TY - CONF A1 - Nicolai, Marcel T1 - Investigating Lamb wave mode repulsion with a spring-based model N2 - Lamb waves are widely utilized in material characterization, non-destructive testing (NDT), and structural health monitoring (SHM). A unique feature of Lamb waves is mode repulsion, where dispersion curves approach each other but do not cross. This phenomenon is observed in both single and multilayer plates and is influenced by wave coupling. While mode repulsion in single plates has been linked to symmetry-breaking effects, its underlying mechanism in multilayer systems remains unclear. This study investigates mode repulsion in a coupled aluminum-polycarbonate plate system using a spring-based interface model. Dispersion curves are computed via the Scaled Boundary Finite Element Method, and time-domain simulations are used to analyze the interface dynamics. Results indicate that repulsion depends on interface stiffness, distinguishing between opening and closing repulsion regions. The study further reveals that mode repulsion corresponds to distinct oscillatory behaviors in the interface, where certain wave modes induce increased coupling spring elongation, leading to localized strain. A coupled harmonic oscillator model effectively explains opening repulsion regions but does not fully capture closing regions. Findings suggest that mode repulsion could be leveraged for non-destructive evaluation of adhesive interfaces, offering insights into bond strength characterization. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of wave interactions in multilayer structures and provides a theoretical foundation for advancing NDT and SHM techniques. T2 - ICU2025 - International Congress on Ultrasonics 2025 CY - Paderborn, Germany DA - 21.09.2025 KW - Lamb waves KW - Mode repulsion KW - Coupled plates KW - Dispersion curves KW - Elastic Interfaces PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64225 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 - CONF A1 - Engelhard, Carsten T1 - On ICP-MS with Nanosecond Time Resolution: From Nanoparticles to Microplastics N2 - In this presentation, recent developments in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) instrumentation for particle characterization in complex mixtures will be reviewed. The current state-of-the-art in single-particle (sp) ICP-MS instrumentation for the detection and characterization of nanoparticles (NP) and microplastics (MPs) as well as remaining challenges will be discussed. While millisecond dwell times were used in the advent of spICP-MS, the use of microsecond dwell times helped to improve nanoparticle data quality and particle size detection limits. We could show that a custom-built high-speed data acquisition unit with microsecond time resolution (μsDAQ) can be used to successfully address issues of split-particle events and particle coincidence, to study the temporal profile of individual ion clouds, and to extend the linear dynamic range by compensating for dead time related count losses. Our latest development is an in-house built data acquisition system with nanosecond time resolution (nanoDAQ). Recording of the SEM signal by the nanoDAQ is performed on the nanosecond time scale with a dwell time of approximately 2 ns and enables detection of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) as small as 7.5 nm with a commercial single quadrupole ICP-MS instrument. [1] Analysis of acquired transient data is based on the temporal distance between detector events and a derived ion event density. It was shown that the inverse logarithm of the distance between detector events is proportional to particle size. Also, the number of detector events per particle can be used to calibrate and determine the particle number concentration (PNC) of a nanoparticle dispersion. In addition to inorganic nanoparticles, first results on the detection of microplastics with spICP-MS will be discussed. T2 - ANAKON 2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - Nano KW - Microplastics KW - Nanoparticle Characterization KW - ICP-MS KW - Instrumentation PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63580 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Engelhard, Carsten T1 - From Particles to PFAS: Recent Advances in Plasma-based Instrumentation Development N2 - In this presentation, recent advances in plasma spectrochemistry with hot and cold plasma sources for the direct detection of nanoparticles as well as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) will be discussed. In the first part, single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) with an in-house built data acquisition system with nanosecond time resolution (nanoDAQ) will be presented. In the second part, we turn to a cooler plasma source. Specifically, a flowing atmospheric-pressure afterglow source (FAPA) and its application for the direct mass spectrometric analysis of PFAS will be discussed. T2 - 20th European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 02.03.2025 KW - ICP-MS KW - Instrumentation KW - Nano KW - Nanoparticle Characterization KW - PFAS PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63581 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schmitt, Johannes T1 - Data acquisition system for single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) with nanosecond time resolution N2 - This study presents our data acquisition system prototype for single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (spICP-MS) with nanosecond time resolution (nanoDAQ) and a matching data processing approach for time-resolved data in the nanosecond range. The system continuously samples the secondary electron multiplier (SEM) detector signal with a dwell time of approximately 2 ns and enables detection of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) as small as 7.5 nm with a commercial single quadrupole ICP-MS instrument. [1] Analysis of acquired transient data is based on the temporal distance between detector events and a derived ion event density. It was shown that the inverse logarithm of the distance between detector events is proportional to particle size. Also, the number of detector events per particle can be used to calibrate and determine the particle number concentration (PNC) of a nanoparticle dispersion. [1] Particle-by-particle-based analysis of ion event density and other parameters derived from nanosecond time resolution show promising results. High data acquisition frequency of the systems allows recording of a statistically significant number of data points in 60 s or less, which leaves only the sample uptake and rinsing steps as remaining factors for limiting the total measurement time. T2 - ANAKON 2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - ICP-MS KW - Instrumentation KW - Nano KW - Nanoparticle Characterization PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63603 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Rhode, Michael T1 - Characterization of hydrogen trapping in a CoCrFeMnNi high-entropy alloy charged up to 1000 bar high-pressure hydrogen N2 - First studies on the mechanical behavior of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) in high-pressure hydrogen environment are available. In contrast, the underlying hydrogen absorption, diffusion and trapping in these HEAs like the Cantor-alloy was less in the scientific scope so far. For that reason, the CoCrFeMnNi-HEA was compared to a conventional AISI 316L austenitic steel, by exposing to high-pressure hydrogen charging at 200 bar and very-high pressure at 1,000 bar. Thermal desorption analysis (TDA) was applied with different heating rates (0.125 K/s to 0.500 K/s), see Fig. 1a to d. The underlying TDA spectra were analyzed in terms of a reasonable peak deconvolution to into a defined number of peaks and the calculation of the activation energies for the respective and predominant hydrogen trap sites. Both materials show a comparable hydrogen diffusivity. The obtained activation energies suggest that in case of the CoCrFeMnNi-HEAs an interaction of the austenitic phase as well as the direct atomic bonding of hydrogen to the metal atoms are the dominant traps, since “impurities” such as carbides or inclusions are only present in trace amounts. Available literature suggests that the Cr and Mn-content is here of special interest for the direct hydrogen bonding at solute atoms. In addition, the trap occupancy rate must be considered in terms of a pressure-related hydrogen absorption. The derived apparent hydrogen solubility was in the order: 316L < CoCrFeMnNi-HEA for both charging pressures. Especially, the 1,000 bar values lead to noteworthy results with > 70 wt.ppm for the AISI 316L and >130 wt.ppm for the CoCrFeMnNi. In fact, both the hydrogen diffusion and trapping data on gaseous high-pressure hydrogen charged HEAs are rare so far. The results of the present study allow a deeper understanding of hydrogen trapping in the regarded CoCrFeMnNi-system. T2 - 78th IIW Annual Assembly and International Conference CY - Genoa, Italy DA - 26.06.2025 KW - Hydrogen KW - Thermal desorption analysis KW - High-pressure charging KW - Trapping KW - Diffusion PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63542 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schilling, Markus T1 - Data-Driven Materials Science: Reproducibility and Standardization N2 - Advancing development and digitalization in materials science requires to focus on quality assurance, interoperability, and compliance with FAIR principles. Semantic technologies offer effective solutions for these challenges by enabling the storage, processing, and contextualization of data in machine-actionable and human-readable formats – essential for robust data management. This presentation highlights the PMD Core Ontology 3.0 (PMDco 3.0), developed specifically for the field of materials science and engineering, and its implementation within generic knowledge representation frameworks. Demonstrators such as standardized mechanical testing, material processing workflows, and the Orowan Demonstrator exemplify the ontology’s practical applications. The use of graph patterns, able to be compiled into rule-based semantic shapes, supports a unified and automated approach to managing heterogeneous experimental data across domains. T2 - Persson Group Seminar CY - Berkeley, CA, USA DA - 23.06.2025 KW - Semantic Data KW - Data Integration KW - Digitalization KW - Data Interoperability KW - PMD Core Ontology KW - Graph Patterns PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63484 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard T1 - A place for everything: traceable science using metadata from syntheses and characterisation N2 - In our laboratory, we rely heavily on automation for synthesis and measurement. Done right, automation can deliver reliable quantities of excruciatingly detailed data, produced in a reproducible and traceable way. This data then needs sorting and organising, and a good structure of metadata is a good start to long-lasting data. This metadata collection is an essential part of our “holistic experimentation”-approach. In this approach, we try to ensure that all aspects of the experimental chain are performed to a high standard, so that experimental integrity is maintained. In other words: as a failure in one of the components of the chain can make an entire experiment worthless, we must ensure each component is done (and documented) well. In this talk, we show how we 1) synthesise well-documented sample series, 2) apply a complete end-to-end X-ray scattering characterisation methodology to those samples, and 3) can link the data from the synthesis to the structural details obtained from the scattering experiments in a visual dashboard. Furthermore, we will show examples on how data can be organised in hierarchical structures in HDF5-based datafiles, and how this helps move towards more trustworthy, traceable science. About the speaker: Brian Pauw is a full-stack X-ray scattering expert with over 15 years of experience in materials science. After earning a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark in 2009, Brian advanced scattering techniques at Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science before joining BAM (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing) in Germany as a permanent researcher. At BAM, Brian focuses on small-angle scattering of polymers, metals, catalysts, and more – developing precise methodologies for data collection, correction, and analysis. They also lead efforts in laboratory automation, including robotic systems for reproducible sample preparation, aiming to enhance the efficiency and reliability of experimental workflows. T2 - Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration: FAIR Friday Lecture Series CY - Online meeting DA - 09.05.2025 KW - Methodology KW - X-ray scattering KW - Traceability KW - Data provenance KW - Metadata KW - Lab automation KW - Holistic science PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63078 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard T1 - NeXus at the core of the HExX-lab N2 - Through bottom-up, comprehensive digitalisation of all aspects of an experiment, the HEX-lab improves the trustworthiness (traceability, reproducibility, quality) of scientific findings. The five main parts that make up a materials science experiment, i.e. Sample preparation, Measurements, Processing, Analysis, and Interpretation, each have been addressed in thorough and unique ways in this lab, building up a foundation for a wide range of materials science collaborations. Improvements span the spectrum. Hardware developments include new sample environments and stages, such as grazing incidence motion towers, electrochemistry cells and flow-through holders, electronic components such as safety interlocks and multipurpose I/O controllers, and liquid handling systems such as coolant flow cross-over systems. Software developments include: 1) a new comprehensive control system operating on both the RoWaN as well as the MOUSE allowing for full Python control and sequencing of all experimentation, 2) Automated scripts for instrument optimization, sample alignments and measurements, 3) revamped data pipelines and analysis software, standalone or launched as part of operations sequencing dashboards on servers, and 4) meticulously structured archival datafiles, fully documenting sample preparation, measurements, processing and analyses. These allow for holistic databases and dashboards to be constructed to investigate the links between synthesis parameters and resulting morphology. This presentation will highlight some of the tools and techniques developed and available in the HEX-lab over the years, from sample environments to overarching experiment and data organisation structures. T2 - Materials Science Core Facility Synergy Forum 2025 CY - Bremen, Germany DA - 26.02.2025 KW - Digitalization KW - Automation KW - HDF5 KW - Traceability KW - Data stewardship KW - Lab automation KW - Holistic science KW - Methodology PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62676 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard T1 - Reimagining user-driven science N2 - The materials scientists we work with do not want (or need) to learn the ways of the scatterer; they are primarily interested in obtaining trustworthy, authoritative answers. In particular, they need structural understanding in light of the wider framework of their experiment(s). Our interest, therefore, lies in helping them attain this this interconnected understanding, while using such investigations to further hone our methodology to approximate perfection. While perfection is by definition an unattainable goal, we have spent the last 15+ years exploring and expanding on many of its constituent aspects (often together with likeminded people) [1]. These aspects include: developing various visualization and simulation tools, deconstructing data corrections and uncertainty estimation, advancing analysis methods, quantifying questions on traceability, documentation, reproducible automation of synthesis-, measurement- and data pipelines, data visualization, exploration and education, and many more… As we explored these individual aspects, it has become clear that high quality output demands involving ourselves in the entire experimental workflow, with all associated aspects. This allows you to establish trustworthy links between parameters, structure, and performance. Through multiple cross-checks and validations, we can furthermore assign a degree of confidence to our findings. This is what we call the holistic approach. This talk will briefly define perfection in scattering experiments, expand on the holistic approach, and show examples to demonstrate its benefits. T2 - Invited talk - special event CY - Trieste, Italy DA - 15.05.2025 KW - X-ray scattering KW - Holistic experiments KW - Laboratory management KW - Laboratory automation KW - Data stewardship KW - User support PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63372 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard T1 - and now it's bigger…: setting up for large scale experimentation N2 - In our laboratory, we rely heavily on automation for synthesis and measurement. Done right, automation can deliver reliable quantities of excruciatingly detailed data, produced in a reproducible and traceable way. This data then needs sorting and organising, and a good structure of metadata is a good start to long-lasting data. This metadata collection is an essential part of our “holistic experimentation”-approach. In this approach, we try to ensure that all aspects of the experimental chain are performed to a high standard, so that experimental integrity is maintained. In other words: as a failure in one of the components of the chain can make an entire experiment worthless, we must ensure each component is done (and documented) well. In this talk, we show how we 1) synthesise well-documented sample series, 2) apply a complete end-to-end X-ray scattering characterisation methodology to those samples, and 3) can link the data from the synthesis to the structural details obtained from the scattering experiments in a visual dashboard. Furthermore, we will show examples on how data can be organised in hierarchical structures in HDF5-based datafiles, and how this helps move towards more trustworthy, traceable science. T2 - Future Labs Live 2025 CY - Basel, Switzerland DA - 27.05.2025 KW - Lab automation KW - Holistic experiments KW - Synthesis KW - Traceability KW - Data stewardship PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63373 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Monroy, José del Refugio A1 - Deshpande, Tejas A1 - Schlecht, Joël A1 - Douglas, Clara A1 - Stirling, Robbie A1 - Grabicki, Niklas A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob A1 - Kochovski, Zdravko A1 - Fabozzi, Filippo Giovanni A1 - Hecht, Stefan A1 - Feldmann, Sascha A1 - Dumele, Oliver T1 - Homochiral versus racemic 2D covalent organic frameworks N2 - The synthesis of homochiral two-dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs) from chiral π-conjugated building blocks is challenging, as chiral units often lead to misaligned stacking interactions. In this work, we introduce helical chirality into 2D COFs using configurationally stable enantiopure and racemic [5]helicenes as linkers in the backbone of 2D [5]HeliCOFs as powders and films. Through condensation with 1,3,5-triformylbenzene (TFB) or 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (TFP), our approach enables the efficient formation of a set of homochiral and racemic 2D [5]HeliCOFs. The resulting carbon-based crystalline and porous frameworks exhibit distinct structural features and different properties between homochiral and racemic counterparts. Propagation of helical chirality into the backbone of the crystalline frameworks leads to the observation of advanced chiroptical properties in the far-red visible spectrum, along with a less compact structure compared with the racemic frameworks. Homogeneous thin films of [5]HeliCOFs disclosed photoluminescent properties arising from the controlled growth of highly ordered π-conjugated lattices. The present study offers insight into general chiral framework formation and extends the Liebisch−Wallach rule to 2D COFs. KW - Chirality KW - Covalent organic frameworks KW - Diffraction KW - Lattices KW - Thin films PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-633755 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c01004 SN - 0002-7863 VL - 147 IS - 21 SP - 17750 EP - 17763 PB - American Chemical Society (ACS) CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-63375 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Khropost, Diana A1 - Riethmüller, Franziska A1 - Döhring, Thorsten A1 - Flachs, Dennis A1 - Hülagü, Deniz A1 - Hertwig, Andreas A1 - Cotroneo, Vincenzo A1 - gibertini, eugenio T1 - Polydopamine – a bio-inspired polymer for X-ray mirror coatings and other technical applications N2 - Although the organic molecule dopamine (3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is commonly known as one of the “hormones of happiness”, thin polymer films of polydopamine (PDA) also have interesting technical properties. PDA is a very strong glue that sticks on almost everything, even under water. In nature, PDA is found in the byssal thread cuticles of mussels. When produced by dip-coating, the self-organizing PDA layers grow in a reproducible thickness of single or multiple molecule monolayers of a few nanometres thickness only. Here we present an optimized preparation regime as derived from polymerization analysis through absorption spectroscopy. One application is the use of thin PDA overcoatings to increase the soft X-ray reflectivity of astronomical X-ray mirrors. Furthermore, we give an outlook to other technical applications for this interesting material, presenting this bio-inspired organic polymer as an innovative technical solution for the future, with applications such as PDA-based super-capacitors and its promising role in enhancing separator materials for batteries. T2 - SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics 2025 CY - Prague, Czech Republic DA - 07.04.2025 KW - X-ray mirrors KW - Reflectivity KW - Polydopamine KW - Ellipsometry PY - 2025 DO - https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3056298 VL - 13531 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - SPIE AN - OPUS4-63630 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Khropost, Diana A1 - Riethmüller, Franziska A1 - Stanik, Eva A1 - Döhring, Thorsten A1 - Hertwig, Andreas A1 - Hülagü, Deniz T1 - Polydopamine -a bionic material and its potential applications for batteries N2 - Polydopamine (PDA) recently came into focus as an innovative material for applications in various technical fields. It is a very strong glue that sticks on almost everything, even under water: In nature, PDA is found in the byssal thread cuticles of mussels. In 2007, Lee et al. first showed that dipping substrates into a solution of dopamine results in the formation of thin PDA films on numerous materials. The simple preparation and the high durability of these coatings have stimulated growing research interest and a wide variety of applications in energy, biomedical and environmental science, and other fields. We have investigated thin layers of PDA with different methods including ellipsometry, tactile measurements of the layer thickness and in situ absorption measurements during the polymerization process. During polymerization the dopamine solution shows a progressive colour change from transparent to brown that has been monitored by spectrometric measurements. The increasing absorption of the cuvette with dopamine solution can be seen in figure 1. The absorption levels off after approximately 2,5 h of polymerization time, thus indicating termination of the primary formation of the PDA film. This data shows that for homogeneous layer growth it is advantageous to interrupt the process after two hours. To generate a higher layer thickness, the samples need to be cleaned and immersed in a fresh dopamine solution subsequently. In addition, ellipsometry measurements on polydopamine layers could determine the corresponding coating thickness as well as its complex refractive index over a broad wavelength range. T2 - Materials Week 2025 CY - Frankfurt am Main, Germany DA - 02.04.2025 KW - Polydopamine KW - Ellipsometry KW - Leyer thickness PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63636 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nikitin, D. A1 - Biliak, K. A1 - Protsak, M. A1 - Adejube, B. A1 - Ali-Ogly, S. A1 - Škorvanková, K. A1 - Červenková, V. A1 - Katuta, R. A1 - Tosco, M. A1 - Hanuš, J. A1 - Černochová, Z. A1 - Černoch, P. A1 - Štěpánek, P. A1 - Boiko, O. A1 - Szymoniak, Paulina A1 - Schönhals, Andreas A1 - Faupel, F. A1 - Biedermann, H. A1 - Vahl, A. A1 - Choukourov, A. T1 - Unveiling the Fundamental Principles of Reconfigurable Resistance States in Silver/Poly(ethylene glycol) Nanofluids N2 - Developing novel memristive systems aims to implement key principles of biological neuron assemblies – plasticity, adaptivity, and self-organization – into artificial devices for parallel, energy-efficient computing. Solid-state memristive devices, such as crossbar arrays and percolated nanoparticle (NP) networks, already demonstrate these properties. However, closer similarity to neural networks is expected from liquid-state systems, including polymer melts, which remain largely unexplored. Here, the resistive switching in silver/poly(ethylene glycol) (Ag/PEG) nanofluids, prepared by depositing gas-aggregated Ag NPs into PEGs of varying molecular mass, is investigated. These systems form long-range conductive NP bridges with reconfigurable resistance states in response to an electric field. The zeta-potential of Ag NPs and molecular mobility of PEG determine the prevalence of low resistance (ohmic) state, high resistance states (poor conductance) or intermediate transition states governed by space-charge-limited conduction or electron tunneling. The occurrence of these states is given by the interparticle gaps, which are determined by the conformation of PEG molecules adsorbed on the NPs. It is presented, for the first time, an equivalent circuit model for the Ag/PEG system. These findings pave the way to adopt polymer melts as matrices for neuromorphic engineering and bio-inspired electronics. KW - Nanofluids PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-635351 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202505103 VL - 12 SP - 1 EP - 14 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-63535 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 - GEN A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Abram, Sarah-Luise A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Zou, Shan A1 - Johnston, Linda T1 - Behind the Paper: Nanoscale Reference and Test Materials for the Validation of Characterization Methods for Engineered Nanomaterials – Current State, Limitations and Needs N2 - Engineered nanomaterials (NMs) of different material composition, morphology, and surface chemistry are widely used in material and life sciences. For NM quality control and risk assessment, NM key properties must be characterized with validated methods, requiring reference materials (RMs). KW - Engineered Nanomaterials KW - Nanoscale reference materials KW - Interlaboratory comparisons KW - Traceability KW - Standardization and Regulation KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Quality assurance KW - Surface chemistry PY - 2025 UR - https://communities.springernature.com/posts/nanoscale-reference-and-test-materials-for-the-validation-of-characterization-methods-for-engineered-nanomaterials-current-state-limitations-and-needs SP - 1 EP - 3 PB - Springer Nature CY - Online AN - OPUS4-62572 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Haroun, A. A. A. A1 - Derbala, H. A. A1 - Bassioni, G. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Shafik, E. S. A1 - Hassan, A. M. A. T1 - N-aminophthalimide as a novel UV-stabilizer to promote physico-mechanical properties of highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) N2 - This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Naminophthalimide (NAP) as a novel UV-stabilizer for highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) in improving its physicomechanical properties under UV exposure. NAP was synthesized by interaction between phthalimide and hydrazine hydrate. It was incorporated into HDPE with different weight ratios (1, 1.5, 2, and 3%), and its performancewas compared with Hostavin as a traditional UV stabilizer. The HDPE composites were exposed to UV irradiation for different periods (7 and 14 days) to evaluate their photodegradation behavior. Tensile strength, elongation at break were assessed before and after UV exposure. Also, oxidation induction time (OIT), melt flow rate (MFR), Vicat softening temperature were evaluated. Hostavin incorporation reduced tensile strength from 22.36 to 20.62MPa at higher concentrations. It has been found that 3% Hostavin, significantly improved elongation at break, increasing from 423% to 1,170%, suggesting enhanced flexibility. In contrast, NAP increased tensile strength to 22.9MPa and moderately enhanced elongation but slightly declined at 3%due to potential over-stabilization. Under UV exposure, retained tensile strength and elongation was improved with stabilizer content, which increasing tensile strength retention. The HDPE that containing NAP showed enhanced UV resistance and superior retention of mechanical properties compared to Hostavin. KW - Polymer KW - Advanced materials KW - Quality assurance KW - Stabilizer KW - Synthesis KW - Physico-mechanical properties PY - 2025 DO - https://doi.org/10.1515/polyeng-2024-0262 SN - 2191-0340 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - De Gruyter CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-63534 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Reliable Photoluminescence Quantum Yields – New Reference Materials and Interlaboratory Comparisons N2 - The rational design and choice of molecular and nanoscale reporters, the comparison of different emitter classes, and photophysical and mechanistic studies require quantitative photoluminescence measurements and the reliable determination of the key performance parameter photoluminescence quantum yield (QY), i.e., the number of emitted per absorbed photons. This is of special importance for all photoluminescence applications in the life and material sciences in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR. To improve the reliability and comparability of photoluminescence and QY measurements across laboratories, pitfalls, achievable uncertainties, and material-specific effects related to certain emitter classes must be explored. Also, suitable protocols and reference materials are needed which have been validated in interlaboratory comparisons for different wavelength regions and transparent and scattering luminophores.[1] Based on absolute and relative photoluminescence measurements of functional dyes and luminescent nanomaterials, reliable methods for determining QY of transparent and scattering luminophores, nonlinear emitters, and solid luminescent nanomaterials have been developed.[1-4] Thereby, material- and method-related uncertainties of relative and absolute QY measurements and achievable uncertainties could be quantified for linear and nonlinear UV/vis/NIR/SWIR emitters and lately for also luminescent and scattering materials and solid phoshors. In this context, we present the development and certification of a first set of UV/vis/NIR quantum yield standards with a complete uncertainty budget,[5] which present simple tools for a better comparability of QY measurements. In addition, a first interlaboratory comparison of absolute QY measurements of solid and scattering LED converter materials with integrating sphere spectroscopy has been performed.[5] The outcome of this study is presented, thereby addressing common pitfalls and measurement uncertainties and providing recommendations for the performance of reliable QY measurements of linear and non-linear emitters in transparent, scattering, and solid samples. T2 - Anakon 2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Method KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - Absolute KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Dye KW - Film KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Scattering KW - Uncertainty KW - LED converter PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62792 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 - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Reliable measurements of the photoluminescence quantum yield of transparent and scattering luminophores N2 - Optical measurements of transparent solutions of organic dyes and semiconductor quantum dots and scattering materials such as luminescent nanocomposites and microparticles and phosphors dispersed in liquid and solid matrices play an important role in energy conversion, solid-state lighting, medical diagnostics, and security barcoding. A key performance parameter is the photoluminescence quantum yield QY, i.e., the number of emitted per number of absorbed photons. QY of transparent luminophore solutions can be obtained relative to a fluorescence QY standard of known QY.[1] Meanwhile, a first set of certified fluorescence QY standards is available.[2] Such relative QY measurements require a calibrated spectrofluorometer.[1,3] For determining QY of scattering liquid and solid samples, absolute measurements of QY with a calibrated integrating sphere setup are mandatory.[1,4,5] However, scattering QY standards are not available and uncertainties of such measurements have not yet been assessed in interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs). To determine typical sources of uncertainty of absolute QY measurements, we assessed the influence of the measurement geometry and the optical properties of the blank for determining the number of incident photons absorbed by the sample in an ILC using commercial integrating sphere setups and a custom-designed integrating sphere setup. Samples examined included transparent and scattering dye solutions, solid phosphors such as YAG:Ce optoceramics used as LED converter material, and polymer films stained with different amounts of phosphor microparticles. Matching QY values could be obtained for transparent dye solutions and scattering dispersions with a blank with scattering properties closely matching those of the sample, while QY measurements of optoceramic samples with different blanks revealed substantial differences of more than 20 %. Based on our data, we recommend non-absorbing blank materials with a high reflectivity (>95 %) such as a 2 mm-thick PTFE target placed on the sample holder as blanks. T2 - eMRS 2025 Fall Meeting CY - Warsaw, Poland DA - 15.09.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Advanced material KW - Synthesis KW - Characterization KW - Fluorescence quantum yield KW - Phosphor KW - Absolute KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Dye KW - Standardization KW - Reference material KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Uncertainty PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64184 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 - Weinel, Kristina A1 - Hahn, Marc Benjamin A1 - Lubk, Axel A1 - González Martínez, Ignacio Guillermo A1 - Büchner, Bernd A1 - Agudo Jácome, Leonardo T1 - Nanoparticle Synthesis by Precursor Irradiation with Low-Energy Electrons N2 - Nanoparticles (NPs) and their fabrication routes are intensely studied for their wide range of application in optics, chemistry, and medicine. Γ-ray and ion irradiation of precursor matter are established methods that facilitate tailored NP synthesis without complicated chemistry. Here, we develop and explore NP synthesis based on irradiating precursor microparticles with low-energy electron beams. We specifically demonstrate the fabrication of plasmonic gold nanoparticles of sizes between 3 and 350 nm on an amorphous SiOx substrate using a 30 kV electron beam. By detailed comparison with electron scattering simulations and thermodynamic modeling, we reveal the dominant role of inelastic electron–matter interaction and subsequent localized heating for the observed vaporization of the precursor gold microparticles. This general principle suggests the suitability of electron-beam irradiation for synthesizing NPs of a wide class of materials. KW - Gold Nanoparticle KW - Scanning Electron Microscopy KW - In situ irradiation KW - Thermodynamic modelling KW - Heat Transfer PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-627609 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.4c06033 SN - 2574-0970 VL - 8 IS - 10 SP - 4980 EP - 4988 PB - ACS Publications CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-62760 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Feng, Wen A1 - Schulz, Johannes A1 - Wolf, Daniel A1 - Pylypenko, Sergii A1 - Gemming, Thomas A1 - Weinel, Kristina A1 - Agudo Jácome, Leonardo A1 - Büchner, Bernd A1 - Lubk, Axel T1 - Secondary electron emission from gold microparticles in a transmission electron microscope: comparison of Monte Carlo simulations with experimental results N2 - We measure the electron beam-induced current to analyze the electron-induced secondary electron (SE) emission from micron-sized gold particles illuminated by 80 and 300 keV electrons in a transmission electron microscope. A direct comparison of the experimental and simulated SE emission (SEE) employing Monte Carlo scattering simulations based on the GEANT4 toolkit yields overall good agreement with a noticeable discrepancy arising from the shortcoming of the GEANT4 scattering cross sections in the low-loss regime. Thus, the electron beam-induced current analysis allows to quantify the inelastic scattering including SEE in the transmission electron microscope and provides further insight into the charging mechanisms. KW - Electron beam-induced current KW - Transmission electron microscopy KW - Secondary electron emission KW - Secondary electron yield KW - Gold micronoparticle PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-622557 DO - https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6463/ad9840 VL - 58 IS - 8 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - IOP Publishing CY - Bristol, GB AN - OPUS4-62255 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Agudo Jácome, Leonardo T1 - In situ electron-beam 'melting' (sublimation) of gold microparticles in the SEM N2 - Gold micro particles have been modified in the past using the high power density of a localized electron beam of acceleration voltages above 100 kV as an energy source to transform matter at the sub-micron scale in a transmission electron microscope uses. Here, the e-beam-induced transformation of precursor microparticles employing a low-energy e-beam with an acceleration voltage of 30 kV in a scanning electron microscope is implemented. Under these conditions, the technique can be classified between e-beam lithography, where the e-beam is used to mill holes in or grow some different material onto a substrate, and e-beam welding, where matter can be welded together when overcoming the melting phase. Modifying gold microparticles on an amorphous SiOx substrate reveals the dominant role of inelastic electron-matter interaction and subsequent localized heating for the observed melting and vaporization of the precursor microparticles under the electron beam. Monte-Carlo scattering simulations and thermodynamic modeling further support the findings. T2 - IKZ International Fellowship Award & Summer School 2025 from May 5 to 7, 2025 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 05.05.2025 KW - Gold Nanoparticle KW - Scanning Electron Microscopy KW - In situ irradiation KW - Thermodynamic modelling KW - Heat Transfer PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63256 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Andresen, Elina T1 - Towards Development of Reference Test Materials for Metrology in Nanomedicine N2 - The EPM-project “MetrINo” responds to the immediate metrological needs expressed by industry, regulators and policy makers for the development and validation of traceable measurement methods and reference materials (RMs) candidates for the assessment of CQAs of nanotherapeutics. The conference talk focuses on the preparation, homogeneity and stability studies of iron oxide and multi-element nanoparticles as candidate reference materials for size measurements. The developed materials aim to support the development and harmonization of traceable methodologies for nanoparticle characterization. T2 - NME 2025 CY - Barcelona, Spain DA - 27.05.2025 KW - IONPs KW - Reference materials KW - Lanthanide-based upconverting nanoparticles PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63905 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 - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Career Options in Public Service N2 - In the following, an overview of possible career options for chemists is presented covering metrology institutes, departmental research institutes of ministries, Federal and state research institutes and options in areas such as Federal or state institutions in charge of occupational safety, the German armed forces, wastewater treatment plants and labs/institutes controlling water quality, and museums. Thereby also examples and personal insights of the daily work routine are provided for some employers. T2 - Career-Workshop ChiÖD CY - Karlsruhe, Germany DA - 02.04.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference analysis KW - Standardization KW - Metrology KW - Reference products KW - Reference materials KW - Mission PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62867 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - From molecular and nanoscale chromophores with UV/VIS/NIR/SWIR luminescence to multi method characterization of surface coatings N2 - An overview of the research activities of division Biophotonics is presented covering examples for photophysical studies of different types of molecular and nanocrystalline luminophores, luminescent particles, and sensor systems in solution, in dispersion, and in the solid state and multi-method charactreization workflow for the characterization of surface-functionalized engineered nanomaterials. In addition, the importance of reliable optical measurements, particularly standardized workflows for the determination of the key performance parameter luminescence quantum yield of transparent and scattering luminescent samples with fluorescence and integrating sphere spectroscopy, and validated methods for quantifying surface functional groups and ligands on nanomaterials is highlighted. Thereby, also ongoing standardization activities are presented as well as certified reference materials and reference materials from division Biophotonics. T2 - Chinese-German Chemical Association - Annual Meeting CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 22.08.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Quantum yield KW - Characterization KW - Advanced material KW - Surface KW - Lifetime KW - Sensor KW - Oxygen KW - Ph KW - Standardization KW - Fluorescent probe KW - Reference material PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64181 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 - 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 - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Molecular and nanoscale emitters photophysics , photoluminescence quantum yields, and surface chemistry N2 - Inorganic nanocrystals such as spectrally shifting lanthanide-based nanoparticles (LnNCs) like NaYF4: Yb, Er and semiconductor quantum dots, organic and inorganic particles stained with sensor molecules, and organic dyes showing aggregation-induced emission are meanwhile broadly applied in the life and material sciences. The identification of optimum particle architectures and molecular structures for photonic applications requires quantitative spectroscopic studies and methods to control and analyse particle surface chemistry. In the following, photoluminescence studies of different emitter classes are presented, thereby addressing the measurement of particle brightness and photoluminescence quantum yields in different spectral windows parameters required for an in-depth mechanistic understanding. In addition, examples for the quantification of surface functional groups on nanomaterials with optical spectroscopy are given. T2 - GdCH Kolloquium CY - Düsseldorf, Germany DA - 11.11.2025 KW - Dye KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - Lifetime KW - Sensor materials KW - Temperature KW - Cr(III) complex KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Polymer KW - Metrology KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Surface chemistry KW - Size KW - Shape KW - Particle number concentration KW - Method KW - Optical assay KW - qNMR KW - Validation KW - Potentiometry KW - XPS PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64728 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Sander, P. A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Schedler, U. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Potentiometric and Optical Titration for Cost- Efficient Quantification of Surface Functional Groups on Silica Nanoparticles N2 - Surface chemistry of engineered nanomaterials (NMs) plays a critical role not only in determining their interactions with the environment but also in their stability, safety, and functionality across diverse applications ranging from catalysis to biomedicine. Accurate quantification of surface functional groups (FGs) is therefore essential for quality control, risk assessment, and performance optimization.[1] However, many existing analytical techniques are either cost-intensive, require specialized instrumentation, or lack scalability for routine use. In this study, we present a comparative evaluation of potentiometric and optical titration as two simple, cost-efficient, and automatable methods for quantifying surface functional groups on a variety of surface-modified silica nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs). These NPs were chosen as they are among the most frequently utilized engineered NMs in the life and material sciences. Potentiometric titration, based on pH monitoring during acid-base neutralization, offers a direct and label-free approach to determine the total amount of FGs. Optical titration provides a complementary method with potential for high-throughput screening. To examine the accuracy and robustness of our stepwise-optimized workflows and the achievable relative standard deviations (RSDs), measurements were performed by multiple operators in two laboratories. Method validation was conducted through cross-comparison with traceable, chemo-selective quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (qNMR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). A comparison with optical assays highlights the importance of measuring both quantities for comprehensive characterization of surface-modified NMs.[2] A combined NM surface analysis using optical assays and pH titration will simplify quality control of NM production processes and stability studies, and can yield large datasets for NM grouping in sustainable and safe(r)-by-design studies. T2 - eMRS Fall Meeting 2025 CY - Warsaw, Poland DA - 15.09.2025 KW - Fluorescence KW - Advanced material KW - Synthesis KW - Characterization KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Surface analysis KW - Validation KW - qNMR KW - Fluram assay KW - Functional group KW - Quantification KW - Potentiometry KW - Amino groups KW - Fluorescamine KW - Calibration KW - Method comparison PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64205 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Quantifying functional groups and coatings on nanoobjects N2 - Engineered nanomaterials (NM) of different size, shape, chemical composition, and surface chemistry are increasingly used for many key technologies of the 21st century and consumer products. This includes polymer and silica or silica-coated nanoparticles (NP) with covalently bound surface groups, semiconductor quantum dots (QD), metal and metal oxide NP, and lanthanide NP with coordinatively or electrostatically bound ligands, as well as surface-coated nanostructures like micellar encapsulated NP. Decisive for most applications of NMs are their specific surface properties, which are largely determined by the chemical nature and amounts of ligands and functional groups (FGs) on the NM surface. The surface chemistry can strongly affect the physicochemical properties of NM, their charge, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, reactivity, function, stability, and processability and thereby their impact on human health and environment. Knowledge of NM surface chemistry plays an important role for NM functionality and performance in (bio)applications and the fate, exposure, dissolution, transformation, and accumulation of NM, and thus, the potential risks for human health and the environment. This highlights the importance of reliable, validated, and eventually standardized analytical methods for analyzing and quantifying NM surface chemistry for process and quality control of NM production, safe use of NMs, design of novel NM, and sustainable concepts for NM fabrication.[1-3] In this context, interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) are needed to assess method reliability and reference materials with known surface chemistries for establishing surface analytical methods and their performance validation.[2,4] Also, to respond to the increasing number of samples to be analyzed, cost-efficient automation concepts for surface analysis are needed that can be realized with affordable and preferably commercial instrumentation.[5] Here, we provide an overview of analytical methods for FG analysis and quantification used by us for quantifying broadly utilized FGs and ligands on different types of NMs with electrochemical titration methods, optical assays, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and vibrational (IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray based and thermal analysis methods.[1,2] Thereby, method- and material-related challenges are addressed, and the importance of multi-method characterization approaches easing method validation by method cross-validation. Special emphasis is dedicated to simple, versatile, and cost-efficient methods such as optical assays and electrochemical titration methods. T2 - eMRS Fall Meeting 2025 CY - Warsaw, Poland DA - 15.09.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Characterization KW - Advanced material KW - Surface KW - Standardization KW - Reference material KW - Functional group KW - Quantification KW - Coating KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Uncertainty PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64183 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Assessing different types of silica networks for the complete protection of nir luminescent molecular rubies from oxygen quenching in air N2 - The application of emerging luminophores such as near-infrared (NIR) emissive earth-abundant chromium(III) (CrIII) complexes 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 luminescence 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 oxygen-dependent, 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 l-arginine 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. T2 - eMRS Strasbourg CY - Strasbourg, France DA - 26.05.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Quantum yield KW - NIR KW - Mechanism KW - Characterization KW - Electron microscopy KW - Silica KW - Oxygen sensing KW - Surface KW - Doping KW - Lifetime KW - Cr(III) complex PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63300 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 - CONF A1 - Güttler, Arne T1 - Certified Reference Materials for the Quantification and Standardization of Fluorescence-based Measurements N2 - The size and shape of photoluminescence signals is affected by wavelength-, polarization-, and time-dependent instrumentspecific contributions and the compound- and environment-specific photoluminescence quantum yield. The former hamper the comparability of fluorescence measurements performed on different measuring devices. The commonly relatively done determination of the performance parameter requires suitable quantum yield standards with well-known. The performance of such measurements is, e.g., described in the written standard IEC 62607 currently revised. T2 - Colloquium für Optische Spektrometrie 2025 CY - Jena, Germany DA - 24.09.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Advanced material KW - Calibration KW - Characterization KW - Fluorescence quantum yield KW - Phosphor KW - Absolute KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Dye KW - Standardization KW - Reference material KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Uncertainty PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64213 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Oskoei, Parastu T1 - Thermoresponsive UCNP@MSN Nanoparticles for Doxorubicin Delivery in Melanoma Cells N2 - Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) possess unique photophysical characteristics, such as excita bility by near infrared (NIR) light, which facilitates deep tissue penetration, multi color emission , long luminescence lifetimes, and an excellent photostability. These features have made UCNPs promising tools for biomedical applications . M esoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) functionalized with stimuli responsive nanovalves or specific coatings enable the encapsulation and controlled release of therapeutic agen ts, thereby offering spatiotemporal precision in drug delivery 1 3 ]]. Among drug delivery strategies, photoresponsive systems have attracted growing attention due to their potential for clinical applications . This is especially relevant for melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer with increasing global incidence, for which conventional therapeutic modalities remain largely insufficient in advanced stage 4 In this work, core shell UCNP@MSN nanoparticles were synthetised by coating UCNPs with a mesoporous silica layer, which was subsequently functionalized with thermoresponsive retro Diels Alder nanovalves [ and loaded with the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (DOX). Controlled drug release was effectively achieved under 980 nm NIR i llumination . Treatment with functionalized nanoparticles significantly reduced the viability of melanoma cell lines, with an enhanced cytotoxicity being observed upon combined nanoparticle exposure and NIR illumination . Mechanistic analyses revealed that neither UCNPs nor NIR i llumination alone could induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, their combination induced a marked increase in ROS levels in two of the three tested cell lines. Furthermore, this dual treatment promoted substantial apoptotic and/or necrotic responses across all cell models. These findings underscore the potential of UCNP@MSN nanoplatforms, equipped with thermoresponsive ga tes , as efficient photoactivated drug delivery systems for melanoma therapy. T2 - Conference Jornadas CICECO CY - Aveiro, Portugal DA - 09.10.2025 KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Lanthanide KW - Upconversion KW - Surface chemistry KW - Mesoporous silica KW - Doxorubicin KW - Nanomedicine KW - Triggered release KW - pH KW - Cellular uptake KW - Toxicity KW - Folate KW - Ligand PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64371 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Quantifying the total and accessible amount of surface functionalities and ligands on nanomaterials N2 - Engineered nanomaterials (NMs) of various chemical composition and surface functionalization are routinely fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, opto-electronics, and information storage. NM dispersibility, stability, processability, and function as well as the interaction with biological species and environmental fate are largely determined by NM surface functionalities, i.e., functional groups (FGs) and ligands. Therefore, reliable, reproducible, and eventually standardized surface characterization methods are vital for quality control of NMs, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. Suitable methods for determining surface functionalities on ligand-stabilized core and core/shell NPs include advanced techniques such as traceable quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) as well as X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and simpler optical and electrochemical methods.[1] The latter less costly and fast methods, which can be automated, are often used by NM producers for process and quality control.[1,2] To validate methods, establish measurement uncertain-ties, test reference materials, and produce reference data, multi-method characterization studies are needed.[3,4] as well as interlaboratory comparisons (ILC) on determining NM surface chemistry and well characterized test and reference NMs providing benchmark values.[5,6] Here, we present examples for quantifying common surface FGs such as amino and carboxyl groups on functional NMs of different chemical composition such as silica, polymer, iron oxide, and lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles with optical assays, electrochemical titration methods, qNMR, and chromatographic separation techniques. In addition, ongoing interlaboratory comparisons will be presented. T2 - Yucomat 2025 CY - Herec Novi, Montenegro DA - 01.09.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Characterization KW - Advanced material KW - Surface KW - Standardization KW - Reference material KW - Functional group KW - Quantification KW - Coating KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Uncertainty PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64182 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Measurements of Photoluminescence Quantum Yields of Scattering LED Converter Materials N2 - How to Get it Right with the Absolute Measurement of Photoluminescence Quantum Yields of Scattering LED Converter Materials Saskia Fiedler+,a, Florian Frenzel+,a, Christian Würth a, Isabella Tavernaro a, Michelle Grüne c, Stefan Schweizer c,d, Axel Engel e, and Ute Resch-Genger a* a Division Biophotonics, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstaetter-Strasse 11, D-12489 Berlin, Germany; email: ute.resch@bam.de b Present address: Photonic Materials, NWO-Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands c Faculty of Electrical Engineering, South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, Lübecker Ring 2, 59494, Soest, Germany d Fraunhofer Application Center for Inorganic Phosphors, Branch Lab of Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, Lübecker Ring 2, 59494, Soest, Germany e Schott AG Technical Services, Hattenbergstrasse 10, D-55122 Mainz, Germany Optical measurements of scattering materials such as luminescent nano- and microparticles and phosphors dispersed in liquid and solid matrices play an important role in energy conversion, solid-state lighting, medical diagnostics, and security barcoding. A key performance parameter is the photoluminescence quantum yield QY, i.e., the number of emitted per number of absorbed photons. QY of transparent luminophore solutions can be obtained relative to a fluorescence QY standard of known QY, meanwhile available as certified reference materials.[1] The determination of QY of scattering liquid and solid samples like nanoparticle dispersions, phosphors, and optoceramics requires, however, absolute measurements with an integrating sphere setup. Despite the need for reliable absolute QY measurements, no interlaboratory comparison (ILCs) on measurement uncertainties has been performed and scattering standards with known QY are not available. We present the results of an ILC of 3 labs from academia and industry on measurements of transparent and scattering dye solutions and solid phosphors and converter materials like YAG:Ce optoceramics with commercial stand-alone integrating sphere setups of different illumination and detection geometries. Special emphasis was dedicated to the influence of measurement geometry, optical properties of the blank for determining the number of incident photons absorbed by the sample, and sample-specific surface roughness. Matching QY values could be obtained for transparent dye solutions and scattering dispersions with a blank with scattering properties closely matching those of the sample, QY measurements of optoceramic samples with different blanks revealed substantial differences of more than 20 %. Based on our data, we recommend non-absorbing blank materials with a high reflectivity (>95 %) such as a 2 mm-thick PTFE target placed on the sample holder as blanks. T2 - eMRS CY - Strasbourg, France DA - 26.05.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Quantum yield KW - NIR KW - Characterization KW - Electron microscopy KW - Film KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Calibration KW - Lifetime KW - Advanced materials KW - LED converter KW - YAG:Ce KW - ILC KW - Measurement uncertainty KW - Absolute quantum yield PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63327 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rezvani, A. A1 - Wang, Z. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Soltanmoradi, H. A1 - Kichigin, A. A1 - Zhou, X. A1 - Gantenberg, T. A1 - Schram, J. A1 - Zubiri, B. A. A1 - Spiecker, E. A1 - Walter, J. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Segets, D. T1 - Separation of Indium Phosphide/Zinc Sulfide Core−Shell Quantum Dots from Shelling Byproducts through Multistep Agglomeration N2 - Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) possess unique electronic and optical properties, making them promising candidates for applications in lightemitting diodes, solar cells, bioimaging, and photocatalysis. Precise control over their size, shape, and chemical and electronic structure is crucial to ensure the desired functional properties and optimize device performance. However, challenges in QD synthesis and post-synthesis modification persist, especially in large-scale production. This study addresses the classification of QDs synthesized in a tubular flow reactor consisting of a mixture of the desired InP/ZnS core−shell QDs and QDs made from the shell material, i.e., here ZnS QDs formed as a byproduct during the formation step of the ZnS shell. The homogeneous nucleation of ZnS nanoparticles from the shelling material introduces a heterogeneity in size and composition and affects the optical properties of the resulting QDs. To address this issue, we developed a size-selective agglomeration (SSA) technique by incrementally introducing ethanol as a poor solvent and classified the synthesized QDs into 13 distinct fractions. These 13 fractions are sorted into three distinct groups: (i) larger InP/ZnS QDs, (ii) a combination of smaller InP/ZnS QDs and larger ZnS QDs, and (iii) predominant ZnS QDs with some very tiny InP/ZnS QDs. The comprehensive characterization of the fractions was conducted using UV−visible absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, total reflection X-ray fluorescence, and analytical ultracentrifugation. We could demonstrate that our method effectively separated unwanted ZnS QDs from the target InP/ZnS QDs. In addition, the fractions enriched in smaller InP/ZnS QDs exhibited a higher photoluminescence quantum yield compared to the fractions with larger QDs. This demonstrates the efficacy of SSA in finetuning the composition of QD mixtures produced on a larger scale to improve their functional properties. This approach provides fundamental understanding toward the development of a scalable two-dimensional classification process for such ultrasmall nanoparticles by particle size and composition. KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Quantum dot KW - Synthesis KW - Flow reactor KW - InP KW - Shell KW - ZnS KW - Surface chemistry KW - Method KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - TEM PY - 2025 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c18530 SN - 1936-086X VL - 19 IS - 20 SP - 19080 EP - 19094 PB - ACS Publications AN - OPUS4-63215 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Oskoei, Párástu T1 - Cell mechanisms induced by doxorubicin-loaded UCNP@MSN nanoparticles with a thermosresponsive nanovalve in melanoma cells N2 - Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) exhibit several remarkable optical properties, including excitation by near infrared (NIR) light, which enables deep tissue penetration, multiple distinct emission bands across a wide range of wavelengths, long luminescen ce lifetimes, and high photostability. These features make them particularly attractive for various biomedical applications. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), functionalized with nanovalves or specific coatings, have been explored for controlled and targeted drug delivery, where therapeutic agents are encapsulated within the nanopores, allowing spatiotemporal release 1 3 ]]. Among the promising approaches, photoactivated drug delivery systems have drawn considerable interest due to their versatility and potential. One relevant application is in the treatment of melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer with a rising global incidence. In advanced stages, conventional therapies often fail to achieve complete tumour eradication, resulting in poor prognose s 4 In this study, UCNPs were coated with a mesoporous silica shell to form core shell UCNP@MSN nanoparticles, which were further functionalized with thermoresponsive retro Diels Alder nanovalves and loaded with doxorubicin (DOX), a chemotherapeutic drug used in melanoma treatment. Upon exposure to 980 nm NIR light, DOX release was successfully triggered in the culture medium. Exposure to functionalized UCNPs decreased the viability of the tested melanoma cell lines, with further reductions observed when the ex posure to the nanoparticles was combined with irradiation. Subsequently, t he toxicity mechanisms were evaluated and showed that w hile individual treatments with either the functionalized UCNPs or NIR irradiation alone had no effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, their combination significantly increased ROS levels in two of the three tested cell lines. This combined treatment also led to notable increases in apoptotic , necrotic or both type of cells’ percentages on all cell lines. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of these nanoparticles with thermoresponsive gating mechanisms as effective platforms for targeted drug delivery in melanoma therapy. T2 - EUROTOX 2025 CY - Athens, Greece DA - 14.09.2025 KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Lanthanide KW - Upconversion KW - Surface chemistry KW - Mesoporous silica KW - Doxorubicin KW - Nanomedicine KW - Triggered release KW - pH KW - Cellular uptake KW - Toxicity KW - Folate KW - Ligand PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64372 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 - CONF A1 - Oskoei, Párástu T1 - Effects of upconversion nanoparticles with a thermo-responsive nanovalve loaded with doxorubicin in melanoma cells N2 - Melanoma skin cancer has an increasingly higher incidence , and w hen detected in advanced stages, tumour eradication is often incomplete, contributing to poor prognosis with conventional treatments. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have unique properties, such as excitability under near infrared (NIR) excitation light, which confers a relatively high penetration depth in tissue that allow their effective use in several biomedical applications Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) with nanovalves or derived coatings have widely been used for triggered and targeted drug delivery in the past. Anticancer drugs can be loaded into the pores of MSN, enabling controlled drug release. In this work, UCNPs were coated with a mesoporous silica shell yielding UCNP@MSN core shell nanoparticles which were equipped with thermoresponsive retro Diels Alder nanovalves and then loaded with DOX , a chemotherapeutic agent for melanoma treatmen t (UCNP@MSN DOX) Subsequent DOX release from this drug delivery system was triggered by 980 nm NIR light. Melanoma cells exposed to UCNP@MSN DOX or the NIR laser exhibited no change in ROS production , while the combination of both induced an increase in ROS production. This combination of conditions also induced changes on apoptosis and necrosis levels. These findings underscore the potential use of UCNP @MSN drug delivery systems with thermoresponsive caps as effective drug delivery platforms for melanoma therapy. T2 - VII iBiMED Symposium CY - Aveiro, Portugal DA - 23.05.2025 KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Lanthanide KW - Upconversion KW - Surface chemistry KW - Mesoporous silica KW - Doxorubicin KW - Nanomedicine KW - Triggered release KW - pH KW - Cellular uptake KW - Toxicity KW - Folate KW - Ligand PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64373 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Richter, Maria A1 - Güttler, Arne A1 - Pauli, Jutta A1 - Vogel, K. A1 - Homann, Christian A1 - Würth, Christian T1 - Extending Certified Spectral Fluorescence Standards for the Calibration and Performance Validation of Fluorescence Instruments to the NIR – Closing the Gap from 750 nm to 940 nm with Two Novel NIR Dyes N2 - Fluorescence methods provide spectral, intensity, polarization, and lifetime information, which contain sample- and instrument-specific contributions. Fluorescence data, comparable across instruments and laboratories, require validated calibration procedures and certified fluorescence standards. 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 SP - 1 EP - 4 PB - Springer Nature CY - London AN - OPUS4-62739 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Andreato, E. A1 - Panov, N. A1 - Artiga, A. A1 - Osipova, Viktoriia A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Ximendes, E. A1 - Molina, P. A1 - Canton, P. A1 - Marin, R. T1 - Indium-Based Fluoride Nanoparticles Doped with Chromium for Near-Infrared Luminescence N2 - Transition metal (TM) and rare earth (RE) ion-doped nanoparticles (NPs) are photoluminescent materials of technological relevance in bioimaging, sensing, and light conversion. Fluoride NPs are particularly attractive in this context, since they combine low-energy phonons, high chemical stability, optical transparency, size, and architecture tunability. Yet, nearly all reported colloidal fluoride NPs (e.g., NaYF4 and LiYF4) can only be efficiently doped with RE3+ and not with luminescent TM ions. Herein, we contribute to filling this gap in materials science by reporting Na3InF6 NPs doped with Cr3+ as a model luminescent TM ion. We unveil the heat-driven NP formation mechanism, which involves a cubic-to-monoclinic phase conversion, similarly to the cubic-tohexagonal phase conversion in NaYF4. Reaction temperatures above 225 °C and reaction time have a limited impact on the NP morphology, while the amount of fluoride precursor and oleylamine grants control over the NP size. After verifying that Na3InF6 NPs show negligible cytotoxicity toward U-87 cell line, we study the optical properties of these NPs upon Cr3+ doping. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence measurements indicate that Cr3+ ions experience a weak crystal field in the Na3InF6 host lattice, while their photoluminescence lifetime varies linearly in the 20−50 °C range. These results set the ground for further studies of photoluminescent TM-doped fluoride NPs, toward their applications in bioimaging, sensing, and light-converting devices. KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Traceability KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Quantum yield KW - NIR KW - Mechanism KW - Characterization KW - XRD KW - Phase transition KW - Ligand KW - Surface KW - Doping KW - Lifetime PY - 2025 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.4c03335 SN - 1520-5002 SP - 1 EP - 14 PB - American Chemical Society AN - OPUS4-63073 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Matiushkina, Anna T1 - Quantification of Citrate Ligands on Nanoparticle Surfaces N2 - To ensure the successful advancement of nanomaterials (NM) in applications and their safe use, it is crucial to develop reliable methods to control and quantify ligands and functional groups (FG) on the nanoparticle (NP) surface as surface chemistry largely determines the interactions of NPs with their surroundings. Many analytical methods can be used for this purpose. However, their applicability strongly depends on the type of NM and ligand(s) and most of them require challenging protocols for sample preparation, i.e., the removal of the NPs or their dissolution, which can influence the accuracy of the measurements. While some methods allow the precise quantification of specific ligands such as quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR), others provide only semi-quantitative results like Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) or target more general analyte groups like thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) detecting mass losses (total organic content) or conductometry (e.g., (de)protonable FGs such as carboxyl or amine groups). [1] The calculation of the coverage of the NP surface with ligands, additionally requires knowledge of their total surface area, which can be obtained, e.g., from a precise characterization of NP size and concentration. Citrate is one of the most frequently utilized surface ligand for stabilizing metal, metal oxide, and lanthanide-based upconversion NPs in hydrophilic environments. However, its quantification on NP surfaces has rarely been addressed although it is a frequent analyte in medical or food analysis. In this study we compare several methods for quantifying citrate as capping ligands of iron oxide NPs (IONPs), exemplarily chosen because of their broad applications in the life science. [2] The size of the IONPs was characterized by electron microscopy (EM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), while their concentration was determined by quantifying iron ions after acidic particle dissolution using a colorimetric assay and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The simplest approach for citrate quantification, direct photometric UV-detection after acidic digestion of the IONPs, yielded only reasonable results when combined with reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These results were cross validated with qNMR that required the development of a reliable sample preparation protocol addressing not only particle dissolution in deuterated solvents but also the removal of the paramagnetic iron ions interfering with NMR measurements. Comparison with results from TGA gives insight into the sensitivity and specificity of these methods and their potential for quantifying surface ligands on NPs. T2 - Anakon 2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - Advanced material KW - Functional group KW - Iron oxide KW - Ligand KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Quantification KW - Surface analysis PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64861 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia T1 - Using Dual Fluorescent Molecularly Imprinted Particles Coupled with a Miniaturized Opto-Microfluidic Platform for On-Site Detection of Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids N2 - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic organofluorine chemicals widely used in the production of various materials, including firefighting foams, adhesives, and coatings that resist stains and oil. In recent years, PFAS have gained attention as emerging environmental contaminants, with particular emphasis on perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), the most common type of PFAS. PFCAs are defined by a fully fluorinated carbon chain and a charged carboxylic acid group. They have been classified as Substances of Very High Concern and included in the REACH Candidate List due to their persistence, resistance to biodegradation, and toxicological impacts. Traditional methods for analyzing PFCAs, like GC-MS, HRMS, and HPLC-based techniques, are time-consuming, non-portable, expensive, and require specialized expertise. On the other hand, fluorescence assays offer a user-friendly, portable, and cost-effective alternative with high sensitivity and quick results, particularly when the binding of the analyte causes a specific increase in the probe’s fluorescence. Combining these probes with a carrier platform and a miniaturized optofluidic device presents a promising approach for PFCA monitoring. In this study, a new guanidine BODIPY fluorescent indicator monomer was synthesized, characterized, and incorporated into a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) designed for the specific detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The MIP layer was formed on silica core nanoparticles doped with tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride, serving as an optical internal reference for calibration-free assays. In combination with an extraction step prior to sample analysis, this system enables selective and reliable detection of PFCAs in surface water samples, minimizing interference from competing substances, matrix effects, and other factors. When integrated into an opto-microfluidic setup, the assay provided a compact, user-friendly detection system capable of detecting micromolar levels of PFOA in under 15 minutes from surface water samples. T2 - ANAKON2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) KW - On-site detection KW - Fluorescence KW - Microfluidics KW - Molecularly Imprinted Polymers PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62712 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fayis Kalady, Mohammed A1 - Schultz, Johannes A1 - Weinel, Kristina A1 - Wolf, Daniel A1 - Lubk, Axel T1 - Geometry-dependent localization of surface plasmons on random gold nanoparticle assemblies N2 - Assemblies of plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) support hybridized modes of localized surface plasmons (LSPs), which delocalize in geometrically well-ordered arrangements. Here, the hybridization behavior of LSPs in geometrically completely disordered two-dimensional arrangements of Au NPs fabricated by an e-beam synthesis method is studied. Employing electron energy loss spectroscopy in a scanning transmission electron microscope and numerical simulations, the disorder-driven spatial and spectral localization of the coupled LSP modes that depends on the NP thickness is revealed. Below a NP thickness of 0.4 nm, localization increases toward higher hybridized LSP mode energies. In comparison, above 10 nm thickness, a decrease of localization toward higher mode energies is observed. In the intermediate thickness regime, a transition of the energy dependence of the localization between the two limiting cases, exhibiting a mode energy with minimal localization, is observed. It is shown that this behavior is mainly driven by the energy and thickness dependence of the polarizability of the individual NPs. KW - Gold Nanoparticles KW - Surface plasmons KW - Electron enerdy loss spectroscopy (EELS) KW - scanning transmission electron microscopy PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-647230 DO - https://doi.org/10.1103/44nk-6bp2 SN - 2643-1564 VL - 7 IS - 043053 EP - 4 PB - American Physical Society AN - OPUS4-64723 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -