TY - JOUR A1 - Sordello, F. A1 - Prozzi, M. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Pellegrino, F. T1 - Increasing the HER efficiency of photodeposited metal nanoparticles over TiO2 using controlled periodic illumination N2 - Although the use of noble metal catalysts can increase the efficiency of hydrogen evolution reaction, the process is still limited by the characteristics of the metal-hydrogen (M−H) bond, which can be too strong or too weak, depending on the metal employed. Studies revealed that the hydrogen affinity for the metal surface (i.e. H absorption/desorption) is regulated also by the potential at the metal nanoparticles. Through controlled periodic illumination (CPI) of a series of metal/TiO2 suspensions, here we demonstrated that an increase of the HER efficiency is possible for those photodeposited metals which have a Tafel slope below 125 mV. Two possible explanations are here reported, in both of them the M−H interaction and the metal covering level play a prominent role, which also depend on the prevailing HER mechanism (Volmer-Heyrovsky or Volmer-Tafel). KW - Controlled periodic illumination KW - Hydrogen evolution reaction KW - Titanium dioxide KW - Photoreforming KW - Volcano plot KW - Sabatier KW - Nanoparticles PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-589875 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2023.115215 VL - 429 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-58987 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Feltin, N. A1 - Crouzier, L. A1 - Delvallée, A. A1 - Pellegrino, F A1 - Maurino, V. A1 - Bartczak, D. A1 - Goenaga-Infante, H. A1 - Taché, O. A1 - Marguet, S. A1 - Testard, F. A1 - Artous, S. A1 - Saint-Antonin, F. A1 - Salzmann, Christoph A1 - Deumer, J. A1 - Gollwitzer, C. A1 - Koops, R. A1 - Sebaïhi, N. A1 - Fontanges, R. A1 - Neuwirth, M. A1 - Bergmann, D. A1 - Hüser, D. A1 - Klein, T. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Metrological Protocols for Reaching Reliable and SI-Traceable Size Results for Multi-Modal and Complexly Shaped Reference Nanoparticles N2 - The study described in this paper was conducted in the framework of the European nPSize project (EMPIR program) with the main objective of proposing new reference certified nanomaterials for the market in order to improve the reliability and traceability of nanoparticle size measurements. For this purpose, bimodal populations as well as complexly shaped nanoparticles (bipyramids, cubes, and rods) were synthesized. An inter-laboratory comparison was organized for comparing the size measurements of the selected nanoparticle samples performed with electron microscopy (TEM, SEM, and TSEM), scanning probe microscopy (AFM), or small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The results demonstrate good consistency of the measured size by the different techniques in cases where special care was taken for sample preparation, instrument calibration, and the clear definition of the measurand. For each characterization method, the calibration process is described and a semi-quantitative table grouping the main error sources is proposed for estimating the uncertainties associated with the measurements. Regarding microscopy-based techniques applied to complexly shaped nanoparticles, data dispersion can be observed when the size measurements are affected by the orientation of the nanoparticles on the substrate. For the most complex materials, hybrid approaches combining several complementary techniques were tested, with the outcome being that the reliability of the size results was improved. KW - Certified reference nanomaterials KW - Traceable nanoparticle size measurements; KW - Hybrid metrology KW - Scanning probe microscopy KW - Small-angle X-ray scattering KW - Electron microscopy PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-571902 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13060993 SN - 2079-4991 VL - 13 IS - 6 - Special Issue "Identification and Quantification of Nanomaterials" SP - 1 EP - 25 PB - MDPI CY - Basel, CH AN - OPUS4-57190 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pellegrino, F. A1 - Sordello, F. A1 - Mino, L. A1 - Prozzi, M. A1 - Mansfeld, Ulrich A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Minero, C. T1 - Polyethylene Glycol as Shape and Size Controller for the Hydrothermal Synthesis of SrTiO3 Cubes and Polyhedra N2 - Understanding the correlation between the morphological and functional properties of particulate materials is crucial across all fields of physical and natural sciences. This manuscript reports on the investigation of the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) employed as a capping Agent in the synthesis of SrTiO3 crystals. The crucial influence of PEG on both the shape and size of the strontium titanate particles is revealed, highlighting the effect on the photocurrents measured under UV–Vis irradiation. KW - Polyethylene glycol KW - Strontium titanate KW - Controlled morphology KW - Photoelectrochemistry KW - Electron microscopy KW - EDS PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-512892 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10091892 VL - 10 IS - 9 SP - 1892 PB - MDPI CY - Basel, CH AN - OPUS4-51289 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 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 - 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 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 - Donėlienė, J. A1 - Rudzikas, M. A1 - Rades, Steffi A1 - Dörfel, Ilona A1 - Peplinski, Burkhard A1 - Sahre, Mario A1 - Pellegrino, F. A1 - Maurino, V. A1 - Ulbikas, J. A1 - Galdikas, A. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Morphology and structure of TixOy nanoparticles generated by femtosecond laser ablation in water N2 - In this work femto-second pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) procedure for the generation of titanium oxide nanoparticles (NP) is reported with the purpose of understanding morphology and structure of the newly generated NPs. Ablation duration was varied for optimization of NP generation processes between 10 and 90 min. Surface morphology of NPs as well as their size and shape (distribution) were analysed by various complementary electron microscopy techniques, i.e. SEM, TSEM and TEM. The crystalline structure of titanium oxide particles was investigated byXRD(two instruments operated in different geometries) and HR-TEM. Concentration of generated titanium oxide NPs in liquid was analysed by ICP-MS. A mix of crystalline (mainly anatase), partly crystalline and amorphous spherical titanium oxide NPs can be reported having a mean size between 10 and 20 nm, which is rather independent of the laser ablation (LA) duration. A second component consisting of irregularly shaped, but crystalline titanium oxide nanostructures is co-generated in the LA water, with more pronounced occurrence at longer LA times. The provenance of this component is assigned to those spherical particles generated in suspension and passing through the converging laser beam, being hence subject to secondary irradiation effects, e. g. fragmentation. KW - Titanium oxide KW - Nanoparticles KW - Laser ablation in liquid KW - Particle morphology KW - Nanoparticle structure PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/aaba56 SN - 2053-1591 VL - 5 IS - 4 SP - 045015-1 EP - 045015-12 PB - IOP Publishing CY - London, UK AN - OPUS4-44678 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 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 -