TY - JOUR A1 - El-Dahshan, O. A1 - Deniaud, A. A1 - Ling, W. L. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Proux, O. A1 - Veronesi, G. A1 - Reiss, P. T1 - Hydrothermal microwave synthesis of water soluble NIR-II emitting Ag2S quantum dots N2 - Hydrothermal-based synthetic methods of quantum dots allow for the exploration of reaction parameters normally inaccessible to typical aqueous-based batch reactions, such as elevated reaction temperatures (>100 °C) and reaction pressures above atmospheric pressure. Coupled with microwave heating, new instantaneously bio-compatible quantum dots (QDs) with enhanced opitcal properties can be yielded. As of today, aqueous-based synthetic methods often lag behind their organic analogues in terms of the photophysical properties of the QDs obtained and the ease of modulation of both the emission wavelength and crystallite size. Using a novel microwave-assisted hydrothermal approach, the synthesis of silver sulphide (Ag2S) QDs exhibiting NIR emission spanning the biological transparency windows via modulation of the reaction parameters has been developed. The intrinsic link between their optical and structural properties is explored via laboratory and synchrotron-based structural analysis techniques. Their toxicity towards a hepatic cell line was assessed, and related back to their structure and size. Overall this work aims to not only further develop the repertoire of synthetic methods for the synthesis of Ag2S QDs, but also paves the way for the development of safer QDs suitable for future clinical applications. KW - Quantum dots KW - Microwave synthesis KW - Quality assurance KW - NIR-II emission KW - PL quantum yield KW - Ag2S PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-634825 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d5nr00052a SN - 2040-3372 VL - 17 IS - 24 SP - 14637 EP - 14646 PB - RSC AN - OPUS4-63482 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, Z. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Stiegler, L. M. S. A1 - Zhou, X. A1 - Rezvani, A. A1 - Odungat, A. S. A1 - Zubiri, B. A. A1 - Wu, M. A1 - Spiecker, E. A1 - Walter, J. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Segets, D. T1 - Optimizing the Shelling Process of InP/ZnS Quantum Dots Using a Single-Source Shell Precursor: Implications for Lighting and Display Applications N2 - InP/ZnS core/shell quantum dots (QDs), recognized as highly promising heavy-metal-free emitters, are increasingly being utilized in lighting and display applications. Their synthesis in a tubular flow reactor enables production in a highly efficient, scalable, and reproducible manner, particularly when combined with a single-source shell precursor, such as zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (Zn(S2CNEt2)2). However, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of QDs synthesized with this route remains significantly lower compared with those synthesized in batch reactors involving multiple steps for the shell growth. Our study identifies the formation of absorbing, yet nonemissive ZnS nanoparticles during the ZnS shell formation process as a main contributing factor to this discrepancy. By varying the shelling conditions, especially the shelling reaction temperature and InP core concentration, we investigated the formation of pure ZnS nanoparticles and their impact on the optical properties, particularly PLQY, of the resultant InP/ZnS QDs through ultraviolet−visible (UV−vis) absorption, steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) measurements. Our results suggest that process conditions, such as lower shelling temperatures or reduced InP core concentrations (resulting in a lower external surface area), encourage homogeneous nucleation of ZnS. This reduces the availability of shell precursors necessary for effective passivation of the InP core surfaces, ultimately resulting in lower PLQYs. These findings explain the origin of persistently underperforming PLQY of InP/ZnS QDs synthesized from this synthesis route and suggest further optimization strategies to improve their emission for lighting and display applications. KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - InP KW - Shell KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - ZnS KW - Semiconductor KW - Quantum dot KW - Flow reactor KW - Method KW - AUC KW - Size KW - Automation KW - Sensor PY - 2024 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.4c05265 SN - 2574-0970 VL - 7 IS - 20 SP - 24262 EP - 24273 PB - ACS Publications AN - OPUS4-61518 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stiegler, L. M. S. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Weigert, Florian A1 - Peukert, W. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Walter, J. T1 - Analysis of Giant-Shell CdSe/CdS Quantum Dots via Analytical Ultracentrifugation Combined with Spectrally Resolved Photoluminescence N2 - Knowledge of the structure–property relationships of functional nanomaterials, including, for example, their size- and composition-dependent photoluminescence (PL) and particle-to-particle variations, is crucial for their design and reproducibility. Herein, the Angstrom-resolution capability of an analytical ultracentrifuge combined with an in-line multiwavelength emission detection system (MWE-AUC) for measuring the sedimentation coefficient-resolved spectrally corrected PL spectra of dispersed nanoparticles is demonstrated. The capabilities of this technique are shown for giant-shell CdSe/CdS quantum dots (g-QDs) with a PL quantum yield (PL QY) close to unity capped with oleic acid and oleylamine ligands. The MWE-AUC PL measurements are calibrated and validated with certified fluorescence standards. The spectrally corrected and size-dependent PL spectra of the g-QDs derived from a single MWE-AUC experiment are then analyzed and compared with the results of single-particle spectroscopic studies, yielding the PL spectra, decay kinetics, and blinking behavior of individual g-QDs. This study underlines the vast potential of MWE-AUC with in-line optical detection for the characterization of advanced nanomaterials with a complex structure. KW - Quantum dots KW - Analytical ultracentrifugation KW - Photoluminescence KW - Advanced nanomaterial characterization KW - Calibrated fluorescence measurements KW - Reference materials PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-624357 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202401700 SN - 2366-9608 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - Wiley VHC-Verlag AN - OPUS4-62435 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Kalot, G. A1 - Busser, B. A1 - Pliquett, J. A1 - Köster, U. A1 - Koll, J. C. A1 - Denat, F. A1 - Bodio, E. A1 - Goze, C. A1 - Sacey, L. T1 - NIR aza-BODIPY: a new vector for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) N2 - Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) relies on the activation of 10B by thermal neutrons, which results in small highly energetic particle emission inducing cancer cells damage. However, in order to overcome the limits of the currently used BNCT agents, it is necessary to design new systems, which can specifically accumulate and deliver a sufficient amount of 10B in tumors. In this study, we designed a 10B-BSH-containing aza-BODIPY (aza-SWIR-BSH). It enabled the efficient vectorization of clinically used 10B-BSH to the tumor, resulting in higher therapeutic activity than the 10B-BSH alone. T2 - EMIM 2021 CY - Göttingen, Germany DA - 24.08.2021 KW - Flourescence KW - Optical probe KW - Dye KW - Photophysics KW - Quantum yield KW - Mechanism KW - NIR KW - SWIR KW - Imaging KW - Method KW - Quality assurance KW - BODIPY KW - Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) KW - Medicine KW - Life sciences PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-53731 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Soares, J. X. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Ribeiro, D. S. M. A1 - Melo, A. A1 - Häusler, I. A1 - Santos, J. L. M. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Rationally designed synthesis of bright AgInS2/ZnS quantum dots with emission control N2 - In the blossoming field of Cd-free semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), ternary I–III–VI QDs have received increasing attention due to the ease of the environmentally friendly synthesis of high-quality materials in water, their high photoluminescence (PL) Quantum yields (QYs) in the red and near infrared (NIR) region, and their inherently low toxicity. Moreover, their oxygen-insensitive long PL lifetimes of up to several hundreds of nanoseconds close a gap for applications exploiting the compound-specific parameter PL lifetime. To overcome the lack of reproducible synthetic methodologies and to enable a design-based control of their PL properties, we assessed and modelled the synthesis of high-quality MPA-capped AgInS2/ZnS (AIS/ZnS) QDs. Systematically refined Parameters included reaction time, temperature, Ag:In ratio, S:In ratio, Zn:In ratio, MPA:In ratio, and pH using a design-of-experiment approach. Guidance for the optimization was provided by mathematical models developed for the application-relevant PL parameters, maximum PL wavelength, QY, and PL lifetime as well as the elemental composition in terms of Ag:In:Zn ratio. With these experimental data-based models, MPA:In and Ag:In ratios and pH values were identified as the most important synthesis parameters for PL Control and an insight into the connection of these parameters could be gained. Subsequently, the experimental conditions to synthetize QDs with tunable emission and high QY were predicted. The excellent agreement between the predicted and experimentally found PL features confirmed the reliability of our methodology for the rational design of high quality AIS/ZnS QDs with defined PL features. This approach can be straightforwardly extended to other ternary and quaternary QDs and to doped QDs. KW - Modelling KW - Nanoparticle KW - AIS KW - Semiconductor quantum dot KW - Design of experiment KW - Photoluminescence KW - Quantum yield KW - Surface chemistry KW - Synthesis KW - Lifetime PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-510075 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-020-2876-8 VL - 13 IS - 9 SP - 2438 EP - 2450 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-51007 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Rosen, Andrew S. A1 - Gallant, Max A1 - George, Janine A1 - Riebesell, Janosh A1 - Sahasrabuddhe, Hrushikesh A1 - Shen, Jimmy-Xuan A1 - Wen, Mingjian A1 - Evans, Matthew L. A1 - Petretto, Guido A1 - Waroquiers, David A1 - Rignanese, Gian-Marco A1 - Persson, Kristin A. A1 - Jain, Anubhav A1 - Ganose, Alex M. T1 - Jobflow: Computational Workflows Made Simple N2 - Jobflow is a free, open-source library for writing and executing workflows. Complex workflows can be defined using simple python functions and executed locally or on arbitrary computing resources using the FireWorks workflow manager. Some features that distinguish jobflow are dynamic workflows, easy compositing and connecting of workflows, and the ability to store workflow outputs across multiple databases. KW - Automation KW - Workflows KW - Computational Materials Science PY - 2024 DO - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10466868 PB - Zenodo CY - Geneva AN - OPUS4-59313 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Pouget, S. A1 - Ling, W. L. A1 - Carriere, M. A1 - Reiss, P. T1 - Gallium – a versatile element for tuning the photoluminescence properties of InP quantum dots N2 - With the goal to tune the emission properties of colloidal InP quantum dots, the incorporation of Ga was explored. Unexpectedly, depending on the nature of the gallium precursor, the photoluminescence shifted either to the red (gallium oleate) or to the blue (gallium acetylacetonate). In the first case, larger-sized InP/GaP core/shell nanocrystals were formed, while in the second case the formation of an InGaP alloy structure enabled the blue range of emission (475 nm) to be accessed. KW - Indium phosphide KW - Quantum dots KW - Gallium doping PY - 2019 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/C8CC09740B VL - 55 IS - 11 SP - 1663 EP - 1666 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-48306 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tarantini, A. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Dussert, F. A1 - Sarret, G. A1 - Beal, D. A1 - Mattera, L. A1 - Lincheneau, C. A1 - Proux, O. A1 - Truffier-Boutry, D. A1 - Moriscot, C. A1 - Gallet, B. A1 - Jouneau, P.-H. A1 - Reiss, P. A1 - Carriere, M. T1 - Physicochemical alterations and toxicity of InP alloyed quantum dots aged in environmental conditions: A safer by design evaluation N2 - Due to their unique optical properties, quantum dots (QDs) are used in a number of optoelectronic devices and are forecasted to be used in the near future for biomedical applications. The most popular QD composition consists of cadmium selenide (CdSe) or cadmium telluride (CdTe), which has been shown to pose health risks due to the release of toxic cadmium (Cd) ions. Due to similar optical properties but lower intrinsic toxicity, indium phosphide (InP) QDs have been proposed as a safer alternative. Nevertheless, investigations regarding their safety and possible toxicological effects are still in their infancy. The fate and toxicity of seven different water-dispersible indium (In) based QDs, either pristine or after ageing in a climatic chamber, was evaluated. The core of these QDs was composed of indium, zinc and phosphorus (InZnP) or indium, zinc, phosphorus and sulfur (InZnPS). They were assessed either as core-only or as core-shell QDs, for which the core was capped with a shell of zinc, selenium and sulfur (Zn(Se,S)). Their Surface was functionalized using either penicillamine or glutathione. In their pristine form, these QDs showed essentially no cytotoxicity. The particular case of InZnPS QD showed that core-shell QDs were less cytotoxic than core-only QDs. Moreover, surface functionalization with either penicillamine or glutathione did not appreciably influence cytotoxicity but affected QD stability. These QDs did not lead to over-accumulation of reactive oxygen species in exposed cells, or to any oxidative damage to cellular DNA. However, accelerated weathering in a climatic chamber led to QD precipitation and degradation, together with significant cytotoxic effects. Ageing led to dissociation of IneP and ZneS bonds, and to complexation of In Zn ions with carboxylate and/or phosphate moieties. These results show that InZnP and InZnPS alloyed QDs are safer alternatives to CdSe QDs. They underline the necessity to preserve as much as possible the structural integrity of QDs, for instance by developing more robust shells, in order to ensure their safety for future applications. KW - Indium phosphide KW - Safe by design KW - Toxicity KW - EXAFS PY - 2019 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-483070 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2019.100168 VL - 14 SP - 100168-1 EP - 100168-13 PB - Elsevier AN - OPUS4-48307 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Alam, F. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Pouget, S. A1 - Amidani, L. A1 - Kvashnina, K. A1 - Aldakov, D. A1 - Reiss, P. T1 - Eu2+: A suitable substituent for Pb2+ in CsPbX3 perovskite nanocrystals? N2 - Eu2+ is used to replace toxic Pb2+ in metal halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs). The synthesis implies injection of cesium oleate into a solution of europium (II) bromide at an experimentally determined optimum temperature of 130 ○C and a reaction time of 60 s. Structural analysis indicates the formation of spherical CsEuBr3 nanoparticles with a mean size of 43 ± 7 nm. Using EuI2 instead of EuBr2 leads to the formation of 18-nm CsI nanoparticles, while EuCl2 does not show any reaction with cesium oleate forming 80-nm EuCl2 nanoparticles. The obtained CsEuBr3 NCs exhibit bright blue emission at 413 nm (FWHM 30 nm) with a room temperature photoluminescence quantum yield of 39%. The emission originates from the Laporte-allowed 4f7–4f65d1 transition of Eu2+ and shows a PL decay time of 263 ns. The long-term stability of the optical properties is observed, making inorganic lead-free CsEuBr3 NCs promising deep blue emitters for optoelectronics. KW - Perovskite KW - Lead-free KW - fluorescence KW - anion-exchange PY - 2019 DO - https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5126473 SN - 0021-9606 VL - 151 SP - 231101-1 EP - 231101-7 PB - AIP Publishing AN - OPUS4-50696 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Geißler, Daniel A1 - Linden, S. A1 - Liermann, K. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Charbonnière, L.J. A1 - Hildebrandt, N. T1 - Lanthanides and quantum dots as Förster resonance energy transfer agents for diagnostics and cellular imaging N2 - Luminescent lanthanide labels (LLLs) and semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are two very special classes of (at least partially) inorganic fluorophores, which provide unique properties for Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). FRET is an energy-transfer process between an excited donor fluorophore and a ground-state acceptor fluorophore in close proximity (approximately 1–20 nm), and therefore it is extremely well suited for biosensing applications in optical spectroscopy and microscopy. Within this cogent review, we will outline the main photophysical advantages of LLLs and QDs and their special properties for FRET. We will then focus on some recent applications from the FRET biosensing literature using LLLs as donors and QDs as donors and acceptors in combination with several other fluorophores. Recent examples of combining LLLs and QDs for spectral and temporal multiplexing from single-step to multistep FRET demonstrate the versatile and powerful biosensing capabilities of this unique FRET pair. As this review is published in the Forum on Imaging and Sensing, we will also present some new results of our groups concerning LLL-based time-gated cellular imaging with optically trifunctional antibodies and LLL-to-QD FRET-based homogeneous sandwich immunoassays for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen. PY - 2014 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/ic4017883 SN - 0020-1669 SN - 1520-510X VL - 53 IS - 4 SP - 1824 EP - 1838 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-31182 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yu, Z. A1 - Musnier, B. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Henry, M. A1 - Chovelon, B. A1 - Desroches-Castan, A. A1 - Fertin, A. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Bailly, S. A1 - Coll, J.-L. A1 - Usson, Y, A1 - Josserand, V. A1 - Le Gúevel, X. T1 - High-Resolution Shortwave Infrared Imaging of Vascular Disorders Using Gold Nanoclusters N2 - We synthesized a generation of water-soluble, atomically precise gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) with anisotropic Surface containing a short dithiol pegylated chain (AuMHA/TDT). The AuMHA/TDT exhibit a high brightness (QY ∼ 6%) in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectrum with a detection above 1250 nm. Furthermore, they show an extended half-life in blood (t1/2ß = 19.54 ± 0.05 h) and a very weak accumulation in organs. We also developed a non-invasive, whole-body vascular imaging system in the SWIR window with high-resolution, benefiting from a series of Monte Carlo image processing. The imaging process enabled to improve contrast by 1 order of magnitude and enhance the spatial Resolution by 59%. After systemic administration of these nanoprobes in mice, we can quantify vessel complexity in depth (>4 mm), allowing to detect very subtle vascular disorders non-invasively in bone morphogenetic protein 9 (Bmp9)-deficient mice. The combination of these anisotropic surface charged Au NCs plus an improved SWIR imaging device allows a precise mapping at high-resolution and an in depth understanding of the organization of the vascular network in live animals. KW - Nanoparticle KW - Nanosensor KW - Fluorescence KW - Metal cluster KW - NIR KW - SWIR KW - Photophysics KW - Ligand KW - Size KW - Surface chemistry KW - Quantum yield KW - Mechanism KW - Lifetime KW - Decay kinetics PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.0c01174 VL - 14 IS - 4 SP - 4973 EP - 4981 PB - ACS Publication AN - OPUS4-50671 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mohammad, W. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Comby-Zerbino, C. A1 - Trouillet, V. A1 - Ogayer, M. P. A1 - Coll, J.-L. A1 - Marin, R. A1 - Jaque Garcia, D. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Antoine, R. A1 - Le Guevel, X. T1 - Enhanced brightness of ultra-small gold nanoparticles in the second biological window through thiol ligand shell control N2 - Gold-based nanoparticles below 2 nm in size are promising as luminescent probes for in vivo bioimaging, owing to their brightness and rapid renal clearance. However, their use as contrast agents in the near-infrared II (NIR-II, 1000–1700 nm) range remains challenging due to their low photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield. To address this, PL enhancement can be achieved by either rigidifying the ligand-shell structure or increasing the size of the ligand shell. In this study, we synthesized ultra-small gold nanoparticles stabilized by co-ligands, namely monothiol and short dithiol molecules. By precisely controlling the amount of reducing agent used during particle preparation, we successfully modulated the physicochemical properties of the co-ligand shell, including its size, composition, and structure. Consequently, we achieved a remarkable 60-fold increase in the absorption cross-section at 990 nm while maintaining the small size of the 1.5-nm metal core. The analytical and optical characterization of our thiol-capped gold nanoparticles indicates that the ligand shell size is governed by the quantity of the reducing agent, which, in turn, impacts the balance between radiative and non-radiative processes, thereby influencing the PL quantum yield. KW - Gold nanocluster KW - NIR-II fluorescence KW - SWIR KW - Nanomaterial design KW - Calibrated fluorescence measurements PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-588117 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D3TC03021K SN - 2050-7526 VL - 11 IS - 42 SP - 14714 EP - 14724 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-58811 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Musnier, B. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Comby-Zerbino, C. A1 - Trouillet, V. A1 - Jourdan, M. A1 - Häusler, I. A1 - Antoine, R. A1 - Coll, J.-L. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Le Guevel, X. T1 - High photoluminescence of shortwave infrared-emitting anisotropic surface charged gold nanoclusters N2 - Incorporating anisotropic surface charges on atomically precise gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) led to a strong absorption in the nearinfrared region and could enable the formation of self-assembled Au NCs xhibiting an intense absorption band at ∼1000 nm. This surface modification showed a striking enhancement of the photoluminescence in the Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) region with a quantum yield as high as 6.1% in water. KW - Gold nanoclusters KW - SWIR photoluminescence KW - Self-assembly PY - 2019 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/C9NR04120F VL - 11 IS - 25 SP - 12092 EP - 12096 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-48305 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -