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Author Gielis, J.; Tavkhelidze, I. url  doi
openurl 
  Title A note on Generalized Möbius-Listing Bodies Type P1 Proceeding
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 31-39 T2 - Proceedings of the 1st International Sy  
  Keywords P1 Proceeding; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Generalized Möbius-Listing surfaces and bodies generalize Möbius bands, and this research was motivated originally by solutions of boundary value problems. Analogous to cutting of the original Möbius band, for this class of surfaces and bodies, results have been obtained when cutting such bodies or surfaces. In general, cutting leads to interlinked and intertwined different surfaces or bodies, resulting in very complex systems. However, under certain conditions, the result of cutting can be a single surface or body, which reduces complexity considerably. These conditions are based on congruence and rotational symmetry of the resulting cross sections after cutting, and on the knife cutting the origin  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date 2023-11-29  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 978-90-833839-0-3 ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:201047 Serial 9063  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Yu, C.-P. url  isbn
openurl 
  Title Novel imaging methods of transmission electron microscopy based on electron beam scattering and modulation Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages x, 154 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a technique that uses an electron beam to analyze materials. This analysis is based on the interaction between the electron beam and the sample, such as photon emission and electron diffraction pattern, to name a few. Sample damage, however, also occurs when such interaction alters the structure of the sample. To ensure information from the undamaged material can be acquired, the electron expense to probe the material is thus limited. In this work, we propose efficient methods for acquiring and processing the information originating from the electron-sample interaction so that the study of the material and the conducting of the TEM experiment can be less hindered by the limited dose usage. In the first part of the work, the relationship between the scattering of the electron and the local physical property of the sample is studied. Based on this relationship, two reconstruction schemes are proposed capable of producing high-resolution images at low-dose conditions. Besides, the proposed reconstructions are not restricted to complete datasets but instead work on pieces of data, therefore allowing live feedback during data acquisition. Such feature of the methods allows the whole TEM experiment to be carried out under low dose conditions and thus further reduces possible beam damage on the studied material. In the second part of the work, we discuss our approach to modulating the electron beam and its benefits. An electrostatic device that can alter the wavefront of the passing electron wave is introduced and characterized. The beam-modulation ability is demonstrated by creating orthogonal beam sets, and applications that exploit the adaptability of the wave modulator are demonstrated with both simulation and experiments.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 987-90-5728-534-7 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200885 Serial 9064  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Gao, J.; Huang, W.; Gielis, J.; Shi, P. url  doi
isbn  openurl
  Title Plant morphology and function, geometric morphometrics, and modelling : decoding the mathematical secrets of plants Type ME3 Book as editor
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 224 p.  
  Keywords ME3 Book as editor; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Delve into the diverse aspects of plant morphology, their responses to global climate change, and the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest productivity. Join us on a journey through the intricate web of plant characteristics and their impact on the environment.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date 2024-01-02  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 978-3-0365-9422-4; 978-3-0365-9423-1 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:201545 Serial 9073  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Xu, W. openurl 
  Title Plasma-catalytic DRM : study of LDH derived catalyst for DRM in a GAP plasma system Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 350 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Laboratory of adsorption and catalysis (LADCA); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Plasma is considered one of the promising technologies to solve greenhouse gas problems, as it can activate CO2 and CH4 at relatively low temperatures. Among the various types of plasmas, the gliding arc plasmatron (GAP) is promising, as it has a high level of non-equilibrium and high electron density. Nevertheless, the conversion of CO2 and CH4 in the GAP reactor is limited. Therefore, combining the GAP reactor with catalysts and making use of the heat produced by the plasma to provide thermal energy to the catalyst, forming a post-plasma catalytic (PPC) system, is hypothesized to improve its performance. Therefore, in this PhD research, we investigate important aspects of the PPC concept towards the use of the heat produced by GAP plasma to heat the plasma bed, without additional energy input. Aiming at this, based on a literature study (chapter 1), Ni-loaded layered double hydroxide (LDH) derived catalyst with good thermal catalytic DRM performance were chosen as the catalyst material. Before applying the LDH as a support material, the rehydration property of calcined LDH in moist and liquid environment was studied as part of chapter 2. The data indicated that after high temperatures calcination (600-900 C), the obtained layered double oxides (LDOs) can rehydrate into LDH, although, the rehydrated LDH were different from the original LDH. In chapter 3, different operating conditions, such as gas flow rate, gas compositions (e.g. CH4/CO2 ratio and nitrogen dilution), and addition of H2O were studied to investigate optimal conditions for PPC DRM, identifying possible differences in temperature profiles and exhaust gas compositions that might influence the catalytic performance. Subsequently, the impact of different PPC configurations, making use of the heat and exhaust gas composition produced by the GAP plasma, is shown in Chapter 4. Experiments studying the impact of adjusting the catalyst bed distance to the post-plasma, the catalyst amount, the influence of external heating (below 250 C) and the addition of H2O are discussed. As only limited improvement in the performance was achieved, a new type of catalyst bed was designed and utilized, as described in chapter 5. This improved configuration can realize better heat and mass transfer by directly connecting to the GAP device. The performance was improved and became comparable to the traditional thermal catalytic DRM results obtained at 800 C, although obtained by a fully electrically driven plasma.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) 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:201534 Serial 9074  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Gielis, J.; Brasili, S. doi  isbn
openurl 
  Title Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Square Bamboos and the Geometree (ISSBG 2022) Type ME3 Book as editor
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages xi, 175 p.  
  Keywords ME3 Book as editor; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date 2023-11-29  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 978-90-833839-0-3 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:201049 Serial 9077  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Derks, K.; Youchaeva, M.; Van der Snickt, G.; Van der Stighelen, K.; Janssens, K. url  openurl
  Title Reconstructing Sweerts : practical insights into the historical dark halo technique based on paint reconstructions Type P1 Proceeding
  Year 2024 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 259-271 T2 - Alla maniera : technical art history  
  Keywords P1 Proceeding; Engineering sciences. Technology; Art; Antwerp Cultural Heritage Sciences (ARCHES); Antwerp X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy (AXIS)  
  Abstract  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 978-90-429-5216-4 ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:203062 Serial 9082  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Van Tendeloo, M.; Baptista, M.C.; Van Winckel, T.; Vlaeminck, S.E. pdf  doi
openurl 
  Title Recurrent multi-stressor floc treatments with sulphide and free ammonia enabled mainstream partial nitritation/anammox Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2024 Publication The science of the total environment Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 912 Issue Pages 169449-12  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract Selective suppression of nitrite-oxidising bacteria (NOB) over aerobic and anoxic ammonium-oxidising bacteria (AerAOB and AnAOB) remains a major challenge for mainstream partial nitritation/anammox implementation, a resource-efficient nitrogen removal pathway. A unique multi-stressor floc treatment was therefore designed and validated for the first time under lab-scale conditions while staying true to full-scale design principles. Two hybrid (suspended + biofilm growth) reactors were operated continuously at 20.2 ± 0.6 °C. Recurrent multi-stressor floc treatments were applied, consisting of a sulphide-spiked deoxygenated starvation followed by a free ammonia shock. A good microbial activity balance with high AnAOB (71 ± 21 mg N L−1 d−1) and low NOB (4 ± 17 % of AerAOB) activity was achieved by combining multiple operational strategies: recurrent multi-stressor floc treatments, hybrid sludge (flocs & biofilm), short floc age control, intermittent aeration, and residual ammonium control. The multi-stressor treatment was shown to be the most important control tool and should be continuously applied to maintain this balance. Excessive NOB growth on the biofilm was avoided despite only treating the flocs to safeguard the AnAOB activity on the biofilm. Additionally, no signs of NOB adaptation were observed over 142 days. Elevated effluent ammonium concentrations (25 ± 6 mg N L−1) limited the TN removal efficiency to 39 ± 9 %, complicating a future full-scale implementation. Operating at higher sludge concentrations or reducing the volumetric loading rate could overcome this issue. The obtained results ease the implementation of mainstream PN/A by providing and additional control tool to steer the microbial activity with the multi-stressor treatment, thus advancing the concept of energy neutrality in sewage treatment plants.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date 2023-12-18  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0048-9697; 1879-1026 ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor 9.8 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 9.8; 2024 IF: 4.9  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:202286 Serial 9083  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Poppe, R. url  openurl
  Title Refining short-range order parameters from diffuse electron scattering Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages iv, 150 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Electrons, X-rays and neutrons that pass through a thin crystalline sample will be diffracted. Diffraction patterns of crystalline materials contain Bragg reflections (sharp discrete intensity maxima) and diffuse scattering (a weak continuous background). The Bragg reflections contain information about the average crystal structure (the type of atoms and the average atomic positions), whereas the diffuse scattering contains information about the short-range order (deviations from the average crystal structure that are ordered on a local scale). Because the properties of many materials depend on the short-range order, refining short-range order parameters is essential for understanding and optimizing material properties. The refinement of short-range order parameters has previously been applied to the diffuse scattering in single-crystal X-ray and single-crystal neutron diffraction data but not yet to the diffuse scattering in single-crystal electron diffraction data. In this work, we will verify the possibility to refine short-range order parameters from the diffuse scattering in single-crystal electron diffraction data. Electron diffraction allows to acquire data on submicron-sized crystals, which are too small to be investigated with single-crystal X-ray and single-crystal neutron diffraction. In the first part of this work, we will refine short-range order parameters from the one-dimensional diffuse scattering in electron diffraction data acquired on the lithium-ion battery cathode material Li1.2Ni0.13Mn0.54Co0.13O2. The number of stacking faults and the twin percentages will be refined from the diffuse scattering using a Monte Carlo refinement. We will also describe a method to determine the spinel/layered phase ratio from the intensities of the Bragg reflections in electron diffraction data. In the second part of this work, we will refine short-range order parameters from the three-dimensional diffuse scattering in both single-crystal electron and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data acquired on Nb0.84CoSb. The correlations between neighbouring vacancies and the displacements of Sb and Co atoms will be refined from the diffuse scattering using a Monte Carlo refinement and a three-dimensional difference pair distribution function refinement. The effect of different experimental parameters on the spatial resolution of the observed diffuse scattering will also be investigated. Finally, the model of the short-range Nb-vacancy order in Nb0.84CoSb will also be applied to LiNi0.5Sn0.3Co0.2O2.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) 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:200610 Serial 9084  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Broos, W.; Wittner, N.; Dries, J.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Gunde-Cimerman, N.; Cornet, I. pdf  doi
openurl 
  Title Rhodotorula kratochvilovae outperforms Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum in the valorisation of lignocellulosic wastewater to microbial oil Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2024 Publication Process biochemistry (1991) Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 137 Issue Pages 229-238  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE)  
  Abstract Rhodotorula kratochvilovae has shown to be a promising species for microbial oil production from lignin-derived compounds. Yet, information on R. kratochvilovae’s detoxification and microbial oil production is scarce. This study investigated the growth and microbial oil production on the phenolic-containing effluent from poplar steam explosion and its detoxification with five R. kratochvilovae strains (EXF11626, EXF9590, EXF7516, EXF3697, EXF3471) and compared them with Cutaneotrichosporon oleaginosum. The R. kratochvilovae strains reached a maximum growth rate up to four times higher than C. oleaginosum. Furthermore, all R. kratochvilovae strains generally degraded phenolics more rapidly and to a larger extent than C. oleaginosum. However, the diluted substrate limited the lipid production by all strains as the maximum lipid content and titre were 10.5% CDW and 0.40 g/L, respectively. Therefore, future work should focus on increasing lipid production by using advanced fermentation strategies and stimulating the enzyme excretion by the yeasts for complex substrate breakdown.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date 2024-01-13  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1359-5113 ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor 4.4 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.4; 2024 IF: 2.497  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:202365 Serial 9087  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Vervloessem, E. url  openurl
  Title The role of pulsing and humidity in plasma-based nitrogen fixation : a combined experimental and modeling study Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 358 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Nitrogen (N) is an indispensable building block for all living organisms as well as for pharmaceutical and chemical industry. In a nutshell, N is needed for plants to grow and beings to live and nitrogen fixation (NF) is the process that makes N available for plants as food by converting N2 into a reactive form, such as ammonia (NH3) or nitrogen oxides (NOx), upon reacting with O2 and H2. The aim of this thesis is to elucidate (wet) plasma-based nitrogen fixation with a focus on (1) the role of pulsing in achieving low energy consumption, (2) the role of H2O as a hydrogen source in nitrogen fixation and (3) elucidation of nitrogen fixation pathways in humid air and humid N2 plasma in a combined experimental and computational study. Furthermore, this thesis aims to take into account the knowledge-gaps and challenges identified in the discussion of the state of the art. Specifically, (1) we put our focus on branching out to another way of introducing water into the plasma system, i.e. H2O vapor, (2) we de-couple the problem for pathway elucidation by starting with characterization of the chosen plasma, next a simpler gas mixture and building up from there, (3) we include modelling, though not under wet conditions and (4) we focus on also analyzing species and performance outside liquid H2O. Firstly, based on the reaction analysis of a validated quasi-1D model, we can conclude that pulsing is indeed the key factor for energy-efficient NOx- formation, due to the strong temperature drop it causes. Secondly, the thesis shows that added H2O vapor, and not liquid H2O, is the main source of H for NH3 generation. Related to this, we discuss how the selectivity of plasma-based NF in humid air and humid N2 can be controlled by changing the humidity in the feed gas. Interestingly, NH3 production can be achieved in both N2 and air plasmas using H2O as a H source. Lastly, we identified a significant loss mechanism for NH3 and HNO2 that occurs in systems where these species are synthesized simultaneously, i.e. downstream from the plasma, HNO2 reacts with NH3 to form NH4NO2, which decomposes into N2 and H2O. This reduces the effective NF when not properly addressed, and should therefore be considered in future works aimed at optimizing plasma-based NF. In conclusion, this thesis adds further to the current state of the art of plasma-based NF both in the presence of H2O and in dry systems.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) 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:197038 Serial 9088  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Jorissen, B.; Fernandes, L. openurl 
  Title Simple systems, complicated physics : an interview with Nir Navon Type Editorial
  Year 2023 Publication Belgian journal of physics Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 1 Issue 6 Pages 4-5  
  Keywords Editorial; Theory of quantum systems and complex systems; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)  
  Abstract The EPS Antwerp Young Minds (AYM) invited Prof. Nir Navon (Yale University) to hold a colloquium for the physics department. For an audience of students and researchers, Prof. Navon presented recent advances in ultracold quantum matter and research from his own lab. His experimental work paves the way to make toy models used by theorists a reality. We sat down afterwards to discuss ultracold physics, box traps and setting up a lab from scratch.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) 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:202673 Serial 9090  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Peeters, H. openurl 
  Title Solar active photocatalytic self-cleaning coatings based on plasmon-embedded titania Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages XX, 125 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology  
  Abstract  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) 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:201390 Serial 9093  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Dingenen, F. file  openurl
  Title Solar-driven H2 production from seawater using stabilized plasmon-enhanced photocatalysts Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages XXXVIII, 210 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology  
  Abstract As natural gas prices proved to be very volatile, sustainable alternatives are highly needed. Water-derived H2 was revealed as a promising substitute, allowing to produce a green energy carrier with a minimum of harmful emissions. Direct splitting of earth-abundant seawater provides an eco-friendly route for the production of clean H2, but is hampered by selectivity and stability issues due to the presence of salts.Photocatalytic seawater splitting is particularly promising for this purpose, as it seems less affected by adversary seawater effects and might rely on free and renewable solar power. Unfortunately, the benchmark photocatalyst, TiO2, still suffers from its low solar light activity. It is only actived upon illumination with energetic ultraviolet light (<5% of the sunlight). In order to broaden the activity window to the visible light, the concept of the 'plasmonic rainbow' was explored. Here, TiO2 is modified with various gold-silver composites that possess the unique optical phenomenon of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). This phenomenon enables the absorption of light at very specific wavelengths, depending on the metal type, size, shape and dielectric environment. The light energy might then be converted into hot carriers, strong local electromagnetic fields and/or heat. By combining multiple composites with various sizes and compositions, a broadband absorption could be obtained, resulting in significantly enhanced activity in photocatalytic model reactions under simulated sunlight. The major disadvantage of these plasmonic nanoparticles is their tendency to oxidize and deactivate. To overcome this, polymer shell stabilization strategies were found to be effective to protect the metal cores. Both conductive and non-conductive polymers were studied. For the former, a mix-and-wait strategy generating polyaniline shells of 2-5 nm was used, whille the latter was based on a Layer-by-Layer approach, allowing (sub) nanometer thickness control. For the actual H2 production experiments, the plasmonic loading was optimized in a pure water:methanol scavenger (7:1) mixture and initially the stabilization strategies proofed to be effective for simulated seawater (0.5M NaCl), even after 2 years. However, in real seawater, the activity decreased drastically due to aggregation of the photocatalyst in the presence of multivalent cations. Finally, facile immobilization strategies using 3D printing showed to be able to yield stable, solar active photocatalyst for real seawater splitting.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) 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:203196 Serial 9094  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Grünewald, L.; Chezganov, D.; De Meyer, R.; Orekhov, A.; Van Aert, S.; Bogaerts, A.; Bals, S.; Verbeeck, J. doi  openurl
  Title Supplementary Information for “In-situ Plasma Studies using a Direct Current Microplasma in a Scanning Electron Microscope” Type Dataset
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages  
  Keywords Dataset; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Supplementary information for the article “In-situ Plasma Studies using a Direct Current Microplasma in a Scanning Electron Microscope” containing the videos of in-situ SEM imaging (mp4 files), raw data/images, and Jupyter notebooks (ipynb files) for data treatment and plots. Link to the preprint: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2308.15123 Explanation of the data files can be found in the Information.pdf file. The Videos folder contains the in-situ SEM image series mentioned in the paper. If there are any questions/bugs, feel free to contact me at lukas.grunewaldatuantwerpen.be  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) 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 Not_Open_Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:203389 Serial 9100  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Xiao, H.; Zhang, Z.; Xu, W.; Wang, Q.; Xiao, Y.; Ding, L.; Huang, J.; Li, H.; He, B.; Peeters, F.M. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Terahertz optoelectronic properties of synthetic single crystal diamond Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Diamond and related materials Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 139 Issue Pages 110266-110268  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)  
  Abstract A systematic investigation is undertaken for studying the optoelectronic properties of single crystal diamond (SCD) grown by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD). It is indicated that, without intentional doping and surface treatment during the sample growth, the terahertz (THz) optical conduction in SCD is mainly affected by surface H-terminations, -OH-, O- and N-based functional groups. By using THz time-domain spectroscopy (TDS), we measure the transmittance, the complex dielectric constant and optical conductivity σ(ω) of SCD. We find that SCD does not show typical semiconductor characteristics in THz regime, where σ(ω) cannot be described rightly by the conventional Drude formula. Via fitting the real and imaginary parts of σ(ω) to the Drude-Smith formula, the ratio of the average carrier density to the effective electron mass γ = ne/m*, the electronic relaxation time τ and the electronic backscattering or localization factor can be determined optically. The temperature dependence of these parameters is examined. From the temperature dependence of γ, a metallic to semiconductor transition is observed at about T = 10 K. The temperature dependence of τ is mainly induced by electron coupling with acoustic-phonons and there is a significant effect of photon-induced electron backscattering or localization in SCD. This work demonstrates that THz TDS is a powerful technique in studying SCD which contains H-, N- and O-based bonds and has low electron density and high dc resistivity. The results obtained from this study can benefit us to gain an in-depth understanding of SCD and may provide new guidance for the application of SCD as electronic, optical and optoelectronic materials.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date 2023-08-02  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0925-9635 ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor 4.1 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.1; 2023 IF: 2.561  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200920 Serial 9103  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Biondo, O. openurl 
  Title Towards a fundamental understanding of energy-efficient, plasma-based CO<sub>2</sub> conversion Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 221 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Plasma-based CO2 conversion is worldwide gaining increasing interest. The aim of this work is to find potential pathways to improve the energy efficiency of plasma-based CO2 conversion beyond what is feasible for thermal chemistry. To do so, we use a combination of modeling and experiments to better understand the underlying mechanisms of CO2 conversion, ranging from non-thermal to thermal equilibrium conditions. Zero-dimensional (0D) chemical kinetics modelling, describing the detailed plasma chemistry, is developed to explore the vibrational kinetics of CO2, as the latter is known to play a crucial role in the energy efficient CO2 conversion. The 0D model is successfully validated against pulsed CO2 glow discharge experiments, enabling the reconstruction of the complex dynamics underlying gas heating in a pure CO2 discharge, paving the way towards the study of gas heating in more complex gas mixtures, such as CO2 plasmas with high dissociation degrees. Energy-efficient, plasma-based CO2 conversion can also be obtained upon the addition of a reactive carbon bed in the post-discharge region. The reaction between solid carbon and O2 to form CO allows to both reduce the separation costs and increase the selectivity towards CO, thus, increasing the energy efficiency of the overall conversion process. In this regard, a novel 0D model to infer the mechanism underlying the performance of the carbon bed over time is developed. The model outcome indicates that gas temperature and oxygen complexes formed at the surface of solid carbon play a fundamental and interdependent role. These findings open the way towards further optimization of the coupling between plasma and carbon bed. Experimentally, it has been demonstrated that “warm” plasmas (e.g. microwave or gliding arc plasmas) can yield very high energy efficiency for CO2 conversion, but typically only at reduced pressure. For industrial application, it will be important to realize such good energy efficiency at atmospheric pressure as well. However, recent experiments illustrate that the microwave plasma at atmospheric pressure is too close to thermal conditions to achieve a high energy efficiency. Hence, we use a comprehensive set of advanced diagnostics to characterize the plasma and the reactor performance, focusing on CO2 and CO2/CH4 microwave discharges. The results lead to a deeper understanding of the mechanism of power concentration with increasing pressure, typical of plasmas in most gases, which is of great importance for model validation and understanding of reactor performance.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) 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:197213 Serial 9108  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Ahmadi Eshtehardi, H. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Combined computational-experimental study on plasma and plasma catalysis for N2 fixation Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2024 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 160 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)  
  Abstract Humanity feels the urge of shifting to a sustainable society more than at any other time in its history. Electrification of chemical industry plays a key role in this transition. The possibility of producing fertilizers from air using renewable electricity, and simultaneously, no greenhouse gas emission, resulted in an increasing interest toward plasma technology as a solution for electrification of a part of the chemical industry in the past few years. Additionally, the activation of nitrogen molecules by vibrational and electronic excitation reactions in plasma can lead to an energy-efficient process. Last but not least, the modularity (fast on/off characteristic) of plasma technology makes it capable of using intermittent renewable electricity on site for the production of fertilizers using air. All these advantages offered by plasma technology make it a potential solution for the on-site production of fertilizers in small and decentralized plants using air and renewable electricity, which leads to a considerable reduction in fertilizer production and transportation costs. However, industrialization of plasma-based NF suffers from several challenges, including challenges of plasma catalysis for the selective production of desired species, the high energy cost of plasma-based NF compared to current industrial processes, and the design and development of scaled up and energy-efficient plasma reactors for industrial purposes. In the framework of this thesis we have tried to add to the state-of-the-art (SOTA) in plasma-based NOx production and deal with its limitations using a combination of experimental and modelling work.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date 2024-06-14  
  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:205246 Serial 9139  
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Author Cioni, M.; Delle Piane, M.; Polino, D.; Rapetti, D.; Crippa, M.; Arslan Irmak, E.; Pavan, G.M.; Van Aert, S.; Bals, S. doi  openurl
  Title Data for Sampling Real‐Time Atomic Dynamics in Metal Nanoparticles by Combining Experiments, Simulations, and Machine Learning Type Dataset
  Year 2024 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages  
  Keywords Dataset; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Even at low temperatures, metal nanoparticles (NPs) possess atomic dynamics that are key for their properties but challenging to elucidate. Recent experimental advances allow obtaining atomic‐resolution snapshots of the NPs in realistic regimes, but data acquisition limitations hinder the experimental reconstruction of the atomic dynamics present within them. Molecular simulations have the advantage that these allow directly tracking the motion of atoms over time. However, these typically start from ideal/perfect NP structures and, suffering from sampling limits, provide results that are often dependent on the initial/putative structure and remain purely indicative. Here, by combining state‐of‐the‐art experimental and computational approaches, how it is possible to tackle the limitations of both approaches and resolve the atomistic dynamics present in metal NPs in realistic conditions is demonstrated. Annular dark‐field scanning transmission electron microscopy enables the acquisition of ten high‐resolution images of an Au NP at intervals of 0.6 s. These are used to reconstruct atomistic 3D models of the real NP used to run ten independent molecular dynamics simulations. Machine learning analyses of the simulation trajectories allows resolving the real‐time atomic dynamics present within the NP. This provides a robust combined experimental/computational approach to characterize the structural dynamics of metal NPs in realistic conditions.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) 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:205843 Serial 9143  
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Author De Luca, F.; Abate, S.; Bogaerts, A.; Centi, G. url  openurl
  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 (up) 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  
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Author Vlasov, E. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Exploiting secondary electrons in transmission electron microscopy for 3D characterization of nanoparticle morphologies Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2024 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages x, 118 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract Electron tomography (ET) is an indispensable tool for determining the three-dimensional (3D) structure of nanomaterials in (scanning) transmission electron microscopy ((S)TEM). ET enables 3D characterization of a variety of nanomaterials across different fields, including life sciences, chemistry, solid-state physics, and materials science down to atomic resolution. However, the acquisition of a conventional tilt series for ET is a time-consuming process and thus cannot capture fast transformations of materials in realistic conditions. Moreover, only a limited number of nanoparticles (NPs) can be investigated, hampering a general understanding of the average properties of the material. Therefore, alternative characterization techniques that allow for high-resolution characterization of the surface structure without the need to acquire a full tilt series in ET are required which would enable a more time-efficient investigation with better statistical value. In the first part of this work, an alternative technique for the characterization of the morphology of NPs to improve the throughput and temporal resolution of ET is presented. The proposed technique exploits surface-sensitive secondary electron (SE) imaging in STEM employed using a modification of electron beam-induced current (EBIC) setup. The time- and dose efficiency of SEEBIC are tested in comparison with ET and superior spatial resolution is shown compared to conventional scanning electron microscopy. Finally, contrast artefacts arising in SEEBIC images are described, and their origin is discussed. The second part of my thesis focuses on real applications of the proposed technique and introduces a high-throughput methodology that combines images acquired by SEEBIC with quantitative image analysis to retrieve information about the helicity of gold nanorods. It shows that SEEBIC imaging overcomes the limitation of ET providing a general understanding of the connection between structure and chiroptical properties.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date 2024-06-17  
  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:204905 Serial 9149  
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Author Kummamuru, N.B. url  openurl
  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 (up) 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 Lu, Q. url  openurl
  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 (up) 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  
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Author Manaigo, F. url  openurl
  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 (up) 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  
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Author Brognara, A.; Kashiwar, A.; Jung, C.; Zhang, X.; Ahmadian, A.; Gauquelin, N.; Verbeeck, J.; Djemia, P.; Faurie, D.; Dehm, G.; Idrissi, H.; Best, J.P.; Ghidelli, M. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Tailoring mechanical properties and shear band propagation in ZrCu metallic glass nanolaminates through chemical heterogeneities and interface density Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2024 Publication Small Structures Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages 2400011-11  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)  
  Abstract The design of high‐performance structural thin films consistently seeks to achieve a delicate equilibrium by balancing outstanding mechanical properties like yield strength, ductility, and substrate adhesion, which are often mutually exclusive. Metallic glasses (MGs) with their amorphous structure have superior strength, but usually poor ductility with catastrophic failure induced by shear bands (SBs) formation. Herein, we introduce an innovative approach by synthesizing MGs characterized by large and tunable mechanical properties, pioneering a nanoengineering design based on the control of nanoscale chemical/structural heterogeneities. This is realized through a simplified model Zr 24 Cu 76 /Zr 61 Cu 39 , fully amorphous nanocomposite with controlled nanoscale periodicity ( Λ , from 400 down to 5 nm), local chemistry, and glass–glass interfaces, while focusing in‐depth on the SB nucleation/propagation processes. The nanolaminates enable a fine control of the mechanical properties, and an onset of crack formation/percolation (>1.9 and 3.3%, respectively) far above the monolithic counterparts. Moreover, we show that SB propagation induces large chemical intermixing, enabling a brittle‐to‐ductile transition when Λ  ≤ 50 nm, reaching remarkably large plastic deformation of 16% in compression and yield strength ≈2 GPa. Overall, the nanoengineered control of local heterogeneities leads to ultimate and tunable mechanical properties opening up a new approach for strong and ductile materials.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date 2024-05-20  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 2688-4062 ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:205798 Serial 9176  
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Author Verbruggen, S.; Van Acker, M.; Furlan, C.; Mercelis, S.; Durt, A. openurl 
  Title ATLANTES : the mATeriaL spAtial dimeNsion of wasTE flowS: visualising waste streams in the Province of Antwerp Type Minutes and reports
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages  
  Keywords Minutes and reports; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Internet Data Lab (IDLab); Research Group for Urban Development; Henry van de Velde  
  Abstract  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) 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:199837 Serial 9187  
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Author Van Hoecke, L. url  doi
openurl 
  Title CFD-Assisted design of fluidized reactors for H2 release from LOHC Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2024 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages XXXIII, 181 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology  
  Abstract Hydrogen (H2) is expected to become a key molecule in the transition towards a society running on renewable energy. It can be used to store excess renewable energy at peak production moments and release this energy at a later stage when renewable energy production is less. However, storing H2 is challenging due to the low density of this gas. As a solution, Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers or LOHC molecules have been proposed in the passed to increase volumetric energy density of H2. LOHC are a class of molecules that have storage sites available, to which the H2 gas can be chemically bounded. The LOHC molecule under investigation was dibenzyltoluene (DBT), which is an oil like liquid, that is easy to transport and poses little fire or explosion risks. To release the H2 from the DBT carrier, via a so-called dehydrogenation reaction, efficient mass and heat transfer is required during the process, since a large volume increase is expected from H2 release and the reaction is endothermic, i.e., a self – cooling process that takes place at temperatures around 300 C. The heat has to be supplied specifically to the active sites of catalyst particles that are present inside the reactor and which enable the dehydrogenation to proceed. For heat transfer limited processes fluidized bed reactors are often used, which is a type of reactor where the particle phase is being agitated by the fluid flow. The research proposed in this work, was to explore via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations the possibilities and challenges of using fluidized bed reactors for the dehydrogenation of LOHC. The model selection required for CFD simulations of a three-phase system was investigated in this work, with a main emphasis on the drag model selection. The CFD modelling study was focused on the use of swirling fluidized bed reactors, since it was hypothesised that the swirling effect could also aid in increased removal of the gas phase from the reaction medium to increase the efficiency of the process. Ultimately, it was shown that the main challenges in the design of fluidized bed reactors will be to create uniform particle distribution inside the reactor. A new design for a dehydrogenation reactor is proposed based on the insights gained in this thesis.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date 2024-06-14  
  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:205645 Serial 9192  
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Author Ducatteeuw, V.; Biltereyst, D.; Meers, P.; Verbruggen, C.; Moreels, D.; Noordegraaf, J.; Chambers, S.; De Potter, P.; Cachet, T.; Franck, N.; Deroo, F. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Critical reflections on Cinema Belgica : the database for New Cinema History in Belgium Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Journal of open humanities data Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 9 Issue Pages 1-16  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Mass communications; Art; History; Visual and Digital Cultures Research Center (ViDi)  
  Abstract New Cinema History broadened film studies by emphasising the complexity of cinema as a multifaceted phenomenon that includes the socio-economic context in which films were made, circulated, shown and received. As part of the digital turn, the discipline adopted computational methods and created quantitative research data to research this socio-economic context at scale. However, not all datasets created in this context adhere to FAIR principles, decreasing their reusability. By reconciling 14 cinema-related datasets, Cinema Belgica facilitates research into the history of Belgian cinema. This research paper documents and critically reflects on the choices made when selecting, modelling and reconciling information for the Cinema Belgica database.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date 2023-01-13  
  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:193303 Serial 9196  
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Author Lembrechts, J.; Clavel, J.; Lenoir, J.; Haider, S.; McDougall, K.; Nunez, M.; Alexander, J.; Barros, A.; Milbau, A.; Seipel, T.; Verbruggen, E.; Nijs, I. doi  openurl
  Title Dataset: Roadside disturbance promotes plant communities with arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in mountain regions worldwide Type Dataset
  Year 2024 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages  
  Keywords Dataset; Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change  
  Abstract Aim: We aimed to assess the impact of road disturbances on the dominant mycorrhizal types in ecosystems at the global level and how this mechanism can potentially lead to lasting plant community changes. Location: Globally distributed mountain regions Time Period: 2007-2018 Taxa studied: Plants (linked to their associated mycorrhizal fungi) Methods: We used a database of coordinated plant community surveys following mountain roads from 894 plots in 11 mountain regions across the globe in combination with an existing database of mycorrhizal-plant associations in order to approximate the relative abundance of mycorrhizal types in natural and disturbed environments. Results: Our findings show that roadside disturbance promotes the cover of plants associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. This effect is especially strong in colder mountain environments and in mountain regions where plant communities are dominated by ectomycorrhizal (EcM) or ericoid-mycorrhizal (ErM) associations. Furthermore, non-native plant species, which we confirmed to be mostly AM plants, are more successful in environments dominated by AM associations. Main Conclusions: These biogeographical patterns suggest that changes in mycorrhizal types could be a crucial factor in the worldwide impact of anthropogenic disturbances on mountain ecosystems. Indeed, roadsides foster AM-dominated systems, where AM-fungi might aid AM-associated plant species while potentially reducing the biotic resistance against invasive non-native species, often also associated with AM networks. Restoration efforts in mountain ecosystems will have to contend with changes in the fundamental make-up of EcM- and ErM plant communities induced by roadside disturbance.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) 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:206132 Serial 9198  
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Author Larraín, M.; Billen, P.; Cifuentes, L.; Van Passel, S. pdf  doi
openurl 
  Title Economic and environmental implications of policy instruments for the circular economy : a case study for postconsumer polyethylene film recycling in Europe Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2024 Publication Resources, conservation and recycling Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume 204 Issue Pages 107519-11  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)  
  Abstract The objective of this paper is to examine the recycling rates for mechanical and thermochemical recycling of postconsumer polyethylene flexible packaging after the implementation of different policy instruments. The study uses a supply chain equilibrium model that incorporates market data and techno-economic assessments to simulate market equilibrium. It combines this with a life cycle assessment to explore the environmental implications of implementing different policy instruments. The results show that instruments that do not target a specific technology are more likely to increase thermochemical recycling than mechanical recycling. Furthermore, a higher recycling rate is not equivalent to a better environmental outcome. An increased collection target that ensures a supply of plastic waste would increase the overall recycling rates the most. A recycled content standard for mechanical recycling would lead to the highest increase in mechanical recycling, with top results for environmental indicators, but low results for economic indicators.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date 2024-02-29  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0921-3449 ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor 13.2 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 13.2; 2024 IF: 3.313  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:203485 Serial 9202  
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Author Van Oijstaeijen, W. url  isbn
openurl 
  Title Green infrastructure and local implementation : (green) bridging the gap between research and practice Type Administrative Services
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume Issue Pages xvii, 194 p.  
  Keywords Administrative Services; Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Climate change is an ever-increasing threat to our planet, with the urbanisation of previously open spaces exacerbating the issue. The loss of open space leads to a decrease in ecosystem services, which negatively impacts the liveability in urbanised environments, and beyond. The incorporation of green infrastructure (GI) into the built environment is acknowledged as an effective and multi-functional measure to make our living environment resilient and future-proof. Notwithstanding that the local level is essential for effective GI implementation, research into local decision making is very limited. This thesis therefore aims to address two significant gaps in the implementation of GI. The first objective is to bridge the science-policy gap by integrating scientific knowledge on ES and GI into local decision-making processes. In this context, the policy dimension within this thesis involves the process of translating overarching policy objectives into practical actions within local decision-making practices, abstracting from the intricacies of higher-level policymaking itself. The second objective focuses on the people-policy gap, which involves understanding stakeholders' perspectives and priorities regarding GI and its associated ecosystem services. Through stated preference valuation techniques (discrete choice experiments and a best-worst scaling experiment), multi-stakeholder GI perceptions are gathered. Finally, a novel tool to GI valuation is developed, acknowledging the different stakeholder views and building on the insights of collaborative tool development and design. By gaining insights into the demand, prioritisation, and provision of GI from the two most important stakeholder groups at the local level (residents and local decision-makers), this research aims to foster effective communication and alignment between public preferences and policy implementation. Ultimately, addressing these gaps will contribute to more informed planning and decision-making practices related to green infrastructure. The overall goal of this thesis is to enhance the uptake of GI knowledge in the local decision-making context, proposing pathways to facilitate and optimise investments in public GI.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos (up) Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 978-90-5728-814-2 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199925 Serial 9206  
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