TY - JOUR A1 - Prause, A. A1 - Hormann, A. A1 - Cristiglio, V. A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Gradzielski, M. A1 - Findenegg, G. H. T1 - Incorporation and structural arrangement of microemulsion droplets in cylindrical pores of mesoporous silica N2 - The behaviour of microemulsion (ME) droplets in mesoporous systems is highly important for understanding the immobilisation of drugs or chemical formulations, cleaning processes or enhanced oil recovery. The loading of pores as well as the structural organisation of MEs within the pores is a relevant parameter, especially for immobilisation applications. For this reason, the uptake of microemulsions in cylindrical pores of SBA-15 was investigated via adsorption and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Adsorption isotherms revealed an adsorption of the microemulsion droplets based on the adsorption of surfactant as a driving force. The adapted scattering model is based on the analysis of bare SBA-15 in full contrast conditions and employs microemulsions inside of SBA-15 measured at the silica contrast matching point. Accordingly, the structural arrangement of microemulsion droplets in the pores of SBA-15 was determined in good detail. Microemulsion droplets smaller than the pore size access the pores while retaining their spherical shape and become increasingly ordered for higher loading, where the droplets arrange in a dense packing of spherical droplets in a cylindrical pore. Interestingly, microemulsion droplets larger than the pore size can easily be incorporated, but become deformed upon entering and are present as elongated rod-like structures. KW - Mesoporous Silica KW - SAXS KW - Microemulsion PY - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/00268976.2021.1913255 VL - 119 IS - 15-16 SP - 13255 PB - Taylor & Francis AN - OPUS4-52959 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Friberg, I. A1 - Clark, A. H. A1 - Ho, P. A1 - Sadokhina, N. A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob A1 - Woo, J. A1 - Auray, X. A1 - Ferri, D. A1 - Nachtegaal, M. A1 - Krocher, O. A1 - Olsson, L. T1 - Structure and performance of zeolite supported Pd for complete methane oxidation N2 - The influence of zeolite support materials and their impact on CH4 oxidation activity was studied utilizing Pd supported on H-beta and H-SSZ-13. A correlation between CH4 oxidation activity, Si/Al ratio (SAR), the type of zeolite framework, reduction-oxidation behaviour, and Pd species present was found by combining catalytic activity measurements with a variety of characterization methods (operando XAS, NH3-TPD, SAXS, STEM and NaCl titration). Operando XAS analysis indicated that catalysts with high CH4 oxidation activity experienced rapid transitions between metallic- and oxidized-Pd states when switching between rich and lean conditions. This behaviour was exhibited by catalysts with dispersed Pd particles. By contrast, the formation of ion-exchanged Pd2+ and large Pd particles appeared to have a detrimental effect on the oxidation-reduction behaviour and the conversion of CH4. The formation of ion-exchanged Pd2+ and large Pd particles was limited by using a highly siliceous beta zeolite support with a low capacity for cation exchange. The same effect was also found using a small-pore SSZ-13 zeolite due to the lower mobility of Pd species. It was found that the zeolite support material should be carefully selected so that the well-dispersed Pd particles remain, and the formation of ion-exchanged Pd2+ is minimized. KW - SAXS KW - Zeolites KW - Methane Oxidation KW - XAS KW - Catalysis PY - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-529606 VL - 382 SP - 3 EP - 12 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-52960 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob T1 - Following the formation of zeolites and MOFs in-situ N2 - Porous materials are of a great interest due to their ability to interact with ions and molecules not only on their surface but throughout their bulk. Porous materials are conventionally used in applications; such as ion exchange, adsorption/separation and in catalysis, exploiting the huge internal surface area of highly ordered porous materials. [1, 2] The ability for these materials to succeed, in a particular field, is dependent greatly upon the uniformity of the shape and size of the pores within the material. However, despite how well we are able to understand the stability of 3-D frameworks in crystalline or polycrystalline zeolites and ZIFs, there still remains major limitations in fully understanding the synthetic mechanisms occurring prior to their formation. [3, 4] Though the syntheses of a wide variety of porous solids are already well established, their formation mechanisms continue to be of great interest to both academic and industrial communities, with the thought that with greater understanding of the formation of these solids can lead to their rational design. By obtaining a better knowledge of the underlying nucleation mechanisms, it can allow for increased predictability of new structures and in addition can reveal valuable information regarding the particle dimensions aiding in controlling particle morphology and size. Small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) are ideal techniques for determining morphological changes in-situ, where the shape, size and crystallinity can be followed at a high temporal resolution, and when these techniques are deployed alongside complimentary techniques, such as ex-situ microscopy, a great deal of information on the formation of materials can be obtained. The above-mentioned methodologies were utilised to study the formation of Silicalite-1 from multiple silica sources to obtain a detailed picture of the formation as a whole, including the formation of intermediate species (Image 1 show the in-situ SAXS data collected from the formation of Silicalite-1 from tetraethyl orthosilicate). In-situ SAXS/WAXS studies were also utilized to observe the formation of ZIF-8 alongside in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) experiments to probe both the morphological changes, as well as any changes occurring to the local structure during synthesis (Image 2 show the in-situ SAXS data collected from the formation of ZIF-8). These timeresolved in-situ studies have been utilised to follow changes in crystallinity and crystallite size, whilst also providing valuable information on the formation of intermediate species, the nucleation of crystalline ZIFs, and their subsequent growth. References: [1] M E Davis. Nature, 417(6891):813–21, 2002 [2] S T Meek, J A Greathouse, M D Allendorf, Advanced Materials, 23 (2): 249-267, 2011 [3] J Grand, H Awala, CrystEngComm,18 (5): 650–664, 2016 [4] M J V Vleet, T Weng, X Li, J R Schmidt. Chem.Rev.,118 (7): 3681–3721, 2018 T2 - 8th Conference of the Federation of European Zeolite Associations (FEZA 2021) CY - Online meeting DA - 05.07.2021 KW - SAXS KW - Zeolites KW - MOFs KW - In situ PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-53187 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob T1 - Structural characterization using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) N2 - A short introduction to small-angle scattering, followed by a "choose your own adventure" style of talk on the characterisation of different materials using SAXS/WAXS. T2 - Operando workshop “SAXS and Ptychography” at the Paul Scherrer Institut CY - Villigen, Switzerland DA - 17.08.2021 KW - SAXS KW - Materials KW - Characterisation PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-53188 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wang, Z. A1 - Villa Santos, C. A1 - Legrand, A. A1 - Haase, F. A1 - Hara, Y. A1 - Kanamori, K. A1 - Aoyama, T. A1 - Urayama, K. A1 - Doherty, C. M. A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard A1 - Colon, Y. J. A1 - Furukawa, S. T1 - Multiscale structural control of linked metal–organic polyhedra gel by aging-induced linkage-reorganization N2 - Assembly of permanently porous metal–organic polyhedra/cages (MOPs) with bifunctional linkers leads to soft supramolecular networks featuring both porosity and processability. However, the amorphous nature of such soft materials complicates their characterization and thus limits rational structural control. Here we demonstrate that aging is an effective strategy to control the hierarchical network of supramolecular gels, which are assembled from organic ligands as linkers and MOPs as junctions. Normally, the initial gel formation by rapid gelation leads to a kinetically trapped structure with low controllability. Through a controlled post-synthetic aging process, we show that it is possible to tune the network of the linked MOP gel over multiple length scales. This process allows control on the molecular-scale rearrangement of interlinking MOPs, mesoscale fusion of colloidal particles and macroscale densification of the whole colloidal network. In this work we elucidate the relationships between the gel properties, such as porosity and rheology, and their hierarchical structures, which suggest that porosity measurement of the dried gels can be used as a powerful tool to characterize the microscale structural transition of their corresponding gels. This aging strategy can be applied in other supramolecular polymer systems particularly containing kinetically controlled structures and shows an opportunity to engineer the structure and the permanent porosity of amorphous materials for further applications. KW - SAXS KW - Metal-organic polyhedra KW - Structural control PY - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-532309 SN - 1478-6524 SN - 1742-2183 VL - 12 IS - 38 SP - NIL_1 EP - NIL_9 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-53230 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard T1 - The MOUSE project: A meticulous approach for obtaining traceable, wide-range X-ray scattering information N2 - Herein, we provide a "systems architecture"-like overview and detailed discussions of the methodological and instrumental components that, together, comprise the "MOUSE" project (Methodology Optimization for UltrafineStructure Exploration). The MOUSE project provides scattering information on a wide variety of samples, with traceable dimensions for both the scattering vector (q) and the absolute scattering cross-section (I). The measurable scattering vector-range of 0.012≤ q (nm-1) ≤ 92, allows information across a hierarchy of structures with dimensions ranging from ca. 0.1 to 400 nm. In addition to details that comprise the MOUSE project, such as the organisation and traceable aspects, several representative examples are provided to demonstrate its flexibility. These include measurements on alumina membranes, the tobacco mosaic virus, and dual-source information that overcomes fluorescence limitations on ZIF-8 and iron-oxide-containing carbon catalyst materials. KW - X-ray scattering KW - MOUSE KW - Instrumentation KW - SAXS KW - Methodology KW - Traceability KW - Wide-range KW - Data curation KW - FAIR KW - Uncertainties KW - Nanomaterials KW - Nanometrology PY - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-528669 VL - 16 IS - 6 SP - 1 EP - 50 PB - IOP CY - Bristol, UK AN - OPUS4-52866 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wallau, Wilma A1 - Recknagel, Christoph A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob T1 - Structural silicone sealants after exposure to laboratory test for durability assessment N2 - During the service life of structural sealant glazing (SSG) facades, the loadbearing capacity of the silicone bonds needs to be guaranteed. Laboratory Tests can assess the durability of SSG-systems based on mechanical characteristics of the bond after simultaneous exposure to both climatic and mechanical loads. This article studies how the material characteristics of two common structural sealants are affected by laboratory and field exposure. Dynamic mechanical Analysis (DMA) confirms a reduction in the dynamic modulus of exposed Silicone samples. Results from thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and small-angle X-ray scattering/wide-angle X-ray scattering show differences between the two sealants and indicate no/minor changes in the composition and morphology of the laboratory and field exposed sealants. Mechanical characterization methods, such as DMA, and tensile and shear testing of the structural bond, are shown to be sensitive toward the combined climatic and mechanical loadings, and are hence suitable for studying degradation mechanisms of structural sealants. KW - Aging KW - Analytical methods KW - Fatigue KW - Silicone elastomer KW - Structural sealant glazing PY - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-527217 VL - 138 IS - 35 SP - 50881 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-52721 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Emamverdi, Farnaz A1 - Yin, Huajie A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob A1 - Harrison, W. J. A1 - Budd, P. M. A1 - Böhning, Martin A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Polymers of intrinsic microporosity - Molecular mobility and physical aging revisited by dielectric spectroscopy and X‑ray scattering N2 - Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) are promising candidates for the active layer in gas separation membranes due to their high permeability and reasonable permselectivity. These appealing properties originate from a microporous structure as a result of inefficient segment packing in the condensed state due to a combination of a ladder-like rigid backbone and sites of contortion. However, this class of polymers suffers from a significant decrease in the permeability with time due to physical aging, whereby typically, the permselectivity increases. The initial microporous structures approach a denser state via local rearrangements, leading to the reduction of the permeability. Hence, a detailed characterization of the molecular mobility in such materials can provide valuable information on physical aging. In this work, the dielectric behavior of PIM-1 films and their behavior upon heating (aging) were revisited by isothermal frequency scans during different heating/cooling cycles over a broad temperature range between 133 and 523 K (−140 to 250 °C). In addition, the obtained results were compared with data of samples that were annealed at ambient temperatures over different time scales. Multiple dielectric processes were observed: several relaxation processes due to local fluctuations and a Maxwell−Wagner−Sillars polarization effect related to the microporosity. The temperature dependence of the rates of all processes follows the Arrhenius law where the estimated activation energy depends on the nature of the process. The influence of the thermal history (aging) on the processes is discussed in detail. KW - Polymers of intrinsic microporosity PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.macromol.2c00934 VL - 55 SP - 7340 EP - 7350 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-55485 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Henning, L. M. A1 - Müller, J. T. A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard A1 - Schmidt, J. A1 - Bekheet, M. F. A1 - Gurlo, A. A1 - Simon, U. T1 - Hierarchically porous and mechanically stable monoliths from ordered mesoporous silica and their water filtration potential N2 - Mechanically stable structures with interconnected hierarchical porosity combine the benefits of both small and large pores, such as high surface area, pore volume, and good mass transport capabilities. Hence, lightweight micro-/meso-/macroporous monoliths are prepared from ordered mesoporous silica COK-12 by means of spark plasma sintering (SPS, S-sintering) and compared to conventionally (C-) sintered monoliths. A multi-scale model is developed to fit the small angle X-ray scattering data and obtain information on the hexagonal lattice parameters, pore sizes from the macro to the micro range, as well as the dimensions of the silica population. For both sintering techniques, the overall mesoporosity, hexagonal pore ordering, and amorphous character are preserved. The monoliths' porosity (77–49%), mesopore size (6.2–5.2 nm), pore volume (0.50–0.22 g cm-3 ), and specific surface area (451–180 m2 g-1) decrease with increasing processing temperature and pressure. While the difference in porosity is enhanced, the structural parameters between the C-and S-sintered monoliths are largely converging at 900 C, except for the mesopore size and lattice parameter, whose dimensions are more extensively preserved in the S-sintered monoliths, however, coming along with larger deviations from the theoretical lattice. Their higher mechanical properties (biaxial strength up to 49 MPa, 724 MPa HV 9.807 N) at comparable porosities and ability to withstand ultrasonic treatment and dead-end filtration up to 7 bar allow S-sintered monoliths to reach a high permeance (2634 L m-2 h-1 bar-1), permeability (1.25 x 10^-14 m2), and ability to reduce the chemical oxygen demand by 90% during filtration of a surfactant-stabilized oil in water emulsion, while indicating reasonable resistance towards fouling. KW - SAXS KW - Hierarchically porous KW - Silica KW - Water filtration PY - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-555928 SN - 2516-0230 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-55592 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pütz, E. A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob A1 - Jegel, O. A1 - Emmerling, Franziska A1 - Tremel, W. T1 - Tuning ceria catalysts in aqueous media at the nanoscale: how do surface charge and surface defects determine peroxidase- and haloperoxidase-like reactivity N2 - Designing the shape and size of catalyst particles, and their interfacial charge, at the nanometer scale can radically change their performance. We demonstrate this with ceria nanoparticles. In aqueous media, nanoceria is a functional mimic of haloperoxidases, a group of enzymes that oxidize organic substrates, or of peroxidases that can degrade reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as H2O2 by oxidizing an organic substrate. We show that the chemical activity of CeO2−x nanoparticles in haloperoxidase- and peroxidaselike reactions scales with their active surface area, their surface charge, given by the ζ-potential, and their surface defects (via the Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio). Haloperoxidase-like reactions are controlled through the ζ-potential as they involve the adsorption of charged halide anions to the CeO2 surface, whereas peroxidase-like reactions without charged substrates are controlled through the specific surface area SBET. Mesoporous CeO2−x particles, with large surface areas, were prepared via template-free hydrothermal reactions and characterized by small-angle X-ray scattering. Surface area, ζ-potential and the Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio are controlled in a simple and predictable manner by the synthesis time of the hydrothermal reaction as demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, sorption and ζ-potential measurements. The surface area increased with synthesis time, whilst the Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio scales inversely with decreasing ζ-potential. In this way the catalytic activity of mesoporous CeO2−x particles could be tailored selectively for haloperoxidase- and peroxidase-like reactions. The ease of tuning the surface properties of mesoporous CeO2x particles by varying the synthesis time makes the synthesis a powerful general tool for the preparation of nanocatalysts according to individual needs. KW - SAXS KW - Ceria KW - Zeta potential PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/D2NR03172H SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-55649 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -