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Author Borah, R.; Ag, K.R.; Minja, A.C.; Verbruggen, S.W. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title A review on self‐assembly of colloidal nanoparticles into clusters, patterns, and films : emerging synthesis techniques and applications Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Small methods Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 1-32  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology  
  Abstract The colloidal synthesis of functional nanoparticles has gained tremendous scientific attention in the last decades. In parallel to these advancements, another rapidly growing area is the self-assembly or self-organization of these colloidal nanoparticles. First, the organization of nanoparticles into ordered structures is important for obtaining functional interfaces that extend or even amplify the intrinsic properties of the constituting nanoparticles at a larger scale. The synthesis of large-scale interfaces using complex or intricately designed nanostructures as building blocks, requires highly controllable self-assembly techniques down to the nanoscale. In certain cases, for example, when dealing with plasmonic nanoparticles, the assembly of the nanoparticles further enhances their properties by coupling phenomena. In other cases, the process of self-assembly itself is useful in the final application such as in sensing and drug delivery, amongst others. In view of the growing importance of this field, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments in the field of nanoparticle self-assembly and their applications. For clarity, the self-assembled nanostructures are classified into two broad categories: finite clusters/patterns, and infinite films. Different state-of-the-art techniques to obtain these nanostructures are discussed in detail, before discussing the applications where the self-assembly significantly enhances the performance of the process.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000940393200001 Publication Date 2023-03-01  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2366-9608 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 12.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 12.4; 2023 IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:194597 Serial 7336  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Lian, M.; Shi, P.; Zhang, L.; Yao, W.; Gielis, J.; Niklas, K.J. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title A generalized performance equation and its application in measuring the Gini index of leaf size inequality Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Trees: structure and function Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 37 Issue Pages 1555-1565  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract The goal of this study is to provide a rigorous tool to quantify the inequality of the leaf size distribution of an individual plant, thereby serving as a reference trait for quantifying plant adaptations to local environmental conditions. The tool to be presented and tested employs three components: (1) a performance equation (PE), which can produce flexible asymmetrical and symmetrical bell-shaped curves, (2) the Lorenz curve (i.e., the cumulative proportion of leaf size vs. the cumulative proportion of number of leaves), which is the basis for calculating, and (3) the Gini index, which measures the inequality of leaf size distribution. We sampled 12 individual plants of a dwarf bamboo and measured the area and dry mass of each leaf of each plant. We then developed a generalized performance equation (GPE) of which the PE is a special case and fitted the Lorenz curve to leaf size distribution using the GPE and PE. The GPE performed better than the PE in fitting the Lorenz curve. We compared the Gini index of leaf area distribution with that of leaf dry mass distribution and found that there was a significant difference between the two indices that might emerge from the scaling relationship between leaf dry mass and area. Nevertheless, there was a strong correlation between the two Gini indices (r2 = 0.9846). This study provides a promising tool based on the GPE for quantifying the inequality of leaf size distributions across individual plants and can be used to quantify plant adaptations to local environmental conditions.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001069570200001 Publication Date 2023-08-26  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0931-1890; 1432-2285 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 2.3 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 26.02.2024  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.3; 2023 IF: 1.842  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199562 Serial 8874  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Admasu, W.F.; Van Passel, S.; Minale, A.S.; Tsegaye, E.A.; Nyssen, J. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Nexus between land development and the value of ecosystem services in Ethiopia : a contingent valuation study Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Environment, development and sustainability Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 1-21  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract In Ethiopia, the state owns all lands within the territory of the country. Cities are incorporating large parcels of land from their surrounding rural agricultural areas through land expropriation. However, these land developments do not consider the nonmarket value of ecosystem services (ES), which is causing a deterioration of the existing ES and reduction on the potential supply of ES from agricultural land. The aim of this study was to estimate the monetary value of nonmarketable ES from the agricultural land using a double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method. A survey of 524 smallholder farmers was conducted. In the survey, respondents were asked to state their willingness to pay for the improvement of some of the nonmarketable ES: erosion control, air and climate regulation, water regulation, and soil fertility. The estimation was carried out using a bivariate probit model. The results revealed that farmers are willing to pay on average 276 ETB (7.9 USD) per hectare per year for a period of 10 years. We found that individual characteristics such as age, family size, and a recent land expropriation experience adversely affect the willingness to pay by the farmers. On the other hand, individuals with higher income and larger land size are willing to pay more. In general, the study indicated that the nonmarket ES, which are affected by the land expropriation for urban expansion, are valuable for the farmers. Therefore, we recommend that the government consider the value of nonmarketable ES in its land use decisions and hence achieve sustainable land development.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000907898700002 Publication Date 2023-01-05  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1387-585x; 1573-2975 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 4.9 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 05.01.2024  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.9; 2023 IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:193432 Serial 7363  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Cui, Z.; Zhou, C.; Jafarzadeh, A.; Zhang, X.; Hao, Y.; Li, L.; Bogaerts, A. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title SF₆ degradation in γ-Al₂O₃ packed DBD system : effects of hydration, reactive gases and plasma-induced surface charges Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Plasma chemistry and plasma processing Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 43 Issue Pages 635-656  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Packed-bed DBD (PB-DBD) plasmas hold promise for effective degradation of greenhouse gases like SF6. In this work, we conducted a combined experimental and theoretical study to investigate the effect of the packing surface structure and the plasma surface discharge on the SF6 degradation in a gamma-Al2O3 packing DBD system. Experimental results show that both the hydration effect of the surface (upon moisture) and the presence of excessive reactive gases in the plasma can significantly reduce the SF6 degradation, but they hardly change the discharge behavior. DFT results show that the pre-adsorption of species such as H, OH, H2O and O-2 can occupy the active sites (Al-III site) which negatively impacts the SF6 adsorption. H2O molecules pre-adsorbed at neighboring sites can promote the activation of SF6 molecules and lower the reaction barrier for the S-F bond-breaking process. Surface-induced charges and local external electric fields caused by the plasma can both improve the SF6 adsorption and enhance the elongation of the S-F bonds. Our results indicate that both the surface structure of the packing material and the plasma surface discharge are crucial for SF6 degradation performance, and the packing beads should be kept dry during the degradation. This work helps to understand the underlying mechanisms of SF6 degradation in a PB-DBD system.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000966639200001 Publication Date 2023-04-10  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0272-4324 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 3.6 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.6; 2023 IF: 2.355  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:196033 Serial 8516  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Lin, A.; Gromov, M.; Nikiforov, A.; Smits, E.; Bogaerts, A. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Characterization of Non-Thermal Dielectric Barrier Discharges for Plasma Medicine: From Plastic Well Plates to Skin Surfaces Type A1 Journal Article
  Year 2023 Publication Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing Abbreviated Journal Plasma Chem Plasma Process  
  Volume 43 Issue 6 Pages 1587-1612  
  Keywords A1 Journal Article; Non-thermal plasma · Plasma medicine · Dielectric barrier discharge · Plasma diagnostics · Plasma surface interaction · In situ plasma monitoring; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;  
  Abstract technologies have been expanding, and one of the most exciting and rapidly growing

applications is in biology and medicine. Most biomedical studies with DBD plasma systems are performed in vitro, which include cells grown on the surface of plastic well plates, or in vivo, which include animal research models (e.g. mice, pigs). Since many DBD systems use the biological target as the secondary electrode for direct plasma generation and treatment, they are sensitive to the surface properties of the target, and thus can be altered based on the in vitro or in vivo system used. This could consequently affect biological response from plasma treatment. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the DBD plasma behavior both in vitro (i.e. 96-well flat bottom plates, 96-well U-bottom plates, and 24-well flat bottom plates), and in vivo (i.e. mouse skin). Intensified charge coupled device (ICCD) imaging was performed and the plasma discharges were visually distinguishable between the different systems. The geometry of the wells did not affect DBD plasma generation for low application distances (≤ 2 mm), but differentially affected plasma uniformity on the bottom of the well at greater distances. Since DBD plasma treatment in vitro is rarely performed in dry wells for plasma medicine experiments, the effect of well wetness was also investigated. In all in vitro cases, the uniformity of the DBD plasma was affected when comparing wet versus dry wells, with the plasma in the wide-bottom wells appearing the most similar to plasma generated on mouse skin. Interestingly, based on quantification of ICCD images, the DBD plasma intensity per surface area demonstrated an exponential one-phase decay with increasing application distance, regardless of the in vitro or in vivo system. This trend is similar to that of the energy per pulse of plasma, which is used to determine the total plasma treatment energy for biological systems. Optical emission spectroscopy performed on the plasma revealed similar trends in radical species generation between the plastic well plates and mouse skin. Therefore, taken together, DBD plasma intensity per surface area may be a valuable parameter to be used as a simple method for in situ monitoring during biological treatment and active plasma treatment control, which can be applied for in vitro and in vivo systems.
 
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001072607700001 Publication Date 2023-09-27  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0272-4324 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 3.6 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access  
  Notes This work was partially funded by the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO) and supported by the following Grants: 12S9221N (A. L.), G044420N (A. L. and A. B.), and G033020N (A.B.). We would also like to thank several patrons, as part of this research was funded by donations from different donors, including Dedert Schilde vzw, Mr Willy Floren, and the Vereycken family. We would also like to acknowledge the support from the European Cooperation in Science & Technology (COST) Action on “Therapeutical applications of Cold Plasmas” (CA20114; PlasTHER). Approved Most recent IF: 3.6; 2023 IF: 2.355  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:200285 Serial 8970  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Bogaerts, A. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Special Issue on “Dielectric Barrier Discharges and their Applications” in Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of Dr. Ulrich Kogelschatz’s Work Type A1 Journal Article
  Year 2023 Publication Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing Abbreviated Journal Plasma Chem Plasma Process  
  Volume 43 Issue 6 Pages 1281-1285  
  Keywords A1 Journal Article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;  
  Abstract n/a  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001110371000001 Publication Date 2023-11-30  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0272-4324 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 3.6 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access  
  Notes n/a Approved Most recent IF: 3.6; 2023 IF: 2.355  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:201387 Serial 8969  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Cheng, X.; Xu, W.; Wen, H.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, H.; Li, H.; Peeters, F.M.; Chen, Q. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Electronic properties of 2H-stacking bilayer MoS₂ measured by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Frontiers of physics Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 18 Issue 5 Pages 53303-53311  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)  
  Abstract Bilayer (BL) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is one of the most important electronic structures not only in valleytronics but also in realizing twistronic systems on the basis of the topological mosaics in moire superlattices. In this work, BL MoS2 on sapphire substrate with 2H-stacking structure is fabricated. We apply the terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy (TDS) for examining the basic optoelectronic properties of this kind of BL MoS2. The optical conductivity of BL MoS2 is obtained in temperature regime from 80 K to 280 K. Through fitting the experimental data with the theoretical formula, the key sample parameters of BL MoS2 can be determined, such as the electron density, the electronic relaxation time and the electronic localization factor. The temperature dependence of these parameters is examined and analyzed. We find that, similar to monolayer (ML) MoS2, BL MoS2 with 2H-stacking can respond strongly to THz radiation field and show semiconductor-like optoelectronic features. The theoretical calculations using density functional theory (DFT) can help us to further understand why the THz optoelectronic properties of BL MoS2 differ from those observed for ML MoS2. The results obtained from this study indicate that the THz TDS can be applied suitably to study the optoelectronic properties of BL MoS2 based twistronic systems for novel applications as optical and optoelectronic materials and devices.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000991955300002 Publication Date 2023-05-22  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2095-0462; 2095-0470 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 7.5 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.5; 2023 IF: 2.579  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:197398 Serial 8818  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Oliveira, M.C.; Cordeiro, R.M.; Bogaerts, A. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Effect of lipid oxidation on the channel properties of Cx26 hemichannels : a molecular dynamics study Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Archives of biochemistry and biophysics Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 746 Issue Pages 109741-12  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Intercellular communication plays a crucial role in cancer, as well as other diseases, such as inflammation, tissue degeneration, and neurological disorders. One of the proteins responsible for this, are connexins (Cxs), which come together to form a hemichannel. When two hemichannels of opposite cells interact with each other, they form a gap junction (GJ) channel, connecting the intracellular space of these cells. They allow the passage of ions, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), and signaling molecules from the interior of one cell to another cell, thus playing an essential role in cell growth, differentiation, and homeostasis. The importance of GJs for disease induction and therapy development is becoming more appreciated, especially in the context of oncology. Studies have shown that one of the mechanisms to control the formation and disruption of GJs is mediated by lipid oxidation pathways, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we performed atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate how lipid oxidation influences the channel properties of Cx26 hemichannels, such as channel gating and permeability. Our results demonstrate that the Cx26 hemichannel is more compact in the presence of oxidized lipids, decreasing its pore diameter at the extracellular side and increasing it at the amino terminus domains, respectively. The permeability of the Cx26 hemichannel for water and RONS molecules is higher in the presence of oxidized lipids. The latter may facilitate the intracellular accumulation of RONS, possibly increasing oxidative stress in cells. A better understanding of this process will help to enhance the efficacy of oxidative stress-based cancer treatments.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001079100300001 Publication Date 2023-09-07  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0003-9861; 1096-0384 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 3.9 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.9; 2023 IF: 3.165  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200282 Serial 9028  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Wang, J.; Zhang, K.; Mertens, M.; Bogaerts, A.; Meynen, V. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Plasma-based dry reforming of methane in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor: Importance of uniform (sub)micron packings/catalysts to enhance the performance Type A1 Journal Article
  Year 2023 Publication APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 337 Issue Pages 122977  
  Keywords A1 Journal Article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;  
  Abstract This study presents new insights on the effect of (sub)micrometer particle sized materials in plasma-based CO2-

CH4 reforming by investigating the performance of SiO2 spheres (with/without supported metal) of varying

particle sizes. (Sub)micron particles synthesized through the St¨ober method were used instead of (sub)millimeter

particles employed in previous studies. Increasing particle size (from 120 nm to 2390 nm) was found to first

increase and then decrease conversion and energy yield, with optimal performance achieved using 740 nm 5 wt%

Ni loaded SiO2, which improved CO2 and CH4 conversion, and energy yield to 44%, 55%, and 0.271 mmol/kJ,

respectively, compared to 20%, 27%, and 0.116 mmol/kJ in an empty reactor at the same flow rate. This is the

first to achieve significant performance improvement in a fully packed reactor, highlighting the importance of

selecting a suitable particle size. The findings can offer guidance towards rational design of catalysts for plasmabased

reactions.
 
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001056527600001 Publication Date 2023-06-09  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0926-3373 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 22.1 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access  
  Notes This work is supported by the China Scholarship Council (No. 201806060123); and the VLAIO Catalisti transition project CO2PERATE (HBC.2017.0692). K.Z acknowledges the EASiCHEM project funded by the Flemish Strategic Basic Research Program of the Catalisti cluster and Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HBC.2018.0484). Approved Most recent IF: 22.1; 2023 IF: 9.446  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:196955 Serial 8797  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Wang, J.; Zhang, K.; Mertens, M.; Bogaerts, A.; Meynen, V. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Plasma-based dry reforming of methane in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor: Importance of uniform (sub)micron packings/catalysts to enhance the performance Type A1 Journal Article
  Year 2023 Publication APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 337 Issue Pages 122977  
  Keywords A1 Journal Article; Plasma, laser ablation and surface modeling Antwerp (PLASMANT) ;  
  Abstract This study presents new insights on the effect of (sub)micrometer particle sized materials in plasma-based CO2-

CH4 reforming by investigating the performance of SiO2 spheres (with/without supported metal) of varying

particle sizes. (Sub)micron particles synthesized through the St¨ober method were used instead of (sub)millimeter

particles employed in previous studies. Increasing particle size (from 120 nm to 2390 nm) was found to first

increase and then decrease conversion and energy yield, with optimal performance achieved using 740 nm 5 wt%

Ni loaded SiO2, which improved CO2 and CH4 conversion, and energy yield to 44%, 55%, and 0.271 mmol/kJ,

respectively, compared to 20%, 27%, and 0.116 mmol/kJ in an empty reactor at the same flow rate. This is the

first to achieve significant performance improvement in a fully packed reactor, highlighting the importance of

selecting a suitable particle size. The findings can offer guidance towards rational design of catalysts for plasmabased

reactions.
 
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001056527600001 Publication Date 2023-06-09  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0926-3373 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 22.1 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access  
  Notes This work is supported by the China Scholarship Council (No. 201806060123); and the VLAIO Catalisti transition project CO2PERATE (HBC.2017.0692). K.Z acknowledges the EASiCHEM project funded by the Flemish Strategic Basic Research Program of the Catalisti cluster and Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HBC.2018.0484). Approved Most recent IF: 22.1; 2023 IF: 9.446  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:196955 Serial 8798  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Vasilakou, K.; Nimmegeers, P.; Thomassen, G.; Billen, P.; Van Passel, S. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Assessing the future of second-generation bioethanol by 2030 : a techno-economic assessment integrating technology learning curves Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Applied energy Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 344 Issue Pages 121263-15  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)  
  Abstract Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant source of renewable biomass and is seen as a high-potential replacement for petroleum-based resources. The conversion technologies to advanced biofuels are still at a low maturity level, thus allowing for future cost reductions through technological learning. This fact is barely considered in state-of-the-art techno-economic assessments and a structured approach to account for technological learning in techno-economic assessments is needed. In this study, a framework for techno-economic assessments of advanced biofuels, integrating learning curves, is proposed. As a validation of this framework, the economic feasibility of the valorization of corn stover for the production of second-generation bioethanol in Belgium is studied. Process flowsheet simulations in Aspen Plus are developed, with an emphasis on the comparison of four different pretreatment technologies and two plant capacities at 156 dry kt biomass/y and 667 dry kt/y. The dilute acid pretreatment model of the large-scale biorefinery required the lowest minimum learning rate to reach an economically feasible biorefinery by 2030, being 3.9%, almost half as the one calculated for the smaller scale plant. This learning rate seems to be achievable based on learning rates commonly estimated in literature. We conclude that there is a potential for advanced ethanol production in Belgium under the current state of technology for large-scale biorefineries, which require additional biomass imports, when accounting for future cost reductions through learning  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001007488700001 Publication Date 2023-05-22  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0306-2619 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:196509 Serial 9186  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Li, C.-F.; Chen, L.-D.; Wu, L.; Liu, Y.; Hu, Z.-Y.; Cui, W.-J.; Dong, W.-D.; Liu, X.; Yu, W.-B.; Li, Y.; Van Tendeloo, G.; Su, B.-L. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Directly revealing the structure-property correlation in Na+-doped cathode materials Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Applied surface science Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 612 Issue Pages 155810-10  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract The introduction of Na+ is considered as an effective way to improve the performance of Ni-rich cathode materials. However, the direct structure-property correlation for Na+ doped NCM-based cathode materials remain unclear, due to the difficulty of local and accurate structural characterization for light elements such as Li and Na. Moreover, there is the complexity of the modeling for the whole Li ion battery (LIB) system. To tackle the above-mentioned issues, we prepared Na+-doped LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 (Na-NCM622) material. The crystal structure change and the lattice distortion with picometers precision of the Na+-doped material is revealed by Cs-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Density functional theory (DFT) and the recently proposed electrochemical model, i.e., modified Planck-Nernst-Poisson coupled Frumkin-Butler-Volmer (MPNP-FBV), has been applied to reveal correlations between the activation energy and the charge transfer resistance at multiscale. It is shown that Na+ doping can reduce the activation energy barrier from. G = 1.10 eV to 1.05 eV, resulting in a reduction of the interfacial resistance from 297 O to 134 Omega. Consequently, the Na-NCM622 cathode delivers a superior capacity retention of 90.8 % (159 mAh.g(-1)) after 100 cycles compared to the pristine NCM622 (67.5 %, 108 mAh.g(-1)). Our results demonstrate that the kinetics of Li+ diffusion and the electrochemical reaction can be enhanced by Na+ doping the cathode material.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000892940300001 Publication Date 2022-11-23  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0169-4332 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 6.7 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 6.7; 2023 IF: 3.387  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:192758 Serial 7296  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Nematollahi, P. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Selectivity of Mo-NC sites for electrocatalytic N₂ reduction : a function of the single atom position on the surface and local carbon topologies Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Applied surface science Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 612 Issue Pages 155908-155909  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Transition metal (TM) doped two-dimensional single-atom catalysts are known as a promising class of catalysts for electrocatalytic gas conversion. However, the detailed mechanisms that occur at the surface of these catalysts are still unknown. In the present work, we simulate three Mo-doped nitrogenated graphene structures. In each catalyst, the position of the Mo active site and the corresponding local carbon topologies are different, i.e. MoN4C10 with in-plane Mo atom, MoN4C8 in which Mo atom bridges two adjacent armchair-like graphitic edges, and MoN2C3 in which Mo is doped at the edge of the graphene sheet. Using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations we discuss the electrocatalytic activity of Mosingle bondNsingle bondC structures for nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) with a focus on unraveling the corresponding mechanisms concerning different Mo site positions and C topologies. Our results indicate that the position of the active site centers has a great effect on its electrocatalytic behavior. The gas phase N2 efficiently reduces to ammonia on MoN4C8 via the distal mechanism with an onset potential of −0.51 V. We confirm that the proposed pyridinic structure, MoN4C8, can catalyze NRR effectively with a low overpotential of 0.35 V.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000901469900003 Publication Date 2022-11-30  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0169-4332 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 6.7 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 6.7; 2023 IF: 3.387  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:192430 Serial 7275  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Benedet, M.; Andrea Rizzi, G.; Gasparotto, A.; Gauquelin, N.; Orekhov, A.; Verbeeck, J.; Maccato, C.; Barreca, D. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Functionalization of graphitic carbon nitride systems by cobalt and cobalt-iron oxides boosts solar water oxidation performances Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Applied surface science Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 618 Issue Pages 156652  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract The ever-increasing energy demand from the world population has made the intensive use of fossil fuels an overarching threat to global environment and human health. An appealing alternative is offered by sunlight-assisted photoelectrochemical water splitting to yield carbon-free hydrogen fuel, but kinetic limitations associated to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) render the development of cost-effective, eco-friendly and stable electrocatalysts an imperative issue. In the present work, OER catalysts based on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) were deposited on conducting glass substrates by a simple decantation procedure, followed by functionalization with low amounts of nanostructured CoO and CoFe2O4 by radio frequency (RF)-sputtering, and final annealing under inert atmosphere. A combination of advanced characterization tools was used to investigate the interplay between material features and electrochemical performances. The obtained results highlighted the formation of a p-n junction for the g-C3N4-CoO system, whereas a Z-scheme junction accounted for the remarkable performance enhancement yielded by g-C3N4-CoFe2O4. The intimate contact between the system components also afforded an improved electrocatalyst stability in comparison to various bare and functionalized g-C3N4-based systems. These findings emphasize the importance of tailoring g-C3N4 chemico-physical properties through the dispersion of complementary catalysts to fully exploit its applicative potential.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000950654300001 Publication Date 2023-02-04  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0169-4332 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 6.7 Times cited 11 Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support from CNR (Progetti di Ricerca @CNR – avviso 2020 – ASSIST), Padova University (P-DiSC#04BIRD2020-UNIPD EUREKA, DOR 2020–2022), AMGA Foundation (NYMPHEA project), INSTM Consortium (INSTM21PDGASPAROTTO – NANOMAT, INSTM21PDBARMAC – ATENA) and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 823717 – ESTEEM3. The FWO-Hercules fund G0H4316N 'Direct electron detector for soft matter TEM' is also acknowledged. Many thanks are due to Prof. Luca Gavioli (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Brescia, Italy) and Dr. Riccardo Lorenzin (Department of Chemical Sciences, Padova University, Italy) for their invaluable technical support.; esteem3reported; esteem3TA Approved Most recent IF: 6.7; 2023 IF: 3.387  
  Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:196150 Serial 7376  
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Author Moro, G.; Campos, R.; Daems, E.; Moretto, L.M.; De Wael, K. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Haem-mediated albumin biosensing : towards voltammetric detection of PFOA Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Bioelectrochemistry: an international journal devoted to electrochemical aspects of biology and biological aspects of electrochemistry Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 152 Issue Pages 108428-7  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)  
  Abstract The haem group is a promising redox probe for the design of albumin-based voltammetric sensors. Among the endogenous ligands carried by human serum albumin (hSA), haem is characterised by a reversible redox behaviour and its binding kinetics strongly depend on hSA’s conformation, which, in turn, depends on the presence of other ligands. In this work, the potential applicability of haem, especially hemin, as a redox probe was first tested in a proof-of-concept study using perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as model analyte. PFOA is known to bind hSA by occupying Sudlow’s I site (FA7) which is spatially related to the haem-binding site (FA1). The latter undergoes a conformational change, which is expected to affect hemin’s binding kinetics. To verify this hypothesis, hemin:albumin complexes in the presence/absence of PFOA were first screened by UV–Vis spectroscopy. Once the complex formation was verified, haem was further characterised via electrochemical methods to estimate its electron transfer kinetics. The hemin:albumin:PFOA system was studied in solution, with the aim of describing the multiple equilibria at stake and designing an electrochemical assay for PFOA monitoring. This latter could be integrated with protein-based bioremediation approaches for the treatment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances polluted waters. Overall, our preliminary results show how hemin can be applied as a redox probe in albumin-based voltammetric sensing strategies.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000971630400001 Publication Date 2023-03-27  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1567-5394 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 5 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5; 2023 IF: 3.346  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:195069 Serial 8876  
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Author Campos, R.; Thiruvottriyur Shanmugam, S.; Daems, E.; Ribeiro, R.; De Wael, K. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Development of an electrochemiluminescent oligonucleotide-based assay for the quantification of prostate cancer associated miR-141-3p in human serum Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Bioelectrochemistry: an international journal devoted to electrochemical aspects of biology and biological aspects of electrochemistry Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 153 Issue Pages 108495-108496  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)  
  Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small oligonucleotides (18–25 bases), biologically relevant for epigenetic regulation of key processes, particularly in association with cancer. Research effort has therefore been directed towards the monitoring and detection of miRNAs to progress (early) cancer diagnoses. Traditional detection strategies for miRNAs are expensive, with a lengthy time-to-result. In this study we develop an oligonucleotide-based assay using electrochemistry for the specific, selective and sensitive detection of a circulating miRNA (miR-141) associated with prostate cancer. In the assay, the excitation and readout of the signal are independent: an electrochemical stimulation followed by an optical readout. A ‘sandwich’ approach is incorporated, consisting of a biotinylated capture probe immobilised on streptavidin-functionalised surfaces and a detection probe labelled with digoxigenin. We show that the assay allows the detection of miR-141 in human serum, even in the presence of other miRNAs, with a LOD of 0.25 pM. The developed electrochemiluminescent assay has, therefore, the potential for efficient universal oligonucleotide target detection via the redesign of capture and detection probes.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001031760700001 Publication Date 2023-06-30  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1567-5394 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 5 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 01.01.2024  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5; 2023 IF: 3.346  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:197615 Serial 8849  
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Author Papini, G.; Muys, M.; Van Winckel, T.; Meerburg, F.A.; Van Beeck, W.; Vermeir, P.; Vlaeminck, S.E. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Boosting aerobic microbial protein productivity and quality on brewery wastewater : impact of anaerobic acidification, high-rate process and biomass age Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Bioresource technology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 368 Issue Pages 128285  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Consortia of aerobic heterotrophic bacteria (AHB) are appealing as sustainable alternative protein ingredient for aquaculture given their high nutritional qualities, and their production potential on feed-grade industrial wastewater. Today, the impacts of pre-treatment, bioprocess choice and key parameter settings on AHB productivity and nutritional properties are unknown. This study investigated for the first time AHB microbial protein production effects based on (i) raw vs anaerobically fermented brewery wastewater, (ii) high-rate activated sludge (HRAS) without vs with feast-famine conditions, and (iii) three short solid retention time (SRT): 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 d. High biomass (4.4–8.0 g TSS/L/d) and protein productivities (1.9–3.2 g protein/L/d) were obtained while achieving COD removal efficiencies up to 98 % at SRT 0.50 d. The AHB essential amino acid (EAA) profiles were above rainbow trout requirements, excluding the S-containing EAA, highlighting the AHB biomass replacement potential for unsustainable fishmeal in salmonid diets.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000902092100009 Publication Date 2022-11-09  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0960-8524 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 11.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 11.4; 2023 IF: 5.651  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191780 Serial 7133  
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Author Xie, Y.; Jia, M.; De Wilde, F.; Daeninck, K.; De Clippeleir, H.; Verstraete, W.; Vlaeminck, S.E. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Feasibility of packed-bed trickling filters for partial nitritation/anammox : effects of carrier material, bottom ventilation openings, hydraulic loading rate and free ammonia Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Bioresource technology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 373 Issue Pages 128713-128719  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract This study pioneers the feasibility of cost-effective partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) in packed-bed trickling filters (TFs). Three parallel TFs tested different carrier materials, the presence or absence of bottom ventilation openings, hydraulic loading rates (HLR, 0.4–2.2 m3 m−2 h−1), and free ammonia (FA) levels on synthetic medium. The inexpensive Argex expanded clay was recommended due to the similar nitrogen removal rates as commercially used plastics. Top-only ventilation at an optimum HLR of 1.8 m3 m−2 h−1 could remove approximately 60% of the total nitrogen load (i.e., 300 mg N L-1 d−1, 30 °C) and achieve relatively low NO3–-N accumulation (13%). Likely FA levels of around 1.3–3.2 mg N L-1 suppressed nitratation. Most of the total nitrogen removal took place in the upper third of the reactor, where anammox activity was highest. Provided further optimizations, the results demonstrated TFs are suitable for low-energy shortcut nitrogen removal.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000945892500001 Publication Date 2023-02-07  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0960-8524 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 11.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 11.4; 2023 IF: 5.651  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:193652 Serial 7306  
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Author Zhu, W.; Van Tendeloo, M.; De Paepe, J.; Vlaeminck, S.E. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Comparison of typical nitrite oxidizing bacteria suppression strategies and the effect on nitrous oxide emissions in a biofilm reactor Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Bioresource technology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 387 Issue Pages 129607-129609  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract In mainstream partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A), suppression of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) and mitigation of N2O emissions are two essential operational goals. The N2O emissions linked to three typical NOB suppression strategies were tested in a covered rotating biological contactor (RBC) biofilm system at 21 degrees C: (i) low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations, and treatments with (ii) free ammonia (FA), and (iii) free nitrous acids (FNA). Low emerged DO levels effectively minimized NOB activity and decreased N2O emissions, but NOB adaptation appeared after 200 days of operation. Further NOB suppression was successfully achieved by periodic (3 h per week) treatments with FA (29.3 & PLUSMN; 2.6 mg NH3-N L-1) or FNA (3.1 & PLUSMN; 0.3 mg HNO2-N L-1). FA treatment, however, promoted N2O emissions, while FNA did not affect these. Hence, biofilm PN/A should be operated at relatively low DO levels with periodic FNA treatment to maximize nitrogen removal efficiency while avoiding high greenhouse gas emissions.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001063180200001 Publication Date 2023-08-05  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0960-8524 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 11.4 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 21.02.2024  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 11.4; 2023 IF: 5.651  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199051 Serial 8843  
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Author Alloul, A.; Moradvandi, A.; Puyol, D.; Molina, R.; Gardella, G.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; De Schutter, B.; Abraham, E.; Lindeboom, R.E.F.; Weissbrodt, D.G. url  doi
openurl 
  Title A novel mechanistic modelling approach for microbial selection dynamics : towards improved design and control of raceway reactors for purple bacteria Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Bioresource technology Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 390 Issue Pages 129844-129849  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) show an underexplored potential for resource recovery from wastewater. Raceway reactors offer a more affordable full-scale solution on wastewater and enable useful additional aerobic processes. Current mathematical models of PPB systems provide useful mechanistic insights, but do not represent the full metabolic versatility of PPB and thus require further advancement to simulate the process for technology development and control. In this study, a new modelling approach for PPB that integrates the photoheterotrophic, and both anaerobic and aerobic chemoheterotrophic metabolic pathways through an empirical parallel metabolic growth constant was proposed. It aimed the modelling of microbial selection dynamics in competition with aerobic and anaerobic microbial community under different operational scenarios. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to identify the most influential parameters within the model and calibrate them based on experimental data. Process perturbation scenarios were simulated, which showed a good performance of the model.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001094606700001 Publication Date 2023-10-10  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0960-8524 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 11.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 11.4; 2023 IF: 5.651  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200035 Serial 8905  
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Author Cánovas, R.; Daems, E.; Langley, A.R.; De Wael, K. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Are aptamer-based biosensing approaches a good choice for female fertility monitoring? A comprehensive review Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Biosensors and bioelectronics Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 220 Issue Pages 114881-18  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)  
  Abstract The WHO estimates that 8–10% of couples are facing fertility problems, often due to inaccuracy in predicting the female's ovulation period controlled by four key hormones. The quantification and monitoring of such key hormones are crucial for the early identification of infertility, but also in improving therapeutic management associated with hormonal imbalance. In this review, we extensively summarize and discuss: i) drawbacks of laboratory methods for fertility testing (costly, invasive, complex) and commercially available point-of-care tests (measuring only one/two of the four key hormones), ii) the understanding of different biosensors for fertility monitoring, and iii) an in-depth classification and overview of aptamer-based sensing of the hormones of interest. This review provides insights on hormone detection strategies for fertility, with a focus on the classification of the current ‘aptasensing’ strategies, aiming to assist as a basic guide for the development of accurate fertility window monitoring tools based on aptamers.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000890547600004 Publication Date 2022-11-07  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0956-5663 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 12.6 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 12.6; 2023 IF: 7.78  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191711 Serial 8833  
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Author De Bock, A.; Belmans, B.; Vanlanduit, S.; Blom, J.; Alvarado Alvarado, A.A.; Audenaert, A. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title A review on the leaf area index (LAI) in vertical greening systems Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Building and environment Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 229 Issue Pages 109926-14  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Sustainable Pavements and Asphalt Research (SuPAR); Energy and Materials in Infrastructure and Buildings  
  Abstract The leaf area index (LAI) is a key dynamic parameter in Vertical Greening Systems (VGS). It quantifies the total amount of leaf area in the canopy and largely determines the extent of co-benefits of VGS. Whereas many studies on VGS discuss the importance of the LAI, only few elaborate on the parameter itself, how it is determined and what the current limitations are in VGS. Moreover, although there is scientific consensus on the importance of LAI in VGS, specific non-destructive monitoring techniques for continuous LAI monitoring appear to be absent, which results in limited overall data on the LAI of VGS under different spatial and temporal conditions and problems in quantifying the benefits of VGS in practice. To fill these gaps, this paper specifically focuses on the LAI of VGS and its monitoring techniques. An overview of existing LAI monitoring techniques in the field of VGS is presented. To arrive at dedicated techniques, this is complemented by a thorough analysis of LAI monitoring techniques used in other research fields, e.g. agriculture and forestry. It is established that two indirect techniques for LAI monitoring are currently available in the VGS sector, but a proper standardized sampling methodology currently lacks. Monitoring techniques used in other sectors offer opportunities for developing dedicated monitoring methods for VGS, but require further research due to the specific features of VGS systems. Furthermore, guidelines are proposed for a more standardized LAI determination of reporting of LAI values in VGS.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000950866100001 Publication Date 2022-12-19  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0360-1323 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 7.4 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.4; 2023 IF: 4.053  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:194575 Serial 9085  
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Author Alvarado-Alvarado, A.A.; De Bock, A.; Ysebaert, T.; Belmans, B.; Denys, S. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Modeling the hygrothermal behavior of green walls in Comsol Multiphysics® : validation against measurements in a climate chamber Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Building and environment Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 238 Issue Pages 110377-12  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Energy and Materials in Infrastructure and Buildings  
  Abstract Green walls (GW) can diminish building's surface temperature through shading, insulation, and evapotranspiration mechanisms. These can be analyzed by computer models that account for heat and mass transfer phenomena. However, most previous models were one-dimensional thermal simulations in which boundary conditions (BC), like convective moisture transport, were not or only partly considered. The present work proposes a more comprehensive way to predict GW's hygrothermal behavior by integrating a 3D multiphysics model that couples heat and moisture transport in Comsol Multiphysics®. The air cavity that usually separates the GW from the building was also considered. Heat sink terms were added to represent plants' transpiration and substrates' evaporation, considering the leaf area density (LAD) and substrate's water saturation (Sr). The model was validated against experiments where four green wall-test panels (GW-TPs) were evaluated in a climate chamber under steady-state conditions. This provides a much sounder approach for validation than what currently exists (r = 0.97; RMSE = 0.33 °C). The four GW-TPs decreased the masonry's surface temperature in the range of 0.89–1.14 °C (0.97 ± 0.11 SD °C). The average contribution of the evapotranspiration effect was 30%, whereas the contribution of the air cavity was 60.7 ± 0.09%. The temperature at the substrate's rear was reduced on average by 0.57 ± 0.15 SD °C. When solar radiation was considered as a BC, the GW-TPs decreased the building's surface temperature by 10 °C. Lastly, high values of LAD and Sr translated into increased temperature reduction values.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001001412600001 Publication Date 2023-05-02  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0360-1323 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 7.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.4; 2023 IF: 4.053  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:196467 Serial 8899  
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Author Ndayirinde, C.; Gorbanev, Y.; Ciocarlan, R.-G.; De Meyer, R.; Smets, A.; Vlasov, E.; Bals, S.; Cool, P.; Bogaerts, A. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis : packed catalysts act as plasma modifiers Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Catalysis today Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 419 Issue Pages 114156-12  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract We studied the plasma-catalytic production of NH3 from H2 and N2 in a dielectric barrier discharge plasma reactor using five different Co-based catalysts supported on Al2O3, namely Co/Al2O3, CoCe/Al2O3, CoLa/Al2O3, CoCeLa/Al2O3 and CoCeMg/Al2O3. The catalysts were characterized via several techniques, including SEM-EDX, and their performance was compared. The best performing catalyst was found to be CoLa/Al2O3, but the dif-ferences in NH3 concentration, energy consumption and production rate between the different catalysts were limited under the same conditions (i.e. feed gas, flow rate and ratio, and applied power). At the same time, the plasma properties, such as the plasma power and current profile, varied significantly depending on the catalyst. Taken together, these findings suggest that in the production of NH3 by plasma catalysis, our catalysts act as plasma modifiers, i.e., they change the discharge properties and hence the gas phase plasma chemistry. Importantly, this effect dominates over the direct catalytic effect (as e.g. in thermal catalysis) defined by the chemistry on the catalyst surface.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000987221300001 Publication Date 2023-04-10  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0920-5861 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 5.3 Times cited 3 Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes This research was supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 810182 – SCOPE ERC Synergy project) and the Methusalem project of the University of Antwerp. We also gratefully acknowledge the NH3-TPD analysis performed by Sander Bossier. Approved Most recent IF: 5.3; 2023 IF: 4.636  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:197268 Serial 8917  
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Author Bogaerts, A.; Centi, G.; Hessel, V.; Rebrov, E. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Challenges in unconventional catalysis Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Catalysis today Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 420 Issue Pages 114180  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Catalysis science and technology increased efforts recently to progress beyond conventional “thermal” catalysis and face the challenges of net-zero emissions and electrification of production. Nevertheless, a better gaps and opportunities analysis is necessary. This review analyses four emerging areas of unconventional or less- conventional catalysis which share the common aspect of using directly renewable energy sources: (i) plasma catalysis, (ii) catalysis for flow chemistry and process intensification, (iii) application of electromagnetic (EM) fields to modulate catalytic activity and (iv) nanoscale generation at the catalyst interface of a strong local EM by plasmonic effect. Plasma catalysis has demonstrated synergistic effects, where the outcome is higher than the sum of both processes alone. Still, the underlying mechanisms are complex, and synergy is not always obtained. There is a crucial need for a better understanding to (i) design catalysts tailored to the plasma environment, (ii) design plasma reactors with optimal transport of plasma species to the catalyst surface, and (iii) tune the plasma conditions so they work in optimal synergy with the catalyst. Microfluidic reactors (flow chemistry) is another emerging sector leading to the intensification of catalytic syntheses, particularly in organic chemistry. New unconventional catalysts must be designed to exploit in full the novel possibilities. With a focus on (a) continuous-flow photocatalysis, (b) electrochemical flow catalysis, (c) microwave flow catalysis and (d) ultra­ sound flow activation, a series of examples are discussed, with also indications on scale-up and process indus­ trialisation. The third area discussed regards the effect on catalytic performances of applying oriented EM fields spanning several orders of magnitude. Under well-defined conditions, gas breakdown and, in some cases, plasma formation generates activated gas phase species. The EM field-driven chemical conversion processes depend further on structured electric/magnetic catalysts, which shape the EM field in strength and direction. Different effects influencing chemical conversion have been reported, including reduced activation energy, surface charging, hot spot generation, and selective local heating. The last topic discussed is complementary to the third, focusing on the possibility of tuning the photo- and electro-catalytic properties by creating a strong localised electrical field with a plasmonic effect. The novel possibilities of hot carriers generated by the plasmonic effect are also discussed. This review thus aims to stimulate the reader to make new, creative catalysis to address the challenges of reaching a carbon-neutral world.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001004623300001 Publication Date 2023-05-09  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0920-5861 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 5.3 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes The EU ERC Synergy SCOPE project supported this work (project ID 810182) “ Surface-COnfined fast-modulated Plasma for process and Energy intensification in small molecules conversion”. This review thus aims to stimulate the reader to make new, creative catalysis to address the challenges of reaching a carbon-neutral world. Approved Most recent IF: 5.3; 2023 IF: 4.636  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:196446 Serial 7380  
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Author Orozco-Jimenez, A.J.; Pinilla-Fernandez, D.A.; Pugliese, V.; Bula, A.; Perreault, P.; Gonzalez-Quiroga, A. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Angular momentum based-analysis of gas-solid fluidized beds in vortex chambers Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Chemical engineering journal Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 457 Issue Pages 141222-21  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Gas-solid vortex chambers are a promising alternative for reactive and non-reactive processes requiring enhanced heat and mass transfer rates and order-of-milliseconds contact time. The conservation of angular momentum is instrumental in understanding how the interactions between gas, particulate solids, and chamber walls influence the formation of a rotating solids bed. Therefore, this work applies the conservation of angular momentum to derive a model that gives the average angular velocity of solids in terms of gas injection velocity, wall-solids bed drag coefficient, gas and particle properties, and chamber geometry. Three datasets from published studies, comprising 1 g-Geldart B- and d-type particles in different vortex chambers, validate the model results. Using a sensitivity analysis, we assessed the effect of input variables on the average angular velocity of solids, average void fraction, and average bed height. Results indicate that the top and bottom end-wall boundaries exert the most significant braking effect on the rotating solids bed compared with the cylindrical outer wall and gas injection boundaries. The wall-solids bed drag coefficient appears independent of the gas injection velocity for a wide range of operating conditions. The proposed model is a valuable tool for analyzing and comparing gas–solid vortex typologies, unraveling improvement opportunities, and scale-up.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000951011600001 Publication Date 2022-12-29  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1385-8947; 1873-3212 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 15.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 15.1; 2023 IF: 6.216  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:192868 Serial 7282  
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Author Andersen, Ja.; Holm, Mc.; van 't Veer, K.; Christensen, Jm.; Østberg, M.; Bogaerts, A.; Jensen, Ad. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor: A combined experimental study and kinetic modeling Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Chemical engineering journal Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 457 Issue Pages 141294  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Plasma-catalytic ammonia synthesis in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor has emerged as a possible route for electrification of nitrogen fixation. In this study, we use a combination of experiments and a plasma kinetic model to investigate the ammonia synthesis from N2 and H2, both with and without a solid packing material in the plasma zone. The effect of plasma power, feed flow rate, N2:H2 feed ratio, gas residence time, temperature, and packing material (MgAl2O4 alone or impregnated with Co or Ru) on the ammonia synthesis rate were examined in the experiments. The kinetic model was employed to improve our understanding of the ammonia formation pathways and identify possible changes in these pathways when altering the N2:H2 feed ratio. A higher NH3 synthesis rate was achieved when increasing the feed flow rate, as well as when increasing the gas tem-perature from 100 to 200 ◦C when a packing material was present in the plasma. At the elevated temperature of 200 ◦C, an optimum in the NH3 synthesis rate was observed at an equimolar feed ratio (N2:H2 =1:1) for the plasma alone and MgAl2O4, while a N2-rich feed was favored for Ru/MgAl2O4 and Co/MgAl2O4. The optimum in the synthesis rate with the N2-rich feed, where high energy electrons are more likely to collide with N2, suggests that the rate-limiting step is the dissociation of N2 in the gas phase. This is supported by the kinetic model when packing material was used. However, for the plasma alone, the model found that the N2 dissociation is only rate limiting in H2-rich feeds, whereas the limited access to H in N2-rich feeds makes the hydrogenation of N species limiting.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001058978000001 Publication Date 2023-01-05  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1385-8947 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 15.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes We thank Topsoe A/S for providing the catalytic materials used in the study, the research group PLASMANT (University of Antwerp) for sharing their plasma kinetic model and allocating time on their cluster for the calculations, and the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering (Technical University of Denmark) for funding the project. Approved Most recent IF: 15.1; 2023 IF: 6.216  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:195877 Serial 7234  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Van Alphen, S.; Hecimovic, A.; Kiefer, C.K.; Fantz, U.; Snyders, R.; Bogaerts, A. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Modelling post-plasma quenching nozzles for improving the performance of CO2 microwave plasmas Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Chemical engineering journal Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 462 Issue Pages 142217  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Given the ecological problems associated to the CO2 emissions of fossil fuels, plasma technology has gained

