@misc{BoehlerRosencrantzWolfetal., author = {B{\"o}hler, Stefan and Rosencrantz, Sophia and Wolf, Karina and Heinemann, Robert and Schmidt, Peer and Ganster, Johannes and B{\"u}sse, Thomas and Balko, Jens and Rosencrantz, Ruben R.}, title = {Active protease formulation in commodity polymers withstands melt processing into compounds and blown films}, series = {Materials Today Communications}, volume = {34}, journal = {Materials Today Communications}, issn = {2352-4928}, doi = {10.1016/j.mtcomm.2022.105018}, pages = {1 -- 9}, abstract = {Integrating enzymes into thermoplastic polymers is challenging due to their lack of robustness with respect to temperature and shear fields during conventional melt processing. In the present study, blown films from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were prepared containing a technical protease from Bacillus sp. First, LDPE/protease compounds were produced followed by blown film extrusion, both processes at melt mass temperatures of 130 °C or higher. Enzyme activity was proven, both for the LDPE/protease compound and the blown film. The highest enzyme activity in the compound was determined for processing at 132 °C and a screw speed of 75 rpm. The influence of melt temperature and shear fields was studied in detail. Enzyme activities were determined for melt temperatures up to 160 °C and for screw speeds ranging from 75 to 300 rpm during compounding by twin-screw extrusion. The process was also applied for biobased and biodegradable polyesters, where similar protease activity after compounding was verified. Electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry served to analyze components and morphology of the enzyme formulation used here. It is proposed that the porous morphology of the protease particles is beneficial for the enzyme to remain active after processing. Additionally, the polymer matrix surrounding the particles protects the protease at elevated temperatures, which can be attributed to thermal insulation. Thus, the right combination of a suited technical enzyme formulation with appropriate mild melt compounding conditions allows enzymes to be incorporated into thermoplastics and retain their activity. This opens the way to use the abundant biological functions of enzymes in thermoplastic applications.}, language = {en} } @misc{FroeschkeYasmenPopovetal., author = {Froeschke, Samuel and Yasmen, Nadia and Popov, Alexey and Schiemenz, Sandra and Wolf, Daniel and Giebeler, Lars and Hantusch, Martin and Gr{\"a}ßler, Nico and B{\"u}chner, Bernd and Schmidt, Peer and Hampel, Silke}, title = {Controlled Nanoplatelet Deposition of 2D Chromium Trihalide Solid Solutions}, series = {Chemistry of Materials}, volume = {35}, journal = {Chemistry of Materials}, number = {11}, issn = {1520-5002}, doi = {10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c03785}, pages = {4136 -- 4148}, abstract = {The two-dimensional (2D) chromium trihalides CrCl3, CrBr3, and CrI3 are most famous for their exotic magnetic properties when their crystals get downscaled to nanometer dimensions. One way to tune the properties of such materials and to further increase their potential utility, e.g., in spintronics, is the formation of solid solutions. Here, we present a detailed theoretical and experimental study on the synthesis and nanoplatelet growth of CrBrxCl3-x and CrBrxI3-x solid solutions. Phase pure powder was obtained by tempering the respective parent compounds at 600 and 550 °C, using additional iodine in the case of CrBrxI3-x. The dominant stacking order changes at x = 1.8 for CrBrxCl3-x while remaining similar to CrI3 for the whole CrBrxI3-x series. A consecutive chemical vapor transport from 575 → 525 °C for 2 h (CrBrxCl3-x) or 600 → 550 °C for 3 h with 0.1 mmol additional iodine (CrBrxI3-x) resulted in the deposition of high-quality nanoplatelets on a substrate with only several nanometers in height. The composition can be controlled by the choice of the starting material, since only small shifts in the anion ratio occur during the transport. The deposited CrBrxCl3-x nanoplatelets can then be easily delaminated by ultrasonication in ethanol to reduce the height even further to few-layer dimensions. These nanoplatelets could potentially be used to investigate the property changes (e.g., in terms of magnetic response) for the downscaling of these solid solutions. We further demonstrate the quality of the deposited material by transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy of the solid solution series reveals a complex evolution of vibrational modes. Photoluminescence measurements on solid solution samples show emission peaks in the near-infrared energy range with the specific energy and intensity being composition and temperature dependent.}, language = {en} } @misc{FroeschkeSchrothSteineretal., author = {Froeschke, Samuel and Schroth, Karl-Georg and Steiner, Udo and Popov, Alexey and Schiemenz, Sandra and Wolf, Daniel and Giebeler, Lars and Gr{\"a}ßler, Nico and B{\"u}chner, Bernd and Schmidt, Peer and Hampel, Silke}, title = {Understanding the chemistry of 2D rhodium trihalide solid solutions: tuning of optical properties and nanocrystal deposition}, series = {2D Materials}, volume = {10}, journal = {2D Materials}, number = {3}, issn = {2053-1583}, doi = {10.1088/2053-1583/acd012}, pages = {1 -- 12}, abstract = {In the search for novel 2D materials with potentially valuable properties, such as a tunable band gap for optoelectronic or catalytic applications, solid solutions hold the potential to significantly expand the inventory of available 2D nanomaterials. In this study, we present for the first time the synthesis of such 2D rhodium trihalide solid solutions: RhBrxCl3-x and RhBrxI3-x. We use thermodynamic simulations and simultaneous thermal analysis to predict conditions for their rational synthesis and to investigate suitable chemical vapor transport (CVT) parameters for these solid solutions. The evolution of the lattice parameters was investigated by powder x-ray diffraction, showing an isostructural relationship of the synthesized compounds and only minor deviation from Vegard's law. The optical band gap of these materials can be tuned in an energy range from 1.5 eV (RhCl3) to 1.2 eV (RhI3) by choosing the composition of the solid solution, while the samples also exhibit photoluminescence in similar energy ranges. Ultimately, the successful deposition of bulk as well as ultrathin 2D nanocrystals of RhBrxCl3-x by CVT from 925 °C to 850 °C is shown, where the composition of the deposited crystals is precisely controlled by the choice of the starting composition and the initial amount of material. The high quality of the obtained nanocrystals is confirmed by atomic force microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction. For RhBrxI3-x, the CVT from 900 °C to 825 °C is more difficult and has only been practically demonstrated for an exemplary case. According to the observed properties, these novel solid solutions and nanocrystals show a great potential for an application in optoelectronic devices.}, language = {en} } @misc{VinokurovaKnorrEfimovaetal., author = {Vinokurova, Ekaterina and Knorr, Monika and Efimova, Anastasia and Ovchinnikov, Alexander and Schmidt, Peer and B{\"u}chner, Bernd and Isaeva, Anna and Roslova, Maria}, title = {Microstructural evolution of layered K-doped RuCl3 during annealing traced by thermogravimetric analysis and 3D electron diffraction}, series = {Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Anorgische und Allgemeine Chemie}, volume = {649}, journal = {Zeitschrift f{\"u}r Anorgische und Allgemeine Chemie}, number = {19}, issn = {0044-2313}, doi = {10.1002/zaac.202300141}, pages = {1 -- 8}, abstract = {Nanoscale phase separation was induced in the K-doped RuCl3 van der Waals material by annealing, and studied with the goal to find a natural design strategy for the formation of two-dimensional architectures as an alternative to the costly and time-consuming experimental artificial growth methods. Phase conversion was traced by means of thermogravimetric analysis combined with mass spectrometry. The local crystal structure of co-existing K3Ru2Cl9 domains with the sizes of about 100 nm was solved by 3D electron diffraction.}, language = {en} }