| Records |
| Author |
Clavel, J. |
| Title |
Plant-mycorrhizal interactions and their role in plant invasions in mountains |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2024 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
182 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change |
| Abstract |
Non-native species invasions are one of the most impactful drivers of biodiversity and ecosystem services loss worldwide. One aspect of plant species invasion, which is only recently starting to be recognized as a determinant of invasion success, is the symbiosis between plant and mycorrhizal fungi. Here, I focus on anthropogenic disturbance in mountain ecosystems and its impact on plant communities and mycorrhizal fungi to answer how these communities are impacted by disturbance and whether non-native plants can benefit to establish and spread. To this end I used a combination of different approaches: 1) repeated surveys of plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi along disturbed roadsides in the mountains of Norway, 2) combining a global dataset of native and non-native plants along mountain roads with a database associating plants with their mycorrhizal types, and 3) an in-situ experiment measuring non-native plant success and changes in fungal community following different types of disturbances. Through these methods, I could assess the effects of anthropogenic disturbance on mycorrhizal symbiosis and non-native plant species at multiple scales and resolutions. We found that road disturbance has a globally consistent effect on mycorrhizal types in mountain systems, as plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi were more abundant following disturbance. Conversely, vegetation associated with either ectomycorrhizal (EcM) or ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) fungi was less abundant in disturbed sites. In the regional study, AM fungi were most abundant and diverse in the roots of plant communities affected by road disturbance. Non-native plants were also restricted to these disturbed sites. The experimental results showed that physical disturbance and nutrient addition have negative effects on EcM fungi and positive effects on fungal pathogens, and facilitate non-native plant success. Our results show that anthropogenic disturbance does have an effect on mycorrhizal fungi that in turn impacts the distribution of plant species in disturbed mountain systems. The resulting shift in mycorrhizal fungi benefiting AM fungi and AM plant species could have implications for non-native plant invasions. Indeed, we know that non-native plants predominantly form associations with AM fungi. Therefore, anthropogenic disturbance can facilitate non-native plant success through disruption of the native fungal communities, and especially so in high elevation and cold climate regions which are naturally less dominated by AM plants. I believe this highlights the importance of mycorrhizal symbiosis in understanding plant invasions and emphasizes the importance of monitoring sources of anthropogenic disturbance in mountains to prevent future establishment of non-native plants. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:204154 |
Serial |
9219 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Manaigo, F. |
| Title |
Study of a gliding arc discharge for sustainable nitrogen fixation into NOx |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2024 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
xxiv, 114 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT) |
| Abstract |
With the growth of the world population, the agricultural sector is required to meet an increasing demand for nutrients and currently relies on industrially produced fertilizers. Among them, nitrogen-based fertilizers are the most common choice and require N2 to be converted into more reactive molecules in a process called “nitrogen fixation”. This is mainly performed through the Haber-Bosch process, which, is not ideal since it requires large-scale facilities to be economical and is associated with a high energy cost and high CO2 emissions, resulting in an environmental impact that is pushing for the study of greener alternatives. Among these, plasma-based nitrogen fixation into NOx is promising, and gliding arc plasma, specifically, proved to be suitable for nitrogen fixation. This thesis aims to study plasma-based nitrogen fixation focusing on an atmospheric pressure gliding arc plasma on three different levels. On a fundamental level, an approach dealing with laser-based excitation of separate rotational lines was successfully developed. This method can be implemented on atmospheric discharges that produce rather high NOx densities and, thus, can impose essential restrictions for the use of “classical” laser-induced fluorescence methods. The approach is then implemented, providing a discussion on the two-dimensional distributions of both the gas temperature and the NO ground state density. A clear correlation between these quantities is found and the effects of both the gas temperature and the plasma power on NO and NO2 concentrations are discussed, revealing how the NO oxidation is already significant in the plasma afterglow region and how the gas flow rate is a crucial parameter affecting the temperature gradients. >From a technological level, the conventional approach of introducing external resistors to stabilize the arc is challenged by studying both its performance and its stability replacing the external resistor with an inductor. We conclude that similar stabilization results can be obtained while significantly lowering the overall energy cost, which decreased from up to a maximum of 7.9 MJ/mol N to 3 MJ/mol N. Finally, we study whether a small-scale fertilizer production facility based on a gliding arc plasma can be a local competitive alternative. This is done by proposing a comparative model to understand how capital, operative expenditures and transport costs affect the production costs. The model highlights how, with the current best available technology, plasma-based nitrogen fixation, while being an interesting alternative for NOx synthesis, still requires a more efficient use of H2 for direct NH3 production. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:205259 |
Serial |
9175 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
De Luca, F.; Abate, S.; Bogaerts, A.; Centi, G. |
| Title |
Electrified CO2 conversion : integrating experimental, computational, and process simulation methods for sustainable chemical synthesis |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2024 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
xv, 152 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT) |
| Abstract |
Nowadays, the burning of fossil fuels, particularly petroleum, natural gas, and coal, meets the rising need for power and fuels for automobiles and industries. This has given rise to ecological and climate challenges. This thesis explores these issues from three distinct perspectives: (i) experimental, (ii) computational, and (iii) process simulation, with a focus on studying CO2 as an alternative and economically viable raw material. Firstly, the experimental study is focused on the synthesis, characterization, and testing of novel catalysts for electroreduction of CO2 and oxalic acid, an intermediate product of CO2. Electrocatalysts based on Cu supported by citrus (orange and lemon) peel biomass are prepared. These catalysts exhibit activity in the electrochemical reduction of CO2, emphasizing the effectiveness of biomasses, particularly orange peels, as environmentally friendly precursors for sustainable and efficient electrocatalysts. In addition, graphitic carbon nitrides/TiO2 nanotubes (g-C3N4/TiNT) composites are prepared for the electrocatalytic reduction of oxalic acid to glycolic acid, revealing superior electrocatalytic properties compared to pristine TiNT. Characterization by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electronic microscopy were performed for all the prepared electrocatalysts. Delving into the reduction of CO2 on Cu catalysts, a computational study about the synthesis of methanol on Cu(111) surface is performed by using the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package. A systematic study is carried out to define the activation energies of the elementary reactions by using mGGA DF. Consequently, it is shown that the rate-controlling step is CH3O* hydrogenation and the formate pathway on Cu(111) proceeds through the HCOOH* intermediate. Finally, the process simulation, performed by using the software Aspen Plus 11 from AspenTech Inc., is based on the comparison of a catalytic (oxidation of ethylene glycol) and an electrocatalytic process (CO2 electroreduction chain) to synthesize glycolic acid. An economic analysis of the operational and investment costs reveals that the catalytic process is more cost-effective due to the current instability of electrocatalysts and proton exchange membranes, resulting in increased maintenance costs and, consequently, higher prices for the product. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:205262 |
Serial |
9147 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Lu, Q. |
| Title |
Precipitation behavior and heat resistance properties of Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-(Si) alloy |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2024 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
VIII, 212 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
| Abstract |
With the rapid increase in the speed of new-generation aerospace vehicles, conventional heat-resistant aluminum alloys cannot meet the long-term service of the equipment. Therefore, the development of new high-strength heat-resistant aluminum alloys is of great strategic for the sustainable and high-quality development of industries. Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloy is an age-hardenable heat-resistant aluminum alloy and has high strength and heat resistance. The addition of alloying elements such as Si and Sc to Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloy introduces a competitive relationship among the σ-Al5Cu6Mg2, θ′-Al2Cu, and Ω phases. Therefore, a systematic investigation of precipitation behavior and heat resistance of Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-(Si) is essential for guiding the design of high-strength heat-resistant aluminum alloys. Combined characterization testing methods such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, microhardness testing, and tensile testing with simulation calculation methods such as calculation of phase diagram, first-principles calculations, and Ab initio molecular dynamics, the effects of heat treatment processes and element content on the precipitation behavior, mechanical properties, and heat resistance of Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-(Si) alloys were systematically investigated. Furthermore, a multiple interface segregation structure was constructed at the θ′/Al interface, and a new Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-Si-Sc alloy with synergistically improved strength and heat resistance was developed. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) Based on the Kampmann-Wagner-Numerical theory, the relationship between the coarsening rate of the Ω phase and the aging process was analyzed, revealing for the first time that the critical size of Ω phase ( ) under thermal exposure temperature was the key factor determining the coarsening rate of Ω phase during long time thermal exposure heat treatment. After artificial ageing, when the size of Ω phase was smaller than the critical size , the dissolution of smaller Ω phase leaded to a rapid decrease in the number density of Ω phases, thereby reducing the heat resistance of the alloy. When the size of Ω phase was greater than or equal to the critical size , the coarsening rate of Ω phase was consistent, but a larger initial size would result in a larger final size after long-term thermal exposure. Therefore, the closer the size of Ω phase in the alloy is to the critical size under heat exposure temperature, the better the heat resistance of the alloy. (2) A concept of constructing a multiple interface segregation structure at the precipitate/matrix interface was proposed, and based on this concept, a multiple interface segregation structure containing the C/L-AlMgSiCu interfacial phase, newly discovered χ-AgMg interfacial phase, and Sc segregation layer was successfully constructed at the θ′/Al interface. The existence of the multiple interface segregation structure ensured that the designed Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-Si-Sc alloy maintains a yield strength of 400 MPa after thermal exposure at 200 C for 100 h, with a strength retention rate of 97%, creating a new record for the synergistic improvement of strength and heat resistance in aluminum alloys. In addition, combining transmission electron microscopy ex-situ/in-situ characterization with first-principles calculations, it is shown that the χ-AgMg interface phase will be destroyed due to the diffusion of the outer Ag layer during thermal exposure, and gradually dissolve into the matrix, but it can still delay the coarsening behavior of θ′-Al2Cu phase. (3) The criteria for determining whether Ω phase can precipitate are updated in Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-Si alloys with low Mg/Si ratio based on phase diagram thermodynamic calculations and multi-scale structural characterization. When W(Mg)/W(Si) > 1.4 and X(Ag)/X(Mgexcess) > 1, Ω phase can precipitate in Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-Si alloys, where X(Mgexcess) represents the atomic percentage of residual Mg elements after the formation of the AlMgSiCu quaternary precipitate phase C/L phase in the supersaturated solid solution, and the W(Mg) is the mass fraction of Mg in the supersaturated solid solution before artificial ageing. (4) The effects of alloy element content on precipitation behavior and heat resistance of Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-Si alloys were systematically analyzed. Critical conditions for the precipitation of σ-Al5Cu6Mg2 and Ω phase in Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-Si alloys are revealed. Based on calculation of phase diagram results, the conditions for precipitating σ-Al5Cu6Mg2 phase in the alloy are: ① W(Mg)/W(Si) > 1.8; ② W(Cu) > 2.7W(Mg) – 5W(Si). When W(Mg)/W(Si) < 1.8, the alloy is mainly precipitated with C/L/Q′-AlMgSiCu. When W(Cu) < 2.7W(Mg) – 5W(Si), the alloy will generate GPB zone. In addition, W(Ag)/W(Si) > 4 is the critical condition which the Ω phase can the main precipitates in Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-Si alloys. Furthermore, the correlation between precipitate types and heat resistance was summarized, showing that Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-(Si) alloys with Ω phase as the main strengthening phase are more suitable for the preparation of structures with short service time but high temperature, while Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-(Si) alloys with low Mg content and multiple segregation structures are more suitable for structures requiring long-term service at medium to high temperatures. This study, for the first time, combines calculation of phase diagram with multi-scale microstructure characterization, systematically unraveling the effects of element content on precipitation behavior, strength, and heat resistance of Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-(Si) alloys. In addition, a concept of constructing a multiple interface segregation structure at the precipitate/matrix interface was proposed to synergistically improve alloy strength and heat resistance. This work provides theoretical guidance for optimizing the composition and processing of Al-Cu-Mg-Ag-(Si) alloy and regulating the microstructure. Furthermore, it also offers new ideas and theoretical guidance for the development of novel high-strength heat-resistant alloys in other systems. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:206180 |
Serial |
9167 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Kummamuru, N.B. |
| Title |
Methane and hydrogen storage in clathrate hydrates |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2024 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
XXV, 260 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp engineering, PhotoElectroChemistry & Sensing (A-PECS) |
| Abstract |
In a world increasingly reliant on alternative energy sources, the quest for efficient and secure storage solutions is paramount. This doctoral thesis explores the exciting potential of a familiar material – water – to act as a vault for next-generation energy sources like hydrogen (H2) and methane (CH4). Nature offers a solution in the form of clathrate hydrates, fascinating cage-like structures formed from water molecules that can trap these gas molecules within their framework. This research investigates on improving the formation kinetics and gas storage capabilities of clathrate hydrates utilizing porous materials and the interstitial space between non-porous materials to augment the contact between gas and water thereby catalysing the growth of hydrates and unlocking their full potential as efficient and secure energy storage reservoirs. A key outcome of this research is the formulation of an empirical correlation, offering predictive insights into CH4 hydrate phase equilibrium conditions. Innovative approaches utilizing thermally conductive beads have yielded substantial enhancements in CH4 uptake. Furthermore, the identification of optimal water content within porous materials showcases a pathway to maximize CH4 storage capacity and hydrate growth kinetics. In the domain of hydrogen storage, attention is also directed towards unstirred systems, where the integration of functionalized porous materials has demonstrated a significant improvement in the rate of hydrate formation and the overall H2 storage capacity. A noteworthy achievement of this research lies in the successful storage of H2 within confined CH4 hydrates through a gas exchange process and the preliminary results show the potential for safer and more sustainable method for H2 storage at mild thermodynamic conditions, offering promising prospects for future energy systems. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:206258 |
Serial |
9160 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Vanherck, J. |
| Title |
Spontaneous and induced magnetisation in two-dimensional and bulk Heisenberg ferromagnets : a quantum mechanical treatment |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2020 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
160 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) |
| Abstract |
|
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:171875 |
Serial |
6612 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Hendrickx, M. |
| Title |
Study of the effect of cation substitution on the local structure and the properties of perovskites and Li-ion battery cathode materials |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2020 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
208 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
| Abstract |
|
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:173128 |
Serial |
6618 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Vermeiren, V. |
| Title |
Chemical kinetics modeling of non-equilibrium and thermal effects in vibrationally active CO2 plasmas |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2020 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
207 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT) |
| Abstract |
|
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:173385 |
Serial |
6468 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Uytdenhouwen, Y. |
| Title |
Tuning the performance of a DBD plasma reactor for CO2 reforming |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2020 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
303 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT) |
| Abstract |
|
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:174026 |
Serial |
6774 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Jafarzadeh, A. |
| Title |
First-principle studies of plasma-catalyst interactions for greenhouse gas conversion |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2020 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
163 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT) |
| Abstract |
|
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:174073 |
Serial |
6765 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Wood, J.; Geerts, R.; Majean, L.; Coene, V.; Vanheeswijck, J.; de Smalen, D.; Ronda, T.; Keizer, K. |
| Title |
De combinatie werk-gezin en het gebruik van formele kinderopvang bij vrouwen met een migratieachtergrond : een mixed methods-benadering |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
| Year |
2019 |
Publication |
Sociologos (Brussel) |
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
40 |
Issue |
2-3-4 |
Pages |
123-149 |
| Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Sociology; Centre for Population, Family and Health; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Centre for Research on Environmental and Social Change |
| Abstract |
|
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
2295-8150 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:167658 |
Serial |
7678 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Van Schoubroeck, S. |
| Title |
A techno-sustainability assessment framework : indicator selection and integrated method for sustainability analysis of biobased chemicals |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2020 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
195 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Engineering Management (ENM) |
| Abstract |
Biobased chemistry has gained interest and has the potential to tackle some of the sustainability challenges the chemical industry must endure. Sustainability impacts need to be evaluated and monitored to highlight the advantages and pitfalls of different biobased routes over the product life cycle. A better understanding of the potential sustainability of emerging biobased technologies and products is essential to guide additional research and further technology development. This PhD thesis aims to develop a framework for a techno-sustainability assessment (TSA), while accounting for technological as well as economic, environmental, and social aspects in an integrated approach. First, a review of the state-of-the-art sustainability indicators for biobased chemicals was conducted and a gap analysis was performed to identify indicator development needs. Afterwards, a Delphi study was performed to select sustainability indicators specifically for biobased chemical assessment and to reach consensus among experts on a prioritization of these indicators. Next, the selected sustainability indicators were quantified while integrating technological and country-specific data with environmental characterization factors, economic values and social data. Finally, a stochastic, hierarchical multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) integrates the independent techno-sustainability indicators expressed in different units, taking into account stochastic and flexible method options. The developed integrated TSA framework was applied to a case for which a production and harvesting plant of microalgae-based food colorants is assessed. The final aim of the integrated TSA is to compare the potential sustainability performance of different scenarios and to make better-informed choices between alternatives by evaluating environmental, economic and social sustainability impacts in one holistic model. Integrated TSA offers a novel framework where decision makers can assess sustainability already in early technology development stages by identifying potential hurdles and opportunities to guide R&D and make sustainable investment decisions. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:174826 |
Serial |
6947 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Heijkers, S. |
| Title |
Plasma chemistry modelling for CO2 and CH4 conversion in various plasma types |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2020 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
316 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT) |
| Abstract |
|
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:168055 |
Serial |
6582 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Legrand, S. |
| Title |
Advanced chemical imaging of artworks |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
315 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation) |
| Abstract |
Last century the field of heritage sciences expanded beyond imagination. The inventions of X-ray radiography and infrared reflectography allowed experts to investigate paintings below the surface as well. More recent developments led to the advent of the field of hyperspectral imaging, to which the advanced chemical imaging methods, used in this thesis work, belong. These techniques not only allow to identify the components present in artworks, but also to visualize their distribution over these objects. The resulting distribution maps permit a broader public to interpret the scientific data and to relate these results with the artwork itself. During this thesis work a range of flat artworks were investigated in a non-destructive manner using mainly two macroscopic imaging techniques: macroscopic X-ray fluorescence scanning and macroscopic Fourier transformed mid-infrared scanning in reflectance mode. The resulting images were sometimes supplemented with microscopic techniques on a minute selection of samples to fully understand the layer build-up, composition and distribution of these materials over the stratigraphy. Illuminated manuscripts pushed the interpretation of the macroscopic imaging techniques: due to the impossibility of sampling, all answers had to be obtained non-destructively. Documenting masterpieces such as the Ghent Altarpiece by means of chemical imaging techniques, helped the restoration team, assisted by the international commission to make the daring decision of manually removing the non-original paint layers. Scanning stained-glass windows allowed experts to document the panels, create situation reports, identify later infills and guide the restoration process in a more efficient manner. By initially applying non-destructive imaging techniques, many of the research/conservation questions could already be answered. Based on the resulting distribution maps, only a very limited amount of sampling was required to obtain a representative set to answer the remaining questions. In most cases the combination of multiple methods was necessary to fully understand the situation. A similar trend could be seen in the research field: the collaboration between divergent disciples was often required in order to explain all observations. In order to completely break through, the scanning speed of these techniques has to increase even more in order to cover an acceptable surface in one workday. Parallel with the operational speed, the (basic) data treatment should also be streamlined more in order to allow a broader user group to access the results. Once these two improvements are carried out, these techniques become accessible to a larger public. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:176342 |
Serial |
7420 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Rivera Julio, J. |
| Title |
Cálculos ab initio de sistemas 2D y de baja dimensionalidad |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
137 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) |
| Abstract |
|
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:176996 |
Serial |
6718 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Marchetti, A. |
| Title |
Novel insights and approaches for the analytical characterization of tangible cultural heritage objects |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
