TY - JOUR A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Rades, Steffi A1 - Borghetti, P. A1 - Ortel, Erik A1 - Wirth, Thomas A1 - Garcia, S. A1 - Gómez, E. A1 - Blanco, M. A1 - Alberto, G. A1 - Martra, G. T1 - Organic surface modification and analysis of titania nanoparticles for self‐assembly in multiple layers JF - Surface and Interface Analysis N2 - The characteristics of TiO2 coatings can greatly influence their final performance in large‐scale applications. In the present study, self‐assembly of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in multiple layers was selected as a deposition procedure on various substrates. For this, the main prerequisite constitutes the surface modification of both NPs and substrate with, for example, silane coupling agents. A set of functionalized TiO2 NPs has been produced by reaction with either (3‐aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) or (3‐aminopropyl)phosphonic acid (APPA) to functionalize the NP surface with free amino‐groups. Then, the complementary functionalized NP set can be obtained from an aliquot of the first one, through the conversion of free surface amino groups to aldehydes by reaction with glutaraldehyde (GA). Several types of TiO2 NPs differing in size, shape, and specific surface area have been functionalized. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), SEM/ energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), XPS, Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and Time‐of‐Flight (ToF)‐SIMS analyses have been carried out to evaluate the degree of functionalization, all the analytical methods employed demonstrating successful functionalization of TiO2 NP surface with APTES or APPA and GA. KW - TiO2 KW - Nanoparticles KW - Surface functionalization KW - Layer-by-layer deposition KW - Surface chemical analysis PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-508601 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/sia.6842 SN - 1096-9918 VL - 52 IS - 12 SP - 829 EP - 834 PB - John Wiley & Sons Ltd AN - OPUS4-50860 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pellegrino, F. A1 - Sordello, F. A1 - Mino, L. A1 - Minero, C. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Martra, G. A1 - Maurino, V. T1 - Formic acid photoreforming for hydrogen production on shape-controlled anatase TiO2 nanoparticles: Assessment of the role of fluorides, {101}/{001} surfaces ratio, and platinization JF - ACS Catalysis N2 - Hydrogen production via formate photoreforming on TiO2 is characterized by marked dependence on the ratio between {101} and {001} surfaces for anatase nanoparticles. We observed higher rates of hydrogen Evolution with the increase of the {101} facets presence, owing to their reductive nature. This helps the Pt photodeposition in the early stages of Irradiation and, then, the hydrogen ion reduction reaction. The selective photodeposition of 2 nm Pt nanoparticles on {101} facets was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs. The results are confirmed also by experiments carried out without the use of Pt as cocatalyst and by photoelectrochemical measurements. The work also explains the marginal effect of the fluorination on the H2 evolution. KW - Titanium dioxide KW - Fluoride KW - Platinum KW - Nanoparticles KW - Controlled-shape KW - Hydrogen photoproduction KW - Surface PY - 2019 UR - https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acscatal.9b01861 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.9b01861 SN - 2155-5435 VL - 9 IS - 8 SP - 6692 EP - 6697 PB - ACS Publications AN - OPUS4-48355 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pellegrino, F. A1 - Isopescu, R. A1 - Pellutiè, L. A1 - Sordello, F. A1 - Rossi, A. M. A1 - Ortel, Erik A1 - Martra, G. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Maurino, V. T1 - Machine learning approach for elucidating and predicting the role of synthesis parameters on the shape and size of TiO2 nanoparticles JF - Scientific Reports N2 - In the present work a series of design rules are developed in order to tune the morphology of TiO2 nanoparticles through hydrothermal process. Through a careful experimental design, the influence of relevant process parameters on the synthesis outcome are studied, reaching to the develop predictive models by using Machine Learning methods. The models, after the validation and training, are able to predict with high accuracy the synthesis outcome in terms of nanoparticle size, polydispersity and aspect ratio. Furthermore, they are implemented by reverse engineering approach to do the inverse process, i.e. obtain the optimal synthesis parameters given a specific product characteristic. For the first time, it is presented a synthesis method that allows continuous and precise control of NPs morphology with the possibility to tune the aspect ratio over a large range from 1.4 (perfect truncated bipyramids) to 6 (elongated nanoparticles) and the length from 20 to 140 nm. KW - Machine learning KW - Nanoparticles KW - Titanium dioxide KW - Size KW - Shape KW - Synthesis PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-515084 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75967-w VL - 10 IS - 1 SP - 18910 PB - Springer Nature AN - OPUS4-51508 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rades, Steffi A1 - Borghetti, P. A1 - Ortel, Erik A1 - Wirth, Thomas A1 - Blanco, M. A1 - Gómez, E. A1 - Martinez, A. A1 - Jupille, J. A1 - Martra, G. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Control of functionalization of supports for subsequent assembly of titania nanoparticle films JF - Surface and Interface Analysis N2 - For self‐assembling of TiO2 nanoparticles in multiple layers by layer‐by‐layer deposition to be applied to TiO2 thin films with defined and homogeneous thickness for large‐scale applications, the proper functionalization of substrate surface is a prerequisite to guarantee sufficient adhesion. The substrates selected and tested in the present paper were conductive, fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) glass, nonconductive silica glass, and titanium alloy. The current study focusses on the analytical control of the stepwise functionalization of the substrates with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane and glutaraldehyde (GA) for both the FTO glass and silica glass and with 3‐aminepropyl phosphonic acid and GA for Ti alloy. The analyses have been conducted by means of surface sensitive methods, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and time‐of‐flight secondary ions mass spectrometry. Chemical composition of surface of functionalized substrates shows differences in the degree and type of modification in dependence on substrate. It could be demonstrated that the best functionalized substrates were the conductive FTO glasses. The analysis of the functionalized Ti substrates has revealed that the surface coverage with 3‐aminepropyl phosphonic acid and GA molecules is an inhomogeneous one, and further optimization of the two‐step functionalization on the Ti alloy substrate is necessary. KW - Nanoparticles KW - Surface functionalization KW - TiO2 KW - SEM/EDX KW - Auger Electron Spectroscopy KW - ToF-SIMS KW - Thin films PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/sia.6398 SN - 0142-2421 SN - 1096-9918 VL - 50 IS - 11 SP - 1200 EP - 1206 PB - John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. AN - OPUS4-46406 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mino, L. A1 - Pellegrino, F. A1 - Rades, Steffi A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Spotto, G. A1 - Maurino, V. A1 - Martra, G. T1 - Beyond shape engineering of TiO2 nanoparticles: Post-synthesis treatment dependence of surface hydration, hydroxylation, Lewis acidity and photocatalytic activity of TiO2 anatase nanoparticles with dominant {001} or {101} facets JF - ACS Applied Nano Materials N2 - TiO2 anatase nanoparticles are among the relevant players in the field of light-responsive semiconductor nanomaterials used to face environmental and energy issues. In particular, shape-engineered TiO2 anatase nanosheets with dominant {001} basal facets gained momentum because of the possibility to exploit different and/or improved functional behaviors with respect to usual bipyramidal TiO2 anatase nanoparticles, mainly exposing {101} facets. Nevertheless, such behavior depends in a significant extent on the physicochemical features of surfaces exposed by nanosheets. They can vary in dependence on the presence or removal degree of capping agents, namely, fluorides, used for shape-engineering, and experimental investigations in this respect are still a few. Here we report on the evolution of interfacial/ surface features of TiO2 anatase nanosheets with dominant {001} facets from pristine nanoparticles fluorinated both in the bulk and at their surface to nanoparticles with F− free surfaces by treatment in a basic solution and to totally F− free nanoparticles by calcination at 873 K. The nanoparticles fluorine content and its subsequent evolution is determined by complementary techniques (ion chromatography, TOF-SIMS, XPS, AES, SEM-EDX), probing different depths. In parallel, the evolution of the electronic properties and the Ti valence state is monitored by UV−vis spectroscopy and XPS. The calcination treatment results in {001} facets poorly hydroxylated, hydrated, and hydrophilic, which appear as surface features consequent to the expected (1 × 4) reconstruction. Moreover, IR spectroscopy of CO adsorbed as probe molecule indicates that the Lewis acidity of Ti4+ sites exposed on (1 × 4) reconstructed {001} facets of calcined TiO2 nanosheets is weaker than that of cationic centers on {101} facets of bipyramidal TiO2 anatase nanoparticles. The samples have also been tested in phenol photodegradation highlighting that differences in surface hydration, hydroxylation, and Lewis acidity between TiO2 nanoparticles with nanosheet (freed by F− by calcination at 873 K) and bipyramidal shape have a strong impact on the photocatalytic activity that is found to be quite limited for the nanoparticles mainly exposing (1 × 4) reconstructed {001} facets. KW - Nanoparticles KW - TiO2 KW - F- doping KW - Shape-controlled nanoparticles KW - Nanosheets PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.8b01477 SN - 2574-0970 VL - 1 IS - 9 SP - 5355 EP - 5365 PB - ACS Publications CY - Washington, DC, U.S.A. AN - OPUS4-46157 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -