TY - JOUR A1 - Mervič, Kristina A1 - Azimzada, Agil A1 - Bayat, Mehmet Emin A1 - Šala, Martin A1 - Meermann, Björn T1 - CO2-based matrix-independent carbon quantification approach for single microplastic-ICP-MS analysis N2 - This study presents a new CO2-based, matrix-independent calibration approach for size determination of microplastic (MP) particles using single particle inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (sp-ICP-MS). By incorporating a CO2 gas calibration approach and upon adjusting the flow rates, an accurate size determination of MPs between 2 and 7 μm was enabled. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was successfully applied for method validation. The CO2 gas calibration curves exhibited excellent linearity and reproducibility, with minimal matrix effects across different sample types and matrices, including river water and saline solutions. This CO2-based approach eliminates the limitations of matrix- and size-dependent calibrations, enabling robust and accurate size determinations of MPs. This advancement represents a significant step forward in the analytical capabilities for MPs, paving the way for improved environmental monitoring and assessment of plastic pollution. KW - sp-ICP-MS KW - Microplastic KW - New calibration strategy PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-633049 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-025-05934-9 SN - 1618-2642 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Springer CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-63304 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tobias, Charlie A1 - Gehrenkemper, Lennart A1 - Bernstein, Thomas A1 - Schlau, Sven A1 - Simon, Fabian A1 - Röllig, Mathias A1 - Meermann, Björn A1 - von der Au, Marcus T1 - Development of a fully automated slurry sampling introduction system for GF-AAS and its application for the determination of cadmium in different matrices N2 - element analysis, offering high sensitivity and precision. However, its effectiveness is limited by sample preparation challenges for solid samples like soils and microplastics. Traditional methods include sample preparation, such as digestion, which is time-consuming and involves reagents, like acids, contributing to measurement uncertainty and higher carbon footprints. Slurry sampling allows direct analysis of suspensions, offering a more efficient alternative. However, maintaining suspension stability is challenging, requiring robust autosampler systems to streamline the process and enhance analytical performance. Results: We present a novel autosampler extension for slurry sample introduction into GF-AAS. This system ensures suspension stability with a stirring device and closed vessels to prevent evaporation and contamination, incorporating a cooling unit to reduce solvent and analyte losses. It installs and removes in minutes without additional connections. Validation with cadmium analysis in BAM-U110 (Soil) and BAM-H010 (ABS) showed high reliability. For BAM-U110 (Soil), we achieved recovery rates of 94 % ± 13 % in water suspension. The recovery rate for BAM-H010 (ABS) was 104 % ±11 % in acetonitrile suspension. These results demonstrate the system’s robustness, versatility, and accuracy for different matrices. Significance: The autosampler extension helps solve key problems in trace element analysis of solid samples, making the process faster and more accurate. It works well with complex materials, making it useful for areas like microplastic or nanoparticle analysis. This improvement also helps meet regulations for monitoring environ mental and polymer samples, offering a reliable and flexible tool for high-throughput analysis with fewer errors. KW - Slurry AAS KW - Soil KW - Cd PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-618531 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2024.343460 SN - 0003-2670 VL - 1335 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - Elsevier BV AN - OPUS4-61853 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Vermeeren, Sarah A1 - Witzler, Markus A1 - Makarow, Ramona A1 - Engelhard, Carsten A1 - Kaul, Peter T1 - Multivariate evaluation method for the detection of pest infestations on plants via VOC analysis using gas chromatography mass spectrometry N2 - Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play an important role in the defense against pest infestations on plants. The analysis of these VOCs using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) enables the detection of pests by analyzing the VOC composition (VOC profiles) for specific patterns and markers. The analysis of such complex datasets with high biovariability poses a particular challenge. For this reason, a multivariate evaluation method based on a self-written Python script, using principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA), was developed and tested for functionality using a dataset, which has been evaluated manually and has identified five specific markers (2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene, 3-carene, alpha-longipinene, cyclosativene, and copaene) for Anoplophora glabripennis (ALB) infestation on Acer trees. The results obtained in the present study did not only match the manually evaluated results, but lead to further insight into the dataset. Another sesquiterpene which is assumed to be alpha-zingiberene was identified as an ALB specific marker in addition to 2,4-dimethyl-1-heptene and 3-carene. Furthermore, the European native beetle species goat moth Cossus cossus (CC) and poplar long-horned beetle Saperda carcharias (SC) were also analyzed for their VOCs to differentiate ALB specific VOC from other pest infestations. This comparison lead to the conclusion that the compounds alpha-longipinene, cyclosativene, and copaene are not specific for ALB but for pest infestation in general. It was possible to identify not only specifically produced VOCs, but also differences in concentrations that arise specifically during ALB infestation. Therefore, the evaluation method for the detection of plant pests presented in this study represents a time-saving alternative to conventional non computing methods, which in addition provides more detailed results. KW - Mass Spectrometry KW - Gas Chromatography KW - Volatile organic compounds KW - Pest infestation PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-639526 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11607-5 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 15 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-63952 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Braun, Jennifer A1 - Engelhard, Carsten A1 - Kaul, Peter T1 - Optimized fast gas chromatography coupled with proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the selective near real-time analysis of herbivore-induced plant volatiles N2 - The analysis of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) is essential for understanding plant-environment interactions and defense strategies against herbivores. Proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR–TOF–MS) is a powerful analytical tool that enables real-time monitoring and quantification of diverse groups of HIPVs. However, the PTR–TOF–MS technique is constrained in its ability to effectively differentiate between isomers. When analyzing complex mixtures of HIPVs, the separation of isomers becomes crucial as major compound classes such as terpenes comprise thousands of isomers. In this study, we present an optimized fast gas chromatography (fastGC) based on a modified version of the commercially available fastGC add-on integrated into a mobile PTR–TOF. The system was optimized for the analysis of emissions from enclosed trunks of Acer platanoides infested by Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky), commonly known as Asian longhorned beetle (ALB). The development of fastGC was primarily focused on the sesquiterpenes α-longipinene, cyclosativene and α-copaene, which serve as strong indicators of ALB infestation. These sesquiterpenes were separated in less than three minutes, with intra-day retention time RSD < 0.6 % and resolutions of 2.6 ± 0.3 and 1.3 ± 0.2. In comparison to the original system, the optimized fastGC demonstrates more than tripled sesquiterpene resolution, twice the sensitivity relative to direct inlet mode, and an approximately 10 % reduction in total analysis time. The optimized fastGC–PTR–TOF allows for near real-time analysis of complex mixtures of biogenic VOCs, making it a powerful tool for environmental monitoring, integrated pest management, and forest protection. KW - Mass Spectrometry KW - PTR-TOF-MS KW - Gas Chromatography KW - Herbivore-induced plant volatiles KW - Sesquiterpenes PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-639513 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2025.466236 SN - 0021-9673 VL - 1759 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-63951 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Azimzada, Agil A1 - Meermann, Björn T1 - AF4/ICP-ToF-MS for the investigation of species-specific adsorption of organometallic contaminants on natural colloidal particles N2 - Organotin (OT) compounds, while crucial in many industrial applications, pose substantial risks to the environment and human health. The toxicity and environmental behaviour of OTs depend on their chemical form, i.e., the type and number of organic substituents. Each species thus exhibits distinct toxicity profiles and varying binding affinities to environmental colloids, which influence their mobility, bioavailability, and environmental impacts. To date, however, most studies addressed speciation and colloidal characterization separately, leaving the combined determinations of organometallics along with their carrier colloids largely elusive. Here, we develop and validate an on-line measurement system to quantify the adsorption dynamics of 10 OT species on natural colloidal particles (<500 nm). The approach integrates a versatile fractionation technique (AF4), with a state-of-the-art multi-element analyzer (ICP-ToF-MS), achieving Sn detection limits as low as 6.0 ng/L. The method separates colloid-free OT species from those bound to colloids and enables the determination of OT interactions with distinct colloidal fractions. Validated in both fractionation and detection, the method provides reliable data that could elucidate the species-specific and temporal aspects of species-colloids adsorption processes. The results feature comparative studies of 10 OT species, offering critical insights into OT mobility and distribution in environmental systems. KW - Fractionation KW - Speciation KW - Adsorption KW - Colloids KW - Organotin KW - AF4 KW - Nanoparticle characterization PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-625244 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137320 SN - 1873-3336 VL - 488 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-62524 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schlögl, Johanna A1 - Krappe, Alexander R. A1 - Fürstenwerth, Paul C. A1 - Brosius, Amelie L. A1 - Fasting, Carlo A1 - Hoffmann, Kurt F. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Eigler, Siegfried A1 - Steinhauer, Simon A1 - Riedel, Sebastian T1 - Luminescent Perhalofluoro Trityl Radicals N2 - In this proof-of-concept study, we show that polyfluorinated trityl radicals with the, to this date, highest fluorination grade can be accessed in quantitative yields in a straightforward manner starting from the perfluorinated trityl cation. The trityl skeleton is functionalized with trimethylsilyl halides to yield perhalofluoro trityl cations, which are subsequently reduced using commercial zinc powder. In this way, we prepare three perhalofluoro trityl radicals and analyze the impact of the fluorine ligands on their electro-optical properties, revealing some interesting trends. In comparison to literature-known polychlorinated trityl radicals, the new polyfluorinated derivatives exhibit substantially higher fluorescence quantum yields, longer luminescence lifetimes, and an expanded emission range that extends into the yellow spectral region. They further display enhanced photostability under light irradiation. In radical-stained polystyrene nanoparticles, an additional broad emission band in the red−NIR wavelength region is observed, which is attributed to excimer formation. Finally, the stability of the new radicals is investigated under ambient conditions, showing the slow conversion with atmospheric oxygen yielding the respective peroxides, which are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All in all, our study extends the present scope of luminescent trityl radicals, as the functionalization of the perfluorinated cationic precursor unlocks the path toward a vast variety of polyfluorinated trityl radicals. KW - Dye KW - Fluorescence KW - Radical KW - Synthesis KW - Mechanism KW - Signal enhancement KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Characterization KW - Quantum yield KW - Photophysics KW - Lifetime KW - Polarity KW - Polymer KW - Solvatchromism KW - Excimer PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-647973 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c16418 SN - 0002-7863 VL - 147 IS - 46 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - American Chemical Society (ACS) AN - OPUS4-64797 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sommerfeld, Thomas A1 - Riedel, Juliane A1 - Lisec, Jan A1 - Mauch, Tatjana A1 - Richter, Silke A1 - Koch, Matthias T1 - Development of a certified reference material for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in textiles N2 - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a large group of emerging organic pollutants that contaminate the environment, food, and consumer products. Textiles and other outdoor products are a major source of PFAS exposure due to their water-repellent impregnations. Determination of PFASs in textiles is increasingly important for enhancing their contribution to the circular economy. While maximum levels and restrictions exist for certain key compounds under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the REACH regulation, certified reference materials (CRMs) are not currently available. To address this issue, the first CRM for determining PFASs in outdoor textiles (BAM-B003) was developed. It fully complies with the requirements of ISO 17034 and ISO 33405. This work presents the entire process of CRM development process, including preparation, a homogeneity study, a stability study, and value assignment. Certification was based on an in-house study at BAM using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) with stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA). The certified mass fractions of 18 PFASs range widely from 0.46 to 69 µg/kg, with a prevalence of PFOA (69 µg/kg), PFOS (41 µg/kg) and PFHxA (35 µg/kg) exceeding legal limits. BAM-B003 is intended for analytical quality control and contributes to improving the chemical safety of textiles and strengthening the circular economy. KW - Reference Material KW - PFAS KW - Textiles PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-641040 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-025-06098-2 SN - 1618-2642 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-64104 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Osiopova, Viktoriia A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Ge, L. A1 - Kitzmann, W. R. A1 - Heinze, K. A1 - Reithofer, M. R. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Complete protection of NIR-luminescent molecular rubies from oxygen quenching in air by L-arginine-mediated silica nanoparticles N2 - The application of emerging luminophores such as near-infrared (NIR) emissive complexes based on earth-abundant chromium as central ion and triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) systems in air as optical reporters for bioimaging or photonic materials for energy conversion requires simple and efficient strategies for their complete protection from uminescence quenching by oxygen. Therefore, we explored the influence of sol–gel synthesis routes on the oxygen protection efficiency of the resulting core and core/shell silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs), utilizing the molecular ruby-type luminophores CrPF6 ([Cr(ddpd)2](PF6)3; ddpd = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-dipyridin-2-ylpyridin-2,6-diamine) and CrBF4 ([Cr(ddpd)2](BF4)3) with their oxygendependent, but polarity-, proticity-, viscosity-, and concentration-independent luminescence as optical probes for oxygen permeability. The sol–gel chemistry routes we assessed include the classical Stöber method and the underexplored Larginine approach, which relies on the controlled hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in a biphasic cyclohexane/water system with the catalyst L-arginine. As demonstrated by luminescence measurements of air- and argon-saturated dispersions of CrPF6- and CrBF4-stained SiO2 NPs of different size and particle architecture, utilizing the luminescence decay kinetics of argon-saturated solutions of CrPF6 and CrBF4 in acetonitrile (ACN) as benchmarks, only SiO2 NPs or shells synthesized by the L-arginine approach provided complete oxygen protection of the CrIII complexes under ambient conditions. We ascribe the different oxygen shielding efficiencies of the silica networks explored to differences in density and surface chemistry of the resulting nanomaterials and coatings, leading to different oxygen permeabilities. Our Larginine based silica encapsulation strategy can open the door for the efficient usage of oxygen-sensitive luminophores and TTA-UC systems as optical reporters and spectral shifters in air in the future. KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantification KW - Advanced materials KW - Nano KW - Quantum yield KW - NIR KW - Characterization KW - Electron microscopy KW - Silica KW - Synthesis KW - Oxygen sensing KW - Surface KW - Doping KW - Lifetime KW - Cr(III) complex KW - Shielding KW - Sensing PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-638271 DO - https://doi.org/10.26599/NR.2025.94907241 SN - 1998-0000 VL - 18 IS - 3 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - SciOpen AN - OPUS4-63827 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Soyka, J. P. A1 - Witte, J. F. A1 - Wiesner, A. A1 - Krappe, A. R. A1 - Wehner, D. A1 - Alnicola, N. A1 - Paulus, B. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Eigler, S. T1 - [3]Radialene Fluorophores with pH-Switchable Emission and Stable Absorption Maxima N2 - The first push–pull quino [3]radialene fluorescent dye is reported. Herein, the novel bis(dicyanomethylene)-[3]radialene electron acceptor is connected to a benzimidazole donor. With protonation, a substantial redshift of fluorescence wavelength is observed, while the absorption maximum remains stable. This process is accompanied with an increased fluorescence quantum yield to about 70%. Further, the findings are explained by a combined experimental and theoretical approach, and it is found that vibronic coupling plays a crucial role. This study highlights the yet unexplored potential of [3]radialene-based motifs for the design of environment-responsive fluorophores. KW - DADQ KW - Nanographene KW - fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Characterization KW - Advanced material KW - Quantum yield KW - Photophysic KW - pH KW - Probe KW - Sensor KW - Lifetime KW - Polarity PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-642147 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.202500669 SN - 1099-0690 SP - 1 EP - 6 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-64214 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hartmann, Yannic A1 - El Abbassi, Abdelouahad A1 - Mayer, Bernhard A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Müller, Thomas J. J. T1 - Ester‐Aroyl‐S,N‐Ketene Acetals with Solid‐State Luminescence: AIEgens from Sequential Three‐Component Desymmetrization N2 - AbstractDi(hetero)aroyl dichlorides are desymmetrized upon sequential reaction with alcohols and 2‐methyl N‐benzyl thiazolium salts within the course of a one‐pot three‐component reaction yielding ester‐substituted aroyl‐S,N‐ketene acetals under mild conditions in good yields. A prerequisite for the concise one‐pot process is the different nucleophilicity of the alcohols and in situ generated S,N‐ketene acetals. The resulting compounds are merocyanines with dominant charge‐transfer absorption bands which are fluorescent in the solid state, but not in solution. In water/ethanol solvent mixtures of increasing water content, the water‐insoluble dyes display typical aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics. The water fraction inducing AIE as well as the emission color, and fluorescence quantum yield (Φf) of the aggregated dyes can be controlled by the alcohol part of the ester moiety. Encapsulation into polystyrene nanoparticles can lead to a considerable increase of the fluorescence quantum yield Φf to 30% as shown for a representatively chosen dye revealing the highest Φf of 11% within the dye series in the water/ethanol mixtures and enabling the usage of these dyes as fluorescent reporters in aqueous environments. KW - Dye KW - Fluorescence KW - Aggregation KW - Mechanism KW - Signal enhancement KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Characterization KW - Quantum yield KW - Photophysics KW - Probe KW - Sensor KW - Lifetime KW - Polarity PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-642400 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202502071 SN - 0947-6539 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-64240 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nowatzky, Yannek A1 - Russo, Francesco Friedrich A1 - Lisec, Jan A1 - Kister, Alexander A1 - Reinert, Knut A1 - Muth, Thilo A1 - Benner, Philipp T1 - FIORA: Local neighborhood-based prediction of compound mass spectra from single fragmentation events N2 - Non-targeted metabolomics holds great promise for advancing precision medicine and biomarker discovery. However, identifying compounds from tandem mass spectra remains a challenging task due to the incomplete nature of spectral reference libraries. Augmenting these libraries with simulated mass spectra can provide the necessary references to resolve unmatched spectra, but generating high-quality data is difficult. In this study, we present FIORA, an open-source graph neural network designed to simulate tandem mass spectra. Our main contribution lies in utilizing the molecular neighborhood of bonds to learn breaking patterns and derive fragment ion probabilities. FIORA not only surpasses state-of-the-art fragmentation algorithms, ICEBERG and CFM-ID, in prediction quality, but also facilitates the prediction of additional features, such as retention time and collision cross section. Utilizing GPU acceleration, FIORA enables rapid validation of putative compound annotations and large-scale expansion of spectral reference libraries with high-quality predictions. KW - Metabolomics KW - Machine Learning KW - Mass spectrometry KW - Bioinformatics PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-627585 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-57422-4 SN - 2041-1723 VL - 16 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-62758 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - López-Puertollano, Daniel A1 - Duncan, Hadyn A1 - Abad-Somovilla, Antonio A1 - Abad-Fuentes, Antonio A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Competitive cytometry-based immunoassay for patulin determination in apple juice N2 - Patulin is a mycotoxin that is frequently found in apples and apple-derived products. Given the potential harm it can cause to humans, maximum levels for patulin in food have been set worldwide. Conventional methods for the detection of patulin are often time-consuming or lack sensitivity. In this study, a novel cytometry approach based on specific monoclonal antibodies is presented. These high-affinity binders do not target patulin itself, but a stable derivative (adduct) that is rapidly obtained in an aqueous medium at room temperature. To develop the assay, a specific fluorescent competitor was designed and synthesized. After optimizing the assay conditions, including the concentration of the fluorescent competitor and of the antibody bound to polystyrene-silica core–shell microparticles, a detection limit of 0.03 μg L-1 in buffer was achieved. Finally, validation according to Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2782 demonstrated that apple juice samples spiked with patulin at 25 or 50 μg L-1 (permissible limits set by the EU) were properly scored as non-compliant without any additional treatment other than a simple dilution step in buffer. The developed assay offers several key advantages, including rapid analysis, high sensitivity and specificity, and the potential for multiplexing, making it a promising analytical tool for routine monitoring of patulin contamination in food. KW - Bead-based assay KW - Cytometry KW - Derivatization KW - Mycotoxin KW - Patulin PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-627659 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2025.113287 SN - 1095-9149 VL - 212 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-62765 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - López-Puertollano, Daniel A1 - Tobias, Charlie A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Abad-Somovilla, A. A1 - Abad-Fuentes, A. A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Superparamagnetic Bead-Based Microfluidic Fluoroimmunoassay Platform for Rapid Ochratoxin A Detection in Flour N2 - Simplification and reduction of time and costs are the primary goals in the development and use of onsite methods in diagnostics and food safety. To facilitate the transition from laboratory techniques to simple, miniaturized devices, we have developed a modular microfluidic platform. This platform integrates a competitive fluorescence immunoassay on the surface of superparamagnetic beads, serving as a complementary technique to traditional cytometry assays. In the first chip module, a fast competitive reaction (5 min) occurs, after which the particles are retained in the second module. This module consists of a PDMS chip and a permanent magnet, allowing only the fluorescent competitor to reach the detection module. Ochratoxin A (OTA) was chosen as the model analyte for device development, using fluorescein-labeled OTA as a competitor. The system efficiently separates particles, with OTA concentration directly correlated to the amount of fluorescent competitor remaining in solution after the competitive reaction. This innovative setup allows to perform rapid measurements with small sample volumes in a short time (10 min), achieving a limit of detection for OTA of 1.2 μg L–1. The system was successfully applied to the accurate determination of OTA in wheat flour spiked at regulatorily relevant concentrations. Using this device, conventional cytometry immunoassays can be seamlessly transformed into user-friendly, miniaturized analytical methods at reduced cost for applications outside of a laboratory directly at the point of need. KW - Bead-based assay KW - Fluorescence KW - Immunoassay KW - Microfluidics KW - mycotoxins PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-638472 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acssensors.5c01119 SN - 2379-3694 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, D.C. AN - OPUS4-63847 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Abram, Sarah-Luise A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Johnston, L. J. A1 - Zou, S. T1 - Nanoscale reference and test materials for the validation of characterization methods for engineered nanomaterials — current state, limitations, and needs N2 - The rational design of engineered nanomaterials (NMs) with improved functionality and their increasing industrial application requires reliable, validated, and ultimately standardized characterization methods for their application-relevant, physicochemical key properties such as size, size distribution, shape, or surface chemistry. This calls for nanoscale (certified) reference materials (CRMs; RMs) and well-characterized reference test materials (RTMs) termed also quality control (QC) samples, assessed, e.g., in interlaboratory comparisons, for the validation and standardization of commonly used characterization methods. Thereby, increasing concerns regarding potential risks of NMs are also addressed and the road for safe and sustainable-by-design concepts for the development of new functional NMs and their use as nanomedicines is paved. With this respect, we will provide an overview of relevant international standardization and regulatory activities, definitions, and recommendations on characterization methods and review currently available organic or inorganic nanoscale CRMs, RMs, and RTMs, including their characterization or certification. In addition, we will highlight typical applications to streamline the regulatory approval process and improve manufacturability including the special challenges imposed by the colloidal nature and sometimes limited stability of NMs. Subsequently, we will critically assess the limitations of currently available nanoscale RMs and RTMs and address the gaps to be filled in the future such as the availability of NMs that come with reference data on properties other than commonly addressed particle size, such as surface chemistry or particle number concentration, or more closely resemble commercially available formulations or address application-relevant matrices. KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Review KW - Surface chemistry KW - Size KW - Shape KW - Particle number concentration KW - Lipid nanoparticles KW - Metal nanoparticles KW - Liposomes PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-625746 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-024-05719-6 SN - 1618-2650 SP - 1 EP - 21 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-62574 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Sander, P. C. A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Schedler, U. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Expanding the Toolbox of Simple, Cost-Efficient, and Automatable Methods for Quantifying Surface Functional Groups on Nanoparticles� Potentiometric Titration N2 - Measuring surface functional groups (FGs) on nanomaterials (NMs) is essential for designing dispersible and stable NMs with tailored and predictable functionality. FG screening and quantification also plays a critical role for subsequent processing steps, NM long-term stability, quality control of NM production, and risk assessment studies and enables the implementation of sustainable and safe(r)-by-design concepts. This calls for simple and cost-efficient methods for broadly utilized FGs that can be ideally automated to speed up FG screening, monitoring, and quantification. To expand our NM surface analysis toolbox, focusing on simple methods and broadly available, cost-efficient instrumentation, we explored a NM-adapted pH titration method with potentiometric and optical readout for measuring the total number of (de)protonable FGs on representatively chosen commercial and custom-made aminated silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs). The accuracy and robustness of our stepwise optimized workflows was assessed by several operators in two laboratories and method validation was done by cross-comparison with two analytical methods relying on different signal generation principles. This included traceable, chemo-selective quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (qNMR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), providing the amounts of amino silanes released by particle dissolution and the total mass of the surface coatings. A comparison of the potentiometric titration results with the reporter-specific amounts of surface amino FGs determined with the previously automated fluorescamine (Fluram) assay highlights the importance of determining both quantities for surface-functionalized NMs. In the future, combined NM surface analysis with optical assays and pH titration will simplify quality control of NM production processes and stability studies and can yield large data sets for NM grouping that facilitates further developments in regulation and standardization. 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 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-642371 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.5c00062 SN - 2694-250X SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-64237 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Herter, Sven-Oliver A1 - Haase, Hajo A1 - Koch, Matthias T1 - Semisynthesis of Stable Isotope-Labeled Ergot Alkaloids for HPLC-MS/MS Analysis N2 - Ergot alkaloids (EAs) are prevalent food contaminants affecting cereals, such as rye, wheat, and barley worldwide. To ensure EU safety standards, the six most common EAs: ergometrine, ergotamine, ergosine, ergocornine, ergocristine, and ergocryptine, and their epimers, are quantified using HPLC-MS/MS, as described in the European Standard Method EN 17425:2021. However, this can be challenging and time-consuming in food matrices without appropriate internal standards and highlights the need for more robust and precise analytical tools to support their monitoring. The development of isotope-labeled EAs directly addresses this gap, offering improved accuracy and leading to more consistency across laboratories and consequently to more consumer safety. Therefore, we developed a semisynthetic approach, building upon our previous work where native ergotamine was N6-demethylated to norergotamine and subsequently remethylated using iodomethane (13CD3-I). Herein, we are now able to present the successful synthesis of all of the isotopically labeled priority EAs. These isotope-labeled standards were tested against their native counterparts using HPLC coupled with HR-MS/MS. The chromatographic and mass spectrometric properties of the unlabeled and isotopically labeled EAs match exactly, confirming their successful synthesis and structure. These standards can now be utilized to enhance the accuracy and reliability of EA quantification in food and feed. KW - Reference Material KW - HPLC-MS/MS KW - Mycotoxins KW - Ergot Alkaloids KW - Stable Isotope Dilution Analysis KW - Semisynthesis PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-639692 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5c03345 SN - 0021-8561 VL - 73 IS - 29 SP - 18412 EP - 18419 PB - American Chemical Society (ACS) AN - OPUS4-63969 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stiegler, L. M. S. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Weigert, Florian A1 - Peukert, W. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Walter, J. T1 - Analysis of Giant-Shell CdSe/CdS Quantum Dots via Analytical Ultracentrifugation Combined with Spectrally Resolved Photoluminescence N2 - Knowledge of the structure–property relationships of functional nanomaterials, including, for example, their size- and composition-dependent photoluminescence (PL) and particle-to-particle variations, is crucial for their design and reproducibility. Herein, the Angstrom-resolution capability of an analytical ultracentrifuge combined with an in-line multiwavelength emission detection system (MWE-AUC) for measuring the sedimentation coefficient-resolved spectrally corrected PL spectra of dispersed nanoparticles is demonstrated. The capabilities of this technique are shown for giant-shell CdSe/CdS quantum dots (g-QDs) with a PL quantum yield (PL QY) close to unity capped with oleic acid and oleylamine ligands. The MWE-AUC PL measurements are calibrated and validated with certified fluorescence standards. The spectrally corrected and size-dependent PL spectra of the g-QDs derived from a single MWE-AUC experiment are then analyzed and compared with the results of single-particle spectroscopic studies, yielding the PL spectra, decay kinetics, and blinking behavior of individual g-QDs. This study underlines the vast potential of MWE-AUC with in-line optical detection for the characterization of advanced nanomaterials with a complex structure. KW - Quantum dots KW - Analytical ultracentrifugation KW - Photoluminescence KW - Advanced nanomaterial characterization KW - Calibrated fluorescence measurements KW - Reference materials PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-624357 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202401700 SN - 2366-9608 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - Wiley VHC-Verlag AN - OPUS4-62435 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Richter, Maria A1 - Güttler, Arne A1 - Pauli, Jutta A1 - Vogel, K. A1 - Homann, Christian A1 - Würth, Christian A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Extending certified spectral fluorescence standards for the calibration and performance validation of fluorescence instruments to the NIR—closing the gap from 750 to 940 nm with two novel NIR dyes N2 - Fluorescence techniques such as fluorescence spectroscopy, microfluorometry, and fluorescence microscopy, providing spectral, intensity, polarization, and lifetime information, are amongst the most broadly utilized analytical methods in the life and materials sciences. However, the measured fluorescence data contain sample- and instrument-specific contributions, which hamper their comparability across instruments and laboratories. Comparable, instrument-independent fluorescence data require the determination of the fluorescence instrument’s wavelength-dependent spectral responsivity, also termed emission correction curve, for the same instrument settings as those used for the fluorescence measurements as a prerequisite for the subsequent correction of the measured instrument-specific data. Such a spectral correction is essential for the performance comparison of different fluorescent labels and reporters, quantitative fluorescence measurements, the determination of the fluorescence quantum yield, and the spectroscopic measure for the fluorescence efficiency of a fluorophore. Simple-to-use tools for obtaining emission correction curves are chromophore-based reference materials (RMs), referred to as fluorescence standards, with precisely known, preferably certified instrument-independent fluorescence spectra. However, for the increasingly used near-infrared (NIR) wavelength region >700 nm, at present, no spectral fluorescence standards are available. To close this gap, we developed two novel spectral fluorescence standards, BAM F007 and BAM-F009, with broad emission bands from about 580 to 940 nm in ethanolic solution. These liquid fluorescence standards currently under certification, which will be released in 2025, will expand the wavelength range of the already available certified Calibration Kit BAM F001b-F005b from about 300–730 to 940 nm. In this research article, we will detail the criteria utilized for dye and matrix selection and the homogeneity and stability tests accompanying dye certification as well as the calculation of the wavelength-dependent uncertainty budgets of the emission spectra BAM F007 and BAM-F009, determined with the traceably calibrated BAM reference spectrofluorometer. These fluorescence standards can provide the basis for comparable fluorescence measurements in the ultraviolet, visible, and NIR for the fluorescence community. KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Fluorescence KW - Dye KW - Traceability KW - Metrology KW - Calibration KW - Reference data KW - Reference product KW - Digital certificate KW - NIR KW - Instrument performance validation PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-626317 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-024-05723-w SN - 1618-2650 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-62631 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Krappe, Alexander R. A1 - Mayer, Jacob C. A1 - Zhang, Wuai A1 - Filla, Lina M. A1 - Ligorio, Giovanni A1 - Hermerschmidt, Felix A1 - Eitelhuber, Larissa S. A1 - Güttler, Arne A1 - Weber, Manuela A1 - Paulus, Beate A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - List-Kratochvil, Emil J.W. A1 - Eigler, Siegfried T1 - Highly Emissive Hexa-peri-benzocoronene-fluoranthene Hybrid as Easily Processable and Stable OLED Material N2 - We report the synthesis of a fluorescent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon dye with a “symmetry-broken” core, derived from the related hexa-peri-benzocoronene (HBC) core with fluoranthene subunit. The fluorophore is composed of a pure Carbon skeleton without heteroatoms and exhibits remarkable photo luminescence properties with a photoluminescence Quantum yield (PLQY) of up to 67% in toluene, exceeding that of theparent HBC by a factor of 30. The single crystal X-ray structure reveals the distorted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon structure, which is responsible for the optoelectronic properties, as supported by density functional theory calculations. We show that the new fluorescent dye can be readily used for the fabrication of organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) without extensive optimization, whereby solubility in a variety of solvents and successful film formation are decisive. KW - Quantum Yield KW - OLED KW - Fluorescence KW - Synthesis PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-631298 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202500742 SN - 1521-3765 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - John Wiley & Sons, Inc AN - OPUS4-63129 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frenzel, F. A1 - Fiedler, S. A1 - Bardan, A. A1 - Güttler, Arne A1 - Würth, Christian A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Influence of Measurement Geometry and Blank on Absolute Measurements of Photoluminescence Quantum Yields of Scattering Luminescent Films N2 - For a series of 500 μm-thick polyurethane films containing different concentrations of luminescent and scattering YAG:Ce microparticles, we systematically explored and quantified pitfalls of absolute measurements of photoluminescence quantum yields (Φf) for often employed integrating sphere (IS) geometries, where the sample is placed either on a sample holder at the bottom of the IS surface or mounted in the IS center. Thereby, the influence of detection and illumination geometry and sample position was examined using blanks with various scattering properties for measuring the number of photons absorbed by the sample. Our results reveal that (i) setup configurations where the scattering sample is mounted in the IS center and (ii) transparent blanks can introduce systematic errors in absolute Φf measurements. For strongly scattering, luminescent samples, this can result in either an under- or overestimation of the absorbed photon flux and hence an under- or overestimation of Φf. The size of these uncertainties depends on the scattering properties of the sample and instrument parameters, such as sample position, IS size, wavelength-dependent reflectivity of the IS surface coating, and port configuration. For accurate and reliable absolute Φf measurements, we recommend (i) a blank with scattering properties closely matching those of the sample to realize similar distributions of the diffusely scattered excitation photons within the IS, and (ii) a sufficiently high sample absorption at the excitation wavelength. For IS setups with center-mounted samples, measurement geometries should be utilized that prevent the loss of excitation photons by reflections from the sample out of the IS. KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Quantum yield KW - Characterization KW - Silica KW - Scattering KW - Uncertainty KW - Film KW - Pphosphor KW - YAG:Ce KW - LED KW - Converter material KW - Solid material KW - Polymer KW - Composite material KW - Advanced material PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-638304 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c06726 SN - 1520-6882 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - ACS Publications AN - OPUS4-63830 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Simon, Fabian A1 - Gehrenkemper, Lennart A1 - Tobias, Charlie A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Meermann, Björn T1 - Quantification of the amount of surface groups of aminated silica nano- and microparticles utilizing a fluorine tag and HR-CS-GFMAS N2 - The performance, bioavailability, and safe use of engineered nanomaterials (NMs) depends not only on properties such as size, shape, and surface area, but largely on surface chemistry. While many sizing methods have been established, there is still a lack of validated screening methods for determining NM surface functional groups (FGs). In this context, we present a fast and simple method for FG quantification using high resolution-continuum source-graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS-GFMAS) and assess its applicability for the surface analysis of representatively chosen aminated silica nanoparticles (NPs) and microparticles (MPs) in conjunction with amino FG labeling with a fluorine tag. For this proof-of-concept study, first surface amino FG screening of the silica NPs and MPs was done with a potentiometric back titration method, providing the total amount of protonatable surface FGs, and two optical assays relying on reporter dyes with sizes and spatial requirements, i.e., surface binding areas smaller or larger than that of the fluorine tag to estimate the maximum and reporter-accessible number of amino FGs. Subsequently, the surface amino FGs were labeled with the fluorine tag 4-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid (TFMB) and the amount of fluorine originating from the bound TFMB molecules was quantified by HR-CS-GFMAS in two common organic solvents, i.e., dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or ethanol (EtOH) to assess possible interferences from organic matrices. Our study revealed limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) for fluorine of 1.0 µg/L and 3.5 µg/L in EtOH and 1.5 µg/L and 5.0 µg/L in DMSO, respectively. Overall, a quick and simple method for analyzing surface FGs on NPs and MPs was presented utilizing broadly available fluorine tags and HR-CS-GFMAS for fluorine quantification, which can be applied, e.g., for homogeneity, stability, and aging studies of surface-modified particles. This could contribute to ease the understanding of property-safety relationships for surface-functionalized NMs. KW - Fluorine Analysis KW - Nano- and microparticles KW - Surface group quantification PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-641965 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-025-06107-4 SN - 1618-2642 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC CY - Berlin ; Heidelberg AN - OPUS4-64196 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Scharek, Vera M. A1 - Kröger, Tommy A1 - Keil, Karin A1 - Traub, Heike A1 - Meermann, Björn T1 - A new elemental analytical approach for microplastic sum parameter analysis—ETV/ICP-MS with CO2 N2 - Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive environmental pollutants and are considered one of the main challenges of our time. However, a fast and comprehensive analytical approach for MP analysis in complex matrices traceable to SI units is still lacking. In this context, we report a fast screening tool for the sum parameter analysis of MPs using electrothermal vaporization (ETV) coupled to inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In our proof-of-concept study, we observed size-independent detection of MPs as peaks above the 13C+ signal background in the nano- to micrometer range without limitations regarding the polymer type. Quantification of the 13C+ MP signals was accomplished via an external gas calibration utilizing dynamic dilution of carbon dioxide with argon, yielding recovery rates of 80–96% for MP reference material (RM) of polymer types commonly found in the environment. The applicability to a soil sample was demonstrated through spiking experiments with a polyethylene (PE) MP RM in soil. The limit of detection (LOD) was estimated to be 0.13 µg C, equaling the detection of a single spherical low-density-PE particle of about 70 µm, and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.42 µg C. KW - ETV/ICP-MS KW - Mikroplastik KW - Summenparameter PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-646418 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-025-06146-x SN - 1618-2642 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Springer CY - Berlin ; Heidelberg AN - OPUS4-64641 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bayerl, C. A1 - Shahryari, M. A1 - Reiter, R. A1 - Proß, V. A1 - Lehmann, K. A1 - Kühl, A. A. A1 - Becker, Dorit A1 - Schulz, Andreas A1 - Infante Duarte, C. A1 - Taupitz, M. A1 - Geisel, D. A1 - Tzschätzsch, H. A1 - Saatz, Jessica A1 - Traub, Heike A1 - Asbach, P. T1 - Quantitative Analysis of Gadolinium Deposits in Liver Tissue of Patients After Single or Multiple Gadolinium-based Contrast Agent Application N2 - Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) are widely used in magnetic resonance imaging. Concerns exist regarding gadolinium deposition and its potential histopathologic tissue alterations, especially after repeated administrations of linear, less stable GBCAs. This study aimed to quantify gadolinium mass fractions in liver specimens of subjects exposed to GBCAs in correlation with histopathologic features. In this study, mass fractions of gadolinium in human liver specimens from 25 subjects who underwent liver tumor resection surgery and had received GBCA (1 to 9 times over 4 years), were quantitatively analyzed using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Histomorphology was assessed based on the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS). Our results suggest that after intravenous administration of GBCA, a small fraction of gadolinium is retained in the liver over a time period of at least several weeks. A relationship was observed between Gadolinium retention and the number of GBCA administrations, but not with the cumulative dose and the degree of fatty liver disease. KW - ICP-MS KW - Contrast agent KW - Gadolinium KW - Liver PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-646608 DO - https://doi.org/10.1097/RLI.0000000000001254 SN - 1536-0210 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia, Pa. AN - OPUS4-64660 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lozano-Martín, Daniel A1 - Tuma, Dirk A1 - Chamorro, César R. T1 - Evaluation of Reference Equations of State for Density Prediction in Regasified LNG Mixtures Using High-Precision Experimental Data N2 - This study evaluates the performance of three reference equations of state (EoS), AGA8-DC92, GERG-2008, and SGERG-88, in predicting the density of regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) mixtures. A synthetic nine-component RLNG mixture was gravimetrically prepared. High-precision density measurements were obtained using a single-sinker magnetic suspension densimeter over a temperature range of (250 to 350) K and pressures up to 20 MPa. The experimental data were compared with EoS predictions to evaluate their accuracy. AGA8-DC92 and GERG-2008 showed excellent agreement with the experimental data, with deviations within their stated uncertainty. In contrast, SGERG-88 exhibited significantly larger deviations for this RLNG mixture, particularly at low temperatures of (250 to 260) K, where discrepancies reached up to 3 %. Even at 300 K, deviations larger than 0.4 % were observed at high pressures, within the model’s uncertainty, but notably higher than those of the other two EoSs. The analysis was extended to three conventional 11-component natural gas mixtures (labeled G420 NG, G431 NG, and G432 NG), previously studied by our group using the same methodology. While SGERG-88 showed reduced accuracy for the RLNG mixture, it performed reasonably well for these three mixtures, despite two of them have a very similar composition to the RLNG. This discrepancy is attributed to the lower CO2 and N2 content typical in RLNG mixtures, demonstrating the sensitivity of EoS performance to minor differences in composition. These findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate EoS models for accurate density prediction in RLNG applications. KW - Regasified LNG KW - Equation of state KW - Density KW - Gravimetric preparation PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-646506 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-025-03669-4 SN - 0195-928X VL - 46 SP - 1 EP - 25 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC CY - Heidelberg AN - OPUS4-64650 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Heide, Maximilian A1 - Reifenrath, Jonas A1 - Herrmann, Alexander A1 - Engelhard, Carsten T1 - Fast and Sustainable Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Screening in Over-the-Counter and Prescription Drug Products by Surface-Assisted Plasma-Based Desorption/Ionization High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry N2 - Fast chemical analysis of pharmaceutical preparations is important for quality assurance, counterfeit drug detection, and consumer health. While quantitative methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) are powerful, there is a need for sustainable and environmentally friendly methods, which require less chemicals and produce less waste. Here, solvent-free ambient desorption/ionization (ADI) MS methods are attractive because they do not require time-consuming chromatography, produce little to no chemical waste, and, thus, contribute to green chemistry practice. In addition, sample throughput can be higher compared to HPLC-MS. In this study, a method for direct analysis of single- and multi agent drugs using a plasma-based ADI source (flowing atmospheric-pressure afterglow, FAPA) coupled to high-resolution (HR) MS was developed and optimized for best performance. The approach is rapid and only requires analytes to be in solution (only a few µL) before application onto thin-layer chromatography (TLC) surfaces, specifically dimethyl (RP2-) and cyano (CN-) modified silica, for surface-assisted (SA) FAPA-HRMS measurements. No chromatographic separation was required, and the TLC plates served only as sample carriers. A broad variety of 19 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) was carefully selected to cover analgesics, anesthetics, antibiotics, antiepileptics, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, expectorants, opioids, peripheral vasodilators, stimulants, and sympathomimetics. Fast screening and identification of APIs was performed by SA-FAPA-HRMS. Typically, the protonated molecular ion ([M+H]+) was the most abundant species, while some compounds (codeine, metamizole, phenoxymethylpenicillin, and torasemide) did show some degree of fragmentation. As a proof-of-principle application, benzocaine was directly detected in saliva samples post-intake of a lozenge. Time-resolved semi-quantitative screening was performed. The limit of detection for benzocaine in saliva was 8 ng/mL (48.4 fmol) using internal standard calibration and CN-HPTLC plates. In addition, direct quantification of artificially spiked saliva was performed with minimal sample preparation. Here, SA-FAPA-HRMS with a CN-HPTLC sample substrate yielded best performance (20.02±0.52 µg/mL, RSD=2.6%, deviation of -1.9% from the theoretical value) compared to RP2-TLC (18.97±1.37 µg/mL, RSD=7.2%, -7.0%), and HPLC-UV (18.51±0.03 µg/mL, RSD=0.2%, -9.3%) results. In conclusion, SA FAPA HRMS is considered attractive for rapid and sustainable analysis of pharmaceuticals with potential in non-invasive patient monitoring. KW - Mass Spectrometry KW - Pharmaceuticals KW - Green Chemistry KW - Ambient Desorption/Ionization PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-640718 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D5AY01050K SN - 1759-9660 VL - 17 IS - 18 SP - 7799 EP - 7809 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-64071 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Homann, Christian A1 - Peeters, Régis A1 - Mirmajidi, Hana A1 - Berg, Jessica A1 - Fay, Michael A1 - Rodrigues, Lucas Carvalho Veloso A1 - Radicchi, Eros A1 - Jain, Akhil A1 - Speghini, Adolfo A1 - Hemmer, Eva T1 - Rapid microwave-assisted synthesis of morphology-controlled luminescent lanthanide-doped Gd2O2S nanostructures N2 - Gadolinium oxysulfide (Gd2O2S) is an attractive material of demonstrated suitability for a variety of imaging applications, leveraging its magnetic, scintillating, and luminescent properties, particularly when doped with optically active lanthanide ions (Ln3+). For many of these applications, control over size and morphology at the nanoscale is crucial. This study demonstrates the rapid microwave-assisted Synthesis of colloidal Ln2O2S (Ln = Gd and dopants Yb, Er, Tb) nanostructures in as little as 20 min. Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, as well as Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), including elemental mapping via energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), unveiled the key role of elemental sulphur (S8) in the reaction mixtures for materials growth. By systematically varying the Ln-to-S ratio from 1 : 0.5 to 1 : 15, controlled morphologies ranging from triangular nanoplatelets to berry- and flower-like shapes were achieved. Doping with Er3+/Yb3+ endowed the nano-triangles with upconverting and near-infrared emitting properties. Tb3+-doped Gd2O2S exhibited the characteristic green Tb3+ emission under UV excitation, while also showing X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL), rendering the material interesting as a potential nano-scintillator. KW - Upconversion KW - Microwave-assisted synthesis KW - Synthesis KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - NIR KW - XRD KW - X-ray fluoressence KW - Morphology control KW - Raman PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-647907 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TC01646K SN - 2050-7526 VL - 13 IS - 35 SP - 18492 EP - 18507 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-64790 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frenzel, Olivia A1 - Westphalen, Tanja A1 - Kaminski, Katja A1 - Kluge, Stephanie A1 - Bücker, Michael A1 - Piechotta, Christian T1 - Evaluation and Validation of an Accelerated Weathering Procedure to Characterise the Release of Bisphenol A from Polycarbonate Under Exposure to Simulated Environmental Conditions N2 - Bisphenol A (BPA) has been listed as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) due to its endocrine-disrupting properties according to REACH in 2017. European competent authorities have prepared a REACH restriction proposal to reduce BPA levels in the environment. The proposed limit for the concentration of free BPA and other bisphenols in articles is 10 mg kg−1. If exceeded, migration testing can demonstrate that no more than 0.04 mg L−1 is released from the product or material over its lifetime. German authorities are drafting a new restriction proposal after the original was temporarily withdrawn. The residual and migration limits mentioned above were key requirements from the previous restriction proposal. Numerous national and international standards exist for assessing how environmental factors affect the physical and chemical properties of products and materials—such as notch impact strength and tensile strength—but these standards do not cover the release of pollutants. A standardised procedure that covers all aspects of artificial weathering and monitors the subsequent release of pollutants is necessary, especially in the context of the regulation of these substances. An accelerated weathering procedure was established for non-protected samples. This material was not intended for outdoor applications. The testing procedure applied a typical weathering scenario that represents Central European climate conditions. The procedure was validated and applied to samples under distinct quality assurance aspects. Released BPA is quantified via an organic isotope dilution LC-MS/MS method. In parallel, identical samples were weathered outdoors on a weathering rack. Haze and yellowness index are measured to compare outdoor and weathering chamber results. KW - Artificial weathering KW - Polycarbonate KW - Bisphenol A KW - Simulated environmental conditions PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-645020 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/app151910361 SN - 2076-3417 VL - 15 IS - 19 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - MDPI AG AN - OPUS4-64502 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Matiushkina, Anna A1 - Abram, Sarah-Luise A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Richstein, R. A1 - Reithofer, M. R. A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Michaelis, Matthias A1 - Koch, Matthias A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Quantifying Citrate Surface Ligands on Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with TGA, CHN Analysis, NMR, and RP-HPLC with UV Detection N2 - Although citrate is frequently used as a surface ligand for nanomaterials (NMs) such as metal, metal oxide, and lanthanide-based NMs in hydrophilic environments due to its biocompatibility and simple replacement by other more strongly binding ligands in postsynthetic surface modification reactions, its quantification on NM surfaces has rarely been addressed. Here, we present a multimethod approach for citrate quantification on iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) broadly applied in the life and material sciences. Methods explored include thermogravimetric (TGA) and elemental (CHN) analysis, providing citrate-nonspecific information on the IONP coating, simple photometry, and citrate-selective reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with absorption (UV) detection and quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (qNMR). Challenges originating from the strongly absorbing magnetic NM and paramagnetic iron species interfering with optical and NMR Methods were overcome by suitable sample preparation workflows. Our multimethod approach to citrate quantification highlights the advantages of combining specific and unspecific methods for characterizing NM Surface chemistry and method cross-validation. It also demonstrates that chemically nonselective measurements can favor an overestimation of the amount of a specific surface ligand by signal contributions from molecules remaining on the NM surface, e.g., from particle synthesis, such as initially employed ligands and/or surfactants. Our results emphasize the potential of underexplored selective RPHPLC for quantifying ligands on NMs, which does not require a multistep sample preparation workflow such as qNMR for many NMs and provides a higher sensitivity. These findings can pave the road to future applications of versatile HPLC methods in NM characterization. KW - Advanced material KW - Functional group KW - Iron oxide KW - Ligand KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Quantification KW - Surface analysis PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-648632 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.5c03024 SN - 0003-2700 VL - 97 IS - 36 SP - 19627 EP - 19634 PB - American Chemical Society (ACS) CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-64863 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jaeger, Carsten A1 - Lintelmann, Jutta A1 - Franke, Raimo A1 - Artati, Anna A1 - Cecil, Alexander A1 - Broda, Frank A1 - Klawonn, Frank A1 - Erban, Alexander A1 - Kopka, Joachim A1 - Fuchs, Beate A1 - Sommer, Ulf A1 - Neumann-Schaal, Meina A1 - O'Connor, Gavin T1 - Analytical practices, use and needs of standard and reference materials in the German-speaking metabolomics community: results of an online survey N2 - Introduction Since the early 2000s, metabolomics has grown rapidly, becoming integral to fields like life sciences, health, and environmental research. This expansion has led to the formation of national and international societies, such as Germany’s DGMet, to tackle emerging challenges. One of DGMet’s goals is to improve measurement quality by assessing community needs for harmonization and standardization. A recent survey within the German-speaking community aimed to identify current practices and gaps in the use of chemical standards and reference materials, to guide future standardization efforts and collaborative initiatives. Methods An online survey was conducted between June 2023 and April 2024. The survey consisted of 38 key questions and was open to research institutions from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Results The survey was accessed by 68 laboratories, with 23 institutes providing complete or partial responses (34% response rate), which is comparable to rates reported in similar surveys within the metabolomics and lipidomics communities. Respondents were mainly experienced researchers from Germany, focusing mainly on health-related (“red”) metabolomics, as indicated by 78% of the respondents, followed by microbial (“grey”, 48%) and plant (“green”, 39%) metabolomics (multiple answers possible). The use of targeted methods was reported more frequently (91%) than that of non-targeted methods (78%), whereas metabolite fractions studied were equally split between polar, midpolar and lipid fractions (83% each). Human (74%), mouse (61%) and Arabidopsis (30%) were the most frequently studied organisms. Most participants used synthetic chemical standards for instrument qualification (83%), calibration (78%), and metabolite identification (74%), while matrix reference materials were mainly applied for quality control (52%) and method validation (44%). There was a strong demand for more standards, especially for metabolite identification and quantification, with cost being a major barrier, particularly for isotopically labelled standards and certified reference materials. Conclusions Valuable insights into the use of standards and reference materials within the German-speaking metabolomics community were obtained. Moving forward, the community should address critical gaps in metabolomics standardization. To achieve this, it must share its knowledge, articulate its needs clearly, and actively engage in joint efforts with national metrology institutes and international standardization initiatives. KW - Reference material KW - Chemical standard KW - Metabolomics KW - Mass spectrometry PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-647303 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-025-02360-x VL - 21 IS - 6 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Springer-Nature CY - Heidelberg AN - OPUS4-64730 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Steinbeck, Christoph A1 - Jung, Nicole A1 - Bach, Felix A1 - Neumann, Steffen A1 - Herres-Pawlis, Sonja A1 - Liermann, Johannes A1 - Koepler, Oliver A1 - Bannwarth, Christoph A1 - Bender, Theo A1 - Bocklitz, Thomas A1 - Boehm, Franziska A1 - Bonatto Minella, Christian A1 - Biedermann, Frank A1 - Brack, Werner A1 - Cunha, Ricardo A1 - Czodrowski, Paul A1 - Eberl, Franziska A1 - Engel, Thomas A1 - Engstfeld, Albert A1 - Fischer, Tillmann G. A1 - Friedrich, Pascal A1 - Glorious, Frank A1 - Golub, Benjamin A1 - Grathwol, Christoph A1 - Haag, Rainer A1 - Hunold, Johannes A1 - Jacob, Christoph A1 - Johannsen, Jochen A1 - Jollife, John A1 - Kast, Stefan A1 - Kettner, Carsten A1 - Kuhn, Stefan A1 - Lanza, Giacomo A1 - Lisec, Jan A1 - Manolikakes, Georg A1 - Mata, Ricardo A1 - Meiler, Jens A1 - Müller, Matthias A1 - Müller-Pfefferkorn, Ralph A1 - Ortmeyer, Jochen A1 - Patterson, Wendy A1 - Pleiss, Jürgen A1 - Riedel, Annalisa A1 - Riedel, Jens A1 - Schatzschneider, Ulrich A1 - Schuster, Leonie A1 - Seeberger, Peter A1 - Seibert, Johann-Nikolaus A1 - Stadler, Peter A1 - Zeitler, Kirsten T1 - Proposal NFDI4Chem 2025-2030 In the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) — Our Vision: All Chemists Publish FAIR Data N2 - The first funding period of NFDI4Chem established a robust foundation for research data management (RDM) in chemistry by promoting FAIR data principles and creating a cohesive infrastructure to capture well-annotated data early in the lab through electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) and making this data available in public repositories. Key achievements include standardised data formats and metadata, a federated repository environment, and improved data visibility and accessibility. Training programs and outreach have significantly increased awareness and adoption of best RDM practices. In the second funding period, the consortium aims to advance these achievements by consolidating this infrastructure, developing a model for its sustainable maintenance and operation, and fostering cultural change for its widespread adoption. Goals include ensuring seamless data workflows from laboratories to open repositories, enhancing interoperability, and supporting innovative research through AI-ready data. The work plan is organised into six task areas (TAs). TA1 (Management) provides leadership and supports all other TAs in achieving their objectives. TA2 (Smart Lab) aims to develop a fully digital research environment, including an ELN as a modular platform. This environment will support data collection, management, storage, analysis, and sharing. Integrating devices and external resources will enable seamless data transfer to repositories. TA3 (Repositories) will consolidate the repository ecosystem. The goal is to integrate repositories into a federated system for better accessibility and interoperability, ensuring long-term data availability and sustainability. TA4 (Metadata, Data Standards, and Publication Standards) focuses on developing and promoting new data and metadata standards in an international community process. This includes applying ontologies to create a semantic foundation for linking research data, making it machine-readable and enabling knowledge graphs. TA5 (Community and Training) is dedicated to fostering a cultural shift towards digital chemistry through continuous engagement, collecting requirements, and providing extensive training and support through workshops and open education resources. It will promote FAIR-compliant machine learning applications, embedding RDM into academic curricula to ensure future scientists are well-versed in these practices. TA6 (Synergies and Cross-Cutting Topics) aims to enhance collaboration across NFDI consortia and beyond. This includes developing ontologies, terminology services, the search service, and other cross-cutting solutions, integrating these developments into existing infrastructure, enabling interdisciplinary data harmonisation and fostering machine learning applications. KW - Research Data Management KW - FAIR KW - Chemistry PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-648540 DO - https://doi.org/10.3897/rio.11.e177037 SN - 2367-7163 VL - 11 SP - 1 EP - 100 PB - Pensoft Publishers AN - OPUS4-64854 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Li, Xunyu A1 - Riedel, Jens A1 - You, Yi T1 - Spectrally resolved lithium isotope quantification through high-resolution spatial heterodyne spectrometry N2 - Isotope ratio determination of lithium is increasingly important in fields ranging from geochemistry to battery diagnostics. While mass spectrometry remains the gold standard, it is costly, cumbersome, and incompatible with portable or inline implementations. Optical emission spectroscopy presents an appealing alternative. However, it is traditionally limited by insufficient spectral resolution or resolving power to separate lithium isotope emissions due to their generalized designs for a wide spectral range; this often requires overly complicated algorithms to overcome the instrumental drawbacks. (79) Results Here, we report a high-resolution optical method for lithium isotope quantification using a custom-built spatial heterodyne spectrometer (SHS) combined with a reduced-pressure glow discharge source. This configuration yielded a resolving power of 189,000 and enabled baseline resolution of lithium d-line emission features even without the need for preliminary data processing. Despite the inherent low sensitivity of SHS, a detection limit of 30 pmol was achieved using a standard industrial camera. To improve quantitative accuracy, we introduced a deconvolution-based spectral lineshape recovery technique alongside a bootstrapping-based error propagation strategy. These methods facilitated robust isotope ratio calibration using both peak-height and peak-area metrics. The SHS platform additionally enabled the determination of relative transition probabilities, suggesting the feasibility of calibration-free operation. This work demonstrates the practical viability of SHS for high-specificity, high-resolution lithium isotope analysis. The approach is compact, potentially field-deployable, and adaptable to other elements with optically resolvable isotope shifts, offering a route toward accessible and calibration-free optical isotopic analyses. KW - SHS KW - Isotope KW - High-resolution spectroscopy PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-635139 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2025.344329 SN - 1873-4324 VL - 1368 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-63513 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mohan, M. A1 - Prochazka, D. A1 - You, Yi A1 - Riedel, Jens A1 - Gornushkin, Igor A1 - Rocnakova, I. A1 - Papula, M. A1 - Porízka, P. A1 - Kaizer, J. T1 - Investigating plasma morphology at material boundaries under varying ambient pressures N2 - Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a widely used technique for elemental analysis. The analysis of the obtained LIBS spectra generally assumes plasma homogeneity. However, using focused laser beams for interrogation, LIBS probes materials on the microscale and is, thus, prone to artefacts from sample heterogeneities on the micrometer scale. An ablation at a material boundary of two matrices may result in a significant inhomogeneity in the plasma plume, which can severely impact the accuracy of quantitative analysis. Since this propagation of the surface morphology into the plasma plume is driven by the plasma expansion, its final impact is strongly pressure dependent. This study examines the influence of varying ambient pressures (7–1000 mbar) on plasma morphology, spectral characteristics, and key plasma properties such as electron number density at a well-defined Cu–Sn boundary, in comparison with the results obtained using homogeneous alloys. Several approaches of plasma imaging with bandpass filters, spectroscopy, and Radon transform-based 3D reconstruction were employed to analyze elemental distribution, signal-to-noise (SNR) and signal-to-background (SBR) ratios, as well as electron number densities. The 3D reconstructions revealed a pronounced plasma asymmetry for the ablation at the material boundary, in contrast to the near-axial symmetry observed for the ablation of homogeneous alloys. At lower pressures, this distinct elemental separation in plasma persisted, while higher pressures led to an increased collisional mixing and homogenization. SNR and SBR were consistently lower for ablation at the boundary compared to homogeneous samples. These findings highlight how boundary ablation contributes to plasma inhomogeneities in LIBS analysis of heterogeneous materials and emphasize the need to account for these effects when using LIBS for elemental mapping of fine heterogeneous structures. KW - Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy KW - Plasma inhomogeneity KW - Plasma tomography KW - Radon transform KW - Material boundaries KW - Ambient pressure effects PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-634777 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2025.128377 SN - 1873-3573 VL - 295 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-63477 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kleinbub, Sherin A1 - Braymer, Joseph J A1 - Pfeiffer, Friedhelm A1 - Dyall-Smith, Mike A1 - Spirgath, Kristin A1 - Alfaro-Espinoza, Gabriela A1 - Koerdt, Andrea T1 - From Genes to Black Rust: Genomic insights into corrosive methanogens N2 - Within the past ten years, genetic evidence has been increasing for the direct role that microbes play in microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), also known as biocorrosion or biodeterioration. One prominent example is the correlation between the corrosion of metal and the presence of genes encoding an extracellular [NiFe]-hydrogenase (MIC hydrogenase) in the methanogenic archaeon, Methanococcus maripaludis. In this study, DNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were used to classify the MIC hydrogenase as belonging to a core set of genes, the MIC core, found so far in Methanococci and Methanobacteria classes of methanogens. Genetic evidence is provided for the mobilization of the MIC core via multiple mechanisms, including a horizontal gene transfer event from Methanobacteria to Methanococci and a newly described MIC-transposon. A detailed comparison of M. maripaludis genomes further pointed to the relevance that cell wall modifications involving N-glycosylation of S-layer proteins and the MIC hydrogenase likely play in methanogen-induced MIC (Mi-MIC). Microscopic analysis of corrosive methanogens encoding the MIC core indicated that Methanobacterium-affiliated strain IM1 can form extensive biofilms on the surface of corrosion products whereas individual cells of M. maripaludis Mic1c10 were only found localized to crevices in the corrosion layer. An updated model of Mi-MIC involving two modes of action is presented, which predicts that the propensity of cells to adhere to iron surfaces directly influences the rate of corrosion due to the localization of the MIC hydrogenase at the metal-microbe interface. KW - Biocorrosion KW - Hydrogenases KW - Metalloprotein KW - Microbes PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-649425 DO - https://doi.org/10.1093/femsmc/xtaf018 SN - 2633-6685 VL - 6 SP - 1 EP - 19 PB - Oxford University Press (OUP) AN - OPUS4-64942 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Richter, Matthias A1 - Schühle, Florian T1 - Experimental determination of 7-day uptake rates for diffusive sampling of 86 volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds relevant for indoor air monitoring and investigation on their sensitivity to exposure time and indoor climate N2 - This study aimed to experimentally determine uptake rates for 86 indoor relevant volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOC, SVOC) for the passive sampler type Perkin Elmer/Markes™ with Tenax® TA as sorbent, which was used in the German Environmental Survey on Health (GerES VI) carried out by the German Environmental Agency (UBA) in the years 2023-2024. For this purpose, single reference gas atmospheres of 76 pure VOCs (liquid at room temperature) and a group of 10 SVOCs and VOCs (solid at room temperature) were generated using two generation procedures. By exposing the samplers to individual components, it was ruled out that interactions in a mixture have a influence on the uptake rate. Another aspect was to precisely describe the methodology and the resulting uncertainties, as there are gaps in the literature in this regard. The selection of the compounds was based on the findings of the preceding GerES V study for which data was missing or needed to be verified. In each experiment, a number of six passive samplers was exposed to the test gas atmospheres in dynamically operated exposure chambers for seven days. The sensitivity of the uptake rates of a group of 10 selected VOCs to variations in exposure time, ambient temperature, and air humidity in a multi-component reference gas atmosphere was investigated. Here, a decrease in the uptake rate with the exposure time could be observed stabilising from the fifth day of exposure onwards. A significant effect of temperature and humidity on the uptake rate was not apparent. The determined uptake rates exhibit uncertainties of < 20 % for 71 substances, and < 10 % for 51 substances which are also in good agreement with the literature, if already published elsewhere. The quantity of investigated substances, the detailed description of the methodology used to determine the uptake rates complemented by the respective uncertainties, as well as the compilation of comparative data, contribute to a better assessment of the quality and relevance of such data, which had not been published before. KW - Indoor air quality KW - Volatile organic compounds KW - Uptake rates KW - Passive sampling KW - Tenax TA PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-629913 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100095 VL - 2 IS - 2 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Elsevier AN - OPUS4-62991 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sun, Yijuan A1 - Pérez-Padilla, Víctor A1 - Valderrey, Virginia A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Ratiometric detection of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids using dual fluorescent nanoparticles and a miniaturised microfluidic platform N2 - The widespread contamination of soil and water with perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has caused considerable societal and scientific concern. Legislative measures and an increased need for remediation require effective on-site analytical methods for PFAS management. Here we report on the development of a green-fluorescent guanidine-BODIPY indicator monomer incorporated into a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the selective detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Complexation of PFOA by the indicator, which is mediated by concerted protonation-induced ion pairing-assisted hydrogen bonding, significantly enhances fluorescence in polar organic solvents. The MIP forms as a thin layer on silica nanoparticles doped with tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride, which provides an orange emission signal as internal reference, resulting in low measurement uncertainties. Using a liquid-liquid extraction protocol, this assay enables the direct detection of PFOA in environmental water samples and achieves a detection limit of 0.11 µM. Integration into an opto-microfluidic system enables a compact and user-friendly system for detecting PFOA in less than 15 minutes. KW - PFAS KW - Molecular imprinting KW - Microfluidics KW - Fluorescence KW - Onsite assay PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-650270 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66872-9 SN - 2041-1723 VL - 16 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-65027 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Oskoei, Párástu A1 - Afonso, Rúben A1 - Bastos, Verónica A1 - Nogueira, João A1 - Keller, Lisa-Marie A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Saleh, Maysoon I. A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Daniel-da-Silva, Ana L. A1 - Oliveira, Helena T1 - Upconversion Nanoparticles with Mesoporous Silica Coatings for Doxorubicin Targeted Delivery to Melanoma Cells N2 - Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancers and requires innovative therapeutic strategies to overcome the limitations of conventional therapies. In this work, upconversion nanoparticles coated with mesoporous silica and functionalized with folic acid (UCNP@mSiO2-FA) were developed as a targeted nanocarrier system for the delivery of doxorubicin (DOX). The UCNPs were synthesized via thermal decomposition, coated with mesoporous silica shells, and functionalized with folic acid (FA) to enable receptor-mediated targeting. DOX was then loaded into the mesoporous silica coating by adsorption, yielding UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX. The different UCNPs were characterized for size, composition, colloidal stability, and loading and release of DOX. This comprehensive physicochemical characterization confirmed a high DOX loading efficiency and a slightly increased drug release under acidic conditions, mimicking the tumour microenvironment. In vitro assays using four melanoma cell lines (A375, B16-F10, MNT-1, and SK-MEL-28) revealed an excellent biocompatibility of UCNP@mSiO2-FA and a significantly higher cytotoxicity of UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX compared to unloaded UCNPs, in a dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated G2/M phase arrest after treatment with UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX, confirming its antiproliferative effect. Overall, UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX represents a promising nanoplatform for targeted melanoma therapy, combining active tumour targeting and enhanced anticancer efficacy. KW - Fluorescence KW - Synthesis KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Cell KW - Uptake KW - Drug KW - Characterization KW - DOX KW - Imaging KW - Toxicity KW - Release KW - pH PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-653596 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31010074 SN - 1420-3049 VL - 31 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 18 PB - MDPI AG AN - OPUS4-65359 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ahmed, A. A. A. A1 - Alegret, N. A1 - Almeida, B. A1 - Alvarez-Puebla, R. A1 - Andrews, A. M. A1 - Ballerini, L. A1 - Barrios-Capuchino, J. J. A1 - Becker, C. A1 - Blick, R. H. A1 - Bonakdar, S. A1 - Chakraborty, I. A1 - Chen, X. A1 - Cheon, J. A1 - Chilla, G. A1 - Conceicao, A. L. C. A1 - Delehanty, J. A1 - Dulle, M. A1 - Efros, A. L. A1 - Epple, M. A1 - Fedyk, M. A1 - Feliu, N. A1 - Feng, M. A1 - Fernandez-Chacon, R. A1 - Fernandez-Cuesta, I. A1 - Fertig, N. A1 - Förster, S. A1 - Garrido, J. A. A1 - George, M. A1 - Guse, A. H. A1 - Hampp, N. A1 - Harberts, J. A1 - Han, J. A1 - Heekeren, H. R. A1 - Hofmann, U. G. A1 - Holzapfel, M. A1 - Hosseinkazemi, H. A1 - Huang, Y. A1 - Huber, P. A1 - Hyeon, T. A1 - Ingebrandt, S. A1 - Ienca, M. A1 - Iske, A. A1 - Kang, Y. A1 - Kasieczka, G. A1 - Kim, D.-H. A1 - Kostarelos, K. A1 - Lee, J.-H. A1 - Lin, K.-W. A1 - Liu, S. A1 - Liu, X. A1 - Liu, Y. A1 - Lohr, C. A1 - Mailänder, V. A1 - Maffongelli, L. A1 - Megahed, S. A1 - Mews, A. A1 - Mutas, M. A1 - Nack, L. A1 - Nakatsuka, N. A1 - Oertner, T. G. A1 - Offenhäusser, A. A1 - Oheim, M. A1 - Otange, B. A1 - Otto, F. A1 - Patrono, E. A1 - Peng, B. A1 - Picchiotti, A. A1 - Pierini, F. A1 - Pötter-Nerger, M. A1 - Pozzi, M. A1 - Pralle, A. A1 - Prato, M. A1 - Qi, B. A1 - Ramos-Cabrer, P. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Ritter, N. A1 - Rittner, M. A1 - Roy, S. A1 - Santoro, F. A1 - Schuck, N. W. A1 - Schulz, F. A1 - Seker, E. A1 - Skiba, M. A1 - Sosniok, M. A1 - Stephan, H. A1 - Wang, R. A1 - Wang, T. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Weiss, P. S. A1 - Xu, M. A1 - Yang, C. A1 - Zargarin, S. S. A1 - Zeng, Y. A1 - Zhou, Y. A1 - Zhu, D. A1 - Zierold, R. A1 - Parak, W. J. T1 - Interfacing with the Brain: How Nanotechnology Can Contribute N2 - Interfacing artificial devices with the human brain is the central goal of neurotechnology. Yet, our imaginations are often limited by currently available paradigms and technologies. Suggestions for brain−machine interfaces have changed over time, along with the available technology. Mechanical levers and cable winches were used to move parts of the brain during the mechanical age. Sophisticated electronic wiring and remote control have arisen during the electronic age, ultimately leading to plug-and-play computer interfaces. Nonetheless, our brains are so complex that these visions, until recently, largely remained unreachable dreams. The general problem, thus far, is that most of our technology is mechanically and/or electrically engineered, whereas the brain is a living, dynamic entity. As a result, these worlds are difficult to interface with one another. Nanotechnology, which encompasses engineered solid-state objects and integrated circuits, excels at small length scales of single to a few hundred nanometers and, thus, matches the sizes of biomolecules, biomolecular assemblies, and parts of cells. Consequently, we envision nanomaterials and nanotools as opportunities to interface with the brain in alternative ways. Here, we review the existing literature on the use of nanotechnology in brain−machine interfaces and look forward in discussing perspectives and limitations based on the authors’ expertise across a range of complementary disciplines from neuroscience, engineering, physics, and chemistry to biology and medicine, computer science and mathematics, and social science and jurisprudence. We focus on nanotechnology but also include information from related fields when useful and complementary. KW - Nanoneuro interface KW - Brain-on-a-chip KW - Nanostructured interface KW - Electrode arrays KW - Neuro-implants KW - Advanced nanomaterials KW - Quality assurance PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-634893 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c10525 SN - 1936-086X VL - 19 IS - 11 SP - 10630 EP - 10717 PB - ACS Publications AN - OPUS4-63489 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - El-Dahshan, O. A1 - Deniaud, A. A1 - Ling, W. L. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Proux, O. A1 - Veronesi, G. A1 - Reiss, P. T1 - Hydrothermal microwave synthesis of water soluble NIR-II emitting Ag2S quantum dots N2 - Hydrothermal-based synthetic methods of quantum dots allow for the exploration of reaction parameters normally inaccessible to typical aqueous-based batch reactions, such as elevated reaction temperatures (>100 °C) and reaction pressures above atmospheric pressure. Coupled with microwave heating, new instantaneously bio-compatible quantum dots (QDs) with enhanced opitcal properties can be yielded. As of today, aqueous-based synthetic methods often lag behind their organic analogues in terms of the photophysical properties of the QDs obtained and the ease of modulation of both the emission wavelength and crystallite size. Using a novel microwave-assisted hydrothermal approach, the synthesis of silver sulphide (Ag2S) QDs exhibiting NIR emission spanning the biological transparency windows via modulation of the reaction parameters has been developed. The intrinsic link between their optical and structural properties is explored via laboratory and synchrotron-based structural analysis techniques. Their toxicity towards a hepatic cell line was assessed, and related back to their structure and size. Overall this work aims to not only further develop the repertoire of synthetic methods for the synthesis of Ag2S QDs, but also paves the way for the development of safer QDs suitable for future clinical applications. KW - Quantum dots KW - Microwave synthesis KW - Quality assurance KW - NIR-II emission KW - PL quantum yield KW - Ag2S PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-634825 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d5nr00052a SN - 2040-3372 VL - 17 IS - 24 SP - 14637 EP - 14646 PB - RSC AN - OPUS4-63482 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Habibimarkani, Heydar A1 - Abram, Sarah-Luise A1 - de Oliveira Guilherme Buzanich, Ana A1 - Prinz, Carsten A1 - Sahre, Mario A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Radnik, Jörg T1 - In-depth analysis of FeNi-based nanoparticles for the oxygen evolution reaction N2 - This study investigates the effect of varying iron-to-nickel ratios on the catalytic performance of Fe-Ni oxide nanoparticles (NPs) for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Addressing the issue of high energy wastage due to large overpotentials in OER, we synthesized and characterized different NP catalysts with different Fe: Ni oxide ratios. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) were employed to determine the morphology, elemental and phase composition of the NPs. Furthermore, in-depth profiling with X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Hard X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (HAXPES) revealed that iron predominantly exists as oxide, while nickel exhibits both metallic and oxidic forms depending on the Fe content. XPS indicated an enrichment of iron at the NP surface, whereas HAXPES and EDS data agreed on the bulk stoichiometry. The assessment of the catalytic activity via cyclic voltammetry (CV) showed that the Fe: Ni ratio of 2:3 exhibited superior performance, characterized by lower overpotential and a smaller Tafel slope. KW - Fe-Ni oxide KW - Nanoparticles KW - OER KW - Catalytic performance KW - Cyclic voltammetry PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-626932 UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-92720-3 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92720-3 VL - 15 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - Springer Nature AN - OPUS4-62693 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Meiers, Emelie A1 - Scholl, Juliane A1 - Droas, Morten A1 - Vogel, Christian A1 - Leube, Peter A1 - Sommerfeld, Thomas A1 - Bagheri, A. A1 - Adam, Christian A1 - Seubert, A. A1 - Koch, Matthias T1 - Development and evaluation of analytical strategies for the monitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from lithium-ion battery recycling materials N2 - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are well-known as “forever chemicals” and persistent pollutants released by different anthropogenic sources. The potential release of PFAS from accumulating electronic waste and lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycling activities has gained increasing attention in the past years. This creates a need for analytical methods tailored for the determination of PFAS out of environmental matrices related to the named activities or directly out of the concerned materials. In this work, analytical strategies for the monitoring of PFAS in LIB recycling materials were explored for a group of legacy perfluoro sulfonic- and carbonic acids (PFSA and PFCA) and of fluorinated sulfonylimides suspected to be LIB electrolyte ingredients. These analytical strategies comprehend PFAS target approaches with a herein optimized liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method equipped with a HILIC (hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography) column in combination with the TOP (total oxidizable precursor) assay and an adapted sample preparation method for high-matrix LIB recycling materials. The validated target method was applied to a set of LIB recycling materials: end-of-life batteries, black masses from hydrometallurgical recycling, and gas absorption solutions from thermal treatment of black masses as part of the recycling procedure. Investigation results show that the LIB industry can be connected to the release of both “LIB”-PFAS, such as the target sulfonylimides, and “already-legacy” PFAS, like the PFSA and PFCA. Especially, the presence of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as an emerging pollutant in every investigated LIB material type underlines the threat of PFAS emissions from LIB waste and recycling activities. KW - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) KW - Battery PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-647015 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-025-06165-8 SN - 1618-2642 VL - 417 SP - 6567 EP - 6583 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-64701 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Recknagel, Sebastian A1 - Richter, Silke A1 - Hoppe, Marion A1 - Meckelburg, Angela A1 - Prinz, Carsten A1 - Roik, Janina A1 - Abad Andrade, Carlos Enrique T1 - Powering precision: development of a certified reference material for elemental composition analysis of lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (Li-NMC) cathode material for lithium-ion batteries N2 - This work presents the development and certification of the world’s first certified reference material (CRM), BAM-S014, for a lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNi0.33Mn0.33Co0.33O2 or Li-NMC 111) cathode material—an integral component in high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles (EVs), portable electronics, and stationary energy storage systems. By providing certified mass fractions for 11 elements, this CRM addresses a critical need for accurate and traceable elemental analysis, supporting quality control and regulatory compliance in the global battery industry. Ensuring reliable and harmonized measurements supports the efficient use of resources, including the reuse of recycled materials, and ultimately helps maintain product performance and safety. The values were assigned through an interlaboratory comparison involving 16 participating laboratories and various analytical techniques such as inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry, and combustion analysis. In addition to chemical characterization, the certification process includes homogeneity and stability testing of the candidate material. Details are provided on the analytical methods used for chemical characterization and the calculation of the uncertainties of the certified mass fractions. In addition to detailing the development of the CRMs, this work provides an overview of ongoing standardization activities in Li-component analysis, thereby guiding the calibration of analytical methods and contributing to the establishment of globally accepted standards for evaluating energy storage materials and advancing sustainable mobility and clean energy solutions. KW - Certified reference material KW - Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide KW - LNMC KW - Lithium-ion battery KW - Cathode material PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-643763 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-025-05766-7 SN - 1618-2642 VL - 417 IS - 12 SP - 2643 EP - 2653 PB - Springer Nature AN - OPUS4-64376 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zaki, Mohammad A1 - Prinz, Carsten A1 - Ruehle, Bastian T1 - A Self-Driving Lab for Nano- and Advanced Materials Synthesis N2 - The recent emergence of self-driving laboratories (SDL) and material acceleration platforms (MAPs) demonstrates the ability of these systems to change the way chemistry and material syntheses will be performed in the future. Especially in conjunction with nano- and advanced materials which are generally recognized for their great potential in solving current material science challenges, such systems can make disrupting contributions. Here, we describe in detail MINERVA, an SDL specifically built and designed for the synthesis, purification, and in line characterization of nano- and advanced materials. By fully automating these three process steps for seven different materials from five representative, completely different classes of nano- and advanced materials (metal, metal oxide, silica, metal organic framework, and core–shell particles) that follow different reaction mechanisms, we demonstrate the great versatility and flexibility of the platform. We further study the reproducibility and particle size distributions of these seven representative materials in depth and show the excellent performance of the platform when synthesizing these material classes. Lastly, we discuss the design considerations as well as the hardware and software components that went into building the platform and make all of the components publicly available. KW - Self-driving laboratories KW - Materials acceleration platforms KW - Nanomaterials KW - Advanced materials KW - Automation KW - Robotics KW - In-line characterization PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-627361 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c17504 SN - 1936-086X VL - 19 IS - 9 SP - 9029 EP - 9041 PB - ACS Publications CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-62736 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kossatz, Philipp A1 - Mezhov, Alexander A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Prinz, Carsten A1 - Schmidt, Wolfram A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Assessing the Applicability of Lanthanide-Based Upconverting Nanoparticles for Optically Monitoring Cement Hydration and Tagging Building Materials N2 - Chemically stable, lanthanide-based photon upconversion micro- and nanoparticles (UCNPs) with their characteristic multicolor emission bands in the ultraviolet (UV), visible (vis), near-infrared (NIR), and short-wave infrared (SWIR) arepromising optical reporters and barcoding tags. To assess the applicability of UCNPs for the monitoring of early stage cement hydration processes and as authentication tags for cementitious materials, we screened the evolution of the luminescence of Selfmade core-only NaYF4:Yb,Er UCNPs and commercial μm-sized Y2O2S:Yb,Er particles during the first stages of cement hydration, which largely determines the future properties of the hardened material. Parameters explored from the UCNP side included particle size, morphology, surface chemistry or coating, luminescence properties, and concentration in different cement mixtures. From the cement side, the influence of the mineral composition of the cement matrix was representatively examined for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and its constituents tricalcium aluminate (C3A), tricalcium silicate (C3S), and gypsum at different water to cement ratios. Based on reflection and luminescence measurements, enabling online monitoring, which were complemented by XRD and isothermal heat-flow calorimetric measurements to determine whether the incorporation of these particles could impair cement hydration processes, well suited lanthanide particle reporters could be identified as well as application conditions. In addition, thereby the reporter influence on cement hydration kinetics could be minimized while still preserving a high level of information content. The best performance for the luminescence probing of changes during early stage cement hydration processes was observed for 25 nm-sized oleate (OA)-coated UCNPs added in a concentration of 0.1 wt %. Higher UCNP amounts of 1.0 wt % delayed cement hydration processes size- and surface coatingspecifically in the first 24 h. Subsequent luminescence stability screening studies performed over a period of about one year support the applicability of UCNPs as optical authentication tags for construction materials. KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Quantum yield KW - NIR KW - Mechanism KW - Characterization KW - XRD KW - Calorimetry KW - Advanced material KW - Cement KW - Monitoring KW - Surface KW - Size KW - Lifetime KW - Barcode KW - Lanthanide KW - Upconversion KW - Encoding KW - Method PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-638318 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c02236 SN - 2470-1343 VL - 10 IS - 29 SP - 31587 EP - 31599 PB - ACS Publications CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-63831 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Obenlüneschloß, Jorit A1 - Boysen, Nils A1 - Rönnby, Karl A1 - Muriqi, Arbresha A1 - Hoffmann, Volker A1 - Abad Andrade, Carlos Enrique A1 - Rogalla, Detlef A1 - Brokmann, Ulrike A1 - Rädlein, Edda A1 - Nolan, Michael A1 - Devi, Anjana T1 - Ein seltener mononuklearer Lithium‐Carben‐Komplex für die Atomlagenabscheidung von lithiumhaltigen Dünnschichten N2 - KurzfassungLithium ist das zentrale Element moderner Batterietechnologien, und die Herstellung von lithiumhaltigen Materialien mittels Atomlagenabscheidung (engl. Atomic Layer Deposition, ALD) bietet erhebliche Vorteile bei der Kontrolle der Schichtdicke und ‐zusammensetzung. In dieser Studie wird ein neuer mononuklearer, durch ein N‐heterocyclisches Carben (NHC) stabilisierter Lithiumkomplex, [Li(tBuNHC)(hmds)], als vielversprechender Präkursor für die ALD von lithiumhaltigen Dünnschichten vorgestellt. Die strukturelle Charakterisierung erfolgt durch den Vergleich von Dichtefunktionaltheorie (DFT) und Einkristall‐Röntgenbeugung (engl. Single‐Crystal X‐ray Diffraction, SC‐XRD), wobei die seltene mononukleare Struktur bestätigt wird. Thermogravimetrische Analysen (TGA) zeigen vorteilhafte thermische Eigenschaften für ALD‐Anwendungen. Die Verbindung weist einen niedrigen Schmelzpunkt, saubere Verdampfung und ermutigende Volatilitätsparameter im Vergleich zu anderen Lithium‐Präkursoren auf. ALD‐Experimente mit [Li(tBuNHC)(hmds)] und Ozon zeigen dessen Effektivität bei der Abscheidung von LiSixOy‐Filmen. Der ALD‐Prozess zeigt ein gesättigtes Wachstum pro Zyklus (engl. Growth per Cycle, GPC) von 0,95 Å. Die Zusammensetzung, analysiert mittels Rutherford‐Rückstreu‐Spektrometrie/Kernreaktionsanalyse (engl. Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry/Nuclear Reaction Analysis, RBS/NRA), Röntgenphotoelektronenspektroskopie (engl. X‐ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, XPS) und Glimmentladungsspektroskopie (engl. Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectrometry, GD‐OES), bestätigt das Vorhandensein von Lithium und Silizium in den erwarteten Verhältnissen. Diese Arbeit stellt nicht nur einen neuen ALD‐Präkursor vor, sondern trägt auch zum Verständnis der Lithiumchemie bei und bietet Einblicke in die faszinierende Koordinationschemie und das thermische Verhalten von durch NHC‐Liganden stabilisierten Lithiumkomplexen. KW - Atomlagenabscheidung KW - N-heterozyklischer-Carben-(NHC)-stabilisierter Lithium-Präkursor KW - Mononuklearer Li–Carben-Komplex KW - Lithiumsilicat-Dünnfilme KW - Filmanalytik/-Charakterisierung PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-644045 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202513066 SN - 0044-8249 N1 - Es gibt eine parallele Sprachausgabe (englisch), ein Link befindet sich im Feld zugehöriger Identifikator - There is a parallel language edition (English), a link is in the field related identifier SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-64404 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Braymer, Joseph J. A1 - Knauer, Lukas A1 - Crack, Jason C. A1 - Oltmanns, Jonathan A1 - Heghmanns, Melanie A1 - Soares, Jéssica C. A1 - Le Brun, Nick E. A1 - Schünemann, Volker A1 - Kasanmascheff, Müge T1 - Yeast [FeFe]-hydrogenase-like protein Nar1 binds a [2Fe–2S] cluster N2 - Nar1 is an essential eukaryotic protein proposed to function as an iron–sulphur (Fe/S) cluster trafficking factor in the cytosolic iron–sulphur protein assembly (CIA) machinery. However, such a role has remained unclear due to difficulties in purifying adequate amounts of cofactor-bound protein. The [FeFe]-hydrogenase-like protein has two conserved binding sites for [4Fe–4S] clusters but does not show hydrogenase activity in vivo due to the lack of an active site [2Fe]H cofactor. Here, we report a new preparation procedure for Nar1 that facilitated studies by UV-vis, EPR, and Mössbauer spectroscopies, along with native mass spectrometry. Nar1 recombinantly produced in E. coli contained a [4Fe–4S] cluster, bound presumably at site 1, along with an unexpected [2Fe–2S] cluster bound at an unknown site. Fe/S reconstitution reactions installed a second [4Fe–4S] cluster at site 2, leading to protein with up to three Fe/S cofactors. It is proposed that the [2Fe–2S] cluster occupies a cavity in Nar1 that is filled by the [2Fe]H cofactor in [FeFe]-hydrogenases. Strikingly, two of the Fe/S clusters were rapidly destroyed by molecular oxygen, linking Nar1 oxygen sensitivity in vitro to phenotypes observed previously in vivo. Our biochemical results, therefore, validate a direct link between cellular oxygen concentrations and the functioning of the CIA pathway. These advances also now allow for the pursuit of in vitro Fe/S cluster transfer assays, which will shed light on Fe/S trafficking and insertion by CIA components. KW - Biocorrosion KW - Hydrogenases KW - Metalloprotein KW - Yeast PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-649463 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D5SC04860E SN - 2041-6520 VL - 17 IS - 1 SP - 373 EP - 380 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-64946 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bayat, Mehmet Emin A1 - Kipphardt, Heinrich A1 - Tiebe, Carlo A1 - Tuma, Dirk A1 - Engelhard, Carsten T1 - Trace-Level Ammonia–Water Interactions in Hydrogen: Challenges in Gas Purity Analysis Using Optical-Feedback Cavity-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (OF-CEAS) N2 - Ammonia is a critical impurity in hydrogen fuel due to its irreversible poisoning effect on proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Therefore, international standards (e.g., ISO 14687) set a stringent threshold of 100 nmol/mol. Furthermore, with the growing potential use of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier, its accurate quantification is becoming increasingly important. However, the presence of trace humidity poses analytical challenges, as ammonia may interact with water or interfaces, thereby affecting its detectability. Therefore, the goal of this work is to enable accurate trace ammonia quantification for hydrogen purity measurements through fundamental studies of the methodological challenges. Here, low-pressure sampling (ultra)long-path Optical-Feedback Cavity-Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (OF-CEAS) was applied with an effective optical path length of approximately 6.17 km. We studied three average amounts of ammonia: (38.2 ± 0.8) nmol/mol, (74.8 ± 0.7) nmol/mol, and (112.1 ± 1.2) nmol/mol. Furthermore, these amounts were investigated at trace-humidity levels ranging from 0.8 to 8.5 ppmV. We observed a systematic, nonlinear, and humidity-dependent positive measurement bias of up to + (1.0 ± 0.2) nmol/mol at the maximum investigated trace-humidity volume fraction of 8.5 ppmV. This bias was not caused by spectral interference but rather by water-induced accumulation of ammonia within the optical cavity. Moreover, time-resolved measurements in the presence of trace ammonia showed that water desorption follows first-order kinetics, whereas water adsorption followed mixed-order kinetics with an apparent reaction order of 1.57 ± 0.03. Distinct hydration states of surface-bound ammonia were identified, whereas under dry conditions and with increasing amounts of ammonia, enhanced surface adhesion through intermolecular clustering was observed. In addition, the presence of ammonium species within the sorption layer was indirectly confirmed by our experiments. In conclusion, we provide a deeper insight into trace-level ammonia–water interactions and establish a framework for optimizing methodologies, particularly for (ultra)long-path optical gas measurement systems. KW - Ammonia KW - Hydrogen KW - OF-CEAS KW - Humidity KW - Surface Interactions KW - Adsorption PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-643627 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.5c00105 SN - 2694-250X SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - American Chemical Society (ACS) AN - OPUS4-64362 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rua-Ibarz, Ana A1 - Nakadi, Flávio V. A1 - Bolea-Fernandez, Eduardo A1 - Bazo, Antonio A1 - Battistella, Beatrice A1 - Matiushkina, Anna A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Abad Andrade, Carlos Enrique A1 - Resano, Martín T1 - Discrete entity analysis via microwave-induced nitrogen plasma–mass spectrometry in single-event mode N2 - In this work, single-event microwave-induced nitrogen plasma–mass spectrometry (single-event MINP-MS) was evaluated for the first time for the analysis of discrete entities such as nanoparticles, biological cells, and microplastics. Nitrogen (N2) effectively overcomes Ar-based polyatomic interferences, enabling (ultra)trace element determination of Fe and Se using their most abundant isotopes, 56Fe (91.66%) and 80Se (49.82%). Iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3 NPs) ranging from 20 to 70 nm were accurately characterized, with excellent agreement with established sizing techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). A limit of detection (LoD) of 8.6 ag for Fe─equivalent to an LoDsize of 19 nm for Fe2O3─was achieved, which is significantly lower than recent values reported for high-end quadrupole-based ICP-MS. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) of 150 and 250 nm were also accurately characterized, without the N2-based plasma experiencing issues handling relatively large metallic NPs (linearity, R2 = 0.9994). Se-enriched yeast cells (SELM-1 certified reference material) were successfully analyzed via single-cell MINP-MS using external calibration based on SeNPs and a transport efficiency-independent approach. In addition, 2–3 μm polystyrene (PS) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were accurately sized by monitoring 12C+, confirming the method’s suitability for handling micrometer-sized polymeric materials (microplastics). The average duration of individual events (680 ± 160 μs) suggests that the digestion of individual entities in N2-based plasmas is comparable to that in Ar-based plasmas. These results open new avenues for this instrumentation as an alternative to ICP ionization sources, also in the context of discrete entity analysis. KW - Microwave-Induced Nitrogen Plasma KW - Discrete entity analysis KW - Particle/droplet event counting KW - Comparison to SP-ICP-MS methodologies KW - Nitrogen plasma vs. argon ICP trade-offs KW - Trace elemental quantification at the single-entity level KW - Time-resolved mass spectrometry for discrete entities PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-643825 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.5c04341 SN - 0003-2700 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - American Chemical Society (ACS) AN - OPUS4-64382 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Morcillo, Dalia A1 - Winckelmann, Alexander A1 - Oelze, Marcus A1 - Leonhardt, Robert A1 - Schmidt, Anita A1 - Richter, Silke A1 - Recknagel, Sebastian A1 - Vogl, Jochen A1 - Panne, Ulrich A1 - Abad Andrade, Carlos Enrique T1 - Exploring Age-Induced Lithium Isotope Fractionation in Lithium-Ion Batteries using Microwave-Induced Cold Nitrogen Plasma Mass Spectrometry N2 - This study explores Microwave-Inductively Coupled Atmospheric-pressure Plasma Mass Spectrometry (MICAP-MS) as a cost-effective alternative to Multi-Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS) for analyzing lithium isotopic composition in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). We investigate the performance of MICAP-MS in measuring Li isotope ratios in new and aged commercial lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) batteries. Our results show that MICAP-MS, operating under cold plasma conditions at 800 W with an 8 mm torch position, achieves results metrologically compatible with MC-ICP-MS, with a precision ranging from 0.6‰ to 3.4‰ for δ7Li values. MICAP-MS benefits from a dielectric resonator for uniform plasma, better ion velocity control, and higher energy efficiency. Optimal settings were identified with dwell times of 10 ms for 6Li and 1 ms for 7Li. The study of LIBs revealed that 6Li migrates towards the anode over multiple charge–discharge cycles, causing 7Li to accumulate in the cathode, a fractionation effect that becomes more pronounced with prolonged cycling. MICAP-MS provides a cost-effective, precise alternative to MC-ICP-MS, with lower operational costs and enhanced portability, advancing the study of isotopic fractionation and aging in lithium-ion batteries. KW - MICAP-MS KW - Lithium KW - Battery aging KW - Lithium isotopes KW - Nitrogen plasma KW - Isotope fractionation KW - lithium cobalt oxide KW - LCO PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-643777 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d4ja00324a SN - 0267-9477 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-64377 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Abad Andrade, Carlos Enrique A1 - Jegielka, Dennis A1 - Aloysius, Allen A1 - Recknagel, Sebastian T1 - SI-traceable total analysis of nitrate and nitrite by isotope dilution optical spectroscopy and its application to Berlin surface waters N2 - Accurate nitrate and nitrite data support water-quality regulation, yet routine methods rely on external calibration and rarely achieve SI traceability. We report a calibration-free determination of nitrate and nitrite by combining isotope dilution with high-resolution continuum-source graphite furnace molecular absorption spectrometry (ID-HR-CS-GF-MAS). A 15N-enriched nitrate spike (its concentration verified by reverse isotope dilution against the standard reference material NIST 3185) provides the SI link, and it is gravimetrically added to samples; nitrate and residual nitrite are converted in situ to nitric oxide (NO), whose 215 nm band is recorded at a pixel resolution of λ/Δλ ≈ 140 000. The 0.2127 nm shift between 14NO and 15NO electronic spectra is resolved, and a three-latent-variable partial least squares regression model yields the 15N/14N ratio with 0.3% precision. Instrumental LoD values of 4.8 ng (14N) and 3.2 ng (15N) translate to a method LoD of 4.8 ng of nitrogen (equivalent to 1.05 mg L−1 NO3− for a 20 μL aliquot). The furnace program allows for successive drying/pyrolysis loops, so additional 20 μL aliquots can be layered onto the graphite platform. Alternatively, a 10 mL anion-exchange solid-phase extraction step concentrates nitrate and nitrite fivefold, allowing for the analysis of even lower sample concentrations. Results for four certified reference materials (2.9 to 1000 mg L−1 NO3−) agreed with certified values, giving relative expanded uncertainties of 2 to 4%. Analysis of twenty Berlin surface-water samples revealed concentrations ranging from 0.10 to 7.3 mg L−1 NO3−, indicating that the Panke River and Teltow Canal are the primary sources of nitrogen. ID-HR-CS-GF-MAS thus delivers ID-MS-level accuracy in a few minutes per run with bench-top optics, and, with optional on-platform or SPE pre-concentration, extends SI-traceable nitrate/nitrite monitoring into the low-ng regime. KW - Isotope dilution KW - Nitrate and nitrite determination KW - SI-traceable quantification KW - Calibration-free analysis KW - Water quality KW - Berlin surface waters KW - NO molecular absorption bands PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-643785 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D5JA00252D SN - 0267-9477 VL - 40 IS - 10 SP - 2692 EP - 2701 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-64378 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Klinge, A A1 - Mönig, J A1 - Ziegert, C A1 - Richter, Matthias A1 - Kalbe, Ute A1 - Horn, Wolfgang A1 - Röhlen, U A1 - Rauscher, S A1 - Roswag-Klinge, E T1 - upMIN 100 – upcycling of mineral construction and demolition waste to substitute natural aggregates in earthen building materials N2 - The construction sector is one of the most resource-intensive sectors in Germany and is responsible for 40 % of CO2 emissions. Around 517 million tons of mineral raw materials are required annually for the construction of buildings in Germany. At the same time, mineral construction waste was the largest material flow at 229.3 million tons (2020). The rates of construction and demolition waste (CDW) recycling have increased since 2000, especially for mineral waste. Nevertheless, the majority of recycled aggregates are used in technically largely unregulated applications (e.g. road construction). This downcycling leads to a loss of valuable resources for technically and economically valuable applications. The upMIN 100 research project is investigating the question of whether and to what extent recycled CDW is suitable as an additive an binder in earthen building materials. The focus is placed on grain sizes of < 2 mm, which are currently predominantly landfilled, as there are at present no regulations for their use in building products. The soil matrix of earthen building materials however, naturally contains of different grain sizes, whith < 2mm – 0,063 for aggregates and < 0.063 mm as a binder. Therefore, the focused grain sizes (sand, clay and silt) could have a high usage potential. In order to enable the use of CDW, the technical feasibility must be ensured, quality requirements for source materials (e.g. threshold values for pollutants in terms of health and environmental compatibility and hazardous substances) and permissible proportions of recycled aggregates must be defined. Two different building material developments (earth blocks and -plaster)were used to assess both, the technical feasibility as well the pollutant content of the recycled aggregate and its final emissions into the indoor air. For both materials two mixtures could be established, that also meet the mechanical specifications according to the DIN standard, such as the compressive strength. A method was developed to design material mixtures with a high amount of CDW that comply with the defined limit values. The mixtures reached a recycling rate of 28 % with high mechanical properties and 70 % with minimum strength requirements. KW - Mineral waste KW - Upcycling KW - Earthen building product KW - Circular construction PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-652831 DO - https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1554/1/012084 SN - 1755-1307 VL - 1554 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - IOP Publishing AN - OPUS4-65283 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -