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Author Nematollahi, P.; Neyts, E.C.
Title Identification of a unique pyridinic FeN4Cx electrocatalyst for N₂ reduction : tailoring the coordination and carbon topologies Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Journal Of Physical Chemistry C Abbreviated Journal J Phys Chem C
Volume 126 Issue 34 Pages 14460-14469
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Although the heterogeneity of pyrolyzed Fe???N???C materials is known and has been reported previously, the atomic structure of the active sites and their detailed reaction mechanisms are still unknown. Here, we identified two pyridinic Fe???N4-like centers with different local C coordinates, i.e., FeN4C8 and FeN4C10, and studied their electrocatalytic activity for the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We also discovered the influence of the adsorption of NH2 as a functional ligand on catalyst performance on the NRR. We confirmed that the NRR selectivity of the studied catalysts is essentially governed either by the local C coordination or by the dynamic structure associated with the FeII/FeIII. Our investigations indicate that the proposed traditional pyridinic FeN4C10 has higher catalytic activity and selectivity for the NRR than the robust FeN4C8 catalyst, while it may have outstanding activity for promoting other (electro)catalytic reactions. <comment>Superscript/Subscript Available</comment
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000859545200001 Publication Date 2022-08-17
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1932-7447; 1932-7455 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 3.7 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.7
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191469 Serial 7268
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Author Van Hoecke, L.; Boeye, D.; Gonzalez‐Quiroga, A.; Patience, G.S.; Perreault, P.
Title Experimental methods in chemical engineering : computational fluid dynamics/finite volume method–CFD/FVM Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication The Canadian journal of chemical engineering Abbreviated Journal Can J Chem Eng
Volume Issue Pages 1-17
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applies numerical methods to solve transport phenomena problems. These include, for example, problems related to fluid flow comprising the Navier--Stokes transport equations for either compressible or incompressible fluids together with turbulence models and continuity equations for single and multi-component (reacting and inert) systems. The design space is first segmented into discrete volume elements (meshing). The finite volume method, the subject of this article, discretizes the equations in time and space to produce a set of non-linear algebraic expressions that are assigned to each volume element-cell. The system of equations is solved iteratively with algorithms like the semi-implicit method for pressure-linked equations (SIMPLE) and the pressure implicit splitting of operators (PISO). CFD is especially useful for testing multiple design elements because it is often faster and cheaper than experiments. The downside is that this numerical method is based on models that require validation to check their accuracy. According to a bibliometric analysis, the broad research domains in chemical engineering include: (1) dynamics and CFD-DEM (2) fluid flow, heat transfer and turbulence, (3) mass transfer and combustion, (4) ventilation and environment, and (5) design and optimization. Here, we review the basic theoretical concepts of CFD and illustrate how to set up a problem in the open-source software OpenFOAM to isomerize n-butane to i-butane in a notched reactor under turbulent conditions. We simulated the problem with 1000, 4000, and 16000 cells. According to the Richardson extrapolation, the simulation underestimates the adiabatic temperature rise by 7% with 16000 cells.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000859840100001 Publication Date 2022-07-26
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0008-4034; 1939-019x ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 2.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.1
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189284 Serial 7160
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Author Biely, K.; Von Muenchhausen, S.; Van Passel, S.
Title Vertical integration as a strategy to increase value absorption by primary producers : the Belgian sugar beet and the German rapeseed case Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication AIMS Agriculture and Food Abbreviated Journal
Volume 7 Issue 3 Pages 659-682
Keywords A1 Journal article; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Vertical integration is a means of increasing market power. For some agricultural products, it is easier for farmers to exert control over their product beyond the farm gate, but for others it is more difficult. Cases in the latter category have two main characteristics. First, the farmer cannot sell the respective product to final consumers without processing. Second, processing is capital-intensive. Consequently, farmers have limited sales channels, and vertical integration of the supply chain is complex and challenging. It implies cooperation among farmers to process the raw material at a profitable scale and to finance the installation of processing facilities. Thus, for these product categories, farmers are prone to market power issues, since they depend on private businesses that have the financial means to install processing facilities and the logistical capacities to organize the collection of large amounts of raw material. This paper aims to identify and analyze the role of supply chain integration for farmers who are already cooperating horizontally. Two case studies serve as the basis for the analysis: sugar beet in Flanders, Belgium, and oilseed rape in Hessen, Germany. The analysis is based on a qualitative research approach combining interviews, focus groups, and workshops with farmers and processors. While for sugar beet, the effects of market power are emerging only now with the termination of the quota system, farmers growing oilseed rape have been experiencing these problems since the 1990s. Our analysis concludes that most strategies to maintain or improve farm income have been exhausted. Even various forms of vertical integration supported by European policies do not necessarily work as a successful strategy.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000860666800001 Publication Date 2022-08-17
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2471-2086 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 1.8 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 1.8
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191514 Serial 7374
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Author Dingenen, F.; Borah, R.; Ninakanti, R.; Verbruggen, S.W.
Title Probing oxygen activation on plasmonic photocatalysts Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Frontiers in Chemistry Abbreviated Journal Front Chem
Volume 10 Issue Pages 988542-10
Keywords A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract In this work we present an assay to probe the oxygen activation rate on plasmonic nanoparticles under visible light. Using a superoxide-specific XTT molecular probe, the oxygen activation rate on bimetallic gold-silver “rainbow” nanoparticles with a broadband visible light (> 420 nm) response, is determined at different light intensities by measuring its conversion into the colored XTT-formazan derivate. A kinetic model is applied to enable a quantitative estimation of the rate constant, and is shown to match almost perfectly with the experimental data. Next, the broadband visible light driven oxygen activation capacity of this plasmonic rainbow system, supported on nano-sized SiO 2 , is demonstrated towards the oxidation of aniline to azobenzene in DMSO. To conclude, a brief theoretical discussion is devoted to the possible mechanisms behind such plasmon-driven reactions.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000860818400001 Publication Date 2022-09-12
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2296-2646 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 5.5 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5.5
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:190868 Serial 7197
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Author Idrissi, H.; Béché, A.; Gauquelin, N.; Ul-Haq, I.; Bollinger, C.; Demouchy, S.; Verbeeck, J.; Pardoen, T.; Schryvers, D.; Cordier, P.
Title On the formation mechanisms of intragranular shear bands in olivine by stress-induced amorphization Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Acta materialia Abbreviated Journal Acta Mater
Volume 239 Issue Pages 118247-118249
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Intragranular amorphization shear lamellae are found in deformed olivine aggregates. The detailed trans-mission electron microscopy analysis of intragranular lamella arrested in the core of a grain provides novel information on the amorphization mechanism. The deformation field is complex and heteroge-neous, corresponding to a shear crack type instability involving mode I, II and III loading components. The formation and propagation of the amorphous lamella is accompanied by the formation of crystal defects ahead of the tip. These defects are geometrically necessary [001] dislocations, characteristics of high-stress deformation in olivine, and rotational nanodomains which are tentatively interpreted as disclinations. We show that these defects play an important role in dictating the path followed by the amorphous lamella. Stress-induced amorphization in olivine would thus result from a direct crystal-to -amorphous transformation associated with a shear instability and not from a mechanical destabilization due to the accumulation of high number of defects from an intense preliminary deformation. The pref-erential alignment of some lamellae along (010) is a proof of the lower ultimate mechanical strength of these planes.(c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Acta Materialia Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000861076600004 Publication Date 2022-08-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1359-6454 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 9.4 Times cited 5 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes The QuanTEM microscope was partially funded by the Flemish government. The K2 camera was funded by FWO Hercules fund G0H4316N 'Direct electron detector for soft matter TEM'. A. Beche acknowledges funding from FWO project G093417N ('Compressed sensing enabling low dose imaging in transmission electron microscopy'). H. Idrissi is mandated by the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (FSR-FNRS). This work was supported by the FNRS under Grant PDR – T011322F and by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 787,198 Time Man. J-L Rouviere is acknowledged for his support with the GPA softawre. Approved Most recent IF: 9.4
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191432 Serial 7186
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Author Spanoghe, J.; Ost, K.J.; Van Beeck, W.; Vermeir, P.; Lebeer, S.; Vlaeminck, S.E.
Title Purple bacteria screening for photoautohydrogenotrophic food production : are new H₂-fed isolates faster and nutritionally better than photoheterotrophically obtained reference species? Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication New biotechnology Abbreviated Journal New Biotechnol
Volume 72 Issue Pages 38-47
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Photoautohydrogenotrophic enrichments of wastewater treatment microbiomes were performed to obtain hypothetically high-potential specialist species for biotechnological applications. From these enrichment cultures, ten photoautohydrogenotrophic species were isolated: six Rhodopseudomonas species, three Rubrivivax members and Rhodobacter blasticus. The performance of these isolates was compared to three commonly studied, and originally photoheterotrophically enriched species (Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Rhodobacter capsulatus and Rhodobacter sphaeroides), designated as reference species. Repeated subcultivations were applied to improve the initial poor performance of the isolates (acclimation effect), which resulted in increases in both maximum growth rate and protein productivity. However, the maximum growth rate of the reference species remained 3–7 times higher compared to the isolates (0.42–0.84 d−1 at 28 °C), while protein productivities remained 1.5–1.7 times higher. This indicated that H2-based enrichment did not result in photoautohydrogenotrophic specialists, suggesting that the reference species are more suitable for intensified biomass and protein production. On the other hand, the isolates were able to provide equally high protein quality profiles as the references species, providing full dietary essential amino acid matches for human food. Lastly, the effect of metabolic carbon/electron switching (back and forth between auto- to heterotrophic conditions) initially boosted µmax when returning to photoautohydrogenotrophic conditions. However, the switch negatively impacted lag phase, protein productivities and pigment contents. In the case of protein productivity, the acquired acclimation was partially lost with decreases of up to 44 % and 40 % respectively for isolates and reference species. Finally, the three reference species, and specifically Rh. capsulatus, remained the most suitable candidate(s) for further biotechnological development.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000861078800005 Publication Date 2022-08-29
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1871-6784; 1876-4347 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 5.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5.4
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:190188 Serial 7199
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Author Chen, H.; Xu, J.; Wang, Y.; Wang, D.; Ferrer-Espada, R.; Wang, Y.; Zhou, J.; Pedrazo-Tardajos, A.; Yang, M.; Tan, J.-H.; Yang, X.; Zhang, L.; Sychugov, I.; Chen, S.; Bals, S.; Paulsson, J.; Yang, Z.
Title Color-switchable nanosilicon fluorescent probes Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication ACS nano Abbreviated Journal Acs Nano
Volume 16 Issue 9 Pages 15450-15459
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Fluorescent probes are vital to cell imaging by allowing specific parts of cells to be visualized and quantified. Color-switchable probes (CSPs), with tunable emission wavelength upon contact with specific targets, are particularly powerful because they not only eliminate the need to wash away all unbound probe but also allow for internal controls of probe concentrations, thereby facilitating quantification. Several such CSPs exist and have proven very useful, but not for all key cellular targets. Here we report a pioneering CSP for in situ cell imaging using aldehydefunctionalized silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) that switch their intrinsic photoluminescence from red to blue quickly when interacting with amino acids in live cells. Though conventional probes often work better in cell-free extracts than in live cells, the SiNCs display the opposite behavior and function well and fast in universal cell lines at 37 ? while requiring much higher temperature in extracts. Furthermore, the SiNCs only disperse in cytoplasm not nucleus, and their fluorescence intensity correlated linearly with the concentration of fed amino acids. We believe these nanosilicon probes will be promising tools to visualize distribution of amino acids and potentially quantify amino acid related processes in live cells.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000861080700001 Publication Date 2022-09-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1936-0851 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 17.1 Times cited 1 Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Z.Y. and H.C. acknowledge the funding support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21905316, 22175201) , the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province (2019A050510018) , the Pearl River Recruitment Program of Talent (2019QN01C108) , the EU Infrastructure Project EUSMI (Grant No. E190700310) , and Sun Yat-sen University. S.C. acknowledge the funding support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32171192) . D.W. acknowledges an Individual Fellowship funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) in Horizon 2020 program (Grant No. 894254 SuprAtom) . S.B. and A.P.-T. acknowledge financial support from the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Programme by means of the grant agreement No. 731019 (EUSMI) and the ERC Consolidator Grant No. 815128 (REALNANO) . J.Z. acknowledged the funding support from the China Scholarship Council (CSC) . L.Z and J.X. thank Huzhou Li-in Biotechnology Co., Ltd. for the instrumentational and financial support. J.X. and R.F.-E. appreciate fruitful discussion with Dr. Emanuele Leoncini and Dr. Noah Olsman. J.X. and R.F.-E. also thank Mr. Daniel Eaton and Mr. Carlos Sanchez for their help with microscope setups. Approved Most recent IF: 17.1
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191574 Serial 7288
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Author Martinez-Villarreal, S.; Breitenstein, A.; Nimmegeers, P.; Perez Saura, P.; Hai, B.; Asomaning, J.; Eslami, A.A.; Billen, P.; Van Passel, S.; Bressler, D.C.; Debecker, D.P.; Remacle, C.; Richel, A.
Title Drop-in biofuels production from microalgae to hydrocarbons : microalgal cultivation and harvesting, conversion pathways, economics and prospects for aviation Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Biomass & Bioenergy Abbreviated Journal Biomass Bioenerg
Volume 165 Issue Pages 106555-22
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)
Abstract In the last few years, governments all around the world have agreed upon migrating towards carbon-neutral economies as a strategy for restraining the effects of climate change. A major obstacle limiting this achievement is greenhouse gases emissions, for which the aviation sector is a key contributor because of its dependence on fossil fuels. As an alternative, biofuels with similar characteristics to current fossil-fuels and fully compatible with the existing petroleum infrastructure (i.e., drop-in biofuels) are being developed. In this regard, microalgae are a promising feedstock thanks to, among other aspects, their potential for lipid accumulation. This review outlines the development status, opportunities, and challenges of different technologies that are capable of or applicable to transform microalgae into aviation fuels. To this effect, a baseline of the existing jet fuels and the requirements for potential aviation biofuels is initially presented. Then, microalgae production and valorization techniques are discussed with an emphasis on the thermochemical pathways. Finally, an assessment of the present techno-economic feasibility of microalgae-derived aviation fuels is discussed, along with the authors’ point of view on the suitability of these techniques. Further developments are needed to reduce the costs of cultivation and harvesting of microalgae, and a biorefinery approach might improve the economics of the overall process. In addition, while each of the conversion routes described has its advantages and drawbacks, they converge upon the need of optimizing the deoxygenation techniques and the proportion of the suitable type of hydrocarbons that match fuel requirements.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000861095400001 Publication Date 2022-08-30
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0961-9534 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 6 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 6
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189953 Serial 7354
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Author Reichhardt, C.; Reichhardt, C.J.O.; Milošević, M.V.
Title Statics and dynamics of skyrmions interacting with disorder and nanostructures Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Reviews of modern physics Abbreviated Journal Rev Mod Phys
Volume 94 Issue 3 Pages 035005-35061
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Magnetic skyrmions are topologically stable nanoscale particlelike objects that were discovered in 2009. Since that time, intense research interest in the field has led to the identification of numerous compounds that support skyrmions over a range of conditions spanning from cryogenic to room temperatures. Skyrmions can be set into motion under various types of driving, and the combination of their size, stability, and dynamics makes them ideal candidates for numerous applications. At the same time, skyrmions represent a new class of system in which the energy scales of the skyrmion-skyrmion interactions, sample disorder, temperature, and drive can compete. A growing body of work indicates that the static and dynamic states of skyrmions can be influenced strongly by pinning or disorder in the sample; thus, an understanding of such effects is essential for the eventual use of skyrmions in applications. The current state of knowledge regarding individual skyrmions and skyrmion assemblies interacting with quenched disorder or pinning is reviewed. The microscopic mechanisms for skyrmion pinning, including the repulsive and attractive interactions that can arise from impurities, grain boundaries, or nanostructures, are outlined. This is followed by descriptions of depinning phenomena, sliding states over disorder, the effect of pinning on the skyrmion Hall angle, the competition between thermal and pinning effects, the control of skyrmion motion using ordered potential landscapes such as one-or two-dimensional periodic asymmetric substrates, the creation of skyrmion diodes, and skyrmion ratchet effects. Highlighted are the distinctions arising from internal modes and the strong gyrotropic or Magnus forces that cause the dynamical states of skyrmions to differ from those of other systems with pinning, such as vortices in type-II superconductors, charge density waves, or colloidal particles. Throughout this review future directions and open questions related to the and in are also discussed.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000861559900001 Publication Date 2022-09-20
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0034-6861; 1539-0756 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 44.1 Times cited 12 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 44.1
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191507 Serial 7339
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Author Fabri, C.; Moretti, M.; Van Passel, S.
Title On the (ir)relevance of heatwaves in climate change impacts on European agriculture Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Climatic Change Abbreviated Journal Climatic Change
Volume 174 Issue 1-2 Pages 16-20
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract The Ricardian model is a widely used approach based on cross-sectional regression analysis to estimate climate change impacts on agricultural productivity. Up until now, researchers have focused on the impacts of gradual changes in temperature and precipitation, even though climate change is known to encompass also changes in the severity and frequency of extreme weather events. This research investigates the impact of heatwaves on European agriculture, additional to the impact of average climate change. Using a dataset of more than 60,000 European farms, the study examines whether adding a measure for heatwaves to the Ricardian model influences its results. We find that heatwaves have a minor impact on agricultural productivity and that this impact is moderated by average temperature. In colder regions, farm productivity increases with the number of heatwave days. For warmer regions, land values decrease with heatwave frequency. Despite the moderating effect, the marginal effect of heatwave frequency, i.e. the percentage change in agricultural land values caused by one more heatwave day per year, is small in comparison to the effect of average temperature increases. Non-marginal effects are found to be relevant, but only in the case of increased heatwave frequency. According to our results, farms are not expected to suffer more from extreme weather than from mean climate change, as was claimed by several previous studies.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000861873100002 Publication Date 2022-09-29
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0165-0009; 1573-1480 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 4.8 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.8
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191483 Serial 7364
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Author De Backer, A.; Zhang, Z.; van den Bos, K.H.W.; Bladt, E.; Sánchez‐Iglesias, A.; Liz‐Marzán, L.M.; Nellist, P.D.; Bals, S.; Van Aert, S.
Title Element Specific Atom Counting at the Atomic Scale by Combining High Angle Annular Dark Field Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X‐ray Spectroscopy Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Small methods Abbreviated Journal Small Methods
Volume Issue Pages 2200875
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract A new methodology is presented to count the number of atoms in multimetallic nanocrystals by combining energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF STEM). For this purpose, the existence of a linear relationship between the incoherent HAADF STEM and EDX images is exploited. Next to the number of atoms for each element in the atomic columns, the method also allows quantification of the error in the obtained number of atoms, which is of importance given the noisy nature of the acquired EDX signals. Using experimental images of an Au@Ag core–shell nanorod, it is demonstrated that 3D structural information can be extracted at the atomic scale. Furthermore, simulated data of an Au@Pt core–shell nanorod show the prospect to characterize heterogeneous nanostructures with adjacent atomic numbers.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000862072700001 Publication Date 2022-09-30
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2366-9608 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 12.4 Times cited 5 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This work was supported by the European Research Council (Grant 770887 PICOMETRICS to S.V.A., Grant 815128 REALNANO to S.B., and Grant 823717 ESTEEM3). The authors acknowledge financial support from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, Belgium) through project fundings (G.0267.18N, G.0502.18N, G.0346.21N) and a postdoctoral grant to A.D.B.; esteem3reported; esteem3JRA Approved Most recent IF: 12.4
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:191570 Serial 7109
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Author Cai, J.; Griffin, E.; Guarochico-Moreira, V.H.; Barry, D.; Xin, B.; Yagmurcukardes, M.; Zhang, S.; Geim, A.K.; Peeters, F.M.; Lozada-Hidalgo, M.
Title Wien effect in interfacial water dissociation through proton-permeable graphene electrodes Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Nature communications Abbreviated Journal Nat Commun
Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 5776-5777
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract Strong electric fields can accelerate molecular dissociation reactions. The phenomenon known as the Wien effect was previously observed using high-voltage electrolysis cells that produced fields of about 10(7) V m(-1), sufficient to accelerate the dissociation of weakly bound molecules (e.g., organics and weak electrolytes). The observation of the Wien effect for the common case of water dissociation (H2O reversible arrow H+ + OH-) has remained elusive. Here we study the dissociation of interfacial water adjacent to proton-permeable graphene electrodes and observe strong acceleration of the reaction in fields reaching above 10(8) V m(-1). The use of graphene electrodes allows measuring the proton currents arising exclusively from the dissociation of interfacial water, while the electric field driving the reaction is monitored through the carrier density induced in graphene by the same field. The observed exponential increase in proton currents is in quantitative agreement with Onsager's theory. Our results also demonstrate that graphene electrodes can be valuable for the investigation of various interfacial phenomena involving proton transport.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000862552600012 Publication Date 2022-10-01
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2041-1723 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 16.6 Times cited 3 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 16.6
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191575 Serial 7228
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Author Yu, Y.; Xie, X.; Liu, X.; Li, J.; Peeters, F.M.; Li, L.
Title Two-dimensional semimetal states in transition metal trichlorides : a first-principles study Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Applied physics letters Abbreviated Journal Appl Phys Lett
Volume 121 Issue 11 Pages 112405-112407
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract The two-dimensional (2D) transition metal trihalide (TMX3, X = Cl, Br, I) family has attracted considerable attention in recent years due to the realization of CrCl3, CrBr3, and CrI3 monolayers. Up to now, the main focus of the theoretically predicted TMX3 monolayers has been on the Chern insulator states, which can realize the quantum anomalous Hall effect. Here, using first-principles calculations, we theoretically demonstrate that the stable OsCl3 monolayer has a ferromagnetic ground state and a spin-polarized Dirac point without spin-orbit coupling (SOC), which disappears in the band structure of a Janus OsBr1.5Cl1.5 monolayer. We find that OsCl3 exhibits in-plane magnetization when SOC is included. By manipulating the magnetization direction along the C-2 symmetry axis of the OsCl3 structure, a gapless half-Dirac semimetal state with SOC can be achieved, which is different from the gapped Chern insulator state. Both semimetal states of OsCl3 monolayer without and with SOC exhibit a linear half-Dirac point (twofold degenerate) with high Fermi velocities. The achievement of the 2D semimetal state with SOC is expected to be found in other TMX3 monolayers, and we confirm it in a TiCl3 monolayer. This provides a different perspective to study the band structure with SOC of the 2D TMX3 family.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000863219400003 Publication Date 2022-09-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-6951; 1077-3118 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191541 Serial 7223
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Author Van Winckel, T.; Ngo, N.; Sturm, B.; Al-Omari, A.; Wett, B.; Bott, C.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; De Clippeleir, H.
Title Enhancing bioflocculation in high-rate activated sludge improves effluent quality yet increases sensitivity to surface overflow rate Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Chemosphere Abbreviated Journal Chemosphere
Volume 308 Issue 2 Pages 136294-11
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract High-rate activated sludge (HRAS) relies on good bioflocculation and subsequent solid-liquid separation to maximize the capture of organics. However, full-scale applications often suffer from poor and unpredictable effluent suspended solids (ESS). While the biological aspects of bioflocculation are thoroughly investigated, the effects of fines (settling velocity < 0.6 m3/m2/h), shear and surface overflow rate (SOR) are unclear. This work tackled the impact of fines, shear, and SOR on the ESS in absence of settleable influent solids. This was assessed on a full-scale HRAS step-feed (SF) and pilot-scale HRAS contact-stabilization (CS) configuration using batch settling tests, controlled clarifier experiments, and continuous operation of reactors. Fines contributed up to 25% of the ESS in the full-scale SF configuration. ESS decreased up to 30 mg TSS/L when bioflocculation was enhanced with the CS configuration. The feast-famine regime applied in CS promoted the production of high-quality extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). However, this resulted in a narrow and unfavorable settling velocity distribution, with 50% ± 5% of the sludge mass settling between 0.6 and 1.5 m3/m2/h, thus increasing sensitivity towards SOR changes. A low shear environment (20 s−1) before the clarifier for at least one min was enough to ensure the best possible settling velocity distribution, regardless of prior shear conditions. Overall, this paper provides a more complete view on the drivers of ESS in HRAS systems, creating the foundation for the design of effective HRAS clarifiers. Tangible recommendations are given on how to manage fines and establish the optimal settling velocity of the sludge.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000863979600006 Publication Date 2022-09-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0045-6535; 1879-1298 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 8.8 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 8.8
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:190187 Serial 7154
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Author Andersen, J.A.; Christensen, J.M.; Østberg, M.; Bogaerts, A.; Jensen, A.D.
Title Plasma-catalytic ammonia decomposition using a packed-bed dielectric barrier discharge reactor Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication International Journal Of Hydrogen Energy Abbreviated Journal Int J Hydrogen Energ
Volume 47 Issue 75 Pages 32081-32091
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Plasma-catalytic ammonia decomposition as a method for producing hydrogen was studied in a packed-bed dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor at ambient pressure and a fixed plasma power. The influence of packing the plasma zone with various dielectric materials, typically used as catalyst supports, was examined. At conditions (21 W, 75 Nml/min NH3) where an NH3 conversion of 5% was achieved with plasma alone, an improved decomposition was found when introducing dielectric materials with dielectric constants between 4 and 30. Of the tested materials, MgAl2O4 yielded the highest conversion (15.1%). The particle size (0.3-1.4 mm) of the MgAl2O4 packing was found to have a modest influence on the conversion, which dropped from 15.1% to 12.6% with increasing particle size. Impregnation of MgAl2O4 with different metals was found to decrease the NH3 conversion, with the Ni impregnation still showing an improved conversion (7%) compared to plasma-only. The plasma-assisted ammonia decomposition occurs in the gas phase due to micro-discharges, as evident from a linear correlation between the conversion and the frequency of micro-discharges for both plasma alone and with the various solid packing materials. The primary function of the solid is thus to facilitate the gas phase reaction by assisting the creation of micro-discharges. Lastly, insulation of the reactor to raise the temperature to 230 degrees C in the plasma zone was found to have a negative effect on the conversion, as a change from volume discharges to surface discharges occurred. The study shows that NH3 can be decomposed to provide hydrogen by exposure to a non-thermal plasma, but further developments are needed for it to become an energy efficient technology. (C)2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000865421200012 Publication Date 2022-08-17
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0360-3199 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.2 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 7.2
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191512 Serial 7191
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Author Kovács, A.; Yusupov, M.; Cornet, I.; Billen, P.; Neyts, E.C.
Title Effect of natural deep eutectic solvents of non-eutectic compositions on enzyme stability Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Journal Of Molecular Liquids Abbreviated Journal J Mol Liq
Volume 366 Issue Pages 120180-17
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)
Abstract Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) represent a green alternative to common organic solvents in the biochemical industry due to their benign behavior and tailorable properties, in particular as media for enzymatic reactions. However, to fully exploit their potential in enzymatic reactions, there is a need for a more fundamental understanding of how these neoteric solvents influence the course of these reac-tions. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the influence of NADES with various molar composi-tions on the stability and structure of enzymes, applying molecular dynamics simulations. This can help to better understand the effect of individual compounds of NADES, in addition to eutectic mixtures. More specifically, we simulate the behavior of Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB) enzyme in NADES com-posed of choline chloride with either urea, ethylene glycol or glycerol. Hereto, we monitor the NADES microstructure, the general stability of the enzyme and changes in the structure of its active sites and sur-face residues. Our simulations show that none of the studied NADES systems significantly disrupt the microstructure of the solvent or the stability of the CALB enzyme within the time scales of the simula-tions. The enzyme preserves its initial structure, size and intra-chain hydrogen bonds in all investigated compositions and, for the first time reported, also in NADES with increased hydrogen bond donating com-pound ratios. As the main novelty, our results indicate that, in addition to the composition, the molar ratio can be an additional variable to fine-tune the physicochemical properties of NADES without altering the enzyme characteristics. These findings could facilitate the development and application of task -tailored NADES media for biocatalytic processes. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000865431800010 Publication Date 2022-08-25
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0167-7322 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 6 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 6
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191538 Serial 7265
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Author Van Turnhout, J.; Aceto, D.; Travert, A.; Bazin, P.; Thibault-Starzyk, F.; Bogaerts, A.; Azzolina-Jury, F.
Title Observation of surface species in plasma-catalytic dry reforming of methane in a novel atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge in situ IR cell Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Catalysis Science & Technology Abbreviated Journal Catal Sci Technol
Volume 12 Issue 22 Pages 6676-6686
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract We developed a novel in situ (i.e. inside plasma and during operation) IR dielectric barrier discharge cell allowing investigation of plasma catalysis in transmission mode, atmospheric pressure, flow conditions (WHSV similar to 0-50 000 mL g(-1) h(-1)), at relevant discharge voltages (similar to 0-50 kV) and frequencies (similar to 0-5 kHz). We applied it to study the IR-active surface species formed on a SiO2 support and on a 3 wt% Ru/SiO2 catalyst, which can help to reveal the important surface reaction mechanisms during the plasma-catalytic dry reforming of methane (DRM). Moreover, we present a technique for the challenging task of estimating the temperature of a catalyst sample in a plasma-catalytic system in situ and during plasma operation. We found that during the reaction, water is immediately formed at the SiO2 surface, and physisorbed formic acid is formed with a delay. As Ru/SiO2 is subject to greater plasma-induced heating than SiO2 (with a surface temperature increase in the range of 70-120 degrees C, with peaks up to 150 degrees C), we observe lower amounts of physisorbed water on Ru/SiO2, and less physisorbed formic acid formation. Importantly, the formation of surface species on the catalyst sample in our plasma-catalytic setup, as well as the observed conversions and selectivities in plasma conditions, can not be explained by plasma-induced heating of the catalyst surface, but must be attributed to other plasma effects, such as the adsorption of plasma-generated radicals and molecules, or the occurrence of Eley-Rideal reactions.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000865542600001 Publication Date 2022-10-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2044-4753; 2044-4761 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 5 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191389 Serial 7185
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Yusupov, M.; Dewaele, D.; Attri, P.; Khalilov, U.; Sobott, F.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Molecular understanding of the possible mechanisms of oligosaccharide oxidation by cold plasma Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Plasma processes and polymers Abbreviated Journal Plasma Process Polym
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a promising technology for several medical applications, including the removal of biofilms from surfaces. However, the molecular mechanisms of CAP treatment are still poorly understood. Here we unravel the possible mechanisms of CAP‐induced oxidation of oligosaccharides, employing reactive molecular dynamics simulations based on the density functional‐tight binding potential. Specifically, we find that the interaction of oxygen atoms (used as CAP‐generated reactive species) with cellotriose (a model system for the oligosaccharides) can break structurally important glycosidic bonds, which subsequently leads to the disruption of the oligosaccharide molecule. The overall results help to shed light on our experimental evidence for cellotriose CAP. This oxidation by study provides atomic‐level insight into the onset of plasma‐induced removal of biofilms, as oligosaccharides are one of the main components of biofilm.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000865844800001 Publication Date 2022-10-11
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1612-8850 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.5 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, 1200219N ; They also acknowledge the Turing HPC infrastructure at the CalcUA core facility of the University of Antwerp (UA), a division of the Flemish Supercomputer Center VSC, funded by the Hercules Foundation, the Flemish Government (department EWI), and the UA, where all computational work was performed. This study was financially supported by the Research Foundation–Flanders (FWO) (grant number 1200219N). Approved Most recent IF: 3.5
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:191404 Serial 7113
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Author Fitawok, M.B.; Derudder, B.; Minale, A.S.; Van Passel, S.; Adgo, E.; Nyssen, J.
Title Analyzing the impact of land expropriation program on farmers' livelihood in urban fringes of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Habitat International Abbreviated Journal Habitat Int
Volume 129 Issue Pages 102674-102679
Keywords A1 Journal article; Sociology; Law; Art; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract This paper analyzes the impact of urban land-use changes on farmers' livelihood around the city of Bahir Dar (Ethiopia). Rapid urban expansion in and around the city has resulted in massive land-use changes in its urban fringes, with land expropriation programs affecting communities' livelihood and the environment. A survey was conducted in three urbanizing villages near Bahir Dar, focusing on 150 farmers who were land-expropriated and 180 farmers who were non-land-expropriated. Regression models and propensity matching scoring are applied to examine the livelihood differences of farmers in terms of farm income, off-farm income, primary expenditure type, and perception of urban expansion benefits to farmers. The results reveal that land expropriation in the area has led to (a) a shift to off-farm income for land expropriated farmers; (b) an increase in their household expenditure on staple foods compared to other expenditure types, including farm inputs; and (c) diverging perceptions on whether and how city expansion benefits farmers in the neighboring villages. Our findings provide insight into the need for tighter and impactful policy actions to ensure the sustainability of urbanization through accommodating expropriated farmers' livelihood changes and protecting natural resources in the area.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000866411200001 Publication Date 2022-09-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0197-3975; 0361-3690 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 2.285 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191385 Serial 7352
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Le, T.-S.; Nguyen, P.-D.; Ngo, H.H.; Bui, X.-T.; Dang, B.-T.; Diels, L.; Bui, H.-H.; Nguyen, M.-T.; Le Quang, D.-T.
Title Two-stage anaerobic membrane bioreactor for co-treatment of food waste and kitchen wastewater for biogas production and nutrients recovery Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Chemosphere Abbreviated Journal Chemosphere
Volume 309 Issue 1 Pages 136537-136539
Keywords A1 Journal article; Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Abstract Co-digestion of organic waste and wastewater is receiving increased attention as a plausible waste management approach toward energy recovery. However, traditional anaerobic processes for co-digestion are particularly susceptible to severe organic loading rates (OLRs) under long-term treatment. To enhance technological feasi-bility, this work presented a two-stage Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (2 S-AnMBR) composed of a hydrolysis reactor (HR) followed by an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) for long-term co-digestion of food waste and kitchen wastewater. The OLRs were expanded from 4.5, 5.6, and 6.9 kg COD m- 3 d-1 to optimize biogas yield, nitrogen recovery, and membrane fouling at ambient temperatures of 25-32 degrees C. Results showed that specific methane production of UASB was 249 +/- 7 L CH4 kg-1 CODremoved at the OLR of 6.9 kg TCOD m- 3 d-1. Total Chemical Oxygen Demand (TCOD) loss by hydrolysis was 21.6% of the input TCOD load at the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2 days. However, low total volatile fatty acid concentrations were found in the AnMBR, indicating that a sufficiently high hydrolysis efficiency could be accomplished with a short HRT. Furthermore, using AnMBR structure consisting of an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor (UASB) followed by a side -stream ultrafiltration membrane alleviated cake membrane fouling. The wasted digestate from the AnMBR comprised 42-47% Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) and 57-68% total phosphorous loading, making it suitable for use in soil amendments or fertilizers. Finally, the predominance of fine particles (D10 = 0.8 mu m) in the ultra -filtration membrane housing (UFMH) could lead to a faster increase in trans-membrane pressure during the filtration process.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000866470600004 Publication Date 2022-09-20
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0045-6535; 1879-1298 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 8.8 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 8.8
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191557 Serial 7347
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author De Backer, A.; Van Aert, S.; Faes, C.; Arslan Irmak, E.; Nellist, P.D.; Jones, L.
Title Experimental reconstructions of 3D atomic structures from electron microscopy images using a Bayesian genetic algorithm Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication N P J Computational Materials Abbreviated Journal npj Comput Mater
Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages 216
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract We introduce a Bayesian genetic algorithm for reconstructing atomic models of monotype crystalline nanoparticles from a single projection using Z-contrast imaging. The number of atoms in a projected atomic column obtained from annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy images serves as an input for the initial three-dimensional model. The algorithm minimizes the energy of the structure while utilizing a priori information about the finite precision of the atom-counting results and neighbor-mass relations. The results show promising prospects for obtaining reliable reconstructions of beam-sensitive nanoparticles during dynamical processes from images acquired with sufficiently low incident electron doses.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000866500900001 Publication Date 2022-10-12
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2057-3960 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This work was supported by the European Research Council (Grant 770887 PICOMETRICS to S.V.A. and Grant 823717 ESTEEM3). The authors acknowledge financial support from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO, Belgium) through project fundings (G.0267.18N, G.0502.18N, G.0346.21N) and a postdoctoral grant to A.D.B. L.J. acknowledges Science Foundation Ireland (SFI – grant number URF/RI/191637), the Royal Society, and the AMBER Centre. The authors acknowledge Aakash Varambhia for his assistance and expertise with the experimental recording and use of characterization facilities within the David Cockayne Centre for Electron Microscopy, Department of Materials, University of Oxford, and in particular the EPSRC (EP/K040375/1 South of England Analytical Electron Microscope).; esteem3reported; esteem3JRA Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number EMAT @ emat @c:irua:191398 Serial 7114
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Author Shaw, P.; Vanraes, P.; Kumar, N.; Bogaerts, A.
Title Possible Synergies of Nanomaterial-Assisted Tissue Regeneration in Plasma Medicine: Mechanisms and Safety Concerns Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Nanomaterials Abbreviated Journal Nanomaterials-Basel
Volume 12 Issue 19 Pages 3397
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT)
Abstract Cold atmospheric plasma and nanomedicine originally emerged as individual domains, but are increasingly applied in combination with each other. Most research is performed in the context of cancer treatment, with only little focus yet on the possible synergies. Many questions remain on the potential of this promising hybrid technology, particularly regarding regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In this perspective article, we therefore start from the fundamental mechanisms in the individual technologies, in order to envision possible synergies for wound healing and tissue recovery, as well as research strategies to discover and optimize them. Among these strategies, we demonstrate how cold plasmas and nanomaterials can enhance each other’s strengths and overcome each other’s limitations. The parallels with cancer research, biotechnology and plasma surface modification further serve as inspiration for the envisioned synergies in tissue regeneration. The discovery and optimization of synergies may also be realized based on a profound understanding of the underlying redox- and field-related biological processes. Finally, we emphasize the toxicity concerns in plasma and nanomedicine, which may be partly remediated by their combination, but also partly amplified. A widespread use of standardized protocols and materials is therefore strongly recommended, to ensure both a fast and safe clinical implementation.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000866927800001 Publication Date 2022-09-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2079-4991 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 5.3 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes This research was funded by the Methusalem Grant of UAntwerp, and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) Ramalingaswami Re-entry Fellowship (BT/RLF/Re-entry/27/2019), as well as the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Core Research Grant (CRG/2021/001935), Department of Science and Technology, India. Approved Most recent IF: 5.3
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:191493 Serial 7108
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Author Wang, D.; Hermes, M.; Najmr, S.; Tasios, N.; Grau-Carbonell, A.; Liu, Y.; Bals, S.; Dijkstra, M.; Murray, C.B.; van Blaaderen, A.
Title Structural diversity in three-dimensional self-assembly of nanoplatelets by spherical confinement Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Nature communications Abbreviated Journal Nat Commun
Volume 13 Issue 1 Pages 6001-6012
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Nanoplatelets offer many possibilities to construct advanced materials due to new properties associated with their (semi)two-dimensional shapes. However, precise control of both positional and orientational order of the nanoplatelets in three dimensions, which is required to achieve emerging and collective properties, is challenging to realize. Here, we combine experiments, advanced electron tomography and computer simulations to explore the structure of supraparticles self-assembled from nanoplatelets in slowly drying emulsion droplets. We demonstrate that the rich phase behaviour of nanoplatelets, and its sensitivity to subtle changes in shape and interaction potential can be used to guide the self-assembly into a wide range of different structures, offering precise control over both orientation and position order of the nanoplatelets. Our research is expected to shed light on the design of hierarchically structured metamaterials with distinct shape- and orientation- dependent properties. Nanoplatelets can be used as anisotropic building blocks for constructing novel optoelectronic materials. Here, Wang et al. show a route of assembling nanoplatelets with controllable positional and orientational order in three dimensions facilitated by the surface tension of drying emulsion droplets.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000867312100031 Publication Date 2022-10-12
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2041-1723 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 16.6 Times cited 7 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes We thank A. Kadu, M. Chiappini, F. Rabouw, S. Paliwal, X. Xie, C. Xia and Z. Wang for fruitful discussions. D.W. and A.v.B. acknowledge partial financial support from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP-2007-2013)/ERC Advanced Grant Agreement 291667 HierarSACol. M.H. was supported by the Netherlands Center for Multiscale Catalytic Energy Conversion (MCEC). D.W. acknowledges an Individual Fellowship funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) in Horizon 2020 program (grant 894254 SuprAtom). Y.L. acknowledges the Sustainability project between the faculties of Science and Geosciences of Utrecht University. M.D. acknowledges financial support from European Research Council (Grant No. ERC-2019-ADV-H2020 884902 SoftML). S.B. acknowledges financial support from ERC Consolidator Grant No. 815128 REALNANO. C.B.M. acknowledges support for materials synthesis from the Office of Naval Research Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative Award ONR N00014-18-1-2497. The authors acknowledge the EM square center at Utrecht University for the access to the microscopes. Approved Most recent IF: 16.6
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191387 Serial 7214
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Author Samal, S.K.; Soenen, S.; Puppi, D.; De Wael, K.; Pati, S.; De Smedt, S.; Braeckmans, K.; Dubruel, P.
Title Bio-nanohybrid gelatin/quantum dots for cellular imaging and biosensing applications Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication International journal of molecular sciences Abbreviated Journal
Volume 23 Issue 19 Pages 11867-12
Keywords A1 Journal article; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
Abstract The bio-nanohybrid gelatin protein/cadmium sulfide (Gel/CdS) quantum dots (QDs) have been designed via a facile one-pot strategy. The amino acids group of gelatin chelate Cd2+ and grow CdS QDs without any agglomeration. The H-1 NMR spectra indicate that during the above process there are no alterations of the gelatin protein structure conformation and chemical functionalities. The prepared Gel/CdS QDs were characterized and their potential as a system for cellular imaging and the electrochemical sensor for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) detection applications were investigated. The obtained results demonstrate that the developed Gel/CdS QDs system could offer a simple and convenient operating strategy both for the class of contrast agents for cell labeling and electrochemical sensors purposes.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000867759600001 Publication Date 2022-10-09
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1422-0067; 1661-6596 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved no
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191566 Serial 8836
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Zeegers, M.T.; Kadu, A.; van Leeuwen, T.; Batenburg, K.J.
Title ADJUST : a dictionary-based joint reconstruction and unmixing method for spectral tomography Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Inverse problems Abbreviated Journal Inverse Probl
Volume 38 Issue 12 Pages 125002-125033
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract Advances in multi-spectral detectors are causing a paradigm shift in x-ray computed tomography (CT). Spectral information acquired from these detectors can be used to extract volumetric material composition maps of the object of interest. If the materials and their spectral responses are known a priori, the image reconstruction step is rather straightforward. If they are not known, however, the maps as well as the responses need to be estimated jointly. A conventional workflow in spectral CT involves performing volume reconstruction followed by material decomposition, or vice versa. However, these methods inherently suffer from the ill-posedness of the joint reconstruction problem. To resolve this issue, we propose 'A Dictionary-based Joint reconstruction and Unmixing method for Spectral Tomography' (ADJUST). Our formulation relies on forming a dictionary of spectral signatures of materials common in CT and prior knowledge of the number of materials present in an object. In particular, we decompose the spectral volume linearly in terms of spatial material maps, a spectral dictionary, and the indicator of materials for the dictionary elements. We propose a memory-efficient accelerated alternating proximal gradient method to find an approximate solution to the resulting bi-convex problem. From numerical demonstrations on several synthetic phantoms, we observe that ADJUST performs exceedingly well compared to other state-of-the-art methods. Additionally, we address the robustness of ADJUST against limited and noisy measurement patterns. The demonstration of the proposed approach on a spectral micro-CT dataset shows its potential for real-world applications. Code is available at https://github.com/mzeegers/ADJUST.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000868885200001 Publication Date 2022-09-20
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0266-5611 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 2.1 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 2.1
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191536 Serial 7280
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Larraín, M.; Billen, P.; Van Passel, S.
Title The effect of plastic packaging recycling policy interventions as a complement to extended producer responsibility schemes : a partial equilibrium model Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Waste Management Abbreviated Journal Waste Manage
Volume 153 Issue Pages 355-366
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)
Abstract Extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes have effectively increased the plastic waste that is separately collected. However, due to the structure of the recycling industry, EPR cannot increase recycling rates up to the target levels.Additional policy instruments to increase recycling rates such as recycled content targets, green dot fees bonus for recycled content, recycling targets and taxes on non-recycled plastic packaging have been discussed on a political level in the last years. However, very little research has quantitatively studied the effectiveness of these policy interventions.Using a partial equilibrium model, this paper examines the effectiveness of the implementation of the aforementioned policy instruments to increase recycling rates and the impact on different stakeholders of the value chain: plastic producers, consumers, producer responsibility organization and recyclers.Results show that direct interventions (recycled content standards and recycling targets) have the benefit of decoupling the recycling industry from external markets such as the oil market. They can be a good starting point to increase recycling, but in the long term they may be restricting by not presenting incentives to achieve recycling levels beyond the targeted amounts and by limiting technological innovation. On the contrary, eco-nomic interventions such as a green dot fee bonus or a packaging tax create economic incentives for recycling. However, these incentives are diminished by the lower perceived quality of packaging with higher recycled content levels.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000868915000004 Publication Date 2022-09-30
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0956-053x ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 8.1 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 8.1
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191367 Serial 7370
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Jiang, J.; Milošević, M.V.; Wang, Y.-L.; Xiao, Z.-L.; Peeters, F.M.; Chen, Q.-H.
