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 -