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“Water structures and packing efficiency in methylene blue cyanometallate salts”. Canossa S, Graiff C, Crocco D, Predieri G, Crystals 10, 558 (2020). http://doi.org/10.3390/CRYST10070558
Abstract: Crystal structure prediction is the holy grail of crystal engineering and is key to its ambition of driving the formation of solids based on the selection of their molecular constituents. However, this noble quest is hampered by the limited predictability of the incorporation of solvent molecules, first and foremost the ubiquitous water. In this context, we herein report the structure of four methylene blue cyanometallate phases, where anions with various shapes and charges influence the packing motif and lead to the formation of differently hydrated structures. Importantly, water molecules are observed to play various roles as isolated fillings, dimers, or an infinite network with up to 13 water molecules per repeating unit. Each crystal structure has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and evaluated with the aid of Hirshfeld surface analysis, focussing on the role of water molecules and the hierarchy of different classes of interactions in the overall supramolecular landscape of the crystals. Finally, the collected pieces of evidence are matched together to highlight the leading role of MB stacking and to derive an explanation for the observed hydration diversity based on the structural role of water molecules in the crystal architecture.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 1.566
DOI: 10.3390/CRYST10070558
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“Wearable Electrochemical Sensors for the Monitoring and Screening of Drugs”. Teymourian H, Parrilla M, Sempionatto JR, Montiel NF, Barfidokht A, Van Echelpoel R, De Wael K, Wang J, Acs Sensors 5, 2679 (2020). http://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.0c01318
Abstract: Wearable electrochemical sensors capable of noninvasive monitoring of chemical markers represent a rapidly emerging digital-health technology. Recent advances toward wearable continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems have ignited tremendous interest in expanding such sensor technology to other important fields. This article reviews for the first time wearable electrochemical sensors for monitoring therapeutic drugs and drugs of abuse. This rapidly emerging class of drug-sensing wearable devices addresses the growing demand for personalized medicine, toward improved therapeutic outcomes while minimizing the side effects of drugs and the related medical expenses. Continuous, noninvasive monitoring of therapeutic drugs within bodily fluids empowers clinicians and patients to correlate the pharmacokinetic properties with optimal outcomes by realizing patient-specific dose regulation and tracking dynamic changes in pharmacokinetics behavior while assuring the medication adherence of patients. Furthermore, wearable electrochemical drug monitoring devices can also serve as powerful screening tools in the hands of law enforcement agents to combat drug trafficking and support on-site forensic investigations. The review covers various wearable form factors developed for noninvasive monitoring of therapeutic drugs in different body fluids and toward on-site screening of drugs of abuse. The future prospects of such wearable drug monitoring devices are presented with the ultimate goals of introducing accurate real-time drug monitoring protocols and autonomous closed-loop platforms toward precise dose regulation and optimal therapeutic outcomes. Finally, current unmet challenges and existing gaps are discussed for motivating future technological innovations regarding personalized therapy. The current pace of developments and the tremendous market opportunities for such wearable drug monitoring platforms are expected to drive intense future research and
commercialization efforts. Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Impact Factor: 8.9
DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c01318
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“X-ray spectrometry applied for characterization of bricks of Brazilian historical sites”. Asfora VK, Bueno CC, de Barros VM, Khoury H, Van Grieken R, X-Ray Spectrometry , 1 (2020). http://doi.org/10.1002/XRS.3194
Abstract: This paper presents the results of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis of bricks sampled from historical places in Pernambuco, a state in the northeastern region of Brazil. In this study, twenty bricks found in historical sites were analyzed. Two bricks made in the 17th century, presumably used as ballast in ships coming from Holland, five locally manufactured bricks: one from 18th century, three from 19th century, and one from 20th century, and thirteen bricks collected from a recent Archeological investigation of Alto da Se, in the town of Olinda. Qualitative determination of the chemical elements present in the samples was undertaken using a self-assembled portable XRF system based on a compact X-ray tube and a thermoelectrically cooled Si-PIN photodiode system, both commercially available. X-ray diffraction analysis was also carried out to assess the crystalline mineral phases present in the bricks. The results showed that quartz (SiO2) is the major mineral content in all bricks. Although less expressive in the XRD patterns, mineral phases of illite, kaolinite, anorthite, and rutile are also identified. The trace element distribution patterns of the bricks, determined by the XRF technique, is dominated by Fe and, in decreasing order, by K, Ti, Ca, Mn, Zr, Rb, Sr, Cr, and Y with slight differences among them. Analyses of the chemical compositional features of the bricks, evaluated by principal component analysis of the XRF datasets, allowed the samples to be grouped into five clusters with similar chemical composition. These cluster groups were able to identify both age and manufacturing sites. Dutch bricks prepared with different geological clays compositions were defined.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Impact Factor: 1.2
DOI: 10.1002/XRS.3194
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“YBa2Cu3O7−xfilms with Ba2Y(Nb,Ta)O6nanoinclusions for high-field applications”. Celentano G, Rizzo F, Augieri A, Mancini A, Pinto V, Rufoloni A, Vannozzi A, MacManus-Driscoll JL, Feighan J, Kursumovic A, Meledin A, Mayer J, Van Tendeloo G, Superconductor Science &, Technology 33, 044010 (2020). http://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6668/ab6ee5
Abstract: The structural and transport properties of YBa2Cu3O7−x films grown by pulsed laser deposition with mixed 2.5 mol% Ba2YTaO6 (BYTO) and 2.5 mol% Ba2YNbO6 (BYNO) double-perovskite secondary phases are investigated in an extended film growth rate, R = 0.02–1.8 nm s−1. The effect of R on the film microstructure analyzed by TEM techniques shows an evolution from sparse and straight to denser, thinner and splayed continuous columns, with mixed BYNO + BYTO (BYNTO) composition, as R increases from 0.02 nm s−1 to 1.2 nm s−1. This microstructure results in very efficient flux pinning at 77 K, leading to a remarkable improvement in the critical current density (J c) behaviour, with the maximum pinning force density F p(Max) = 13.5 GN m−3 and the irreversibility field in excess of 11 T. In this range, the magnetic field values at which the F p is maximized varies from 1 T to 5 T, being related to the BYNTO columnar density. The film deposited when R = 0.3 nm s−1 exhibits the best performances over the whole temperature and magnetic field ranges, achieving F p(Max) = 900 GN m−3 at 10 K and 12 T. At higher rates, R > 1.2 nm s−1, BYNTO columns show a meandering nature and are prone to form short nanorods. In addition, in the YBCO film matrix a more disordered structure with a high density of short stacking faults is observed. From the analysis of the F p(H, T) curves it emerges that in films deposited at the high R limit, the vortex pinning is no longer dominated by BYNTO columnar defects, but by a new mechanism showing the typical temperature scaling law. Even though this microstructure produces a limited improvement at 77 K, it exhibits a strong J c improvement at lower temperature with F p = 700 GN m−3 at 10 K, 12 T and 900 GN m−3 at 4.2 K, 18 T.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.6
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6668/ab6ee5
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“Zero-dimensional modeling of unpacked and packed bed dielectric barrier discharges: the role of vibrational kinetics in ammonia synthesis”. van ‘t Veer K, Reniers F, Bogaerts A, Plasma Sources Science &, Technology 29, 045020 (2020). http://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6595/ab7a8a
Abstract: We present a zero-dimensional plasma kinetics model, including both surface and gas phase kinetics, to determine the role of vibrationally excited states in plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis. We defined a new method to systematically capture the conditions of dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs), including those found in packed bed DBDs. We included the spatial and temporal nature of such discharges by special consideration of the number of micro-discharges in the model. We introduce a parameter that assigns only a part of the plasma power to the microdischarges, to scale the model conditions from filamentary to uniform plasma. Because of the spatial and temporal behaviour of the micro-discharges, not all micro-discharges occurring in the plasma reactor during a certain gas residence time are affecting the molecules. The fraction of power considered in the model ranges from 0.005 %, for filamentary plasma, to 100 %, for uniform plasma. If vibrational excitation is included in the plasma chemistry, these different conditions, however, yield an ammonia density that is only varying within one order of magnitude. At only 0.05 % of the power put into the uniform plasma component, a model neglecting vibrational excitation clearly does not result in adequate amounts of ammonia. Thus, our new model, which accounts for the concept in which not all the power is deposited by the micro-discharges, but some part may also be distributed in between them, suggests that vibrational kinetic processes are really important in (packed bed) DBDs. Indeed, vibrational excitation takes place in both the uniform plasma between the micro-discharges and in the strong micro-discharges, and is responsible for an increased N2 dissociation rate. This is shown here for plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis, but might also be valid for other gas conversion applications.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Impact Factor: 3.8
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6595/ab7a8a
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“ZnN and ZnP as novel graphene-like materials with high Li-ion storage capacities”. Mortazavi B, Bafekry A, Shahrokhi M, Rabczuk T, Zhuang X, Materials today energy 16, Unsp 100392 (2020). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.MTENER.2020.100392
Abstract: In this work, we employed first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate the dynamical and thermal stability of graphene-like ZnX (X = N, P, As) nanosheets. We moreover analyzed the electronic, mechanical and optical properties of these novel two-dimensional (2D) systems. Acquired phonon dispersion relations reveal the absence of imaginary frequencies and thus confirming the dynamical stability of predicted monolayers. According to ab-initio molecular dynamics results however only ZnN and ZnP exhibit the required thermally stability. The elastic modulus of ZnN, ZnP and ZnAs are estimated to be 31, 21 and 17 N/m, respectively, and the corresponding tensile strengths values are 6.0, 4.9 and 4.0 N/m, respectively. Electronic band structure analysis confirms the metallic electronic character for the predicted monolayers. Results for the optical characteristics also indicate a reflectivity of 100% at extremely low energy levels, which is desirable for photonic and optoelectronic applications. According to our results, graphene-like ZnN and ZnP nanosheets can yield high capacities of 675 and 556 mAh/g for Li-ion storage, respectively. Acquired results confirm the stability and acceptable strength of ZnN and ZnP nanosheets and highlight their attractive application prospects in optical and energy storage systems.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Impact Factor: 9.3
Times cited: 13
DOI: 10.1016/J.MTENER.2020.100392
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