TY - JOUR A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Rajotte, Isabelle A1 - Thibeault, Marie-Pier A1 - Sander, Philipp C. A1 - Kodra, Oltion A1 - Lopinski, Gregory A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Johnston, Linda J. A1 - Brinkmann, Andreas A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Quantifying surface groups on aminated silica nanoparticles of different size, surface chemistry, and porosity with solution NMR, XPS, optical assays, and potentiometric titration N2 - We assessed the quantification of surface amino functional groups (FGs) for a large set of commercial and custom-made aminated silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) with sizes of 20–100 nm, prepared with different sol–gel routes, different amounts of surface amino FGs, and different porosity with four methods providing different, yet connected measurands in a bilateral study of two laboratories, BAM and NRC, with the overall aim to develop standardizable measurements for surface FG quantification. Special emphasis was dedicated to traceable quantitative magnetic resonance spectroscopy (qNMR) performed with dissolved SiO2 NPs. For the cost efficient and automatable screening of the amount of surface amino FGs done in a first step of this study, the optical fluorescamine assay and a potentiometric titration method were utilized by one partner, i.e., BAM, yielding the amount of primary amino FGs accessible for the reaction with a dye precursor and the total amount of (de)protonatable FGs. These measurements, which give estimates of the minimum and maximum number of surface amino FGs, laid the basis for quantifying the amount of amino silane molecules with chemo-selective qNMR with stepwise fine-tuned workflows, involving centrifugation, drying, weighting, dissolution, measurement, and data evaluation steps jointly performed by BAM and NRC. Data comparability and relative standard deviations (RSDs) obtained by both labs were used as quality measures for method optimization and as prerequisites to identify method-inherent limitations to be later considered for standardized measurement protocols. Additionally, the nitrogen (N) to silicon (Si) ratio in the near-surface region of the SiO2 NPs was determined by both labs using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), a well established surface sensitive analytical method increasingly utilized for microparticles and nano-objects which is currently also in the focus of international standardization activities. Overall, our results underline the importance of multi-method characterization studies for quantifying FGs on NMs involving at least two expert laboratories for effectively identifying sources of uncertainty, validating analytical methods, and deriving NM structure–property relationships. KW - Advanced Materials KW - Amino Groups KW - Calibration KW - Characterization KW - Functional groups KW - Method Comparison KW - Nano Particle KW - Validation KW - XPS KW - Optical Assay KW - Quantification KW - Surface Analysis KW - Reference Materials KW - Synthesis KW - Fluorescence PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-649992 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d5na00794a VL - 7 IS - 21 SP - 6888 EP - 6900 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-64999 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - The emp project smurfnano – Standardizing the quantification of surface functionalities, ligands, and coatings on nanomaterials N2 - For industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, opto-electronics, and information storage, meanwhile engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with various chemical compositions and surface functionalities are routinely fabricated. NP function, interaction with biological species, and environmental fate are largely determined by surface functionalities. Reliable, reproducible, and standardized surface characterization methods are therefore vital for quality control of NPs, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. Also, industry, international standardization organizations, regulatory agencies, and policymakers need validated and standardized measurement methods and reference materials. These needs are addressed by the recently started European metrology project SMURFnano involving 12 partners from different National Metrology Institutes, designated institutes, and research institutes, two university groups as well as one large company and one SME producing NPs. This project as well as first results derived from the development of test and reference materials with a well characterized surface chemistry and ongoing interlaboratory comparisons will be presented. T2 - LNE Workshop CY - Paris, France DA - 04.11.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Characterization KW - Advanced material KW - Surface KW - Standardization KW - Reference material KW - Functional group KW - Quantification KW - Coating KW - Automation KW - Potentiometry KW - Method KW - Validation KW - Optical assay KW - Fluram KW - qNMR KW - Comparison KW - ILC PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64725 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Nanocarriers – Challenges Imposed by Material Characterization N2 - A brief perspective of BAM on nanocarriers is presented including examples with special emphasis on the characterization of such materials and underlying challenges. In this respect, also ongoing activities at BAM on different types of core/shell nanomaterials and related systems are briefly summarized. T2 - Kolloquium BfR CY - Online meeting DA - 18.03.2021 KW - Nanomaterial KW - Nanocarrier KW - Size KW - Surface chemistry KW - Release kinetics KW - Chemical composition KW - Core/shell nanoparticle KW - Quantum dot KW - Spectroscopy KW - Fluorescence PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-52412 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Standardised Measurements of Surface Functionalities on Nanoparticles N2 - Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with various chemical compositions and surface functionalities are routinely fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, opto-electronics, and information storage which improve the quality of life and European prosperity. NP function, performance, interaction with biological species, and environmental fate are largely determined by their surface functionalities. Standardized repeatable surface characterization methods are therefore vital for quality control of NPs, and to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. Therefore, industry, regulatory agencies, and policymakers need validated traceable measurement methods and reference materials. This calls for fit-for-purpose, validated, and standardized methods, and reference data and materials on the surface chemistry of engineered NPs. Here, we present a concept for the development of such standardized measurement protocols utilizing method cross-validation and interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) with emphasis on both advanced measurement methods such as quantitative Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (qNMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and cost-efficient, non-surface specific methods like optical assays and electrochemical titration methods. T2 - European Partnership on Metrology 2023 Review Conference CY - Amsterdam, Netherlands DA - 07.11.2023 KW - Surface chemistry KW - Quality assurance KW - Traceability PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-59142 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Scholtz, Lena T1 - Standardized Measurements of Surface Functionalities on Nanoparticles N2 - Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with various chemical compositions and surface functionalities are routinely and commonly fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, opto-electronics, and information storage. NP function, their interaction with biological species, and also their environmental fate are largely determined by the surface functionalities of the particles. Reliable, reproducible, and standardized surface characterization methods are therefore vital for quality control of NPs, determination of their applicability, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. In addition, industry as well as international standardization organizations, regulatory agencies, and policymakers need validated and standardized measurement methods and reference materials. However, methodologies for determining NP surface properties, including the amount, chemical composition, and homogeneity of surface functionalities and coatings are largely non-standardized up until now. Suitable methods for determining surface functionalities on ligand-stabilized core and core/shell NPs include advanced techniques such as traceable quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR), as well as X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and simpler optical and electrochemical methods. The latter, typically less costly methods are often used by SMEs, e.g., for quality control. To validate methods, establish measurement uncertainties, test reference materials, and produce reference data, international interlaboratory comparisons (ILC) on NP surface functionalization measurements are required to provide well characterized test and reference nanomaterials including benchmark values.[1] These needs are addressed by the current European metrology project SMURFnano, involving 12 partners from different National Metrology Institutes, designated and research institutes, two university groups as well as one large company and one SME producing NPs. This project, as well as first results derived from the development of test and reference materials with a well characterized surface chemistry, and ongoing interlaboratory comparisons, will be presented. T2 - eMRS - Fall Meeting 2025 CY - Warsaw, Poland DA - 15.09.2025 KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Polymer KW - Metrology KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Surface chemistry KW - Size KW - Shape KW - Particle number concentration KW - Method KW - Optical assay KW - qNMR KW - Validation KW - Potentiometry KW - XPS PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64243 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Andresen, Elina T1 - Lanthanide-Based Upconverting Nanoparticles: Size, Shape, and Color Tuning for Emerging Applications in Sensing and Encoding N2 - Lanthanide-based nanoparticles like upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) consist of an inorganic host matrix doped with rare earth ions. These NPs have attracted considerable attention for different areas of application due to their unique spectral shifting potential providing multi-color luminescence in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR. Important prerequisites for the broad applicability of these nanomaterials are simple and robust synthesis protocols for UCNP with defined morphologies and tunable optical properties, and a sufficient stability under application-relevant conditions. We built up a platform of UCNP based on AYF4 (A=alkali metal) host materials for usage as optical reporters, barcodes, sensors, and tags. This includes the synthesis of UCNPs with i) tunable size (10 – 150 nm), shape (spherical, rod-like, bipyramidal, etc.), and composition (Yb and Er/Tm as dopant ions) and ii) different core-shell architectures for emission color tuning. Therefore, we studied the reproducibility, robustness, and upscalability of the synthesis of β-NaYF4: Yb,Er UCNP via thermal decomposition and the tuning of UCNP size and shape by dopant ion ratios, host material, and reaction conditions and optically explored stability of selected UCNP in different environments under different application-relevant conditions. Subsequently, the applicability of these LnNPs for i) fabrication of security inks for printable QR codes, ii) design of self-referenced nanosensors for (micro)biologically relevant analytes, and iii) as NIR/SWIR luminescent reporters for optical imaging will be discussed. Aiming for core-shell architectures with defined UCL properties, we also assessed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth-profiling methods for determining and quantifying lanthanide activator and sensitizer dopant ions within different types of LnNPs that is of key importance for UCL color and efficiency. A platform of LnNPs based on NaYF4 and LiYF4 hosts with application-specifically tuned size, shape, composition, architecture, optical properties, and surface chemistry was realized. T2 - MAF 2024 CY - Valencia, Spain DA - 08.09.2024 KW - Lanthanide-based upconverting nanoparticles KW - Sensing KW - Encoding PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-62132 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella T1 - Where Do We Stand – Quantifying Amino Groups on Silica (Nano)Particles N2 - Industry and regulators are increasingly requesting validated and standardized measurement protocols to support the manufacturing, quality control, and safe use of engineered nanomaterials. Addressing a remaining gap in method development and standardization for nanomaterial characterization, we investigated in a bilateral comparison various methods commonly used for surface functional group quantification, like quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and optical assays. These results demonstrate not only an influence of the size and synthesis methods on the number of surface functional groups for differently sized commercial and in-house synthesized silica nanoparticles but also on their functionality. T2 - Kickoff-Meeting SMURFnano CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 09.07.2024 KW - Nano KW - Particles KW - Silica KW - Synthesis KW - Quantification KW - Functional groups KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Method KW - Uncertainty KW - Sensor KW - Surface analysis PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-62164 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Characterization and quantification of functional groups and coatings on nanoobjects an overview N2 - Characterization of Nanoparticles – Questions to Ask, Functional Nanoparticles (NPs) – Organic, Inorganic, and Hybrid Nanoparticles Nanomaterial Characterization Standardization – Addressing Remaining Gaps Surface FGs Particle Surface Chemistry - Why is it Important? Particle Surface Chemistry - A Key Driver for Performance, Applications, and Safety Aspects Method Development for Quantifying FGs and Ligands on Particle Surfaces FG Quantification – Method Choice & Criteria Relevant for Data Interpretation Quantifying the Amount of Total and Accessible FGs on Aminated Silica Nanoparticles (SiO2-NH2) Comparing the Total and Accessible –NH2 Content on Aminated Silica NPs of Different Size Characterization of Nanoparticles Standardization Standardized Measurements of Surface FGs on Nanoparticles EMP Project SMURFnano EMP Project SMURFnano Work Packages & Goals Certified Reference Materials from BAM T2 - e-MRS 2024 (Spring Meeting of the European Materials Research Society, Altech Symposium) CY - Strasbourg, France DA - 27.05.2024 KW - Luminescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Quantum yield KW - Quality assurance KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Method KW - Uncertainty KW - Reference material KW - Surface analysis KW - Optical assay KW - NMR KW - Silica KW - Ligand PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60495 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella T1 - Quantifying the Total and Accessible Number of Surface Functional Groups and Ligands on Engineered Nanomaterials Using a Multimodal Approach N2 - Functionalized nanomaterials (NM) with their unique size-dependent properties are of increasing relevance for current and future developments in various fields such as medical and pharmaceutical industry, computing, electronics or food and consumer products. For instance, NMs are used as drug carriers, fluorescent sensors, and multimodal labels in bio-analytical assays and imaging applications. The performance and safety of NMs are influenced by their intrinsic physicochemical properties. Among these, the surface chemistry of the particles, which is largely determined by the chemical nature and density of functional groups and ligands, plays a crucial role in enhancing the stability, and processability of NMs, as well as their interactions with the environment. Thus, particle standards with well-designed surfaces and methods for functional group quantification can foster the sustainable development of functional and safe(r) NM.[1] To develop simple, versatile, and multimodal tools for quantifying various bioanalytically relevant functional groups (FG) such as amine,[2,3] carboxy,[2] thiol, and aldehyde[4] functionalities, we explored and compared several analytical methods. These methods included electrochemical titration, dye-based optical assays, and other instrumental techniques like nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis. Our multimodal approach’s potential for FG quantification was demonstrated using both commercial and custom-made polymeric and silica particles with different densities of functional groups. T2 - ANAKON 2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - Quality Assurance KW - Nano Particle KW - qNMR KW - Potentiometry KW - Reference Material KW - Surface Analysis KW - Advance Materials KW - Functional Group KW - Silica KW - Synthesis KW - Optical Assays KW - Reference Data PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-65000 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - The SMURFnano project - standardized measurements of surface functionalities on nanoparticles N2 - Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with various chemical compositions and surface functionalities are routinely fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, optoelectronics, and information storage. NP function, interaction with biological species, and environmental fate are largely determined by surface functionalities. Reliable, reproducible, and standardized surface characterization methods are therefore vital for quality control of NPs, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. Also, industry, international standardization organizations, regulatory agencies, and policymakers need validated and standardized measurement methods and reference materials. However, methodologies for determining NP surface properties, including the amount, chemical composition, and homogeneity of surface functionalities and coatings are largely non-standardized. Suitable methods for determining surface functionalities on ligand-stabilized core and core/shell NPs include advanced techniques such as traceable quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) as well as X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and simpler optical and electrochemical methods. The latter less costly methods are often used by SMEs, e.g., for quality control. To validate methods, establish measurement uncertainties, test reference materials, and produce reference data, international interlaboratory comparisons (ILC) on NP surface functionalization measurements are required and well characterized test and reference nanomaterials providing benchmark values.[1] These needs are addressed by the recently started European metrology project SMURFnano involving 12 partners from different National Metrology Institutes, designated institutes, and research institutes, two university groups as well as one large company and one SME producing NPs. This project as well as first results derived from the development of test and reference materials with a well characterized surface chemistry and ongoing interlaboratory comparisons will be presented. T2 - eMRS CY - Strasbourg, France DA - 27.05.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference analysis KW - Standardization KW - Metrology KW - Reference products KW - Reference materials KW - Mission KW - Surface chemistry KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - qNMR KW - XPS KW - Fluorescence KW - Optical assays KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Uncertainty PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63243 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Abram, Sarah-Luise A1 - Homann, Christian A1 - Scholtz, Lena A1 - Radnik, Jörg T1 - Validated and standardized measurements and quantification of surface functionalities on nanoparticles N2 - Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with various chemical compositions and surface functionalities are routinely fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, opto-electronics, and information storage which improve the quality of life and European prosperity. Nanoparticle function, interaction with biological species, and environmental fate are largely determined by surface functionalities. Reliable, reproducible, and standardized surface characterization methods are therefore vital for quality control of NPs, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. Also, industry, regulatory agencies, and policymakers need validated traceable measurement methods and reference materials. Industry, e.g., must comply with various regulations, including the chemicals´ regulation REACH (2006/1907) and cosmetic products regulation (2009/1223), depending on the use. Therefore, standardization organizations such as the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) as well as industrial stakeholders, European Medicine Agency (EMA), and the nanosafety community responsible for guidelines for nanomaterial (NM) regulation like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have expressed needs for standardized methodologies to measure NP surface chemical properties. Despite these needs, methodologies for determining NP surface properties, including the amount, chemical composition, and homogeneity of surface functionalities and coatings are largely non-standardized. Specifically, validated quantitative procedures for the measurement of thickness and composition of nanoparticle coatings and other surface functionalities are needed. Suitable methods for determining surface functionalities on ligand-stabilized core and core/shell NPs include advanced techniques such as traceable quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) as well as X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and simpler optical and electrochemical methods. The latter less costly methods are often used by SMEs, e.g., for quality control. To validate methods, establish measurement uncertainties, test reference materials, and produce reference data, international interlaboratory comparisons (ILC) on NP surface functionalization measurements are required. These needs have been addressed by us in two interlaboratory comparisons, that will be presented. In addition, the European metrology project SMURFnano will be briefly presented involving 12 partners from different National Metrology Institutes, designated institutes, and research institutes, two university groups as well as one large company and one SME producing NPs. T2 - NanoCarbon Annual Conference 2025 CY - Würzburg, Germany DA - 18.03.2025 KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Surface chemistry KW - Size KW - Shape KW - Particle number concentration KW - Method KW - Optical assay KW - QNMR KW - Validation KW - Potentiometry KW - XPS PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62790 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Brinkmann, A. T1 - A qNMR Method for Quantification of Surface Functional Groups on Silica Nanoparticles: Bilateral Comparisons N2 - Nanomaterials (NM) of different size, shape, morphology, composition, and surface chemistry are used in a wide range of applications, including medical diagnostics, and imaging and consumer products. The importance of an adequate and reliable characterization is crucial for quality control during NM production, for ensuring an optimum function for the desired application, and for risk assessment studies. Currently there is a lack of reliable and validated methods and reference materials for quantifying NM surface functional groups, despite the importance of surface chemistry for the production of colloidally stable materials, further processing steps, and the interaction with the environment and biological species. Following our initial study on the use of qNMR for quantifying the amount of amino groups on surface modified silica (1), we have carried out two bilateral comparisons between NRC and BAM to further develop and optimize a reliable protocol for these measurements (2,3), using aminated silica nanoparticles prepared by multiple methods, both commercial and in-house synthesized, and with varying amine content. Solution qNMR is based on dissolving aminated silica nanoparticles in strong base to release the surface grafted amino silane molecules, followed by the quantification of these molecules by solution qNMR using an internal standard. This method provides the amount of total amino groups present in the sample, which can differ from probe accessible or surface-sensitive measurements performed with X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Complementary measurements using optical assays, involving a labeling step with a dye reporter, and XPS are employed to assess the probe accessible and surface amine content for representative samples. These measurements, which illustrate the advantages and potential limitations of the different characterization methods, will contribute to establish a basis for testing the protocol in an international inter-laboratory comparison and for standardization at ISO Technical Committee 229 – Nanotechnologies. T2 - BERM CY - Halifax, Canada DA - 01.06.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Advanced materials KW - Characterization KW - Electron microscopy KW - Silica KW - Surface KW - qNMR KW - Optical assay KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Metrology KW - Standardization PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63527 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Abram, Sarah-Luise A1 - Homann, Christian A1 - Scholtz, Lena A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Validated and standardized measurements and quantification of surface functionalities on nanoparticles N2 - Surface-functionalized organic and inorganic engineered nanomaterials (NMs) are widely applied in the life and materials sciences. NM performance depends on key factors such as particle size and shape, crystal phase, morphology, chemical composition, and surface chemistry, i.e., surface coatings, functional groups (FGs), and ligands.1 The latter controls their processability and interaction with the environment and largely their possible toxicity. Thus, methods for FG quantification are important tools for quality control of NM production processes and can foster the sustainable development of functional and safe(r) NMs. This underlines the importance of validated and standardized analytical methods for surface analysis and reference materials.2 This encouraged us to explore simple and versatile tools for quantifying common bioanalytically relevant FGs such as optical assays, electrochemical titration methods, quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (qNMR), and X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and to perform a first interlaboratory comparison (ILC) on surface FG quantification.3,4 In a follow-up ILC, BAM and NRC explored qNMR sample preparation, measurement, and data evaluation protocols for commercial and custom-made aminated SiO2 NPs with sizes of 20-100 nm, different amounts of surface amino FGs, and different porosity.5,6 First, the number of amino FGs accessible for a dye reporter was determined with a cost-efficient, automated optical fluorescamine assay. Then, qNMR workflows and protocols were stepwise fine-tuned. The qNMR ILC was complemented by joint XPS measurements. BAM also examined the applicability of fast and automatable potentiometric titrations to screen the total amount of (de)protonable FGs on aminated SiO2 NPs. Our results underline the need to evaluate protocols for FG quantification in ILCs and the advantages of multi-method characterization strategies for efficient method cross validation. T2 - Surface and Micro/Nano Analysis Working Group CY - Paris, France DA - 08.04.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Surface analysis KW - XPS KW - Traceability KW - Metrology KW - Calibration KW - Reference data KW - Reference product KW - Digital certificate KW - QNMR KW - Potentiometry PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62969 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Portesi, C. T1 - qNMR for standardised measurements of surface functionalities on nanoparticles N2 - Engineered nanoparticles have a large application potential in fields such as medicine, sensing, catalysis, energy storage, and opto-electronics [1]. The applicability and performance of engineered nanoparticles is largely determined by their surface chemistry, i.e. functional groups and ligands on the particle surface. However, documented standards to quantify functional groups and ligands currently do not exist. Such standards are required to support quality control of nanomaterial production and surface modification processes, and safe-by-design concepts and to meet regulatory requirements. Here, this issue is addressed by developing and standardizing quantitative Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (qNMR) methods for the characterization of surface functionalized nanoparticles which specifically address the determination of the amount and chemical composition of surface functionalities and coatings. This work is being developed under the EMP project 23NRM02 SMURFnano - Standardised measurements of surface functionalities on nanoparticles. qNMR competence of 7 qNMR laboratories involved in the project was first tested with a molecular model sample i.e. citrate, to be assessed in terms of purity. Citrate is often used as hydrophilic surface ligand for different nanoparticles. Then, the first nanoparticle samples, here a set of aminated SiO2 NPs [1] with a particle size of 100 nm and two amino group densities, prepared and characterized by BAM regarding size and surface charge as well as stability over 21 months with an optical assay and qNMR, were assessed in an international interlaboratory comparison (ILC) on qNMR. Thereby, the amount of surface amino groups introduced by grafting of the silica cores with different amounts of 3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) was quantified by each participant following a sample preparation protocol previously developed by BAM and NRC.The results of the ILC were then used to refine the protocol for sample preparation and to identify critical points for qNMR measurement and data analysis. This work will contribute to the development of a Preliminary Work Item (PWI) 19257 (ISO/TC 229) on surface functional groups and coatings on nano-objects. Also, it will lay the groundwork to perform ILCs on the quantification and determination of the amount of surface functional groups under the roof of VAMAS TWA2 (Surface Chemical Analysis) for different types of nanomaterials possessing industry-relevant surface functionalities using qNMR. These ILCs will be complemented by other techniques like X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). T2 - BERM CY - Halifax, Canada DA - 01.06.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Advanced materials KW - Characterization KW - Electron microscopy KW - Silica KW - Surface KW - qNMR KW - Optical assay KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Metrology KW - Validation KW - Standardization PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63443 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Quantifying the total and accessible amount of surface functionalities and ligands on nano-materials: Overview and recommended methods N2 - Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with various chemical compositions and surface functionalities are routinely fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, opto-electronics, and information storage. NP function, interaction with biological species, and environmental fate are largely determined by surface functionalities. This calls for reliable, reproducible, and standardized surface characterization methods, which are vital for quality control of NPs, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. Validated and standardized workflows for surface analysis are also increasingly requested by industry, international standardization organizations, regulatory agencies, and policymakers. To establish comparable measurements of surface functionalities across different labs and ease instrument performance validation, reference test materials and reference materials of known surface chemistry as well as reference data are needed. In the following, different methods for determining surface functionalities on ligand-stabilized core and core/shell NPs include advanced techniques are presented and discussed regarding method-inherent advantages and limitations. Special emphasis is dedicated to traceable quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR), X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and simpler optical and electrochemical methods. T2 - LNE Workshop CY - Paris, France DA - 04.11.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Characterization KW - Advanced material KW - Surface KW - Standardization KW - Reference material KW - Functional group KW - Quantification KW - Coating KW - Automation KW - Potentiometry KW - Method KW - Validation KW - Optical assay KW - Fluram KW - Fluorescamine KW - qNMR KW - Comparison KW - ILC PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64726 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Standardized Measurements of Surface - Functionalities on Nanoparticles N2 - Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with various chemical compositions and surface functionalities are routinely fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, optoelectronics, and information storage. NP function, interaction with biological species, and environmental fate are largely determined by surface functionalities. Reliable, reproducible, and standardized surface characterization methods are therefore vital for quality control of NPs, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. Also, industry, international standardization organizations, regulatory agencies, and policymakers need validated and standardized measurement methods and reference materials. However, methodologies for determining NP surface properties, including the amount, chemical composition, and homogeneity of surface functionalities and coatings are largely non-standardized. Suitable methods for determining surface functionalities on ligand-stabilized core and core/shell NPs include advanced techniques such as traceable quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) as well as X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and simpler optical and electrochemical methods. The latter less costly methods are often used by SMEs, e.g., for quality control. To validate methods, establish measurement uncertainties, test reference materials, and produce reference data, international interlaboratory comparisons (ILC) on NP surface functionalization measurements are required and well characterized test and reference nanomaterials providing benchmark values.[1] These needs are addressed by the recently started European metrology project SMURFnano involving 12 partners from different National Metrology Institutes, designated institutes, and research institutes, two university groups as well as one large company and one SME producing NPs. This project as well as first results derived from the development of test and reference materials with a well characterized surface chemistry and ongoing interlaboratory comparisons will be presented. T2 - eMRS CY - Strasbourg, France DA - 27.05.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Silica KW - Upconversion nanoparticles KW - Optical assay KW - qNMR KW - Surface analysis KW - Ligand KW - Quantification KW - Functional group KW - XPS KW - ToF-SIMS KW - Polymer particle KW - Surface modification KW - Potentiometry KW - Metrology KW - Method KW - Validation KW - ILC PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63339 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Standardized Measurements of Surface Functionalities on Nanoparticles - F. Synthesis and characterization of functional nanocomposite materials N2 - Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with various chemical compositions and surface functionalities are routinely and commonly fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, opto-electronics, and information storage. NP function, their interaction with biological species, and also their environmental fate are largely determined by the surface functionalities of the particles. Reliable, reproducible, and standardized surface characterization methods are therefore vital for quality control of NPs, determination of their applicability, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. In addition, industry as well as international standardization organizations, regulatory agencies, and policymakers need validated and standardized measurement methods and reference materials. However, methodologies for determining NP surface properties, including the amount, chemical composition, and homogeneity of surface functionalities and coatings are largely non-standardized up until now. Suitable methods for determining surface functionalities on ligand-stabilized core and core/shell NPs include advanced techniques such as traceable quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR), as well as X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and simpler optical and electrochemical methods. The latter, typically less costly methods are often used by SMEs, e.g., for quality control. To validate methods, establish measurement uncertainties, test reference materials, and produce reference data, international interlaboratory comparisons (ILC) on NP surface functionalization measurements are required to provide well characterized test and reference nanomaterials including benchmark values.[1] These needs are addressed by the current European metrology project SMURFnano, involving 12 partners from different National Metrology Institutes, designated and research institutes, two university groups as well as one large company and one SME producing NPs. This project, as well as first results derived from the development of test and reference materials with a well characterized surface chemistry, and ongoing interlaboratory comparisons, will be presented. T2 - Shift 2025 CY - La Laguna, Tenerife DA - 13.10.2025 KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Iron oxide KW - Lanthanide KW - Metrology KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Surface chemistry KW - Size KW - Shape KW - Particle number concentration KW - Method KW - Optical assay KW - qNMR KW - Validation KW - Potentiometry KW - XPS KW - ILC KW - Standardization PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64370 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kazlagić, Anera A1 - Vogl, Jochen A1 - Gluth, Gregor A1 - Stephan, D. T1 - Provenancing of cement using elemental analyses and isotope techniques – The state-of-the-art and future perspectives N2 - With the aim of identifying the origin and the manufacturer of a cement, a reliable procedure that provides unambiguous results is needed. Such procedure could resolve practical issues in damage research, liability issues and forensic investigations. A substantial number of attempts for fingerprinting of building materials, including cement, has already been carried out during the last decades. Most of them were based on concentration analysis of the main elements/components. This review provides an overview of provenance studies of cement and the main approaches commonly used. Provenance studies of cement via isotope techniques are also presented and discussed as representatives of the state-of-the-art in the field. Due to the characteristic properties and the occurrence of carefully selected isotope ratios, unique fingerprints of different kinds of materials can be provided by these methods. This property has largely been explored in various scientific fields such as geo- and cosmochemistry, food forensics, archaeology, geochronology, biomedical studies, and climate change processes. However, the potential of isotope techniques in cement and concrete research for provenance studies has barely been investigated. Therefore, the review outlines a suitable approach using isotope ratios, which could lead to reliable provenancing of cementitious materials in the future. KW - Cement KW - Sr isotopes KW - Provenance PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-533762 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ja00144b VL - 36 IS - 10 SP - 2030 EP - 2042 PB - The Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge, UK AN - OPUS4-53376 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weigert, Florian A1 - Müller, A. A1 - Häusler, I. A1 - Geißler, Daniel A1 - Skroblin, D. A1 - Unger, Wolfgang A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Combining HR‑TEM and XPS to elucidate the core–shell structure of ultrabright CdSe/CdS semiconductor quantum dots N2 - Controlling thickness and tightness of surface passivation shells is crucial for many applications of core–shell nanoparticles (NP). Usually, to determine shell thickness, core and core/shell particle are measured individually requiring the availability of both nanoobjects. This is often not fulfilled for functional nanomaterials such as many photoluminescent semiconductor quantum dots (QD) used for bioimaging, solid state lighting, and display technologies as the core does not show the applicationrelevant functionality like a high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield, calling for a whole nanoobject approach. By combining high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), a novel whole nanoobject approach is developed representatively for an ultrabright oleic acid-stabilized, thick shell CdSe/CdS QD with a PL quantum yield close to unity. The size of this spectroscopically assessed QD, is in the range of the information depth of usual laboratory XPS. Information on particle size and monodispersity were validated with dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and compared to data derived from optical measurements. In addition to demonstrating the potential of this novel whole nanoobject approach for determining architectures of small nanoparticles, the presented results also highlight challenges faced by different sizing and structural analysis methods and method-inherent uncertainties. KW - Photoluminescence KW - Single particle KW - Microscopy KW - Particle architecture KW - Thickness KW - SAXS KW - Shell KW - XPS KW - TEM KW - Semiconductor KW - Quantum dot KW - Photophysics KW - Quantum yield PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-517911 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77530-z VL - 10 IS - 1 SP - 20712 PB - Springer Nature AN - OPUS4-51791 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Knigge, Xenia A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Cant, D.J.H. A1 - Shard, A.G. A1 - Clifford, C.A. T1 - Composition, thickness, and homogeneity of the coating of core–shell nanoparticles—possibilities, limits, and challenges of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy N2 - Core–shell nanoparticles have attracted much attention in recent years due to their unique properties and their increasing importance in many technological and consumer products. However, the chemistry of nanoparticles is still rarely investigated in comparison to their size and morphology. In this review, the possibilities, limits, and challenges of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) for obtaining more insights into the composition, thickness, and homogeneity of nanoparticle coatings are discussed with four examples: CdSe/CdS quantum dots with a thick coating and a small core; NaYF4-based upconverting nanoparticles with a large Yb-doped core and a thin Er-doped coating; and two types of polymer nanoparticles with a poly(tetrafluoroethylene) core with either a poly(methyl methacrylate) or polystyrene coating. Different approaches for calculating the thickness of the coating are presented, like a simple numerical modelling or a more complex simulation of the photoelectron peaks. Additionally, modelling of the XPS background for the investigation of coating is discussed. Furthermore, the new possibilities to measure with varying excitation energies or with hard-energy X-ray sources (hard-energy X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy) are described. A discussion about the sources of uncertainty for the determination of the thickness of the coating completes this review. KW - X-ray spectroscopy KW - Nanoparticles KW - Spectroscopy / Instrumentation KW - Spectroscopy / Theory PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-548305 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-022-04057-9 VL - 414 IS - 15 SP - 4331 EP - 4345 PB - SpringerNature AN - OPUS4-54830 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -