TY - JOUR A1 - Ankli, P. P. A1 - Abdelwahab, A. A. A1 - Logachov, A. A1 - Bugiel, R. A1 - Drobne, D. A1 - Novak, S. A1 - Kranjc, E. A1 - Saje, S. A1 - Pellegrino, F. A1 - Alladio, E. A1 - Sordello, F. A1 - Corrao, E. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul A1 - Madbouly, Loay Akmaal A1 - Akdemir, Yücel A1 - Gulumian, M. A1 - Wepener, V. A1 - Andraos, C. A1 - Boodhia, K. A1 - Jones, E. A1 - Doolin, A. A1 - Leuchtenberg, K. A1 - Valsami Jones, E. A1 - Rocca, C. A1 - Ibrahim, B. A1 - Singh, D. A1 - Chakraborty, S. A1 - Jurkschat, K. A1 - Johnston, C. A1 - Van Der Zande, M. A1 - Fernandez, D. A1 - Queipo, P. A1 - Clifford, C. A1 - Hardy, B. T1 - Knowledge Infrastructure supporting image-based characterisation of 2D graphene materials N2 - As part of the European Horizon ACCORDs project, advanced methods are being developed for the image-based characterisation of 2D nanomaterials. Given the complexity of this task, robust nd wellorganised data management is critical to ensuring high-quality outcomes. To support this, we have established a knowledge infrastructure that serves as the central repository for protocols, images and experimental data which are stored in a standardised, harmonised manner and in accordance with the FAIR principles – Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable and open science. This machine-readable framework enables the systematic and computationally automated correlation of image features with experimental descriptors, facilitating accurate material characterisation and transparent reporting which is all integrated in the ACCORDs KI. KW - Graphene-related 2D materials (GR2M) KW - 2D materials KW - Knowledge infrastructure KW - Characterisation PY - 2025 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2025.07.660 SN - 0378-4274 VL - 411 SP - S281 EP - S282 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-65061 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul A1 - Sahre, Mario A1 - Zurutuza, Amaia A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Standardized Chemical Composition Analysis of Graphene Oxide Flakes with SEM/EDS and XPS Works Reliably N2 - Suspensions of graphene-related 2D materials (GR2M) are broadly used for further applications like printable electronics. The reliable quantification of the composition of graphene-related 2D materials as liquid suspensions is still a challenging task, which can hinder the commercialisation of the products. Specific parameters to be measured are defined, e.g. the oxygen-to-carbon (O/C) concentration ratio, the trace metal impurities, or the functional groups present, but reference protocols are still missing. One of the central methods for the quantification is X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) as a rather expensive method. Therefore, the development of cheaper alternatives is highly desired. One attractive alternative of XPS is energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) which is usually coupled with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This combination is one of the most widely used methods in analytical laboratories. In this contribution the results of a systematic study on the capability of SEM/EDS to reliably quantify the O/C ratio in a well-defined and well-characterized graphene oxide material are presented. The robustness of the SEM/EDS results obtained at various measurement conditions (various excitation energies) is tested by comparing the results to the established XPS analysis, which has been carried out on the same samples. It is demonstrated that for samples prepared by drop-casting on a substrate, both surface-sensitive XPS analysis and bulk-characterising EDS result in very similar elemental composition of oxygen and carbon for thick spots. Further, the effect of untight deposited material enabling co-analysis of the (silicon) substrate, is evaluated for both methods, XPS and EDS. The last results clearly show the influence of the substrate on the analysis of the results and stressed out the importance of the sample preparation. KW - EDS KW - Light elements KW - XPS/HAXPES KW - Graphene oxide KW - Quantification KW - Standardisation PY - 2025 DO - https://doi.org/10.1093/mam/ozaf048.267 VL - 31 IS - 7 SP - 531 EP - 532 PB - Oxford Aacademic AN - OPUS4-63792 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul A1 - Mühlbauer, Michaela A1 - Rossi, Andrea A1 - Pellegrino, Francesco A1 - Zurutuza, Amaia A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Meier, Florian A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Morphological Analysis of Graphene Oxide by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Correlative Field-flow Fractionation Coupled with Multi-angle Light Scattering N2 - In this paper graphene related 2D materials (GR2M) arre investigated by centrifugal field flow fractioning (CF3) and SEM. Three materials were selected as case studies (CS): graphene „HD-G (CS I), graphene oxide UniTo“ (CS II), and graphene oxide „Graphenea“ (CS III). For CS I particles were evaluated as constituent particles in agglomerates, for the other two materials only isolated (non aggregated/agglomerated) flakes were considered for determination of the area equivalent circular diameter (ECD). Size analysis of all three materials was carried out by CF3 coupled with MALS (Multi-Angle Light Scattering). For evaluation, it was found that the data obtained was best suited to a disc model. Results are in good agreement when compared to the sizes obtained before CF3 analysis. CS II material is too heterogenous to accurately determine flake size by imaging. CF3 coupled with MALS enables to assess fractions within the highly heterogenous material of CS II. Imaging of the material in CS III after CF3 measurement indicates that the procedure is non-destructive. This could not be verified for the CS‘s I & II As a next step we plan to analyse the fractionated samples by imaging them within a SEM wet-cell. KW - 2D Materials KW - SEM KW - Centrifugal field flow fractionation (CF3) KW - Imaging KW - Size distribution PY - 2025 DO - https://doi.org/10.1093/mam/ozaf048.222 VL - 31 IS - 7 SP - 442 EP - 443 PB - Oxford Academic AN - OPUS4-63804 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul A1 - Sahre, Mario A1 - Corrao, Elena A1 - Pellegrino, Francesco A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Wire-Print as a Sample Preparation Procedure Suitable for Accurate Morphological Characterization of Constituent Particles for Graphene-Related 2D-Materials N2 - In this study we have systematically tested the efficacy of a new deposition procedure for graphene-related 2D materials (GR2M’s) from liquid suspension onto a substrate for quantitative analysis of their size and shape distribution with electron microscopy. The technique is an extension of the conventional drop-casting method, and we have designated it “wire-print” deposition. It consists of two steps, first one being usual drop-casting on a copper substrate and second one involving a thin copper wire with a sub-mm diameter being dipped into the deposited droplet and retracted with a corresponding half-spherical droplet attached on its tip and final deposition of this entire nL-amount of suspension onto e.g. a silicon wafer for microscopical, detailed analysis. 11 series of such a wire-print deposition for a graphene-based ink have been considered, whereby various conditions (treatment of the starting suspension) have been experimented with a repetition of up to 10 times per condition, all together 86 spots on a silicon wafer of 10 mm x 10 mm. The evaluation of one series of 8 repeated wire-print depositions reveal that the deposited spots are visualized with SEM. The weak presence of coffee-rings, irregular spot shape, and presence of agglomerates should be noticed. Both the mean value of the 8 ECD distributions and the total number of flakes deposited in each spot show a variance in the range of 17% and 22%, respectively. In the context of accurate analysis of such challenging complex materials these numbers can be considered as excellent and demonstrate the high benefit of the wire-print deposition for accurate morphological measurements on GR2M’s. KW - Sample preparation KW - Imaging KW - 2D materials KW - Morphology KW - Size distribution PY - 2025 DO - https://doi.org/10.1093/mam/ozaf048.219 VL - 31 IS - 7 SP - 436 EP - 437 PB - Oxford Academic AN - OPUS4-63821 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Salzmann, Christoph A1 - Pellegrino, Francesco A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - STEM-in-SEM versus SE-InLens-type-SEM as a Reliable Analytical Pair-Tool for Measurement of Nanoparticle Size and Shape Distribution N2 - Following points are addressed in this contribution: Advantages of correlative analysis in electron microscopy; Measurement principle of the different electron microscopy modes used; Presentation of the nanomaterials used for this study; Role of sample preparation; and, with particular description, the Sequence kV-variation with InLens SE & transmission SEM detection of the same field-of-view. KW - Nanoparticles KW - Electron microscopy KW - Metrology KW - Particle size distribution PY - 2024 DO - https://doi.org/10.1093/mam/ozae044.308 VL - 30 IS - Supplement_1 SP - 650 EP - 651 PB - Oxford University Press (OUP) AN - OPUS4-61042 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Salzmann, Christoph A1 - Heilmann, Maria A1 - Pellegrino, Francesco A1 - Durand, Bénédicte A1 - Taché, Olivier A1 - Zurutuza, Amaia A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Ongoing International Interlaboratory Comparisons on Size, Shape and (Relative) Concentration of Complex Nanoparticles under the Pre-Standardization Platform of VAMAS N2 - An overview with the basics of size and shape measurement of particles and 2D structures according to established methodologies (and popular imaging processing software packages) with imaging techniques is given. Main descriptors are explained based on case studies with ongoing interlaboratory comparisons under the pre-standardisation platform of VAMAS. KW - VAMAS KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Imaging KW - Size distribution KW - Particle concentration KW - 2D materials PY - 2024 DO - https://doi.org/10.1093/mam/ozae044.319 VL - 30 IS - Supplement 1 SP - 669 EP - 670 PB - Oxford University Press (OUP) AN - OPUS4-61183 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul A1 - Abram, Sarah-Luise A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Understanding Correlative Electron Microscopy Imaging with SEM, STEM-in-SEM and TEM for the Accurate Characterization of Size and Shape of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles N2 - The recently certified reference material (CRM) BAM-N012 as cubical iron oxide FeOx nanoparticles (NPs) of 8 nm area equivalent square edge length (ESL) and the RM candidate BAM-N013 as nearly spherical NPs of 22 nm size were analyzed in detail by electron microscopy (EM). For the metrological characterization with SEM, STEM in SEM and TEM, the understanding of the imaging contrasts and sensitivities, and the correct interpretation of the (art)effects which are inherent to each detection mode is necessary. The same sample areas with NPs deposited on a TEM grid were analyzed by two SEM acquisition modes, i. e. SE InLens and STEM in SEM using a dedicated transmission sample holder, and further, correlatively, analyzed with TEM. With increasing kV, SE InLens shows increasing particle size (unless overcharging at the particle boundaries is filtered), as a known effect. For STEM-in-SEM the particle size decreases significantly and individual particles are identified easier (at 2 kV only a few single particles can be detected automatically). ❑ Documentation of the sample preparation and measurement conditions (including optimization process) is important for reproducibility. ❑ Plasma cleaning, analysis in the transmission mode at SEM is recommended for FeOx NPs. ❑ Selection of the threshold algorithm can significantly alter the reported ECD. KW - Nanoparticles KW - Iron oxide KW - Electron microscopy KW - Reference materials KW - Particle size distribution KW - Imaging PY - 2024 DO - https://doi.org/10.1093/mam/ozae044.339 VL - 30 IS - Supplement_1 SP - 710 EP - 711 PB - Oxford University Press (OUP) AN - OPUS4-61007 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sachse, René A1 - Kotil, Leyla A1 - Matjacic, Lidija A1 - McMahon, Greg A1 - Bernicke, Michael A1 - Bernsmeier, Denis A1 - Kraehnert, Ralph A1 - Hertwig, Andreas A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Morphological and Chemical Nanoscale Analysis of Mesoporous Mixed IrOx-TiOy Thin Films as Electrode Materials N2 - orous films play an important role particularly in energy applications like photovoltaics, electrolysis or batteries. Thin film properties such as thickness, chemical composition, crystallinity of the framework, and porosity define the activity of the porous films. The accurate morpho-chemical characterisation of mesoporous thin films is a challenging analytical task which requires the consideration of new analytical approaches based on the combination of data of different methods able to address the structure and chemical composition at the nanoscale. In this contribution we characterise thin mesoporous iridium-titanium mixed oxide film properties by Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) at an SEM applied in a dedicated “thin film analysis” approach (1). Thus, the film mass deposition, film thickness and the film density can be determined. Further, by dividing the measured film density to an assumed (theoretical) metal oxide framework (skeletal) density, the thin film porosity can be extracted, too. In order to assess the homogeneity of the thin film properties like the chemical composition, Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and Auger Electron Spectrometry are applied in the depth profiling mode, so that possible in-depth gradients are detected. Lateral inhomogeneities in the chemical composition and structure of the thin mesoporous films are also identified by applying the same methods in the line-scan or mapping mode, which can be further combined with in-depth sputtering for 3D information. The role of the spatial resolution of the analytical methods considered, which can go down well below 100 nm, will be highlighted. KW - Mesoporous thin films KW - Imaging KW - TiO2 KW - Ir oxid KW - Auger electron spectroscopy KW - ToF-SIMS KW - SEM/EDX PY - 2024 DO - https://doi.org/10.1093/mam/ozae044.252 VL - 30 IS - Supplement 1 SP - 541 EP - 542 PB - Oxford University Press (OUP) AN - OPUS4-61185 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Singh, Chandan A1 - Riedel, Soraya A1 - Konthur, Zoltán A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Schenk, J. A. A1 - Schneider, Rudolf T1 - Functionalized Ti3C2Tx nanosheets based biosensor for point-of-care detection of SARS-CoV‑2 antigen N2 - MXenes are considered a promising class of two-dimensional materials with extraordinary physical and electrochemical properties. Distinguished features like high specific surface area and outstanding electrical conductivity make them suitable for electrochemical biosensing applications. Here, we report the development of a biosensor involving the functionalized MXene−titanium carbide nanosheets (Ti3C2Tx-NS) and monoclonal antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (anti-SARS-CoV-2 mAb) to design a point-of-care device for detection of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (SARS-CoV-2 NP) antigen. Few-layered titanium carbide nanosheets (denoted as FL-Ti3C2Tx-NS) have been synthesized using a single-step etching and delamination method and characterized using optical and electron microscopy techniques revealing the suitability for immunosensing applications. Binding studies revealed the excellent affinity between the biosensor and the SARS-CoV-2 NP. Electrochemical detection of SARS-CoV-2 NP is performed using differential pulse voltammetry and read by a smartphone-based user interface. The proposed FL-Ti3C2Tx-NS based biosensor offers the detection of SARS-CoV-2 NP with a limit of detection of 0.91 nM in a wide detection range in spiked saliva samples. Additionally, there is no cross-reactivity in the presence of potential interferants like SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and bovine serum albumin. These findings demonstrate the potential of MXenes in developing a rapid and reliable tool for SARS-CoV-2 NP detection. While we report the biosensing of SARS-CoV-2 NP, our system also paves the way for the detection of other SARS-CoV-2 antigens like spike protein or other biomolecules based on antigen−antibody interactions. KW - Antigen testing KW - Few-layered titanium carbide nanosheets KW - SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein KW - Label-free detection KW - Electrochemical immunosensor PY - 2023 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaenm.2c00118 SN - 2771-9545 N1 - Geburtsname von Riedel, Soraya: Höfs, S. - Birth name of Riedel, Soraya: Höfs, S. VL - 1 IS - 1 SP - 495 EP - 507 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-56931 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pellegrino, Francesco A1 - Maurino, V. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Morphological Characterization and Chemical Identification of TiO2 Nanoparticles Doped with Ultrafine Metal Particles for Enhanced Photocatalytical Activity N2 - The conversion of solar energy into electricity and solar fuels is of crucial importance for a green and sustainable future. Water splitting using semiconductor photo-catalysts is considered a sustainable method to produce clean hydrogen (H2) fuel. Nevertheless, H2 photo-production efficiency remains still low, although extensive research works to understand better the mechanisms of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) and the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) are being carried out. In this respect, TiO2 is a key photoactive material, usually employed with a co-catalyst deposited onto the surface to enhance charge carriers’ separation and catalyze surface charge transfer reactions. The deposition of a co-catalyst on the TiO2 nanoparticle surface represents one successful way to enhance the activity of the photocatalyst through a modification of its surface and redox properties. In this context, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy coupled with elemental analysis by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) is fundamental for studying and understanding the effect of the nanoparticle morphology on the functional properties of shape-controlled TiO2 crystals (bipyramides, platelets, and elongated particles). Different types of metal-semiconductor combinations, TiO2 shapes and dopant metals (Ag, Pt, etc) and metal concentrations will be discussed. KW - Nanoparticles KW - Photocatalysis KW - Electron microscopy KW - EDS KW - Metal-semiconductor PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927622010078 VL - 28 IS - Suppl. 1 SP - 2658 EP - 2660 PB - Cambridge University Press AN - OPUS4-55436 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -