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“Spectroscopic coincidence experiments in transmission electron microscopy”. Jannis D, Müller-Caspary K, Béché, A, Oelsner A, Verbeeck J, Applied physics letters 114, 143101 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1063/1.5092945
Abstract: We demonstrate the feasibility of coincidence measurements on a conventional transmission electron microscope, revealing the temporal
correlation between electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy events. We make use of a
delay line detector with ps-range time resolution attached to a modified EELS spectrometer. We demonstrate that coincidence between both
events, related to the excitation and deexcitation of atoms in a crystal, provides added information not present in the individual EELS or
EDX spectra. In particular, the method provides EELS with a significantly suppressed or even removed background, overcoming the many
difficulties with conventional parametric background fitting as it uses no assumptions on the shape of the background, requires no user input
and does not suffer from counting noise originating from the background signal. This is highly attractive, especially when low concentrations
of elements need to be detected in a matrix of other elements.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.411
Times cited: 18
DOI: 10.1063/1.5092945
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“Orientation relationship of the austenite-to-ferrite transformation in austenitic stainless steels due to dissolution corrosion in contact with liquid Pb-Bi eutectic”. Charalampopoulou E, Cautaerts N, Van der Donck T, Schryvers D, Lambrinou K, Delville R, Scripta materialia 167, 66 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCRIPTAMAT.2019.03.035
Abstract: The orientation relationship of an austenite-to-ferrite phase transformation in 316L stainless steels induced by the loss of austenite stabilizers resulting from the steel dissolution corrosion in liquid Pb-Bi eutectic was studied by means of electron backscatter diffraction. The misorientations at the austenite/ferrite interface were compared to the prevailing orientation relationship models in steels. The Pitsch orientation relationship model was found to be predominant, which is unusual for austenite-to-ferrite bulk transformations in steels. The nature of this particular transformation, which involves loss of steel alloying elements and the presence of an interfacial liquid metal layer, is discussed to explain this finding. (C) 2019 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.747
Times cited: 3
DOI: 10.1016/J.SCRIPTAMAT.2019.03.035
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“Evaluation of polyvinyl alcohol–borax/agarose (PVA–B/AG) blend hydrogels for removal of deteriorated consolidants from ancient Egyptian wall paintings”. Al-Emam E, Motawea AG, Janssens K, Caen J, Heritage science 7, 22 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1186/S40494-019-0264-Z
Abstract: This study concerns the assessment of a new polyvinyl alcohol–borax/agarose blend hydrogel (PVA–B/AG) tailored for the conservation of ancient Egyptian wall paintings. The increasing problems of deteriorated consolidants affecting ancient wall paintings have attracted the interest of conservation scientists in the last 20 years. The ability of a new blend for removing aged Paraloid® B-72 layers from painted stone and plaster samples has been evaluated. The hydrogel blend was used to expose the aged Paraloid in a controlled manner to six different cleaning system (CS). CS1–CS4 consist of solvents or solvent mixtures; CS5 and CS6 are nanostructured fluids (NSFs). The evaluation of the removal process was carried out by quantitative and qualitative methods, namely, visual examination, 3D microscopy, contact angle and colorimetric measurements and by Fourier transform infra-red spectrometry in reflectance mode. The results showed that the PVA–B/AG blend hydrogel, loaded with specific cleaning systems, was able to remove deteriorated B-72 and allowed to restore the painted surface to a state close to the original one. The PVA–B/AG blend showed good workability, permitting it to be easily cut, shaped, applied and removed. It could also be verified by means of different investigation methods that the blend left no detectable residues. As a final realistic check of the method, the PVA–B/AG hydrogel loaded with the best functioning cleaning system (CS3) was used to remove an aged consolidant layer from an ancient Egyptian wall painting.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Art; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation); Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)
Times cited: 2
DOI: 10.1186/S40494-019-0264-Z
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“Leaf area-length allometry and its implications in leaf shape evolution”. Shi P, Liu M, Ratkowsky DA, Gielis J, Su J, Yu X, Wang P, Zhang L, Lin Z, Schrader J, Trees: structure and function 33, 1073 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1007/S00468-019-01843-4
Abstract: According to Thompson’s principle of similarity, the area of an object should be proportional to its length squared. However, leaf area–length data of some plants have been demonstrated not to follow the principle of similarity. We explore the reasons why the leaf area–length allometry deviates from the principle of similarity and examine whether there is a general model describing the relationship among leaf area, width and length. We sampled more than 11,800 leaves from six classes of woody and herbaceous plants and tested the leaf area–length allometry. We compared six mathematical models based on root-mean-square error as the measure of goodness-of-fit. The best supported model described a proportional relationship between leaf area and the product of leaf width and length (i.e., the Montgomery model). We found that the extent to which the leaf area–length allometry deviates from the principle of similarity depends upon the extent of variation of the ratio of leaf width to length. Estimates of the parameter of the Montgomery model ranged between 1/2, which corresponds to a triangular leaf with leaf length as its height and leaf width as its base, and π/4, which corresponds to an elliptical leaf with leaf length as its major axis and leaf width as its minor axis, for the six classes of plants. The narrow range in practice of the Montgomery parameter implies an evolutionary stability for the leaf area of large-leaved plants despite the fact that leaf shapes of these plants are rather different.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
DOI: 10.1007/S00468-019-01843-4
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“Oxidation destabilizes toxic amyloid beta peptide aggregation”. Razzokov J, Yusupov M, Bogaerts A, Scientific reports 9, 5476 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-41931-6
Abstract: The aggregation of insoluble amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in the brain is known to trigger the onset of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. In spite of the massive number of investigations, the underlying mechanisms to destabilize the Aβ aggregates are still poorly understood. Some studies indicate the importance of oxidation to destabilize the Aβ aggregates. In particular, oxidation induced by cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has demonstrated promising results in eliminating these toxic aggregates. In this paper, we investigate the effect of oxidation on the stability of an Aβ pentamer. By means of molecular dynamics simulations and umbrella sampling, we elucidate the conformational changes of Aβ pentamer in the presence of oxidized residues, and we estimate the dissociation free energy of the terminal peptide out of the pentamer form. The calculated dissociation free energy of the terminal peptide is also found to decrease with increasing oxidation. This indicates that Aβ pentamer aggregation becomes less favorable upon oxidation. Our study contributes to a better insight in one of the potential mechanisms for inhibition of toxic Aβ peptide aggregation, which is considered to be the main culprit to Alzheimer’s disease.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 4.259
Times cited: 5
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41931-6
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“Disconnecting Symmetry Breaking from Seeded Growth for the Reproducible Synthesis of High Quality Gold Nanorods”. Gonzalez-Rubio G, Kumar V, Llombart P, Diaz-Nunez P, Bladt E, Altantzis T, Bals S, Pena-Rodriguez O, Noya EG, MacDowell LG, Guerrero-Martinez A, Liz-Marzan LM, ACS nano 13, 4424 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1021/ACSNANO.8B09658
Abstract: One of the major difficulties hindering the widespread application of colloidal anisotropic plasmonic nanoparticles is the limited robustness and reproducibility of multistep synthetic methods. We demonstrate herein that the reproducibility and reliability of colloidal gold nanorod (AuNR) synthesis can be greatly improved by disconnecting the symmetry-breaking event from the seeded growth process. We have used a modified silver-assisted seeded growth method in the presence of the surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and n-decanol as a co-surfactant to prepare small AuNRs in high yield, which were then used as seeds for the growth of high quality AuNR colloids. Whereas the use of n-decanol provides a more-rigid micellar system, the growth on anisotropic seeds avoids sources of irreproducibility during the symmetry breaking step, yielding uniform AuNR colloids with narrow plasmon bands, ranging from 600 to 1270 nm, and allowing the fine-tuning of the final dimensions. This method provides a robust route for the preparation of high quality AuNR colloids with tunable morphology, size, and optical response in a reproducible and scalable manner.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT)
Impact Factor: 13.942
Times cited: 100
DOI: 10.1021/ACSNANO.8B09658
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“Impact of carrier on ammonia and organics removal from zero-discharge marine recirculating aquaculture system with sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR)”. Li J, Zhu W, Dong H, Yang Z, Zhang P, Qiang Z, Environmental Science And Pollution Research 27, 34614 (2020). http://doi.org/10.1007/S11356-019-04887-8
Abstract: Marine recirculating aquaculture system (MRAS) is an effective technology that provides sustainable farming of food fish globally. However, dissolved organics material (chemical oxygen demand, COD) and especially ammonia are produced from uneaten feed and metabolic wastes of fish. To purify the MRAS water, this study adopted a sequencing biofilm batch reactor (SBBR) and comparatively investigated the performances of four different carriers on ammonia and COD removal. Results indicated that the NH4+-N removal rates were 0.045 +/- 0.05, 0.065 +/- 0.008, 0.089 +/- 0.005, and 0.093 +/- 0.003 kg/(m(3)center dot d), and the COD removal rates were 0.019 +/- 0.010, 0.213 +/- 0.010, 0.255 +/- 0.015, and 0.322 +/- 0.010 kg/(m(3)center dot d) in the SBBRs packed with porous plastic, bamboo ring, maifan stone, and ceramsite carriers, respectively. Among the four carriers, ceramsite exhibited the best performance for both NH4+-N (80%) and COD (33%) removal after the SBBR reached the steady-state operation conditions. For all carriers studied, the NH4+-N removal kinetics could be well simulated by the first-order model, and the NH4+-N and COD removal rates were logarithmically correlated with the carrier's specific surface area. Due to its high ammonia removal, stable performance and easy operation, the ceramsite-packed SBBR is feasible for MRAS water treatment.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Impact Factor: 5.8
Times cited: 1
DOI: 10.1007/S11356-019-04887-8
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“Spectrum of exciton states in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides : angular momentum and Landau levels”. Van der Donck M, Peeters FM, Physical review B 99, 115439 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVB.99.115439
Abstract: A four-band exciton Hamiltonian is constructed starting from the single-particle Dirac Hamiltonian for charge carriers in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). The angular part of the exciton wave function can be separated from the radial part, in the case of zero center of mass momentum excitons, by exploiting the eigenstates of the total exciton angular momentum operator with which the Hamiltonian commutes. We explain why this approach fails for excitons with finite center of mass momentum or in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field and present an approximation to resolve this issue. We calculate the (binding) energy and average interparticle distance of different excited exciton states in different TMDs and compare these with results available in the literature. Remarkably, we find that the intervalley exciton ground state in the -/+ K valley has angular momentum j = +/- 1, which is due to the pseudospin of the separate particles. The exciton mass and the exciton Landau levels are calculated and we find that the degeneracy of exciton states with opposite relative angular momentum is altered by a magnetic field.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 10
DOI: 10.1103/PHYSREVB.99.115439
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“Tunable circular dipolelike system in graphene : mixed electron-hole states”. Van Pottelberge R, Peeters FM, Physical review B 99, 125426 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVB.99.125426
Abstract: Coupled electron-hole states are realized in a system consisting of a combination of an electrostatic potential barrier and ring-shaped potential well, which resembles a circular dipole. A perpendicular magnetic field induces confined states inside the Landau gaps which are mainly located at the barrier or ring. Hybridizations between the barrier and ring states are seen as anticrossings in the energy spectrum. As a consequence, the energy levels show an oscillating dependence on the electrostatic potential strength in combination with an oscillating migration of the wave functions between the barrier and ring. At the anticrossing points the quantum state consists of a mixture of electron and hole. The present system mimics closely the behavior of a relativistic dipole on gapped graphene.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 4
DOI: 10.1103/PHYSREVB.99.125426
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“Molecular dynamics simulations of initial Pd and PdO nanocluster growth in a magnetron gas aggregation source”. Brault P, Chamorro-Coral W, Chuon S, Caillard A, Bauchire J-M, Baranton S, Coutanceau C, Neyts E, Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering 13, 324 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1007/S11705-019-1792-5
Abstract: Molecular dynamics simulations are carried out for describing growth of Pd and PdO nanoclusters using the ReaxFF force field. The resulting nanocluster structures are successfully compared to those of nanoclusters experimentally grown in a gas aggregation source. The PdO structure is quasi-crystalline as revealed by high resolution transmission microscope analysis for experimental PdO nanoclusters. The role of the nanocluster temperature in the molecular dynamics simulated growth is highlighted.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 1.712
Times cited: 3
DOI: 10.1007/S11705-019-1792-5
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“Graphene-based heterostructures with moire superlattice that preserve the Dirac cone: a first-principles study”. Kong X, Li L, Peeters FM, Journal of physics : condensed matter 31, 255302 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648X/AB132F
Abstract: In van der Waals heterostructures consisting of graphene and a substrate, lattice mismatch often leads to a moire pattern with a huge supercell, preventing its treatment within first- principles calculations. Previous theoretical works considered mostly simple stacking models such as AB, AA with straining the lattice of graphene to match that of the substrate. Here, we propose a moire superlattice build from graphene and porous graphene or graphyne like monolayers, having a lower interlayer binding energy, needing little strain in order to match the lattices. In contrast to the results from the simple stacking models, the present ab initio calculations for the moire superlattices show different properties in lattice structure, energy, and band structures. For example, the Dirac cone at the K point is preserved and a linear energy dispersion near the Fermi level is obtained.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 2.649
Times cited: 5
DOI: 10.1088/1361-648X/AB132F
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“Characterization and removal of a disfiguring oxalate crust on a large altarpiece by Hans Memling”. Klaassen L, van der Snickt G, Legrand S, Higgitt C, Spring M, Vanmeert F, Rosi F, Brunetti BG, Postec M, Janssens K page 263 (2019).
Abstract: During the conservation treatment of Memling’s Christ with Singing and Music-making Angels, three panel paintings that are among the most monumental works in early Netherlandish art, the conservators came across insoluble surface layers containing calcium oxalates. A very thin and irregular layer of this type, hardly visible to the naked eye, was spread across the surface of all three panels. A much thicker layer forming an opaque and highly disfiguring crust that obscured the composition (Figs. 15.1 and 15.7) was locally present on areas of dark copper-containing paint, where multiple layers of old discolored coatings and accretions remained in place before the most recent cleaning. This article describes the application of a wide range of analytical techniques in order to fully understand the stratigraphy and composition of the crusts on the Memling paintings. FTIR spectroscopy in transmission and reflection mode, micro-ATR-FTIR imaging and macro-rFTIR scanning, SEM-EDX, mobile XRD, and SR-μXRD showed that the crusts contained two related Ca-based oxalate salts, whewellite and weddellite, and were separated from the original paint surface by varnish, indicating that they did not originate from degradation of the original paint but from a combination of microbial action and a thick accumulation of dirt. Supported by the results from these different analytical techniques, which when used together proved to be very effective in providing complementary information that addressed this specific conservation problem, and aided by the presence of the intermediate varnish layer(s), the conservators were able to remove most of the crusts with spectacular results.
Keywords: H1 Book chapter; Art; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation); Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES)
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-90617-1_15
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“Identification and distribution of metal soaps and oxalates in oil and tempera paint layers in fifteenth-century altarpieces using synchrotron radiation Techniques”. Salvadó N, Butí S, Pradell T, Beltran V, Cinque G, Juanhuix J page 195 (2019).
Abstract: The formation and distribution of metal soaps produced as a result of the reactivity and aging of the materials in a fifteenth-century egg tempera and oil paintings on wood are presented. The painting technique involves the application of several paint layers over a ground using, sometimes in the same paint layer sequence, drying oil and egg yolk binders. We show, with a selection of examples, how the use of thin sections and a combination of various micro-sensitive analytical techniques is adequate to obtain the high-quality data necessary for the unambiguous identification of metal soaps and metal oxalates as well as their distribution in the paint layers. The techniques include micro infrared spectroscopy (μSR-FTIR) and micro X-ray diffraction (μSR-XRD) with synchrotron radiation, optical microscopy (OM), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The data obtained sheds light about the underlying reaction and aging mechanisms happening in each paint layer and among them. This helps to define the state of conservation of the artworks.
Keywords: H1 Book chapter; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-90617-1_11
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“Plasma for cancer treatment: How can RONS penetrate through the cell membrane? Answers from computer modeling”. Bogaerts A, Yusupov M, Razzokov J, Van der Paal J, Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering (2019). http://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-018-1786-8
Abstract: Plasma is gaining increasing interest for cancer
treatment, but the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully
understood. Using computer simulations at the molecular
level, we try to gain better insight in how plasma-generated
reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) can
penetrate through the cell membrane. Specifically, we
compare the permeability of various (hydrophilic and
hydrophobic) RONS across both oxidized and nonoxidized cell membranes. We also study pore formation,
and how it is hampered by higher concentrations of
cholesterol in the cell membrane, and we illustrate the
much higher permeability of H2O2 through aquaporin
channels. Both mechanisms may explain the selective
cytotoxic effect of plasma towards cancer cells. Finally, we
also discuss the synergistic effect of plasma-induced
oxidation and electric fields towards pore formation.
Keywords plasma medicine, cancer treatment, computer
modelling, cell membrane, reactive oxygen and nitrogen
species
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 1.712
Times cited: 5
DOI: 10.1007/s11705-018-1786-8
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“Ionized water confined in graphene nanochannels”. de Aquino BRH, Ghorbanfekr-Kalashami H, Neek-Amal M, Peeters FM, Physical chemistry, chemical physics 21, 9285 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1039/C9CP00075E
Abstract: When confined between graphene layers, water behaves differently from the bulk and exhibits unusual properties such as fast water flow and ordering into a crystal. The hydrogen-bonded network is affected by the limited space and by the characteristics of the confining walls. The presence of an extraordinary number of hydronium and hydroxide ions in narrow channels has the following effects: (i) they affect water permeation through the channel, (ii) they may interact with functional groups on the graphene oxide surface and on the edges, and (iii) they change the thermochemistry of water, which are fundamentally important to understand, especially when confined water is subjected to an external electric field. Here we study the physical properties of water when confined between two graphene sheets and containing hydronium and hydroxide. We found that: (i) there is a disruption in the solvation structure of the ions, which is also affected by the layered structure of confined water, (ii) hydronium and hydroxide occupy specific regions inside the nanochannel, with a prevalence of hydronium (hydroxide) ions at the edges (interior), and (iii) ions recombine more slowly in confined systems than in bulk water, with the recombination process depending on the channel height and commensurability between the size of the molecules and the nanochannel height – a decay of 20% (40%) in the number of ions in 8 ps is observed for a channel height of h = 7 angstrom (bulk water). Our work reveals distinctive properties of water confined in a nanocapillary in the presence of additional hydronium and hydroxide ions.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 4.123
Times cited: 10
DOI: 10.1039/C9CP00075E
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“Electric-field-induced emergent electrical connectivity in graphene oxide”. Neek-Amal M, Rashidi R, Nair RR, Neilson D, Peeters FM, Physical review B 99, 115425 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVB.99.115425
Abstract: Understanding the appearance of local electrical connectivity in liquid filled layered graphene oxide subjected to an external electric field is important to design electrically controlled smart permeable devices and also to gain insight into the physics behind electrical effects on confined water permeation. Motivated by recent experiments [K. G. Zhou et al. Nature (London) 559, 236 (2018)], we introduce a new model with random percolating paths for electrical connectivity in micron thick water filled layered graphene oxide, which mimics parallel resistors connected across the top and bottom electrodes. We find that a strong nonuniform radial electric field of the order similar to 10-50 mV/nm can be induced between layers depending on the current flow through the formed conducting paths. The maxima of the induced fields are not necessarily close to the electrodes and may be localized in the middle region of the layered material. The emergence of electrical connectivity and the associated electrical effects have a strong influence on the surrounding fluid in terms of ionization and wetting which subsequently determines the permeation properties.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 3
DOI: 10.1103/PHYSREVB.99.115425
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“Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide to Value-Added Chemicals by Heterogeneous Catalysis and Plasma Catalysis”. Liu M, Yi Y, Wang L, Guo H, Bogaerts A, Catalysts 9, 275 (2019). http://doi.org/10.3390/catal9030275
Abstract: Due to the increasing emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), greenhouse effects are becoming more and more severe, causing global climate change. The conversion and utilization of CO2 is one of the possible solutions to reduce CO2 concentrations. This can be accomplished, among other methods, by direct hydrogenation of CO2, producing value-added products. In this review, the progress of mainly the last five years in direct hydrogenation of CO2 to value-added chemicals (e.g., CO, CH4, CH3OH, DME, olefins, and higher hydrocarbons) by heterogeneous catalysis and plasma catalysis is summarized, and research priorities for CO2 hydrogenation are proposed.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 3.082
DOI: 10.3390/catal9030275
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“Long-Term Stability Control of CVD-Grown Monolayer MoS2”. Sar H, Ozden A, Demiroglu I, Sevik C, Perkgoz NK, Ay F, Physica status solidi: rapid research letters 13, 1800687 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1002/PSSR.201800687
Abstract: The structural stability of 2D transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) formations is of particular importance for their reliable device performance in nano-electronics and opto-electronics. Recent observations show that the CVD-grown TMD monolayers are likely to encounter stability problems such as cracking or fracturing when they are kept under ambient conditions. Here, two different growth configurations are investigated and a favorable growth geometry is proposed, which also sheds light onto the growth mechanism and provides a solution for the stability and fracture formation issues for TMDs specifically for MoS2 monolayers. It is shown that 18 months naturally and thermally aged MoS2 monolayer flakes grown using specifically developed conditions, retain their stability. To understand the mechanism of the structural deterioration, two possible effective mechanisms, S vacancy defects and growth-induced tensile stress, are assessed by the first principle calculations where the role of S vacancy defects in obtaining oxidation resistant MoS2 monolayer flakes is revealed to be rather more critical. Hence, these simulations, time-dependent observations and thermal aging experiments show that durability and stability of 2D MoS2 flakes can be controlled by CVD growth configuration.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
DOI: 10.1002/PSSR.201800687
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“Conductance fluctuations of monolayer GeSnH2$ in the topological phase using a low-energy effective tight-binding Hamiltonian”. Aslani Z, Sisakht ET, Fazileh F, Ghorbanfekr-Kalashami H, Peeters FM, Physical review B 99, 115421 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVB.99.115421
Abstract: An effective tight-binding (TB) Hamiltonian for monolayer GeSnH2 is constructed which has an inversion-asymmetric honeycomb structure. The low-energy band structure of our TB model agrees very well with previous ab initio calculations even under biaxial tensile strain. Our model predicts a phase transition at 7.5% biaxial tensile strain in agreement with DFT calculations. Upon 8.5% strain the system exhibits a band gap of 134 meV, suitable for room temperature applications. It is shown that an external applied magnetic field produces a special phase which is a combination of the quantum Hall (QH) and quantum spin Hall (QSH) phases; and at a critical magnetic field strength the QSH phase completely disappears. The topological nature of the phase transition is confirmed from: (1) the calculation of the Z(2) topological invariant, and (2) quantum transport properties of disordered GeSnH2 nanoribbons which allows us to determine the universality class of the conductance fluctuations. The application of an external applied magnetic field reduces the conductance fluctuations by a factor of root 2.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 3
DOI: 10.1103/PHYSREVB.99.115421
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“Effect of zinc oxide modification by indium oxide on microstructure, adsorbed surface species, and sensitivity to CO”. Marikutsa A, Rumyantseva M, Gaskov A, Batuk M, Hadermann J, Sarmadian N, Saniz R, Partoens B, Lamoen D, Frontiers in materials 6 (2019). http://doi.org/10.3389/FMATS.2019.00043
Abstract: Additives in semiconductor metal oxides are commonly used to improve sensing behavior of gas sensors. Due to complicated effects of additives on the materials microstructure, adsorption sites and reactivity to target gases the sensing mechanism with modified metal oxides is a matter of thorough research. Herein, we establish the promoting effect of nanocrystalline zinc oxide modification by 1-7 at.% of indium on the sensitivity to CO gas due to improved nanostructure dispersion and concentration of active sites. The sensing materials were synthesized via an aqueous coprecipitation route. Materials composition, particle size and BET area were evaluated using X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption isotherms, high-resolution electron microscopy techniques and EDX-mapping. Surface species of chemisorbed oxygen, OH-groups, and acid sites were characterized by probe molecule techniques and infrared spectroscopy. It was found that particle size of zinc oxide decreased and the BET area increased with the amount of indium oxide. The additive was observed as amorphous indium oxide segregated on agglomerated ZnO nanocrystals. The measured concentration of surface species was higher on In2O3-modified zinc oxide. With the increase of indium oxide content, the sensor response of ZnO/In2O3 to CO was improved. Using in situ infrared spectroscopy, it was shown that oxidation of CO molecules was enhanced on the modified zinc oxide surface. The effect of modifier was attributed to promotion of surface OH-groups and enhancement of CO oxidation on the segregated indium ions, as suggested by DFT in previous work.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.3389/FMATS.2019.00043
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“Overcoming Old Scaling Relations and Establishing New Correlations in Catalytic Surface Chemistry: Combined Effect of Charging and Doping”. Bal KM, Neyts EC, The journal of physical chemistry: C : nanomaterials and interfaces 123, 6141 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.9b01216
Abstract: Optimization of catalytic materials for a given application is greatly constrained by linear scaling relations. Recently, however, it has been demonstrated that it is possible to reversibly modulate the chemisorption of molecules on nanomaterials by charging (i.e., injection or removal of electrons) and hence reversibly and selectively modify catalytic activity beyond structure−activity correlations. The fundamental physical relation between the properties of the material, the charging process, and the chemisorption energy, however, remains unclear, and a systematic exploration and optimization of charge-switchable sorbent materials is not yet possible. Using hybrid DFT calculations of CO2 chemisorption on hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets with several types of defects and dopants, we here reveal the existence of fundamental correlations between the electron affinity of a material and charge-induced chemisorption, show how defect engineering can be used to modulate the strength and efficiency of the adsorption process, and demonstrate that excess electrons stabilize many topological defects. We then show how these insights could be exploited in the development of new electrocatalytic materials and the synthesis of doped nanomaterials. Moreover, we demonstrate that calculated chemical properties of charged materials are highly sensitive to the employed computational methodology because of the self-interaction error, which underlines the theoretical challenge posed by such systems.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 4.536
Times cited: 5
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.9b01216
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“The effect of policy leveraging climate change adaptive capacity in agriculture”. Vanschoenwinkel J, Moretti M, Van Passel S, European Review Of Agricultural Economics (2020). http://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbz007
Abstract: Agricultural adaptation to climate change is indispensable. However, the degree of adaptation depends on adaptive capacity levels and it only takes place if the appropriate resources are present. Cross-sectional climate response models ignore this requirement. This paper adapts the Ricardian method to control for a generic territorial adaptive capacity index. The results for a sample of over 60.000 European farms show a significant non-linear positive relationship between adaptive capacity and climate responsiveness and that some regions in Europe can increase their climate responsiveness significantly. This confirms that improvement of adaptive capacity is an important policy tool to enhance adaptation.
Keywords: A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM)
Impact Factor: 3.4
DOI: 10.1093/erae/jbz007
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“Determining stoichiometry and kinetics of two thermophilic nitrifying communities as a crucial step in the development of thermophilic nitrogen removal”. Vanderkerckhove TGL, Kerckhof F-M, De Mulder C, Vlaeminck SE, Boon N, Water research 156, 34 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.WATRES.2019.03.008
Abstract: Nitrification and denitrification, the key biological processes for thermophilic nitrogen removal, have separately been established in bioreactors at 50 °C. A well-characterized set of kinetic parameters is essential to integrate these processes while safeguarding the autotrophs performing nitrification. Knowledge on thermophilic nitrifying kinetics is restricted to isolated or highly enriched batch cultures, which do not represent bioreactor conditions. This study characterized the stoichiometry and kinetics of two thermophilic (50 °C) nitrifying communities. The most abundant ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) were related to the Nitrososphaera genus, clustering relatively far from known species Nitrososphaera gargensis (95.5% 16S rRNA gene sequence identity). The most abundant nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) were related to Nitrospira calida (97% 16S rRNA gene sequence identity). The nitrification biomass yield was 0.200.24 g VSS g−1 N, resulting mainly from a high AOA yield (0.160.20 g VSS g−1 N), which was reflected in a high AOA abundance in the community (5776%) compared to NOB (511%). Batch-wise determination of decay rates (AOA: 0.230.29 d−1; NOB: 0.320.43 d−1) rendered an overestimation compared to in situ estimations of overall decay rate (0.0260.078 d−1). Possibly, the inactivation rate rather than the actual decay rate was determined in batch experiments. Maximum growth rates of AOA and NOB were 0.120.15 d−1 and 0.130.33 d−1 respectively. NOB were susceptible to nitrite, opening up opportunities for shortcut nitrogen removal. However, NOB had a similar growth rate and oxygen affinity (0.150.55 mg O2 L−1) as AOA and were resilient towards free ammonia (IC50 > 16 mg NH3-N L−1). This might complicate NOB outselection using common practices to establish shortcut nitrogen removal (SRT control; aeration control; free ammonia shocks). Overall, the obtained insights can assist in integrating thermophilic conversions and facilitate single-sludge nitrification/denitrification.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2019.03.008
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“A Facet-Specific Quantum Dot Passivation Strategy for Colloid Management and Efficient Infrared Photovoltaics”. Kim Y, Che F, Jo JW, Choi J, de Arquer FPG, Voznyy O, Sun B, Kim J, Choi M-J, Quintero-Bermudez R, Fan F, Tan CS, Bladt E, Walters G, Proppe AH, Zou C, Yuan H, Bals S, Hofkens J, Roeffaers MBJ, Hoogland S, Sargent EH, Advanced materials 31, 1805580 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1002/ADMA.201805580
Abstract: Colloidal nanocrystals combine size- and facet-dependent properties with solution processing. They offer thus a compelling suite of materials for technological applications. Their size- and facet-tunable features are studied in synthesis; however, to exploit their features in optoelectronic devices, it will be essential to translate control over size and facets from the colloid all the way to the film. Larger-diameter colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) offer the attractive possibility of harvesting infrared (IR) solar energy beyond absorption of silicon photovoltaics. These CQDs exhibit facets (nonpolar (100)) undisplayed in small-diameter CQDs; and the materials chemistry of smaller nanocrystals fails consequently to translate to materials for the short-wavelength IR regime. A new colloidal management strategy targeting the passivation of both (100) and (111) facets is demonstrated using distinct choices of cations and anions. The approach leads to narrow-bandgap CQDs with impressive colloidal stability and photoluminescence quantum yield. Photophysical studies confirm a reduction both in Stokes shift (approximate to 47 meV) and Urbach tail (approximate to 29 meV). This approach provides a approximate to 50% increase in the power conversion efficiency of IR photovoltaics compared to controls, and a approximate to 70% external quantum efficiency at their excitonic peak.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 19.791
Times cited: 74
DOI: 10.1002/ADMA.201805580
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“Controlling the interfacial conductance in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 in 90 degrees off-axis sputter deposition”. Yin C, Krishnan D, Gauquelin N, Verbeeck J, Aarts J, Physical review materials 3, 034002 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVMATERIALS.3.034002
Abstract: We report on the fabrication of conducting interfaces between LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 by 90 degrees off-axis sputtering in an Ar atmosphere. At a growth pressure of 0.04 mbar the interface is metallic, with a carrier density of the order of 1 x 10(13) cm(-2) at 3 K. By increasing the growth pressure, we observe an increase of the out-of-plane lattice constants of the LaAlO3 films while the in-plane lattice constants do not change. Also, the low-temperature sheet resistance increases with increasing growth pressure, leading to an insulating interface when the growth pressure reaches 0.10 mbar. We attribute the structural variations to an increase of the La/Al ratio, which also explains the transition from metallic behavior to insulating behavior of the interfaces. Our research shows that the control which is furnished by the Ar pressure makes sputtering as versatile a process as pulsed laser deposition, and emphasizes the key role of the cation stoichiometry of LaAlO3 in the formation of the conducting interface.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.926
Times cited: 4
DOI: 10.1103/PHYSREVMATERIALS.3.034002
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“Electrical Polarization in AlN/GaN Nanodisks Measured by Momentum-Resolved 4D Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy”. Müller-Caspary K, Grieb T, Müßener J, Gauquelin N, Hille P, Schörmann J, Verbeeck J, Van Aert S, Eickhoff M, Rosenauer A, Physical review letters 122, 106102 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.106102
Abstract: We report the mapping of polarization-induced internal electric fields in AlN/GaN nanowire heterostructures at unit cell resolution as a key for the correlation of optical and structural phenomena in semiconductor optoelectronics. Momentum-resolved aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy is employed as a new imaging mode that simultaneously provides four-dimensional data in real and reciprocal space. We demonstrate how internal mesoscale and atomic electric fields can be separated in an experiment, which is verified by comprehensive dynamical simulations of multiple electron scattering. A mean difference of 5.3 +- 1.5 MV/cm is found for the polarization-induced electric fields in AlN and GaN, being in accordance with dedicated simulations and photoluminescence measurements in previous publications.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 8.462
Times cited: 26
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.106102
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“Deflection of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic skyrmions at heterochiral interfaces”. Menezes RM, Mulkers J, de Souza Silva CC, Milošević, MV, Physical review B 99, 104409 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVB.99.104409
Abstract: Devising magnetic nanostructures with spatially heterogeneous Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) is a promising pathway toward advanced confinement and control of magnetic skyrmions in potential devices. Here we discuss theoretically how a skyrmion interacts with a heterochiral interface using micromagnetic simulations and analytic arguments. We show that a heterochiral interface deflects the trajectory of ferromagnetic (FM) skyrmions, and that the extent of such deflection is tuned by the applied spin-polarized current and the difference in DMI across the interface. Further, we show that this deflection is characteristic of the FM skyrmion, and it is completely absent in the antiferromagnetic (AFM) case. In turn, we reveal that the AFM skyrmion achieves much higher velocities than its FM counterpart, yet experiences far stronger confinement in nanoengineered heterochiral tracks, which reinforces AFM skyrmions as a favorable choice for skyrmion-based devices.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
Times cited: 19
DOI: 10.1103/PHYSREVB.99.104409
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“Tunable 2D-gallium arsenide and graphene bandgaps in a graphene/GaAs heterostructure : an ab initio study”. Gonzalez-Garcia A, Lopez-Perez W, Gonzalez-Hernandez R, Rodriguez JA, Milošević, MV, Peeters FM, Journal of physics : condensed matter 31, 265502 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1088/1361-648X/AB0D70
Abstract: The bandgap behavior of 2D-GaAs and graphene have been investigated with van der Waals heterostructured into a yet unexplored graphene/GaAs bilayer, under both uniaxial stress along c axis and different planar strain distributions. The 2D-GaAs bandgap nature changes from Gamma-K indirect in isolated monolayer to Gamma-Gamma direct in graphene/GaAs bilayer. In the latter, graphene exhibits a bandgap of 5 meV. The uniaxial stress strongly affects the graphene electronic bandgap, while symmetric in-plane strain does not open the bandgap in graphene. Nevertheless, it induces remarkable changes on the GaAs bandgap-width around the Fermi level. However, when applying asymmetric in-plane strain to graphene/GaAs, the graphene sublattice symmetry is broken, and the graphene bandgap is open at the Fermi level to a maximum width of 814 meV. This value is much higher than that reported for just graphene under asymmetric strain. The Gamma-Gamma direct bandgap of GaAs remains unchanged in graphene/ GaAs under different types of applied strain. The analyses of phonon dispersion and the elastic constants yield the dynamical and mechanical stability of the graphene/GaAs system, respectively. The calculated mechanical properties for bilayer heterostructure are better than those of their constituent monolayers. This finding, together with the tunable graphene bandgap not only by the strength but also by the direction of the strain, enhance the potential for strain engineering of ultrathin group-III-V electronic devices hybridized by graphene.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 2.649
Times cited: 10
DOI: 10.1088/1361-648X/AB0D70
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“Stabilization of the perovskite phase in the Y-Bi-O system by using a BaBiO₃, buffer layer”. Bouwmeester RL, de Hond K, Gauquelin N, Verbeeck J, Koster G, Brinkman A, Physica status solidi: rapid research letters 13, 1800679 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1002/PSSR.201800679
Abstract: A topological insulating phase has theoretically been predicted for the thermodynamically unstable perovskite phase of YBiO3. Here, it is shown that the crystal structure of the Y-Bi-O system can be controlled by using a BaBiO3 buffer layer. The BaBiO3 film overcomes the large lattice mismatch of 12% with the SrTiO3 substrate by forming a rocksalt structure in between the two perovskite structures. Depositing an YBiO3 film directly on a SrTiO3 substrate gives a fluorite structure. However, when the Y-Bi-O system is deposited on top of the buffer layer with the correct crystal phase and comparable lattice constant, a single oriented perovskite structure with the expected lattice constants is observed.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1002/PSSR.201800679
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“Films of filled single-wall carbon nanotubes as a new material for high-performance air-sustainable transparent conductive electrodes operating in a wide spectral range”. Tonkikh AA, Tsebro VI, Obraztsova EA, Rybkovskiy DV, Orekhov AS, Kondrashov II, Kauppinen EI, Chuvilin AL, Obraztsova ED, Nanoscale 11, 6755 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1039/C8NR10238D
Abstract: In this paper we show the advantages of transparent high conductive films based on filled single-wall carbon nanotubes. The nanotubes with internal channels filled with acceptor molecules (copper chloride or iodine) form networks demonstrating significantly improved characteristics. Due to the charge transfer between the nanotubes and filler, the doped-nanotube films exhibit a drop in electrical sheet resistance of an order of magnitude together with a noticeable increase of film transparency in the visible and near-infrared spectral range. The thermoelectric power measurements show a significant improvement of air-stability of the nanotube network in the course of the filling procedure. For the nanotube films with an initial transparency of 87% at 514 nm and electrical sheet resistance of 862 Ohm sq(-1) we observed an improvement of transparency up to 91% and a decrease of sheet resistance down to 98 Ohm sq(-1). The combination of the nanotube synthesis technique and molecules for encapsulation has been optimized for applications in optoelectronics.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 7.367
Times cited: 2
DOI: 10.1039/C8NR10238D
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