“Direct Solar Energy-Mediated Synthesis of Tertiary Benzylic Alcohols Using a Metal-Free Heterogeneous Photocatalyst”. Zhang Y, Qin S, Claes N, Schilling W, Sahoo PK, Ching HYV, Jaworski A, Lemière F, Slabon A, Van Doorslaer S, Bals S, Das S, ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering 10, 530 (2022). http://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c07026
Abstract: Direct hydroxylation via the functionalization of tertiary benzylic C(sp3)-H bond is of great significance for obtaining tertiary alcohols which find wide applications in pharmaceuticals as well as in fine chemical industries. However, current synthetic procedures use toxic reagents and therefore, the development of a sustainable strategy for the synthesis of tertiary benzyl alcohols is highly desirable. To solve this problem, herein, we report a metal-free
heterogeneous photocatalyst to synthesize the hydroxylated products using oxygen as the key reagent. Various benzylic substrates were employed into our mild reaction conditions to afford the desirable products in good to excellent yields. More importantly, gram-scale reaction was achieved via harvesting direct solar energy and exhibited high quantity of the product. The high stability of the catalyst was proved via recycling the catalyst and spectroscopic analyses. Finally, a possible mechanism was proposed based on the EPR and other experimental
evidence.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Organic synthesis (ORSY)
Impact Factor: 8.4
Times cited: 24
DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c07026
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“Disentangling the effect of seed size and crystal habit on gold nanoparticle seeded growth”. González-Rubio G, de Oliveira TM, Altantzis T, La Porta A, Guerrero-Martínez A, Bals S, Scarabelli L, Liz-Marzán LM, Chemical communications 53, 11360 (2017). http://doi.org/10.1039/C7CC06854A
Abstract: Oxidative etching was used to produce gold seeds of different sizes and crystal habits. Following detailed characterization, the seeds were grown under different conditions. Our results bring new insights toward understanding the effect of size and crystallinity on the growth of anisotropic particles, whilst identifying guidelines for the optimisation of new synthetic protocols of predesigned seeds.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 6.319
Times cited: 29
DOI: 10.1039/C7CC06854A
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“Disproportionation of nitrogen induced by DC plasma-driven electrolysis in a nitrogen atmosphere”. Pattyn C, Maira N, Buddhadasa M, Vervloessem E, Iseni S, Roy NC, Remy A, Delplancke M-P, De Geyter N, Reniers F, Green Chemistry 24, 7100 (2022). http://doi.org/10.1039/D2GC01013E
Abstract: Nitrogen disproportionation i.e. its simultaneous conversion to compounds of higher (NOx) and lower (NH3) oxidation states in a N-2 DC plasma-driven electrolysis process with a plasma cathode is investigated. This type of plasma-liquid interaction exhibits a growing interest for many applications, in particular nitrogen fixation where it represents a green alternative to the Haber-Bosch process. Optical emission spectroscopy, FTIR and electrochemical sensing systems are used to characterize the gas phase physico-chemistry while the liquid phase is analyzed via ionic chromatography and colorimetric assays. Experiments suggest that lowering the discharge current enhances nitrogen reduction and facilitates the transfer of nitrogen compounds to the liquid phase. Large amounts of water vapor appear to impact the gas discharge physico-chemistry and to favor the vibrational excitation of N-2, a key parameter for an energy-efficient nitrogen fixation.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 9.8
DOI: 10.1039/D2GC01013E
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“Distribution of lipid aldehydes in phase-separated membranes: A molecular dynamics study”. Oliveira MC, Yusupov M, Bogaerts A, Cordeiro RM, Archives Of Biochemistry And Biophysics 717, 109136 (2022). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.abb.2022.109136
Abstract: It is well established that lipid aldehydes (LAs) are able to increase the permeability of cell membranes and induce their rupture. However, it is not yet clear how LAs are distributed in phase-separated membranes (PSMs), which are responsible for the transport of selected molecules and intracellular signaling. Thus, we investigate here the distribution of LAs in a PSM by coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. Our results reveal that LAs derived from mono-unsaturated lipids tend to accumulate at the interface between the liquid-ordered/liquiddisordered domains, whereas those derived from poly-unsaturated lipids remain in the liquid-disordered domain. These results are important for understanding the effects caused by oxidized lipids in membrane structure, properties and organization.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 3.9
DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2022.109136
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“Distribution pattern of metal atoms in bimetal-doped pyridinic-N₄, pores determines their potential for electrocatalytic N₂, reduction”. Nematollahi P, Neyts EC, Journal Of Physical Chemistry A 126, 3080 (2022). http://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.JPCA.2C00486
Abstract: Doping two single transition-metal (TM) atoms on a substrate host opens numerous possibilities for catalyst design. However, what if the substrate contains more than one vacancy site? Then, the combination of two TMs along with their distribution patterns becomes a design parameter potentially complementary to the substrate itself and the bimetal composition. In this study, we investigate ammonia synthesis under mild electrocatalytic conditions on a transition-metal-doped porous C24N24 catalyst using density functional theory (DFT). The TMs studied include Ti, Mn, and Cu in a 2:4 dopant ratio (Ti2Mn4@C24N24 and Ti2Cu4@N-24(24)). Our computations show that a single Ti atom in both catalysts exhibits the highest selectivity for N-2 fixation at ambient conditions. This work is a good theoretical model to establish the structure-activity relationship, and the knowledge earned from the metal-N-4 moieties may help studies of related nanomaterials, especially those with curved structures.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 2.9
DOI: 10.1021/ACS.JPCA.2C00486
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“Do aptamers always bind? The need for a multifaceted analytical approach when demonstrating binding affinity between aptamer and low molecular weight compounds”. Bottari F, Daems E, de Vries A-M, Van Wielendaele P, Trashin S, Blust R, Sobott F, Madder A, Martins JC, De Wael K, Journal Of The American Chemical Society 142, jacs.0c08691 (2020). http://doi.org/10.1021/JACS.0C08691
Abstract: In this manuscript, we compare different analytical methodologies to validate or disprove the binding capabilities of aptamer sequences. This was prompted by the lack of a universally accepted and robust quality control protocol for the characterization of aptamer performances coupled with the observation of independent yet inconsistent data sets in the literature. As an example, we chose three aptamers with a reported affinity in the nanomolar range for ampicillin, a β-lactam antibiotic, used as biorecognition elements in several detection strategies described in the literature. Application of a well-known colorimetric assay based on aggregation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) yielded conflicting results with respect to the original report. Therefore, ampicillin binding was evaluated in solution using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), native nano-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (native nESI-MS), and 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR). By coupling the thermodynamic data obtained with ITC with the structural information on the binding event given by native nESI-MS and 1H NMR we could verify that none of the ampicillin aptamers show any specific binding with their intended target. The effect of AuNPs on the binding event was studied by both ITC and 1H NMR, again without providing positive evidence of ampicillin binding. To validate the performance of our analytical approach, we investigated two well-characterized aptamers for cocaine/quinine (MN4), chosen for its nanomolar range affinity, and l-argininamide (1OLD) to show the versatility of our approach. The results clearly indicate the need for a multifaceted analytical approach, to unequivocally establish the actual detection potential and performance of aptamers aimed at small organic molecules.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation); Medical Biochemistry
Impact Factor: 15
DOI: 10.1021/JACS.0C08691
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“Do Binary Supracrystals Enhance the Crystal Stability?”.Yang Z, Altantzis T, Bals S, Tendeloo GV, Pileni M-P, The journal of physical chemistry: C : nanomaterials and interfaces 122, 13515 (2018). http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b12373
Abstract: We study the oxygen thermal stability of two binary
systems. The larger particles are magnetic amorphous Co (7.2 nm) or
Fe3O4 (7.5 nm) nanocrystals, whereas the smaller ones (3.7 nm) are
Au nanocrystals. The nanocrystal ordering as well as the choice of the
magnetic nanoparticles very much influence the stability of the binary
system. A perfect crystalline structure is obtained with the Fe3O4/Au
binary supracrystals. For the Co/Au binary system, oxidation of Co
results in the chemical transformation from Co to CoO, where the size
of the amorphous Co nanoparticles increases from 7.2 to 9.8 nm in
diameter. During the volume expansion of the Co nanoparticles, Au
nanoparticles within the binary assemblies coalesce and are at the
origin of the instability of the binary nanoparticle supracrystals. On the
other hand, for the Fe3O4/Au binary system, the oxidation of Fe3O4 to
γ-Fe2O3 does not lead to a size change of the nanoparticles, which
maintains the stability of the binary nanoparticle supracrystals. A similar behavior is observed for an AlB2-type Co−Ag binary
system: The crystalline structure is maintained, whereas in disordered assemblies, coalescence of Ag nanocrystals is observed.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 4.536
Times cited: 5
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b12373
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“Dopant-induced electron localization drives CO2 reduction to C2 hydrocarbons”. Zhou Y, Che F, Liu M, Zou C, Liang Z, De Luna P, Yuan H, Li J, Wang Z, Xie H, Li H, Chen P, Bladt E, Quintero-Bermudez R, Sham T-K, Bals S, Hofkens J, Sinton D, Chen G, Sargent EH, Nature chemistry 10, 974 (2018). http://doi.org/10.1038/S41557-018-0092-X
Abstract: The electrochemical reduction of CO2 to multi-carbon products has attracted much attention because it provides an avenue to the synthesis of value-added carbon-based fuels and feedstocks using renewable electricity. Unfortunately, the efficiency of CO2 conversion to C-2 products remains below that necessary for its implementation at scale. Modifying the local electronic structure of copper with positive valence sites has been predicted to boost conversion to C-2 products. Here, we use boron to tune the ratio of Cu delta+ to Cu-0 active sites and improve both stability and C-2-product generation. Simulations show that the ability to tune the average oxidation state of copper enables control over CO adsorption and dimerization, and makes it possible to implement a preference for the electrosynthesis of C-2 products. We report experimentally a C-2 Faradaic efficiency of 79 +/- 2% on boron-doped copper catalysts and further show that boron doping leads to catalysts that are stable for in excess of similar to 40 hours while electrochemically reducing CO2 to multi-carbon hydrocarbons.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 25.87
Times cited: 700
DOI: 10.1038/S41557-018-0092-X
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“Doping anatase TiO2with group V-b and VI-b transition metal atoms: a hybrid functional first-principles study”. Matsubara M, Saniz R, Partoens B, Lamoen D, Physical chemistry, chemical physics 19, 1945 (2017). http://doi.org/10.1039/C6CP06882K
Abstract: We investigate the role of transition metal atoms of group V-b (V, Nb, Ta) and VI-b (Cr, Mo, W) as n- or p-type dopants in anatase TiO$_2$ using thermodynamic
principles and density functional theory with the Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof HSE06 hybrid functional. The HSE06 functional provides a realistic value for the band gap, which ensures a correct classification of dopants as shallow or deep donors or acceptors. Defect formation energies and thermodynamic transition levels are calculated taking into account the constraints imposed by the stability of TiO$_2$ and the solubility limit of the impurities.
Nb, Ta, W and Mo are identified as shallow donors. Although W provides two electrons, Nb and Ta show a considerable lower formation energy, in particular under O-poor conditions. Mo donates in principle one electron, but under specific conditions can turn into a double donor. V impurities are deep donors and Cr
shows up as an amphoteric defect, thereby acting as an electron trapping center in n-type TiO$_2$ especially under O-rich conditions. A comparison with the available experimental data yields excellent agreement.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 4.123
Times cited: 19
DOI: 10.1039/C6CP06882K
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“Doping of rhenium disulfide monolayers : a systematic first principles study”. Çakir D, Sahin H, Peeters FM, Physical chemistry, chemical physics 16, 16771 (2014). http://doi.org/10.1039/c4cp02007c
Abstract: The absence of a direct-to-indirect band gap transition in ReS2 when going from the monolayer to bulk makes it special among the other semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides. The functionalization of this promising layered material emerges as a necessity for the next generation technological applications. Here, the structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of substitutionally doped ReS2 monolayers at either the S or Re site were systematically studied by using first principles density functional calculations. We found that substitutional doping of ReS2 depends sensitively on the growth conditions of ReS2. Among the large number of non-metallic atoms, namely H, B, C, Se, Te, F, Br, Cl, As, P. and N, we identified the most promising candidates for n-type and p-type doping of ReS2. While Cl is an ideal candidate for n-type doping, P appears to be the most promising candidate for p-type doping of the ReS2 monolayer. We also investigated the doping of ReS2 with metal atoms, namely Mo, W, Ti, V. Cr, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Nb, Zn, Ru, Os and Pt. Mo, Nb, Ti, and V atoms are found to be easily incorporated in a single layer of ReS2 as substitutional impurities at the Re site for all growth conditions considered in this work. Tuning chemical potentials of dopant atoms energetically makes it possible to dope ReS2 with Fe, Co, Cr, Mn, W, Ru, and Os at the Re site. We observe a robust trend for the magnetic moments when substituting a Re atom with metal atoms such that depending on the electronic configuration of dopant atoms, the net magnetic moment of the doped ReS2 becomes either 0 or 1 mu(B). Among the metallic dopants, Mo is the best candidate for p-type doping of ReS2 owing to its favorable energetics and promising electronic properties.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 4.123
Times cited: 58
DOI: 10.1039/c4cp02007c
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“Double modulation and microstructure of the thermoelectric misfit compound \left[Ca2-yLnyCu0.7+yCo1.3-yO4\right]\left[CoO2\right]b_{1/b2} (Ln = Pr, Y and 0\leq y\leq1/3)”. Créon N, Pérez O, Hadermann J, Klein Y, Hébert S, Hervieu M, Raveau B, Chemistry of materials 18, 5355 (2006). http://doi.org/10.1021/cm061163a
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 9.466
Times cited: 6
DOI: 10.1021/cm061163a
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“Dry Reforming of Methane in a Gliding Arc Plasmatron: Towards a Better Understanding of the Plasma Chemistry”. Cleiren E, Heijkers S, Ramakers M, Bogaerts A, Chemsuschem 10, 4025 (2017). http://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201701274
Abstract: Dry reforming of methane (DRM) in a gliding arc plasmatron is studied for different CH4 fractions in the mixture. The CO2 and CH4 conversions reach their highest values of approximately 18 and 10%, respectively, at 25% CH4 in the gas mixture, corresponding to an overall energy cost of 10 kJ L@1 (or 2.5 eV per molecule) and an energy efficiency of 66%. CO and H2 are the major products, with the formation of smaller fractions of C2Hx (x=2, 4, or 6) compounds and H2O. A chemical kinetics model is used to investigate the underlying chemical processes. The calculated CO2 and CH4 conversion and the energy efficiency are in good agreement with the experimental data. The model calculations reveal that the reaction of CO2 (mainly at vibrationally excited levels) with H radicals is mainly responsible for
the CO2 conversion, especially at higher CH4 fractions in the mixture, which explains why the CO2 conversion increases with increasing CH4 fraction. The main process responsible for CH4 conversion is the reaction with OH radicals. The excellent energy efficiency can be explained by the non-equilibrium character of the plasma, in which the electrons mainly activate the gas molecules, and by the important role of the vibrational kinetics of CO2. The results demonstrate that a gliding arc plasmatron is very promising for DRM.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 7.226
Times cited: 23
DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201701274
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“Dual improvement of beta-MnO₂, oxygen evolution electrocatalysts via combined substrate control and surface engineering”. Bigiani L, Gasparotto A, Maccato C, Sada C, Verbeeck J, Andreu T, Morante JR, Barreca D, Chemcatchem , 1 (2020). http://doi.org/10.1002/CCTC.202000999
Abstract: The development of catalysts with high intrinsic activity towards the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) plays a critical role in sustainable energy conversion and storage. Herein, we report on the development of efficient (photo)electrocatalysts based on functionalized MnO(2)systems. Specifically,beta-MnO(2)nanostructures grown by plasma enhanced-chemical vapor deposition on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) or Ni foams were decorated with Co(3)O(4)or Fe(2)O(3)nanoparticles by radio frequency sputtering. Upon functionalization, FTO-supported materials yielded a performance increase with respect to bare MnO2, with current densities at 1.65 Vvs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) up to 3.0 and 3.5 mA/cm(2)in the dark and under simulated sunlight, respectively. On the other hand, the use of highly porous and conductive Ni foam substrates enabled to maximize cooperative interfacial effects between catalyst components. The best performing Fe2O3/MnO(2)system provided a current density of 17.9 mA/cm(2)at 1.65 Vvs. RHE, an overpotential as low as 390 mV, and a Tafel slope of 69 mV/decade under dark conditions, comparing favorably with IrO(2)and RuO(2)benchmarks. Overall, the control of beta-MnO2/substrate interactions and the simultaneous surface property engineering pave the way to an efficient energy generation from abundant natural resources.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 4.5
Times cited: 5
DOI: 10.1002/CCTC.202000999
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“Dual stabilization and sacrificial effect of Na2CO3 for increasing capacities of Na-Ion cells based on P2-NaxMO2 electrodes”. Sathiya M, Thomas J, Batuk D, Pimenta V, Gopalan R, Tarascon J-M, Chemistry of materials 29, 5948 (2017). http://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.CHEMMATER.7B01542
Abstract: Sodium ion battery technology is gradually advancing and can be viewed as a viable alternative to lithium ion batteries in niche applications. One of the promising positive electrode candidates is P2 type layered sodium transition metal oxide, which offers attractive sodium ion conductivity. However, the reversible capacity of P2 phases is limited by the inability to directly synthesize stoichiometric compounds with a sodium to transition metal ratio equal to 1. To alleviate this issue, we report herein the in situ synthesis of P2-NaxO2 (x <= 0.7, M = transition metal ions)-Na2CO3 composites. We find that sodium carbonate acts as a sacrificial salt, providing Na+ ion to increase the reversible capacity of the P2 phase in sodium ion full cells, and also as a useful additive that stabilizes the formation of P2 over competing P3 phases. We offer a new phase diagram for tuning the synthesis of the P2 phase under various experimental conditions and demonstrate, by in situ XRD analysis, the role of Na2CO3 as a sodium reservoir in full sodium ion cells. These results provide insights into the practical use of P2 layered materials and can be extended to a variety of other layered phases.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 9.466
Times cited: 26
DOI: 10.1021/ACS.CHEMMATER.7B01542
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“Effect of Bimetallic Pd/Pt Clusters on the Sensing Properties of Nanocrystalline SnO2 in the Detection of CO”. Malkov I V, Krivetskii VV, Potemkin D I, Zadesenets A V, Batuk MM, Hadermann J, Marikutsa A V, Rumyantseva MN, Gas'kov AM, Russian journal of inorganic chemistry 63, 1007 (2018). http://doi.org/10.1134/S0036023618080168
Abstract: Nanocrystalline tin dioxide modified by Pd and Pt clusters or by bimetallic PdPt nanoparticles was synthesized. Distribution of the modifers on the SnO2 surface was studied by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis with element distribution mapping. It was shown that the Pd/Pt ratio in bimetallic particles varies over a broad range and does not depend on the particle diameter. The effect of platinum metals on the reducibility of nanocrystalline SnO2 by hydrogen was determined. The sensing properties of the resulting materials towards 6.7 ppm CO in air were estimated in situ by electrical conductivity measurements. The sensor response of SnO2 modified with bimetallic PdPt particles was a superposition of the signals of samples with Pt and Pd clusters.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 0.787
Times cited: 3
DOI: 10.1134/S0036023618080168
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“Effect of binder content in Cu-In-Se precursor ink on the physical and electrical properties of printed CuInSe2 solar cells”. Buffière M, Zaghi AE, Lenaers N, Batuk M, Khelifi S, Drijkoningen J, Hamon J, Stesmans A, Kepa J, Afanas’ev VV, Hadermann J, D’Haen J, Manca J, Vleugels J, Meuris M, Poortmans J;, The journal of physical chemistry: C : nanomaterials and interfaces 118, 27201 (2014). http://doi.org/10.1021/jp507209h
Abstract: Printed chalcopyrite thin films have attracted considerable attention in recent years due to their potential in the high-throughput production of photovoltaic devices. To improve the homogeneity of printed CuInSe2 (CISe) layers, chemical additives such as binder can be added to the precursor ink. In this contribution, we investigate the influence of the dicyandiamide (DCDA) content, used as a binder in the precursor ink, on the physical and electrical properties of printed CISe solar cells. It is shown that the use of the binder leads to a dense absorber, composed of large CISe grains close to the surface, while the bulk of the layer consists of CISe crystallites embedded in a CuxS particle based matrix, resulting from the limited sintering of the precursor in this region. The expected additional carbon contamination of the CISe layer due to the addition of the binder appears to be limited, and the optical properties of the CISe layer are similar to the reference sample without additive. The electrical characterization of the corresponding CISe/CdS solar cells shows a degradation of the efficiency of the devices, due to a modification in the predominant recombination mechanisms and a limitation of the space charge region width when using the binder; both effects could be explained by the inhomogeneity of the bulk of the CISe absorber and high defect density at the CISe/CuxS-based matrix interface.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 4.536
Times cited: 4
DOI: 10.1021/jp507209h
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“Effect of cobalt content on the properties of quintuple perovskites Sm₂Ba₃Fe₅-xCoxO₁₅-δ”. Golovachev IB, Mychinko MY, Volkova NE, Gavrilova LY, Raveau B, Maignan A, Cherepanov VA, Journal Of Solid State Chemistry 301, 122324 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.JSSC.2021.122324
Abstract: Quintuple perovskites Sm2Ba3Fe5-xCoxO15-delta = 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5) have been prepared by glycerin-nitrate tech- nique in air. The phase purity was confirmed by XRD. Partial substitution of Co for Fe decreases the oxygen content and thus the mean oxidation state of 3d-metals. It also slightly decreases the thermal expansion coefficient of oxides. Positive value of the Seebeck coefficient confirmed p-type conductivity, though the thermopower decreases as the Co content increases. The temperature dependence of electrical conductivity reveals a maximum at 550-750 degrees C.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.299
DOI: 10.1016/J.JSSC.2021.122324
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“Effect of Cysteine Oxidation in SARS-CoV-2 Receptor-Binding Domain on Its Interaction with Two Cell Receptors: Insights from Atomistic Simulations”. Ghasemitarei M, Privat-Maldonado A, Yusupov M, Rahnama S, Bogaerts A, Ejtehadi MR, Journal Of Chemical Information And Modeling 62, 129 (2022). http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00853
Abstract: Binding of the SARS-CoV-2 S-glycoprotein to cell receptors is vital for the entry of the virus into cells and subsequent infection. ACE2 is the main cell receptor for SARS-CoV-2, which can attach to the C-terminal receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 S-glycoprotein. The GRP78 receptor plays an anchoring role, which attaches to the RBD and increases the chance of other RBDs binding to ACE2. Although high levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) are produced during viral infections, it is not clear how they affect the RBD structure and its binding to ACE2 and GRP78. In this research, we apply molecular dynamics simulations to study the effect of oxidation of the highly reactive cysteine (Cys) amino acids of the RBD on its binding to ACE2 and GRP78. The interaction energy of both ACE2 and GRP78 with the whole RBD, as well as with the RBD main regions, is compared in both the native and oxidized RBDs. Our results show that the interaction energy between the oxidized RBD and ACE2 is strengthened by 155 kJ/mol, increasing the binding of the RBD to ACE2 after oxidation. In addition, the interaction energy between the RBD and GRP78 is slightly increased by 8 kJ/mol after oxidation, but this difference is not significant. Overall, these findings highlight the role of RONS in the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 S-glycoprotein to host cell receptors and suggest an alternative mechanism by which RONS could modulate the entrance of viral particles into the cells.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Pharmacology. Therapy; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 5.6
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00853
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“Effect of Gas Composition on Temperature and CO2Conversion in a Gliding Arc Plasmatron reactor: Insights for Post‐Plasma Catalysis from Experiments and Computation”. Xu W, Van Alphen S, Galvita VV, Meynen V, Bogaerts A, ChemSusChem (2024). http://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.202400169
Abstract: Plasma‐based CO<sub>2</sub>conversion has attracted increasing interest. However, to understand the impact of plasma operation on post‐plasma processes, we studied the effect of adding N<sub>2</sub>, N<sub>2</sub>/CH<sub>4</sub>and N<sub>2</sub>/CH<sub>4</sub>/H<sub>2</sub>O to a CO<sub>2</sub>gliding arc plasmatron (GAP) to obtain valuable insights into their impact on exhaust stream composition and temperature, which will serve as feed gas and heat for post‐plasma catalysis (PPC). Adding N<sub>2</sub>improves the CO<sub>2</sub>conversion from 4 % to 13 %, and CH<sub>4</sub>addition further promotes it to 44 %, and even to 61 % at lower gas flow rate (6 L/min), allowing a higher yield of CO and hydrogen for PPC. The addition of H<sub>2</sub>O, however, reduces the CO<sub>2</sub>conversion from 55 % to 22 %, but it also lowers the energy cost, from 5.8 to 3 kJ/L. Regarding the temperature at 4.9 cm post‐plasma, N<sub>2</sub>addition increases the temperature, while the CO<sub>2</sub>/CH<sub>4</sub>ratio has no significant effect on temperature. We also calculated the temperature distribution with computational fluid dynamics simulations. The obtained temperature profiles (both experimental and calculated) show a decreasing trend with distance to the exhaust and provide insights in where to position a PPC bed.
Keywords: A1 Journal Article; CO2 conversion · Plasma · Gliding arc plasmatron · Temperature profiles · Computational modelling; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;
Impact Factor: 8.4
DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202400169
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“Effect of lipid peroxidation on membrane permeability of cancer and normal cells subjected to oxidative stress”. Van der Paal J, Neyts EC, Verlackt CCW, Bogaerts A, Chemical science 7, 489 (2016). http://doi.org/10.1039/C5SC02311D
Abstract: We performed molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effect of lipid peroxidation products on the structural and dynamic properties of the cell membrane. Our simulations predict that the lipid order in a phospholipid bilayer, as a model system for the cell membrane, decreases upon addition of lipid peroxidation products. Eventually, when all phospholipids are oxidized, pore formation can occur. This will allow reactive species, such as reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), to enter the cell and cause oxidative damage to intracellular macromolecules, such as DNA or proteins. On the other hand, upon increasing the cholesterol fraction of lipid bilayers, the cell membrane order increases, eventually reaching a certain threshold, from which cholesterol is able to protect the membrane against pore formation. This finding is crucial for cancer treatment by plasma technology, producing a large number of RONS, as well as for other cancer treatment methods that cause an increase in the concentration of extracellular RONS. Indeed, cancer cells contain less cholesterol than their healthy counterparts. Thus, they will be more vulnerable to the consequences of lipid peroxidation, eventually enabling the penetration of RONS into the interior of the cell, giving rise to oxidative stress, inducing pro-apoptotic factors. This provides, for the first time, molecular level insight why plasma can selectively treat cancer cells, while leaving their healthy counterparts undamaged, as is indeed experimentally demonstrated.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 8.668
Times cited: 106
DOI: 10.1039/C5SC02311D
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“Effect of lone-electron-pair cations on the orientation of crystallographic shear planes in anion-deficient perovskites”. Batuk D, Batuk M, Abakumov AM, Tsirlin AA, McCammon CM, Dubrovinsky L, Hadermann J, Inorganic chemistry 52, 10009 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1021/ic4012845
Abstract: Factors affecting the structure and orientation of the crystallographic shear (CS) planes in anion-deficient perovskites are investigated using the (Pb1−zSrz)1−xFe1+xO3−y perovskites as a model system. The orientation of the CS planes in the system varies unevenly with z. A comparison of the structures with different CS planes revels that the orientation of the CS planes is governed mainly by the stereochemical activity of the lone-electron-pair cations inside the perovskite blocks.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 4.857
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1021/ic4012845
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“Effect of oxidative stress on cystine transportation by xC&oline, antiporter”. Ghasemitarei M, Yusupov M, Razzokov J, Shokri B, Bogaerts A, Archives of biochemistry and biophysics 674, 108114 (2019). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.abb.2019.108114
Abstract: We performed computer simulations to investigate the effect of oxidation on the extracellular cystine (CYC) uptake by the xC− antiporter. The latter is important for killing of cancer cells. Specifically, applying molecular dynamics (MD) simulations we studied the transport of CYC across xCT, i.e., the light subunit of the xC− antiporter, in charge of bidirectional transport of CYC and glutamate. We considered the outward facing (OF) configuration of xCT, and to study the effect of oxidation, we modified the Cys327 residue, located in the vicinity of the extracellular milieu, to cysteic acid (CYO327). Our computational results showed that oxidation of Cys327 results in a free energy barrier for CYC translocation, thereby blocking the access of CYC to the substrate binding site of the OF system. The formation of the energy barrier was found to be due to the conformational changes in the channel. Analysis of the MD trajectories revealed that the reorganization of the side chains of the Tyr244 and CYO327 residues play a critical role in the OF channel blocking. Indeed, the calculated distance between Tyr244 and either Cys327 or CYO327 showed a narrowing of the channel after oxidation. The obtained free energy barrier for CYC translocation was found to be 33.9kJmol−1, indicating that oxidation of Cys327, by e.g., cold atmospheric plasma, is more effective in inhibiting the xC− antiporter than in the mutation of this amino acid to Ala (yielding a barrier of 32.4kJmol−1). The inhibition of the xC− antiporter may lead to Cys starvation in some cancer cells, eventually resulting in cancer cell death.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 3.165
DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2019.108114
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“Effect of the substitution Ba\leftrightarrow Sr on the Ga-1222 superstructure : an electron diffraction study”. Milat O, Van Tendeloo G, Amelinckx S, Wright AJ, Greaves C, Chemistry of materials 7, 1709 (1995). http://doi.org/10.1021/cm00057a021
Abstract: The superstructure of the RE(2)(Sr0.85-xBaxNd0.15)(2)GaCU2O9 compound is found to change significantly with increasing substitution of Ba for Sr. Most of the changes take place in the (Sr0.85-xBaxNd0.15)O-GaO-(Sr0.85-xBaxNd0.15)O lamella, the rest of the basic structure being hardly affected. The structural changes for O less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.65 are studied by electron diffraction. The arrangement of the chains of GaO4 tetrahedra in the Ba-free compound becomes disordered at x > 0.25. At x similar to 0.65 a rearrangement of the chains in the GaO layers takes place; they form a meandering arrangement, which can be described on a 4a(p) x 2a(p) x c(p) superlattice. This rearrangement is accompanied by ordering of Ba and Sr atoms in the adjacent (ST0.85-xBaxNd0.15)O layers. A simple scheme is proposed to explain the influence of the substitution of Ba for Sr on the linking of the GaO4 tetrahedra and on the geometry of the ''chains'' in the GaO layer.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 8.354
DOI: 10.1021/cm00057a021
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“Efficient Ab initio modeling of dielectric screening in 2D van der Waals materials : including phonons, substrates, and doping”. Gjerding MN, Cavalcante LSR, Chaves A, Thygesen KS, Journal Of Physical Chemistry C 124, 11609 (2020). http://doi.org/10.1021/ACS.JPCC.0C01635
Abstract: The quantum electrostatic heterostructure (QEH) model allows for efficient computation of the dielectric screening properties of layered van der Waals (vdW)-bonded heterostructures in terms of the dielectric functions of the individual two-dimensional (2D) layers. Here, we extend the QEH model by including (1) contributions to the dielectric function from infrared active phonons in the 2D layers, (2) screening from homogeneous bulk substrates, and (3) intraband screening from free carriers in doped 2D semiconductor layers. We demonstrate the potential of the extended QEH model by calculating the dispersion of coupled phonons in multilayer stacks of hexagonal boron-nitride (hBN), the strong hybridization of plasmons and optical phonons in graphene/hBN heterostructures, the effect of substrate screening on the exciton series of monolayer MoS2, and the properties of hyperbolic plasmons in a doped phosphorene sheet. The new QEH code is distributed as a Python package with a simple command line interface and a comprehensive library of dielectric building blocks for the most common 2D materials, providing an efficient open platform for dielectric modeling of realistic vdW heterostructures.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 3.7
DOI: 10.1021/ACS.JPCC.0C01635
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“Efficient Chemical Modification of Carbon Nanotubes with Metallacarboranes”. Cabana L, Gonzalez-Campo A, Ke X, Van Tendeloo G, Nunez R, Tobias G, Chemistry: a European journal 21, 16792 (2015). http://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201503096
Abstract: As-produced single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) tend to aggregate in bundles due to pi-pi interactions. Several approaches are nowadays available to debundle, at least partially, the nanotubes through surface modification by both covalent and noncovalent approaches. Herein, we explore different strategies to afford an efficient covalent functionalization of SWCNTs with cobaltabisdicarbollide anions. Aberration-corrected HRTEM analysis reveals the presence of metallacarboranes along the walls of the SWCNTs. This new family of materials presents an outstanding water dispersibility that facilitates its processability for potential applications.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 5.317
Times cited: 5
DOI: 10.1002/chem.201503096
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“Effusion nozzle for energy-efficient NOx production in a rotating gliding arc plasma reactor”. Van Alphen S, Ahmadi Eshtehardi H, O'Modhrain C, Bogaerts J, Van Poyer H, Creel J, Delplancke M-P, Snyders R, Bogaerts A, Chemical Engineering Journal 443, 136529 (2022). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.136529
Abstract: Plasma-based NOx production is of interest for sustainable N2 fixation, but more research is needed to improve its performance. One of the current limitations is recombination of NO back into N2 and O2 molecules immediately after the plasma reactor. Therefore, we developed a novel so-called “effusion nozzle”, to improve the performance of a rotating gliding arc plasma reactor for NOx production, but the same principle can also be applied to other plasma types. Experiments in a wide range of applied power, gas flow rates and N2/O2 ratios demonstrate an enhancement in NOx concentration by about 8%, and a reduction in energy cost by 22.5%. In absolute terms, we obtain NOx concentrations up to 5.9%, at an energy cost down to 2.1 MJ/mol, which are the best values reported to date in literature. In addition, we developed four complementary models to describe the gas flow, plasma temperature and plasma chemistry, aiming to reveal why the effusion nozzle yields better performance. Our simulations reveal that the effusion nozzle acts as very efficient heat sink, causing a fast drop in gas temperature when the gas molecules leave the plasma, hence limiting the recombination of NO back into N2 and O2. This yields an overall higher NOx concentration than without the effusion nozzle. This immediate quenching right at the end of the plasma makes our effusion nozzle superior to more conventional cooling options, like water cooling In addition, this higher NOx concentration can be obtained at a slightly lower power, because the effusion nozzle allows for the ignition and sustainment of the plasma at somewhat lower power. Hence, this also explains the lower energy cost. Overall, our experimental results and detailed modeling analysis will be useful to improve plasma-based NOx production in other plasma reactors as well.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 15.1
DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2022.136529
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“Electric field activated hydrogen dissociative adsorption to nitrogen-doped graphene”. Ao ZM, Peeters FM, The journal of physical chemistry: C : nanomaterials and interfaces 114, 14503 (2010). http://doi.org/10.1021/jp103835k
Abstract: Graphane, hydrogenated graphene, was very recently synthesized and predicted to have great potential applications. In this work, we propose a new promising approach for hydrogenation of graphene based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations through the application of a perpendicular electric field after substitutionally doping by nitrogen atoms. These DFT calculations show that the doping by nitrogen atoms into the graphene layer and applying an electrical field normal to the graphene surface induce dissociative adsorption of hydrogen. The dissociative adsorption energy barrier of an H2 molecule on a pristine graphene layer changes from 2.7 to 2.5 eV on N-doped graphene, and to 0.88 eV on N-doped graphene under an electric field of 0.005 au. When increasing the electric field above 0.01 au, the reaction barrier disappears. Therefore, N doping and applying an electric field have catalytic effects on the hydrogenation of graphene, which can be used for hydrogen storage purposes and nanoelectronic applications.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 4.536
Times cited: 110
DOI: 10.1021/jp103835k
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“Electrocatalytic oxidation of water by OH- –, and H₂O-capped IrOx nanoparticles electrophoretically deposited on graphite and basal plane HOPG : effect of the substrate electrode”. Mirbagheri N, Campos R, Ferapontova EE, Chemelectrochem 8, 1632 (2021). http://doi.org/10.1002/CELC.202100317
Abstract: Iridium oxide (IrOx) is one of the most efficient electrocatalysts for water oxidation reaction (WOR). Here, WOR electrocatalysis by 1.6 nm IrOx nanoparticles (NPs) electrophoretically deposited onto spectroscopic graphite (Gr) and basal plane highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) was studied as a function of NPs' capping ligands and electrodeposition substrate. On Gr, OH-- and H2O-capped NPs exhibited close sub-monolayer surface coverages and specific electrocatalytic activity of 18.9-23.5 mA nmol(-1) of Ir-IV/V sites, at 1 V and pH 7. On HOPG, OH--capped NPs produced films with a diminished WOR activity of 5.17 +/- 2.40 mA nmol(-1). Electro-wettability-induced changes impeded electrophoretic deposition of H2O-capped NPs on HOPG, WOR currents being 25-fold lower than observed for OH--capped ones. The electrocatalysis efficiency correlated with hydrophilic properties of the substrate electrodes, affecting morphological and as a result catalytic properties of the formed IrOx films. These results, important both for studied and related carbon nanomaterials systems, allow fine-tuning of electrocatalysis by a proper choice of the substrate electrode.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Impact Factor: 4.136
DOI: 10.1002/CELC.202100317
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“Electrochemical determination of hydrogen peroxide with cytochrome c peroxidase and horse heart cytochrome c entrapped in a gelatin hydrogel”. De Wael K, Bashir Q, van Vlierberghe S, Dubruel P, Heering HA, Adriaens A, Bioelectrochemistry: an international journal devoted to electrochemical aspects of biology and biological aspects of electrochemistry 83, 15 (2012). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIOELECHEM.2011.07.001
Abstract: A novel and versatile method, based on a membrane-free enzyme electrode in which both the enzyme and a mediator protein are entrapped in a gelatine hydrogel was developed for the fabrication of biosensors. As a proof of principle, we prepared a hydrogen peroxide biosensor by successfully entrapping both horse heart cytochrome c (HHC) and Saccharomyces cerevisae cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP) in a gelatin matrix which is immobilized on a gold electrode. This electrode was first pretreated with 6-mercaptohexanol. The biosensor displayed a rapid response and an expanded linear response range from 0 to 0.3 mM (R = 0.987) with a detection limit of 1 × 10− 5 M in a HEPES buffer solution (pH 7.0). This method of encapsulation is now further investigated for industrial biosensor applications.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Impact Factor: 3.346
Times cited: 31
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIOELECHEM.2011.07.001
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“Electrochemical evidence for neuroglobin activity on NO at physiological concentrations”. Trashin S, De Jong M, Luyckx E, Dewilde S, De Wael K, Journal of biological chemistry 291, 18959 (2016). http://doi.org/10.1074/JBC.M116.730176
Abstract: The true function of neuroglobin (Ngb) and, particularly, human Ngb (NGB) has been under debate since its discovery 15 years ago. It has been expected to play a role in oxygen binding/supply, but a variety of other functions have been put forward, including NO dioxygenase activity. However, in vitro studies that could unravel these potential roles have been hampered by the lack of an Ngb-specific reductase. In this work, we used electrochemical measurements to investigate the role of an intermittent internal disulfide bridge in determining NO oxidation kinetics at physiological NO concentrations. The use of a polarized electrode to efficiently interconvert the ferric (Fe3+) and ferrous (Fe2+) forms of an immobilized NGB showed that the disulfide bridge both defines the kinetics of NO dioxygenase activity and regulates appearance of the free ferrous deoxy-NGB, which is the redox active form of the protein in contrast to oxy-NGB. Our studies further identified a role for the distal histidine, interacting with the hexacoordinated iron atom of the heme, in oxidation kinetics. These findings may be relevant in vivo, for example in blocking apoptosis by reduction of ferric cytochrome c, and gentle tuning of NO concentration in the tissues.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Impact Factor: 4.125
Times cited: 11
DOI: 10.1074/JBC.M116.730176
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