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Author Herzog, M.J.; Gauquelin, N.; Esken, D.; Verbeeck, J.; Janek, J.
  Title Increased Performance Improvement of Lithium-Ion Batteries by Dry Powder Coating of High-Nickel NMC with Nanostructured Fumed Ternary Lithium Metal Oxides Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2021 Publication (up) ACS applied energy materials Abbreviated Journal ACS Appl. Energy Mater.
  Volume 4 Issue 9 Pages 8832-8848
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract Dry powder coating is an effective approach to protect the surfaces of layered cathode active materials (CAMs) in lithium-ion batteries. Previous investigations indicate an incorporation of lithium ions in fumed Al2O3, ZrO2, and TiO2 coatings on LiNi0.7Mn0.15Co0.15O2 during cycling, improving the cycling performance. Here, this coating approach is transferred for the first time to fumed ternary LiAlO2, Li4Zr3O8, and Li4Ti5O12 and directly compared with their lithium-free equivalents. All materials could be processed equally and their nanostructured small aggregates accumulate on the CAM surfaces to quite homogeneous coating layers with a certain porosity. The LiNixMnyCozO2 (NMC) coated with lithium-containing materials shows an enhanced improvement in overall capacity, capacity retention, rate performance, and polarization behavior during cycling, compared to their lithium-free analogues. The highest rate performance was achieved with the fumed ZrO2 coating, while the best long-term cycling stability with the highest absolute capacity was obtained for the fumed LiAlO2-coated NMC. The optimal coating agent for NMC to achieve a balanced system is fumed Li4Ti5O12, providing a good compromise between high rate capability and good capacity retention. The coating agents prevent CAM particle cracking and degradation in the order LiAlO2 ≈ Al2O3 > Li4Ti5O12 > Li4Zr3O8 > ZrO2 > TiO2. A schematic model for the protection and electrochemical performance enhancement of high-nickel NMC with fumed metal oxide coatings is sketched. It becomes apparent that physical and chemical characteristics of the coating significantly influence the performance of NMC. A high degree of coating-layer porosity is favorable for the rate capability, while a high coverage of the surface, especially in vulnerable grain boundaries, enhances the long-term cycling stability and improves the cracking behavior of NMCs. While zirconium-containing coatings possess the best chemical properties for high rate performances, aluminum-containing coatings feature a superior chemical nature to protect high-nickel NMCs.
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  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000703338600018 Publication Date 2021-09-27
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 2574-0962 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor Times cited 15 Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes For his support in scanning electron microscopy analysis, the authors thank Erik Peldszus. N. G. and J. V. acknowledge funding from GOA project “Solarpaint” of the University of Antwerp and from the Flemish Research Fund (FWO) project G0F1320N. The Qu-Ant-EM microscope and the direct electron detector were partly funded by the Hercules fund from the Flemish Government Approved Most recent IF: NA
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:183949 Serial 6823
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Author Abakumov, A.M.; Li, C.; Boev, A.; Aksyonov, D.A.; Savina, A.A.; Abakumova, T.A.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Bals, S.
  Title Grain boundaries as a diffusion-limiting factor in lithium-rich NMC cathodes for high-energy lithium-ion batteries Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2021 Publication (up) ACS applied energy materials Abbreviated Journal
  Volume 4 Issue 7 Pages 6777-6786
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract High-energy lithium-rich layered transition metal oxides are capable of delivering record electrochemical capacity and energy density as positive electrodes for Li-ion batteries. Their electrochemical behavior is extremely complex due to sophisticated interplay between crystal structure, electronic structure, and defect structure. Here we unravel an extra level of this complexity by revealing that the most typical representative Li1.2Ni0.13Mn0.54Co0.13O2 material, prepared by a conventional coprecipitation technique with Na2CO3 as a precipitating agent, contains abundant coherent (001) grain boundaries with a Na-enriched P2-structured block due to segregation of the residual sodium traces. The trigonal prismatic oxygen coordination of Na triggers multiple nanoscale twinning, giving rise to incoherent (104) boundaries. The cationic layers at the (001) grain boundaries are filled with transition metal cations being Mn-depleted and Co-enriched; this makes them virtually not permeable for the Li+ cations, and therefore they negatively influence the Li diffusion in and out of the spherical agglomerates. These results demonstrate that besides the mechanisms intrinsic to the crystal and electronic structure of Li-rich cathodes, their rate capability might also be depreciated by peculiar microstructural aspects. Dedicated engineering of grain boundaries opens a way for improving inherently sluggish kinetics of these materials.
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  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000678382900042 Publication Date 2021-07-02
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 2574-0962 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor Times cited 4 Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes We thank Dr. M. V. Berekchiian (MSU) for assisting in ICPMS measurements. We acknowledge Russian Science Foundation (Grant 20-43-01012) and Research Foundation Flanders (FWO Vlaanderen, Project No. G0F1320N) for financial support. Approved Most recent IF: NA
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:180556 Serial 6841
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Author Vishwakarma, M.; Batra, Y.; Hadermann, J.; Singh, A.; Ghosh, A.; Mehta, B.R.
  Title Exploring the role of graphene oxide as a co-catalyst in the CZTS photocathodes for improved photoelectrochemical properties Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication (up) ACS applied energy materials Abbreviated Journal
  Volume 5 Issue 6 Pages 7538-7549
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract The hydrogen evolution properties of CZTS heterostructure photocathodes are reported with graphene oxide (GO) as a co-catalyst layer coated by a drop-cast method and an Al2O3 protection layer fabricated using atomic layer deposition. In the CZTS absorber, a minor deviation from stoichiometry across the cross section of the thin film results in nanoscale growth of spurious phases, but the kesterite phase remains the dominant phase. We have investigated the band alignment parameters such as the band gap, work function, and Fermi level position that are crucial for making kesterite-based heterostructure devices. The photocurrent density in the photocathode CZTS/CdS/ZnO is found to be improved to -4.71 mAmiddotcm(-2) at -0.40 V-RHE, which is 3 times that of the pure CZTS. This enhanced photoresponse can be attributed to faster carrier separation at p-n junction regions driven by upward band bending at CZTS grain boundaries and the ZnO layer. GO as a co-catalyst over the heterostructure photocathode significantly improves the photocurrent density to -6.14 mAmiddotcm(-2) at -0.40 V-RHE by effective charge migration in the CZTS/CdS/ZnO/GO configuration, but the onset potential shifts only after application of the Al2O3 protection layer. Significant photocurrents of -29 mAmiddotcm(-2) at -0.40 V-RHE and -8 mAmiddotcm(-2) at 0 V-RHE are observed, with an onset potential of 0.7 V-RHE in CZTS/CdS/ZnO/GO/Al2O3. The heterostructure configuration and the GO co-catalyst reduce the charge-transfer resistance, while the Al2O3 top layer provides a stable photocurrent for a prolonged time (similar to 16 h). The GO co-catalyst increases the flat band potential from 0.26 to 0.46 V-RHE in CZTS/CdS/ZnO/GO, which supports the bias-induced band bending at the electrolyte-electrode interface.
  Address
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000820418400001 Publication Date 2022-05-24
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 2574-0962 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 6.4 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 6.4
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189666 Serial 7082
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Author Yedukondalu, N.; Pandey, T.; Roshan, S.C.R.
  Title Effect of hydrostatic pressure on lone pair activity and phonon transport in Bi₂O₂S Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication (up) ACS applied energy materials Abbreviated Journal
  Volume 6 Issue 4 Pages 2401-2411
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
  Abstract Dibismuth dioxychalcogenides, Bi2O2Ch (Ch = S, Se, Te), are a promising class of materials for next-generation electronics and thermoelectrics due to their ultrahigh carrier mobility and excellent air stability. An interesting member of this family is Bi2O2S, which has a stereochemically active 6s2 lone pair of Bi3+ cations, heterogeneous bonding, and a high mass contrast between its constituent elements. In the present study, we have used first-principles calculations in combination with Boltzmann transport theory to systematically investigate the effect of hydrostatic pressure on lattice dynamics and phonon transport properties of Bi2O2S. We found that the ambient Pnmn phase has a low average lattice thermal conductivity (kappa l) of 1.71 W/(m K) at 300 K. We also predicted that Bi2O2S undergoes a structural phase transition from a low-symmetry (Pnmn) to a high-symmetry (I4/mmm) structure at around 4 GPa due to centering of Bi3+ cations with pressure. Upon compression, the lone pair activity of Bi3+ cations is suppressed, which increases kappa l by almost 3 times to 4.92 W/ (m K) at 5 GPa for the I4/mmm phase. The computed phonon lifetimes and Gru''neisen parameters show that anharmonicity decreases with increasing pressure due to further suppression of the lone pair activity and strengthening of intra-and intermolecular interactions, leading to an average room-temperature kappa l of 12.82 W/(m K) at 20 GPa. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the effect of hydrostatic pressure on the stereochemical activity of the lone pair of Bi3+ cations and its implications on the phonon transport properties of Bi2O2S.
  Address
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000929103700001 Publication Date 2023-02-08
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 2574-0962 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 6.4 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 6.4; 2023 IF: NA
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:195245 Serial 7300
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Author Siriwardane, E.M.D.; Demiroglu, I.; Sevik, C.; Cakir, D.
  Title Achieving Fast Kinetics and Enhanced Li Storage Capacity for Ti3C2O2 by Intercalation of Quinone Molecules Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2019 Publication (up) ACS applied energy materials Abbreviated Journal
  Volume 2 Issue 2 Pages 1251-1258
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
  Abstract Using first-principles calculations, we demonstrated that high lithium storage capacity and fast kinetics are achieved for Ti3C2O2 by preintercalating organic molecules. As a proof-of-concept, two different quinone molecules, namely 1,4-benzoquinone (C6H4O2) and tetrafluoro-1,4-benzoquinone (C6F4O2) were selected as the molecular linkers to demonstrate the feasibility of this interlayer engineering strategy for energy storage. As compared to Ti3C2O2 bilayer without linker molecules, our pillared structures facilitate a much faster ion transport, promising a higher charge/discharge rate for Li. For example, while the diffusion barrier of a single Li ion within pristine Ti3C2O2 bilayer is at least 1.0 eV, it becomes 0.3 eV in pillared structures, which is comparable and even lower than that of commercial materials. At high Li concentrations, the calculated diffusion barriers are as low as 0.4 eV. Out-of-plane migration of Li ions is hindered due to large barrier energy with a value of around 1-1.35 eV. Concerning storage capacity, we can only intercalate one monolayer of Li within pristine Ti3C2O2 bilayer. In contrast, pillared structures offer significantly higher storage capacity. Our calculations showed that at least two layers of Li can be intercalated between Ti3C2O2 layers without forming bulk Li and losing the pillared structure upon Li loading/unloading. A small change in the in-plane lattice parameters (<0.5%) and volume (<1.0%) and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations prove the stability of the pillared structures against Li intercalation and thermal effects. Intercalated molecules avoid the large contraction/expansion of the whole structure, which is one of the key problems in electrochemical energy storage. Pillared structures allow us to realize electrodes with high capacity and fast kinetics. Our results open new research paths for improving the performance of not only MXenes but also other layered materials for supercapacitor and battery applications.
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  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000459948900037 Publication Date 2019-01-04
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 2574-0962 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
  Notes Approved no
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:193759 Serial 7414
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Author Yildiz, A.; Chouki, T.; Atli, A.; Harb, M.; Verbruggen, S.W.; Ninakanti, R.; Emin, S.
  Title Efficient iron phosphide catalyst as a counter electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2021 Publication (up) ACS applied energy materials Abbreviated Journal
  Volume 4 Issue 10 Pages 10618-10626
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
  Abstract Developing an efficient material as a counter electrode (CE) with excellent catalytic activity, intrinsic stability, and low cost is essential for the commercial application of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Transition metal phosphides have been demonstrated as outstanding multifunctional catalysts in a broad range of energy conversion technologies. Here, we exploited different phases of iron phosphide as CEs in DSSCs with an I–/I3–-based electrolyte. Solvothermal synthesis using a triphenylphosphine precursor as a phosphorus source allows to grow a Fe2P phase at 300 °C and a FeP phase at 350 °C. The obtained iron phosphide catalysts were coated on fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates and heat-treated at 450 °C under an inert gas atmosphere. The solar-to-current conversion efficiency of the solar cells assembled with the Fe2P material reached 3.96 ± 0.06%, which is comparable to the device assembled with a platinum (Pt) CE. DFT calculations support the experimental observations and explain the fundamental origin behind the improved performance of Fe2P compared to FeP. These results indicate that the Fe2P catalyst exhibits excellent performance along with desired stability to be deployed as an efficient Pt-free alternative in DSSCs.
  Address
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000711236300022 Publication Date 2021-10-08
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 2574-0962 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:181953 Serial 7853
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Author Alexander, C.T.; Abakumov, A.M.; Forslund, R.P.; Johnston, K.P.; Stevenson, K.J.
  Title Role of the carbon support on the oxygen reduction and evolution activities in LaNiO3 composite electrodes in alkaline solution Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2018 Publication (up) ACS applied energy materials Abbreviated Journal
  Volume 1 Issue 4 Pages 1549-1558
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract Metal-air batteries and fuel cells show a great deal of promise in advancing low-cost, high-energy-density charge storage solutions for sustainable energy applications. To improve the activities and stabilities of electrocatalysts for the critical oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR and OER, respectively), a greater understanding is needed of the catalyst/carbon interactions and carbon stability. Herein, we report how LaNiO3 (LNO) supported on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNT) made from a high-yield synthesis lowers the overpotential for both the OER and ORR markedly to enable a low bifunctional window of 0.81 V at only a 51 mu g cm(-2) mass loading. Furthermore, the addition of LNO to the N-CNTs improves the galvanostatic stability for the OER by almost 2 orders of magnitude. The nanoscale geometries of the perovskites and the CNTs enhance the number of metal-support and charge transfer interactions and thus the activity. We use rotating ring disk electrodes (RRDEs) combined with Tafel slope analysis and ICP-OES to quantitatively separate current contributions from the OER, carbon oxidation, and even anodic iron leaching from carbon nanotubes.
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  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000458705400020 Publication Date 2018-03-28
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 2574-0962 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access
  Notes Approved no
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:157642 Serial 8487
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Author Paulus, A.; Hendrickx, M.; Mayda, S.; Batuk, M.; Reekmans, G.; von Holst, M.; Elen, K.; Abakumov, A.M.; Adriaensens, P.; Lamoen, D.; Partoens, B.; Hadermann, J.; Van Bael, M.K.; Hardy, A.
  Title Understanding the Activation of Anionic Redox Chemistry in Ti4+-Substituted Li2MnO3as a Cathode Material for Li-Ion Batteries Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication (up) ACS applied energy materials Abbreviated Journal ACS Appl. Energy Mater.
  Volume 6 Issue 13 Pages 6956-6971
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
  Abstract Layered Li-rich oxides, demonstrating both cationic and anionic redox chemistry being used as positive electrodes for Li-ion batteries,have raised interest due to their high specific discharge capacities exceeding 250 mAh/g. However, irreversible structural transformations triggered by anionic redox chemistry result in pronounced voltagefade (i.e., lowering the specific energy by a gradual decay of discharge potential) upon extended galvanostatic cycling. Activating or suppressing oxygen anionic redox through structural stabilization induced by redox-inactivecation substitution is a well-known strategy. However, less emphasishas been put on the correlation between substitution degree and theactivation/suppression of the anionic redox. In this work, Ti4+-substituted Li2MnO3 was synthesizedvia a facile solution-gel method. Ti4+ is selected as adopant as it contains no partially filled d-orbitals. Our study revealedthat the layered “honeycomb-ordered” C2/m structure is preserved when increasing the Ticontent to x = 0.2 in the Li2Mn1-x Ti (x) O-3 solidsolution, as shown by electron diffraction and aberration-correctedscanning transmission electron microscopy. Galvanostatic cycling hintsat a delayed oxygen release, due to an improved reversibility of theanionic redox, during the first 10 charge-discharge cyclesfor the x = 0.2 composition compared to the parentmaterial (x = 0), followed by pronounced oxygen redoxactivity afterward. The latter originates from a low activation energybarrier toward O-O dimer formation and Mn migration in Li2Mn0.8Ti0.2O3, as deducedfrom first-principles molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for the“charged” state. Upon lowering the Ti substitution to x = 0.05, the structural stability was drastically improvedbased on our MD analysis, stressing the importance of carefully optimizingthe substitution degree to achieve the best electrochemical performance.
  Address
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 001018266700001 Publication Date 2023-07-10
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 2574-0962 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 6.4 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 24.12.2023
  Notes Universiteit Hasselt, AUHL/15/2 – GOH3816N ; Russian Science Foundation, 20-43-01012 ; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, AUHL/15/2 – GOH3816N G040116N ; The computational resources and services used in this work were provided by the VSC (Flemish Supercomputer Center) and the HPC infrastructure of the University of Antwerp (CalcUA), both funded by the FWO Vlaanderen and the Flemish Government-department EWI. Approved Most recent IF: 6.4; 2023 IF: NA
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:198160 Serial 8809
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Author Tran, T.L.A.; Çakir, D.; Wong, P.K.J.; Preobrajenski, A.B.; Brocks, G.; van der Wiel, W.G.; de Jong, M.P.
  Title Magnetic properties of bcc-Fe(001)/C-60 interfaces for organic spintronics Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2013 Publication (up) Acs Applied Materials & Interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 5 Issue 3 Pages 837-841
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
  Abstract The magnetic structure of the interfaces between organic semiconductors and ferromagnetic contacts plays a key role in the spin injection and extraction processes in organic spintronic devices. We present a combined computational (density functional theory) and experimental (X-ray magnetic circular dichroism) study on the magnetic properties of interfaces between bcc-Fe(001) and C-60 molecules. C-60 is an interesting candidate for application in organic spintronics due to the absence of hydrogen atoms and the associated hyperfine fields. Adsorption of C-60 on Fe(001) reduces the magnetic moments on the top Fe layers by similar to 6%, while inducing an antiparrallel magnetic moment of similar to-0.2 mu(B) on C-60. Adsorption of C-60 on a model ferromagnetic substrate consisting of three Fe monolayers on W(001) leads to a different structure but to very similar interface magnetic properties.
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  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000315079700050 Publication Date 2013-01-10
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 28 Open Access
  Notes ; The authors acknowledge support from the European project MINOTOR (Grant No. FP7-NMP-228424), the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant No. 280020), and the NWO VIDI program (Grant No. 10246). The use of supercomputer facilities was sponsored by the “Stichting Nationale Computerfaciliteiten (NCF)”, financially supported by the “Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO)”. ; Approved Most recent IF: 7.504; 2013 IF: 5.900
  Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:128326 Serial 4599
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Author Gasparotto, A.; Maccato, C.; Carraro, G.; Sada, C.; Štangar, U.L.; Alessi, B.; Rocks, C.; Mariotti, D.; La Porta, A.; Altantzis, T.; Barreca, D.
  Title Surface Functionalization of Grown-on-Tip ZnO Nanopyramids: From Fabrication to Light-Triggered Applications Type A1 Journal Article
  Year 2019 Publication (up) Acs Applied Materials & Interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 11 Issue 17 Pages 15881-15890
  Keywords A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) ;
  Abstract We report on a combined chemical vapor deposition (CVD)/radio frequency (RF) sputtering synthetic strategy for the controlled surface modification of ZnO nanostructures by Ti-containing species. Specifically, the proposed approach consists in the CVD of grown-on-tip ZnO nanopyramids, followed by titanium RF sputtering under mild conditions. The results obtained by a thorough characterization demonstrate the successful ZnO surface functionalization with dispersed Ti-containing species in low amounts. This phenomenon, in turn, yields a remarkable enhancement of photoactivated superhydrophilic behavior, self-cleaning ability, and photocatalytic performances in comparison to bare ZnO. The reasons accounting for such an improvement are unravelled by a multitechnique analysis, elucidating the interplay between material chemico-physical properties and the corresponding functional behavior. Overall, the proposed strategy stands as an amenable tool for the mastering of semiconductor-based functional nanoarchitectures through ad hoc engineering of the system surface.
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  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000466988800078 Publication Date 2019-04-18
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 1 Open Access Not_Open_Access
  Notes The research leading to these results has received financial support from Padova University ACTION postdoc fellowship, DOR 2016-2018, P-DiSC #03BIRD2016-UNIPD projects, and HERALD COST Action MP1402-37831. The support from EPSRC (awards EP/R008841/1 and EP/M024938/1) as well as from the Slovenian Research Agency (research core funding No. P1-0134) is also recognized. T.A. acknowledges a postdoctoral grant from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, Belgium). The authors are grateful to Dr. Sebastiano Pianta (Department of Chemical Sciences, Padova University, Italy) for experimental assistance. Approved Most recent IF: 7.504
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @ Serial 5185
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Agrawal, H.; Patra, B.K.; Altantzis, T.; De Backer, A.; Garnett, E.C.
  Title Quantifying Strain and Dislocation Density at Nanocube Interfaces after Assembly and Epitaxy Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2020 Publication (up) Acs Applied Materials & Interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 12 Issue 7 Pages 8788-8794
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT)
  Abstract Nanoparticle self-assembly and epitaxy are utilized extensively to make 1D and 2D structures with complex shapes. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) has shown that single-crystalline interfaces can form, but little is known about the strain and dislocations at these interfaces. Such information is critically important for applications: drastically reducing

dislocation density was the key breakthrough enabling widespread implementation of light-emitting diodes, while strain engineering has been fundamental to modern high-performance transistors, solar cells, and thermoelectrics. In this work, the interfacial defect and strain formation after selfassembly and room temperature epitaxy of 7 nm Pd nanocubes capped with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is examined. It is observed that, during ligand removal, the cubes move over large distances on the substrate, leading to both spontaneous self-assembly and epitaxy to form single crystals. Subsequently, atomically resolved images are used to quantify the strain and dislocation density at the epitaxial interfaces between cubes with different lateral and angular misorientations. It is shown that dislocation- and strain-free interfaces form when the nanocubes align parallel to each other. Angular misalignment between adjacent cubes does not necessarily lead to grain boundaries but does cause dislocations, with higher densities associated with larger rotations.
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  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000515214300101 Publication Date 2020-02-19
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 9.5 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek; H2020 Research Infrastructures, 731019 ; Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, 14846 ; The work at AMOLF is part of the research program of the “Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek” (NWO). This work was supported by the NWO VIDI grant (project no. 14846). The authors would like to thank Reinout Jaarsma and Dr. Sven Askes for helping with the XPS measurements. A.D.B. acknowledges a postdoctoral grant from the research foundation Flanders (FWO). The authors acknowledge financial support from the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Programme by means of the grant agreement no. 731019 EUSMI. Approved Most recent IF: 9.5; 2020 IF: 7.504
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:167770 Serial 6398
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Ben Dkhil, S.; Perkhun, P.; Luo, C.; Mueller, D.; Alkarsifi, R.; Barulina, E.; Quiroz, Y.A.A.; Margeat, O.; Dubas, S.T.; Koganezawa, T.; Kuzuhara, D.; Yoshimoto, N.; Caddeo, C.; Mattoni, A.; Zimmermann, B.; Wuerfel, U.; Pfannmöller, M.; Bals, S.; Ackermann, J.; Videlot-Ackermann, C.
  Title Direct correlation of nanoscale morphology and device performance to study photocurrent generation in donor-enriched phases of polymer solar cells Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2020 Publication (up) Acs Applied Materials & Interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 12 Issue 25 Pages 28404-28415
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract The nanoscale morphology of polymer blends is a key parameter to reach high efficiency in bulk heterojunction solar cells. Thereby, research typically focusing on optimal blend morphologies while studying nonoptimized blends may give insight into blend designs that can prove more robust against morphology defects. Here, we focus on the direct correlation of morphology and device performance of thieno[3,4-b]-thiophene-alt-benzodithiophene (PTB7):[6,6]phenyl C-71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) bulk heterojunction (BHJ) blends processed without additives in different donor/acceptor weight ratios. We show that while blends of a 1:1.5 ratio are composed of large donor-enriched and fullerene domains beyond the exciton diffusion length, reducing the ratio below 1:0.5 leads to blends composed purely of polymer-enriched domains. Importantly, the photocurrent density in such blends can reach values between 45 and 60% of those reached for fully optimized blends using additives. We provide here direct visual evidence that fullerenes in the donor-enriched domains are not distributed homogeneously but fluctuate locally. To this end, we performed compositional nanoscale morphology analysis of the blend using spectroscopic imaging of low-energy-loss electrons using a transmission electron microscope. Charge transport measurement in combination with molecular dynamics simulations shows that the fullerene substructures inside the polymer phase generate efficient electron transport in the polymer-enriched phase. Furthermore, we show that the formation of densely packed regions of fullerene inside the polymer phase is driven by the PTB7:PC71BM enthalpy of mixing. The occurrence of such a nanoscale network of fullerene clusters leads to a reduction of electron trap states and thus efficient extraction of photocurrent inside the polymer domain. Suitable tuning of the polymer-acceptor interaction can thus introduce acceptor subnetworks in polymer-enriched phases, improving the tolerance for high-efficiency BHJ toward morphological defects such as donor-enriched domains exceeding the exciton diffusion length.
  Address
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000543780900058 Publication Date 2020-06-01
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 9.5 Times cited 7 Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes ; J.A., O.M., and C.V.-A. acknowledge financial support by the French Fond Unique Interministeriel (FUI) under the project “SFUMATO” (Grant Number: F1110019V/ 201308815) as well as by the European Commission under the Project “SUNFLOWER” (FP7-ICT-2011-7, Grant Number: 287594). J.A., C.V.-A., and E.B. acknowledge the Association Nationale de la Recherche et de la Technologie (ANRT) and the Ministere de l'Enseignement Superieur, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation, awarded through the company Dracula Technologies (Valence, France), for framework of a CIFRE Ph.D. grant 2017/0529. J.A. and P.P. received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Grant agreement no. 713750. They further acknowledge support of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, A*MIDEX (no. ANR-11-IDEX-0001-02), and the Investissements d'Avenir project funded by the French Government, managed by the French National Research Agency (ANR). J.A. and Y.A.A.Q. acknowledge the French Research Agency for funding through the project NFA-15 (ANR-17-CE05-0020-01). N.Y. acknowledges that the synchrotron radiation experiments were performed at BL19B2 in SPring-8 with the approval of Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute (JASRI) (proposal nos. 2017B1629 and 2018B1791). S.B. acknowledges financial support from the European Research Council (ERC Consolidator Grant 815128-REALNANO) and from FWO (G.0381.16N). M.P. gratefully acknowledges funding by the Ministerium fur Wissenschaft, Forschung und Kunst Baden-Wurttemberg through the HEiKA materials research centre FunTECH-3D (MWK, 33-753-30-20/3/3) and the Large-Scale-Data-Facility (LSDF) sds@hd through grant INST 35/1314-1 FUGG. A.M. acknowledges Italian MIUR for funding through the project PON04a2 00490 M2M Netergit, PRACE, for awarding access to Marconi KNL at CINECA, Italy, through projects DECONVOLVES (2018184466) and PROVING-IL (2019204911). C.C. acknowledges the CINECA award under the ISCRA initiative for the availability of high-performance computing resources and support (project MITOMASC). ; sygma Approved Most recent IF: 9.5; 2020 IF: 7.504
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:170703 Serial 6484
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Author Kertik, A.; Wee, L.H.; Şentosun, K.; Navarro, J.A.R.; Bals, S.; Martens, J.A.; Vankelecom, I.F.J.
  Title High-performance CO2-selective hybrid membranes by exploiting MOF-breathing effects Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2020 Publication (up) Acs Applied Materials & Interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 12 Issue 2 Pages 2952-2961
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract Conventional CO2 separation in the petrochemical industry via cryogenic distillation or amine-based absorber-stripper units is energy-intensive and environmentally unfriendly. Membrane-based gas separation technology, in contrast, has contributed significantly to the development of energy-efficient systems for processes such as natural gas purification. The implementation of commercial polymeric membranes in gas separation processes is restricted by their permeability-selectivity trade-off and by their insufficient thermal and chemical stability. Herein, we present the fabrication of a Matrimid-based membrane loaded with a breathing metal-organic framework (MOF) (NH2-MIL-53(Al)) which is capable of separating binary CO2/CH4 gas mixtures with high selectivities without sacrificing much of its CO2 permeabilities. NH2-MIL-53(Al) crystals were embedded in a polyimide (PI) matrix, and the mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) were treated at elevated temperatures (up to 350 degrees C) in air to trigger PI cross-linking and to create PI-MOF bonds at the interface to effectively seal the grain boundary. Most importantly, the MOF transitions from its narrow-pore form to its large-pore form during this treatment, which allows the PI chains to partly penetrate the pores and cross-link with the amino functions at the pore mouth of the NH2-MIL-53(Al) and stabilizes the open-pore form of NH2-MIL-53(Al). This cross-linked MMM, with MOF pore entrances was made more selective by the anchored PI-chains and achieves outstanding CO2/CH4 selectivities. This approach provides significant advancement toward the design of selective MMMs with enhanced thermal and chemical stabilities which could also be applicable for other potential applications, such as separation of hydrocarbons (olefin/paraffin or isomers), pervaporation, and solvent-resistant nanofiltration.
  Address
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000508464500108 Publication Date 2019-12-20
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 9.5 Times cited 26 Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes ; A.K. is grateful to the Erasmus Mundus Doctorate in Membrane Engineering (EUDIME) programme. L.H.W. thanks the FWO-Vlaanderen for a postdoctoral research fellowships under contract number 12M1418N. We thank Methusalem and IAP-PAI for research funding. S.B. acknowledges financial support from European Research Council (ERC) (ERC Starting Grant No. 335078-COLOURATOM). We are also grateful to Frank Mathijs (KU Leuven) for the mechanical tests, Bart Goderis and Olivier Verkinderen for the DSC measurements, and Huntsman (Switzerland) for providing the Matrimid polymer. ; Approved Most recent IF: 9.5; 2020 IF: 7.504
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:166576 Serial 6534
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Author Peng, X.; Peng, H.; Zhao, K.; Zhang, Y.; Xia, F.; Lyu, J.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Sun, C.; Wu, J.
  Title Direct visualization of atomic-scale heterogeneous structure dynamics in MnO₂ nanowires Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2021 Publication (up) Acs Applied Materials & Interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 13 Issue 28 Pages 33644-33651
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract Manganese oxides are attracting great interest owing to their rich polymorphism and multiple valent states, which give rise to a wide range of applications in catalysis, capacitors, ion batteries, and so forth. Most of their functionalities are connected to transitions among the various polymorphisms and Mn valences. However, their atomic-scale dynamics is still a great challenge. Herein, we discovered a strong heterogeneity in the crystalline structure and defects, as well as in the Mn valence state. The transitions are studied by in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and they involve a complex ordering of [MnO6] octahedra as the basic building tunnels. MnO2 nanowires synthesized using solution-based hydrothermal methods usually exhibit a large number of multiple polymorphism impurities with different tunnel sizes. Upon heating, MnO2 nanowires undergo a series of stoichiometric polymorphism changes, followed by oxygen release toward an oxygen-deficient spinel and rock-salt phase. The impurity polymorphism exhibits an abnormally high stability with interesting small-large-small tunnel size transition, which is attributed to a preferential stabilizer (K+) concentration, as well as a strong competition of kinetics and thermodynamics. Our results unveil the complicated intergrowth of polymorphism impurities in MnO2, which provide insights into the heterogeneous kinetics, thermodynamics, and transport properties of the tunnel-based building blocks.
  Address
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000677540900101 Publication Date 2021-07-08
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.504
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:180450 Serial 6861
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Author Guerrero, R.M.; Lemir, I.D.; Carrasco, S.; Fernández-Ruiz, C.; Kavak, S.; Pizarro, P.; Serrano, D.P.; Bals, S.; Horcajada, P.; Pérez, Y.
  Title Scaling-Up Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Highly Defective Pd@UiO-66-NH2Catalysts for Selective Olefin Hydrogenation under Ambient Conditions Type A1 Journal Article
  Year 2024 Publication (up) ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces Abbreviated Journal ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces
  Volume Issue Pages
  Keywords A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) ;
  Abstract The need to develop green and cost-effective industrial catalytic processes has led to growing interest in preparing more robust, efficient, and selective heterogeneous catalysts at a large scale. In this regard, microwave-assisted synthesis is a fast method for fabricating heterogeneous catalysts (including metal oxides, zeolites, metal–organic frameworks, and supported metal nanoparticles) with enhanced catalytic properties, enabling synthesis scale-up. Herein, the synthesis of nanosized UiO-66-NH2 was optimized via a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method to obtain defective matrices essential for the stabilization of metal nanoparticles, promoting catalytically active sites for hydrogenation reactions (760 kg·m–3·day–1 space time yield, STY). Then, this protocol was scaled up in a multimodal microwave reactor, reaching 86% yield (ca. 1 g, 1450 kg·m–3·day–1 STY) in only 30 min. Afterward, Pd nanoparticles were formed in situ decorating the nanoMOF by an effective and fast microwave-assisted hydrothermal method, resulting in the formation of Pd@UiO-66-NH2 composites. Both the localization and oxidation states of Pd nanoparticles (NPs) in the MOF were achieved using high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The optimal composite, loaded with 1.7 wt % Pd, exhibited an extraordinary catalytic activity (>95% yield, 100% selectivity) under mild conditions (1 bar H2, 25 °C, 1 h reaction time), not only in the selective hydrogenation of a variety of single alkenes (1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-tridecene, cyclohexene, and tetraphenyl ethylene) but also in the conversion of a complex mixture of alkenes (i.e., 1-hexene, 1-tridecene, and anethole). The results showed a powerful interaction and synergy between the active phase (Pd NPs) and the catalytic porous scaffold (UiO-66-NH2), which are essential for the selectivity and recyclability.
  Address
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos Publication Date 2024-04-26
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links
  Impact Factor 9.5 Times cited Open Access
  Notes The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from “Comunidad de Madrid” and European Regional Development Fund-FEDER through the project HUB MADRID+CIRCULAR; the State Research Agency (MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033) through the grant with reference number CEX2019-000931-M received in the 2019 call for “Severo Ochoa Centres of Excellence” and “María de Maeztu Units of Excellence” of the State Programme for Knowledge Generation and Scientific and Technological Strengthening of the R&D&I System; and MICIU through the project “NAPOLION” (PID2022-139956OB-I00). S.K. acknowledges the Flemish Fund for Scientific Research (FWO Vlaanderen) through a PhD research grant (1181124N). Approved Most recent IF: 9.5; 2024 IF: 7.504
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @ Serial 9126
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Author Zeng, Y.-J.; Schouteden, K.; Amini, M.N.; Ruan, S.-C.; Lu, Y.-F.; Ye, Z.-Z.; Partoens, B.; Lamoen, D.; Van Haesendonck, C.
  Title Electronic band structures and native point defects of ultrafine ZnO nanocrystals Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2015 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 7 Issue 7 Pages 10617-10622
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
  Abstract Ultrafine ZnO nanocrystals with a thickness down to 0.25 nm are grown by a metalorganic chemical vapor deposition method. Electronic band structures and native point defects of ZnO nanocrystals are studied by a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and first-principles density functional theory calculations. Below a critical thickness of nm ZnO adopts a graphitic-like structure and exhibits a wide band gap similar to its wurtzite counterpart. The hexagonal wurtzite structure, with a well-developed band gap evident from scanning tunneling spectroscopy, is established for a thickness starting from similar to 1.4 nm. With further increase of the thickness to 2 nm, V-O-V-Zn defect pairs are easily produced in ZnO nanocrystals due to the self-compensation effect in highly doped semiconductors.
  Address
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000355055000063 Publication Date 2015-04-29
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244;1944-8252; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 15 Open Access
  Notes Hercules; EWI Approved Most recent IF: 7.504; 2015 IF: 6.723
  Call Number c:irua:126408 Serial 999
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Author Buffière, M.; Brammertz, G.; Sahayaraj, S.; Batuk, M.; Khelifi, S.; Mangin, D.; El Mel, A.A.; Arzel, L.; Hadermann, J.; Meuris, M.; Poortmans, J.;
  Title KCN chemical etch for interface engineering in Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2015 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 7 Issue 7 Pages 14690-14698
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract The removal of secondary phases from the surface of the kesterite crystals is one of the major challenges to improve the performances of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)(4) (CZTSSe) thin film solar cells. In this Contribution, the KCN/KOH Chemical etching approach, originally developed for the removal of CuxSe phases in Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)(2) thin films) is applied to CZTSe absorbers exhibiting various chemical compositions. Two distinct electrical behaviors were observed on CZTSe/CdS solar cells after treatment: (i) the improvement of the fill factor (FF) after 30 s of etching for the CZTSe absorbers showing initially a distortion of the electrical characteristic; (ii) the progressive degradation Of the FF after long treatment time for all Cu-poor CZTSe solar cell samples. The first effect can be attributed to the action of KCN on the absorber, that is found to clean the absorber free surface from most of the secondary phases surrounding the kesterite grains (e.g., Se-0, CuxSe, SnSex, SnO2, Cu2SnSe3 phases, excepting the ZnSe-based phases). The second observation was identified as a consequence of the preferential etching of Se, Sn, and Zn from the CZTSe surface by the KOH solution, combined with the modification of the alkali content of the absorber. The formation of a Cu-rich shell at the absorber/buffer layer interface, leading to the increase of the recombination rate at the interface, and the increase in the doping of the absorber layer after etching are found to be at the origin of the deterioration of the FF of the solar cells.
  Address
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000358395200019 Publication Date 2015-06-03
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244;1944-8252; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 34 Open Access
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.504; 2015 IF: 6.723
  Call Number c:irua:127153 Serial 1755
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Author Li, D.Y.; Zeng, Y.J.; Batuk, D.; Pereira, L.M.C.; Ye, Z.Z.; Fleischmann, C.; Menghini, M.; Nikitenko, S.; Hadermann, J.; Temst, K.; Vantomme, A.; Van Bael, M.J.; Locquet, J.P.; Van Haesendonck, C.;
  Title Relaxor ferroelectricity and magnetoelectric coupling in ZnOCo nanocomposite thin films : beyond multiferroic composites Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2014 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 6 Issue 7 Pages 4737-4742
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract ZnOCo nanocomposite thin films are synthesized by combination of pulsed laser deposition of ZnO and Co ion implantation. Both superparamagnetism and relaxor ferroelectricity as well as magnetoelectric coupling in the nanocomposites have been demonstrated. The unexpected relaxor ferroelectricity is believed to be the result of the local lattice distortion induced by the incorporation of the Co nanoparticles. Magnetoelectric coupling can be attributed to the interaction between the electric dipole moments and the magnetic moments, which are both induced by the incorporation of Co. The introduced ZnOCo nanocomposite thin films are different from conventional strain-mediated multiferroic composites.
  Address
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000334572800018 Publication Date 2014-03-05
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244;1944-8252; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 21 Open Access
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.504; 2014 IF: 6.723
  Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:117063 Serial 2864
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Author Zeng, Y.-J.; Gauquelin, N.; Li, D.-Y.; Ruan, S.-C.; He, H.-P.; Egoavil, R.; Ye, Z.-Z.; Verbeeck, J.; Hadermann, J.; Van Bael, M.J.; Van Haesendonck, C.
  Title Co-Rich ZnCoO Nanoparticles Embedded in Wurtzite Zn1-xCoxO Thin Films: Possible Origin of Superconductivity Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2015 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 7 Issue 7 Pages 22166-22171
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract Co-rich ZnCoO nanoparticles embedded in wurtzite Zn0.7Co0.3O thin films are grown by pulsed laser deposition on a Si substrate. Local superconductivity with an onset Tc at 5.9 K is demonstrated in the hybrid system. The unexpected superconductivity probably results from Co(3+) in the Co-rich ZnCoO nanoparticles or from the interface between the Co-rich nanoparticles and the Zn0.7Co0.3O matrix.
  Address Solid State Physics and Magnetism Section, KU Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200 D, BE-3001 Leuven, Belgium
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language English Wos 000363001500007 Publication Date 2015-09-21
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244;1944-8252; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 13 Open Access
  Notes This work has been supported by the Research Foundation − Flanders (FWO, Belgium) as well as by the Flemish Concerted Research Action program (BOF KU Leuven, GOA/14/007). N. G. and J. V. acknowledge funding from the European Research Council under the 7th Framework Program (FP7), ERC Starting Grant 278510 VORTEX. The Qu-Ant-EM microscope was partly funded by the Flemish Hercules Foundation. The work at Shenzhen University was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 61275144 and Natural Science Foundation of SZU. Y.-J. Z. acknowledges funding under grant No. SKL2015-12 from the State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials; ECASJO_; Approved Most recent IF: 7.504; 2015 IF: 6.723
  Call Number c:irua:129195 c:irua:129195UA @ admin @ c:irua:129195 Serial 3949
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Author Warwick, M.E.A.; Kaunisto, K.; Barreca, D.; Carraro, G.; Gasparotto, A.; Maccato, C.; Bontempi, E.; Sada, C.; Ruoko, T.P.; Turner, S.; Van Tendeloo, G.;
  Title Vapor phase processing of \alpha-Fe2O3 photoelectrodes for water splitting : an insight into the structure/property interplay Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2015 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 7 Issue 7 Pages 8667-8676
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract Harvesting radiant energy to trigger water photoelectrolysis and produce clean hydrogen is receiving increasing attention in the search of alternative energy resources. In this regard, hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) nanostructures with controlled nano-organization have been fabricated and investigated for use as anodes in photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells. The target systems have been grown on conductive substrates by plasma enhanced-chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD) and subjected to eventual ex situ annealing in air to further tailor their structure and properties. A detailed multitechnique approach has enabled to elucidate between system characteristics and the generated photocurrent. The present alpha-Fe2O3 systems are characterized by a high purity and hierarchical morphologies consisting of nanopyramids/organized dendrites, offering a high contact area with the electrolyte. PEC data reveal a dramatic response enhancement upon thermal treatment, related to a more efficient electron transfer. The reasons underlying such a phenomenon are elucidated and discussed by transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) studies of photogenerated charge carrier kinetics, investigated on different time scales for the first time on PE-CVD Fe2O3 nanostructures.
  Address
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000353931300037 Publication Date 2015-04-08
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244;1944-8252; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 51 Open Access
  Notes 246791 Countatoms; Fwo Approved Most recent IF: 7.504; 2015 IF: 6.723
  Call Number c:irua:126059 Serial 3836
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Author Schrittwieser, S.; Pelaz, B.; Parak, W.J.; Lentijo-Mozo, S.; Soulantica, K.; Dieckhoff, J.; Ludwig, F.; Altantzis, T.; Bals, S.; Schotter, J.
  Title Homogeneous Protein Analysis by Magnetic Core-Shell Nanorod Probes Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2016 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 8 Issue 8 Pages 8893-8899
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract Studying protein interactions is of vital importance both to fundamental biology research and to medical applications. Here, we report on the experimental proof of a universally applicable label-free homogeneous platform for rapid protein analysis. It is based on optically detecting changes in the rotational dynamics of magnetically agitated core-shell nanorods upon their specific interaction with proteins. By adjusting the excitation frequency, we are able to optimize the measurement signal for each analyte protein size. In addition, due to the locking of the optical signal to the magnetic excitation frequency, background signals are suppressed, thus allowing exclusive studies of processes at the nanoprobe surface only. We study target proteins (soluble domain of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 – sHER2) specifically binding to antibodies (trastuzumab) immobilized on the surface of our nanoprobes and demonstrate direct deduction of their respective sizes. Additionally, we examine the dependence of our measurement signal on the concentration of the analyte protein, and deduce a minimally detectable sHER2 concentration of 440 pM. For our homogeneous measurement platform, good dispersion stability of the applied nanoprobes under physiological conditions is of vital importance. To that end, we support our measurement data by theoretical modeling of the total particle-particle interaction energies. The successful implementation of our platform offers scope for applications in biomarker-based diagnostics as well as for answering basic biology questions.
  Address Molecular Diagnostics, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology , Vienna, Austria
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language English Wos 000374274900007 Publication Date 2016-03-29
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 16 Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes The authors thank Frauke Alves, Julia Bode and Fernanda Ramos Gomes from the Max-Planck-Institute of Experimental Medicine in Göttingen for providing the trastuzumab antibody in form of the Herceptin therapeutic drug. The figure showing the measurement principle has been created by Darragh Crotty (www.darraghcrotty.com). Parts of this research were supported by the European Commission FP7 NAMDIATREAM project (EU NMP4-LA-2010−246479), by the German research foundation (DFG grant GRK 1782 to W.J.P.), and by the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant #335078 Colouratom). B.P. acknowledges a PostDoctoral fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt foundation. (ROMEO:white; preprint:; postprint:restricted 12 months embargo; pdfversion:cannot); ; ECAS_Sara; Approved Most recent IF: 7.504
  Call Number c:irua:132889 Serial 4059
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Author Ao, Z.; Jiang, Q.; Li, S.; Liu, H.; Peeters, F.M.; Li, S.; Wang, G.
  Title Enhancement of the stability of fluorine atoms on defective graphene and at graphene/fluorographene interface Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2015 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 7 Issue 7 Pages 19659-19665
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
  Abstract Fluorinated graphene is one of the most important derivatives of graphene and has been found to have great potential in optoelectronic and photonic nanodevices. However, the stability of F atoms on fluorinated graphene under different conditions, which is essential to maintain the desired properties of fluorinated graphene, is still unclear. In this work, we investigate the diffusion of F atoms on pristine graphene, graphene with defects, and at graphene/fluorographene interfaces by using density functional theory calculations. We find that an isolated F atom diffuses easily on graphene, but those F atoms can be localized by inducing vacancies or absorbates in graphene and by creating graphene/fluorographene interfaces, which would strengthen the binding energy of F atoms on graphene and increase the diffusion energy barrier of F atoms remarkably.
  Address
  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000361252400018 Publication Date 2015-08-24
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 35 Open Access
  Notes ; We acknowledge the financial supports from the Chancellor's Research Fellowship Program of the University of Technology Sydney, the Flemish Science Foundation (FWO-Vl) and the Methusalem foundation of the Flemish Government. This research was also supported by the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) through the merit allocation scheme and used the NCI resources and facilities in Canberra, Australia. ; Approved Most recent IF: 7.504; 2015 IF: 6.723
  Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:128703 Serial 4177
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Author Conings, B.; Bretschneider, S.A.; Babayigit, A.; Gauquelin, N.; Cardinaletti, I.; Manca, J.V.; Verbeeck, J.; Snaith, H.J.; Boyen, H.-G.
  Title Structure-property relations of methylamine vapor treated hybrid perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 films and solar cells Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2017 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 9 Issue 9 Pages 8092-8099
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract The power conversion efficiency of halide perovskite solar cells is heavily dependent on the perovskite layer being sufficiently smooth and pinhole-free. It has been shown that these features can be obtained even when starting out from rough and discontinuous perovskite film, by briefly exposing it to methylamine (MA) vapor. The exact underlying physical mechanisms of this phenomenon are, however, still unclear. By investigating smooth, MA treated films, based on very rough and discontinuous reference films of methylammonium triiode (MAPbI3), considering their morphology, crystalline features, local conductive properties, and charge carrier lifetime, we unravel the relation between their characteristic physical qualities and their performance in corresponding solar cells. We discover that the extensive improvement in photovoltaic performance upon MA treatment is a consequence of the induced morphological enhancement of the perovskite layer, together with improved electron injection into TiO2, which in fact compensates for an otherwise compromised bulk electronic quality, simultaneously caused by the MA treatment.
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  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000396186000025 Publication Date 2017-02-10
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 43 Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes This work was financially supported by BOF (Hasselt University) and the Research Fund Flanders (FWO). B.C. is a postdoctoral research fellow of the FWO. A.B. is financially supported by FWO and Imec. J.V. and N.G. acknowledge funding from GOA project “Solarpaint” of the University of Antwerp and FWO project G.0044.13N “Charge ordering”. The Qu-Ant-EM microscope used for this study was partly funded by the Hercules fund from the Flemish Government. The authors thank Tim Vangerven for Urbach energy determination, and Johnny Baccus and Jan Mertens for technical support. Approved Most recent IF: 7.504
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @ c:irua:140849 Serial 4422
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Author Ustarroz, J.; Geboes, B.; Vanrompay, H.; Sentosun, K.; Bals, S.; Breugelmans, T.; Hubin, A.
  Title Electrodeposition of Highly Porous Pt Nanoparticles Studied by Quantitative 3D Electron Tomography: Influence of Growth Mechanisms and Potential Cycling on the Active Surface Area Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2017 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 9 Issue 9 Pages 16168-16177
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT)
  Abstract Nanoporous Pt nanoparticles (NPs) are promising fuel cell catalysts due to their large surface area and increased electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Herein, we report on the infuence of the growth mechanisms on the surface properties of electrodeposited Pt dendritic NPs with large surface areas. The electrochemically active surface was studied by hydrogen underpotential deposition (HUPD) and compared for the rst time to high angle annular dark eld scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) quantitative 3D electron tomography of individual nanoparticles. Large nucleation overpotential leads to a large surface coverage of Pt roughened spheroids, which provide large roughness factor (Rf ) but low mass-speci c electrochemically active surface area (EASA). Lowering the nucleation overpotential leads to highly porous Pt NPs with pores protruding to the center of the structure. At the expense of smaller Rf , the obtained EASA values of these structures are in the range of these of large surface area supported fuel cell catalysts. The active surface area of the Pt dendritic NPs was measured by electron tomography and it was found that the potential cycling in the H adsorption/desorption and Pt oxidation/reduction region, which is generally performed to determine the EASA, leads to a signi cant reduction of that surface area due to a partial collapse of their dendritic and porous morphology. Interestingly, the extrapolation of the microscopic tomography results to macroscopic electrochemical parameters indicated that the surface properties measured by H UPD are comparable to the values measured on individual NPs by electron tomography after the degradation caused by the H UPD measurement. These results highlight that the combination of electrochemical and quantitative 3D surface analysis techniques is essential to provide insights into the surface properties, the electrochemical stability and, hence, the applicability of these materials. Moreover, it indicates that care must be taken with widely used electrochemical methods of surface area determination, especially in the case of large surface area and possibly unstable nanostructures, since the measured surface can be strongly a ected by the measurement itself.
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  Corporate Author Thesis
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  Language Wos 000401782500028 Publication Date 2017-04-18
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 24 Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes Jon Ustarroz acknowledges funding from the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek in Flanders (FWO, postdoctoral grant 12I7816N). S. Bals acknowledges funding from the European Research Council (Starting Grant No. COLOURATOMS 335078). S.B. and T.B. acknowledge the University of Antwerp for nancial support in the frame of a GOA project. H.V. gratefully acknowledges nancial support by the Flemish Fund for Scienti c Research (FWO Vlaanderen). All the authors acknowledge Laurens Stevaert for his contribution to the work presented in this manuscript. (ROMEO:white; preprint:; postprint:restricted 12 months embargo; pdfversion:cannot); ECAS_Sara Approved Most recent IF: 7.504
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @ c:irua:142345UA @ admin @ c:irua:142345 Serial 4552
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Author Kurttepeli, M.; Deng, S.; Mattelaer, F.; Cott, D.J.; Vereecken, P.; Dendooven, J.; Detavernier, C.; Bals, S.
  Title Heterogeneous TiO2/V2O5/Carbon Nanotube Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2017 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 9 Issue 9 Pages 8055-8064
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) is proposed and investigated as a cathode material for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. However, the dissolution of V2O5 during the charge/discharge remains as an issue at the V2O5–electrolyte interface. In this work, we present a heterogeneous nanostructure with carbon nanotubes supported V2O5/titanium dioxide (TiO2) multilayers as electrodes for thin-film Li-ion batteries. Atomic layer deposition of V2O5 on carbon nanotubes provides enhanced Li storage capacity and high rate performance. An additional TiO2 layer leads to increased morphological stability and in return higher electrochemical cycling performance of V2O5/carbon nanotubes. The physical and chemical properties of TiO2/V2O5/carbon nanotubes are characterized by cyclic voltammetry and charge/discharge measurements as well as electron microscopy. The detailed mechanism of the protective TiO2 layer to improve the electrochemical cycling stability of the V2O5 is unveiled.
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  Corporate Author Thesis
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000396186000021 Publication Date 2017-03-08
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 28 Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes European Research Council, 239865 335078 ; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek; Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie, 18142 ; Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds, GOA – 01G01513 ; This research was funded by the Flemish research foundation FWO-Vlaanderen, by the European Research Council (Starting Grant No. 239865 and No. 335078), by IWT-Flanders (SBO project IWT 18142 “SoS-Lion”) and by the Special Research Fund BOF of Ghent University (GOA – 01G01513); colouratoms (ROMEO:white; preprint:; postprint:restricted 12 months embargo; pdfversion:cannot); ECAS_Sara Approved Most recent IF: 7.504
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @ c:irua:142446UA @ admin @ c:irua:142446 Serial 4572
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Author Pullini, D.; Sgroi, M.; Mahmoud, A.; Gauquelin, N.; Maschio, L.; Lorenzo-Ferrari, A.M.; Groenen, R.; Damen, C.; Rijnders, G.; van den Bos, K.H.W.; Van Aert, S.; Verbeeck, J.
  Title One step toward a new generation of C-MOS compatible oxide p-n junctions: Structure of the LSMO/ZnO interface elucidated by an experimental and theoretical synergic work Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2017 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 9 Issue 9 Pages 20974-20980
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract Heterostructures formed by La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/ZnO (LSMO/ZnO) interfaces exhibit extremely interesting electronic properties making them promising candidates for novel oxide p–n junctions, with multifunctional features. In this work, the structure of the interface is studied through a combined experimental/theoretical approach. Heterostructures were grown epitaxially and homogeneously on 4″ silicon wafers, characterized by advanced electron microscopy imaging and spectroscopy and simulated by ab initio density functional theory calculations. The simulation results suggest that the most stable interface configuration is composed of the (001) face of LSMO, with the LaO planes exposed, in contact with the (112̅0) face of ZnO. The ab initio predictions agree well with experimental high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy images and confirm the validity of the suggested structural model. Electron energy loss spectroscopy confirms the atomic sharpness of the interface. From statistical parameter estimation theory, it has been found that the distances between the interfacial planes are displaced from the respective ones of the bulk material. This can be ascribed to the strain induced by the mismatch between the lattices of the two materials employed
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  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000404090000079 Publication Date 2017-05-25
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 4 Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes Financial support is acknowledged from the European Commission – DG research and innovation to the collaborative research project named Interfacing oxides (IFOX, Contract No. NMP3-LA-2010-246102). N.G. and J.V. acknowledge the European Union (EU) Council under the 7th Framework Program (FP7) ERC Starting Grant 278510 VORTEX for support. S.V.A. and K.H.W.B. acknowledge financial support from the Research Foundation Flanders through project fundings (G.0374.13N , G.0368.15N, and G.0369.15N) and a Ph.D. research grant to K.H.W.B. The microscope was partly funded by the Hercules Fund from the Flemish Government. The microscope used in this work was partly funded by the Hercules Fund from the Flemish Government. CINECA is acknowledged for computational facilities (Iscra project HP10CMO1UP). Approved Most recent IF: 7.504
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @ c:irua:144431UA @ admin @ c:irua:144431 Serial 4621
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Author Lu, A.K.A.; Houssa, M.; Radu, I.P.; Pourtois, G.
  Title Toward an understanding of the electric field-induced electrostatic doping in van der Waals heterostructures : a first-principles study Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2017 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 9 Issue 8 Pages 7725-7734
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
  Abstract Since the discovery of graphene, a broad range of two-dimensional (2D) materials has captured the attention of the scientific communities. Materials, such as hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) family, have shown promising semiconducting and insulating properties that are very appealing for the semiconductor industry. Recently, the possibility of taking advantage of the properties of 2D-based heterostructures has been investigated for low-power nanoelectronic applications. In this work, we aim at evaluating the relation between the nature of the materials used in such heterostructures and the amplitude of the layer-to-layer charge transfer induced by an external electric field, as is typically present in nanoelectronic gated devices. A broad range of combinations of TMDs, graphene, and hBN has been investigated using density functional theory. Our results show that the electric field induced charge transfer strongly depends on the nature of the 2D materials used in the van der Waals heterostructures and to a lesser extent on the relative orientation of the materials in the structure. Our findings contribute to the building of the fundamental understanding required to engineer electrostatically the doping of 2D materials and to establish the factors that drive the charge transfer mechanisms in electron tunneling-based devices. These are key ingredients for the development of 2D -based nanoelectronic devices.
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  Language Wos 000395494200119 Publication Date 2017-02-13
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition
  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 10 Open Access Not_Open_Access
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.504
  Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:142483 Serial 4696
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Author Ren, X.-N.; Hu, Z.-Y.; Jin, J.; Wu, L.; Wang, C.; Liu, J.; Liu, F.; Wu, M.; Li, Y.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Su, B.-L.
  Title Cocatalyzing Pt/PtO phase-junction nanodots on hierarchically porous TiO2 for highly enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2017 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 9 Issue 35 Pages 29687-29698
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract Phase-junctions. between a cocatalyst and its semiconductor host are quite effective to enhance the photo catalytic activity and are widely studied, while reports on the phase-juncted cocatalyst are still rare. In this work, we report the deposition of the Pt/PtO phase-juncted nanodots as cocatalyst via NaOH modification of an interconnected meso-macroporous TiO2 network with high surface area and inner-particle mesopores to enhance the performance of photocatalytic H-2 production. Our results show that NaOH modification can largely influence Pt/PtO phase-juncted nanodot formation and dispersity. Compared to the TiO2 nano particles, the hierarchically meso-macroporous TiO2 network containing 0.18 wt % Pt/PtO phase-juneted cocatalyst demonstrates a highest photocatalytic H-2 rate of 13 mmol g(-1) h(-1) under simulated solar light, and possesses a stable cycling activity without obvious decrease after five cycles. Such high H-2 production performance can be attributed to both the phase-juncted Pt/PtO providing more active sites while PtO suppresses the undesirable hydrogen back reaction, and the special hierarchically porous TiO2 network with inner-particle mesopores presenting short diffusion path lengths for photogenerated electrons and enhanced light harvesting efficiency. This work suggests that Pt/PtO phase-juncted cocatalyst on hierarchically porous TiO2 nanostructures is a promising strategy for advanced photocatalytic H-2 production.
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  Language Wos 000410597500032 Publication Date 2017-08-16
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 18 Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes ; B.L.S. acknowledges the Chinese Central Government for an “Expert of the State” position in the Program of the “Thousand Talents”. Y.L. acknowledges the Hubei Provincial Department of Education for the “Chutian Scholar” program. This work is supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFA0202602), Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (IRT_15R52), International Science & Technology Cooperation Program of China (2015DFE52870), National Natural Science Foundation of China (51502225), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (WUT: 2016III029). Z.Y.H. and G.V.T. acknowledge support from the EC Framework 7 program ESTEEM2 (Reference 312483). ; Approved Most recent IF: 7.504
  Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:146765 Serial 4779
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Author Asapu, R.; Ciocarlan, R.-G.; Claes, N.; Blommaerts, N.; Minjauw, M.; Ahmad, T.; Dendooven, J.; Cool, P.; Bals, S.; Denys, S.; Detavernier, C.; Lenaerts, S.; Verbruggen, S.W.
  Title Plasmonic Near-Field Localization of Silver Core–Shell Nanoparticle Assemblies via Wet Chemistry Nanogap Engineering Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2017 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 9 Issue 9 Pages 41577-41585
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
  Abstract Silver nanoparticles are widely used in the field of plasmonics because of their unique optical properties. The wavelength-dependent surface plasmon resonance gives rise to a strongly enhanced electromagnetic field, especially at so-called hot spots located in the nanogap in-between metal nanoparticle assemblies. Therefore, the interparticle distance is a decisive factor in plasmonic applications, such as surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). In this study, the aim is to engineer this interparticle distance for silver nanospheres using a convenient wet-chemical approach and to predict and quantify the corresponding enhancement factor using both theoretical and experimental tools. This was done by building a tunable ultrathin polymer shell around the nanoparticles using the layer-by-layer method, in which the polymer shell acts as the separating interparticle spacer layer. Comparison of different theoretical approaches and corroborating the results with SERS analytical experiments using silver and silver−polymer core−shell nanoparticle clusters as SERS substrates was also done. Herewith, an approach is provided to estimate the extent of plasmonic near-field enhancement both theoretically as well as experimentally.
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  Language Wos 000417005900057 Publication Date 2017-11-29
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 29 Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes financial support through a research fellowship. C.D. wishes to thank the Hercules foundation for the financial support (SPINAL). P.C. and R.-G.C. acknowledge financial support by FWO Vlaanderen (project no. G038215N). N.C. and S.B. acknowledge the financial support from the European Research Council (ERC starting grant #335078-COLOURATOM). (ROMEO:white; preprint:; postprint:restricted 12 months embargo; pdfversion:cannot); saraecas; ECAS_Sara; Approved Most recent IF: 7.504
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:147243 Serial 4804
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Author Wu, J.; Zhang, L.; Xin, X.; Zhang, Y.; Wang, H.; Sun, A.; Cheng, Y.; Chen, X.; Xu, G.
  Title Electrorheological fluids with high shear stress based on wrinkly tin titanyl oxalate Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2018 Publication (up) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter
  Volume 10 Issue 7 Pages 6785-6792
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
  Abstract Electrorheological (ER) fluids are considered as a type of smart fluids because their rheological characteristics can be altered through an electric field. The discovery of giant ER effect revived the researchers' interest in the ER technological area. However, the poor stability including the insufficient dynamic shear stress, the large leakage current density, and the sedimentation tendency still hinders their practical applications. Herein, we report a facile and scalable coprecipitation method for synthesizing surfactant-free tin titanyl oxalate (TTO) particles with tremella-like wrinkly microstructure (W-TTO). The W-TTO-based ER fluids exhibit enhanced ER activity compared to that of the pristine TTO because of the improved wettability between W-TTO and the silicone oil. In addition, the static yield stress and leakage current of W-TTO ER fluids also show a fine time stability during the 30 day tests. More importantly, the dynamic shear stress of W-TTO ER fluids can remain stable throughout the shear rate range, which is valuable for their use in engineering applications. The results in this work provided a promising strategy to solving the long-standing problem of ER fluid stability. Moreover, this convenient route of synthesis may be considered a green approach for the mass production of giant ER materials.
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  Publisher Place of Publication Editor
  Language Wos 000426143900081 Publication Date 2018-02-01
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
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  ISSN 1944-8244 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
  Impact Factor 7.504 Times cited 7 Open Access OpenAccess
  Notes ; The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 21573267, 11674335), the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (2013196), and the Program for Ningbo Municipal Science and Technology Innovative Research Team (2015B11002, 2016B10005). ; Approved Most recent IF: 7.504
  Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:149911 Serial 4931
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