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Author Faust, V.; Gruber, W.; Ganigue, R.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Udert, K.M. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Nitrous oxide emissions and carbon footprint of decentralized urine fertilizer production by nitrification and distillation Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication (down) ACS ES&T engineering Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 2 Issue 9 Pages 1745-1755  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Combining partial nitrification, granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration, and distillation is a well-studied approach to convert urine into a fertilizer. To evaluate the environmental sustainability of a technology, the operational carbon footprint and therefore nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions should be known, but N2O emissions from urine nitrification have not been assessed yet. Therefore, N2O emissions of a decentralized urine nitrification reactor were monitored for 1 month. During nitrification, 0.4-1.2% of the total nitrogen load was emitted as N2O-N with an average N2O emission factor (EFN2O) of 0.7%. Additional N2O was produced during anoxic storage between nitrification and GAC filtration with an estimated EFN2O of 0.8%, resulting in an EFN2O of 1.5% for the treatment chain. N2O emissions during nitrification can be mitigated by 60% by avoiding low dissolved oxygen or anoxic conditions and nitrite concentrations above 5 mg-N L-1. Minimizing the hydraulic retention time between nitrification and GAC filtration can reduce N2O formation during intermediate storage by 100%. Overall, the N2O emissions accounted for 45% of the operational carbon footprint of 14 kg-CO2,equiv kg-N-1 for urine fertilizer production. Using electricity from renewable sources and applying the proposed N2O mitigation strategies could potentially lower the carbon footprint by 85%.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000835412700001 Publication Date 2022-07-29  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189599 Serial 7182  
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Author Faust, V.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Ganigué, R.; Udert, K.M. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Influence of pH on urine nitrification : community shifts of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and inhibition of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2024 Publication (down) ACS ES&T engineering Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 342-353  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Urine nitrification is pH-sensitive due to limited alkalinity and high residual ammonium concentrations. This study aimed to investigate how the pH affects nitrogen conversion and the microbial community of urine nitrification with a pH-based feeding strategy. First, kinetic parameters for NH3, HNO2, and NO2– limitation and inhibition were determined for nitrifiers from a urine nitrification reactor. The turning point for ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), i.e., the substrate concentration at which a further increase would lead to a decrease in activity due to inhibitory effects, was at an NH3 concentration of 12 mg-N L–1, which was reached only at pH values above 7. The total nitrite turning point for nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) was pH-dependent, e.g., 18 mg-N L–1 at pH 6.3. Second, four years of data from two 120 L reactors were analyzed, showing that stable nitrification with low nitrite was most likely between pH 5.8 and 6.7. And third, six 12 L urine nitrification reactors were operated at total nitrogen concentrations of 1300 and 3600 mg-N L–1 and pH values between 2.5 and 8.5. At pH 6, the AOB Nitrosomonas europaea was found, and the NOB belonged to the genus Nitrobacter. At pH 7, nitrite accumulated, and Nitrosomonas halophila was the dominant AOB. NOB were inhibited by HNO2 accumulation. At pH 8.5, the AOB Nitrosomonas stercoris became dominant, and NH3 inhibited NOB. Without influent, the pH dropped to 2.5 due to the growth of the acid-tolerant AOB “Candidatus Nitrosacidococcus urinae”. In conclusion, pH is a decisive process control parameter for urine nitrification by influencing the selection and kinetics of nitrifiers.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date 2023-11-02  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:203306 Serial 9048  
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Author Yang, C.; Batuk, M.; Jacquet, Q.; Rousse, G.; Yin, W.; Zhang, L.; Hadermann, J.; Abakumov, A.M.; Cibin, G.; Chadwick, A.; Tarascon, J.-M.; Grimaud, A. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Revealing pH-Dependent Activities and Surface Instabilities for Ni-Based Electrocatalysts during the Oxygen Evolution Reaction Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2018 Publication (down) ACS energy letters Abbreviated Journal Acs Energy Lett  
  Volume Issue Pages 2884-2890  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Multiple electrochemical processes are involved at the catalyst/ electrolyte interface during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). With the purpose of elucidating the complexity of surface dynamics upon OER, we systematically studied two Ni-based crystalline oxides (LaNiO3−δ and La2Li0.5Ni0.5O4) and compared them with the state-of-the-art Ni−Fe (oxy)- hydroxide amorphous catalyst. Electrochemical measurements such as rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) and electrochemical quartz microbalance microscopy (EQCM) coupled with a series of physical characterizations including transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) were conducted to unravel the exact pH effect on both the OER activity and the catalyst stability. We demonstrate that for Ni-based crystalline catalysts the rate for surface degradation depends on the pH and is greater than the rate for surface reconstruction. This behavior is unlike that for the amorphous Ni oxyhydroxide catalyst, which is found to be more stable and pH-independent.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000453805100005 Publication Date 2018-11-08  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2380-8195 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 06.11.2019  
  Notes C.Y., J.-M.T., and A.G. acknowledge funding from the European Research Council (ERC) (FP/2014)/ERC GrantProject 670116-ARPEMA. A.G. acknowledges financial support from the ANR MIDWAY (Project ID ANR-17-CE05- 0008). We acknowledge Diamond Light Source for time awarded to the Energy Materials BAG on Beamline B18, under Proposal sp12559. Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:155046 Serial 5067  
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Author Gropp, C.; Canossa, S.; Wuttke, S.; Gándara, F.; Li, Q.; Gagliardi, L.; Yaghi, O.M. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Standard Practices of Reticular Chemistry Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2020 Publication (down) Acs Central Science Abbreviated Journal Acs Central Sci  
  Volume 6 Issue 8 Pages 1255-1273  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Since 1995 when the first of metal−organic frameworks was crystallized with the strong bond approach, where metal ions are joined by charged organic linkers exemplified by carboxylates, followed by proof of their porosity in 1998 and ultrahigh porosity in 1999, a revolution in the development of their chemistry has ensued. This is being reinforced by the discovery of two- and three-dimensional covalent organic frameworks in 2005 and 2007. Currently, the chemistry of such porous, crystalline frameworks is collectively referred to as reticular chemistry, which is being practiced in over 100 countries. The involvement of researchers from various backgrounds and fields, and the vast scope of this chemistry and its societal applications, necessitate articulating the “Standard Practices of Reticular Chemistry”.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000566668400005 Publication Date 2020-08-26  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2374-7943 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 18.2 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes S.C. acknowledges the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) for supporting his research (Project 12ZV120N). Approved Most recent IF: 18.2; 2020 IF: 7.481  
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:172057 Serial 6423  
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Author Ennaert, T.; Geboers, J.; Gobechiya, E.; Courtin, C.M.; Kurttepeli, M.; Houthoofd, K.; Kirschhock, C.E.A.; Magusin, P.C.M.M.; Bals, S.; Jacobs, P.A.; Sels, B.F. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Conceptual frame rationalizing the self-stabilization of H-USY zeolites in hot liquid water Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2015 Publication (down) ACS catalysis Abbreviated Journal Acs Catal  
  Volume 5 Issue 5 Pages 754-768  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract The wide range of liquid-phase reactions required for the catalytic conversion of biomass compounds into new bioplatform molecules defines a new set of challenges for the development of active, selective, and stable catalysts. The potential of bifunctional Ru/H-USY catalysts for conversions in hot liquid water (HLW) is assessed in terms of physicochemical stability and long-term catalytic performance of acid sites and noble metal functionality, as probed by hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellulose. It is shown that zeolite desilication is the main zeolite degradation mechanism in HLW. USY zeolite stability depends on two main parameters, viz., framework and extra-framework aluminum content. The former protects the zeolite lattice by counteracting hydrolysis of framework bonds, and the latter, when located at the external crystal surface, prevents solubilization of the zeolite framework which is the result of its low water-solubility. Hence, the hot liquid water stability of commercial H-USY zeolites, in contrast to their steam stability, increased with decreasing Si/AI ratio. As a result, mildly steamed USY zeolites containing a high amount of both Al species exhibit the highest resistance to HLW. During an initial period of transformations, Al-rich zeolites form additional protective extra-framework Al species at the outer surface, self-stabilizing the framework. A critical bulk Si/AI ratio of 3 was determined whereby USY zeolites with a lower Si/AI ratio will self-stabilize over time. Besides, due to the initial transformation period, the accessibility of the catalytic active sites is extensively enhanced resulting in a material that is more stable and drastically more accessible to large substrates than the original zeolite. When these findings are applied in the hydrolytic hydrogenation of cellulose, unprecedented nearly quantitative hexitol yields were obtained with a stable catalytic system.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000349275300031 Publication Date 2014-12-09  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2155-5435;2155-5435; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 10.614 Times cited 65 Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes 335078 Colouratom; ECAS_Sara; (ROMEO:white; preprint:; postprint:restricted 12 months embargo; pdfversion:cannot); Approved Most recent IF: 10.614; 2015 IF: 9.312  
  Call Number c:irua:125288 Serial 474  
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Author Mei, B.; Wiktor, C.; Turner, S.; Pougin, A.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Fischer, R.A.; Muhler, M.; Strunk, J. pdf  doi
openurl 
  Title Evidence for metalsupport interactions in Au modified TiOx/SBA-15 materials prepared by photodeposition Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2013 Publication (down) ACS catalysis Abbreviated Journal Acs Catal  
  Volume 3 Issue 12 Pages 3041-3049  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Gold nanoparticles have been efficiently photodeposited onto titanate-loaded SBA-15 (Ti(x)/SBA-15) with different titania coordination. Transmission electron microscopy shows that relatively large Au nanoparticles are photodeposited on the outer surface of the Ti(x)/SBA-15 materials and that TiOx tends to form agglomerates in close proximity to the Au nanoparticles, often forming coreshell Au/TiOx structures. This behavior resembles typical processes observed due to strong-metal support interactions. In the presence of gold, the formation of hydrogen on Ti(x)/SBA-15 during the photodeposition process and the performance in the hydroxylation of terephthalic acid is greatly enhanced. The activity of the Au/Ti(x)/SBA-15 materials is found to depend on the TiOx loading, increasing with a larger amount of initially isolated TiO4 tetrahedra. Samples with initially clustered TiOx species show lower photocatalytic activities. When isolated zinc oxide (ZnOx) species are present on Ti(x)/SBA-15, gold nanoparticles are smaller and well dispersed within the pores. Agglomeration of TiOx species and the formation of Au/TiOx structures is negligible. The dispersion of gold and the formation of Au/TiOx in the SBA-15 matrix seem to depend on the mobility of the TiOx species. The mobility is determined by the initial degree of agglomeration of TiOx. Effective hydrogen evolution requires Au/TiOx coreshell composites as in Au/Ti(x)/SBA-15, whereas hydroxylation of terephthalic acid can also be performed with Au/ZnOx/TiOx/SBA-15 materials. However, isolated TiOx species have to be grafted onto the support prior to the zinc oxide species, providing strong evidence for the necessity of TiOSi bridges for high photocatalytic activity in terephthalic acid hydroxylation.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000328231400044 Publication Date 2013-11-05  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2155-5435;2155-5435; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 10.614 Times cited 22 Open Access  
  Notes 262348 ESMI; FWO; 246791 COUNTATOMS; IAP-PAI; Hercules Approved Most recent IF: 10.614; 2013 IF: 7.572  
  Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:112502 Serial 1094  
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Author Verduyckt, J.; Van Hoof, M.; De Schouwer, F.; Wolberg, M.; Kurttepeli, M.; Eloy, P.; Gaigneaux, E.M.; Bals, S.; Kirschhock, C.E.A.; De Vos, D.E. url  doi
openurl 
  Title PdPb-catalyzed decarboxylation of proline to pyrrolidine : highly selective formation of a biobased amine in water Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2016 Publication (down) ACS catalysis Abbreviated Journal Acs Catal  
  Volume 6 Issue 6 Pages 7303-7310  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Amino acids have huge potential as platform chemicals in the biobased industry. Pd-catalyzed decarboxylation is a very promising route for the valorization of these natural compounds derived from protein waste or fermentation. We report that the highly abundant and nonessential amino acid L-proline is very reactive in the Pd-catalyzed decarboxylation. Full conversions are obtained with Pd/C and different Pd/MeOx catalysts; this allowed the identification of the different side reactions and the mapping of the reaction network. Due to the high reactivity of pyrrolidine, the selectivity for pyrrolidine was initially low. By carefully modifying Pd/ZrO2 with Pb in a controlled manner-via two incipient wetness impregnation steps-the selectivity increased remarkably. Finally, a thorough investigation of the reaction parameters resulted in an increased activity of this modified catalyst and an even further enhanced selectivity under a low H-2 pressure of 4 bar at 235 degrees C in water. This results in a very selective and sustainable production route for the highly interesting pyrrolidine.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000387306100005 Publication Date 2016-09-16  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2155-5435 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 10.614 Times cited 27 Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes ; J.V. and F.D.S. thank Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO) and Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) for doctoral fellowships. D.D.V. acknowledges IWT and FWO for research project funding. D.D.V. and C.E.A.K. acknowledge the Flemish government for long-term structural funding through Methusalem. D.D.V. and S.B. acknowledge Belspo (IAP-PAI 7/05) for financial support. S.B. is grateful for funding by the European Research Council (ERC starting grant no. 335078-COLOURATOMS). The authors also thank the Department of Chemistry, University of Cologne, Germany for use of their XRD equipment. Finally, the assistance of Karel Duerinckx, Werner Wouters, Walter Vermandel, Ivo Stassen, Dries Jonckheere, Sabina Accardo and Bart Bueken with 11-1 NMR, pressure reactors, CO chemisorption, N<INF>2</INF> physisorption, SEM, gas phase FTIR and high-throughput XRD, respectively, is very much appreciated. ; ecas_Sara Approved Most recent IF: 10.614  
  Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:139171 Serial 4445  
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Author Theofanidis, S.A.; Galvita, V.V.; Poelman, H.; Dharanipragada, N.V.R.A.; Longo, A.; Meledina, M.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Detavernier, C.; Marin, G.B. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Fe-containing magnesium aluminate support for stability and carbon control during methane reforming Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2018 Publication (down) ACS catalysis Abbreviated Journal Acs Catal  
  Volume 8 Issue 7 Pages 5983-5995  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract We report a MgFexAl2-xO4 synthetic spinel, where x varies from 0 to 0.26, as support for Ni-based catalysts, offering stability and carbon control under various conditions of methane reforming. By incorporation of Fe into a magnesium aluminate spine!, a support is created with redox functionality and high thermal stability, as concluded from temporal analysis of products (TAP) experiments and redox cycling, respectively. A diffusion coefficient of 3 x 10(-17) m(2) s(-1) was estimated for lattice oxygen at 993 K from TAP experiments. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) modeling identified that the incorporation of iron occurs as Fe3+ in the octahedral sites of the spinel lattice, replacing aluminum. Simulation of the X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectrum of the reduced support showed that 60 +/- 10% of iron was reduced from 3+ to 2+ at 1073 K, while there was no formation of metallic iron. A series of Ni/MgFexAl2-xO4 catalysts, where x varies from 0 to 0.26, was synthesized and reduced, yielding a supported Ni-Fe alloy. The evolution of the catalyst structure during H-2 temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and CO2 temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) was examined using time-resolved in situ XRD and XANES. During reforming, iron in both the support and alloy keeps control of carbon accumulation, as confirmed by O-2-TPO on the spent catalysts. By fine tuning the amount of Fe in MgFexAl2-xO4, a supported alloy was obtained with a Ni/Fe molar ratio of similar to 10, which was active for reforming and stable. By comparison of the performance of Ni-based catalysts with Fe either incorporated into or deposited onto the support, the location of Fe within the support proved crucial for the stability and carbon mitigation under reforming conditions.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000438475100034 Publication Date 2018-05-22  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2155-5435 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 10.614 Times cited 18 Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes ; This work was supported by the FAST industrialization by Catalyst Research and Development (FASTCARD) project, which is a Large Scale Collaborative Project supported by the European Commission in the 7th Framework Programme (GA no 604277), the “Long Term Structural Methusalem Funding by the Flemish Government”, the Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme, IAP7/5, Belgian State – Belgian Science Policy, and the Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen) in supplying financing of travel costs and beam time at the DUBBLE beamline of the ESRF. The authors acknowledge the assistance from the DUBBLE (ESRF, XAS campaign 26-01-1048) and ROCK staff (SOLEIL, proposal 201502561). The authors equally acknowledge support from a public grant overseen by the French National Research Agency (ANR) as part of the “Investissements d'Avenir” program (reference: ANR-10-EQPX-45) for the ROCK beamline and from Lukas Buelens and Rakesh Batchu (Laboratory for Chemical Technology, Ghent University) for the STEM measurements and TAP experiments, respectively. ; Approved Most recent IF: 10.614  
  Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:153178 Serial 5102  
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Author Saveleva, V.A.; Wang, L.; Kasian, O.; Batuk, M.; Hadermann, J.; Gallet, J.-j.; Bournel, F.; Alonso-Vante, N.; Ozouf, G.; Beauger, C.; Mayrhofer, K.J.J.; Cherevko, S.; Gago, A.S.; Friedrich, K.A.; Zafeiratos, S.; Savinova, E.R. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Insight into the Mechanisms of High Activity and Stability of Iridium Supported on Antimony-Doped Tin Oxide Aerogel for Anodes of Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzers Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2020 Publication (down) Acs Catalysis Abbreviated Journal Acs Catal  
  Volume 10 Issue 4 Pages 2508-2516  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract The use of high amounts of iridium in industrial proton exchange membrane water electrolysers (PEMWE) could hinder their widespread use for the decarbonisation of society with hydrogen. Non-thermally oxidised Ir nanoparticles supported on antimony-doped tin oxide (SnO2:Sb, ATO) aerogel allow decreasing the use of the precious metal by more than 70 %, while enhancing the electro-catalytic activity and stability. To date the origin of these benefits remains unknown. Here we present clear evidence on the mechanisms that lead to the enhancement of the electrochemical properties of the catalyst. Operando near ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on membrane electrode assemblies reveals a low degree of Ir oxidation, attributed to the oxygen spill-over from Ir to SnO2:Sb. Furthermore, the formation of highly unstable Ir(III) species is mitigated, while the decrease of Ir dissolution in Ir/SnO2:Sb is confirmed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mechanisms that lead to the high activity and stability of Ir catalyst supported on SnO2:Sb aerogel for PEMWE are thus unveiled.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000516887400011 Publication Date 2020-02-21  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2155-5435 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 12.9 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013) for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Technology (FCH JU) Initiative under Grant No. 621237 (INSIDE). In addition, A.S.G. and C.B. thank the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme for funding the project PRETZEL under grant agreement No 779478 and it is supported by FCH JU. Solvay is acknowledged for providing Aquivion membrane and ionomer. Approved Most recent IF: 12.9; 2020 IF: 10.614  
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:167147 Serial 6341  
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Author Mehta, P.; Barboun, P.M.; Engelmann, Y.; Go, D.B.; Bogaerts, A.; Schneider, W.F.; Hicks, J.C. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Plasma-Catalytic Ammonia Synthesis beyond the Equilibrium Limit Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2020 Publication (down) Acs Catalysis Abbreviated Journal Acs Catal  
  Volume 10 Issue 12 Pages 6726-6734  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract We explore the consequences of nonthermal plasma-activation on product yields in catalytic ammonia synthesis, a reaction that is equilibrium-limited at elevated temperatures. We employ a minimal microkinetic model that incorporates the influence of plasma-activation on N2 dissociation rates to predict NH3 yields into and across the equilibrium-limited regime. NH3 yields are predicted to exceed bulk thermodynamic equilibrium limits on materials that are thermal-rate-limited by N2 dissociation. In all cases, yields revert to bulk equilibrium at temperatures at which thermal reaction rates exceed plasma-activated ones. Beyond-equilibrium NH3 yields are observed in a packed bed dielectric barrier discharge reactor and exhibit sensitivity to catalytic material choice in a way consistent with model predictions. The approach and results highlight the opportunity to exploit synergies between nonthermal plasmas and catalysts to affect transformations at conditions inaccessible through thermal routes.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000543663800015 Publication Date 2020-06-19  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2155-5435 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 12.9 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes University of Notre Dame; Basic Energy Sciences, DE-SC-0016543 ; Air Force Office of Scientific Research, FA9550-18-1- 0157 ; This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Sustainable Ammonia Synthesis Program, under Award DE-SC-0016543 and by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research, under Award FA9550-18-1-0157. P.M. acknowledges support through the Eilers Graduate Fellowship for Energy Related Research from the University of Notre Dame. Computational resources were provided by the Notre Dame Center for Research Computing. We thank the Notre Dame Energy Materials Characterization Facility and the Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility for the use of the X-ray diffractometer and the transmission electron microscope, respectively. Approved Most recent IF: 12.9; 2020 IF: 10.614  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:170713 Serial 6405  
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Author Irtem, E.; Arenas Esteban, D.; Duarte, M.; Choukroun, D.; Lee, S.; Ibáñez, M.; Bals, S.; Breugelmans, T. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Ligand-Mode Directed Selectivity in Cu–Ag Core–Shell Based Gas Diffusion Electrodes for CO2Electroreduction Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2020 Publication (down) Acs Catalysis Abbreviated Journal Acs Catal  
  Volume Issue Pages 13468-13478  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT)  
  Abstract Bimetallic nanoparticles with tailored size and specific composition have shown promise as stable and selective catalysts for electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2R) in batch systems. Yet, limited effort was devoted to understand the effect of ligand coverage and postsynthesis treatments on CO2 reduction, especially under industrially applicable conditions, such as at high currents (>100 mA/cm2) using gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) and flow reactors. In this work, Cu–Ag core–shell nanoparticles (11 ± 2 nm) were prepared with three different surface modes: (i) capped with oleylamine, (ii) capped with monoisopropylamine, and (iii) surfactant free with a reducing borohydride agent; Cu–Ag (OAm), Cu–Ag (MIPA), and Cu–Ag (NaBH4), respectively. The ligand exchange and removal was evidenced by infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis, whereas high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) showed their effect on the interparticle distance and nanoparticle rearrangement. Later on, we developed a process-on-substrate method to track these effects on CO2R. Cu–Ag (OAm) gave a lower on-set potential for hydrocarbon production, whereas Cu–Ag (MIPA) and Cu–Ag (NaBH4) promoted syngas production. The electrochemical impedance and surface area analysis on the well-controlled electrodes showed gradual increases in the electrical conductivity and active surface area after each surface treatment. We found that the increasing amount of the triple phase boundaries (the meeting point for the electron–electrolyte–CO2 reactant) affect the required electrode potential and eventually the C+2e̅/C2e̅ product ratio. This study highlights the importance of the electron transfer to those active sites affected by the capping agents—particularly on larger substrates that are crucial for their industrial application.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000592978900031 Publication Date 2020-11-04  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2155-5435 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 12.9 Times cited 23 Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes The authors also acknowledge financial support from the University Research Fund (BOF-GOA-PS ID No. 33928). S.L. has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie SkłodowskaCurie Grant Agreement No. 665385. Approved Most recent IF: 12.9; 2020 IF: 10.614  
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:173803 Serial 6432  
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Author Van Velthoven, N.; Henrion, M.; Dallenes, J.; Krajnc, A.; Bugaev, A.L.; Liu, P.; Bals, S.; Soldatov, A.; Mali, G.; De Vos, D.E. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title S,O-functionalized metal-organic frameworks as heterogeneous single-site catalysts for the oxidative alkenylation of arenes via C- H activation Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2020 Publication (down) Acs Catalysis Abbreviated Journal Acs Catal  
  Volume 10 Issue 9 Pages 5077-5085  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Heterogeneous single-site catalysts can combine the R precise active site design of organometallic complexes with the efficient recovery of solid catalysts. Based on recent progress on homogeneous thioether ligands for Pd-catalyzed C-H activation reactions, we here develop a scalable metal-organic framework-based heterogeneous single-site catalyst containing S,O-moieties that increase the catalytic activity of Pd(II) for the oxidative alkenylation of arenes. The structure of the Pd@MOF-808-L1 catalyst was characterized in detail via solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, N-2 physisorption, and high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy, and the structure of the isolated palladium active sites could be identified by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. A turnover frequency (TOF) of 8.4 h(-1) was reached after 1 h of reaction time, which was 3 times higher than the TOF of standard Pd(OAc)(2), ranking Pd@MOF-808-L1 among the most active heterogeneous catalysts ever reported for the nondirected oxidative alkenylation of arenes. Finally, we showed that the single-site catalyst promotes the oxidative alkenylation of a broad range of electron-rich arenes, and the applicability of this heterogeneous system was demonstrated by the gram-scale synthesis of industrially relevant products.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000530090800026 Publication Date 2020-04-06  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2155-5435 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 12.9 Times cited 37 Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes ; The research leading to these results has received funding from the NMBP-01-2016 Program of the European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Program H2020/2014-2020/under grant agreement no [720996]. N.V.V. and D.E.D.V. thank the FWO for funding (1S32917N and G0F2320N). D.E.D.V. is grateful for KU Leuven's support in the frame of the CASAS Metusalem project and a C3 type project. A.K. and G.M. acknowledge the financial support from the Slovenian Research Agency (research core funding no. P1-0021 and project no. N1-0079). A.L.B and A.V.S. acknowledge Russian Science Foundation grant no. 20-43-01015 for financial support. We thank Alexander Trigub and Alexey Veligzhanin for their support during the beamtime at Kurchatov Institute. We are indebted to Elizaveta Kamyshova and Anna Pnevskaya for their valuable help during EXAFS measurements. P.L. and S.B. thank European Research Council for the ERC Consolidator Grant 815128, REALNANO. Kassem Amro and Guillaume Gracy from Sikemia are gratefully acknowledged for providing ; sygma Approved Most recent IF: 12.9; 2020 IF: 10.614  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:169530 Serial 6598  
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Author Yang, S.; Liu, Z.; An, H.; Arnouts, S.; de Ruiter, J.; Rollier, F.; Bals, S.; Altantzis, T.; Figueiredo, M.C.; Filot, I.A.W.; Hensen, E.J.M.; Weckhuysen, B.M.; van der Stam, W. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Near-unity electrochemical CO₂ to CO conversion over Sn-doped copper oxide nanoparticles Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication (down) ACS catalysis Abbreviated Journal Acs Catal  
  Volume 12 Issue 24 Pages 15146-15156  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Applied Electrochemistry & Catalysis (ELCAT)  
  Abstract Bimetallic electrocatalysts have emerged as a viable strategy to tune the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR) for the selective production of valuable base chemicals and fuels. However, obtaining high product selectivity and catalyst stability remain challenging, which hinders the practical application of eCO2RR. In this work, it was found that a small doping concentration of tin (Sn) in copper oxide (CuO) has profound influence on the catalytic performance, boosting the Faradaic efficiency (FE) up to 98% for carbon monoxide (CO) at -0.75 V versus RHE, with prolonged stable performance (FE > 90%) for up to 15 h. Through a combination of ex situ and in situ characterization techniques, the in situ activation and reaction mechanism of the electrocatalyst at work was elucidated. In situ Raman spectroscopy measurements revealed that the binding energy of the crucial adsorbed *CO intermediate was lowered through Sn doping, thereby favoring gaseous CO desorption. This observation was confirmed by density functional theory, which further indicated that hydrogen adsorption and subsequent hydrogen evolution were hampered on the Sn-doped electrocatalysts, resulting in boosted CO formation. It was found that the pristine electrocatalysts consisted of CuO nanoparticles decorated with SnO2 domains, as characterized by ex situ high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. These pristine nanoparticles were subsequently in situ converted into a catalytically active bimetallic Sn-doped Cu phase. Our work sheds light on the intimate relationship between the bimetallic structure and catalytic behavior, resulting in stable and selective oxide-derived Sn-doped Cu electrocatalysts.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000900052400001 Publication Date 2022-11-28  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2155-5435 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 12.9 Times cited 16 Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes B.M.W., S.Y., M.C.F., E.J.M.H., and W.v.d.S. acknowledge support from the Strategic UU-TU/e Alliance project ?Joint Centre for Chemergy Research?. S.B. acknowledges support from the European Research Council (ERC Consolidator grant #815128 REALNANO) . Z.L. acknowledges financial support of the China Scholarship Council and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research for access to computa-tional resources for carrying out the DFT calculations reported in this work. S.A. and T.A. acknowledge funding from theUniversity of Antwerp Research fund (BOF) . The authors also thank Dr. Jochem Wijten and Joris Janssens (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Utrecht University) for helpful technical support. Sander Deelen (Faculty of Science, Utrecht University) is acknowledged for the design of the in situ XRD cell. Approved Most recent IF: 12.9  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:192742 Serial 7325  
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Author Bhatia, H.; Keshavarz, M.; Martin, C.; Van Gaal, L.; Zhang, Y.; de Coen, B.; Schrenker, N.J.; Valli, D.; Ottesen, M.; Bremholm, M.; Van de Vondel, J.; Bals, S.; Hofkens, J.; Debroye, E. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Achieving High Moisture Tolerance in Pseudohalide Perovskite Nanocrystals for Light-Emitting Diode Application Type A1 Journal Article
  Year 2023 Publication (down) ACS Applied Optical Materials Abbreviated Journal ACS Appl. Opt. Mater.  
  Volume 1 Issue 6 Pages 1184-1191  
  Keywords A1 Journal Article; Electron Microscopy for Materials Science (EMAT) ;  
  Abstract The addition of potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) to the FAPbBr3 structure and subsequent post-treatment of nanocrystals (NCs) lead to high quantum confinement, resulting in a photoluminescent quantum yield (PLQY) approaching unity and microsecond decay times. This synergistic approach demonstrated exceptional stability under humid conditions, retaining 70% of the PLQY for over a month, while the untreated NCs degrade within 24 h. Additionally, the devices incorporating the post-treated NCs displayed 1.5% external quantum efficiency (EQE), a 5-fold improvement over untreated devices. These results provide promising opportunities for the use of perovskites in moisture-stable optoelectronics.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date 2023-06-23  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2771-9855 ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Hercules Foundation, HER/11/14 ; European Commission; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovaci?n, PID2021-128761OA-C22 ; European Regional Development Fund; Vlaamse regering, CASAS2 Meth/15/04 ; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, 1238622N 1514220N 1S45223N G.0B39.15 G.0B49.15 G098319N S002019N ZW15_09-GOH6316 ; Onderzoeksraad, KU Leuven, C14/19/079 db/21/006/bm iBOF-21-085 STG/21/010 ; Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, SBPLY/21/180501/000127 ; H2020 European Research Council, 642196 815128 ; Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:201011 Serial 8975  
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Author Asapu, R.; Claes, N.; Ciocarlan, R.-G.; Minjauw, M.; Detavernier, C.; Cool, P.; Bals, S.; Verbruggen, S.W. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Electron Transfer and Near-Field Mechanisms in Plasmonic Gold-Nanoparticle-Modified TiO2Photocatalytic Systems Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2019 Publication (down) ACS applied nano materials Abbreviated Journal ACS Appl. Nano Mater.  
  Volume 2 Issue 2 Pages 4067-4074  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract The major mechanism responsible for plasmonic enhancement of titanium dioxide photocatalysis using gold nanoparticles is still under contention. This work introduces an experimental strategy to disentangle the significance of the charge transfer and near-field mechanisms in plasmonic photocatalysis. By controlling the thickness and conductive nature of a nanoparticle shell that acts as a spacer layer separating the plasmonic metal core from the TiO2 surface, field enhancement or charge transfer effects can be selectively repressed or evoked. Layer-by-layer and in situ polymerization methods are used to synthesize gold core–polymer shell nanoparticles with shell thickness control up to the sub-nanometer level. Detailed optical and electrical characterization supported by near-field simulation models corroborate the trends in photocatalytic activity of the different systems. This approach mainly points at an important contribution of the enhanced near field.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000477917700006 Publication Date 2019-05-31  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2574-0970 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited 32 Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes This work was supported by Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). P.C. and R-G.C. acknowledge financial support from FWO (Project No. G038215N). N.C. and S.B. acknowledge financial support from the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant No. 335078-COLOURATOM). Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @UA @ admin @ c:irua:160579 Serial 5184  
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Author Crippa, F.; Rodriguez-Lorenzo, L.; Hua, X.; Goris, B.; Bals, S.; Garitaonandia, J.S.; Balog, S.; Burnand, D.; Hirt, A.M.; Haeni, L.; Lattuada, M.; Rothen-Rutishauser, B.; Petri-Fink, A. pdf  doi
openurl 
  Title Phase transformation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles via thermal annealing : implications for hyperthermia applications Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2019 Publication (down) ACS applied nano materials Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 2 Issue 2 Pages 4462-4470  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Magnetic hyperthermia has the potential to play an important role in cancer therapy and its efficacy relies on the nanomaterials selected. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are excellent candidates due to the ability of producing enough heat to kill tumor cells by thermal ablation. However, their heating properties depend strongly on crystalline structure and size, which may not be controlled and tuned during the synthetic process; therefore, a postprocessing is needed. We show how thermal annealing can be simultaneously coupled with ligand exchange to stabilize the SPIONs in polar solvents and to modify their crystal structure, which improves hyperthermia behavior. Using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Mossbauer spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, and lock-in thermography, we systematically investigate the impact of size and ligand exchange procedure on crystallinity, their magnetism, and heating ability. We describe a valid and simple approach to optimize SPIONs for hyperthermia by carefully controlling the size, colloidal stability, and crystallinity.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000477917700048 Publication Date 2019-06-27  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited 18 Open Access Not_Open_Access  
  Notes ; This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation through the National Center of Competence in Research Bio-Inspired Materials, the Adolphe Merkle Foundation, the University of Fribourg, and the European Society for Molecular Imaging (Grant E141200643). ; Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:161927 Serial 5393  
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Author Borah, R.; Smets, J.; Ninakanti, R.; Tietze, M.L.; Ameloot, R.; Chigrin, D.N.; Bals, S.; Lenaerts, S.; Verbruggen, S.W. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Self-assembled ligand-capped plasmonic Au nanoparticle films in the Kretschmann configuration for sensing of volatile organic compounds Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication (down) ACS applied nano materials Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 5 Issue 8 Pages acsanm.2c02524-12  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Films of close-packed Au nanoparticles are coupled electrodynamically through their collective plasmon resonances. This collective optical response results in enhanced light–matter interactions, which can be exploited in various applications. Here, we demonstrate their application in sensing volatile organic compounds, using methanol as a test case. Ordered films over several cm2 were obtained by interfacial self-assembly of colloidal Au nanoparticles (∼10 nm diameter) through controlled evaporation of the solvent. Even though isolated nanoparticles of this size are inherently nonscattering, when arranged in a close-packed film the plasmonic coupling results in a strong reflectance and absorbance. The in situ tracking of vapor phase methanol concentration through UV–vis transmission measurements of the nanoparticle film is first demonstrated. Next, in situ ellipsometry of the self-assembled films in the Kretschmann (also known as ATR) configuration is shown to yield enhanced sensitivity, especially with phase difference measurements, Δ. Our study shows the excellent agreement between theoretical models of the spectral response of self-assembled films with experimental in situ sensing experiments. At the same time, the theoretical framework provides the basis for the interpretation of the various observed experimental trends. Combining periodic nanoparticle films with ellipsometry in the Kretschmann configuration is a promising strategy toward highly sensitive and selective plasmonic thin-film devices based on colloidal fabrication methods for volatile organic compound (VOC) sensing applications.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000834348300001 Publication Date 2022-07-27  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2574-0970 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 5.9 Times cited 11 Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes R.B. acknowledges financial support from the University of Antwerp Special Research Fund (BOF) for a DOCPRO4 doctoral scholarship. J.S. acknowledges financial support from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) by a Ph.D. fellowship (11H8121N) . M.L.T. acknowledges financial support from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) by a senior postdoctoral fellowship (12ZK720N) . Approved Most recent IF: 5.9  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189295 Serial 7095  
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Author Joy, R.M.; Pobedinskas, P.; Bourgeois, E.; Chakraborty, T.; Goerlitz, J.; Herrmann, D.; Noel, C.; Heupel, J.; Jannis, D.; Gauquelin, N.; D'Haen, J.; Verbeeck, J.; Popov, C.; Houssiau, L.; Becher, C.; Nesladek, M.; Haenen, K. pdf  doi
openurl 
  Title Photoluminescence of germanium-vacancy centers in nanocrystalline diamond films : implications for quantum sensing applications Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2024 Publication (down) ACS applied nano materials Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 7 Issue 4 Pages 3873-3884  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Point defects in diamond, promising candidates for nanoscale pressure- and temperature-sensing applications, are potentially scalable in polycrystalline diamond fabricated using the microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MW PE CVD) technique. However, this approach introduces residual stress in the diamond films, leading to variations in the characteristic zero phonon line (ZPL) of the point defect in diamond. Here, we report the effect of residual stress on germanium-vacancy (GeV) centers in MW PE CVD nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films fabricated using single crystal Ge as the substrate and solid dopant source. GeV ensemble formation indicated by the zero phonon line (ZPL) at similar to 602 nm is confirmed by room temperature (RT) photoluminescence (PL) measurements. PL mapping results show spatial nonuniformity in GeV formation along with other defects, including silicon-vacancy centers in the diamond films. The residual stress in NCD results in shifts in the PL peak positions. By estimating a stress shift coefficient of (2.9 +/- 0.9) nm/GPa, the GeV PL peak position in the NCD film is determined to be between 598.7 and 603.2 nm. A larger ground state splitting due to the strain on a GeV-incorporated NCD pillar at a low temperature (10 K) is also reported. We also report the observation of intense ZPLs at RT that in some cases could be related to low Ge concentration and the surrounding crystalline environment. In addition, we also observe thicker microcrystalline diamond (MCD) films delaminate from the Ge substrate due to film residual stress and graphitic phase at the diamond/Ge substrate interface (confirmed by electron energy loss spectroscopy). Using this approach, a free-standing color center incorporated MCD film with dimensions up to 1 x 1 cm(2) is fabricated. Qualitative analysis using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy reveals the presence of impurities, including Ge and silicon, in the MCD film. Our experimental results will provide insights into the scalability of GeV fabrication using the MW PE CVD technique and effectively implement NCD-based nanoscale-sensing applications.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001164609600001 Publication Date 2024-02-15  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2574-0970 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 5.9 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5.9; 2024 IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:204826 Serial 9164  
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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. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Electronic band structures and native point defects of ultrafine ZnO nanocrystals Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2015 Publication (down) 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.; doi  openurl
  Title KCN chemical etch for interface engineering in Cu2ZnSnSe4 solar cells Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2015 Publication (down) 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.; doi  openurl
  Title Relaxor ferroelectricity and magnetoelectric coupling in ZnOCo nanocomposite thin films : beyond multiferroic composites Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2014 Publication (down) 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. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Co-Rich ZnCoO Nanoparticles Embedded in Wurtzite Zn1-xCoxO Thin Films: Possible Origin of Superconductivity Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2015 Publication (down) 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.; pdf  doi
openurl 
  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 (down) 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  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Ao, Z.; Jiang, Q.; Li, S.; Liu, H.; Peeters, F.M.; Li, S.; Wang, G. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Enhancement of the stability of fluorine atoms on defective graphene and at graphene/fluorographene interface Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2015 Publication (down) 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 Kurttepeli, M.; Deng, S.; Mattelaer, F.; Cott, D.J.; Vereecken, P.; Dendooven, J.; Detavernier, C.; Bals, S. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Heterogeneous TiO2/V2O5/Carbon Nanotube Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2017 Publication (down) 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.  
  Address  
  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. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  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 (down) 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  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  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. pdf  doi
openurl 
  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 (down) 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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  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. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Cocatalyzing Pt/PtO phase-junction nanodots on hierarchically porous TiO2 for highly enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2017 Publication (down) 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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000410597500032 Publication Date 2017-08-16  
  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 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. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Plasmonic Near-Field Localization of Silver Core–Shell Nanoparticle Assemblies via Wet Chemistry Nanogap Engineering Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2017 Publication (down) 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.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000417005900057 Publication Date 2017-11-29  
  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 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 Ben Dkhil, S.; Pfannmöller, M.; Schroeder, R.R.; Alkarsifi, R.; Gaceur, M.; Koentges, W.; Heidari, H.; Bals, S.; Margeat, O.; Ackermann, J.; Videlot-Ackermann, C. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Interplay of interfacial layers and blend composition to reduce thermal degradation of polymer solar cells at high temperature Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2018 Publication (down) ACS applied materials and interfaces Abbreviated Journal Acs Appl Mater Inter  
  Volume 10 Issue 10 Pages 3874-3884  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract The thermal stability of printed polymer solar cells at elevated temperatures needs to be improved to achieve high-throughput fabrication including annealing steps as well as long-term stability. During device processing, thermal annealing impacts both the organic photoactive layer, and the two interfacial layers make detailed studies of degradation mechanism delicate. A recently identified thermally stable poly[[4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b'-dithiopherie-2,6-diyl] [3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl) carbonyl] thieno [3,4-b]thiophenediyl]] : [6,6]-phenyl- C-71-butyric acid methyl ester (PTB7:PC70BM) blend as photoactive layer in combination with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate as hole extraction layer is used here to focus on the impact of electron extraction layer (EEL) on the thermal stability of solar cells. Solar cells processed with densely packed ZnO nanoparticle layers still show 92% of the initial efficiency after constant annealing during 1 day at 140 degrees C, whereas partially covering ZnO layers as well as an evaporated calcium layer leads to performance losses of up to 30%. This demonstrates that the nature and morphology of EELs highly influence the thermal stability of the device. We extend our study to thermally unstable PTB7:[6,6]-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM) blends to highlight the impact of ZnO on the device degradation during annealing. Importantly, only 12% loss in photocurrent density is observed after annealing at 140 degrees C during 1 day when using closely packed ZnO. This is in stark contrast to literature and addressed here to the use of a stable double-sided confinement during thermal annealing. The underlying mechanism of the inhibition of photocurrent losses is revealed by electron microscopy imaging and spatially resolved spectroscopy. We found that the double-sided confinement suppresses extensive fullerene diffusion during the annealing step, but with still an increase in size and distance of the enriched donor and acceptor domains inside the photoactive layer by an average factor of 5. The later result in combination with comparably small photocurrent density losses indicates the existence of an efficient transport of minority charge carriers inside the donor and acceptor enriched phases in PTB7:PC60BM blends.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000424728800082 Publication Date 2018-01-12  
  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 9 Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes ; We acknowledge the 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-contract number: 287594). M.P. and R.R.S. acknowledge support by the HeiKA (Heidelberg Karlsruhe Research Partnership) FunTech-3D materials science program. ; Approved Most recent IF: 7.504  
  Call Number UA @ lucian @ c:irua:149309UA @ admin @ c:irua:149309 Serial 4939  
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