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“Atomic layer deposition-based synthesis of photoactive TiO2 nanoparticle chains by using carbon nanotubes as sacrificial templates”. Deng S, Verbruggen SW, He Z, Cott DJ, Vereecken PM, Martens JA, Bals S, Lenaerts S, Detavernier C, RSC advances 4, 11648 (2014). http://doi.org/10.1039/c3ra42928h
Abstract: Highly ordered and self supported anatase TiO2 nanoparticle chains were fabricated by calcining conformally TiO2 coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). During annealing, the thin tubular TiO2 coating that was deposited onto the MWCNTs by atomic layer deposition (ALD) was transformed into chains of TiO2 nanoparticles ([similar]12 nm diameter) with an ultrahigh surface area (137 cm2 per cm2 of substrate), while at the same time the carbon from the MWCNTs was removed. Photocatalytic tests on the degradation of acetaldehyde proved that these forests of TiO2 nanoparticle chains are highly photoactive under UV light because of their well crystallized anatase phase.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)
Impact Factor: 3.108
Times cited: 45
DOI: 10.1039/c3ra42928h
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“Revealing the innermost nanostructure of sputtered NiCrOx solar absorber cermets”. Gaouyat L, He Z, Colomer J-F, Lambin P, Mirabella F, Schryvers D, Deparis O, Solar energy materials and solar cells 122, 303 (2014). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2013.10.009
Abstract: Conversion of solar energy into thermal energy helps reducing consumption of non-renewable energies. Cermets (ceramicmetal composites) are versatile materials suitable, amongst other applications, for solar selective absorbers. Although the presence of metallic Ni particles in the dielectric matrix is a prerequisite for efficient solar selective absorption in NiCrOx cermets, no clear evidence of such particles is reported so far. By combining comprehensive chemical and structural analyses, we reveal the presumed nanostructure which is at the origin of the remarkable optical properties of this cermet material. Using sputtered NiCrOx layers in a solar absorber multilayer stack on aluminium substrate allows us to achieve solar absorptance as high as α=96.1% while keeping thermal emissivity as low as ε=2.2%, both values being comparable to best values recorded so far. With the nanostructure of sputtered NiCrOx cermets eventually revealed, further optimization of solar absorbers can be anticipated and technological exploitation of cermet materials in other applications can be foreseen.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 4.784
Times cited: 12
DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2013.10.009
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“90°, Rotation of orbital stripes in bilayer manganite PrCa2Mn2O7 studied by in situ transmission electron microscopy”. He ZB, Deng G, Tian H, Xu Q, Van Tendeloo G, Journal of solid state chemistry 200, 287 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2013.01.051
Abstract: We present an in situ transmission electron microscopy study on the half-doped bilayer manganite PrCa2Mn2O7 to reveal the rotation process of the orbital stripes. Between the reported initial and final ordering phases, we identified an intermediate state with two sets of satellite spots to bridge the 90° rotation of the orbital stripes. Furthermore, we determined that the rotation of the orbital stripes does not always occur. Some restricted conditions for the orbital rotation to occur were found and reasons are discussed.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 2.299
Times cited: 5
DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2013.01.051
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“Ciliary white light : optical aspect of ultrashort laser ablation on transparent dielectrics”. Liu Y, Brelet Y, He Z, Yu L, Mitryukovskiy S, Houard A, Forestier B, Couairon A, Mysyrowicz A, Physical review letters 110, 097601 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.097601
Abstract: We report on a novel nonlinear optical phenomenon, coined as ciliary white light, during laser ablation of transparent dielectrics. It is observed in 14 different transparent materials including glasses, crystals, and polymers. This phenomenon is also universal with respect to laser polarization, pulse duration, and focusing geometry. We interpret its formation in terms of the nonlinear diffraction of the laser generated white light by the ablation crater covered by nanostructures. It carries rich information on the damage profile and morphology dynamics of the ablated surface, providing a real time in situ observation of the laser ablation process. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.097601
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 8.462
Times cited: 10
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.097601
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“Laser-induced periodic annular surface structures on fused silica surface”. Liu Y, Brelet Y, He Z, Yu L, Forestier B, Deng Y, Jiang H, Houard A, Applied physics letters 102, 251103 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1063/1.4812354
Abstract: We report on the formation of laser-induced periodic annular surface structures on fused silica irradiated with multiple femtosecond laser pulses. This surface morphology emerges after the disappearance of the conventional laser induced periodic surface structures, under successive laser pulse irradiation. It is independent of the laser polarization and universally observed for different focusing geometries. We interpret its formation in terms of the interference between the reflected laser field on the surface of the damage crater and the incident laser pulse. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.411
Times cited: 19
DOI: 10.1063/1.4812354
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“Microstructure of bilayer manganite PrCa2Mn2O7 showing charge/orbital ordering”. He Z, Tian H, Deng G, Xu Q, Van Tendeloo G, Applied physics letters 102, 212902 (2013). http://doi.org/10.1063/1.4807758
