| 1. |
- Averfalk, Helge, 1988-
(författare)
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Enhanced District Heating Technology : Maintaining Future System Feasibility
- 2017
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- When heat demand and high temperature heat supply gradually decreases in the future, then it will effect district heating systems ability to compete on the heat market. A good way to mitigate less district heating feasibility is to operate systems with lower temperature levels and the most conceivable way to achieve lower temperature levels is to decrease return temperatures.Thus, this thesis emphasise temperature errors embedded in district heating systems. Only a selection of temperature errors are analysed in this thesis. First, the temperature error that occurs due to recirculation in distribution networks at low heat demands. Second, the temperature error that occurs due to hot water circulation in multi-family buildings. Third, the temperature error that occurs due to less than possible heat transfer in heat exchangers, i.e. too short thermal lengths.In order to address these temperature errors three technology changes have been proposed (i) three-pipe distribution network to separate the recirculation return flow from the delivery return flow, (ii) apartment substations to eliminate hot water circulation utilisation, and (iii) improved heat exchangers for lower return temperatures at a constant scenario. Analysis of proposed changes has resulted in annual average return temperatures between 17-21 °C.Furthermore, rapid introduction of intermittent renewable electricity supply in the energy system has prompted an increased necessity of power system balancing capacities. Large-scale conversion of power-to-heat in electric boilers and heat pumps is a feasible alternative to achieve such balancing capacities. Analysis of the unique Swedish experience with utilisation of large heat pumps installations connected to district heating systems show that since the 1980s 1527 MW of heat power has been installed, about 80 % of the capacity was still in use by 2013. Thus, a cumulative value of over three decades of operation and maintenance exists within Swedish district heating systems.The two papers presented in this thesis are related to future district heating systems through the five abilities of fourth generation district heating (4GDH), which are documented in the definition paper of 4GDH.
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| 2. |
- Fraser, Magdalena
(författare)
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People of the Dolmens and Stone Cists : An archaeogenetic Investigation of Megalithic Graves from the Neolithic Period on Gotland
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The study of ancient genomics of pre-historic human remains has in recent years offered unprecedented knowledge regarding pre-historic migration and population structure on the European continent which has fundamentally altered the current views in the archaeological community. However, the merging of the two fields, archaeology and genetics, is still in its infancy and much work is still needed in order for these fields to integrate. In this thesis I explore how genetic analyses, in combination with contextual radiocarbon dating and isotopic analyses for diet and mobility can be used to investigate demographic events on a local and regional level. This is done through the investigation of people buried in five previously excavated megalithic tombs on the Island of Gotland dated to the Neolithic period. I present the genomic population structure and archaeological background for the pre-historic European reference data and show how this is used to investigate population continuity, demographic shifts, cultural duality, and admixture for local and regional contexts. I present new data and explore the Strontium-baseline for the Gotland biosphere which is used for the mobility analyses. I show that mitochondrial haplogroup data is especially useful in combination with isotopic data, and radiocarbon dating for investigation of demographic shifts on a larger scale. I also show that genomic data gives unique insights into the individuals’ life history which, together with the established demographic background allows for fine scale investigation of population demographic events within and between different archaeological contexts. Finally I show that the different Neolithic contexts on Gotland to a large extent involves immigration of new groups to the island, and that the contextual breaks seen in the archaeological record during the Neolithic period are connected with cultural and population demographic shifts. This dissertation demonstrates that genomic analyses, in combination with archaeology and isotopic analyses, as well as contextual osteological analyses and radiocarbon dating, present unique insights into the life history of the actual people who lived the lives we try to understand.
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| 3. |
- Lundgren, Linda, 1973-
(författare)
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Incidental Gallbladder Cancer : Incidence, predictors, management and outcome in a Swedish population
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Cholecystectomy is a common surgical procedure and incidental gallbladder cancer is a rare and unexpected finding at a cholecystectomy performed upon benign indications. Whether to perform routine or selective histopathology of the gallbladder specimen is still a subject for discussion. The prognosis of gallbladder cancer is largely affected by tumour stage and treatment.Aims: The overall aim was to study whether routine histological examination of the gallbladder specimen is of clinical and health economic value; determine if there are any predictive factors of incidental gallbladder cancer at benign cholecystectomy and compare the management and outcome of incidental gallbladder cancer patients in Sweden.Methods: All studies were based on registry data from GallRiks (The Swedish Registry for Gallstone Surgery and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) between 2007 and 2016, with some modifications between studies. Complemental cross-linkage was made to national registries, and medical records were reviewed. Papers I, II and III were population-based observational studies with prospectively and retrospectively collected data. Paper IV was a health economic evaluation based on the results from papers I and III.Results and conclusions: Hospitals submitting >75 per cent of gallbladder specimens diagnosed a higher proportion of incidental gallbladder cancer than did hospitals submitting ≤25 per cent of samples (paper I). Incidental gallbladder cancer was more prevalent in older patients, women and patients with acute or previous cholecystitis, as well as ongoing jaundice. The risk model based on predictive preoperative factors was further improved by adding a macroscopic assessment of the gallbladder (paper II). Predictive factors for gallbladder cancer appeared to have an impact on which specimens were submitted in hospitals with a selective approach of histopathology (paper I). For pT2 and pT3 patients, re-resection improved diseasespecific survival, although these groups differed in terms of age and comorbidity (paper III). Residual disease was an independent factor for impaired survival. A change to routine histopathology of gallbladder specimens in Sweden would lead to increased costs with little improved health outcomes. Instead, a more standardized approach to selective histology would be needed (paper IV).
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| 4. |
- Petruhins, Andrejs, 1987-
(författare)
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Synthesis and characterization of magnetic nanolaminated carbides
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- MAX phases are a group of nanolaminated ternary carbides and nitrides, with a composition expressed by the general formula Mn+1AXn (? = 1 − 3), where M is a transition metal, A is an A-group element, and X is carbon and/or nitrogen. MAX phases have attracted interest due to their unique combination of metallic and ceramic properties, related to their inherently laminated structure of a transition metal carbide (Mn+1Xn) layer interleaved by an A-group metal layer.This Thesis explores synthesis and characterization of magnetic MAX phases, where the A-group element is gallium (Ga). Due to the low melting point of Ga (T = 30 °C), conventional thin film synthesis methods become challenging, as the material is in liquid form at typical process temperatures. Development of existing methods has therefore been investigated, for reliable/reproducible synthesis routes, including sputtering from a liquid target, and resulting high quality material. Routes for minimizing trial-and-error procedures during optimization of thin film synthesis have also been studied, allowing faster identification of optimal deposition conditions and a simplified transfer of essential deposition parameters between different deposition systems.A large part of this Thesis is devoted towards synthesis of MAX phase thin films in the Cr-Mn-Ga-C system. First, through process development, thin films of Cr2GaC were deposited by magnetron sputtering. The films were epitaxial, however with small amount of impurity phase Cr3Ga, as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The film structure was confirmed by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and the composition by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) inside the TEM.Inspired by predictive ab initio calculations, the new MAX phase Mn2GaC was successfully synthesized in thin film form by magnetron sputtering. Structural parameters and magnetic properties were analysed. The material was found to have two magnetic transitions in the temperature range 3 K to 750 K, with a first order transition at around 214 K, going from non-collinear antiferromagnetic state at lower temperature to an antiferromagnetic state at higher temperature. The Neél temperature was determined to be 507 K, changing from an antiferromagnetic to a paramagnetic state. Above 800 K, Mn2GaC decomposes. Furthermore, magnetostrictive, magnetoresistive and magnetocaloric properties of the material were iv determined, among which a drastic change in lattice parameters upon the first magnetic transition was observed. This may be of interest for magnetocaloric applications.Synthesis of both Cr2GaC and Mn2GaC in thin film form opens the possibility to tune the magnetic properties through a solid solution on the transition metal site, by alloying the aforementioned Cr2GaC with Mn, realizing (Cr1-xMnx)2GaC. From a compound target with a Cr:Mn ratio of 1:1, thin films of (Cr0.5Mn0.5)2GaC were synthesized, confirmed by TEM-EDX. Optimized structure was obtained by deposition on MgO substrates at a deposition temperature of 600 ºC. The thin films were phase pure and of high structural quality, allowing magnetic measurements. Using vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), it was found that (Cr0.5Mn0.5)2GaC has a ferromagnetic component in the temperature range from 30 K to 300 K, with the measured magnetic moment at high field decreasing by increasing temperature. The remanent moment and coercive field is small, 0.036 μB, and 12 mT at 30 K, respectively. Using ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy, it was also found that the material has pure spin magnetism, as indicated by the determined spectroscopic splitting factor g = 2.00 and a negligible magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy.Fuelled by the recent discoveries of in-plane chemically ordered quaternary MAX phases, so called i-MAX phases, and guided by ab initio calculations, new members within this family, based on Cr and Mn, were synthesized by pressureless sintering methods, realizing (Cr2/3Sc1/3)2GaC and (Mn2/3Sc1/3)2GaC. Their structural properties were determined. Through these phases, the Mn content is the highest obtained in a bulk MAX phase to date.This work has further developed synthesis processes for sputtering from liquid material, for an optimized route to achieve thin films of controlled composition and a high structural quality. Furthermore, through this work, Mn has been added as a new element in the family of MAX phase elements. It has also been shown, that alloying with different content of Mn gives rise to varying magnetic properties in MAX phases. As a result of this Thesis, it is expected that the MAX phase family can be further expanded, with more members of new compositions and new properties.
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| 5. |
- Ding, Haoming, et al.
(författare)
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Synthesis of MAX phases Nb2CuC and Ti2(Al0.1Cu0.9)N by A-site replacement reaction in molten salts
- 2019
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Ingår i: Materials Research Letters. - : Taylor & Francis. - 2166-3831. ; 7:12, s. 510-516
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- New MAX phases Ti2(AlxCu1−x)N and Nb2CuC were synthesized by A-site replacement by reacting Ti2AlN and Nb2AlC, respectively, with CuCl2 or CuI molten salt. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and atomically resolved scanning transmission electron microscopy showed complete A-site replacement in Nb2AlC, which lead to the formation of Nb2CuC. However, the replacement of Al in Ti2AlN phase was only close to complete at Ti2(Al0.1Cu0.9)N. Density-functional theory calculations corroborated the structural stability of Nb2CuC and Ti2CuN phases. Moreover, the calculated cleavage energy in these Cu-containing MAX phases are weaker than in their Al-containing counterparts.The preparation of MAX phases Nb2CuC and Ti2(Al0.1Cu0.9)N were realized by A-site replacement in Ti2AlN and Nb2AlN, respectively.
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| 6. |
- Persson, Ingemar, 1985-
(författare)
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Surface characterization of 2D transition metal carbides (MXenes)
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Research on two-dimensional (2D) materials is a rapidly growing field owing to the wide range of new interesting properties found in 2D structures that are vastly different from their three-dimensional (3D) analogues. In addition, 2D materials embodies a significant surface area that facilitates a high degree of surface reactions per unit volume or mass, that is imperative in many applications such as catalysis, energy storage, energy conversion, filtration, and single molecule sensing. MXenes constitute a family of 2D materials consisting of transition metal carbides and/or nitrides, which are typically formed after selective etching of their 3D parent MAX phases. The latter, are a family of nanolaminated compounds that typically follow the formula Mn+1AXn (n=1-3), where M is a transition metal, A is a group 13 or 14 element, and X is C and or N. Selective etching by aqueous F- containing acids removes the A layer leaving 2D Mn+1Xn slabs instantly terminated by a mix of O-, OH- and F-groups. The first and most investigated MXene is Ti3C2TX, where TX stands for surface termination, which has shown record properties in a range of applications (eg. electrode in Li-batteries, supercapacitors, sieving membrane, electromagnetic interference shielding, and carbon capture). Adding to that, over 30 different MXenes have been discovered since 2011, exhibiting alternative or superior properties. Most importantly, elegant routes for property design in the MXene family has been demonstrated, by means of either varying the chemistry in the Mn+1Xn compound, by alloying two M elements, or by changing the structure of the MXene by introducing vacancies.The present work has a led to an additional route for post synthesis property tuning in MXenes by manipulation of surface termination elements. This enables a unique toolbox for property tuning which is not available to other 2D materials and is highly beneficial for applications that is dependent on surface reactions. Furthermore, chemical and structural characterization of terminations on single sheets is essential to rule out the influence of intercalants or contamination that is typically present in multilayer MXene samples or thin films. For that purpose, a method for preparing isolated contamination free single sheets of MXene samples for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization was established. In order to determine vacancy and termination sites, atomically resolved scanning (S)TEM imaging and image simulations was carried out. Two main processes were employed to substitute the termination elements.1) An initial thermal treatment in vacuum facilitates F desorption and it was shown that O-terminations rearranges on the evacuated sites. H2 gas exposure in a controlled environment demonstrated a removal of the remaining O-terminations. As a result, termination-free MXene is possible to realize under vacuum conditions.2) CO2 was introduced as a first non-inherent termination on MXene by in situ CO2 gas exposure at low temperatures. That was a first demonstration of Ti3C2TX as promising material for carbon capture. Additionally, O-saturated surfaces were demonstrated after introduction of O2 gas on the F-depleted Ti3C2TX MXene, which is highly relevant for hydrogen evolution reactions where fully O-terminated Ti3C2TX are predicted to improve efficiency.A Lewis acid melt synthesis method was used to realize the first MXene exclusively terminated with Cl. Moreover, this was the first report of a MXene directly synthesised with terminations other than O, OH, and F.Furthermore, we have expanded the space of property tuning by introduction of chemical ordering, by selective etching of Y in an alloyed (Mo2/3Y1/3)2CTX MXene. This either produced chemical ordering with one M (Mo) element and vacancies, or ordering between two M (Mo and Y) elements. This was further reported to significantly increase volumetric capacitance because of the increased number of active sites around vacancies, leading to an increasing charge density. As a final note, the stability of Nb2CTX MXene under ambient conditions was investigated. It was found that the surface Nb adatoms, present after etching, got oxidized over time which resulted in local clustering and effectively degraded the MXene.This work has demonstrated reproducible surface characterization methods for determining termination elements and sites in 2D MXenes, that is ultimately governing MXene properties. Most importantly, we report on a new approach for MXene property tuning as well as contributing to several existing property tuning approaches.
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| 7. |
- Serban, Alexandra, 1988-
(författare)
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Magnetron Sputter Epitaxy of Group III-Nitride Semiconductor Nanorods
- 2017
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The III-nitride semiconductors family includes gallium nitride (GaN), aluminum nitride (AlN), indium nitride (InN), and related ternary and quaternary alloys. The research interest on this group of materials is sparked by the direct bandgaps, and excellent physical and chemical properties. Moreover, the ternary alloys (InGaN, InAlN and AlGaN) present the advantage of bandgap tuning, giving access to the whole visible spectrum, from near infrared into deep ultraviolet wavelengths. The intrinsic properties of III-nitride materials can be combined with characteristical features of nanodimension and geometry in nanorod structures. Moreover, nanorods offer the advantage of avoiding problems arising from the lack of native substrates, like lattice and thermal expansion, film – substrate mismatch.The growth and characterization of group III-nitride semiconductos nanorods, namely InAlN and GaN nanorods, is presented in this thesis. All the nanostructures were grown by employing direct-current reactive magnetron sputter epitaxy. InxAl1−xN self-assembled, core-shell nanorods on Si(111) substrates were demonstrated. A comprehensive study of temperature effect upon the morphology and composition of the nanorods was realized. The radial nanorod heterostructure consists of In-rich cores surrounded by Al-rich shells with different thicknesses. The spontaneous formation of core-shell nanorods is suggested to originate from phase separation due to spinodal decomposition. As the growth temperature increase, In desorption is favored, resulting in thicker Al-rich shells and larger nanorod diameters.Both self-assembled and selective-area grown GaN nanorods are presented. Self-assembled growth of GaN nanorods on cost-effective substrates offers a cheaper alternative and simplifies device processing. Successful growth of high- quality GaN (exhibiting strong bandedge emission and high crystalline quality) on conductive templates/substrates such as Si, SiC, TiN/Si, ZrB2/Si, ZrB2/SiC, Mo, and Ti is supported by the possibility to be used as electrodes when integrated in optoelectronic devices.The self-assembled growth leads to mainly random nucleation, resulting in nanorods with large varieties of diameters, heights and densities within a single growth run. This translates into non-uniform properties and complicates device processing. These problems can be circumvented by employing selective-area growth. Pre-patterned substrates by nano-sphere lithography resulted in GaN nanorods with controlled length, diameter, shape, and density. Well-faceted c-axis oriented GaN nanorods were grown directly onto the native SiOx layer inside nano-opening areas, exhibiting strong bandedge emission at room- temperature and single-mode lasing. Our studies on the growth mechanism revealed a different growth behavior when compared with selective-area grown GaN nanorods by MBE and MOCVD. The time-dependent growth series helped define a comprehensive growth mechanism from the initial thin wetting layer formed inside the openings, to the well-defined, uniform, hexagonal NRs resulted from the coalescence of multiple initial nuclei.
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| 8. |
- Brembilla, Christian, 1983-
(författare)
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Modelling and simulation of building components : thermal interaction between multilayer wall and hydronic radiator
- 2016
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background and Scope: The scope of this thesis is to investigate the thermal behaviour of building components as hydronic radiator and multilayer walls subjected to dynamic conditions. The modelling and simulation of these building components provide information on how these components thermally interact among each other. The thermal interaction is fundamental to know how the energy is used in buildings. In particular, the thermal energy used in rooms can be expressed as the efficiencies for emission in a space heating system. This thesis analyzes the efficiencies for emission of a space heating system equipped with hydronic radiator for Swedish buildings by providing a comprehensive and detailed approach on this topic.Methodology: The methods used in this thesis are: experiment, modelling of multilayer wall and hydronic radiator, the dynamic simulation of the building and the efficiencies for emission of a space heating system. Here, the experiment, known as step response test, shows the heating up process of a hydronic radiator. The observation of the qualitative measurements suggests the most suitable technique of modelling the radiator known as transient modelling with multiple storage elements. The multilayer wall has been discretized both in space and time variable with a Finite Difference Method. Dynamic simulation of the building provides the efficiencies for emission of a space heating system.Findings: The experimental results show how the radiator performs the charging phase. The performance of the transient model is compared with lumped steady state models in terms of temperature of exhaust flow and total heat emitted. Results of the dynamic simulation show how buildings located in a Northern climate use the energy in a better way than Southern climates in Sweden. Heavy active thermal mass provides higher efficiencies for emission than light thermal mass. Radiators with connection pipes located on the same side react faster at the thermodynamic changing of the mass flow rate by providing higher efficiencies for emission than radiators with connection pipes located on the opposite side.Conclusion and Outlook: This thesis increases the knowledge about the modelling and simulation of hydronic radiators and multilayer walls. More research is needed on this topic to encompass modelling details of building components often ignored. The modelling and simulation of building components are the key to understand how building components thermally interact with each other. The thermal interaction among building components is a fundamental parameter for the assessment of efficiencies of emission of the space heating system. In the near future, the concept of efficiencies of emission can be implemented in National Building Code, therefore, this study provides guidelines on how to assess these efficiencies.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Karlsson, Linda, 1984-
(författare)
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Transmission Electron Microscopy of 2D Materials : Structure and Surface Properties
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- During recent years, new types of materials have been discovered with unique properties. One family of such materials are two-dimensional materials, which include graphene and MXene. These materials are stronger, more flexible, and have higher conductivity than other materials. As such they are highly interesting for new applications, e.g. specialized in vivo drug delivery systems, hydrogen storage, or as replacements of common materials in e.g. batteries, bulletproof clothing, and sensors. The list of potential applications is long for these new materials.As these materials are almost entirely made up of surfaces, their properties are strongly influenced by interaction between their surfaces, as well as with molecules or adatoms attached to the surfaces (surface groups). This interaction can change the materials and their properties, and it is therefore imperative to understand the underlying mechanisms. Surface groups on two-dimensional materials can be studied by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), where high energy electrons are transmitted through a sample and the resulting image is recorded. However, the high energy needed to get enough resolution to observe single atoms damages the sample and limits the type of materials which can be analyzed. Lowering the electron energy decreases the damage, but the image resolution at such conditions is severely limited by inherent imperfections (aberrations) in the TEM. During the last years, new TEM models have been developed which employ a low acceleration voltage together with aberration correction, enabling imaging at the atomic scale without damaging the samples. These aberration-corrected TEMs are important tools in understanding the structure and chemistry of two-dimensional materials.In this thesis the two-dimensional materials graphene and Ti3C2Tx MXene have been investigated by low-voltage, aberration-corrected (scanning) TEM. High temperature annealing of graphene covered by residues from the synthesis is studied, as well as the structure and surface groups on single and double Ti3C2Tx MXene. These results are important contributions to the understanding of this class of materials and how their properties can be controlled.
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