TY - JOUR
A1 - Chambers, M. S.
A1 - Hunter, R. D.
A1 - Hollamby, M. J.
A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard
A1 - Smith, A. J.
A1 - Snow, T.
A1 - Danks, A. E.
A1 - Schnepp, Z.
T1 - In Situ and Ex Situ X‑ray Diffraction and Small-Angle X‑ray Scattering Investigations of the Sol−Gel Synthesis of Fe3N and Fe3C
N2 - Iron nitride (Fe3N) and iron carbide (Fe3C) nanoparticles can be prepared via sol−gel synthesis. While sol−gel methods are simple, it can be difficult to control the crystalline composition, i.e., to achieve a Rietveld-pure product. In a previous in situ synchrotron study of the sol−gel synthesis of Fe3N/Fe3C, we showed that the reaction proceeds as follows:
Fe3O4 → FeOx → Fe3N → Fe3C. There was considerable overlap between the different phases, but we were unable to ascertain whether this was due to the experimental setup (side-on heating of a quartz capillary which could lead to thermal gradients) or whether individual particle reactions proceed at different rates. In this paper, we use in situ wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering (wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)) to demonstrate that the overlapping phases are indeed due to variable reaction rates. While the initial oxide nanoparticles have a small range of diameters, the size range expands considerably and very rapidly during the oxide−nitride transition. This has implications for the isolation of Rietveld-pure Fe3N, and in an extensive laboratory study, we were indeed unable to isolate phasepure Fe3N. However, we made the surprising discovery that Rietveld-pure Fe3C nanoparticles can be produced at 500 °C with a sufficient furnace dwell time. This is considerably lower than the previous reports of the sol−gel synthesis of Fe3C nanoparticles.
KW - Small-angle X-ray Scattering
KW - SAXS
KW - Diffraction
KW - XRD
KW - Scattering
KW - Sol-gel
KW - Iron nitride
KW - Nanoparticles
KW - Iron carbide
KW - Catalyst
KW - In-situ
KW - Ex-situ
KW - Synthesis
KW - Synchrotron
PY - 2022
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-548226
DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c03442
VL - 61
IS - 18
SP - 6742
EP - 6749
PB - ACS Publications
CY - Washington
AN - OPUS4-54822
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - McGonigle, Rebecca
A1 - Glasgow, Jodie
A1 - Houston, Catriona
A1 - Cameron, Iain
A1 - Homann, Christian
A1 - Black, Dominic J.
A1 - Pal, Robert
A1 - MacKenzie, Lewis E.
ED - MacKenzie, Lewis E.
T1 - Autoclave reactor synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles, unreported variables, and safety considerations
N2 - Autoclave reactors are widely used across chemical and biological sciences, including for the synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and other nanomaterials. Yet, the details of how autoclave reactors are used in such synthesis are rarely reported in the literature, leaving several key synthesis variables widely unreported and thereby hampering experimental reproducibility. In this perspective, we discuss the safety considerations of autoclave reactors and note that autoclaves should only be used if they are (a) purchased from reputable suppliers/manufacturers and (b) have been certified compliant with relevant safety standards. Ultimately, using unsuitable autoclave equipment can pose a severe physical hazard and may breach legal safety requirements. In addition, we highlight several parameters in autoclave synthesis that should be reported as standard to maximise the reproducibility of autoclave synthesis experiments across materials and chemistry research. We encourage users of autoclave synthesis vessels to: (1) adopt high-safety autoclaves and (2) report the many experimental variables involved to enhance experimental reproducibility.
KW - Reference material
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Shell
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Lifetime
KW - Decay kinetics
KW - Synthesis
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Method
KW - Energy transfer
KW - Upconversion
KW - Autoclave synthesis
KW - Data comparability
PY - 2025
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-625672
DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01415-3
VL - 8
IS - 1
SP - 1
EP - 7
PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AN - OPUS4-62567
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Tache, O.
T1 - Synthesis of SiO2 Nanoparticles as reference materials: Metrological measurements and in-situ kinetics in lab with Small Angle X-Ray Scattering
N2 - The unambiguous correlation of possible health and sustainability risks to nanoparticle size must be enabled by reliable measurement of nanoparticle size, to ensure comparability and compatibility between results measured under different methods. The NPSIZE project funded by European Metrology Program (EMPIR) develop methods, reference materials and modelling to improve the traceability chain, comparability and compatibility of nanoparticle size measurements. In this work, we present how spherical silica nanoparticles are synthetized with controlled monomodal or bimodal dispersion to be use as reference materials and international round-robin. Improving the fabrication requires a fine understanding of synthesis (1), coupled with an expertise of in-situ or ex-situ analysis methods. This is a new challenge for the analysis : determining not only average characteristics (size, chemical composition and shape ...) but also the concentration and the distribution over the population studied (2). Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (3) allows very precise measurements of the nanoparticles size and concentration that can be directly link to the metric system (4) (metrological traceability) . We developed a SAXS laboratory instrument dedicated to the in-situ characterization of nanoparticles, which enable fast measurements, and the monitoring of the synthesis parameters. Measurement protocols and software processing chain (5) (i.e. size distribution) are also combined & optimized.
T2 - CNANO2021
CY - Toulouse, France
DA - 25.11.2021
KW - X-ray scattering
KW - Silica particles
KW - Synthesis
KW - Reference materials
PY - 2021
DO - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5749256
AN - OPUS4-53931
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard
T1 - Glimpses of the future: Systematic investigations of 1200 mofs using a highly automated, full-stack materials research laboratory
N2 - By automatically recording as much information as possible in automated laboratory setups, reproducibility and traceability of experiments are vastly improved. This presentation shows what such an approach means for the quality of experiments in an X-ray scattering laboratory and an automated synthesis set-up.
T2 - Winter School on Metrology and Nanomaterials for Clean Energy
CY - Claviere, Italy
DA - 28.01.2024
KW - Digitalization
KW - Automation
KW - Digital laboratory
KW - Scattering
KW - Synthesis
KW - Nanomaterials
KW - Holistic science
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-59621
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Zutta Villate, J. M.
A1 - Viviana Rojas, J.
A1 - Hahn, Marc Benjamin
A1 - Anselmo Puerta, J.
T1 - Synthesis of 198Au nanoparticles sub 10 nm due optimization on local dose by Monte Carlo simulations for cancer treatment
N2 - To enhance the biological effects of radiation damage in cancerous cells, we present an alternative approach to the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNP), focusing on the synthesis and characterization of highly monodisperse, spherical radioactive gold nanoparticles 198AuNP. The size of the AuNP size was optimized with the help of Geant4/TOPAS particle scattering simulations, and energy deposition per nm3 per decay for varying radii (2–10 nm) was evaluated. This work is the foundation for ongoing experimental work to evaluate cell death induced by 198AuNP which aims for the use of radioactive gold nanoparticles in cancer treatment.
KW - AuNP
KW - Beta decay
KW - Beta particle
KW - Brachytherapy
KW - Cancer treatment
KW - Nanoparticles
KW - Nanoparticle
KW - DNA
KW - DNA damage
KW - Dosimetry
KW - Energy deposit
KW - Gamma ray
KW - Geant4
KW - Geant4-DNA
KW - Gold Nanoparticles
KW - LEE
KW - Low energy electrons
KW - MCS
KW - Microdosimetry
KW - Monte-Carlo simulation
KW - NP
KW - Synthesis
KW - TEM
KW - OH radicals
KW - Particle scattering
KW - Radiation damage
KW - Radiationtherapy
KW - Radioactive decay
KW - Radiolysis
KW - Simulation
KW - TOPAS
KW - TOPAS-nbio
PY - 2022
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-022-08355-5
SN - 1588-2780
SP - 1
EP - 9
PB - Springer Nature
AN - OPUS4-55132
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Foroutan, F.
A1 - Kyffin, B. A.
A1 - Nikolaou, A.
A1 - Merino-Gutierrez, J.
A1 - Abrahams, I.
A1 - Kanwal, N.
A1 - Knowles, J. C.
A1 - Smith, A. J.
A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob
A1 - Carta, D.
T1 - Highly porous phosphate-based glasses for controlled delivery of antibacterial Cu ions prepared via sol–gel chemistry
N2 - Mesoporous glasses are a promising class of bioresorbable biomaterials characterized by high surface area and extended porosity in the range of 2 to 50 nm. These peculiar properties make them ideal materials for the controlled release of therapeutic ions and molecules. Whilst mesoporous silicate-based glasses (MSG) have been widely investigated, much less work has been done on mesoporous phosphate-based glasses (MPG). In the present study, MPG in the P2O5–CaO–Na2O system, undoped and doped with 1, 3, and 5 mol% of Cu ions were synthesized via a combination of the sol–gel method and supramolecular templating. The non-ionic triblock copolymer Pluronic P123 was used as a templating agent. The porous structure was studied via a combination of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), and N2 adsorption–desorption analysis at 77 K. The structure of the phosphate network was investigated via solid state 31P Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (31P MAS-NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Degradation studies, performed in water via Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), showed that phosphates, Ca2+, Na+ and Cu ions are released in a controlled manner over a 7 days period. The controlled release of Cu, proportional to the copper loading, imbues antibacterial properties to MPG. A significant statistical reduction of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterial viability was observed over a 3 days period. E. coli appeared to be more resistant than S. aureus to the antibacterial effect of copper. This study shows that copper doped MPG have great potential as bioresorbable materials for controlled delivery of antibacterial ions.
KW - Bioresorbable Biomaterials
KW - Mesoporous phosphate-based glasses
KW - Synthesis
KW - Degradation studies
KW - X-ray scattering
KW - MOUSE
KW - Antibacterial properties
KW - Aantimicrobial
PY - 2023
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-578101
DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D3RA02958A
VL - 13
IS - 29
SP - 19662
EP - 19673
PB - Royal Society of Chemistry
AN - OPUS4-57810
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 - Oskolkova, Tatiana O.
A1 - Matiushkina, Anna
A1 - Borodina, Lyubov' N.
A1 - Smirnova, Ekaterina S.
A1 - Dadadzhanova, Antonina I.
A1 - Sewid, Fayza A.
A1 - Veniaminov, Andrey V.
A1 - Moiseeva, Ekaterina O.
A1 - Orlova, Anna O.
T1 - FRET‐Amplified Singlet Oxygen Generation by Nanocomposites Comprising Ternary AgInS2/ZnS Quantum Dots and Molecular Photosensitizers
N2 - Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (a‐PDT) has emerged as a promising non‐invasive therapeutic modality that utilizes the combination of a photosensitive agent, molecular oxygen, and excitation light to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), demonstrating remarkable activity against multidrug‐resistant bacterial infections. However, the effective use of conventional photosensitizers is significantly limited by a number of their shortcomings, namely, poor water solubility and low selectivity. Herein, we present a novel biocompatible water‐soluble nanocomposite based on hydrophobic tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) molecules and hydrophilic ternary AgInS2/ZnS quantum dots incorporated into a chitosan matrix as an improved photosensitizer for a‐PDT. We demonstrated that TPP molecules could be successfully transferred into chitosan solution while remaining primarily in the form of monomers, which are capable of singlet oxygen generation. We performed a detailed analysis of the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between quantum dots and TPP molecules within the nanocomposite and proposed the mechanism of the singlet oxygen efficiency enhancement via FRET.
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Quantum dot
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Synthesis
KW - Optical spectroscopy
KW - Energy transfer
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Lifetime
KW - Quantum yield
PY - 2024
DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/cnma.202300469
SN - 2199-692X
VL - 10
IS - 3
SP - 1
EP - 11
PB - Wiley
AN - OPUS4-59728
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella
T1 - Amorphous, fluorescent silica particles for bioimaging applications
N2 - Nowadays amorphous silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NP) are one of the most abundant engineered nanomaterials, with an annual production of hundreds of thousands of tons, that are used in a broad field of industrial products and processes. Since SiO2 NP are highly stable and easily produced on a large scale at low cost, they are widely employed as fillers for rubbers and composites, absorbents, catalysts, advanced coating additives as well as plant growth agents in agriculture, anti-caking agents in food products, or as carrier material in cosmetic industry. Moreover, they are promising candidates for colloidal scaffolds in biomedical applications like bioimaging, sensing or controlled drug delivery. SiO2 NP modified with luminescent chromophores have several advantages as compared to conventional molecular probes like enhanced brightness, ease of designing ratiometric systems, and increased photostability. Here we present our work on multicolored SiO2 NP for imaging and sensing applications.
T2 - FUNGLASS Workshop
CY - Berlin, Germany
DA - 06.03.2024
KW - Sensors
KW - Nano
KW - Particles
KW - Silica
KW - Luminescence
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Method
KW - Synthesis
KW - Dye
KW - pH
KW - Surface analysis
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-62167
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Schlögl, Johanna
A1 - Krappe, Alexander R.
A1 - Fürstenwerth, Paul C.
A1 - Brosius, Amelie L.
A1 - Fasting, Carlo
A1 - Hoffmann, Kurt F.
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
A1 - Eigler, Siegfried
A1 - Steinhauer, Simon
A1 - Riedel, Sebastian
T1 - Luminescent Perhalofluoro Trityl Radicals
N2 - In this proof-of-concept study, we show that polyfluorinated trityl radicals with the, to this date, highest fluorination grade can be accessed in quantitative yields in a straightforward manner starting from the perfluorinated trityl cation. The trityl skeleton is functionalized with trimethylsilyl halides to yield perhalofluoro trityl cations, which are subsequently reduced using commercial zinc powder. In this way, we prepare three perhalofluoro trityl radicals and analyze the impact of the fluorine ligands on their electro-optical properties, revealing some interesting trends. In comparison to literature-known polychlorinated trityl radicals, the new polyfluorinated derivatives exhibit substantially higher fluorescence quantum yields, longer luminescence lifetimes, and an expanded emission range that extends into the yellow spectral region. They further display enhanced photostability under light irradiation. In radical-stained polystyrene nanoparticles, an additional broad emission band in the red−NIR wavelength region is observed, which is attributed to excimer formation. Finally, the stability of the new radicals is investigated under ambient conditions, showing the slow conversion with atmospheric oxygen yielding the respective peroxides, which are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All in all, our study extends the present scope of luminescent trityl radicals, as the functionalization of the perfluorinated cationic precursor unlocks the path toward a vast variety of polyfluorinated trityl radicals.
KW - Dye
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Radical
KW - Synthesis
KW - Mechanism
KW - Signal enhancement
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Characterization
KW - Quantum yield
KW - Photophysics
KW - Lifetime
KW - Polarity
KW - Polymer
KW - Solvatchromism
KW - Excimer
PY - 2025
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-647973
DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c16418
SN - 0002-7863
VL - 147
IS - 46
SP - 1
EP - 8
PB - American Chemical Society (ACS)
AN - OPUS4-64797
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Bertorelle, F.
A1 - Wegner, Karl David
A1 - Berkulic, M. P.
A1 - Fakhouri, H.
A1 - Comby-Zerbino, C.
A1 - Sagar, A.
A1 - Bernadó, P.
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
A1 - Bonacic-Koutecký, V.
A1 - Le Guével, X.
A1 - Antoine, R.
T1 - Tailoring the NIR-II Photoluminescence of Single Thiolated Au25 Nanoclusters by Selective Binding to Proteins
N2 - Atomically precise gold nanoclusters are a fascinating class of nanomaterials that exhibit molecule-like properties and have outstanding photoluminescence (PL). Their ultrasmall size, molecular chemistry, and biocompatibility make them extremely appealing for selective biomolecule labeling in investigations of biological mechanisms at the cellular and anatomical levels. In this work, we report a simple route to incorporate a preformed Au25 nanocluster into a model bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein. A new approach combining small-angle X-ray scattering and molecular modeling provides a clear localization of a single Au25 within the protein to a cysteine residue on the gold nanocluster surface.
Attaching Au25 to BSA strikingly modifies the PL properties with enhancement and a redshift in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window. This study paves the way to conrol the design of selective sensitive probes in biomolecules through a ligand-based strategy to enable the optical detection of biomolecules in a cellular environment by live imaging.
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Aggregation
KW - Signal enhancement
KW - Cluster
KW - Nano
KW - Metal
KW - NIRII
KW - SWIR
KW - Sensor
KW - Quantum yield
KW - Lifetime
KW - Photophysics
KW - Synthesis
KW - Protein
KW - Imaging
KW - Bioimaging
KW - Ligand
KW - Gold
PY - 2022
DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202200570
SN - 1521-3765
VL - 28
IS - 39
SP - 1
EP - 8
PB - Wiley-VCH
CY - Weinheim
AN - OPUS4-55077
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 - 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 - Wang, Z.
A1 - Wegner, Karl David
A1 - Stiegler, L. M. S.
A1 - Zhou, X.
A1 - Rezvani, A.
A1 - Odungat, A. S.
A1 - Zubiri, B. A.
A1 - Wu, M.
A1 - Spiecker, E.
A1 - Walter, J.
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
A1 - Segets, D.
T1 - Optimizing the Shelling Process of InP/ZnS Quantum Dots Using a Single-Source Shell Precursor: Implications for Lighting and Display Applications
N2 - InP/ZnS core/shell quantum dots (QDs), recognized as highly promising heavy-metal-free emitters, are increasingly being utilized in lighting and display applications. Their synthesis in a tubular flow reactor enables production in a highly efficient, scalable, and reproducible manner, particularly when combined with a single-source shell precursor, such as zinc diethyldithiocarbamate (Zn(S2CNEt2)2). However, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of QDs synthesized with this route remains significantly lower compared with those synthesized in batch reactors involving multiple steps for the shell growth. Our study identifies the formation of absorbing, yet nonemissive ZnS nanoparticles during the ZnS shell formation process as a main contributing factor to this discrepancy. By varying the shelling conditions, especially the shelling reaction temperature and InP core concentration, we investigated the formation of pure ZnS nanoparticles and their impact on the optical properties, particularly PLQY, of the resultant InP/ZnS QDs through ultraviolet−visible (UV−vis) absorption, steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) measurements. Our results suggest that process conditions, such as lower shelling temperatures or reduced InP core concentrations (resulting in a lower external surface area), encourage homogeneous nucleation of ZnS. This reduces the availability of shell precursors necessary for effective passivation of the InP core surfaces, ultimately resulting in lower PLQYs. These findings explain the origin of persistently underperforming PLQY of InP/ZnS QDs synthesized from this synthesis route and suggest further optimization strategies to improve their emission for lighting and display applications.
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Synthesis
KW - InP
KW - Shell
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Quantum yield
KW - ZnS
KW - Semiconductor
KW - Quantum dot
KW - Flow reactor
KW - Method
KW - AUC
KW - Size
KW - Automation
KW - Sensor
PY - 2024
DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.4c05265
SN - 2574-0970
VL - 7
IS - 20
SP - 24262
EP - 24273
PB - ACS Publications
AN - OPUS4-61518
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 - Amouroux, B.
A1 - Würth, Christian
A1 - Roux, C.
A1 - Eftekhari, A.
A1 - Sliwa, M.
A1 - Bouchet, A.
A1 - Micheau, J.-C.
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
A1 - Coudret, C.
T1 - Time-Resolved Rate Equation Analysis Disclose Kinetics Controlling Luminescence of Nanometer Tm-Upconverting Nanoparticles
N2 - Upconversion luminescence of lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) is a nonlinear step-wise process in which the consecutive absorption of multiple, low-energy photons results in the subsequent emission of a high-energy photon. The primary upconversion mechanism is energy transfer upconversion (ETU) from a sensitizer (Yb3+) to an activator (Tm3+). It requires the absorption of several excitation lowenergy photons by Yb3+, followed by the sequential energy transfer to Tm3+ions. Excited states relax to their ground states either radiatively by emitting a high-energy photon or non-radiatively by multiphonon relaxation through the crystalline host matrix. The time-resolved rise and decay luminescence curves of a set of five ultrasmall have been recorded under varying power near-infrared μs pulses. Six wavelengths have been used to monitor the evolution of the main Yb and Tm excited states. We use an average rate equations model to decipher the relationships between the compositional constraints and size of these ultrasmall UCNPs and the luminescence kinetic parameters. Several rate constants of ETU and other depopulation processes involving the multiple states of the Tm3+ energy scaffold have been retrieved from the simultaneous fit of the recorded curves. Their values have been interpreted by considering bulk and surface quenching, radiative and multi-phonon relaxations, and ion-to-ion hopping. Energy transfer between Yb3+ and Tm3+ is mainly occurring within neighbor atoms. The importance of mismatches on multiphonon relaxations, ETUs, and back-transfers has also been highlighted. For these numerical modeling, it appears that changing the composition and synthesis conditions with the aim to improve a single-specific parameter could remain a major challenge as this modification would automatically impact other properties with immediate consequences on UCNP dynamics.
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Synthesis
KW - Shell
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Lifetime
KW - Decay kinetics
KW - Method
KW - Modelling
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Energy transfer
KW - Upconversation
PY - 2024
DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.4c04969
VL - 128
IS - 44
SP - 18836
EP - 18848
PB - ACS Publications
AN - OPUS4-61645
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Meng, M.
A1 - Zhang, T.
A1 - Wang, J.
A1 - Cheng, Z.
A1 - Liu, Y.
A1 - Qiao, X.
A1 - Wen, J.
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
A1 - Long, W.
A1 - Ou, J.
T1 - NaYF4:Yb3+/Tm3+@NaYF4:Yb3+ Upconversion Nanoparticles for Optical Temperature Monitoring and Self-Heating in Photothermal Therapy
N2 - The core−shell NaYF4:Yb3+/Tm3+@NaYF4:Yb3+ upconversion nanoparticles were successfully prepared by a solvothermal method, and a layer of mesoporous silica (mSiO2) was successfully coated on the periphery of the core−shell nanoparticles to transform their surface from lipophilic to hydrophilic, further expanding their applications in biological tissues. The physical phase, morphology, structure, and fluorescence properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ζ potential analysis, and fluorescence spectroscopy. It was found that the material has a hexagonal structure with good hydrophilicity and emits intense fluorescence under 980 nm pump laser excitation. The non-contact temperature sensing performance of nanoparticles was evaluated by analyzing the upconversion fluorescence of Tm3+ (1G4 → 3F4 and 3F3 → 3H6) in the temperature range of 284−344 K. The absolute and relative sensitivities were found to be 0.0067 K−1 and 1.08 % K−1, respectively, with high-temperature measurement reliability and good temperature cycling performance. More importantly, its temperature measurement in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution is accurate. In addition, the temperature of the cells can be increased by adjusting the laser power density and laser irradiation time. Therefore, an optical temperature sensing platform was built to realize the application of real-time monitoring of cancer cell temperature and the dual function of photothermal therapy.
KW - Sensor
KW - Temperature
KW - Lanthanide
KW - Tag
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Nanoparticles
KW - Synthesis
KW - Environment
KW - Monitoring
KW - Sensing
KW - Nano
KW - Life sciences
KW - Upconversion
PY - 2023
DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.2c05110
VL - 6
IS - 1
SP - 759
EP - 771
PB - ACS Publications
AN - OPUS4-57081
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella
A1 - Abram, Sarah-Luise
A1 - Andresen, Elina
A1 - Matiushkina, Anna
T1 - Quantifying the number of total and accessible functional groups on nanomaterials
N2 - Inorganic and organic functional nanomaterials (NM) of different size, shape, chemical composition, and surface chemistry are relevant for many key technologies of the 21st century. Decisive for most applications of NM are their specific surface properties, which are largely controlled by the chemical nature and number of ligands and functional groups (FG on the NM surface. The surface chemistry can strongly affect the physicochemical properties of NM, their charge, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, reactivity, stability, and processability and thereby their impact on the environment and biological species as well as their possible risk for human health. Thus, reliable, validated, and eventually standardized analytical methods for the characterization of NM surface chemistry, i.e., the chemical identification, quantification, and accessibility of FG and surface ligands 1,2] flanked by interlaboratory comparisons, control samples, and reference materials, 2 ,3 are of considerable importance for process and quality control of NM production and function. This is also important for the safe use of NM the design of novel NM, and sustainable concepts for NM fabrication. Here, we provide an overview of analytical methods for FG analysis and quantification and highlight method and material related challenges for selected NM. Analytical techniques address ed include electrochemical titration methods, optical assays, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and vibrational (IR) spectroscopy, and X ray based and thermal analysis methods. Criteria for method classification and evaluation include the need for a signal generating label, provision of either the total or derivatizable number of FG, and suitability for process and production control.
T2 - AUC - Analytical Ultracentrifugation
CY - Nuremberg, Germany
DA - 22.07.2024
KW - Nanoparticle
KW - Particle
KW - Microparticle
KW - Silica
KW - Quantum dot
KW - Polymer
KW - Surface group
KW - Luminescence
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Synthesis
KW - Surface modification
KW - ILC
KW - Optical assay
KW - Functional group
KW - Ligand
KW - qNMR
KW - Conductometry
KW - Potentiometry
KW - Standardization
KW - Reference product
KW - Reference material
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-60749
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Amouroux, B.
A1 - Eftekhari, A.
A1 - Roux, C.
A1 - Micheau, J.
A1 - Roblin, P.
A1 - Pasturel, M.
A1 - Gauffre, F.
A1 - Würth, Christian
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
A1 - Sliwa, M.
A1 - Bouchet, A.
A1 - Coudret, C.
T1 - Synthesis and Emission Dynamics of Sub-3 nm Upconversion Nanoparticles
N2 - Reducing the size of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) down to a few nm yields luminescent materials containing a very small number of emitters.
Considering the bottom limit of one activator per particle ultrasmall UCNPs offer an unprecedented platform to study the contributions of the energy transfers at play in upconversion luminescence. Maintaining detectable emission despite the limited number of emitting ions and the high surface-to-volume ratio requires suitable particle architectures.
Na(Gd-Yb)F4:Tm3+ emissive sub-3 nm diameter 𝜷-phase UCNPs are prepared using a gadolinium-rich composition in situ mixing of the precursors and a microwave high-temperature cycling sequence allowing precise control of the particle size and dispersity. These cores are coated with a NaGdF4 inert shell to minimize the deleterious influence of surface quenching (SQ).
Time-resolved luminescence measurements combining standard NIR excitation of the Yb3+ sensitizer and direct UV excitation of the Tm3+ activator are performed to quantify cross relaxation and surface quenching processes.
The fine tuning of the number of activators per particle via an optimized synthesis pathway along with the use of an appropriate excitation scheme enabled to provide an accurate analysis of the different mechanisms at play in these model nanoparticles and to characterize the structure of the core-shell architecture.
KW - Lanthanide
KW - Nanoparticle
KW - Luminescence
KW - Quantitative spectroscopy
KW - Quantum yield
KW - Energy transfer
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Synthesis
KW - Surface modification
KW - Photophysics
PY - 2024
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-606877
DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/adom.202303283
SN - 2195-1071
SP - 1
EP - 13
AN - OPUS4-60687
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Sun, C.
A1 - Schäferling, Michael
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
A1 - Gradzielski, M.
T1 - Solvothermal Synthesis of Lanthanide-doped NaYF4 Upconversion
N2 - Lanthanide-doped NaYF4 upconversion nano- and microcrystals were synthesized via a facile solvothermal approach. Thereby, the influence of volume ratios of ethylene glycol (EG)/H2O, molar ratios of NH4F/RE3+ (RE3+ represents the total amount of Y3+ and rare-earth dopant ions), Gd3+ ion contents, types of activator dopant ions, and different organic co-solvents on the crystal phase, size, and morphology of the resulting particles were studied systematically. A possible formation mechanism for the growth of crystals of different morphology is discussed. Our results show that the transition from the α- to the β-phase mainly depends on the volume ratio of EG/H2O and the molar ratio of NH4F/RE3+, while the morphology and size could be controlled by the type of organic co-solvent and Gd3+ dopant ions. Furthermore, the reaction time has to be long enough to convert α-NaYF4 into β-NaYF4 during the growth process to optimize the upconversion luminescence. The formation of larger β-NaYF4 crystals, which possess a higher upconversion luminescence than smaller particles, proceeds via intermediates of smaller crystals of cubic structure. In summary, our synthetic approach presents a facile route to tailor the size, Crystal phase, morphology, and luminescence features of upconversion
materials.
KW - Nano
KW - Nanomaterial
KW - Upconversion nanoparticle
KW - Photoluminescence
KW - Lanthanide
KW - Quantum yield
KW - Photophysics
KW - Lifetime
KW - Surface chemistry
KW - Single particle
KW - Brightness
KW - NIR
KW - Synthesis
PY - 2021
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-520307
DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/cnma.202000564
VL - 7
IS - 2
SP - 174
EP - 183
PB - Wiley
AN - OPUS4-52030
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 - Kromer, C.
A1 - Schwibbert, Karin
A1 - Gadicherla, A. K.
A1 - Thiele, Dorothea
A1 - Nirmalananthan-Budau, Nithiya
A1 - Laux, P.
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
A1 - Luch, A.
A1 - Tschiche, H. R.
T1 - Monitoring and imaging pH in biofilms utilizing a fluorescent polymeric nanosensor
N2 - Biofilms are ubiquitous in nature and in the man-made environment. Given their harmful effects on human health, an in-depth understanding of biofilms and the monitoring of their formation and growth are important. Particularly relevant for many metabolic processes and survival strategies of biofilms is their extracellular pH. However, most conventional techniques are not suited for minimally invasive pH measurements of living biofilms. Here, a fluorescent nanosensor is presented for ratiometric measurements of pH in biofilms in the range of pH 4.5–9.5 using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The nanosensor consists of biocompatible polystyrene nanoparticles loaded with pH-inert dye Nile Red and is surface functionalized with a pH-responsive fluorescein dye. Its performance was validated by fluorometrically monitoring the time-dependent changes in pH in E. coli biofilms after glucose inoculation at 37 °C and 4 °C. This revealed a temperature-dependent decrease in pH over a 4-h period caused by the acidifying glucose metabolism of E. coli. These studies demonstrate the applicability of this nanosensor to characterize the chemical microenvironment in biofilms with fluorescence methods.
KW - Dye
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Signal enhancement
KW - Sensor
KW - Quantum yield
KW - Synthesis
KW - Nanoparticle
KW - Nano
KW - Polymer
KW - Ph
KW - Biofilm
KW - MIC
KW - Corrosion
KW - Microorganism
KW - Bacteria
PY - 2022
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-550751
DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13518-1
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 12
IS - 1
SP - 1
EP - 10
PB - Nature Publishing Group
CY - London
AN - OPUS4-55075
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Scholtz, Lena
A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella
A1 - Eckert, J. G.
A1 - Lutowski, Marc
A1 - Geißler, Daniel
A1 - Hertwig, Andreas
A1 - Hidde, Gundula
A1 - Bigall, N. C.
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - Influence of nanoparticle encapsulation and encoding on the surface chemistry of polymer carrier beads
N2 - Surface-functionalized polymer beads encoded with molecular luminophores and nanocrystalline emitters such as semiconductor nanocrystals, often referred to as quantum dots (QDs), or magnetic nanoparticles are broadly used in the life sciences as reporters and carrier beads. Many of these applications require a profound knowledge of the chemical nature and total number of their surface functional groups (FGs), that control bead charge, colloidal stability, hydrophobicity, and the interaction with the environment and biological systems. For bioanalytical applications, also the number of groups accessible for the subsequent functionalization with, e.g., biomolecules or targeting ligands is relevant. In this study, we explore the influence of QD encoding on the amount of carboxylic acid (COOH) surface FGs of 2 μm polystyrene microparticles (PSMPs). This is done for frequently employed oleic acid and oleylamine stabilized, luminescent core/shell CdSe QDs and two commonly used encoding procedures. This included QD addition during bead formation by a thermally induced polymerization reaction and a post synthetic swelling procedure. The accessible number of COOH groups on the surface of QD-encoded and pristine beads was quantified by two colorimetric assays, utilizing differently sized reporters and electrostatic and covalent interactions. The results were compared to the total number of FGs obtained by a conductometric titration and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, a comparison of the impact of QD and dye encoding on the bead surface chemistry was performed. Our results demonstrate the influence of QD encoding and the QD-encoding strategy on the number of surface FG that is ascribed to an interaction of the QDs with the carboxylic acid groups on the bead surface. These findings are of considerable relevance for applications of nanoparticle-encoded beads and safe-by-design concepts for nanomaterials.
KW - Optical spectroscopy
KW - Particle
KW - Optical assay
KW - IR spectroscopy
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Quantum yield
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Nano
KW - Synthesis
KW - Surface chemistry
KW - Quantification
KW - Method
KW - Conductometry
PY - 2023
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-581502
DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38518-7
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 13
IS - 1
SP - 1
EP - 15
PB - Springer Nature
CY - London
AN - OPUS4-58150
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Wang, Cui
A1 - Ebel, Kenny
A1 - Heinze, Katja
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
A1 - Bald, Ilko
T1 - Quantum Yield of DNA Strand Breaks under Photoexcitation of a Molecular Ruby
N2 - Photodynamic therapy (PDT) used for treating cancer relies on the generation of highly reactive oxygen species, for example, singlet oxygen 1O2, by light-induced excitation of a photosensitizer (PS) in the presence of molecular oxygen, inducing DNA damage in close proximity of the PS. Although many precious metal complexes have been explored as PS for PDT and received clinical approval, only recently, the potential of photoactive complexes of nonnoble metals as PS has been discovered. Using the DNA origami technology that can absolutely quantify DNA strand break cross sections, we assessed the potential of the luminescent transition metal complex [Cr(ddpd)2]3+ (ddpd=N,N’-dimethyl-N,N’-dipyridine-2-ylpyridine-2,6-diamine) to damage DNA in an air-saturated aqueous environment upon UV/Vis illumination. The quantum yield for strand breakage, that is, the ratio of DNA strand breaks to the number of absorbed photons, was determined to 1–4%, indicating efficient transformation of photons into DNA strand breaks by [Cr(ddpd)2]3+.
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Synthesis
KW - Production
KW - Optical spectroscopy
KW - Ligand
KW - Photophysics
KW - Cr(III)
KW - Mechanism
KW - NIR
KW - PDT
KW - Singlet oxygen
KW - DNA
KW - Origami
KW - Quantum yield
PY - 2023
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-573631
DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202203719
SP - 1
EP - 7
AN - OPUS4-57363
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 - Deumer, J.
A1 - Andresen, Elina
A1 - Gollwitzer, C.
A1 - Schürmann, R.
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - Adding More Shape to Nanoscale Reference Materials-LiYF4:Yb,Tm Bipyramids as Standards for Sizing Methods and Particle Number Concentration
N2 - The increasing industrial use of nanomaterials calls for the reliable characterization of their physicochemical key properties like size, size distribution, shape, and surface chemistry, and test and reference materials (RMs) with sizes and shapes, closely matching real-world nonspheric nano-objects. An efficient strategy to minimize efforts in producing nanoscale RMs (nanoRMs) for establishing, validating, and standardizing methods for characterizing nanomaterials are multimethod nanoRMs.
Ideal candidates are lanthanide-based, multicolor luminescent, and chemically inert nanoparticles (NPs) like upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), which can be prepared in different sizes, shapes, and chemical composition with various surface coatings. This makes UCNPs interesting candidates as standards not only for sizing methods, but also for element-analytical methods like laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), quantitative bioimaging methods like X-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT), and luminescence methods and correlative measurements.
Here, we explore the potential of two monodisperse LiYF4:Yb,Tm bipyramids with peak-to-peak distances of (43 ± 2) nm and (29 ± 2) nm as size standards for small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and tools for establishing and validating the sophisticated simulations required for the analysis of SAXS data derived from dispersions of nonspheric nano-objects. These SAXS studies are supplemented by two-dimensional (2D)-transmission electron microscopy measurements of the UCNP bipyramids. Additionally, the particle number concentration of cyclohexane dispersions of these UCNP bipyramids is determined by absolute SAXS measurements, complemented by gravimetry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). This approach enables traceable particle number concentration measurements of ligand-capped nonspheric particles with unknown chemical composition.
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Upconversion nanoparticles
KW - SAXS
KW - Particle number concentration
KW - Reference material
KW - Traceability
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Quantum yield
KW - Spectroscopy
KW - Synthesis
KW - Quantification
KW - NanoRM
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Bipyramid
KW - Reference data
KW - Simulation
PY - 2024
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-617940
DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03641
SP - 1
EP - 8
PB - ACS Publications
AN - OPUS4-61794
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Scholtz, Lena
A1 - Eckert, J. G.
A1 - Graf, Rebecca T.
A1 - Kunst, A.
A1 - Wegner, Karl David
A1 - Bigall, N. C.
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - Correlating semiconductor nanoparticle architecture and applicability for the controlled encoding of luminescent polymer microparticles
N2 - Luminophore stained micro- and nanobeads made from organic polymers like polystyrene (PS) are broadly used in the life and material sciences as luminescent reporters, for bead-based assays, sensor arrays, printable barcodes, security inks, and the calibration of fluorescence microscopes and flow cytometers. Initially mostly prepared with organic dyes, meanwhile luminescent core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) like spherical semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are increasingly employed for bead encoding. This is related to their narrower emission spectra, tuneability of emission color, broad wavelength excitability, and better photostability. However, correlations between particle architecture, morphology, and photoluminescence (PL) of the luminescent nanocrystals used for encoding and the optical properties of the NP-stained beads have been rarely explored. This encouraged us to perform a screening study on the incorporation of different types of luminescent core/shell semiconductor nanocrystals into polymer microparticles (PMPs) by a radical-induced polymerization reaction. Nanocrystals explored include CdSe/CdS QDs of varying CdS shell thickness, a CdSe/ZnS core/shell QD, CdSe/CdS quantum rods (QRs), and CdSe/CdS nanoplatelets (NPLs).
Thereby, we focused on the applicability of these NPs for the polymerization synthesis approach used and quantified the preservation of the initial NP luminescence. The spectroscopic characterization of the resulting PMPs revealed the successful staining of the PMPs with luminescent CdSe/CdS QDs and CdSe/CdS NPLs. In contrast, usage of CdSe/CdS QRs and CdSe QDs with a ZnS shell did not yield luminescent PMPs. The results of this study provide new insights into structure–property relationships between NP stained PMPs and the initial luminescent NPs applied for staining and underline the importance of such studies for the performance optimization of NP-stained beads.
KW - Quantitative spectroscopy
KW - Energy transfer
KW - Synthesis
KW - Surface chemistry
KW - Semiconductor quantum dot
KW - Luminescence
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Quantum yield
KW - Lifetime
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Polymer particle
KW - Quantum rod
KW - Nanoplatelet
PY - 2024
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-602206
DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62591-1
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 14
SP - 1
EP - 16
AN - OPUS4-60220
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 - CONF
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - Getting it right with photoluminescence quantum yields of molecular and nanoscale luminophores and luminescent particles
N2 - Photophysical and mechanistic studies, the comparison of different emitter classes, and the rational design of the next generation of molecular and nanoscale reporters 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 nanomaterials like semiconductor quantum dots and rods, spectrally shifting lanthanide upconversion nanocrystals, perovskites, and YAG:Cer converter materials, reliable methods for determining QY of transparent and scattering luminophores, nonlinear emitters, and solid luminescent nanomaterials have been developed.[2,3] 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, here in an interlaboratory comparison of three labs utilizing integrating sphere spectroscopy.[4,5] In addition, to provide simple tools for a better comparability of QY measurements, recently, a first set of UV/vis/NIR quantum yield standards has been developed and certified with complete uncertainty budgets.[6] In the following, the outcome of these studies will be presented, thereby addressing common pitfalls and providing recommendations on the performance of reliable QY measurements of linear and non-linear emitters in transparent, scattering, and solid samples.
T2 - 29th Lecture Conference on Photochemistry (LCP 2024) GDCh
CY - Mainz, Germany
DA - 16.09.2024
KW - Nanoparticle
KW - Nano
KW - Luminescence
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Synthesis
KW - Standardization
KW - Reference material
KW - Quantum yield
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Reference data
KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy
KW - ILC
KW - Converter material
KW - YAG:Ce
KW - Optoceramic
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-61075
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 - 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 - 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 - JOUR
A1 - Homann, Christian
A1 - Peeters, Régis
A1 - Mirmajidi, Hana
A1 - Berg, Jessica
A1 - Fay, Michael
A1 - Rodrigues, Lucas Carvalho Veloso
A1 - Radicchi, Eros
A1 - Jain, Akhil
A1 - Speghini, Adolfo
A1 - Hemmer, Eva
T1 - Rapid microwave-assisted synthesis of morphology-controlled luminescent lanthanide-doped Gd2O2S nanostructures
N2 - Gadolinium oxysulfide (Gd2O2S) is an attractive material of demonstrated suitability for a variety of imaging applications, leveraging its magnetic, scintillating, and luminescent properties, particularly when doped with optically active lanthanide ions (Ln3+). For many of these applications, control over size and morphology at the nanoscale is crucial. This study demonstrates the rapid microwave-assisted Synthesis of colloidal Ln2O2S (Ln = Gd and dopants Yb, Er, Tb) nanostructures in as little as 20 min. Structural characterization using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, as well as Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), including elemental mapping via energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), unveiled the key role of elemental sulphur (S8) in the reaction mixtures for materials growth. By systematically varying the Ln-to-S ratio from 1 : 0.5 to 1 : 15, controlled morphologies ranging from triangular nanoplatelets to berry- and flower-like shapes were achieved. Doping with Er3+/Yb3+ endowed the nano-triangles with upconverting and near-infrared emitting properties. Tb3+-doped Gd2O2S exhibited the characteristic green Tb3+ emission under UV excitation, while also showing X-ray excited optical luminescence (XEOL), rendering the material interesting as a potential nano-scintillator.
KW - Upconversion
KW - Microwave-assisted synthesis
KW - Synthesis
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - NIR
KW - XRD
KW - X-ray fluoressence
KW - Morphology control
KW - Raman
PY - 2025
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-647907
DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TC01646K
SN - 2050-7526
VL - 13
IS - 35
SP - 18492
EP - 18507
PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
AN - OPUS4-64790
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
A1 - Würth, Christian
A1 - Frenzel, Florian
A1 - Weigert, Florian
A1 - Andresen, Elina
A1 - Grauel, Bettina
A1 - Wegner, Karl David
T1 - Semiconductor (SCNC) & Upconversion Nanocrystals (UCNC) – Optical Properties, Applications & Challenges
N2 - Inorganic nanocrystals with linear and nonlinear luminescence in the ultraviolet, visible, near infrared and shortwave infrared like semiconductor quantum dots and spectrally shifting lanthanide-based nanophosphors have meanwhile found applications in the life and material sciences ranging from optical reporters for bioimaging and sensing over security barcodes to solid state lighting and photovoltaics. These nanomaterials commonly have increasingly sophisticated core/shell particle architectures with shells of different chemical composition and thickness to minimize radiationless deactivation at the particle surface that is usually the main energy loss mechanism [1]. For lanthanide-based spectral shifters, particularly for very small nanoparticles, also surface coatings are needed which protect near-surface lanthanide ions from luminescence quenching by high energy vibrators like O-H groups and prevent the disintegration of these nanoparticles under high dilution conditions. [2,3,4]. The identification of optimum particle structures requires quantitative spectroscopic studies focusing on the key performance parameter photoluminescence quantum yield [5,6], ideally flanked by single particle studies to assess spectroscopic inhomogeneities on a particle-to-particle level for typical preparation methods [7], Moreover, in the case of upconversion nanoparticles with a multi-photonic and hence, excitation power density (P)-dependent luminescence, quantitative luminescence studies over a broad P range are required to identify particle architectures that are best suited for applications in fluorescence assays up to fluorescence microscopy. Here, we present methods to quantify the photoluminescence of these different types of emitters in the vis/NIR/SWIR and as function of Pand demonstrate the importance of such measurements for a profound mechanistic understanding of the nonradiative deactivation pathways in semiconductor and upconversion nanocrystals of different size and particle architecture in different environments.
T2 - 27th Annual Meeting of the Slovenian Chemical Society
CY - Portoroz-Portorose, Slovenia
DA - 21.09.2021
KW - Nano
KW - Nanomaterial
KW - Upconversion nanoparticle
KW - Lanthanide
KW - Photoluminescence
KW - Quantum yield
KW - Photophysics
KW - Lifetime
KW - Surface chemistry
KW - Single particle
KW - Brightness
KW - NIR
KW - Synthesis
KW - Semiconductur
KW - Quantum dot
KW - Nanocrystal
KW - SWIR
PY - 2021
AN - OPUS4-53723
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Andresen, Elina
T1 - Lanthanide based multi element nanoparticles: a versatile platform for surface chemistry analysis and potential reference materials
N2 - The use of engineered nanoparticles of different size, shape, and composition is continuously increasing in the life and materials sciences. This calls for methods and reference materials enabling the reliable and accurate determination of nanoparticle size, particle size distribution, shape, number concentration, degree of aggregation and agglomeration in different environments as well as for nanoparticle dispersibility and stability.
We are currently building up and exploring a platform of lanthanide-based nanocrystals (LnNCs) with application-specifically tuned size, shape, composition, architecture, optical properties, and surface chemistry for emerging applications in life sciences. As a prerequisite for the broad applicability of these nanomaterials, we assess simple, robust, and easily upscaleable synthesis protocols for LnNCs with defined morphologies and tunable optical properties, and the short-term and long-term stability of LnNCs with selected surface coatings in aqueous environments under different application-relevant conditions.
T2 - Anakon 2025
CY - Leipzig, Germany
DA - 10.03.2025
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Method
KW - Lanthanide
KW - Synthesis
KW - Upconversion
KW - Ligand
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Particle number concentration
KW - Reference material
KW - Surface chemistry
PY - 2025
AN - OPUS4-62768
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella
T1 - How to Quantify the Total and Accessible Number of Functional Groups and Ligands on Nanomaterials Using a Multimodal Approach – A Bilateral Comparison
N2 - Surface-functionalized organic and inorganic engineered nanomaterials (NM) have gained increasing interest in various fields of application such as nanomedicine, bioimaging and sensing, or as additives in food and consumer products. The performance and safe use of these NM in such applications depend not only on their composition, primary particle size, and morphology, but also on surface chemistry, which controls surface charge, colloidal stability, biocompatibility, and toxicity.[1] NM surface chemistry is mainly determined by the total number of surface functional groups (FG) and the number of FG accessible for subsequent functionalization with ligands or biomolecules. Thus, methods for FG quantification are not only important tools for the control of NM production processes, but can also foster the sustainable development of functional and safe(r) NM. In addition, this need underlines the importance of validated and standardized analytical methods that provide accurate information on application-relevant physicochemical properties with known uncertainties, flanked by suitable quality control samples and reference materials. Aiming at the development of simple, versatile, and multimodal tools for the quantification of common bioanalytically relevant FG, we investigated and compared various analytical methods commonly used for FG quantification.[2,3] The potential of multimodal approaches for FG quantification was recently demonstrated in a bilateral comparison of the surface analysis of commercially available aminated silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NP).[3] These results demonstrate not only an influence of the size and synthesis methods on the number of FG but also on NM performance. This concept is currently explored in a second bilateral comparison of quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) measurements and optical assays for differently sized commercial and in-house synthesized SiO2-NP with varying amounts of amine functionalities, utilizing further optimized protocols for sample preparation, qNMR measurements, and data evaluation. This strategy can contribute to establishing multi-method characterization strategies for NMs and can provide a more detailed picture of structure-properties relationships for different types of functional NM.
T2 - E-MRS Spring Meeting 2024 & ALTECH 2024
CY - Strasbourg, France
DA - 27.05.2024
KW - Quantification
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Interlaboratory comparison
KW - Method
KW - Uncertainty
KW - Reference material
KW - Sensors
KW - Synthesis
KW - Silica
KW - Surface analysis
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-62161
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Scholtz, Lena
T1 - Luminescent, Semiconductor Nanoparticle-loaded Polymer Microbeads - Comparing Particle Architectures
N2 - The synthesis of luminescent polymer microparticles stained with different, including non-spherical, semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) was developed and optimized while ensuring a good preservation of the particle photoluminescence. The aplicability of the different semiconductor NPs was determined to depend on their surface chemistry and shape. Thus, a first correlation of semiconductor NP architecture and applicability could be deduced, which has not been reported before.
T2 - 821. WE-Heraeus-Seminar
CY - Bad Honnef, Germany
DA - 12.11.2024
KW - Nanoparticle
KW - Surface chemistry
KW - Synthesis
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Luminescence
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-61732
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - A journey in science from a graduate student in physical chemistry to head of division biophotonics
N2 - I will provide a personal overview of the most important steps of my career in science, a journey from a graduate student in physical chemistry in an environment dominated by male-scientists over a postdoc with a female professor in the US to the leader of a research group, head of division Biophotonics at BAM. This will include my choices of research topics, how I learnt to write well cited publications, even on topics such as reference materials and quality assurance,1-4 and eventually started to give lectures at Free University Berlin granting me the right to act as first supervisor of undergraduate and graduate students.
T2 - Women in Science
CY - Erlangen, Germany
DA - 22.07.2024
KW - Lanthanide
KW - Nanoparticle
KW - Silica
KW - Quantum dot
KW - Polymer
KW - Surface group
KW - Luminescence
KW - Quantitative spectroscopy
KW - Quantum yield
KW - Lifetime
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Synthesis
KW - Surface modification
KW - Photophysics
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-60724
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - Photoluminescence quantum yields of molecular & nanoscale luminophores in the UV/VIS/NIR/SWIR in dispersion and in the solid state
N2 - Photophysical and mechanistic studies, the comparison of different emitter classes, and the rational design of the next generation of molecular and nanoscale reporters 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.
T2 - MAF 2024 Conference
CY - Valencia, Spain
DA - 08.09.2024
KW - Nanoparticle
KW - Nano
KW - Luminescence
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Synthesis
KW - Standardization
KW - Reference material
KW - Quantum yield
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Reference data
KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy
KW - ILC
KW - Converter material
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-61072
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Goryacheva, O. A.
A1 - Wegner, Karl David
A1 - Sobolev, A. M.
A1 - Häusler, I.
A1 - Gaponik, N.
A1 - Gorycheva, I. Y.
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - Influence of particle architecture on the photoluminescence properties of silica‑coated CdSe core/shell quantum dots
N2 - Light-emitting nanoparticles like semiconductor nanocrystals (termed quantum dots, QDs) are promising candidates for biosensing and bioimaging applications based on their bright and stable photoluminescent properties. As high-quality QDs are often synthesized in organic solvents, strategies needed to be developed to render them water-dispersible without affecting their optical properties and prevent changes in postmodification steps like the biofunctionalization with antibodies or DNA. Despite a large number of studies on suitable surface modification procedures, the preparation of water-soluble QDs for nanobiotechnology applications still presents a challenge. To highlight the advantages of surface silanization, we systematically explored the influence of the core/multishell architecture of CdSe/CdS/ZnS QDs and the silanization conditions on the optical properties of the resulting silanized QDs. Our results show that the optical properties of silica-coated CdSe/CdS/ZnS QDs are best preserved in the presence of a thick CdS (6 monolayers (ML)) intermediate shell, providing a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY), and a relatively thick ZnS (4.5 ML) external shell, effectively shielding the QDs from the chemical changes during silica coating. In addition to the QD core/shell architecture, other critical parameters of the silica-coating process, that can have an influence on the optical properties of the QD, include the choice of the surfactant and its concentration used for silica coating. The highest PL QY of about 46% was obtained by a microemulsion silica-coating procedure with the surfactant Brij L4, making these water-dispersible QDs to wellsuited optical reporters in future applications like fluorescence immunoassays, biomedicine, and bioimaging.
KW - Nano
KW - Nanomaterial
KW - Particle
KW - Semiconductor
KW - Quantum do
KW - Photoluminescence
KW - Photophysics
KW - Lifetime
KW - Sensor
KW - Mechanism
KW - Surface
KW - Shell
KW - Silica
KW - Silanization
KW - Synthesis
PY - 2022
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-022-04005-7
SP - 1
EP - 13
PB - Springer
AN - OPUS4-54546
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella
T1 - Rational Design of Analyte-responsive Fluorescent Particle Sensors for Life Sciences Applications
N2 - Engineered and tailor-made nanomaterials (NM) are of increasing relevance for current and future developments in the life and material sciences for applications, e.g., as drug carriers, fluorescent sensors, and multimodal labels in bioanalytical assays, and reporters for imaging applications. For instance, NM-based reporters and sensors, that are labelled or stained with a multitude of conventional or sensor dyes, have several advantages as compared to molecular probes like enhanced brightness, i.e., amplified signals, ease of designing ratiometric systems by combining analyte-sensitive and inert reference dyes, and increased photostability. Moreover, this can enable the use of hydrophobic dyes in aqueous environments. For rational NM design, choosing and tailoring the intrinsic physicochemical properties, such as particle size, size distribution, morphology, and surface chemistry of the NM application-specific considerations like biocompatibility, ease and low cost of preparation, and colloidal stability and performance in the targeted environment must be considered. In this lecture, different design concepts of inorganic, organic, and hybrid NM and microparticles with hydrophilic surface chemistries and different functionalities are presented that can be used for the targeting of lysosomes; and to monitor functional parameters of endo-lysosomal compartments, like pH or enable oxygen sensing.
T2 - Chemical Probes for Lysosomal Biology
CY - York, United Kingdom
DA - 09.09.2024
KW - Luminescence
KW - Quantification
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Method
KW - Uncertainty
KW - Reference material
KW - Sensor
KW - Synthesis
KW - Dye
KW - pH
KW - Silica
KW - Polystyrene
KW - Surface analysis
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-62173
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Billimoria, K.
A1 - Andresen, Elina
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
A1 - Goenaga-Infante, H.
T1 - A Strategy for Quantitative Imaging of Lanthanide Tags in A549 Cells Using the Ratio of Internal Standard Elements
N2 - One remaining handicap for spatially resolved elemental quantification in biological samples is the lack of a suitable internal standard (IS) that can be reliably measured across both calibration standards and samples. In this work, multielement quantitative intracellular imaging of cells tagged with lanthanide nanoparticles containing key lanthanides, e.g., Eu and Ho, is described using a novel strategy that uses the ratio of IS elements and LA-ICP-TOFMS analysis. To achieve this, an internal standard layer is deposited onto microscope slides containing either gelatin calibration standards or Euand Ho-tagged cell samples. This IS layer contains both gallium (Ga) and indium (In).
Monitoring either element as an IS individually showed significant variability in intensity signal between sample or standards prepared across multiple microscope slides, which is indicative of the difficulties in producing a homogeneous film at intracellular resolution.
However, normalization of the lanthanide signal to the ratio of the IS elements improved the calibration correlation coefficients from 0.9885 to 0.9971 and 0.9805 to 0.9980 for Eu and Ho, respectively, while providing a consistent signal to monitor the ablation behavior between standards and samples. By analyzing an independent quality control (QC) gelatin sample spiked with Eu and Ho, it was observed that without normalization to the IS ratio the concentrations of Eu and Ho were highly biased by approximately 20% in comparison to the expected values.
Similarly, this overestimation was also observed in the lanthanide concentration distribution of the cell samples in comparison with
the normalized data.
KW - Nanoparticle
KW - Nano
KW - Luminescence
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Synthesis
KW - Standardization
KW - Reference material
KW - ICP-MS
KW - LA-ICP-MS
KW - Quantification
KW - Bioimaging
PY - 2024
DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c02763
SN - 0003-2700
VL - 96
IS - 30
SP - 12570
EP - 12576
AN - OPUS4-60768
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Monks, M.-J.
A1 - Würth, Christian
A1 - Kemnitz, Erhard
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - Dopant ion concentration-dependent upconversion luminescence of cubic SrF2:Yb3+, Er3+ nanocrystals prepared by a fluorolytic sol–gel method
N2 - A fluorolytic sol–gel method was used for the fast and simple synthesis of small cubic-phase SrF2:Yb3+, Er3+ upconversion (UC) nanocrystals (UCNC) of different composition at room temperature. Systematic studies of the crystal phase and particle size of this Yb3+,Er3+-concentration series as well as excitation power density (P)-dependent UC luminescence (UCL) spectra, UCL quantum yields (ΦUCL), and UCL decay kinetics yielded maximum UCL performance for doping amounts of Yb3+ of 13.5% and Er3+ of 1.3% in the studied doping and P-range (30–400 W cm−2). Furthermore, ΦUCL were determined to be similar to popular β-NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+. The relative spectral UCL distributions revealed that all UCNC show a strong red emission in the studied doping and P-range (30–400 W cm−2) and suggest that the UCL quenching pathway for unshelled cubic-phase SrF2:Yb3+,Er3+ UCNC differs from the commonly accepted population and depopulation pathways of β-NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ UCNC. In SrF2:Yb3+,Er3+ UCNC the 4S3/2 →
4I13/2 transition exhibits a notably stronger sensitivity towards P and reveals increasing values for decreasing Yb3+–Yb3+ distances while the 4I9/2 → 4I15/2 transition is significantly less affected by P and energy migration facilitated UCL quenching. These results emphasize the complexity of the UC processes and the decisive role of the crystal phase and symmetry of the host lattice on the operative UCL quenching mechanism in addition to surface effects. Moreover, the room temperature UCNC synthesis enabled a systematic investigation of the influence of the calcination temperature on the crystal phase of powder-UCNC and the associated UCL properties. Calcination studies of solid UCNC of optimized doping concentration in the temperature range of 175 °C and 800 °C showed the beneficial influence of temperature-
induced healing of crystal defects on UCL and the onset of a phase separation connected with the oxygenation of the lanthanide ions at elevated temperature. This further emphasizes the sensitivity of the UC process to the crystal phase and quality of the host matrix.
KW - Upconversion nanoparticle
KW - Lanthanide
KW - Photophysics
KW - Synthesis
PY - 2022
DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d2nr02337g
SP - 1
EP - 10
PB - Royal Society of Chemistry
AN - OPUS4-55364
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella
T1 - Multivalent presentation of phenylpropenic acid amide inspired ligands by various nanoparticles and their potential use in anti-inflammatory therapy
N2 - Over the years, inflammation has become one of the most rapidly developing areas in medical research, due to new studies indicating its important role in chronical diseases, thrombosis and cancer. A promising target for anti-inflammatory therapy are the multistep adhesion process of leukocytes from the blood vessels into the inflamed tissue. and the numerous involved receptors and ligands. In particular, selectins and their respective carbohydrate ligands can inhibit this key step of the inflammation cascade. In previous work, it was shown that the multivalent presentation of highly negatively charged sulfated and carboxylated ligands on the particle surface can mimic natural selectin binders and increase the inhibition significantly.
Recent studies of the antioxidant and health promoting properties of cocoa, dark chocolate and red clover indicating potential anti-inflammatory properties of their clovamide-type phenylpropenoic acid amides, which are able to inhibit p-selectin expression and platelet-leukocyte interactions. Following the idea of small-molecule targeting drugs, we selected different epitopes and immobilized their sulfated derivatives onto different types nanoparticles, followed by a screening of their performance.
T2 - SALSA Make and Measure 2024: Interfaces
CY - Berlin, Germany
DA - 11.09.2024
KW - Gold colloids
KW - Surface group analysis
KW - Method
KW - Quantification
KW - Screening
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Synthesis
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Surface ligands
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-62159
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Pellegrino, F.
T1 - Safe-by-Design Synthesis of 2D Materials
N2 - The use of a dedicated approach: DoE for synthesis + characterization + Chemometric Analysis, is a valuable method for the safe-by-design synthesis of several types of materials for large-scale application in catalysis, energy harvesting, biomedical and environmental applications, etc. This approach is not only related to the material synthesis, but can be expanded to any type of molecules/material, with relevant saving of solvents, energy and times.
T2 - Congress of the Environment and Cultural Heritage - Section of Italian Chemistry Society
CY - Ischia, Italy
DA - 28.09.2023
KW - Safe-by-design
KW - 2D materials
KW - Synthesis
KW - Chemometric analysis
PY - 2023
UR - https://www.congressodabc.it/
AN - OPUS4-59780
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Oskoei, Párástu
A1 - Afonso, Rúben
A1 - Bastos, Verónica
A1 - Nogueira, João
A1 - Keller, Lisa-Marie
A1 - Andresen, Elina
A1 - Saleh, Maysoon I.
A1 - Rühle, Bastian
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
A1 - Daniel-da-Silva, Ana L.
A1 - Oliveira, Helena
T1 - Upconversion Nanoparticles with Mesoporous Silica Coatings for Doxorubicin Targeted Delivery to Melanoma Cells
N2 - Melanoma is one of the most aggressive skin cancers and requires innovative therapeutic strategies to overcome the limitations of conventional therapies. In this work, upconversion nanoparticles coated with mesoporous silica and functionalized with folic acid (UCNP@mSiO2-FA) were developed as a targeted nanocarrier system for the delivery of doxorubicin (DOX). The UCNPs were synthesized via thermal decomposition, coated with mesoporous silica shells, and functionalized with folic acid (FA) to enable receptor-mediated targeting. DOX was then loaded into the mesoporous silica coating by adsorption, yielding UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX. The different UCNPs were characterized for size, composition, colloidal stability, and loading and release of DOX. This comprehensive physicochemical characterization confirmed a high DOX loading efficiency and a slightly increased drug release under acidic conditions, mimicking the tumour microenvironment. In vitro assays using four melanoma cell lines (A375, B16-F10, MNT-1, and SK-MEL-28) revealed an excellent biocompatibility of UCNP@mSiO2-FA and a significantly higher cytotoxicity of UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX compared to unloaded UCNPs, in a dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis demonstrated G2/M phase arrest after treatment with UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX, confirming its antiproliferative effect. Overall, UCNP@mSiO2-FA-DOX represents a promising nanoplatform for targeted melanoma therapy, combining active tumour targeting and enhanced anticancer efficacy.
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Synthesis
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Silica
KW - Cell
KW - Uptake
KW - Drug
KW - Characterization
KW - DOX
KW - Imaging
KW - Toxicity
KW - Release
KW - pH
PY - 2025
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-653596
DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31010074
SN - 1420-3049
VL - 31
IS - 1
SP - 1
EP - 18
PB - MDPI AG
AN - OPUS4-65359
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Scholtz, Lena
T1 - Luminescent, Semiconductor Nanoparticle-Loadedpolymer Microbeads–Comparingparticlearchitectures
N2 - Luminescent polymer microparticles (PMPs) are applied in various (bio)analytical and diagnostic processes.[1] The staining of these beads is important for the realization of optically distinguishable barcodes that can be read out, e.g., by a flow cytometer or fluorescence microscope. Typically, luminescent semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) absorb in a broad wavelength range and show narrow emission bands, which enables simultaneous excitation of differently colored luminophores and facilitates a spectral discrimination.[1] This makes them ideal candidates for this purpose and encouraged us to explore and develop a simple, effective approach to luminescent semiconductor NP encoding of polystyrene PMPs and identify suitable synthesis conditions.[2]
Until now, mainly semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have been used for the synthesis of luminescent PMPs, although NPs with different shapes could introduce beneficial new features. Aiming for the application of our developed procedure to non-spherical NPs, we systematically investigated the luminescence properties of the resulting NP-stained beads using fluorescence and integrating sphere spectroscopy as well as fluorescence and electron microscopy. These studies showed that the suitability of semiconductor NPs for the synthesis of luminescent PMPs depends not only on their shape, but also heavily on their surface chemistry.[3] The successful incorporation of nonspherical NPs opens the path to include even more NPs, and the results can help to deduce future applications for the beads which best suit their specific properties.
T2 - E-MRS Fall Meeting 2025
CY - Warsaw, Poland
DA - 15.09.2025
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Synthesis
KW - Quantum dot
KW - Quantum rod
KW - Platelet
KW - Quantum yield
KW - Polymer particle
KW - Encoding
KW - Surface chemistry
KW - Mechanism
KW - Characterization
KW - Lifetime
KW - Barcode
KW - Polymerization
KW - Method
PY - 2025
AN - OPUS4-64242
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Andresen, Elina
A1 - Islam, Fahima
A1 - Prinz, Carsten
A1 - Gehrmann, P.
A1 - Licha, K.
A1 - Roik, Janina
A1 - Recknagel, Sebastian
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - Assessing the reproducibility and up‑scaling of the synthesis of Er,Yb‑doped NaYF4‑based upconverting nanoparticles and control of size, morphology, and optical properties
N2 - Lanthanide-based, spectrally shifting, and multi-color luminescent upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have received much attention in the last decades because of their applicability as reporter for bioimaging, super-resolution microscopy, and sensing as well as barcoding and anti-counterfeiting tags. A prerequisite for the broad application of UCNPs in areas such as sensing and encoding are simple, robust, and easily upscalable synthesis protocols that yield large quantities of UCNPs with sizes of 20 nm or more with precisely controlled and tunable physicochemical properties from lowcost reagents with a high reproducibility. In this context, we studied the reproducibility, robustness, and upscalability of the synthesis of β-NaYF4:Yb, Er UCNPs via thermal decomposition. Reaction parameters included solvent, precursor chemical compositions, ratio, and concentration. The resulting UCNPs were then examined regarding their application-relevant physicochemical properties such as size, size distribution, morphology, crystal phase, chemical composition, and photoluminescence.
Based on these screening studies, we propose a small volume and high-concentration synthesis approach that can provide UCNPs with different, yet controlled size, an excellent phase purity and tunable morphology in batch sizes of up to at least 5 g which are well suited for the fabrication of sensors, printable barcodes or authentication and recycling tags.
KW - Photoluminescence
KW - Nano
KW - Nanomaterial
KW - Synthesis
KW - Reproducibility
KW - Upconversion nanoparticle
KW - Lanthanide
PY - 2023
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-570170
DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28875-8
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 13
IS - 1
SP - 1
EP - 13
AN - OPUS4-57017
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Chahal, Shweta
T1 - Sustainable Synthesis of Na+ and Bi3+ - doped Cs₂AgInCl₆ Double Perovskites for Efficient White-Light Emission
N2 - Double halide perovskites have emerged as promising, less-toxic alternatives to lead-based perovskites for diverse photochemical applications. Among them, Cs₂AgInCl₆ has attracted significant attention, particularly when doped with various elements, which induce self-trapped exciton (STE) states within the bandgap, resulting in efficient white-light emission and a remarkable enhancement of photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY). While several solid-state and solution-based methods have been employed for the synthesis of double halide perovskites, many rely on toxic solvents and complex procedures, hindering scalability. In this study, we present two environmentally friendly synthesis approaches for the preparation of Cs₂AgInCl₆ doped with monovalent (Na⁺) and trivalent (Bi³⁺) cations:
1. Green solution-based method: Utilizes mild reagents and entirely replaces harsh chemicals, enabling synthesis at ambient conditions.
2. Mechanochemical approach: Employs high-energy ball milling for 62 minutes at room temperature to obtain the desired crystalline phase.
These green methodologies provide sustainable and scalable alternatives to conventional routes, minimizing the environmental footprint. We systematically compare the structural and optical properties of the doped perovskites synthesized via both approaches. The resulting materials exhibit strong UV absorption, broadband white-light emission, high PL QY (up to 85%, Fig. 1), long PL lifetimes, and good thermal and environmental stability (up to 300 °C in air). These results highlight the potential of doped Cs₂AgInCl₆ double perovskites as an eco-friendly material with possible photonic applications as in white-light devices.
T2 - eMRS Fall Meeting 2025
CY - Warsaw, Poland
DA - 15.09.2025
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Advanced material
KW - Perovskite
KW - Synthesis
KW - Characterization
KW - Fluorescence quantum yield
KW - Absolute
KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy
KW - Sustainable synthesis
KW - Lifetime
KW - Photophysics
PY - 2025
AN - OPUS4-64185
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Kossatz, Philipp
A1 - Mezhov, Alexander
A1 - Andresen, Elina
A1 - Prinz, Carsten
A1 - Schmidt, Wolfram
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - Assessing the Applicability of Lanthanide-Based Upconverting Nanoparticles for Optically Monitoring Cement Hydration and Tagging Building Materials
N2 - Chemically stable, lanthanide-based photon upconversion micro- and nanoparticles (UCNPs) with their characteristic multicolor emission bands in the ultraviolet (UV), visible (vis), near-infrared (NIR), and short-wave infrared (SWIR) arepromising optical reporters and barcoding tags. To assess the applicability of UCNPs for the monitoring of early stage cement hydration processes and as authentication tags for cementitious materials, we screened the evolution of the luminescence of Selfmade core-only NaYF4:Yb,Er UCNPs and commercial μm-sized Y2O2S:Yb,Er particles during the first stages of cement hydration, which largely determines the future properties of the hardened material. Parameters explored from the UCNP side included particle size, morphology, surface chemistry or coating, luminescence properties, and concentration in different cement mixtures. From the cement side, the influence of the mineral composition of the cement matrix was representatively examined for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and its constituents tricalcium aluminate (C3A), tricalcium silicate (C3S), and gypsum at different water to cement ratios. Based on reflection and luminescence measurements, enabling online monitoring, which were complemented by XRD and isothermal heat-flow calorimetric measurements to determine whether the incorporation of these particles could impair cement hydration processes, well suited lanthanide particle reporters could be identified as well as application conditions. In addition, thereby the reporter influence on cement hydration kinetics could be minimized while still preserving a high level of information content. The best performance for the luminescence probing of changes during early stage cement hydration processes was observed for 25 nm-sized oleate (OA)-coated UCNPs added in a concentration of 0.1 wt %. Higher UCNP amounts of 1.0 wt % delayed cement hydration processes size- and surface coatingspecifically in the first 24 h. Subsequent luminescence stability screening studies performed over a period of about one year support the applicability of UCNPs as optical authentication tags for construction materials.
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Synthesis
KW - Quantum yield
KW - NIR
KW - Mechanism
KW - Characterization
KW - XRD
KW - Calorimetry
KW - Advanced material
KW - Cement
KW - Monitoring
KW - Surface
KW - Size
KW - Lifetime
KW - Barcode
KW - Lanthanide
KW - Upconversion
KW - Encoding
KW - Method
PY - 2025
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-638318
DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c02236
SN - 2470-1343
VL - 10
IS - 29
SP - 31587
EP - 31599
PB - ACS Publications
CY - Washington, DC
AN - OPUS4-63831
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Rossi, Andrea
A1 - Corrao, Elena
A1 - Alladio, Eugenio
A1 - Drobne, Damjana
A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan
A1 - Jurkschat, Kerstin
A1 - Kononenko, Veno
A1 - Madbouly, Loay Akmal
A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul
A1 - Yasamin, Nakhli
A1 - Novak, Sara
A1 - Radnik, Jörg
A1 - Saje, Špela
A1 - Santalucia, Rosangela
A1 - Sordello, Fabrizio
A1 - Pellegrino, Francesco
T1 - Multivariate optimization and characterization of graphene oxide via design of experiments and chemometric analysis
N2 - Controlling the structure and properties of graphene oxide (GO) remains a challenge due to the poor reproducibility of conventional synthetic protocols and limited understanding of parameter-property relationships. In this study, we present an integrated analytical framework that combines Design of Experiments (DoE) with chemometric modelling to systematically assess the effects of eight synthesis variables on GO’s physicochemical and functional features. A Plackett–Burman experimental design enabled efficient screening of synthesis conditions, while comprehensive characterization (spanning UV–Vis spectroscopy, XPS, SEM–EDX, TEM–EDX, and XRD) was coupled with multivariate tools (Principal Component Analysis and Multiple Linear Regression) to identify statistically significant correlations between synthetic inputs and material responses. Notably, we demonstrate that UV–Vis spectra can serve as a robust proxy for oxidation state, offering a rapid and accessible alternative to surface-sensitive methods. The approach yields a predictive analytical toolkit for guiding GO synthesis and highlights a generalizable strategy for the rational design of flat nanomaterials. This work supports reproducible, resource-efficient material development aligned with Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles.
KW - Graphene oxide
KW - 2D-materials
KW - Design of Experiment
KW - Synthesis
KW - Chemometric analysis
PY - 2026
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-652576
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flatc.2025.100988
SN - 2452-2627
VL - 55
SP - 1
EP - 9
PB - Elsevier B.V.
AN - OPUS4-65257
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Pellegrino, F.
A1 - Isopescu, R.
A1 - Pellutiè, L.
A1 - Sordello, F.
A1 - Rossi, A. M.
A1 - Ortel, Erik
A1 - Martra, G.
A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan
A1 - Maurino, V.
T1 - Machine learning approach for elucidating and predicting the role of synthesis parameters on the shape and size of TiO2 nanoparticles
N2 - In the present work a series of design rules are developed in order to tune the morphology of TiO2 nanoparticles through hydrothermal process. Through a careful experimental design, the influence of relevant process parameters on the synthesis outcome are studied, reaching to the develop predictive models by using Machine Learning methods. The models, after the validation and training, are able to predict with high accuracy the synthesis outcome in terms of nanoparticle size, polydispersity and aspect ratio. Furthermore, they are implemented by reverse engineering approach to do the inverse process, i.e. obtain the optimal synthesis parameters given a specific product characteristic. For the first time, it is presented a synthesis method that allows continuous and precise control of NPs morphology with the possibility to tune the aspect ratio over a large range from 1.4 (perfect truncated bipyramids) to 6 (elongated nanoparticles) and the length from 20 to 140 nm.
KW - Machine learning
KW - Nanoparticles
KW - Titanium dioxide
KW - Size
KW - Shape
KW - Synthesis
PY - 2020
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-515084
DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-75967-w
VL - 10
IS - 1
SP - 18910
PB - Springer Nature
AN - OPUS4-51508
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - JOUR
A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella
A1 - Rajotte, Isabelle
A1 - Thibeault, Marie-Pier
A1 - Sander, Philipp C.
A1 - Kodra, Oltion
A1 - Lopinski, Gregory
A1 - Radnik, Jörg
A1 - Johnston, Linda J.
A1 - Brinkmann, Andreas
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - Quantifying surface groups on aminated silica nanoparticles of different size, surface chemistry, and porosity with solution NMR, XPS, optical assays, and potentiometric titration
N2 - We assessed the quantification of surface amino functional groups (FGs) for a large set of commercial and custom-made aminated silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) with sizes of 20–100 nm, prepared with different sol–gel routes, different amounts of surface amino FGs, and different porosity with four methods providing different, yet connected measurands in a bilateral study of two laboratories, BAM and NRC, with the overall aim to develop standardizable measurements for surface FG quantification. Special emphasis was dedicated to traceable quantitative magnetic resonance spectroscopy (qNMR) performed with dissolved SiO2 NPs. For the cost efficient and automatable screening of the amount of surface amino FGs done in a first step of this study, the optical fluorescamine assay and a potentiometric titration method were utilized by one partner, i.e., BAM, yielding the amount of primary amino FGs accessible for the reaction with a dye precursor and the total amount of (de)protonatable FGs. These measurements, which give estimates of the minimum and maximum number of surface amino FGs, laid the basis for quantifying the amount of amino silane molecules with chemo-selective qNMR with stepwise fine-tuned workflows, involving centrifugation, drying, weighting, dissolution, measurement, and data evaluation steps jointly performed by BAM and NRC. Data comparability and relative standard deviations (RSDs) obtained by both labs were used as quality measures for method optimization and as prerequisites to identify method-inherent limitations to be later considered for standardized measurement protocols. Additionally, the nitrogen (N) to silicon (Si) ratio in the near-surface region of the SiO2 NPs was determined by both labs using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), a well established surface sensitive analytical method increasingly utilized for microparticles and nano-objects which is currently also in the focus of international standardization activities. Overall, our results underline the importance of multi-method characterization studies for quantifying FGs on NMs involving at least two expert laboratories for effectively identifying sources of uncertainty, validating analytical methods, and deriving NM structure–property relationships.
KW - Advanced Materials
KW - Amino Groups
KW - Calibration
KW - Characterization
KW - Functional groups
KW - Method Comparison
KW - Nano Particle
KW - Validation
KW - XPS
KW - Optical Assay
KW - Quantification
KW - Surface Analysis
KW - Reference Materials
KW - Synthesis
KW - Fluorescence
PY - 2025
UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-649992
DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d5na00794a
VL - 7
IS - 21
SP - 6888
EP - 6900
PB - Royal Society of Chemistry
AN - OPUS4-64999
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - The emp project smurfnano – Standardizing the quantification of surface functionalities, ligands, and coatings on nanomaterials
N2 - For industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, opto-electronics, and information storage, meanwhile engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with various chemical compositions and surface functionalities are routinely fabricated. NP function, interaction with biological species, and environmental fate are largely determined by surface functionalities. Reliable, reproducible, and standardized surface characterization methods are therefore vital for quality control of NPs, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. Also, industry, international standardization organizations, regulatory agencies, and policymakers need validated and standardized measurement methods and reference materials.
These needs are addressed by the recently started European metrology project SMURFnano involving 12 partners from different National Metrology Institutes, designated institutes, and research institutes, two university groups as well as one large company and one SME producing NPs. This project as well as first results derived from the development of test and reference materials with a well characterized surface chemistry and ongoing interlaboratory comparisons will be presented.
T2 - LNE Workshop
CY - Paris, France
DA - 04.11.2025
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Synthesis
KW - Characterization
KW - Advanced material
KW - Surface
KW - Standardization
KW - Reference material
KW - Functional group
KW - Quantification
KW - Coating
KW - Automation
KW - Potentiometry
KW - Method
KW - Validation
KW - Optical assay
KW - Fluram
KW - qNMR
KW - Comparison
KW - ILC
PY - 2025
AN - OPUS4-64725
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella
T1 - Where Do We Stand – Quantifying Amino Groups on Silica (Nano)Particles
N2 - Industry and regulators are increasingly requesting validated and standardized measurement protocols to support the manufacturing, quality control, and safe use of engineered nanomaterials. Addressing a remaining gap in method development and standardization for nanomaterial characterization, we investigated in a bilateral comparison various methods commonly used for surface functional group quantification, like quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and optical assays. These results demonstrate not only an influence of the size and synthesis methods on the number of surface functional groups for differently sized commercial and in-house synthesized silica nanoparticles but also on their functionality.
T2 - Kickoff-Meeting SMURFnano
CY - Berlin, Germany
DA - 09.07.2024
KW - Nano
KW - Particles
KW - Silica
KW - Synthesis
KW - Quantification
KW - Functional groups
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Reference material
KW - Interlaboratory comparison
KW - Method
KW - Uncertainty
KW - Sensor
KW - Surface analysis
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-62164
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella
T1 - Quantifying the Total and Accessible Number of Surface Functional Groups and Ligands on Engineered Nanomaterials Using a Multimodal Approach
N2 - Functionalized nanomaterials (NM) with their unique size-dependent properties are of increasing relevance for current and future developments in various fields such as medical and pharmaceutical industry, computing, electronics or food and consumer products. For instance, NMs are used as drug carriers, fluorescent sensors, and multimodal labels in bio-analytical assays and imaging applications. The performance and safety of NMs are influenced by their intrinsic physicochemical properties. Among these, the surface chemistry of the particles, which is largely determined by the chemical nature and density of functional groups and ligands, plays a crucial role in enhancing the stability, and processability of NMs, as well as their interactions with the environment. Thus, particle standards with well-designed surfaces and methods for functional group quantification can foster the sustainable development of functional and safe(r) NM.[1] To develop simple, versatile, and multimodal tools for quantifying various bioanalytically relevant functional groups (FG) such as amine,[2,3] carboxy,[2] thiol, and aldehyde[4] functionalities, we explored and compared several analytical methods. These methods included electrochemical titration, dye-based optical assays, and other instrumental techniques like nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis. Our multimodal approach’s potential for FG quantification was demonstrated using both commercial and custom-made polymeric and silica particles with different densities of functional groups.
T2 - ANAKON 2025
CY - Leipzig, Germany
DA - 10.03.2025
KW - Quality Assurance
KW - Nano Particle
KW - qNMR
KW - Potentiometry
KW - Reference Material
KW - Surface Analysis
KW - Advance Materials
KW - Functional Group
KW - Silica
KW - Synthesis
KW - Optical Assays
KW - Reference Data
PY - 2025
AN - OPUS4-65000
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Brinkmann, A.
T1 - A qNMR Method for Quantification of Surface Functional Groups on Silica Nanoparticles: Bilateral Comparisons
N2 - Nanomaterials (NM) of different size, shape, morphology, composition, and surface chemistry are used in a wide range of applications, including medical diagnostics, and imaging and consumer products. The importance of an adequate and reliable characterization is crucial for quality control during NM production, for ensuring an optimum function for the desired application, and for risk assessment studies. Currently there is a lack of reliable and validated methods and reference materials for quantifying NM surface functional groups, despite the importance of surface chemistry for the production of colloidally stable materials, further processing steps, and the interaction with the environment and biological species.
Following our initial study on the use of qNMR for quantifying the amount of amino groups on surface modified silica (1), we have carried out two bilateral comparisons between NRC and BAM to further develop and optimize a reliable protocol for these measurements (2,3), using aminated silica nanoparticles prepared by multiple methods, both commercial and in-house synthesized, and with varying amine content. Solution qNMR is based on dissolving aminated silica nanoparticles in strong base to release the surface grafted amino silane molecules, followed by the quantification of these molecules by solution qNMR using an internal standard. This method provides the amount of total amino groups present in the sample, which can differ from probe accessible or surface-sensitive measurements performed with X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Complementary measurements using optical assays, involving a labeling step with a dye reporter, and XPS are employed to assess the probe accessible and surface amine content for representative samples. These measurements, which illustrate the advantages and potential limitations of the different characterization methods, will contribute to establish a basis for testing the protocol in an international inter-laboratory comparison and for standardization at ISO Technical Committee 229 – Nanotechnologies.
T2 - BERM
CY - Halifax, Canada
DA - 01.06.2025
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Synthesis
KW - Advanced materials
KW - Characterization
KW - Electron microscopy
KW - Silica
KW - Surface
KW - qNMR
KW - Optical assay
KW - Interlaboratory comparison
KW - Metrology
KW - Standardization
PY - 2025
AN - OPUS4-63527
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Portesi, C.
T1 - qNMR for standardised measurements of surface functionalities on nanoparticles
N2 - Engineered nanoparticles have a large application potential in fields such as medicine, sensing, catalysis, energy storage, and opto-electronics [1]. The applicability and performance of engineered nanoparticles is largely determined by their surface chemistry, i.e. functional groups and ligands on the particle surface. However, documented standards to quantify functional groups and ligands currently do not exist. Such standards are required to support quality control of nanomaterial production and surface modification processes, and safe-by-design concepts and to meet regulatory requirements.
Here, this issue is addressed by developing and standardizing quantitative Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (qNMR) methods for the characterization of surface functionalized nanoparticles which specifically address the determination of the amount and chemical composition of surface functionalities and coatings.
This work is being developed under the EMP project 23NRM02 SMURFnano - Standardised measurements of surface functionalities on nanoparticles. qNMR competence of 7 qNMR laboratories involved in the project was first tested with a molecular model sample i.e. citrate, to be assessed in terms of purity. Citrate is often used as hydrophilic surface ligand for different nanoparticles. Then, the first nanoparticle samples, here a set of aminated SiO2 NPs [1] with a particle size of 100 nm and two amino group densities, prepared and characterized by BAM regarding size and surface charge as well as stability over 21 months with an optical assay and qNMR, were assessed in an international interlaboratory comparison (ILC) on qNMR. Thereby, the amount of surface amino groups introduced by grafting of the silica cores with different amounts of 3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) was quantified by each participant following a sample preparation protocol previously developed by BAM and NRC.The results of the ILC were then used to refine the protocol for sample preparation and to identify critical points for qNMR measurement and data analysis.
This work will contribute to the development of a Preliminary Work Item (PWI) 19257 (ISO/TC 229) on surface functional groups and coatings on nano-objects. Also, it will lay the groundwork to perform ILCs on the quantification and determination of the amount of surface functional groups under the roof of VAMAS TWA2 (Surface Chemical Analysis) for different types of nanomaterials possessing industry-relevant surface functionalities using qNMR. These ILCs will be complemented by other techniques like X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS).
T2 - BERM
CY - Halifax, Canada
DA - 01.06.2025
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Synthesis
KW - Advanced materials
KW - Characterization
KW - Electron microscopy
KW - Silica
KW - Surface
KW - qNMR
KW - Optical assay
KW - Interlaboratory comparison
KW - Metrology
KW - Validation
KW - Standardization
PY - 2025
AN - OPUS4-63443
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - Quantifying the total and accessible amount of surface functionalities and ligands on nano-materials: Overview and recommended methods
N2 - Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with various chemical compositions and surface functionalities are routinely fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, opto-electronics, and information storage. NP function, interaction with biological species, and environmental fate are largely determined by surface functionalities. This calls for reliable, reproducible, and standardized surface characterization methods, which are vital for quality control of NPs, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. Validated and standardized workflows for surface analysis are also increasingly requested by industry, international standardization organizations, regulatory agencies, and policymakers. To establish comparable measurements of surface functionalities across different labs and ease instrument performance validation, reference test materials and reference materials of known surface chemistry as well as reference data are needed.
In the following, different methods for determining surface functionalities on ligand-stabilized core and core/shell NPs include advanced techniques are presented and discussed regarding method-inherent advantages and limitations. Special emphasis is dedicated to traceable quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR), X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and simpler optical and electrochemical methods.
T2 - LNE Workshop
CY - Paris, France
DA - 04.11.2025
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Synthesis
KW - Characterization
KW - Advanced material
KW - Surface
KW - Standardization
KW - Reference material
KW - Functional group
KW - Quantification
KW - Coating
KW - Automation
KW - Potentiometry
KW - Method
KW - Validation
KW - Optical assay
KW - Fluram
KW - Fluorescamine
KW - qNMR
KW - Comparison
KW - ILC
PY - 2025
AN - OPUS4-64726
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute
T1 - Standardized Measurements of Surface - Functionalities on Nanoparticles
N2 - Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with various chemical compositions and surface functionalities are routinely fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, optoelectronics, and information storage. NP function, interaction with biological species, and environmental fate are largely determined by surface functionalities. Reliable, reproducible, and standardized surface characterization methods are therefore vital for quality control of NPs, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. Also, industry, international standardization organizations, regulatory agencies, and policymakers need validated and standardized measurement methods and reference materials. However, methodologies for determining NP surface properties, including the amount, chemical composition, and homogeneity of surface functionalities and coatings are largely non-standardized. Suitable methods for determining surface functionalities on ligand-stabilized core and core/shell NPs include advanced techniques such as traceable quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) as well as X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and simpler optical and electrochemical methods. The latter less costly methods are often used by SMEs, e.g., for quality control. To validate methods, establish measurement uncertainties, test reference materials, and produce reference data, international interlaboratory comparisons (ILC) on NP surface functionalization measurements are required and well characterized test and reference nanomaterials providing benchmark values.[1] These needs are addressed by the recently started European metrology project SMURFnano involving 12 partners from different National Metrology Institutes, designated institutes, and research institutes, two university groups as well as one large company and one SME producing NPs. This project as well as first results derived from the development of test and reference materials with a well characterized surface chemistry and ongoing interlaboratory comparisons will be presented.
T2 - eMRS
CY - Strasbourg, France
DA - 27.05.2025
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Fluorescence
KW - Nano
KW - Particle
KW - Synthesis
KW - Silica
KW - Upconversion nanoparticles
KW - Optical assay
KW - qNMR
KW - Surface analysis
KW - Ligand
KW - Quantification
KW - Functional group
KW - XPS
KW - ToF-SIMS
KW - Polymer particle
KW - Surface modification
KW - Potentiometry
KW - Metrology
KW - Method
KW - Validation
KW - ILC
PY - 2025
AN - OPUS4-63339
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - GEN
A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob
A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard
T1 - DACHS/MOFs/AutoMOFs_3/Synthesis
N2 - The DACHS (Database for Automation, Characterization and Holistic Synthesis) project aims to create completely traceable experimental data, covering syntheses, measurements, analyses, and interpretations. DACHS_MOFs focuses on the synthesis and characterisation of metal-organic frameworks, across multiple, automation-assisted experimental series (AutoMOFs), with the overall goal of producing reproducible MOF samples through tracking of the synthesis parameters.
DACHS_MOFs is simultaneously used to test the DACHS principles.
This upload contain synthesis data from AutoMOFs_3 in HDF5 format (.h5). Each .h5 file contains detailed information on the chemical, experimenal, and synthesis parameters used during the synthesis of a single AutoMOF sample.
KW - Synthesis
KW - Automation
KW - Traceability
KW - Procedure
PY - 2024
DO - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11237815
PB - Zenodo
CY - Geneva
AN - OPUS4-60633
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Wegner, Karl David
T1 - One-Pot Heat-Up Synthesis of ZnSe Magic-Sized Clusters Using Thiol Ligands
N2 - The unique optoelectronic properties of semiconductor nanocrystals, also termed quantum dots (QDs), have led to many advances in optoelectronic devices, bioimaging, and biosensing. This strong potential in a wide range of applications sparked the interest for a better understanding of the QD formation mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that atomically defined, zero-dimensional magic-size clusters (MSCs) play a crucial role during the nucleation and growth of QDs. Thereby MSCs consist of discrete numbers of ions leading to narrow size distributions and thus narrow absorption peaks, which evolve in discrete steps from one stable size to the next. The formation of MSCs was found in the synthesis of II-VI and III-V QDs but only limited synthesis approaches are available for the synthesis of MSCs in single-ensemble form without coexistence of other-size QDs. These MSCs can further self-assemble into two- and three-dimensional hybrid structures using organic ligands like diamines, leading to enhanced photoluminescence properties and catalytic activities.
In this contribution, we present a synthesis strategy for the preparation of single-sized ZnSe MSCs. With a band gap of 2.7 eV and being an earth-abundant material, ZnSe QDs are interesting for light-emitting devices, blue-green lasers, photocatalysis, and fluorescence probes. In contrast to other studies, our approach is based on a one-pot heat-up synthesis and uses less toxic and dangerous zinc precursors (e.g. zinc stearate). Knowing that thiol-based ligands can alter the formation process of ZnSe QDs, we investigated the influence of 1-dodecanethiol on the ZnSe MSC formation using absorption spectroscopy, TEM, XPS, and XRD. By variation of the thiol ligand concentration and reaction temperature, we were able to synthesize two new ZnSe MSC sizes, the largest so far, by using easy-to-handle precursors.
T2 - NANOHYBRID - Hamburg Conference on Complex Nanostructures
CY - Hamburg, Germany
DA - 04.10.2022
KW - ZnSe
KW - Magic-sized cluster
KW - Nanoparticle
KW - Synthesis
KW - Nanomaterial
PY - 2022
AN - OPUS4-56193
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - GEN
A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob
A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard
T1 - DACHS/MOFs/AutoMOFs_5/Synthesis
N2 - The DACHS (Database for Automation, Characterization and Holistic Synthesis) project aims to create completely traceable experimental data, covering syntheses, measurements, analyses, and interpretations. DACHS_MOFs focuses on the synthesis and characterisation of metal-organic frameworks, across multiple, automation-assisted experimental series (AutoMOFs), with the overall goal of producing reproducible MOF samples through tracking of the synthesis parameters.
DACHS_MOFs is simultaneously used to test the DACHS principles.
This upload contain synthesis data from AutoMOFs_5 in HDF5 format (.h5). Each .h5 file contains detailed information on the chemical, experimenal, and synthesis parameters used during the synthesis of a single AutoMOF sample.
KW - Automation
KW - Procedure
KW - Synthesis
KW - Traceability
PY - 2024
DO - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11237987
PB - Zenodo
CY - Geneva
AN - OPUS4-61344
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - CONF
A1 - Smales, G. J.
T1 - DACHS-MOFs Database for Automation, Characterisation, and Holistic Synthesis
N2 - The DACHS (Database for Automation, Characterization and Holistic Synthesis) project aims to create completely traceable experimental data, covering syntheses, measurements, analyses, and interpretations. DACHS MOFs focuses on the synthesis and characterisation of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), across multiple, automation-assisted experimental series (AutoMOFs), with the overall goal of producing reproducible MOF syntheses. So far > 1200 MOF samples have been synthesised, with SAXS/WAXS data currently being collected on all samples. All results, including those from “failed” syntheses, are included in the database, as results are results and should be considered agnostic to any positive ornegative interpretations. DACHS MOFs represents the initial trial of the DACHS project, serving as a comprehensive resource for researchers aiming to optimize the synthesis and characterization of MOFs.
T2 - XIX International Small Angle Scattering Conference
CY - Taipei, Taiwan
DA - 04.11.2024
KW - Lab automation
KW - Synthesis
KW - Metal organic frameworks
KW - Zif-8
KW - Databases
KW - Synthesis data
PY - 2024
AN - OPUS4-61626
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - GEN
A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob
A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard
T1 - DACHS/MOFs/AutoMOFs_4/Synthesis
N2 - The DACHS (Database for Automation, Characterization and Holistic Synthesis) project aims to create completely traceable experimental data, covering syntheses, measurements, analyses, and interpretations. DACHS_MOFs focuses on the synthesis and characterisation of metal-organic frameworks, across multiple, automation-assisted experimental series (AutoMOFs), with the overall goal of producing reproducible MOF samples through tracking of the synthesis parameters.
DACHS_MOFs is simultaneously used to test the DACHS principles.
This upload contain synthesis data from AutoMOFs_4 in HDF5 format (.h5). Each .h5 file contains detailed information on the chemical, experimenal, and synthesis parameters used during the synthesis of a single AutoMOF sample.
KW - Automation
KW - Procedure
KW - Synthesis
KW - Traceability
PY - 2024
DO - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11237899
PB - Zenodo
CY - Geneva
AN - OPUS4-61343
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - GEN
A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob
A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard
T1 - DACHS/MOFs/AutoMOFs_1/Synthesis
N2 - The DACHS (Database for Automation, Characterization and Holistic Synthesis) project aims to create completely traceable experimental data, covering syntheses, measurements, analyses, and interpretations. DACHS_MOFs focuses on the synthesis and characterisation of metal-organic frameworks, across multiple, automation-assisted experimental series (AutoMOFs), with the overall goal of producing reproducible MOF samples through tracking of the synthesis parameters.
DACHS_MOFs is simultaneously used to test the DACHS principles.
This upload contain synthesis data from AutoMOFs_1 in HDF5 format (.h5). Each .h5 file contains detailed information on the chemical, experimenal, and synthesis parameters used during the synthesis of a single AutoMOF sample.
KW - Synthesis
KW - Automation
KW - Traceability
KW - Procedure
PY - 2024
DO - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11236031
PB - Zenodo
CY - Geneva
AN - OPUS4-60243
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -
TY - GEN
A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob
A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard
T1 - DACHS/MOFs/AutoMOFs_2/Synthesis
N2 - The DACHS (Database for Automation, Characterization and Holistic Synthesis) project aims to create completely traceable experimental data, covering syntheses, measurements, analyses, and interpretations. DACHS_MOFs focuses on the synthesis and characterisation of metal-organic frameworks, across multiple, automation-assisted experimental series (AutoMOFs), with the overall goal of producing reproducible MOF samples through tracking of the synthesis parameters.
DACHS_MOFs is simultaneously used to test the DACHS principles.
This upload contain synthesis data from AutoMOFs_2 in HDF5 format (.h5). Each .h5 file contains detailed information on the chemical, experimenal, and synthesis parameters used during the synthesis of a single AutoMOF sample.
KW - Automation
KW - Procedure
KW - Synthesis
KW - Traceability
PY - 2024
DO - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11236074
PB - Zenodo
CY - Geneva
AN - OPUS4-60611
LA - eng
AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
ER -