333 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation) |
| Abstract |
Cultural heritage represents the vehicle of our cultural identity, handed over from past to future generations throughout human history. As a repository of fundamental cultural and social values, the preservation of all forms of cultural heritage is a responsibility of every society and of humankind as a whole. When it comes to tangible cultural heritage, preservation of heritage translates into preservation of objects and, therefore, of the materials they are constituted of. This crucial task relies heavily on the application of scientific analytical methods to answer material and conservation-related questions. The fundamental contribution of this analytical approach led, in the past decades, to an ever-deepening understanding of the factors governing the degradation of cultural heritage. However, the extreme complexity of the heritage object-environment system results in a massive research field, which inevitably presents relevant open questions. This is where the present PhD work comes into play, attempting to fill knowledge gaps in literature by starting from specific case studies and un-answered research questions. The multianalytical research conducted during this PhD unraveled fundamental information on the properties governing the reactivity and long-term behavior of different classes of materials, from α-brass in an indoor environment to artists’ pigments in the presence of light, moisture and soluble particulate matter (PM). The paramount importance of the synthesis conditions on the composition, physical properties and reactivity of heritage materials was also demonstrated, in particular for stable lead pyroantimonate and unstable Geranium lake artists’ pigments. Moreover, the study and characterization of specific heritage objects, namely a series of 16th century reliquary altarpieces and the painting L’Arlesienne, by Vincent Van Gogh, allowed to obtain relevant insights into their composition and on potential risks for their conservation. The challenging nature of the samples considered, created the perfect opportunity to test an innovative spectroscopic technique, optical photo-thermal IR (O-PTIR), for the characterization of heritage materials. Striking results were obtained, highlighting a great potential for the application of this non-destructive sub-micron molecular spectroscopy to the analysis of cultural heritage. Finally, in the last section of this work, strategies to implement the continuous monitoring of PM levels in indoor environmental quality studies were also considered, with a particular focus on the identification of environmental hazards for the collections housed in specific conservation environments (War Heritage Institute in Brussels and St. Martin’s church in Aalst, BE). |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:177849 |
Serial |
8319 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Daems, E. |
| Title |
Shaping up oligonucleotides : aptamer-target recognition investigated by native mass spectrometry |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
235 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation) |
| Abstract |
Aptamers are short, synthetic DNA or RNA molecules that are characterized by a specific 3D conformation which enables specific target recognition. Aptamers are promising tools in many application fields from sensing to therapeutics. One of the major challenges in the aptamer field is understanding the relationship between the sequence and what determines the higher-order structure and specific interactions with targets. Therefore, this PhD thesis focuses on the use of different mass spectrometry (MS) based approaches to characterize aptamers and their interactions. Several of these approaches are already widely applied to study other biomolecules, such as proteins, but are still largely unexplored for aptamers and oligonucleotides in general. A first focus was put on obtaining information on the higher-order structure and conformational stability of aptamers using a combination of MS and with ion mobility (IM) spectrometry by performing collision-induced unfolding (CIU) experiments. CIU was shown to hold great promise to analyze the conformational dynamics and gas-phase stabilities of aptamers. Next, the capabilities and limitations of native IM-MS for the analysis of noncovalent interactions of aptamers were demonstrated. The conformational behavior and interactions of cocaine-binding aptamers were studied and it was found that relative binding affinities of aptamers that only differ slightly in sequence and structure can be determined using native MS. Moreover, native IM-MS allowed the detection of small conformational changes upon binding of a target, which were found to be dependent on the binding mode of the aptamer. An adaptive binding mechanism was suggested for flexible aptamers that require more reorganization upon binding. In the final part of this thesis, the importance of thoroughly characterizing and validating aptamer-target interactions before using them in an application was emphasized. Moreover, the gathered insights were applied in our own development of a proof-of-concept aptamer-based sensor. This was shown by investigating the interactions of ampicillin aptamers which were found to not bind the target they were selected for in the first place. A multi-analytical approach combining complementary techniques was used for this purpose since no single technique is generally applicable to characterize all aptamers and their interactions and to obtain a comprehensive picture of the aptamer-target interactions. Furthermore, such multi-analytical approach was used to characterize a testosterone-binding aptamer while developing an aptamer-based electrochemiluminescent sensing strategy for this target. This shows the importance of native MS, in combination with other techniques, to thoroughly understand the aptamer-target interactions in the development of a designed application. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:178116 |
Serial |
8517 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Bafekry, A. |
| Title |
Investigation of the effects of defects and impurities on nanostructures consisting of Group IV and V elements using First-principles calculations |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2020 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
126 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) |
| Abstract |
|
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:168738 |
Serial |
6554 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Du, K. |
| Title |
In situ TEM study on the manipulation of ferroelectrics |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
91 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
| Abstract |
The strong correlated oxide systems attract a lot of attentions of scientists recently, the coexistence and interplay between various degrees of freedom, such as charge, spin and orbital, has been demonstrated to induce some fancy physical properties and phenomenon, including metal-insulator transition, high temperature superconductivity, colossal magnetoresistance. As a part of the strong correlated oxide systems, the ferroelectrics is abundant in both physical properties and application. First, if the electric dipole continuously rotating around a stable core then a topological structure is produced. If people could manipulate the topological structure and simultaneously observe the structure evolution, with external field applied on the topological structure, then it is very likely for such kind of ferroelectrics to be the next generation of storage, for it is reported to need low power input and produce high density of storage. In the other hand, in solids, charge polarity can one-to-one correspond to spin polarity phenomenologically, such as ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism, antiferroelectricity and antiferromagnetism, but ferrielectricity and ferrimagnetism kept telling a disparate story in microscopic level. The claimed “ferrielectrics” in existing research is equivalent to ferroelectric ones, thus the findings of such a real irreducible solids would complete the last piece of the ferroelectrics family. While solving the above two questions remain challengeable: the size of topological structure is small (typically below 10 nm), general characterization methods are insufficient for such high demand on space resolution, not to mention manipulating and observing its dynamic behavior at an atomic level. Here, employing the spherical aberration corrected electron microscope, we applied external field (heating and bias) on ferroelectrics. Combined with high-end characterization methods including the high-angle annular dark field (HAADF-STEM) image, Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) and integrated differential phase contrast (iDPC), the dynamic evolution of ferroelectrics are observed and analyzed. The main findings of this paper could be concluded as listed here: (1) PbTiO3(001)// SrTiO3(001) is grown on DyScO3 and SrRuO3 by pusled laser deposition, the atomical EDS mapping results reveal that the interface between PTO and STO is atomically sharp. Increasing the thickness of PTO from 1 uc to 21 uc, the topological structure wihtin PTO layer would transform from a/c domain to wave, vortex and finally flux closure domain. The geometric phase analysis results (GPA) reveal that above topological structures are corresponding to various strain. (2) Combined with in-situ biasing holder, the electric bias was applied on polar vortex, and it evolved from vortex (0 V) to polar wave (2 V) and finally polar down (5 V). EELS analysis was performed and we find that negative charge is gathered at vortex core, which turns the Ti4+ to Ti3+ there. The oxygen vacancy at negative polarization surface and the negative charge at the positive polarization surface realized the polarization screening of polar down domain. (3) Through the atomic inspection and analysis on lattice structure of BaFe2Se3, the near ladders within single unit are found to be different in degree of tetramerization, thus leading to a residual polarization along the a-axis. The further in-situ heating and biasing experiment was conducted on BaFe2Se3, and the strong and weak ladders are proved to be independent for their behavior under external field. This findings distinguishes ferrielectrics from ferroelectrics in solids. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:179310 |
Serial |
6842 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
De wael, A. |
| Title |
Model-based quantitative scanning transmission electron microscopy for measuring dynamic structural changes at the atomic scale |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
xiv, 146 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
| Abstract |
Nanomaterialen kunnen uiterst interessante eigenschappen vertonen voor een verscheidenheid aan veelbelovende toepassingen, gaande van zonnecrème tot batterijen voor elektrische auto’s. Een nanometer is een miljard keer kleiner dan een meter. Op deze schaal kunnen de materiaaleigenschappen volledig verschillen van bulkmaterialen op grotere schaal. Bovendien hangen de eigenschappen van nanomaterialen sterk af van hun exacte grootte en vorm. Kleine verschillen in de posities van de atomen, in de grootte-orde van een picometer (nog eens duizend maal kleiner dan een nanometer), kunnen de fysische eigenschappen al drastisch beïnvloeden. Daarom is een betrouwbare kwantificering van de atomaire structuur van kritisch belang om de evolutie naar materiaalontwerp mogelijk te maken en inzicht te verwerven in de relatie tussen de fysische eigenschappen en de structuur van nanomaterialen. Daarnaast kan de atomaire structuur van nanomaterialen ook veranderen in de loop van de tijd ten gevolge van verschillende fysische processen. Het onderzoek dat in deze thesis gepresenteerd wordt, maakt het mogelijk om de dynamische structuurveranderingen van nanomaterialen betrouwbaar te kwantificeren op atomaire schaal door gebruik te maken van raster transmissie elektronenmicroscopie (STEM). Ik heb dit gerealiseerd door methodes te ontwikkelen waarmee ik het aantal atomen “achter elkaar” kan tellen in elke atoomkolom van een nanomateriaal, en dit op basis van beelden opgenomen met een elektronenmicroscoop. Een belangrijk verschil met telmethodes voor de analyse van een enkel beeld is het schatten van de kans dat een atoomkolom atomen zal verliezen of bijkrijgen van het ene naar het andere beeld in de tijdreeks. Deze kwantitatieve methode kan het ontrafelen van de tijdsafhankelijke structuur-eigenschappen relatie van een nanomateriaal mogelijk maken, wat uiteindelijk kan leiden tot efficiënter design en productie van nanomaterialen voor innovatieve toepassingen. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:179514 |
Serial |
6870 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Sóti, V. |
| Title |
Catalytic detoxification of lignocellulose hydrolyzate |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2019 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
XXVII, 243 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE) |
| Abstract |
The present PhD research investigated the possibility of catalytic detoxification of poplar wood based and steam exploded lignocellulosic hydrolyzate with different types of laccase enzymes, with special focus on ethanol and lactic acid products at industrially relevant parameters: high final product concentration, high initial substrate loading and integrated processes. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process was taken as a base case and five types of laccases were thoroughly investigated on their utilization potential. Phenolic removal from the liquid xylose rich fraction (XRF) was higher with fungal laccases (65-90 %) compared to approximately 30 % removal with bacterial laccase. Moreover, the optimal pH of fungal laccases was close to pH 4.5, the optimum for cellulase, while the bacterial laccase worked at basic pH. Integrating laccase treatment and hydrolysis together showed that fungal laccases have negative impact on final sugar concentration, while bacterial laccase had a strong positive effect. Although bacterial laccase removed less phenol and although its optimal conditions are difficult to integrate with hydrolysis, its enhancing effect on cellulase activity makes it a better candidate for application. The presence of the solid fraction (SF) alters the phenolic concentration evolution significantly, thus screening experiments with the liquid fraction alone do not provide sufficient information for the combined process. Magnetic Cross-Linked Enzyme Aggregates (m-CLEAs) immobilization was assessed for bacterial laccase. m-CLEAs decreased phenolic concentration faster at every pH compared to free bacterial laccase; however, the removal was caused by adsorption rather than by enzyme activity. Although the size of m-CLEAs particles are in the µm range, around 90 % of the initial catalyst mass was recycled from a dense (15 % substrate loading) mixture via magnetic separation. The high recycling rate is promising; m-CLEAs immobilization method can have industrial utilization potential. Minimum sugar revenue (MSR) estimations show that currently hardwood based MSR is 70 % more expensive than corn grain based MSR. About 7-10 fold cellulase activity increase will be needed until MSR will be competitive with corn grain MSR. However, m-CLEAs cellulase can already be competitive if the corn prices are in the higher regime of last year’s prices. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:180125 |
Serial |
7584 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Vervaet, B.A.; Nast, C.C.; Jayasumana, C.; Schreurs, G.; Roels, F.; Herath, C.; Kojc, N.; Samaee, V.; Rodrigo, S.; Gowrishankar, R. |
| Title |
Chronic interstitial nephritis in agricultural communities : a toxin-induced proximal tubular nephropathy |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
| Year |
2020 |
Publication |
European Medical Journal : Nephrology |
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
8 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
40-42 |
| Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Pathophysiology |
| Abstract |
|
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
2053-4248 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:180862 |
Serial |
6858 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Velazco Torrejón, A. |
| Title |
Alternative scan strategies for high resolution STEM imaging |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
131 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
| Abstract |
Currently, a large variety of materials are studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as it offers the possibility to perform structural and elemental analysis at a local scale. Relatively recent advances in aberration correctors and electron sources allow the instrument to achieve atomic resolution. Along with these advances, a state-of-the-art technology has been reached in TEM. However, the instrument is far from being perfect and imperfections or external sources can make the interpretation of information troublesome. Environmental factors such as acoustic and mechanical vibrations, temperature fluctuations, etc., can induce sample drift and create image distortions. These distortions are enhanced in scanning operation because of the serial acquisition of the information, which are more apparent at atomic resolution as small field of views are imaged. In addition, scanning distortions are induced due to the finite time response of the scan coils. These types of distortions would reduce precision in atomic-scale strain analysis, for instance, in semiconductors. Most of the efforts to correct these distortions are focused on data processing techniques post-acquisition. Another limitation in TEM is beam damage effects. Beam damage arises because of the energy transferred to the sample in electron-sample interactions. In scanning TEM, at atomic resolution, the increased electron charge density (electron dose) carried on a sub-Å size electron probe may aggravate beam damage effects. Soft materials such as zeolites, organic, biological materials, etc., can be destroyed under irradiation limiting the amount of information that can be acquired. Current efforts to circumvent beam damage are mostly based on low electron dose acquisitions and data processing methods to maximize the signal at low dose conditions. In this thesis, a different approach is given to address drift and scanning distortions, as well as beam damage effects. Novel scan strategies are proposed for that purpose, which are shown to substantially overcome these issues compared to the standard scan method in TEM. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:180973 |
