TY - JOUR A1 - Hülagü, Deniz A1 - Tobias, Charlie A1 - Dao, Radek A1 - Komarov, Pavel A1 - Rurack, Knut A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Towards 3D determination of the surface roughness of core–shell microparticles as a routine quality control procedure by scanning electron microscopy N2 - AbstractRecently, we have developed an algorithm to quantitatively evaluate the roughness of spherical microparticles using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The algorithm calculates the root-mean-squared profile roughness (RMS-RQ) of a single particle by analyzing the particle’s boundary. The information extracted from a single SEM image yields however only two-dimensional (2D) profile roughness data from the horizontal plane of a particle. The present study offers a practical procedure and the necessary software tools to gain quasi three-dimensional (3D) information from 2D particle contours recorded at different particle inclinations by tilting the sample (stage). This new approach was tested on a set of polystyrene core-iron oxide shell-silica shell particles as few micrometer-sized beads with different (tailored) surface roughness, providing the proof of principle that validates the applicability of the proposed method. SEM images of these particles were analyzed by the latest version of the developed algorithm, which allows to determine the analysis of particles in terms of roughness both within a batch and across the batches as a routine quality control procedure. A separate set of particles has been analyzed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a powerful complementary surface analysis technique integrated into SEM, and the roughness results have been compared. KW - Core–shell particles KW - Image analysis KW - Roughness KW - Scanning electron microscopy KW - Atomic force microscopy KW - Tilting KW - Batch analysis PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-607590 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-68797-7 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 14 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-60759 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Kai A1 - Mirabella, Francesca A1 - Knigge, Xenia A1 - Mezera, Marek A1 - Weise, Matthias A1 - Sahre, Mario A1 - Wasmuth, Karsten A1 - Voss, Heike A1 - Hertwig, Andreas A1 - Krüger, Jörg A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Bonse, Jörn T1 - Chemical and topographical changes upon sub-100-nm laser-induced periodic surface structure formation on titanium alloy: the influence of laser pulse repetition rate and number of over-scans N2 - Titanium and its alloys are known to allow the straightforward laser-based manufacturing of ordered surface nanostructures, so-called high spatial frequency laser-induced periodic surface structures (HSFL). These structures exhibit sub-100 nm spatial periods – far below the optical diffraction limit. The resulting surface functionalities are usually enabled by both, topographic and chemical alterations of the nanostructured surfaces. For exploring these effects, multi-method characterizations were performed here for HSFL processed on Ti–6Al–4V alloy upon irradiation with near-infrared ps-laser pulses (1030 nm, ≈1 ps pulse duration, 1–400 kHz) under different laser scan processing conditions, i.e., by systematically varying the pulse repetition frequency and the number of laser irradiation passes. The sample characterization involved morphological and topographical investigations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), tactile stylus profilometry, as well as near-surface chemical analyses hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) and depth-profiling time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). This provides a quantification of the laser ablation depth, the geometrical HSFL characteristics and enables new insights into the depth extent and the nature of the non-ablative laser-induced near-surface oxidation accompanying these nanostructures. This allows to answer the questions how the processing of HSFL can be industrially scaled up, and whether the latter is limited by heat-accumulation effects. T2 - 2023 E-MRS Spring Meeting, Symposium L "Making light matter: lasers in material sciences and photonics" CY - Strasbourg, France DA - 29.05.2023 KW - Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) KW - Ultrashort laser pulses KW - Laser processing KW - Hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) KW - Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-589902 UR - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pssa.202300719 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pssa.202300719 SN - 1862-6319 VL - 221 IS - 15 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Wiley-VCH GmbH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-58990 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stockmann, Jörg Manfred A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Bütefisch, Sebastian A1 - Weimann, Thomas A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - A New XPS Test Material for More Reliable Analysis of Microstructures N2 - A reference material is required for small‐area XPS because it has been used more frequently for surface control in recent years and many operators use incorrect field of views. To address this problem, we developed a test material starting in 2019. We optimised this XPS test material dedicated to the control of analysis position on the sample, with respect to the following factors: type of XPS instruments available on the market, the manufacturing process and sample handling. Test structures are now aligned along lines instead of on a circle radius, so that the individual structures can be accessed more quickly and easily. In addition, a larger test structure of 300 μm and another one in an intermediate size of 18 μm were added. Smaller test structures under 50 μm have been annotated with finder grids/arrows around them so that they are easier to find. Further, the manufacturing process was changed from e‐beam lithography to a mask process to be able to offer the test material at a favourable price. The use of masks also had to be adapted for the new manufacturing process so that the smallest square structures are also realised as such and do not show any distortion of the structure boundaries. The quality control using a metrological SEM confirmed a very reproducible manufacturing process. It is demonstrated that the test material can be successfully employed to find the most suitable beam size of the XPS system used for the analysis of small (μm range) surface features. KW - Small-area measurements KW - Test material KW - XPS KW - XPS imaging PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-616577 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/sia.7367 SP - 1 EP - 6 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-61657 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Minimum Requirements for Nanomaterial Data - Examples with Electron Microscopy and Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy N2 - In dem Vortrag werden, anhand ausgewählten Beispielen aus der Elektronenmikroskopie und EDX-Elementanalyse, die minimalen Anforderungen an Referenzdaten für zuverlässige und reproduzierbare Ergebnisse (z.B. Partikelgrößenverteilung, Elementzusammensetzung) bei der Charakterisierung von Nanomaterialien vorgestellt und diskutiert. N2 - Based on practical examples of analysis with Electron Microscopy and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, the minimum information requirements for reliable and reproducible nanomaterial characterization data such as particle size and shape distribution and elemental analysis are presented and discussed. T2 - nano@BAM-Workshop Digitalisierung in der Nanosicherheit CY - Online meeting DA - 04.12.2020 KW - Nanoparticles KW - Electron microscopy KW - EDX KW - Reference data KW - Reproducibility KW - Standardisation PY - 2020 AN - OPUS4-51775 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Krumrey, Julian Frederic A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Dataset accompanying the publication "Workflow towards automated segmentation of agglomerated, non-spherical particles from electron microscopy images using artificial neural networks" N2 - This dataset accompanies the following publication, first published in Scientific Reports (www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84287-6): B. Ruehle, J. Krumrey, V.-D. Hodoroaba, Scientific Reports, Workflow towards Automated Segmentation of Agglomerated, Non-Spherical Particles from Electron Microscopy Images using Artificial Neural Networks, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84287-6 It contains electron microscopy micrographs of TiO2 particles, the corresponding segmentation masks, and their classifications into different categories depending on their visibility/occlusion. Please refer to the publication and its supporting information for more details on the acquisition and contents of the dataset, as well as the GitHub repository at https://github.com/BAMresearch/automatic-sem-image-segmentation KW - Electron microscopy KW - Neural networks KW - Image segmentation KW - Automated image analysis PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4563942 PB - Zenodo CY - Geneva AN - OPUS4-52246 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM/TEM) N2 - Die Bestimmung der Nanopartikelgrößen- und -formverteilung nach OECD TG 125 mit der Transmission and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM/TEM) wird punktuell vorgestellt: - Generelles Messprinzip - Beispiele - Korrelative Mikroskopie - Welchen Durchmesser misst die Methode? - Welche Partikel kann diese Methode messen? - Welche Informationen kann diese Methode liefern? - Wo stößt die Methode an ihre Grenzen? - Implementierung und Datenauswertung, - Reporting. Anschließend wurde eine Q&A-Session für die Imaging-Methoden organisiert. T2 - Digital Info-Days „Nano or not Nano“ - Measuring according to OECD Test Guideline No. 125 CY - Online meeting DA - 16.02.2023 KW - Nanoparticles KW - OECD TG 125 KW - Partikelgrößenverteilung KW - Elektronenmikroskopie PY - 2023 UR - https://www.bam-akademie.de/kursangebot/kurs/digitale-info-tage-%E2%80%9Enano-or-not-nano%E2%80%9C-19.html AN - OPUS4-57217 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 - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Liaison Report ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnology for ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis and vice-versa N2 - The liaison between the ISO technical committees TC 229 Nanotechnologies and TC 202 Microbeam analysis is described in detail with highlight on the projects under development and published since 2024 and which involve input /knowledge from ISO/TC 202. T2 - 32nd Plenary Meeting of ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis CY - London, United Kingdom DA - 28.10.2025 KW - Nanotechnology KW - Microabeam analysis KW - Standardisation KW - ISO PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64551 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Fontanges, Richard T1 - A new deep-learning AI tool for analysing images of complex nanoparticles N2 - A thousand times thinner than a human hair, nanoparticles (NPs) are finding applications in a range of modern products. However, as some can affect human health or the environment, knowing the types present is essential. Electron microscopy is the ‘gold standard’ for NP analysis, allowing identification based on manual size analysis, but a new method was required to analyse these particles quickly, accurately and in a consistent way. KW - Nanoparticles KW - Imaging KW - AI tool KW - Particle size and shape distribution PY - 2024 UR - https://www.euramet.org/casestudies/casestudiesdetails/news/a-new-deep-learning-ai-tool-for-analysing-images-of-complex-nanoparticles SP - 1 EP - 2 PB - EURAMET CY - Braunschweig AN - OPUS4-60095 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Ren, L. A1 - Pollard, A. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Measurement of Lateral Size of Graphene Oxide Flakes by SEM - An Update of the VAMAS TWA 41 Project P13 N2 - The progress of the VAMAS interlaboratory comparison Project P13 "Lateral size of graphene oxide flakes by SEM" within the Technical Working Area 41 "Graphene and Related 2D Materials" is presented. The challenges at sample preparation on substrates for accurate measurement and image analysis as well as two different image analysis approaches, containing exact guidance how to measure the main descriptors for the lateral size measurement of the imaged graphene oxide flakes with Scanning Electron Microscopy are described. The implementation of the results into the corresponding ISO technical specification AWI/TS 23879 is also discussed and planned, in relation with the AFM part. T2 - Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards (VAMAS) 49th Steering Committee Meeting CY - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil DA - 23.09.2024 KW - VAMAS KW - Graphene oxide KW - SEM KW - Lateral size KW - Interlaboratory comparison PY - 2024 UR - http://www.vamas.org/twa41/documents/2023_vamas_twa41_project13_GO_SEM.pdf AN - OPUS4-61434 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - SEM/EDS as THE Versatile and Powerful Tool for Micro and Nano Analysis N2 - The basic principles of generation of electrons and X-rays and the operation of SEM/EDS instruments are presented. Examples, recent successes and challenges in the analysis of nano-structures are given. Multi-method analytical approaches with the focus on imaging the nanoscale are highlighted. Details on the sample preparation and persepective on the automated analysis (sample preparation, measurement, data analyis and storage) are given. Metrological aspects, standardisation, and reference materials are also emphasized by examples. T2 - Training Course Metrological Determination of Micro and Nano Contaminants in Food CY - Berne, Switzerland DA - 05.09.2023 KW - SEM KW - EDS KW - Microanalysis KW - Nanoanalysis KW - Imaging PY - 2023 UR - https://www.sem.admin.ch/metas/en/home/dl/kurs_uebersicht/micro_nano_contaminants_in_food.html AN - OPUS4-58188 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS) on GR2Ms for Routine/Standardized Elemental Analysis N2 - The elemental analysis of solid matter by means of the Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS) is meanwhile posible as a quick (seconds!) and more and more accurate analysis via standardsless (instantaneous) quantification. The sensitivity & quantification accuracy for light elements (C, O,..) has significantly increased in the recent years. The availability via table-top SEMs with incorporated EDS is also enhanced. Further, the EDS analysis at an SEM is well-standardized, see ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis & VAMAS/ TWA 37 Quantitative Microstructural Analysis in good liaisonships with ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies. It is demostrated that key parameters such as oxygen-to-carbon atomic-% ratio and impurities can be realibly measured, with XPS as a reference method. Various EDS spectrometers and analysis conditions are tested and the validity of the EDS quantification of an ionic liquid of well-defined chemical composition is demonstrated. Next steps are: launch of a corresponding VAMAS interlaboratory comparison and discussions within ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis. T2 - 32nd Plenary Meeting of ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis CY - London, United Kingdom DA - 28.10.2025 KW - GR2M KW - EDS KW - Quantification KW - XPS KW - Light elements KW - 2D materials PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64553 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Methodologies implemented to measure key properties of graphene and other 2D materials - EDX N2 - The elemental analysis of solid matter by means of the Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS) is meanwhile posible as a quick (seconds!) and more and more accurate analysis via standardsless (instantaneous) quantification. The sensitivity & quantification accuracy for light elements (C, O,..) has significantly increased in the recent years. The availability via table-top SEMs with incorporated EDS is also enhanced. It is demostrated that key parameters such as oxygen-to-carbon atomic-% ratio and impurities can be realibly measured, with XPS as a reference method. Various EDS spectrometers and analysis conditions are tested and the validity of the EDS quantification of an ionic liquid of well-defined chemical composition is demonstrated. T2 - Advanced Materials Graphene: The implementation of SbD and SSbD CY - Parys, South Africa DA - 26.11.2025 KW - Light elements KW - EDS KW - Quantification KW - Oxygen-to-carbon ratio KW - XPS KW - Graphene-realted 2D materials PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64943 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - STEM in SEM vs SE InLens type SEM as a Reliable Analytical Pair Tool for Measurement of Nanoparticle Size and Shape Distribution N2 - In this lecture, following points are addressed: – 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 – Sequence kV variation with InLens & transmission detection of the same field-of-view – Conclusive remarks including Monte Carlo simulations T2 - Microscopy and Microanalysis 2024 CY - Cleveland, OH, USA DA - 28.07.2024 KW - Correlative analysis KW - Electron microscopy KW - Nanoparticles KW - SEM KW - STEM-in-SEM KW - Particle size distribution KW - Titanium dioxide PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60804 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Energy Dispersive X Ray Spectrometry (EDS) on GR2Ms for Routine/Standardized Elemental Analysis N2 - The elemental analysis of solid matter by means of the Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS) is meanwhile posible as a quick (seconds!) and more and more accurate analysis via standardsless (instantaneous) quantification. The sensitivity & quantification accuracy for light elements (C, O,..) has significantly increased in the recent years. The availability via table-top SEMs with incorporated EDS is also enhanced. Further, the EDS analysis at an SEM is well-standardized, see ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis & VAMAS/ TWA 37 Quantitative Microstructural Analysis in good liaisonships with ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies. It is demostrated that key parameters such as oxygen-to-carbon atomic-% ratio and impurities can be realibly measured, with XPS as a reference method. Various EDS spectrometers and analysis conditions are tested and the validity of the EDS quantification of an ionic liquid of well-defined chemical composition is demonstrated. Next steps are: launch of a corresponding VAMAS interlaboratory comparison and discussions within ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis. T2 - ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies Meeting Week CY - Stockholm, Sweden DA - 19.05.2025 KW - Graphene-related 2D materials (GR2M) KW - Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS) KW - Elemental analysis KW - Quantification KW - ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63190 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - VAMAS Regional Workshop in Germany N2 - An overview on the VAMAS technical working areas (TWA) and projects where Germany is active has been given. The role of VAMAS as an international pre-standardisation platform, including its intense collaboration with international bodies ISO, CEN, OECD and CCQM and national organizations like DIN has been highlighted. T2 - VAMAS Regional Workshop 2023 - What can pre-normative research do for industry? CY - Online meeting DA - 24.01.2023 KW - VAMAS KW - Advanced materials KW - Inter-laboratory comparisons KW - Regional workshop PY - 2023 UR - https://www.bam-akademie.de/kursangebot/kurs/vamas-regional-workshop-2023-23.html?lang=en AN - OPUS4-57281 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Report VAMAS/TWA 37 "Quantitative Microstructural Analysis" & Liaison with ISO/TC 202 "Microbeam Analysis" N2 - The progress in activities on Quantitative MicroStructural Analysis under VAMAS/TWA 37 is reviewed. Particularly the liaison with the new projects within the ISO technical committee TC 202 Microbeam Analysis is presented and discussed with respect to the identification and launching corresponding VAMAS projects. The ongoing projects "Development of guidelines for reproducible TEM specimen preparation by FIB processing", "Measurement of dislocation density in metallic materials by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM)", "Repeatability of high angular resolution electron backscatter diffraction (HR-EBSD) analysis for elastic strain measurements", "Measurement of grain size and distribution of nanocrystalline nickel by using Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction (TKD) in SEM" and the just started project "Evaluation Method of Surface Layer Quality of TEM Specimen Prepared by focused Ion Beam Processing" are presented in detail. T2 - Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards (VAMAS) 50th Steering Committee Meeting CY - London, United Kingdom DA - 15.09.2025 KW - VAMAS KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Microbeam Analysis KW - Electron Microscopy KW - ISO/TC 202 KW - Sample preparation PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64231 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Quantitative Microstructural Analysis - VAMAS TWA 37 & Liaison with ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis N2 - The progress in activities on Microbeam Analysis under VAMAS/TWA 37 is reviewed. Particularly the liaison with the new projects within the ISO technical committee TC 202 is presented and discussed with respect to the possibility of identifying and launching related VAMAS projects. The recently started project FIB sample processing for TEM is highlighted. Need of more promotion for the engagement of more participants from industry and academia at national, European and international level is highlighted. Also, the competition with the other technical working areas (on 'nano' or materials-related) is critically discussed. Further, a short overview of the VAMAS areas of activities is given where Germany is involved. Planed regional VAMAS Workshops in Germany in 2023 are announced. T2 - Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards (VAMAS) 47th Steering Committee Meeting CY - Torino, Italy DA - 18.10.2022 KW - VAMAS KW - Microbeam analysis KW - FIB KW - TEM KW - Sample preparation KW - EBSD PY - 2022 UR - https://amdgroup.inrim.it/events/vamas-sc-meeting-47 AN - OPUS4-56146 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Terborg, R. A1 - Kim, K. J. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Determination of Thin Film Thickness and Composition using Energy Dispersive EPMA N2 - The thickness of thin films can be measured by various methods, e.g., profilometry, ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), or X-ray reflectometry. For the additional determination of thin film composition, techniques like X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or mass spectrometry-based techniques can be used. An alternative non-destructive technique is electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). This method assumes a sample of homogenous (bulk) chemical composition, so that it cannot be usually applied to thin film samples. However, in combination with the thin film software StrataGEM, the thickness as well as the composition of such films on a substrate can be determined. This has been demonstrated for FeNi on Si and SiGe on Al2O3 film systems. For both systems five samples with different elemental composition and a reference were produced and characterised by Korean research institute KRISS using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Rutherford backscattering (RBS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These samples were used for an international round robin test. In 2021, a new and open-source thin film evaluation programme called BadgerFilm has been released. It can also be used to determine thin film composition and thickness from intensity ratios of the unknown sample and standards (k-ratios). In this contribution, we re-evaluated the data acquired for the FeNi and SiGe systems using the BadgerFilm software package and compared the resulting composition and thickness with the results of the established StrataGEM software and other reference methods. With the current evaluation, the BadgerFilm software shows good agreement with the composition and thickness calculated by StrataGEM and as the reference values provided by the KRISS. KW - Thin films KW - Elemental composition KW - Film thickness KW - EPMA (Electron Probe Microanalysis) PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1017/S143192762200318X VL - 28 IS - Suppl. 1 SP - 672 EP - 673 PB - Cambridge University Press AN - OPUS4-55437 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul A1 - Abram, Sarah-Luise A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Bresch, Harald A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - The Role of Electron Microscopy in the Development of Monodisperse Cubic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Certified Reference Material for Size and Shape N2 - BAM is currently building up a platform of novel nanoRMs relying on iron oxide nanoparticles of different shape, size and surface chemistry. Iron oxide was chosen as a core material because of its relevance to the material and life sciences. As a first candidate of this series, we present cubic iron oxide nanoparticles with a nominal edge length of 8 nm. These particles were synthesized by thermal decomposition of iron oleate in high boiling organic solvents adapting well-known literature procedures. After dilution to a concentration suitable for electron microscopy (TEM and SEM) as well as for small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements, the candidate nanoRM was bottled and assessed for homogeneity and stability by both methods following the guidelines of ISO 17034 and ISO Guide 35. The particle sizes obtained by both STEM-in-SEM and TEM are in excellent agreement with a minimum Feret of 8.3 nm ± 0.7 nm. The aspect ratio (AR) of the iron oxide cubes were extracted from the images as the ratio of minimum Feret to Feret resulting in an AR of 1.18 for TEM to 1.25 for SEM. Alternatively, a rectangular bounding box was fitted originating from the minimum Feret and the longest distance through the particle in perpendicular direction. This led to AR values of 1.05 for TEM and 1.12 for SEM, respectively. The results confirm the almost ideal cubic shape. KW - Reference nanoparticles KW - Iron oxide KW - Cubical shape KW - Electron microscopy KW - SAXS KW - Nano CRM KW - Size PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927622003610 SN - 1435-8115 VL - 28 IS - Suppl. 1 SP - 802 EP - 805 PB - Cambridge University Press AN - OPUS4-55599 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - 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 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 - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Role of Sample Preparation for Accurate and Automated Morphological Analysis of Nanoparticles proven in Interlaboratory Comparison Exercises N2 - Traceable morphological and chemical characterization of nanomaterials with respect to the various possible sizes, size distributions, shapes, and concentrations of real-world nanoparticles (NPs) is a challenging task. Particularly for the nonspherical, non-monodisperse nanoparticles – as typically for most of the commercial particles, including their strong tendency to agglomerate, there is a lack of standard operation procedures providing accurate nanoparticle characterisation. In the framework of the pre-standardisation framework of VAMAS (Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards, www.vamas.org) two interlaboratory comparison (ILC) studies are being carried out under the Technical Working Area (TWA) 34 “Nanoparticle Populations”:i) Project #15 addresses the analysis of the size and shape distribution of TiO2 bipyramidal NPs by traceable imaging methods such as TEM, SEM, STEM-in-SEM, AFM as well as with SAXS as an ensemble method. This ILC is thought as the next level development of the case studies exemplified in the published ISO standards ISO 21363 and ISO 19749. It was agreed to complete the first ILC with the NPs already prepared according to the same procedure on a TEM grid, and, at a later stage, to carry out second ILCs with the same NPs distributed to the participants as liquid suspensions together with protocols for the uniform NP deposition on suited substrates - as developed and optimized within the European project nPSize. Once having good deposition protocols available, the door for automated image analysis gets opened. Corresponding image analysis protocols and reporting templates have been distributed to the ILC participants, too. ii) Project #16: two spherical SiO2 NP samples with bi-modal size distributions in two nominal relative number concentrations were prepared and distributed also as liquid suspensions accompanied by sample preparation, measurement, and image analysis protocols and reporting templates. Here, the NP concentration is the primary parameter to be measured. For the imaging methods it is targeted to measure the relative nanoparticle concentrations (relative populations of the two modes). The results of all the participating laboratories, in both ILCs, compiled in comparative representations will be shown and discussed for the first time. The reduction of the measurement uncertainties associated to the size, shape and number-concentration results induced by the significant improvement of the sample preparation on substrates (as single particles with a high-density coverage), combined with welldefined image analysis procedures will be highlighted. T2 - MaterialsWeek 2024 CY - Limassol, Cyprus DA - 17.06.2024 KW - Nanoparticles KW - VAMAS KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Sample preparation KW - Nanoparticle concentration PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60453 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Analysis of Particle Size Distribution for Bimodal Model Nanoparticles by Scanning Electron Microscopy N2 - The present study addresses the capability of measurement of relative particle number concentration by scanning electron microscopy for model bimodal silica and gold samples prepared in the frame of the European research project “nPSize - Improved traceability chain of nanoparticle size measurements” as candidate reference nanoparticles. T2 - Microscopy and Microanalysis 2020 CY - Online meeting DA - 03.08.2020 KW - Nanoparticles KW - Silica KW - Gold KW - Electron microscopy KW - Particle size distribution PY - 2020 AN - OPUS4-51112 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Peters, R. A1 - Elbers, I. A1 - Undas, A. A1 - Sijtsma, E. A1 - Briffa, S. A1 - Carnell-Morris, P. A1 - Siupa, A. A1 - Yoon, T.-H. A1 - Burr, L. A1 - Schmid, D. A1 - Tentschert, J. A1 - Hachenberger, Y. A1 - Jungnickel, H. A1 - Luch, A. A1 - Meier, F. A1 - Kocic, J. A1 - Kim, J. A1 - Park, B. C. A1 - Hardy, B. A1 - Johnston, C. A1 - Jurkschat, K. A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Lynch, I. A1 - Valsami-Jones, E. T1 - Benchmarking the ACEnano toolbox for characterisation of nanoparticle size and concentration by interlaboratory comparisons N2 - ACEnano is an EU-funded project which aims at developing, optimising and validating methods for the detection and characterisation of nanomaterials (NMs) in increasingly complex matrices to improve confidence in the results and support their use in regulation. Within this project, several interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) for the determination of particle size and concentration have been organised to benchmark existing analytical methods. In this paper the results of a number of these ILCs for the characterisation of NMs are presented and discussed. The results of the analyses of pristine well-defined particles such as 60 nm Au NMs in a simple aqueous suspension showed that laboratories are well capable of determining the sizes of these particles. The analysis of particles in complex matrices or formulations such as consumer products resulted in larger variations in particle sizes within technologies and clear differences in capability between techniques. Sunscreen lotion sample analysis by laboratories using spICP-MS and TEM/SEM identified and confirmed the TiO2 particles as being nanoscale and compliant with the EU definition of an NM for regulatory purposes. In a toothpaste sample orthogonal results by PTA, spICP-MS and TEM/SEM agreed and stated the TiO2 particles as not fitting the EU definition of an NM. In general, from the results of these ILCs we conclude that laboratories are well capable of determining particle sizes of NM, even in fairly complex formulations. KW - Nanomaterials KW - Benchmarking KW - Inter-laboratory comparison KW - ACEnano KW - Characterisation KW - Size KW - Concentration PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-531852 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26175315 SN - 1420-3049 VL - 26 IS - 17 SP - 1 EP - 23 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-53185 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sachse, René A1 - Pfüger, Mika A1 - Velasco-Vélez, Juan-Jesús A1 - Sahre, Mario A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Bernicke, Michael A1 - Bernsmeier, Denis A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Krumrey, Michael A1 - Strasser, Peter A1 - Kraehnert, Ralph A1 - Hertwig, Andreas T1 - Assessing optical and electrical properties of highly active IrOx catalysts for the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction via spectroscopic ellipsometry N2 - Efficient water electrolysis requires highly active electrodes. The activity of corresponding catalytic coatings strongly depends on material properties such as film thickness, crystallinity, electrical conductivity, and chemical surface speciation. Measuring these properties with high accuracy in vacuum-free and nondestructive methods facilitates the elucidation of structure−activity relationships in realistic environments. Here, we report a novel approach to analyze the optical and electrical properties of highly active oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts via spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). Using a series of differently calcined, mesoporous, templated iridium oxide films as an example, we assess the film thickness, porosity, electrical resistivity, electron concentration, electron mobility, and interband and intraband transition energies by modeling of the optical spectra. Independently performed analyses using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, ellipsometric porosimetry, X-ray reflectometry, and absorption spectroscopy indicate a high accuracy of the deduced material properties. A comparison of the derived analytical data from SE, resonant photoemission spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with activity measurements of the OER suggests that the intrinsic activity of iridium oxides scales with a shift of the Ir 5d t2g sub-level and an increase of p−d interband transition energies caused by a transition of μ1-OH to μ3-O species. KW - Spectroscopic ellipsometry KW - Electrocatalysis KW - Oxygen evolution reaction KW - Mesoporous iridium oxide films KW - Non-destructive ambient analysis KW - Intrinsic OER activity KW - Complementary methodology and metrology PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-516288 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.0c03800 SN - 2155-5435 VL - 10 IS - 23 SP - 14210 EP - 14223 PB - American Chemical Society AN - OPUS4-51628 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - EMPIR nPSize - Improved Traceability Chain of Nanoparticle Size Measurement N2 - In order to assess new nanomaterials and nanoparticles for potential risks to health and the environment, they need to be well-characterised. The measurement of constituent nanoparticle size, shape, and size distribution are important factors for the risk evaluation process. EMPIR project Improved traceability chain of nanoparticle size measurements (17NRM04, nPSize) is working to assess a range of traceable nanoparticle measurement approaches, including Electron Microscopy (SEM, TEM, STEM-in-SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy and Small Angle X-ray Scattering, and deliver improved calibration methods to users. For the techniques under investigation, physical models of their response to a range of nanoparticle types are developed. Validated reference materials are also used for inter-comparisons of measurement systems, with an evaluation of the associated measurement uncertainty. With project contributions to standards development work, manufacturers will be better placed to assess the human and environmental risks posed by nanomaterials across a whole range of products. T2 - EMPIR nPSize Training Course "Traceable Characterization of Nanoparticles by SAXS" CY - Online meeting DA - 01.02.2021 KW - Nanoparticles KW - Particle size distribution KW - Traceability KW - nPSize KW - SAXS PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-53883 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Riedel, Soraya A1 - Hülagü, Deniz A1 - Bennet, Francesca A1 - Carl, Peter A1 - Flemig, Sabine A1 - Schmid, Thomas A1 - Schenk, J. A. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Schneider, Rudolf T1 - Electrochemical Immunomagnetic Ochratoxin A Sensing: Steps Forward in the Application of 3,3’,5,5’- Tetramethylbenzidine in Amperometric Assays N2 - Electrochemical methods offer great promise in meeting the demand for user-friendly on-site devices for Monitoring important parameters. The food industry often runs own lab procedures, for example, for mycotoxin analysis, but it is a major goal to simplify analysis, linking analytical methods with smart technologies. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, with photometric detection of 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB),form a good basis for sensitive detection. To provide a straightforward approach for the miniaturization of the detectionstep, we have studied the pitfalls of the electrochemical TMB detection. By cyclic voltammetry it was found that the TMB electrochemistry is strongly dependent on the pH and the electrode material. A stable electrode response to TMB could be achieved at pH 1 on gold electrodes. We created a smartphonebased, electrochemical, immunomagnetic assay for the detection of ochratoxin A in real samples, providing a solid basis forsensing of further analytes. KW - Ochratoxin A KW - Amperometry KW - Cyclic voltammetry KW - Electrochemistry KW - Immunoassay PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-530421 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202100446 N1 - Geburtsname von Riedel, Soraya: Höfs, S. - Birth name of Riedel, Soraya: Höfs, S. VL - 8 IS - 13 SP - 2597 EP - 2606 AN - OPUS4-53042 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Voss, Heike A1 - Knigge, Xenia A1 - Knapic, D. A1 - Weise, Matthias A1 - Sahre, Mario A1 - Hertwig, Andreas A1 - Sacco, A. A1 - Rossi, A. M. A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Müller, Kai A1 - Wasmuth, Karsten A1 - Krüger, Jörg A1 - Hassel, A. W. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Bonse, Jörn T1 - Picosecond laser processing of hierarchical micro–nanostructures on titanium alloy upon pre- and postanodization: morphological, structural, and chemical effects N2 - Recent publications indicate that the order of electrochemical anodization (before or after the laser processing step) plays an important role for the response of bone-forming osteoblasts—an effect that can be utilized for improving permanent dental or removable bone implants. For exploring these different surface functionalities, multimethod morphological, structural, and chemical characterizations are performed in combination with electrochemical pre- and postanodization for two different characteristic microspikes covered by nanometric laser-induced periodic surface structures on Ti–6Al–4V upon irradiation with near-infrared ps-laser pulses (1030 nm wavelength, ≈1 ps pulse duration, 67 and 80 kHz pulse repetition frequency) at two distinct sets of laser fluence and beam scanning parameters. This work involves morphological and topographical investigations by scanning electron microscopy and white light interference microscopy, structural material examinations via X-ray diffraction, and micro-Raman spectroscopy, as well as near-surface chemical analyses by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results allow to qualify the mean laser ablation depth, assess the spike geometry and surface roughness parameters, and provide new detailed insights into the near-surface oxidation that may affect the different cell growth behavior for pre- or postanodized medical implants. T2 - 2023 E-MRS Spring Meeting, Symposium L "Making light matter: lasers in material sciences and photonics" CY - Strasbourg, France DA - 29.05.2023 KW - Hierarchical micro-nanostructures KW - Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) KW - Ultrashort laser pulses KW - Ti-6Al-4V alloy KW - X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-601962 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/pssa.202300920 SN - 1862-6319 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Wiley-VCH GmbH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-60196 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 - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Standardized Chemical Composition Analysis of Graphene Oxide Flakes with SEM/EDS and XPS Works Reliably N2 - Reliable quantification of the chemical composition of graphene-related 2D materials (GR2M) as powders and liquid suspensions is a challenging task. Analytical methods such as XPS, ICP-MS, TGA and FTIR are recommended in projects at standardization bodies. The parameters to be measured are also defined, e.g. the oxygen-to-carbon (O/C) concentration ratio, the trace metal impurities, or the functional groups present. In this contribution, for the first time, the capability of SEM/EDS to reliably quantify the O/C ratio in a well-characterized graphene oxide (GO) material is evaluated. The robustness of the SEM/EDS results under various measurement conditions is tested by comparison to the established XPS analysis. A crucial step is the sample preparation from liquid suspension with GO flakes onto a substrate for analysis with both EDS and XPS. It is demonstrated that if a closed and enough thick drop-cast spot is deposited on a substrate, both surface-sensitive XPS analysis and bulk-characterizing EDS result in very similar elemental composition of oxygen and carbon. Hence, the theoretical, expected O/C atomic ratio values for pure GO of ~0.5 are achieved with both methods. Further, the effect of untight deposited material causing co-analysis of the silicon substrate, is evaluated for both methods, XPS and EDS. Note that all the EDS results in this study have been quantified standardless. The standard measurement procedure including the GO material considered here as a candidate reference material will make a significant contribution to analyse reliably the chemical composition of GR2M with SEM/EDS as one of the most widely used methods in analytical laboratories. T2 - Graphene Week 2025 CY - Vicenza, Italy DA - 22.09.2025 KW - EDX KW - Graphene-related 2D materials KW - O/C ratio KW - Standardisation KW - Samle preparation KW - XPS PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64261 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 - Habibimarkani, Heydar A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - John, Elisabeth T1 - Probing Surface Changes in Fe–Ni Oxide Nanocatalysts with a ToF-SIMS-Coupled Electrochemistry Setup and Principal Component Analysis N2 - Understanding catalyst surface dynamics under operating conditions is essential for improving electrocatalytic performance. Here, we present a novel approach combining electrochemical treatment with contamination-free transfer to Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), followed by principal component analysis (PCA), to probe surface and interfacial changes in Ni–Fe oxide nanoparticles stabilized by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The surface analysis at three distinct treatment stages revealed distinct chemical fingerprints across pristine nanoparticles, after exposure to 1 M KOH electrolyte, and after cyclic voltammetry treatment. The results highlight a progressive transition from ligand-rich to ligand-depleted interfaces, with PVP-related fragments dominant in the early stages and metal- and electrolyte-derived species emerging after activation. Complementary ToF-SIMS analysis of electrolyte deposited on Si wafers after each treatment step confirms the concurrent leaching of PVP and Fe–Ni-based fragments during OER. These findings underscore the dynamic nature of catalyst–electrolyte interfaces and demonstrate a robust strategy for monitoring surface-sensitive chemical changes associated with the nanoparticles, especially during the initial cycles of the OER. KW - Fe-Ni oxide KW - Nanocatalysts KW - ToF-SIMS KW - Electrochemistry KW - PCA (principal component analysis) KW - OER PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-652667 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.5c03894 SN - 0003-2700 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - American Chemical Society (ACS) AN - OPUS4-65266 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Morphological and Chemical Nanoscale Analysis of Mesoporous Mixed IrO x TiO y Thin Films as Electrode Materials N2 - Porous 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. T2 - Microscopy and Microanalysis 2024 CY - Cleveland, OH, USA DA - 28.07.2024 KW - Auger electron spectroscopy KW - Iridium oxide KW - Mesoporous thin films KW - SIMS KW - Titanium oxide KW - Porosity PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60805 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bresch, Harald A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Schmidt, Alexandra A1 - Rasmussen, K. A1 - Rauscher, H. T1 - Counting Small Particles in Electron Microscopy Images — Proposal for Rules and Their Application in Practice N2 - Electron microscopy (EM) is the gold standard for the characterisation of the morphology (size and shape) of nanoparticles. Visual observation of objects under examination is always a necessary first step in the characterisation process. Several questions arise when undertaking to identify and count particles to measure their size and shape distribution. In addition to challenges with the dispersion and identification of the particles, more than one protocol for counting particles is in use. This paper focuses on precise rules for the counting of particles in EM micrographs, as this influences the measurement accuracy of the number of particles, thus implicitly affecting the size values of the counted particles. We review and compare four different, commonly used methods for counting, which we then apply in case studies. The impact of the selected counting rule on the obtained final particle size distribution is highlighted. One main aim of this analysis is to support the application of a specific, well-defined counting approach in accordance with regulatory requirements to contribute to achieving more reliable and reproducible results. It is also useful for the new harmonised measurement procedures for determining the particle size and particle size distribution of nanomaterials. KW - Nano KW - Particle size distribution KW - Nanoparticle KW - Nanomaterial KW - OECD PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-551891 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12132238 SN - 2079-4991 VL - 12 IS - 13 SP - 2238 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-55189 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Hülagü, Deniz A1 - Tobias, Charlie A1 - Dao, R. A1 - Komarow, P. A1 - Rurack, Knut A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Dataset accompanying the publication "Towards 3D determination of the surface roughness of core-shell microparticles as a routine quality control procedure by scanning electron microscopy" N2 - This dataset accompanies the following publication: Hülagü, D., Tobias, C., Dao, R., Komarov, P., Rurack, K., Hodoroaba, V.-D., Towards 3D determination of the surface roughness of core-shell microparticles as a routine quality control procedure by scanning electron microscopy. Sci.Rep, 14, 17936 (2024), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-68797-7. It contains SEM and AFM-in-SEM images of polystyrene (PS) core particles, polystyrene-iron oxide (PS/Fe3O4) core-shell particles, and polystyrene-iron oxide-silica (PS/Fe3O4/SiO2) core-shell-shell particles. Please refer to the publication and its supporting information for more details on the acquisition and contents of the dataset, as well as the GitHub repository at https://github.Com/denizhulagu/roughness-analysis-by-electron-microscopy. The investigated particles were produced at BAM laboratories as previously described in: Hülagü, D. et al. Generalized analysis approach of the profile roughness by electron microscopy with the example of hierarchically grown polystyrene–iron oxide–silica core–shell–shell particles. Adv. Eng. Mater. 24, 2101344, https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.202101344 (2022). Tobias, C., Climent, E., Gawlitza, K. & Rurack, K. Polystyrene microparticles with convergently grown mesoporous silica shells as a promising tool for multiplexed bioanalytical assays. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 13, 207, https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c17940 (2020). KW - Core–shell particles KW - Image analysis KW - Roughness KW - Scanning electron microscopy KW - Atomic force microscopy KW - Tilting KW - Batch analysis PY - 2024 UR - https://zenodo.org/records/11108726 DO - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11108725 PB - Zenodo CY - Geneva AN - OPUS4-60760 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Terborg, R. A1 - Boehm, S. A1 - Kim, K. J. T1 - Analysis of elemental composition of Fe1-xNix and Si1-xGex alloy thin films by electron probe microanalysis and micro-focus X-ray fluorescence N2 - The present study reports on results of analysis of the elemental composition of thin films by electron probe microanalysis with energy dispersive (ED-EPMA) X-ray spectrometry in conjunction with the dedicated thin-film analysis software package Stratagem and by X-ray fluorescence in its version with a micro-focus X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) source attached to a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Two thin-film systems have been analyzed: Fe1-xNix on silicon wafer and Si1-xGex on Al2O3 substrate, in both cases the layers being grown to a thickness of about 200 nm by ion beam sputter deposition. Samples of five different atomic fractions have been produced and analyzed for each thin-film system. Moreover, reference samples with certified elemental composition and thickness have been also available. This study is part of an interlaboratory comparison organized in the frame of standardization technical committee ISO/TC 201 “Surface chemical analysis.” Two laboratories have been analyzed by ED-EPMA (one laboratory standardless and one laboratory using both standardless and with standards variants) and one laboratory by μ-XRF (standardless and with standards). All the elemental compositions obtained with different methods are in very good agreement for the complete two sets of five samples each. KW - Thin films KW - Elemental composition KW - FeNi KW - SiGe KW - Electron probe microanalysis KW - X-ray Fluorescence PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-509262 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/sia.6834 SN - 0142-2421 VL - 52 IS - 12 SP - 929 EP - 932 PB - John Wiley & Sons Ltd AN - OPUS4-50926 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Kuchenbecker, Petra A1 - Löhmann, Oliver A1 - Lindemann, Franziska A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Embedding and cross-sectioning as a sample preparation procedure for accurate and representative size and shape measurement of nanopowders N2 - Reliable measurement of the size of polydisperse, complex-shaped commercial nanopowders is a difficult but necessary task, e.g., for regulatory requirements and toxicity risk assessment. Suitable methods exist for the accurate characterization of the size of non-aggregated, stabilized, spherical and monodisperse nanoparticles. In contrast, industrial nanoscale powders usually require dedicated sample preparation procedures developed for the analysis method of choice. These nano-powders tend to agglomerate and/or aggregate, a behavior which in combination with an innate broad particle size distribution and irregular shape often significantly alters the achievable accuracy of the measured size parameters. The present study systematically tests two commercially available nanoscale powders using different sample preparation methods for correlative analysis by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, Brunauer–Emmet–Teller method and differential mobility analysis. One focus was set on the sample preparation by embedding nanoparticles in carbon-based hot-mounting resin. Literature on this topic is scarce and the accuracy of the data extracted from cross sections of these particles is unclearly stated. In this paper systematic simulations on the deviation of the size parameters of well-defined series of nanoparticles with different shapes from the nominal value were carried out and the contributing factors are discussed. KW - Nanopowder KW - Electron microscopy KW - Sample preparation KW - Cross-sectioning KW - Cerium oxide KW - Zinc oxide PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-593289 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-51094-0 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 14 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Springer Nature CY - London AN - OPUS4-59328 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - López de Ipina, J.-M. A1 - Arevalillo, A. A1 - Martín, A. A1 - Caillard, B. A1 - Marcoulaki, E. A1 - Aguerre- Charol, O. A1 - van Duuren-Stuurman, B. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Viitanen, A.-K. A1 - Witters, H. A1 - Vercauteren, S. A1 - Persson, K. A1 - Bard, D. A1 - Evans, G. A1 - Jensen, K.A. A1 - Himly, M. A1 - Scalbi, S. A1 - Papin, A. A1 - Le Bihan, O. A1 - Kanerva, T. A1 - Tirez, K. A1 - Frijns, E. A1 - Niga, P. A1 - Eleftheriadis, K. A1 - Travlos, A. A1 - Geppert, M. A1 - Himly, M. A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Kuchenbecker, Petra A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Fraboulet, I. A1 - Bressot, C. A1 - Rissler, J. A1 - Gaucher, R. A1 - Binotto, G. A1 - Krietsch, Arne A1 - Braun, A. A1 - Abenet, S. A1 - Catalan, J. A1 - Verstraelen, S. A1 - Manier, N. A1 - Manzo, S. A1 - Fransman, S. A1 - Queron, J. A1 - Charpentier, D. A1 - Taxell, D. A1 - Säämänen, A. A1 - Brignon, J.-M. A1 - Jovanovic, A. A1 - Bisson, M A1 - Neofytou, P. T1 - EC4Safenano - Catalogue of Services N2 - The publicly available document encapsulates the first version of the Catalogue of Services of the future EC4Safenano Centre (CoS 2019). The CoS 2019 is structured in 12 Service Categories and 27 Service Topics, for each of the 12 categories considered. This architecture configures a 12 x 27 matrix that allows ordering the potential EC4Safenano offer in 324 types of services/groups of services. Each type of service/group of services is described, in a simple and friendly way, by means of a specific service sheet: the EC4Safenano - Service Data Sheet (EC4-SDS). These EC4-SDSs allow structuring and summarizing the information of each service, providing the customer with a concise view of characteristics of the service and also the contact details with the service provider. The CoS 2019 deploys a map of services consisting of a set of 100 EC4-SDSs, covering 7 of the 12 Service Categories and 17 of the 27 Service Topics. The harmonization of services is visualized as a future necessary step in EC4Safenano, in order to strengthen the offer and provide added value to customers with a growing offer of harmonized services in future versions of the CoS. The information contained in this document is structured in 3 main sections, as follows: • Catalogue structure. This section describes in short the main characteristics of the CoS 2019. • Catalogue content. This section represents the core part of the document and encapsulates the set of 100 SDSs displaying the offer proposed by the CoS 2019. • Online Catalogue. This section describes the resources implemented by EC4Safenano to facilitate the on-line consultation of the CoS 2019 by customers and other interested parties. KW - Nano-safety KW - Analytical services KW - Nanomaterials KW - Catalogue of services KW - EC4SafeNano KW - European Centre PY - 2021 UR - https://ec4safenano.eu-vri.eu/Public/Guidance SP - 1 EP - 72 PB - EU-VRi – European Virtual Institute for Integrated Risk Management CY - Stuttgart, Germany AN - OPUS4-52943 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 - 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 - CONF A1 - Terborg, R. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Determination of Thin Film Thickness and Composition using Energy Dispersive EPMA N2 - Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) provides a non-destructive approach in the dedicated thin film analysis mode with the commercial StrataGem software. Recently, the open-source programme BadgerFilm by Moy and Fournelle became available. Similarly to StrataGem, it is based on the algorithm of Pouchou and Pichoir and needs intensity ratios of the unknown sample and standards (k-values). We have evaluated the k-values measured for the FeNi and SiGe film systems using the BadgerFilm software package and compared the thickness and composition with the results obtained with the established StrataGem software and other reference methods. The thicknesses of the SiGe films obtained by the BadgerFilm software agree within 20% with the StrataGem and TEM results; the elemental compositions BadgerFilm-StrataGEM agree within 2% with one exception (9%). T2 - Microscopy and Microanalysis 2022 CY - Portland, OR, USA DA - 31.07.2022 KW - Thin films KW - Thickness KW - Elemental composition KW - FeNi KW - SiGe KW - BadgerFilm KW - Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-55522 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Morphological Characterization and Chemical Identification of TiO2 Nanoparticles Doped with Ultrafine Metal Particles for Enhanced Photocatalytical Activity N2 - Water splitting using semiconductor photo-catalysts is considered a sustainable method to produce clean hydrogen 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 (SEM) 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, Au, Rh, Pd) and metal concentrations are discussed. T2 - Microscopy and Microanalysis 2022 CY - Portland, OR, USA DA - 31.07.2022 KW - Nanoparticles KW - Me-TiO2 KW - Photocatalysis KW - Morpho-chemical characterization KW - Shape KW - SEM/EDS PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-55541 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Drobne, D. A1 - Ciornii, Dmitri A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Bohmer, N. A1 - Novak, S. A1 - Kranjc, E. A1 - Kononenko, V. A1 - Reuther, R. T1 - Knowledge, Information, and Data Readiness Levels (KaRLs) for Risk Assessment, Communication, and Governance of Nano-, New, and Other Advanced Materials N2 - The obvious benefits derived from the increasing use of engineered nano-, new, and advanced materials and associated products have to be weighed out by a governance process against their possible risks. Differences in risk perception (beliefs about potential harm) among stakeholders, in particular nonscientists, and low transparency of the underlying decision processes can lead to a lack of support and acceptance of nano-, new, and other advanced material enabled products. To integrate scientific outcomes with stakeholders needs, this work develops a new approach comprising a nine-level, stepwise categorization and guidance system entitled “Knowledge, Information, and Data Readiness Levels” (KaRLs), analogous to the NASA Technology Readiness Levels. The KaRL system assesses the type, extent, and usability of the available data, information, and knowledge and integrates the participation of relevant and interested stakeholders in a cocreation/codesign process to improve current risk assessment, communication, and governance. The novelty of the new system is to communicate and share all available and relevant elements on material related risks in a user/stakeholder-friendly, transparent, flexible, and holistic way and so stimulate reflection, awareness, communication, and a deeper understanding that ultimately enables the discursive process that is needed for the sustainable risk governance of new materials. KW - Risk asessment KW - Advanced materials KW - TRL KW - Governance KW - Data readiness level PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-575344 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202200211 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Wiley-VCH AN - OPUS4-57534 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Towards Automated Electron Microscopy Image Segmentation for Nanoparticles of Complex Shape by Convolutional Neural Networks N2 - In this contribution different ways are explored with the aim to generate suitable training data for ‘non-ideal’ samples using various approaches, e.g., computer-generated images or unsupervised learning algorithms such as generative adversarial networks (GANs). We used these data to train simple CNNs to produce segmentation masks of SEM images and tested the trained networks on real SEM images of complex nanoparticle samples. The novel use of CNN for the automated analysis of the size of nanoparticles of complex shape and with a high degree of agglomeration has proved to be a promising tool for the evaluation of particle size distribution on a large number of constituent particles. Further development and validation of the preliminary model, respectively larger training and validation data sets are necessary. KW - Nanoparticles KW - Convolutional neural networks KW - Image segmentation KW - Electron microscopy KW - Automatisation PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927620017262 VL - 26 IS - S2 SP - 1188 EP - 1189 PB - Cambridge University Press CY - Cambridge, UK AN - OPUS4-51773 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bennet, Francesca A1 - Burr, L. A1 - Schmid, D. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Towards a method for quantitative evaluation of nanoparticle from suspensions via microarray printing and SEM analysis N2 - As part of the development of a library of accurate and efficient methods for measurement of nanoparticle properties, we develop and optimize a method for the efficient analysis of nanoparticle size distribution from suspensions via microprinting and digital analysis of electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) images, with the ultimate aim of automated quantitative concentration analysis (calculated from drop volume). A series of different nanoparticle suspensions (gold, latex, and SiO2 in varying sizes and concentrations) were printed onto TEM grids in a 4 x 4 array in the concentration range 7x10^8 to 1x10^11 nanoparticles/mL and imaged with SEM. Concentrations and printing conditions (temperature, relative humidity) were varied in order to minimize the coffee-ring effect. KW - Nanoparticles KW - Particle size distribution KW - Electron microscopy KW - Microarray printing KW - Sample preparation KW - Nanoparticle concentration PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-528455 DO - https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1953/1/012002 VL - 1953 SP - 012002 PB - IOP Publishing AN - OPUS4-52845 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Crouzier, L. A1 - Feltin, N. A1 - Delvallée, A. A1 - Pellegrino, Francesco A1 - Maurino, V. A1 - Cios, Grzegorz A1 - Tokarski, T. A1 - Salzmann, Christoph A1 - Deumer, J. A1 - Gollwitzer, C. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Correlative analysis of the dimensional properties of bipyramidal titania nanoparticles by complementing electron microscopy with other methods N2 - In this paper, the accurate determination of the size and size distribution of bipyramidal anatase nanoparticles (NPs) after deposition as single particles on a silicon substrate by correlative Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analysis is described as a new measurement procedure for metrological purposes. The knowledge of the exact orientation of the NPs is a crucial step in extracting the real 3D dimensions of the particles. Two approaches are proposed to determine the geometrical orientation of individual nano‐bipyramides: (i) AFM profiling along the long bipyramid axis and (ii) stage tilting followed by SEM imaging. Furthermore, a recently developed method, Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction (TKD), which needs preparation of the crystalline NPs on electron‐transparent substrates such as TEM grids, has been tested with respect to its capability of identifying the geometrical orientation of the individual NPs. With the NPs prepared homogeneously on a TEM grid, the transmission mode in a SEM, i.e., STEM‐in‐SEM (or T‐SEM), can be also applied to extract accurate projection dimensions of the nanoparticles from the same sample area as that analysed by SEM, TKD and possibly AFM. Finally, Small Angle X‐ray Scattering (SAXS) can be used as an ensemble technique able to measure the NPs in liquid suspension and, with ab‐initio knowledge of the NP shape from the descriptive imaging techniques, to provide traceable NP size distribution and particle concentration. KW - Nanoparticles KW - Complex-shape KW - Bipyramid KW - Electron microscopy KW - AFM KW - Size measurements KW - TKD KW - STEM-in-SEM KW - SAXS KW - Nanoparticle concentration KW - Correlative analysis PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-539888 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11123359 SN - 2079-4991 VL - 11 IS - 12 SP - 1 EP - 19 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-53988 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pellegrino, Francesco A1 - Ortel, Erik A1 - Mielke, Johannes A1 - Schmidt, R. A1 - Maurino, V. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Customizing New Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles with Controlled Particle Size and Shape Distribution: A Feasibility Study Toward Reference Materials for Quality Assurance of Nonspherical Nanoparticle Characterization N2 - An overview is given on the synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles with well-defined nonspherical shapes (platelet like, bipyramidal, and elongated), with the focus on controlled, reproducible synthesis, as a key requirement for the production of reference materials with homogeneous and stable properties. Particularly with regard to the nanoparticle shapes, there is a high need of certified materials, solely one material of this type being commercially available since a few months (elongated TiO2). Further, measurement approaches with electron microscopy as the golden method to tackle the nanoparticle shape are developed to determine accurately the size and shape distribution for such nonspherical particles. A prerequisite for accurate and easy (i.e., automated) image analysis is the sample preparation, which ideally must ensure a deposition of the nanoparticles from liquid suspension onto a substrate such that the particles do not overlap, are solvent-free, and have a high deposition density. Challenges in the Synthesis of perfectly monodispersed and solvent-free TiO2 nanoparticles of platelet and acicular shapes are highlighted as well as successful measurement approaches on how to extract from 2D projection electron micrographs the most accurate spatial information, that is, true 3D size, for example, of the bipyramidal nanoparticles with different geometrical orientations on a substrate. KW - Nanoparticles KW - Titanium dioxide KW - Reference materials KW - Standardisation KW - Particle size and shape distribution PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-538849 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.202101347 VL - 24 IS - 6 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Wiley-VCH AN - OPUS4-53884 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dhamo, Lorena A1 - Carulli, F. A1 - Nickl, Philip A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Würth, Christian A1 - Brovelli, S. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Efficient luminescent solar concentrators based on environmentally friendly Cd-free ternary AIS/ZnS quantum dots N2 - Luminescent solar concentrators (LSC) allow to obtain renewable energy from building integrated photovoltaic systems. As promising efficient and long-term stable LSC fluorophores semiconductor nanocrystals like Quantum dots (QDs) with size and composition tunable optoelectronic properties have recently emerged. The most popular II/VI or IV/VI semiconductor QDs contain, however, potentially hazardous cadmium or lead ions, which is a bottleneck for commercial applications. A simple aqueous based, microwaveassisted synthesis for environmentally friendly and highly emissive AgInS2/ ZnS QDs is developed using 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) and glutathione (GSH) and their incorporation into polylaurylmethacrylate (PLMA) polymer slabs integrable in LSC devices (10.4 × 10.4 × 0.2 cm3, G = 12.98). With this simple approach, optical power efficiencies (OPE) of 3.8% and 3.6% and optical quantum efficiencies (OQE) of 24.1% and 27.4% are obtained, which are among the highest values yet reported. KW - Solar energy KW - Solar concentrator KW - Quantum dots KW - Advanced material KW - Quantum yield PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-529735 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202100587 SN - 2195-1071 SN - 0935-9648 VL - 9 IS - 17 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-52973 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Towards 3D understanding of non spherical nanoparticles by Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction (TKD) for improved particle size distribution by electron microscopy N2 - In this paper one refined approach is applied to determine the exact orientation of bipyramidal TiO2 nanoparticles prepared with good dispersion as almost isolated particles on a carbon TEM grid. The advantages of the recently developed high-throughput Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction (TKD) are used to identify quickly and reliably the geometrical orientation of the crystalline TiO2 nanoparticle bipyramids (anatase) on a statistically relevant number of particles. T2 - Microscopy and Microanalysis 2020 CY - Online meeting DA - 03.08.2020 KW - Nanoparticles KW - Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction (TKD) KW - TiO2 KW - 3D KW - Electron microscopy PY - 2020 AN - OPUS4-51113 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sachse, René A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Kraehnert, R. A1 - Hertwig, Andreas T1 - Multilevel effective material approximation for modeling ellipsometric measurements on complex porous thin films N2 - Catalysts are important components in chemical processes because they lower the activation energy and thus determine the rate, efficiency and selectivity of a chemical reaction. This property plays an important role in many of today’s processes, including the electrochemical splitting of water. Due to the continuous development of catalyst materials, they are becoming more complex, which makes a reliable evaluation of physicochemical properties challenging even for modern analytical measurement techniques and industrial manufacturing. We present a fast, vacuum-free and non-destructive analytical approach using multi-sample spectroscopic ellipsometry to determine relevant material parameters such as film thickness, porosity and composition of mesoporous IrOx–TiOy films. Mesoporous IrOx–TiOy films were deposited on Si wafers by sol–gel synthesis, varying the composition of the mixed oxide films between 0 and 100 wt%Ir. The ellipsometric modeling is based on an anisotropic Bruggeman effective medium approximation (a-BEMA) to determine the film thickness and volume fraction of the material and pores. The volume fraction of the material was again modeled using a Bruggeman EMA to determine the chemical composition of the materials. The ellipsometric fitting results were compared with complementary methods, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) as well as environmental ellipsometric porosimetry (EEP). KW - Electrochemical catalysts KW - Mixed metal oxide KW - Multi-sample analysis KW - Spectroscopic ellipsometry KW - Thin mesoporous films PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-551026 DO - https://doi.org/10.1515/aot-2022-0007 SN - 2192-8584 SN - 2192-8576 VL - 11 IS - 3-4 (Topical issue: Ellipsometry) SP - 137 EP - 147 PB - De Gruyter CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-55102 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -