“NOxproduction in a rotating gliding arc plasma: potential avenue for sustainable nitrogen fixation”. Jardali F, Van Alphen S, Creel J, Ahmadi Eshtehardi H, Axelsson M, Ingels R, Snyders R, Bogaerts A, Green Chemistry 23, 1748 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1039/D0GC03521A
Abstract: The fast growing world population demands food to survive, and nitrogen-based fertilizers are essential to ensure sufficient food production. Today, fertilizers are mainly produced from non-sustainable fossil fuels<italic>via</italic>the Haber–Bosch process, leading to serious environmental problems. We propose here a novel rotating gliding arc plasma, operating in air, for direct NO<sub>x</sub>production, which can yield high nitrogen content organic fertilizers without pollution associated with ammonia emission. We explored the efficiency of NO<sub>x</sub>production in a wide range of feed gas ratios, and for two arc modes: rotating and steady. When the arc is in steady mode, record-value NO<sub>x</sub>concentrations up to 5.5% are achieved which are 1.7 times higher than the maximum concentration obtained by the rotating arc mode, and with an energy consumption of 2.5 MJ mol<sup>−1</sup>(or<italic>ca.</italic>50 kW h kN<sup>−1</sup>);<italic>i.e.</italic>the lowest value so far achieved by atmospheric pressure plasma reactors. Computer modelling, using a combination of five different complementary approaches, provides a comprehensive picture of NO<sub>x</sub>formation in both arc modes; in particular, the higher NO<sub>x</sub>production in the steady arc mode is due to the combined thermal and vibrationally-promoted Zeldovich mechanisms.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 9.125
DOI: 10.1039/D0GC03521A
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“The path to sustainable energy supply systems: Proposal of an integrative sustainability assessment framework”. Buchmayr A, Verhofstadt E, Van Ootegem L, Sanjuan Delmás D, Thomassen G, Dewulf J, Renewable &, Sustainable Energy Reviews 138, 110666 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110666
Abstract: Energy supply is essential for the functioning and well-being of a society. Decision-makers are faced with the challenge to balance burdens and benefits of energy supply practices with the aim to achieve environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Literature exhibits a broad variety of sustainability assessment frameworks for energy supply technologies. However, there is no consensus on which aspects need to be covered for a comprehensive assessment of sustainability. While some aspects, such as environmental emission damage, receive predominant attention, there is a lack of coverage and adequate quantification for others. This led in the past to an unbalanced basis for decision-making.
Based on an analysis of literature, 12 impact categories were identified for the assessment of energy technologies. The analysis included the judgement of quantification approaches regarding their significance for describing the impact categories and their maturity resulting in the proposal of 12 concrete indicators. A framework is proposed to manage and integrate the assessment of single impact categories. The framework produces normalized and weighted output indicators to use in the form of a dashboard or alternatively a single sustainability index for informed decision-making.
Finally, the proposed sustainability assessment framework relies on life cycle, local impact, and supply chain risks assessment. It consists of both well-established assessment methods as well as suggestions for new indicators in order to allow a full assessment of all impact categories. It thereby goes beyond the isolated assessment of impacts and offers the basis for comparison of complete energy supply mixes.
Keywords: A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM) ;
Impact Factor: 8.05
DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2020.110666
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“The environmental impact of household's water use: A case study in Flanders assessing various water sources, production methods and consumption patterns”. Thomassen G, Huysveld S, Boone L, Vilain C, Geysen D, Huysman K, Cools B, Dewulf J, Science Of The Total Environment 770, 145398 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145398
Abstract: Responsible water use and sustainable consumption and production are high on the agenda of multiple stakeholders. Different water supply sources are available, including tap water, bottled water, domestically harvested rainwater and domestically abstracted groundwater. The extent to which each of these water supply sources is used, differs over consumption patterns in various housing types, being detached houses, semi-detached houses, terraced houses and apartments. To identify the environmental impact of a household's water use and potential environmental impact reduction strategies, a holistic assessment is required. In this paper, the environmental impact of a household's water use in Flanders (Belgium) was assessed including four different water supply sources and four different consumption patterns by means of a life cycle assessment. The outcomes of this study reveal a large difference between the environmental impact of bottled water use, having a global warming impact of 259 kg CO2-eq.·m−3, compared to the other three supply sources. Tap water supply had the lowest global warming impact (0.17 kg CO2-eq.·m−3) and resource footprint (6.51 MJex·m−3) of all water supply sources. The most efficient strategy to reduce the environmental impact of household's water use is to shift the water consumption from bottled to tap water consumption. This would induce a reduction in global warming impact of the water use of an inhabitant in Flanders by on average 80%, saving 0.1 kg CO2-eq.·day−1 in case of groundwater-based tap water. These results provide insights into sustainable water use for multiple consumption patterns and can be used to better frame the environmental benefits of tap water use.
Keywords: A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM) ;
Impact Factor: 4.9
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145398
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“Critical behavior of the ferromagnets CrI₃, CrBr₃, and CrGeTe₃, and the antiferromagnet FeCl₂, : a detailed first-principles study”. Tiwari S, Van de Put ML, Sorée B, Vandenberghe WG, Physical Review B 103, 014432 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVB.103.014432
Abstract: We calculate the Curie temperature of layered ferromagnets, chromium tri-iodide (CrI3), chromium tri-bromide (CrBr3), chromium germanium tri-telluride (CrGeTe3), and the Ned temperature of a layered antiferromagnet iron di-chloride (FeCl2), using first-principles density functional theory calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. We develop a computational method to model the magnetic interactions in layered magnetic materials and calculate their critical temperature. We provide a unified method to obtain the magnetic exchange parameters (J) for an effective Heisenberg Hamiltonian from first principles, taking into account both the magnetic ansiotropy as well as the out-of-plane interactions. We obtain the magnetic phase change behavior, in particular the critical temperature, from the susceptibility and the specific-heat, calculated using the three-dimensional Monte Carlo (METROPOLIS) algorithm. The calculated Curie temperatures for ferromagnetic materials (CrI3, CrBr3, and CrGeTe3), match well with experimental values. We show that the interlayer interaction in bulk CrI3 with R (3) over bar stacking is significantly stronger than the C2/m stacking, in line with experimental observations. We show that the strong interlayer interaction in R (3) over bar CrI3 results in a competition between the in-plane and the out-of-plane magnetic easy axes. Finally, we calculate the Ned temperature of FeCl2 to be 47 +/- 8 K and show that the magnetic phase transition in FeCl2 occurs in two steps with a high-temperature intralayer ferromagnetic phase transition and a low-temperature interlayer antiferromagnetic phase transition.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.836
DOI: 10.1103/PHYSREVB.103.014432
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“MoSi₂N₄, single-layer : a novel two-dimensional material with outstanding mechanical, thermal, electronic and optical properties”. Bafekry A, Faraji M, Hoat DM, Shahrokhi M, Fadlallah MM, Shojaei F, Feghhi SAH, Ghergherehchi M, Gogova D, Journal Of Physics D-Applied Physics 54, 155303 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ABDB6B
Abstract: Very recently, the 2D form of MoSi2N4 has been successfully fabricated (Hong et al 2020 Science 369 670). Motivated by these recent experimental results, we investigate the structural, mechanical, thermal, electronic and optical properties of the MoSi2N4 monolayer. The mechanical study confirms the stability of the MoSi2N4 monolayer. The Young's modulus decreases by similar to 30%, while the Poisson's ratio increases by similar to 30% compared to the corresponding values of graphene. In addition, the MoSi2N4 monolayer's work function is very similar to that of phosphorene and MoS2 monolayers. The electronic structure shows that the MoSi2N4 monolayer is an indirect semiconductor with a band gaps of 1.79 (2.35) eV using the GGA (HSE06) functional. The thermoelectric performance of the MoSi2N4 monolayer has been revealed and a figure of merit slightly larger than unity at high temperatures is calculated. The optical analysis shows that the first absorption peak for in-plane polarization is located in the visible range of the spectrum, therefore, the MoSi2N4 monolayer is a promising candidate for advanced optoelectronic nanodevices. In summary, the fascinating MoSi2N4 monoloayer is a promising 2D material for many applications due to its unique physical properties.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 2.588
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/ABDB6B
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“Stable Janus TaSe₂, single-layers via surface functionalization”. Kahraman Z, Baskurt M, Yagmurcukardes M, Chaves A, Sahin H, Applied Surface Science 538, 148064 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.APSUSC.2020.148064
Abstract: First-principles calculations are performed in order to investigate the formation of Janus structures of single layer TaSe2. The structural optimizations and phonon band dispersions reveal that the formation and stability of hydrogenated (HTaSe2), fluorinated (FTaSe2), and the one-side hydrogenated and one-side fluorinated (Janus-HTaSe2F) single-layers are feasible in terms of their phonon band dispersions. It is shown that bare metallic single-layer TaSe2 can be turned into a semiconductor as only one of its surface is functionalized while it remains as a metal via its two surfaces functionalization. In addition, the semiconducting nature of single-layers HTaSe2 and FTaSe2 and the metallic behavior of Janus TaSe2 are found to be robust under applied uniaxal strains. Further analysis on piezoelectric properties of the predicted single-layers reveal the enhanced in-plane and out of-plane piezoelectricity via formed Janus-HTaSe2F. Our study indicates that single-layer TaSe2 is a suitable host material for surface functionalization via fluorination and hydrogenation which exhibit distinctive electronic and vibrational properties.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.387
DOI: 10.1016/J.APSUSC.2020.148064
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“The path towards efficient wide band gap thin-film kesterite solar cells with transparent back contact for viable tandem application”. Khelifi S, Brammertz G, Choubrac L, Batuk M, Yang S, Meuris M, Barreau N, Hadermann J, Vrielinck H, Poelman D, Neyts K, Vermang B, Lauwaert J, Solar Energy Materials And Solar Cells 219, 110824 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110824
Abstract: Wide band gap thin-film kesterite solar cell based on non-toxic and earth-abundant materials might be a suitable candidate as a top cell for tandem configuration in combination with crystalline silicon as a bottom solar cell. For this purpose and based on parameters we have extracted from electrical and optical characterization techniques of Cu2ZnGeSe4 absorbers and solar cells, a model has been developed to describe the kesterite top cell efficiency limitations and to investigate the different possible configurations with transparent back contact for fourterminal tandem solar cell application. Furthermore, we have studied the tandem solar cell performance in view of the band gap and the transparency of the kesterite top cell and back contact engineering. Our detailed analysis shows that a kesterite top cell with efficiency > 14%, a band gap in the range of 1.5-1.7 eV and transparency above 80% at the sub-band gaps photons energies are required to achieve a tandem cell with higher efficiency than with a single silicon solar cell.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 4.784
DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2020.110824
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“Photoresistive gas sensor based on nanocrystalline ZnO sensitized with colloidal perovskite CsPbBr3 nanocrystals”. Chizhov As, Rumyantseva Mn, Drozdov Ka, Krylov Iv, Batuk M, Hadermann J, Filatova Dg, Khmelevsky No, Kozlovsky Vf, Maltseva Ln, Gaskov Am, Sensors And Actuators B-Chemical 329, 129035 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2020.129035
Abstract: The development of sensor materials of which gas sensitivity activates under light illumination is of great importance for the design of portable gas analyzers with low power consumption. In the present work a ZnO/CsPbBr3 nanocomposite based on nanocrystalline ZnO and colloidal cubic-shaped perovskite CsPbBr3 nanocrystals (NCs) capped by oleic acide and oleylamine was synthesized. The individual materials and obtained nanocomposite are characterized by x-ray diffraction, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive Xray spectroscopy mapping and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. The spectral dependence of the photoconductivity of the ZnO/CsPbBr3 nanocomposite reveals a well-defined peak that strongly correlates with the its optical absorption spectrum. The nanocomposite ZnO/CsPbBr3 shows enhanced photoresponse under visible light illumination (lambda(max) = 470 nm, 8 mW/cm(2)) in air, oxygen and argone, compared with pure nanocrystalline ZnO. Under periodic illumination in the temperature range of 25-100 degrees C, the ZnO/CsPbBr3 nanocomposite shows a sensor response to 0.5-3.0 ppm NO2, unlike pure nanocrystalline ZnO matrix, which demonstrates sensor sensitivity to NO2 under the same conditions above 100 degrees C. The effects of humidity on the sensor signal and photoresponse are also discussed.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 5.401
DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2020.129035
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“Effect of chemical modification on electronic transport properties of carbyne”. Berdiyorov GR, Khalilov U, Hamoudi H, Neyts EC, Journal Of Computational Electronics (2021). http://doi.org/10.1007/s10825-020-01639-7
Abstract: Using density functional theory in combination with the Green’s functional formalism, we study the effect of surface functionalization on the electronic transport properties of 1D carbon allotrope—carbyne. We found that both hydrogenation and fluorination result in structural changes and semiconducting to metallic transition. Consequently, the current in the functionalization systems increases significantly due to strong delocalization of electronic states along the carbon chain. We also study the electronic transport in partially hydrogenated carbyne and interface structures consisting of pristine and functionalized carbyne. In the latter case, current rectification is obtained in the system with rectification ratio up to 50%. These findings can be useful for developing carbyne-based structures with tunable electronic transport properties.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 1.526
DOI: 10.1007/s10825-020-01639-7
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“Oxidation of Innate Immune Checkpoint CD47 on Cancer Cells with Non-Thermal Plasma”. Lin A, Razzokov J, Verswyvel H, Privat-Maldonado A, De Backer J, Yusupov M, Cardenas De La Hoz E, Ponsaerts P, Smits E, Bogaerts A, Cancers 13, 579 (2021). http://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13030579
Abstract: Non-thermal plasma (NTP) therapy has been emerging as a promising cancer treatment strategy, and recently, its ability to locally induce immunogenic cancer cell death is being unraveled. We hypothesized that the chemical species produced by NTP reduce immunosuppressive surface proteins and checkpoints that are overexpressed on cancerous cells. Here, 3D in vitro tumor models, an in vivo mouse model, and molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the effect of NTP on CD47, a key innate immune checkpoint. CD47 is immediately modulated after NTP treatment and simulations reveal the potential oxidized salt-bridges responsible for conformational changes. Umbrella sampling simulations of CD47 with its receptor, signal-regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα), demonstrate that the induced-conformational changes reduce its binding affinity. Taken together, this work provides new insight into fundamental, chemical NTP-cancer cell interaction mechanisms and a previously overlooked advantage of present NTP cancer therapy: reducing immunosuppressive signals on the surface of cancer cells.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Laboratory for Experimental Hematology (LEH); Center for Oncological Research (CORE)
DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030579
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“Laser-induced excitation mechanisms and phase transitions in spectrochemical analysis &ndash, Review of the fundamentals”. Vanraes P, Bogaerts A, Spectrochimica Acta Part B-Atomic Spectroscopy 179, 106091 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.sab.2021.106091
Abstract: Nowadays, lasers are commonly applied in spectrochemical analysis methods, for sampling, plasma formation or a combination of both. Despite the numerous investigations that have been performed on these applications, the underlying processes are still insufficiently understood. In order to fasten progress in the field and in honor of the lifework of professor Rick Russo, we here provide a brief overview of the fundamental mechanisms in lasermatter interaction as proposed in literature, and throw the spotlight on some aspects that have not received much attention yet. For an organized discussion, we choose laser ablation, laser desorption and the associated gaseous plasma formation as the central processes in this perspective article, based on a classification of the laserbased spectrochemical analysis techniques and the corresponding laser-matter interaction regimes. First, we put the looking glass over the excitation and thermalization mechanisms in the laser-irradiated condensed phase, for which we propose the so-called multi-plasma model. This novel model can be understood as an extension of the well-known two-temperature model, featuring multiple thermodynamic dimensions, each of which corresponds to a quasi-particle type. Next, the focus is placed on the mass transfer and ionization mechanisms, after which we shortly highlight the possible role of anisotropic and magnetic effects in the laser-excited material. We hope this perspective article motivates more fundamental research on laser-matter interaction, as a continuation of the lifework of Rick Russo.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 3.241
DOI: 10.1016/j.sab.2021.106091
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“Physical plasma-derived oxidants sensitize pancreatic cancer cells to ferroptotic cell death”. Kumar N, Perez-Novo C, Shaw P, Logie E, Privat-Maldonado A, Dewilde S, Smits E, Berghe WV, Bogaerts A, Free Radical Biology And Medicine 166, 187 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.02.026
Abstract: Despite modern therapeutic advances, the survival prospects of pancreatic cancer patients remain poor, due to chemoresistance and dysregulated oncogenic kinase signaling networks. We applied a novel kinome activitymapping approach using biological peptide targets as phospho-sensors to identify vulnerable kinase dependencies for therapy sensitization by physical plasma. Ser/Thr-kinome specific activity changes were mapped upon induction of ferroptotic cell death in pancreatic tumor cells exposed to reactive oxygen and nitrogen species of plasma-treated water (PTW). This revealed a broad kinome activity response involving the CAMK, the AGC and CMGC family of kinases. This systems-level kinome network response supports stress adaptive switches between chemoresistant anti-oxidant responses of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)/Heme Oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) and ferroptotic cell death sensitization upon suppression of Nuclear factor (erythroid derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) and Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). This is further supported by ex vivo experiments in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay, showing decreased GPX4 and Glutathione (GSH) expression as well as increased lipid peroxidation, along with suppressed BxPC-3 tumor growth in response to PTW. Taken all together, we demonstrate that plasma treated water-derived oxidants sensitize pancreatic cancer cells to ferroptotic cell death by targeting a NRF2-HMOX1-GPX4 specific kinase signaling network.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Center for Oncological Research (CORE)
Impact Factor: 5.606
DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.02.026
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“Reaction mechanisms of C(3PJ) and C+(2PJ) with benzene in the interstellar medium from quantum mechanical molecular dynamics simulations”. Izadi ME, Bal KM, Maghari A, Neyts EC, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 23, 4205 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1039/D0CP04542J
Abstract: While spectroscopic data on small hydrocarbons in interstellar media in combination with crossed molecular beam (CMB) experiments have provided a wealth of information on astrochemically relevant species, much of the underlying mechanistic pathways of their formation remain elusive. Therefore, in this work, the chemical reaction mechanisms of C(<sup>3</sup>P<sub>J</sub>) + C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>6</sub>and C<sup>+</sup>(<sup>2</sup>P) + C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>6</sub>systems using the quantum mechanical molecular dynamics (QMMD) technique at the PBE0-D3(BJ) level of theory is investigated, mimicking a CMB experiment. Both the dynamics of the reactions as well as the electronic structure for the purpose of the reaction network are evaluated. The method is validated for the first reaction by comparison to the available experimental data. The reaction scheme for the C(<sup>3</sup>P<sub>J</sub>) + C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>6</sub>system covers the literature data,<italic>e.g.</italic>the major products are the 1,2-didehydrocycloheptatrienyl radical (C<sub>7</sub>H<sub>5</sub>) and benzocyclopropenyl radical (C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>5</sub>–CH), and it reveals the existence of less common pathways for the first time. The chemistry of the C<sup>+</sup>(<sup>2</sup>P<sub>J</sub>) + C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>6</sub>system is found to be much richer, and we have found that this is because of more exothermic reactions in this system in comparison to those in the C(<sup>3</sup>P<sub>J</sub>) + C<sub>6</sub>H<sub>6</sub>system. Moreover, using the QMMD simulation, a number of reaction paths have been revealed that produce three distinct classes of reaction products with different ring sizes. All in all, at all the collision energies and orientations, the major product is the heptagon molecular ion for the ionic system. It is also revealed that the collision orientation has a dominant effect on the reaction products in both systems, while the collision energy mostly affects the charged system. These simulations both prove the applicability of this approach to simulate crossed molecular beams, and provide fundamental information on reactions relevant for the interstellar medium.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 4.123
DOI: 10.1039/D0CP04542J
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“25 years of Reticular Chemistry”. Freund R, Canossa S, Cohen SM, Yan W, Deng H, Guillerm V, Eddaoudi M, Madden DG, Fairen-Jimenez D, Lyu H, Macreadie LK, Ji Z, Zhang Y, Wang B, Haase F, Wöll C, Zaremba O, Andreo J, Wuttke S, Diercks CS, Angewandte Chemie-International Edition , anie.202101644 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202101644
Abstract: At its core, reticular chemistry has translated the precision and expertise of organic and inorganic synthesis to the solid state. While initial excitement over metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) was undoubtedly fueled by their unprecedented porosity and surface areas, the most profound scientific innovation of the field has been the elaboration of design strategies for the synthesis of extended crystalline solids through strong directional bonds. In this contribution we highlight the different classes of reticular materials that have been developed, how these frameworks can be functionalized and how complexity can be introduced into their backbones. Finally, we show how the structural control over these materials is being extended from the molecular scale to their crystal morphology and shape on the nanoscale, all the way to their shaping on the bulk scale.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 11.994
DOI: 10.1002/anie.202101644
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“Positive and negative streamer propagation in volume dielectric barrier discharges with planar and porous electrodes”. Zhang Q‐Z, Zhang L, Yang D‐Z, Schulze J, Wang Y‐N, Bogaerts A, Plasma Processes And Polymers 18, 2000234 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1002/ppap.202000234
Abstract: The spatiotemporal dynamics of volume and surface positive and negative streamers in a pintoplate volume dielectric barrier discharge is investigated in this study. The discharge characteristics are found to be completely different for positive and negative streamers. First, the spatial propagation of a positive streamer is found to rely on electron avalanches caused by photo-electrons in front of the streamer head, whereas this is not the case for negative streamers. Second, our simulations reveal an interesting phenomenon of floating positive surface discharges, which develop when a positive streamer reaches a dielectric wall and which explain the experimentally observed branching characteristics. Third, we report for the first time, the interactions between a positive streamer and dielectric pores, in which both the pore diameter and depth affect the evolution of a positive streamer.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 2.846
DOI: 10.1002/ppap.202000234
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“Sustainable gas conversion by gliding arc plasmas: a new modelling approach for reactor design improvement”. Van Alphen S, Jardali F, Creel J, Trenchev G, Snyders R, Bogaerts A, Sustainable energy &, fuels 5, 1786 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1039/D0SE01782E
Abstract: Research in plasma reactor designs is developing rapidly as plasma technology is gaining increasing interest for sustainable gas conversion applications, like the conversion of greenhouse gases into value-added chemicals and renewable fuels, and fixation of N<sub>2</sub>from air into precursors of mineral fertilizer. As plasma is generated by electric power and can easily be switched on/off, these applications allows for efficient conversion and energy storage of intermittent renewable electricity. In this paper, we present a new comprehensive modelling approach for the design and development of gliding arc plasma reactors, which reveals the fluid dynamics, the arc behaviour and the plasma chemistry by solving a unique combination of five complementary models. This results in a complete description of the plasma process, which allows one to efficiently evaluate the performance of a reactor and indicate possible design improvements before actually building it. We demonstrate the capabilities of this method for an experimentally validated study of plasma-based NO<sub>x</sub>formation in a rotating gliding arc reactor, which is gaining increasing interest as a flexible, electricity-driven alternative for the Haber–Bosch process. The model demonstrates the importance of the vortex flow and the presence of a recirculation zone in the reactor, as well as the formation of hot spots in the plasma near the cathode pin and the anode wall that are responsible for most of the NO<sub>x</sub>formation. The model also reveals the underlying plasma chemistry and the vibrational non-equilibrium that exists due to the fast cooling during each arc rotation. Good agreement with experimental measurements on the studied reactor design proves the predictive capabilities of our modelling approach.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
DOI: 10.1039/D0SE01782E
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“Cold Atmospheric Plasma Increases Temozolomide Sensitivity of Three-Dimensional Glioblastoma Spheroids via Oxidative Stress-Mediated DNA Damage”. Shaw P, Kumar N, Privat-Maldonado A, Smits E, Bogaerts A, Cancers 13, 1780 (2021). http://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13081780
Abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent and aggressive primary malignant brain tumor in adults. Current standard radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy with the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ) yield poor clinical outcome. This is due to the stem-like properties of tumor cells and genetic abnormalities in GBM, which contribute to resistance to TMZ and progression. In this study, we used cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) to enhance the sensitivity to TMZ through inhibition of antioxidant signaling (linked to TMZ resistance). We demonstrate that CAP indeed enhances the cytotoxicity of TMZ by targeting the antioxidant specific glutathione (GSH)/glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) signaling. We optimized the threshold concentration of TMZ on five different GBM cell lines (U251, LN18, LN229, U87-MG and T98G). We combined TMZ with CAP and tested it on both TMZ-sensitive (U251, LN18 and LN229) and TMZ-resistant (U87-MG and T98G) cell lines using two-dimensional cell cultures. Subsequently, we used a three-dimensional spheroid model for the U251 (TMZ-sensitive) and U87-MG and T98G (TMZ-resistant) cells. The sensitivity of TMZ was enhanced, i.e., higher cytotoxicity and spheroid shrinkage was obtained when TMZ and CAP were administered together. We attribute the anticancer properties to the release of intracellular reactive oxygen species, through inhibiting the GSH/GPX4 antioxidant machinery, which can lead to DNA damage. Overall, our findings suggest that the combination of CAP with TMZ is a promising combination therapy to enhance the efficacy of TMZ towards the treatment of GBM spheroids.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Center for Oncological Research (CORE)
DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081780
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“Cocktail of reactive species generated by cold atmospheric plasma: oral administration induces non-small cell lung cancer cell death”. Song C-H, Attri P, Ku S-K, Han I, Bogaerts A, Choi EH, Journal Of Physics D-Applied Physics 54, 185202 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/abdff2
Abstract: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, with 85% of all lung cancer reported as NSCLC. Moreover, there are no effective treatments in advanced NSCLC. This study shows for the first time that oral administration of plasma-treated water (PTW) can cure advanced NSCLC. The cold plasma in water generates a cocktail of reactive species, and oral administration of this cocktail to mice showed no toxicities even at the highest dose of PTW, after a single dose and repeated doses for 28 d in mice. In vivo studies reveal that PTW showed favorable anticancer effects on chemo-resistant lung cancer, similarly to gefitinib treatment as a reference drug in a chemo-resistant NSCLC model. The anticancer activities of PTW seem to be involved in inhibiting proliferation and angiogenesis and enhancing apoptosis in the cancer cells. Interestingly, the PTW contributes to enhanced immune response and improved cachexia in the model.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 2.588
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6463/abdff2
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“Quantitative morphometric analysis of single gold nanoparticles by optical extinction microscopy: Material permittivity and surface damping effects”. Payne LM, Masia F, Zilli A, Albrecht W, Borri P, Langbein W, Journal Of Chemical Physics 154, 044702 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1063/5.0031012
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.965
DOI: 10.1063/5.0031012
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“Oxidative damage to hyaluronan–CD44 interactions as an underlying mechanism of action of oxidative stress-inducing cancer therapy”. Yusupov M, Privat-Maldonado A, Cordeiro RM, Verswyvel H, Shaw P, Razzokov J, Smits E, Bogaerts A, Redox Biology 43, 101968 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2021.101968
Abstract: Multiple cancer therapies nowadays rely on oxidative stress to damage cancer cells. Here we investigated the biological and molecular effect of oxidative stress on the interaction between CD44 and hyaluronan (HA), as interrupting their binding can hinder cancer progression. Our experiments demonstrated that the oxidation of HA decreased its recognition by CD44, which was further enhanced when both CD44 and HA were oxidized. The reduction of CD44–HA binding negatively affected the proliferative state of cancer cells. Our multi-level atomistic simulations revealed that the binding free energy of HA to CD44 decreased upon oxidation. The effect of HA and CD44 oxidation on CD44–HA binding was similar, but when both HA and CD44 were oxidized, the effect was much larger, in agreement with our experiments. Hence, our experiments and computations support our hypothesis on the role of oxidation in the disturbance of CD44–HA interaction, which can lead to the inhibition of proliferative signaling pathways inside the tumor cell to induce cell death.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Center for Oncological Research (CORE)
Impact Factor: 6.337
DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.101968
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“Covalent Cysteine Targeting of Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) Family by Withaferin-A Reduces Survival of Glucocorticoid-Resistant Multiple Myeloma MM1 Cells”. Logie E, Chirumamilla CS, Perez-Novo C, Shaw P, Declerck K, Palagani A, Rangarajan S, Cuypers B, De Neuter N, Mobashar Hussain Urf Turabe F, Kumar Verma N, Bogaerts A, Laukens K, Offner F, Van Vlierberghe P, Van Ostade X, Berghe WV, Cancers 13, 1618 (2021). http://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13071618
Abstract: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy characterized by plasma cells’ uncontrolled growth. The major barrier in treating MM is the occurrence of primary and acquired therapy resistance to anticancer drugs. Often, this therapy resistance is associated with constitutive hyperactivation of tyrosine kinase signaling. Novel covalent kinase inhibitors, such as the clinically approved BTK inhibitor ibrutinib (IBR) and the preclinical phytochemical withaferin A (WA), have, therefore, gained pharmaceutical interest. Remarkably, WA is more effective than IBR in killing BTK-overexpressing glucocorticoid (GC)-resistant MM1R cells. To further characterize the kinase inhibitor profiles of WA and IBR in GC-resistant MM cells, we applied phosphopeptidome- and transcriptome-specific tyrosine kinome profiling. In contrast to IBR, WA was found to reverse BTK overexpression in GC-resistant MM1R cells. Furthermore, WA-induced cell death involves covalent cysteine targeting of Hinge-6 domain type tyrosine kinases of the kinase cysteinome classification, including inhibition of the hyperactivated BTK. Covalent interaction between WA and BTK could further be confirmed by biotin-based affinity purification and confocal microscopy. Similarly, molecular modeling suggests WA preferably targets conserved cysteines in the Hinge-6 region of the kinase cysteinome classification, favoring inhibition of multiple B-cell receptors (BCR) family kinases. Altogether, we show that WA’s promiscuous inhibition of multiple BTK family tyrosine kinases represents a highly effective strategy to overcome GC-therapy resistance in MM.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; ADReM Data Lab (ADReM); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071618
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“Methane to Methanol through Heterogeneous Catalysis and Plasma Catalysis”. Li S, Ahmed R, Yi Y, Bogaerts A, Catalysts 11, 590 (2021). http://doi.org/10.3390/catal11050590
Abstract: Direct oxidation of methane to methanol (DOMTM) is attractive for the increasing industrial demand of feedstock. In this review, the latest advances in heterogeneous catalysis and plasma catalysis for DOMTM are summarized, with the aim to pinpoint the differences between both, and to provide some insights into their reaction mechanisms, as well as the implications for future development of highly selective catalysts for DOMTM.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 3.082
DOI: 10.3390/catal11050590
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“The Quest to Quantify Selective and Synergistic Effects of Plasma for Cancer Treatment: Insights from Mathematical Modeling”. Bengtson C, Bogaerts A, International Journal Of Molecular Sciences 22, 5033 (2021). http://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22095033
Abstract: Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) and plasma-treated liquids (PTLs) have recently become a promising option for cancer treatment, but the underlying mechanisms of the anti-cancer effect are still to a large extent unknown. Although hydrogen peroxide () has been recognized as the major anti-cancer agent of PTL and may enable selectivity in a certain concentration regime, the co-existence of nitrite can create a synergistic effect. We develop a mathematical model to describe the key species and features of the cellular response toward PTL. From the numerical solutions, we define a number of dependent variables, which represent feasible measures to quantify cell susceptibility in terms of the membrane diffusion rate constant and the intracellular catalase concentration. For each of these dependent variables, we investigate the regimes of selective versus non-selective, and of synergistic versus non-synergistic effect to evaluate their potential role as a measure of cell susceptibility. Our results suggest that the maximal intracellular concentration, which in the selective regime is almost four times greater for the most susceptible cells compared to the most resistant cells, could be used to quantify the cell susceptibility toward exogenous . We believe our theoretical approach brings novelty to the field of plasma oncology, and more broadly, to the field of redox biology, by proposing new ways to quantify the selective and synergistic anti-cancer effect of PTL in terms of inherent cell features.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 3.226
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22095033
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“Thermal instability and volume contraction in a pulsed microwave N2plasma at sub-atmospheric pressure”. Kelly S, van de Steeg A, Hughes A, van Rooij G, Bogaerts A, Plasma Sources Science &, Technology 30, 055005 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6595/abf1d6
Abstract: We studied the evolution of an isolated pulsed plasma in a vortex flow stabilised microwave (MW) discharge in N2 at 25 mbar via the combination of 0D kinetics modelling, iCCD imaging and laser scattering diagnostics. Quenching of electronically excited N2 results in fast gas heating and the onset of a thermal-ionisation instability, contracting the discharge volume. The onset of a thermal-ionisation instability driven by vibrational excitation pathways is found to facilitate significantly higher N2 conversion (i.e. dissociation to atomic N2 ) compared to pre-instability conditions, emphasizing the potential utility of this dynamic in future fixation applications. The instability onset is found to be instigated by super-elastic heating of the electron energy distribution tail via vibrationally excited N2 . Radial contraction of the discharge to the skin depth is found to occur post instability, while the axial elongation is found to be temporarily contracted during the thermal instability onset. An increase in power reflection during the thermal instability onset eventually limits the destabilising effects of exothermic electronically excited N2 quenching. Translational and vibrational temperature reach a quasi-non-equilibrium after the discharge contraction, with translational temperatures reaching ∼1200 K at the pulse end, while vibrational temperatures are found in near equilibrium with the electron energy (1 eV, or ∼11 600 K). This first description of the importance of electronically excited N2 quenching in thermal instabilities gives an additional fundamental understanding of N2 plasma behaviour in pulsed MW context, and thereby brings the eventual implementation of this novel N2 fixation method one step closer.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 3.302
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6595/abf1d6
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“Optimizing Experimental Conditions for Accurate Quantitative Energy-Dispersive X-ray Analysis of Interfaces at the Atomic Scale”. MacArthur KE, Yankovich AB, Béché, A, Luysberg M, Brown HG, Findlay SD, Heggen M, Allen LJ, Microscopy And Microanalysis , 1 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927621000246
Abstract: The invention of silicon drift detectors has resulted in an unprecedented improvement in detection efficiency for energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy in the scanning transmission electron microscope. The result is numerous beautiful atomic-scale maps, which provide insights into the internal structure of a variety of materials. However, the task still remains to understand exactly where the X-ray signal comes from and how accurately it can be quantified. Unfortunately, when crystals are aligned with a low-order zone axis parallel to the incident beam direction, as is necessary for atomic-resolution imaging, the electron beam channels. When the beam becomes localized in this way, the relationship between the concentration of a particular element and its spectroscopic X-ray signal is generally nonlinear. Here, we discuss the combined effect of both spatial integration and sample tilt for ameliorating the effects of channeling and improving the accuracy of EDX quantification. Both simulations and experimental results will be presented for a perovskite-based oxide interface. We examine how the scattering and spreading of the electron beam can lead to erroneous interpretation of interface compositions, and what approaches can be made to improve our understanding of the underlying atomic structure.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 1.891
DOI: 10.1017/S1431927621000246
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“Flowing Atmospheric Pressure Afterglow for Ambient Ionization: Reaction Pathways Revealed by Modeling”. Aghaei M, Bogaerts A, Analytical Chemistry 93, 6620 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04076
Abstract: We describe the plasma chemistry in a helium flowing atmospheric pressure afterglow (FAPA) used for analytical spectrometry, by means of a quasione-dimensional (1D) plasma chemical kinetics model. We study the effect of typical impurities present in the feed gas, as well as the afterglow in ambient humid air. The model provides the species density profiles in the discharge and afterglow regions and the chemical pathways. We demonstrate that H, N, and O atoms are formed in the discharge region, while the dominant reactive neutral species in the afterglow are O3 and NO. He* and He2* are responsible for Penning ionization of O2, N2, H2O, H2, and N, and especially O and H atoms. Besides, He2+ also contributes to ionization of N2, O2, H2O, and O through charge transfer reactions. From the pool of ions created in the discharge, NO+ and (H2O)3H+ are the dominant ions in the afterglow. Moreover, negatively charged clusters, such as NO3H2O− and NO2H2O−, are formed and their pathway is discussed as well. Our model predictions are in line with earlier observations in the literature about the important reagent ions and provide a comprehensive overview of the underlying pathways. The model explains in detail why helium provides a high analytical sensitivity because of high reagent ion formation by both Penning ionization and charge transfer. Such insights are very valuable for improving the analytical performance of this (and other) ambient desorption/ionization source(s).
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 6.32
DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04076
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“From the Birkeland–Eyde process towards energy-efficient plasma-based NOXsynthesis: a techno-economic analysis”. Rouwenhorst KHR, Jardali F, Bogaerts A, Lefferts L, Energy &, Environmental Science 14, 2520 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE03763J
Abstract: Plasma-based NO<sub>X</sub>synthesis<italic>via</italic>the Birkeland–Eyde process was one of the first industrial nitrogen fixation methods. However, this technology never played a dominant role for nitrogen fixation, due to the invention of the Haber–Bosch process. Recently, nitrogen fixation by plasma technology has gained significant interest again, due to the emergence of low cost, renewable electricity. We first present a short historical background of plasma-based NO<sub>X</sub>synthesis. Thereafter, we discuss the reported performance for plasma-based NO<sub>X</sub>synthesis in various types of plasma reactors, along with the current understanding regarding the reaction mechanisms in the plasma phase, as well as on a catalytic surface. Finally, we benchmark the plasma-based NO<sub>X</sub>synthesis process with the electrolysis-based Haber–Bosch process combined with the Ostwald process, in terms of the investment cost and energy consumption. This analysis shows that the energy consumption for NO<sub>X</sub>synthesis with plasma technology is almost competitive with the commercial process with its current best value of 2.4 MJ mol N<sup>−1</sup>, which is required to decrease further to about 0.7 MJ mol N<sup>−1</sup>in order to become fully competitive. This may be accomplished through further plasma reactor optimization and effective plasma–catalyst coupling.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 29.518
DOI: 10.1039/D0EE03763J
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“Atom column detection”. Fatermans J, de Backer A, den Dekker AJ, Van Aert S Advances in imaging and electron physics
T2 – Advances in imaging and electron physics. page 177 (2021).
Abstract: By combining statistical parameter estimation and model-order selection using a Bayesian framework, the maximum a posteriori (MAP) probability rule is proposed in this chapter as an objective and quantitative method to detect atom columns from high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HRSTEM) images. The validity and usefulness of this approach is demonstrated to both simulated and experimental annular dark-field (ADF) STEM images, but also to simultaneously acquired annular bright-field (ABF) and ADF STEM image data.
Keywords: H2 Book chapter; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Vision lab
DOI: 10.1016/BS.AIEP.2021.01.006
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“Atom counting”. de Backer A, Fatermans J, den Dekker AJ, Van Aert S Advances in imaging and electron physics
T2 – Advances in imaging and electron physics. page 91 (2021).
Abstract: In this chapter, a statistical model-based method to count the number of atoms of monotype crystalline nanostructures from high-resolution annular dark-field (ADF) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) images is discussed in detail together with a thorough study on the possibilities and inherent limitations. We show that this method can be applied to nanocrystals of arbitrary shape, size, and atom type. The validity of the atom-counting results is confirmed by means of detailed image simulations and it is shown that the high sensitivity of our method enables us to count atoms with single atom sensitivity.
Keywords: H2 Book chapter; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Vision lab
DOI: 10.1016/BS.AIEP.2021.01.004
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“Efficient fitting algorithm”. de Backer A, Fatermans J, den Dekker AJ, Van Aert S Advances in imaging and electron physics
T2 – Advances in imaging and electron physics. page 73 (2021).
Abstract: An efficient model-based estimation algorithm is introduced to quantify the atomic column positions and intensities from atomic-resolution (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM) images. This algorithm uses the least squares estimator on image segments containing individual columns fully accounting for overlap between neighboring columns, enabling the analysis of a large field of view. To provide end-users with this well-established quantification method, a user friendly program, StatSTEM, is developed which is freely available under a GNU public license. In this chapter, this efficient algorithm is applied to three different nanostructures for which the analysis of a large field of view is required.
Keywords: H2 Book chapter; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
DOI: 10.1016/BS.AIEP.2021.01.003
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