric devices based on vertical graphene two-dimensional homojunction, which is fabricated via vertically stacking four graphene monolayers with asymmetric metal contacts. The devices show excellent photovoltaic output with excitation wavelength ranging from visible light to mid-infrared. The wavelength dependence of the internal quantum efficiency gives direct evidence of the carrier multiplication effect in graphene. The simple fabrication process, easy scale-up, large photoresponsive active area, and broadband response of the vertical graphene device are very promising for practical applications in optoelectronics and photovoltaics.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 13.942
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.5b02356
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“Real-space simulations of spin-polarized electronic transitions in iron”. Schattschneider P, Verbeeck J, Mauchamp V, Jaouen M, Hamon A-L, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 82, 144418 (2010). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.82.144418
Abstract: After the advent of energy-loss magnetic chiral dichroism (EMCD) in 2006, rapid progress in theoretical understanding and in experimental performance was achieved, recently demonstrating a spatial resolution of better than 2 nm. Similar to the x-ray magnetic circular dichroism technique, EMCD is used to study atom specific magnetic moments. The latest generation of electron microscopes opens the road to the mapping of spin moments on the atomic scale with this method. Here the theoretical background to reach this challenging aim is elaborated. Numerical simulations of the L3 transition in an Fe specimen, based on a combination of the density-matrix approach for inelastic electron scattering with the propagation of the probe electron in the lattice potential indicate the feasibility of single spin mapping in the electron microscope.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.82.144418
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“Ultralow blocking temperature and breakdown of the giant spin model in Er3+-doped nanoparticles”. van den Heuvel W, Tikhomirov VK, Kirilenko D, Schildermans N, Chibotaru LF, Vanacken J, Gredin P, Mortier M, Van Tendeloo G, Moshchalkov VV, Physical review : B : condensed matter and materials physics 82, 094421 (2010). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.82.094421
Abstract: The magnetization of luminescent Er3+-doped PbF2 nanoparticles (formula Er0.3Pb0.7F2.3) has been studied. Despite the high concentration of the doping Er3+ ions and relatively large size (8 nm) of these nanoparticles we have found no deviation between field-cooled and zero-field-cooled magnetization curves down to T=0.35 K, which points out an ultralow blocking temperature for the reversal of magnetization. We also have found strongly deviating magnetization curves M(H/T) for different temperatures T. These results altogether show that the investigated nanoparticles are not superparamagnetic, but rather each Er3+ ion in these nanoparticles is found in a paramagnetic state down to very low temperatures, which implies the breakdown of the Néel-Brown giant spin model in the case of these nanoparticles. Calculations of magnetization within a paramagnetic model of noninteracting Er3+ ions completely support this conclusion. Due to the ultralow blocking temperature, these nanoparticles have a potential for magnetic field-induced nanoscale refrigeration with an option of their optical localization and temperature control.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.82.094421
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