Serial |
6852 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Rodrigues Lavor, I. |
| Title |
Plasmons and electronic transport in two-dimensional materials |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
219 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) |
| Abstract |
This thesis presents, in its first part, an investigation on the trembling motion of wave packets known as zitterbewegung (ZBW), in multilayer graphene, as well as in moiré excitons in twisted MoS2/WSe2 hetero-bilayers. In the last few decades, the dynamics of wave packets has been subject of many theoretical and experimental studies in various types of systems such as semiconductors, superconductors, crystalline solids and cold atoms. The discovery of graphene and moiré excitons in twisted hetero-bilayers, brought two new platforms for the investigation on time evolution of wave packets and possible observation of ZBW. This trembling motion was first theoretically predicted by Schrödinger for wave packets describing particles that obey the Dirac equation. This is exactly the case of low energy electrons in graphene, as well as of moiré exciton in twisted MoS2/WSe2 under an external applied electromagnetic field. ZBW in multilayer graphene was studied both analytically and computationally, respectively, through the Green's function and split-operator methods. In this system, it is found that ZBW depends not only on the wave packet width and initial pseudospin polarization, but also on the number of layers. Furthermore, the analytical and numerical methods proposed here allow to investigate wave packet dynamics in graphene systems with an arbitrary number of layers and arbitrary potential landscapes. For moiré excitons in twisted MoS2/WSe2 hetero-bilayers, it is shown that, analogously to other Dirac-like particles, this system also exhibits ZBW when under a perpendicular applied field. In this case, the ZBW presents long timescales that are compatible with current experimental techniques for exciton dynamics. This promotes the study of the dynamics of moiré excitons in van der Waals heterostructures as an advantageous solidstate platform to probe zitterbewegung, broadly tunable by gating and inter-layer twist angle. In the second part of this thesis, a study into graphene plasmonic in van der Waals heterostructure (vdWhs) are treated in a linear response framework within the Random Phase Approximation and with support of the quantum electrostatic heterostructure (QEH), a DFT-based method. Since Dirac plasmons in graphene are very sensitive to the dielectric properties of the environment, it is possible to explore this property to probe the structure and composition of van der Waals heterostructures (vdWh) placed underneath a single graphene layer. In this way, one can achieve a layer sensitivity of a single layer and differentiate between different TMDs for heterostructures thicker than 2 layers. As a consequence of this, study, the hybridization of Dirac plasmons in graphene with phonons of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), when the materials are combined in so-called van der Waals heterostructures (vdWh) forming surface plasmon-phonon polaritons (SPPPs) are also investigated. It was found that it is possible to realize both strong and ultrastrong coupling regimes by tuning graphene’s Fermi energy and changing TMD layer number. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:181012 |
Serial |
7011 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Grangeiro de Barros, A.; Devroede, R.; Vanlanduit, S.; Vuye, C.; Kampen, J.K. |
| Title |
Acoustic simulation of noise barriers and prediction of annoyance for local residents |
Type |
P1 Proceeding |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
1-8 |
| Keywords |
P1 Proceeding; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT); Energy and Materials in Infrastructure and Buildings (EMIB); Social Epidemiology & Health Policy (SEHPO) |
| Abstract |
Road traffic is the most widespread environmental noise source in Europe, proven to affect human health and well-being adversely. Noise barriers can be a very effective way to objectively reduce the noise levels to which the population is exposed, leading to positive effects on noise perception and quality of life. In this paper, surveys were used to assess subjective noise level indicators (annoyance and quality of life) from residents of the vicinity of a highway where obsolete noise barriers were to be replaced. %HA before the barrier replacement was measured from the surveys (26.8%) and estimated based on the acoustic simulation and two existing exposure/response relationships (14.6 and 18.8% before and 13.6 and 8.3% after). The difference in the measured %HA to those calculated from the ERRs shows that those models might not estimate %HA fairly for small samples or particular situations where high Lden is reported. Noise annoyance correlated differently with the quality of life indicators: a weak link was observed with health problems, while a strong correlation was found with the comfort level to perform activities outdoors. Objective noise measurements gave LA,eq,(15 min.) reductions of 4.1dB(A) due to the new barrier, while in acoustics models, calculated as Lday, expected this reduction to be 5.2 dB(A). After replacing the noise barriers, a second survey could still not be distributed due to the unknown effect of the COVID-19 measures that are still active |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
978-83-7880-799-5 |
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:181057 |
Serial |
6969 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Conti, S. |
| Title |
Multi-band superfluidity and BEC-BCS crossover in novel ultrathin materials |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2020 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
123 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Sociology; History; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) |
| Abstract |
|
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:169036 |
Serial |
6565 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Van Loenhout, J. |
| Title |
Targeting pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and glioblastoma with oxidative stress-mediated treatment strategies : focus on tumor cell death and modulation of the tumor microenvironment |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
167 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Center for Oncological Research (CORE) |
| Abstract |
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) are two of the most malignant solid tumor types with poor survival rates, which underscore the urgency of novel and efficacious treatment strategies. Within the last decade, immunotherapy has been established as a breakthrough in cancer therapy. This mainly has been driven by the clinical data and approval associated with several immune checkpoint inhibitors (e.g. anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1/L1). Despite the clinical benefit in specific tumor types, these inhibitors have not yet fulfilled their promise in low immunogenic tumors such as PDAC and GBM. Oxidative stress in cancer cells due to elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an inability to balance intracellular redox state has recently been highlighted as promising target for anticancer treatment strategies with possible immunogenic effects. In this PhD dissertation, I investigated novel oxidative stress-mediated treatment approaches to target PDAC and GBM and to enhance immunogenicity by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD). In the first part of this thesis (chapter 2), I reviewed the mechanistic responses of cancer cells towards different oxidative stress-inducing treatment strategies and their immunomodulating effects. The resulting literature demonstrated that different exogenous and endogenous ROS-inducing therapies show direct and indirect immunomodulating effects, which can be either immunostimulatory or immunosuppressive. One of the indirect immunostimulatory effects of the ROS-mediating therapies is the capacity of inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumor cells, which can increase the immunogenicity and consequently can trigger an antitumoral immune response. In chapter 3, I investigated a novel exogenous ROS-inducing treatment method, namely cold atmospheric plasma, to determine the therapeutic and ICD-inducing effects in PDAC, in vitro. I revealed that plasma-treated PBS (pPBS) has the potential to induce ICD in pancreatic cancer cells (PCCs) and to reduce the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) by attacking the tumor supportive pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs). Although the cell death induced in PSCs was non-immunogenic as seen by the lack of danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) emission and DC activation, I showed that pPBS could disrupt the physical barrier and lower the immunosuppressive secretion profile (lower TGF-β) of PSCs. In contrast, DAMPs were released by PCCs after treatment with pPBS which resulted in activation and maturation of DCs and a more immunostimulatory secretion profile (higher TNF-α, IFN-γ). Hence, indirect plasma treatment via pPBS has the potential to enhance immunogenicity in PDAC by triggering ICD and by attacking the immunosuppressive PSCs. Tumor cells can evolve adaptation mechanisms to protect themselves against intrinsic oxidative stress by upregulation of pro-survival molecules and their antioxidant defense system to maintain the redox balance. As such, tumor cells can become resistant towards exogenous ROS-inducing therapies, like plasma. Dual targeting of the redox balance of tumor cells by increasing exogenous levels of ROS and inhibiting the antioxidant defense system can maximally exploit ROS-mediated cell death mechanisms as therapeutic anticancer strategy. In this regard, cold atmospheric plasma was combined with auranofin, a thioredoxin reductase inhibitor, in GBM (chapter 4). A synergistic effect was shown after this combination treatment in 2D and 3D, however, in 3D only high concentrations of auranofin synergized with plasma treatment. I confirmed a ROS-mediated response after combination treatment, which was able to induce distinct cell death mechanisms, specifically apoptosis and ferroptosis. Additionally, the auranofin and plasma combined treatment strategy induced cell death, which resulted in an increased release of DAMPs. Together with the observed DC maturation, these results indicates the potential increase in immunogenicity, though, the phagocytotic capacity of DCs was inhibited by auranofin. In chapter 5, I evaluated this promising oxidative stress combination therapy in GBM, in vivo. A decrease in tumor kinetics and an increased survival in GBM-bearing mice was observed when auranofin was sequentially combined with direct plasma treatment. No T cell infiltration was observed after auranofin monotherapy. However, further characterization of the TME after the combination therapy is necessary to provide more insight in the immunogenic effects in vivo. In conclusion, this PhD dissertation comprises novel and important therapeutic and immunogenic insights in cold atmospheric plasma and auranofin as promising oxidative stress-mediated treatment strategies for low immunogenic tumors, like PDAC and GBM. These preclinical results provide a solid basis for future research towards combinations with immunotherapeutic approaches. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:181309 |
Serial |
8643 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Xie, Y. |
| Title |
Bioreactor strategies for sustainable nitrogen cycling based on mineralization/nitrification, partial nitritation/anammox or sulfur-based denitratation |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
iv, 205 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL) |
| Abstract |
In the biogeochemical flows on Earth, the reactive nitrogen (Nr) level has three times surpassed the safe boundary. The severe transgression of this boundary goes against sustainable planetary development. The modern food production process excessively relies on synthetic Nr fertilizers from the Haber– Bosch process. However, the massive loss of valuable nitrogen resources (i.e., 78-89%) from agriculture has been causing severe nitrogen cascade. Besides, the domestic wastewater in some local areas is discharged without proper treatment, making it a nonnegligible source of Nr pollution for local water bodies. Anthropogenic activities keep pumping out Nr pollution via point-source and non-point-source (NPS) emissions. Compared to the NPS emissions, point sources give visible and identified waste streams. It is vital to intervene the nitrogen cascade from point sources and facilitate humanity back to the safe Nr boundary. The collected and collectible Nr streams from food production, waste management, and recycling secondary raw materials can be used as waste-based fertilizers for agricultural cultivation. Besides the well-investigated recovery of inorganic Nr, organic Nr accounts for a massive Nr proportion on the Earth. Proper handling and treatment make these useful organic fertilizers for soil-based cultivation. However, these organic Nr fertilizers cannot directly apply to fertigation or hydroponic cultivation systems, and further biological conversion via nitrogen mineralization and nitrification to nitrate is essential. Besides the direct Nr cycling, the indirect Nr cycling ‘over the atmosphere’ should also be considered. In this way, the nitrogen cycle can be completed via converting the waste Nr back to nitrogen gas (i.e., Nr removal) and then synthesizing into Nr again. The municipal wastewater treatment plants receive a vast amount of low-strength Nr wastewater (mainly as ammonium) daily. Compared to the conventional nitrification/denitrification process, partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) is considered a resource- and cost-effective technology for wastewater with a low COD/N ratio. Moreover, the novel autotrophic denitratation/anammox process could be a good Nr removal process for wastewater containing both ammonium and nitrate. This Ph.D. thesis aimed to develop Nr recovery, conversion, and removal bioreactor strategies for different types of waste streams and biomass. Nr recovery was investigated on high-strength Nr waste streams for fertigation or hydroponic applications in Chapters 2 and 3. On the other hand, Nr removal was studied on the medium- to low-strength Nr waste streams in Chapters 4 and 5. In Chapter 2, a novel mineralization and nitrification system was proposed, producing nutrient solutions from solid organic fertilizers for hydroponic systems. Batch tests showed that aerobic incubation at 35°C could realize the NO₃⁻-N production efficiency above 90% from a novel microbial fertilizer. Subsequently, in the stirred tank bioreactor test, NO₃⁻-N production efficiency stabilized in a range of 44-51% under the influent loading rate of 400 mg TN L⁻¹ d⁻¹ at a 5-day HRT. Using Ca(OH)₂ and Mg(OH)₂ as pH control reagents generated the nutrient solutions with different P, Ca, and Mg nutrient levels. After modeling the nutrient balancing process, the proportion of organic-sourced NO₃⁻-N in the Hoagland nutrient solution (HNS) of Ca(OH)₂ scenario was 92.7%, while only 37.4% in the Mg(OH)₂ scenario. Compared to commercial scenarios, the total costs of the organic-sourced HNS can be cost-competitive for hydroponic cultivation. In Chapter 3, the Nr recovery as nitrate (NO₃⁻-N) from diluted human urine (around 670 mg N L⁻¹) was explored in a trickling filter (TF) for the first time. A novel concept of in-situ integrating the TF system into hydroponic systems was proposed as meaningful progress towards sustainable agriculture. The difference between synthetic and real urine in nitrification efficiency was found to be negligible. The full nitrification of alkalinized real urine was realized in the pH-controlled TF by calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) at around pH 6. The TF could handle different urine collection batches and maintain relatively stable nitrification performance, with NO₃⁻-N production efficiency and rate of 88±3% and 136±4 mg N L⁻¹ d⁻¹, respectively. The optimal HLR to realize this nitrification performance was 2 m³ m⁻² h⁻¹, with energy consumption of 1.8 kWh electricity kg⁻¹ NO₃⁻-N production. Ca(OH)₂, as a cheap base, its triple advantages on urine alkalinization, full nitrification, and macronutrient supplementation were successfully demonstrated in our proposed concept. In Chapter 4, towards more sustainable wastewater treatment, the feasibility of one-stage partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) was investigated in three parallel packed-bed trickling filters (TFs), with three types of carrier materials of different specific surface areas. Synthetic wastewater containing 100-250 mg NH₄⁺-N L⁻¹ was tested to mimic medium-strength household waste streams after carbon removal. Interestingly, the cheap carrier based on expanded clay achieved similar rates as commercially used plastic carrier materials. The top passive ventilation combined with an optimum hydraulic loading rate of 1.8 m³ m⁻² h⁻¹ could reach approximately 60% total nitrogen (TN) removal at a rate of 300 mg N L⁻¹ d⁻¹. A relatively low NO₃⁻-N production (13%) via PN/A was achieved in TFs. Most of the TN removal took place in the top compartment, where anammox activity was the highest. Energy consumption estimation (0.78 kWh electricity g⁻¹ N removed) suggested that the proposed process could be a suitable low-cost alternative for nitrogen removal. In Chapter 5, coupling sulfur-driven denitratation (SDN) with anammox was proposed to treat the wastewater containing both NO₃⁻-N and NH₄⁺-N, like the secondary effluents of mainstream PN/A processes. To explore the feasibility of sufficient and stable NO₂⁻-N accumulation via SDN in the long term, the effects of pH setpoints, residual NO₃⁻-N level, and biomass-specific NO₃⁻-N loading rate (BSNLR) were investigated. Alternating the pH setpoints between 7.0 and 8.5 could temporarily stimulate the NO₂⁻-N accumulation. Both the residual NO₃⁻-N and BSNLR showed highly positive correlations with the NO₂⁻-N accumulation efficiency. Under the control of pH 8.5, 1.0±0.8 mg NO₃⁻-N L⁻¹ and 150±42 mg NO₃⁻-N g⁻¹ VSS d⁻¹, SDN could produce 6.4±1.0 mg NO₂⁻-N L⁻¹ in the short term. Thiobacillus members may play a crucial role in managing the NO₂⁻-N accumulation, but the reduction of abundance and possible adaptation significantly impaired the efficacy of control strategies in the long run. Overall, novel technologies have been proposed to sustainably convert Nr in waste streams and biomass. The decision for Nr recovery versus removal and synthesis should be based on specific cases with the best environmental, economic, and human-health sustainability. In the future, the Nr management concepts should be further improved to make the nitrogen cycle more sustainable with higher resource use efficiency and less Nr emissions to the environment. Although the thesis is mainly focused on limited types of Nr waste streams, it pointed out the direction of sustainable Nr management and could facilitate the Nr back to the safe boundary in the long run. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:182099 |
Serial |
7563 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Sabzalipour, A. |
| Title |
Charge transport in magnetic topological insulators |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
xiv, 185 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) |
| Abstract |
Novel quantum phases of matter and developing practical control over their characteristics is one of the primary aims of current condensed matter physics. It offers the potential for a new generation of energy, electronic and photonic technologies. Among all the newly found phases of matter, topological insulators are novel phases of quantum matter with fascinating bulk band topology and surface states protected by specific symmetries. For example, at the boundary of a strong topological insulator and a trivial insulator, metallic surface states appear that are protected by time-reversal symmetry. As a result, the bulk continues to be insulating, while the surface can support exotic high-mobility spin-polarized electronic states. Since there is no such thing as a clean system, impurities and other disorders are always present in materials. Even while impurities appear to be unfavorable to a system at first look, doping the host system with impurities allows us to engineer different electronic properties of systems, such as the Fermi level or electron density. Because of the symmetry protected metallic states in topological insulators, charge transport responds distinctively to magnetic and non-magnetic impurities. This doctoral dissertation explores how the longitudinal charge transport in magnetic topological thin films and the anomalous Hall effect on the surface of 3D magnetic topological insulators is influenced by point-like and randomly distributed dilute magnetic impurities. We are interested in how charge transport in these systems responds to the orientation of the magnetization orientation and how this response evolves based on the system's main characteristics, such as the magnitude of the Fermi level or gate voltage. Because topological insulators have a strong spin-orbit coupling, the interaction between conducting electrons and local magnetic impurities is very anisotropic. We will show that this anisotropy even enhances when magnetic topological thin films are exposed to a substrate or gate voltage. Therefore, to properly capture this anisotropy in charge transport calculations, we rely on a generalized Boltzmann formalism together with a modified relaxation time scheme. We show that magnetic impurities affect the charge transport in topological insulators by inducing a transition selection rule that governs scatterings of electrons between various electronic states. We see that this selection rule is highly sensitive to the spin direction of the magnetic impurities as well as the position of the Fermi level. According to this selection rule and depending on the position of the Fermi level, two different transport regimes are realized in magnetic topological thin films. In one of these regimes, our findings show that a dissipation less charge current can be generated. In other words, even if there are many magnetic impurities in the system, electrons do not notice them and, remarkably, conduct charge without dissipation. Outside this regime, the charge transport is always dissipative and its sensitivity to the spatial orientation of the magnetic impurities can be effectively modulated by a substrate or gate voltage. In this doctoral thesis, we also explore the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) on the surface of 3D magnetic topological insulators. The AHE is generated by three mechanisms: the intrinsic effect (owing to a nonzero Berry curvature), the side jump effect, and the skew scattering effect. They compete to dominate the AHE in distinct regimes. Analytically, we calculate the contributions of all three mechanisms to the scattering of massive Dirac fermions by magnetic impurities. Our results reveal three transport regimes based on the relative importance of the engaged mechanisms. The identification of these three distinctive transport regimes can assist experimentalists in achieving a regime in which each contribution is dominant over the others, allowing them to measure them separately. Typically, this is not feasible empirically since the total value of the experimentally observed AHE conceals the specific information of each of the three contributions. Based on our analytical calculations, we prove that the AHE can change sign by varying the orientation of the surface magnetization, the concentration of impurities, and the location of the Fermi level, which is consistent with previous experimental findings. In addition, we show that by suitably adjusting the given parameters, any contribution to the AHE, or even the entire AHE, can be turned off. For example, in a system with in-plane magnetization, one can turn off the AHE by pushing the system into the completely metallic regime. Furthermore, we demonstrate that any contribution to the AHE, or even the whole AHE, can be turned off by appropriately changing the provided parameters. For example, in a system with in-plane magnetization, the AHE can be turned off by pushing the system into the fully metallic regime. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:182192 |
Serial |
6973 |
| Permanent link to this record |
| |
|
| |
| Author |
Prabhakara, V. |
| Title |
Strain measurement for semiconductor applications with Raman spectroscopy and Transmission electron microscopy |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
| Year |
2021 |
Publication |
|
Abbreviated Journal |
|
| Volume |
|
Issue |
|
Pages |
149 p. |
| Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT) |
| Abstract |
Scaling down the size of transistors has been a trend for several decades which has led to improved transistor performance, increased transistor density and hence the overall computation power of IC chips. The trend slowed in recent years due to reliability and power consumption issues at the nanoscale. Hence strain is introduced into transistor channels that has beneficial effects on improving the mobility of charge carriers, providing an alternative pathway for enhancing transistor performance. Therefore, monitoring strain is vital for the semiconductor industry. With the recent trend of decreasing device dimensions (FinFETS ~ 10-20nm) and strain modulation being used throughout, industry needs a reliable and fast method as quality control or defect characterisation. Such a universal strain measurement method does not exist, and one relies on a combination of quantitative in-line methods and complex off-line approaches. In this thesis, I investigated TEM and Raman spectroscopy-based methodologies for strain measurement. In terms of TEM methodologies, advancements are made for the STEM moiré imaging, targeting strain spatial resolution enhancement. I introduce advanced quadrature demodulation and phase stepping interferometry applied to STEM moiré that greatly enhances the spatial resolution while providing enhanced field of view and sensitivity for strain measurement. We introduce ways to reduce scan distortions in strain maps using an alternative scan strategy called “Block scanning” and the non-linear regression applied for strain extraction. Prospects for 3D strain analysis using high-resolution tomography is also investigated which gives direct access for the full second order strain tensors calculation. Finally, we compare strain measurements from TEM techniques with inline techniques like Raman spectroscopy. Raman stress measurement involves sensitive identification of the TO and LO phonon peaks. Raman spectrum of strained Ge transistor channel consists of strongly overlapping peaks within the spectral resolution of the spectrometer. Hence, the process of deconvolution of the two peaks is rather challenging. Hence, we explore new polarisation geometries like radially polarised incoming light which was shown to ease the deconvolution problem resulting in improved precision for Raman stress–strain measurements. |
| Address |
|
| Corporate Author |
|
Thesis |
|
| Publisher |
|
Place of Publication |
|
Editor |
|
| Language |
|
Wos |
|
Publication Date |
|
| Series Editor |
|
Series Title |
|
Abbreviated Series Title |
|
| Series Volume |
|
Series Issue |
|
Edition |
|
| ISSN |
|
ISBN |
|
Additional Links |
UA library record |
| Impact Factor |
|
Times cited |
|
Open Access |
|
| Notes |
|
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
| Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:182261 |
Serial |
6847 |
| Permanent link to this record |