interest for conversion of CO2 into value-added products. Microwave plasmas operating at atmospheric pressure

have proven to be especially interesting, due to the high gas temperatures inside the reactor (i.e. up to 6000 K)

allowing for efficient thermal dissociation of CO2 into CO and O2. However, the performance of these high

temperature plasmas is limited by recombination of CO back into CO2 once the gas cools down in the afterglow.

In this work, we computationally investigated several quenching nozzles, developed and experimentally tested

by Hecimovic et al., [1] for their ability to quickly cool the gas after the plasma, thereby quenching the CO

recombination reactions. Using a 3D computational fluid dynamics model and a quasi-1D chemical kinetics

model, we reveal that a reactor without nozzle lacks gas mixing between hot gas in the center and cold gas near

the reactor walls. Especially at low flow rates, where there is an inherent lack of convective cooling due to the

low gas flow velocity, the temperature in the afterglow remains high (between 2000 and 3000 K) for a relatively

long time (in the 0.1 s range). As shown by our quasi-1D chemical kinetics model, this results in a important loss

of CO due to recombination reactions. Attaching a nozzle in the effluent of the reactor induces fast gas quenching

right after the plasma. Indeed, it introduces (i) more convective cooling by forcing cool gas near the walls to mix

with hot gas in the center of the reactor, as well as (ii) more conductive cooling through the water-cooled walls of

the nozzle. Our model shows that gas quenching and the suppression of recombination reactions have more

impact at low flow rates, where recombination is the most limiting factor in the conversion process.
 
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000962382600001 Publication Date 2023-03-03  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1385-8947 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 15.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes This research was supported by the Excellence of Science FWO-FNRS project (FWO grant ID GoF9618n, EOS ID 30505023), the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 810182 – SCOPE ERC Synergy project), and through long-term structural funding (Methusalem). The calculations were performed using the Turing HPC infrastructure at the CalcUA core facility of the Universiteit Antwerpen (UAntwerpen), a division of the Flemish Supercomputer Center VSC, funded by the Hercules Foundation, the Flemish Government (department EWI) and the UAntwerpen. Approved Most recent IF: 15.1; 2023 IF: 6.216  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:195889 Serial 7250  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Van Alphen, S.; Hecimovic, A.; Kiefer, C.K.; Fantz, U.; Snyders, R.; Bogaerts, A. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Modelling post-plasma quenching nozzles for improving the performance of CO2 microwave plasmas Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Chemical engineering journal Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 462 Issue Pages 142217  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Given the ecological problems associated to the CO2 emissions of fossil fuels, plasma technology has gained

interest for conversion of CO2 into value-added products. Microwave plasmas operating at atmospheric pressure

have proven to be especially interesting, due to the high gas temperatures inside the reactor (i.e. up to 6000 K)

allowing for efficient thermal dissociation of CO2 into CO and O2. However, the performance of these high

temperature plasmas is limited by recombination of CO back into CO2 once the gas cools down in the afterglow.

In this work, we computationally investigated several quenching nozzles, developed and experimentally tested

by Hecimovic et al., [1] for their ability to quickly cool the gas after the plasma, thereby quenching the CO

recombination reactions. Using a 3D computational fluid dynamics model and a quasi-1D chemical kinetics

model, we reveal that a reactor without nozzle lacks gas mixing between hot gas in the center and cold gas near

the reactor walls. Especially at low flow rates, where there is an inherent lack of convective cooling due to the

low gas flow velocity, the temperature in the afterglow remains high (between 2000 and 3000 K) for a relatively

long time (in the 0.1 s range). As shown by our quasi-1D chemical kinetics model, this results in a important loss

of CO due to recombination reactions. Attaching a nozzle in the effluent of the reactor induces fast gas quenching

right after the plasma. Indeed, it introduces (i) more convective cooling by forcing cool gas near the walls to mix

with hot gas in the center of the reactor, as well as (ii) more conductive cooling through the water-cooled walls of

the nozzle. Our model shows that gas quenching and the suppression of recombination reactions have more

impact at low flow rates, where recombination is the most limiting factor in the conversion process.
 
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000962382600001 Publication Date 2023-03-03  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1385-8947 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 15.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes This research was supported by the Excellence of Science FWO-FNRS project (FWO grant ID GoF9618n, EOS ID 30505023), the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 810182 – SCOPE ERC Synergy project), and through long-term structural funding (Methusalem). The calculations were performed using the Turing HPC infrastructure at the CalcUA core facility of the Universiteit Antwerpen (UAntwerpen), a division of the Flemish Supercomputer Center VSC, funded by the Hercules Foundation, the Flemish Government (department EWI) and the UAntwerpen. Approved Most recent IF: 15.1; 2023 IF: 6.216  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:195889 Serial 7259  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Morais, E.; Delikonstantis, E.; Scapinello, M.; Smith, G.; Stefanidis, G.D.; Bogaerts, A. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Methane coupling in nanosecond pulsed plasmas: Correlation between temperature and pressure and effects on product selectivity Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Chemical engineering journal Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 462 Issue Pages 142227  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract We present a zero-dimensional kinetic model to characterise specifically the gas-phase dynamics of methane

conversion in a nanosecond pulsed discharge (NPD) plasma reactor. The model includes a systematic approach to

capture the nanoscale power discharges and the rapid ensuing changes in electric field, gas and electron temperature,

as well as species densities. The effects of gas temperature and reactor pressure on gas conversion and

product selectivity are extensively investigated and validated against experimental work. We discuss the

important reaction pathways and provide an analysis of the dynamics of the heating and cooling mechanisms. H

radicals are found to be the most populous plasma species and they participate in hydrogenation and dehydrogenation

reactions, which are the dominant recombination reactions leading to C2H4 and C2H2 as main

products (depending on the pressure).
 
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000983631500001 Publication Date 2023-03-02  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1385-8947 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 15.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes We gratefully acknowledge financial support by the Flemish Government through the Moonshot cSBO project “Power-to-Olefins” (P2O; HBC.2020.2620). Approved Most recent IF: 15.1; 2023 IF: 6.216  
  Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:195881 Serial 7246  
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