Title Field-free superconducting diode in a magnetically nanostructured superconductor Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Physical review applied Abbreviated Journal Phys Rev Appl
Volume 18 Issue 3 Pages 034064-34069
Keywords A1 Journal article; Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)
Abstract A strong superconducting diode effect (SDE) is revealed in a thin superconducting film periodically nanostructured with magnetic dots. The SDE is caused by the current-activated dissipation mitigated by vortex-antivortex pairs (VAPs), which periodically nucleate under the dots, move and annihilate in the superconductor-eventually driving the system to the high-resistive state. Inversing the polarity of the applied current destimulates the nucleation of VAPs, the system remains superconducting up to far larger currents, leading to the pronounced diodic response. Our dissipative Ginzburg-Landau simulations detail the involved processes, and provide reliable geometric and parametric ranges for the experimental realiza-tion of such a nonvolatile superconducting diode, which operates in the absence of any applied magnetic field while being fluxonic by design.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000870234200001 Publication Date 2022-09-23
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2331-7019 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.6 Times cited 2 Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.6
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191539 Serial 7307
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Author Oliveira, M.C.; Verswyvel, H.; Smits, E.; Cordeiro, R.M.; Bogaerts, A.; Lin, A.
Title The pro- and anti-tumoral properties of gap junctions in cancer and their role in therapeutic strategies Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Redox Biology Abbreviated Journal Redox Biol
Volume 57 Issue Pages 102503
Keywords A1 Journal article; Plasma Lab for Applications in Sustainability and Medicine – Antwerp (PLASMANT); Center for Oncological Research (CORE)
Abstract Gap junctions (GJs), essential structures for cell-cell communication, are made of two hemichannels (commonly called connexons), one on each adjacent cell. Found in almost all cells, GJs play a pivotal role in many physi­ological and cellular processes, and have even been linked to the progression of diseases, such as cancer. Modulation of GJs is under investigation as a therapeutic strategy to kill tumor cells. Furthermore, GJs have also been studied for their key role in activating anti-cancer immunity and propagating radiation- and oxidative stress-induced cell death to neighboring cells, a process known as the bystander effect. While, gap junction (GJ)based therapeutic strategies are being developed, one major challenge has been the paradoxical role of GJs in both tumor progression and suppression, based on GJ composition, cancer factors, and tumoral context. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of action, regulation, and the dual characteristics of GJs in cancer is critical for developing effective therapeutics. In this review, we provide an overview of the current under­ standing of GJs structure, function, and paradoxical pro- and anti-tumoral role in cancer. We also discuss the treatment strategies to target these GJs properties for anti-cancer responses, via modulation of GJ function.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000871090800004 Publication Date 0000-00-00
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 2213-2317 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 11.4 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes We thank Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement (CAPES, Brazil) for the scholarship granted, and the Turing HPC infrastructure at the CalcUA core facility of the University of Antwerp, a division of the Flemish Supercomputer Center VSC, funded by the Hercules Founda­tion, the Flemish Government (department EWI) and the University of Antwerp, for providing the computational resources needed for running the simulations. This work was also funded in part by the funded by the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) and the Flemish Government. The FWO fellowships and grants that funded this work include: 12S9221N (Abraham Lin), G044420N (Abraham Lin and Annemie Bogaerts), and 1S67621N (Hanne Verswyvel). Figs. 1, 4 and 5 were created in BioRender.com. Approved Most recent IF: 11.4
Call Number PLASMANT @ plasmant @c:irua:191362 Serial 7112
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Author Van Hal, M.; Lenaerts, S.; Verbruggen, S.W.
Title Photocatalytic soot degradation under UV and visible light Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Environmental Science and Pollution Research Abbreviated Journal Environ Sci Pollut R
Volume Issue Pages 1-11
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology
Abstract Particulate matter is one of the most persistent global air pollutants that is causing health problems, climate disturbance and building deterioration. A sustainable technique that is able to degrade soot using (sun)light is photocatalysis. Currently, research on photocatalytic soot oxidation focusses on large band gap TiO2-based photocatalysts and thus requires the use of UV light. It would prove useful if visible light, and thus a larger fraction of the (freely available) solar spectrum, could additionally be utilised to drive this process. In this work, a visible light-active photocatalyst, WO3, is benchmarked to TiO2 under both UV and visible light. At the same time, the versatility and drastic improvement of a recently introduced digital image-based soot degradation detection method are demonstrated. An additional step correcting for non-soot related catalyst colour changes is applied, resulting in accurate detection and quantification of soot degradation for all studied photocatalysts, even for materials such as WO3 that are inherently coloured. With this study, we aim to broaden the scope of photocatalytic soot oxidation technology to visible light-active photocatalyst. Along with this study, we provide a versatile soot degradation detection methodology based on digital image analysis that is made widely applicable.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000871854600010 Publication Date 2022-10-25
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0944-1344; 1614-7499 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 5.8 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 5.8
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191275 Serial 7189
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Author Penders, A.G.; Konstantinović, M.J.; Van Renterghem, W.; Bosch, R.-W.; Schryvers, D.; Somville, F.
Title Characterization of IASCC crack tips extracted from neutron-irradiated flux thimble tube specimens in view of a probabilistic fracture model Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Journal of nuclear materials Abbreviated Journal J Nucl Mater
Volume 571 Issue Pages 154015-154016
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Abstract This study reports the properties of irradiation assisted stress corrosion crack tips extracted by means of focused-ion beam from 60 to 80 dpa neutron-irradiated O-ring specimens tested under straining conditions under a pressurized-water reactor environment. Various crack tip morphologies and surrounding deformation features were analyzed as a function of applied stress, surface oxidation state and loading form – constant versus cyclic. All investigated cracks exhibit grain boundary oxidation in front of the crack tip, with the extent of oxidation being proportional to applied stress. These findings clearly demonstrate that, under the subcritical crack propagation regime, the grain boundary oxide grows faster than the crack. On the other hand, crack tips appertaining to specimens with removed oxide layer at the outer surface show comparatively less oxidation at the crack tip, which could indicate towards crack initiation from regions that exemplify lower stress, such as the O-ring inner surface. Cyclic loading is found to have a more pronounced effect on the crack tip microstructure, demonstrating increased deformation twinning and -martensitic transformation, which signifies towards an increased susceptibility to intergranular failure. Still, the extent of crack tip grain boundary oxidation in this case agrees well with expected values for maximum stress applied during cyclic loading. All results are interpreted based on the probabilistic subcritical crack propagation mechanism and provide strong support to a stress-driven internal oxidation model.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos (up) 000872389200009 Publication Date 2022-09-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0022-3115 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.1 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.1
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:190375 Serial 7135
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