Abstract: The microstructure of the charge/orbital ordering Ruddleden-Popper phase PrCa2Mn2O7 was studied by transmission electron microscopy along both the [001] and the [110] orientation. Three coexisting charge/orbital ordering phases CO1, CO2, and CO3 were observed along the [001] orientation at room temperature. Different from the one-dimensional modulation in the CO1 and CO2 phase, the CO3 phase is characterized by two sets of mutually perpendicular structural modulations. From [110] high angle annular dark field-scanning transmission electron microscopy, we found that the Pr atoms locate in-between the bilayer MnO6 octahedra, which is different from the previous reports.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 3.411
Times cited: 4
DOI: 10.1063/1.4807758
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“Ciliary white light generated during femtosecond laser ablation on transparent dielectrics”. Liu Y, Brelet Y, He Z, Yu L, Mitryukovskiy S, Houard A, Forestier B, Couairon A, Mysyrowicz A, 2013 Conference On And International Quantum Electronics Conference Lasers And Electro-optics Europe (cleo Europe/iqec) (2013)
Keywords: P1 Proceeding; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
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“Direct evidence for the existence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with hexagonal cross-sections”. He Z, Ke X, Bals S, Van Tendeloo G, Carbon 50, 2524 (2012). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2012.01.075
Abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with a polygonal cross-section have been paid increasing attention since their three-dimensional structure is related to specific physical properties, which are found to be different in comparison to CNTs with a circular cross-section. Here, we report the existence of novel multi-walled CNTs yielding walls with a rounded-hexagonal configuration. This structure was directly confirmed for the first time by both cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy and electron tomography. The morphology of the Fe catalytic particle also exhibits hexagonal characteristics, and is proposed as the origin of the formation of the rounded-hexagonal walls of the CNT. This observation is of great importance with respect to the design of polygonal (such as pentagonal or hexagonal) cross-sectional CNTs. By controlling the morphology of the catalytic nanoparticles it will be possible to grow CNTs with desired electronic and mechanical properties.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 6.337
Times cited: 8
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2012.01.075
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“Iron catalysts for the growth of carbon nanofibers : Fe, Fe3C or both?”.He Z, Maurice J-L, Gohier A, Lee CS, Pribat D, Cojocaru CS, Chemistry of materials 23, 5379 (2011). http://doi.org/10.1021/cm202315j
Abstract: Iron is a widely used catalyst for the growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) or carbon nanofibers (CNFs) by catalytic chemical vapor deposition. However, both Fe and FeC compounds (generally, Fe3C) have been found to catalyze the growth of CNTs/CNFs, and a comparison study of their respective catalytic activities is still missing. Furthermore, the control of the crystal structure of iron-based catalysts, that is α-Fe or Fe3C, is still a challenge, which not only obscures our understanding of the growth mechanisms of CNTs/CNFs, but also complicates subsequent procedures, such as the removal of catalysts for better industrial applications. Here, we show a partial control of the phase of iron catalysts (α-Fe or Fe3C), obtained by varying the growth temperatures during the synthesis of carbon-based nanofibers/nanotubes in a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition reactor. We also show that the structure of CNFs originating from Fe3C is bamboo-type, while that of CNFs originating from Fe is not. Moreover, we directly compare the growth rates of carbon-based nanofibers/nanotubes during the same experiments and find that CNFs/CNTs grown by α-Fe nanoparticles are longer than CNFs grown from Fe3C nanoparticles. The influence of the type of catalyst on the growth of CNFs is analyzed and the corresponding possible growth mechanisms, based on the different phases of the catalysts, are discussed.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 9.466
Times cited: 91
DOI: 10.1021/cm202315j
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“Vertically oriented nickel nanorod/carbon nanofiber core/shell structures synthesized by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition”. He Z, Lee CS, Maurice J-L, Pribat D, Haghi-Ashtiani P, Cojocaru CS, Carbon 49, 4710 (2011). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2011.06.075
Abstract: Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, without a nickel-containing gaseous precursor, was used to synthesize continuous nickel (Ni) nanorods inside the hollow cavity of carbon nanofibers (CNFs), thus forming vertically aligned Ni/CNF core/shell structures. Scanning and transmission electron microscopic images indicate that the elongated Ni nanorods originate from the catalyst particles at the tips of the CNFs and that their formation is due to the effect of extrusion induced by the compressive force of the graphene layers during growth. Different from previous work, each vertically-aligned core/shell structure reported is totally isolated from its neighbors. Continuous Ni nanorods are found to separate into smaller ones with increasing growth time, which was ascribed to (i) the limited amount of Ni available in the tip of the CNF, (ii) the polycrystalline nature of the Ni nanorods and (iii) the combined effects of the compressive stresses on the side of the Ni nanorods and of the tensile stress along their axis.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT)
Impact Factor: 6.337
Times cited: 16
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2011.06.075
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