TY - JOUR A1 - Vogel, Amelie A1 - Tentschert, Jutta A1 - Pieters, Raymond A1 - Bennet, Francesca A1 - Dirven, Hubert A1 - van den Berg, Annemijne A1 - Lenssen, Esther A1 - Rietdijk, Maartje A1 - Broßell, Dirk A1 - Haase, Andrea T1 - Towards a risk assessment framework for micro- and nanoplastic particles for human health N2 - Background Human exposure to micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNPs) is inevitable but human health risk assessment remains challenging for several reasons. MNPs are complex mixtures of particles derived from different polymer types, which may contain plenty of additives and/or contaminants. MNPs cover broad size distributions and often have irregular shapes and morphologies. Moreover, several of their properties change over time due to aging/ weathering. Case-by-case assessment of each MNP type does not seem feasible, more straightforward methodologies are needed. However, conceptual approaches for human health risk assessment are rare, reliable methods for exposure and hazard assessment are largely missing, and meaningful data is scarce. Methods Here we reviewed the state-of-the-art concerning risk assessment of chemicals with a specific focus on polymers as well as on (nano-)particles and fibres. For this purpose, we broadly screened relevant knowledge including guidance documents, standards, scientific publications, publicly available reports. We identified several suitable concepts such as: (i) polymers of low concern (PLC), (ii) poorly soluble low toxicity particles (PSLT) and (iii) fibre pathogenicity paradigm (FPP). We also aimed to identify promising methods, which may serve as a reasonable starting point for a test strategy. Results and conclusion Here, we propose a state-of-the-art modular risk assessment framework for MNPs, focusing primarily on inhalation as a key exposure route for humans that combines several integrated approaches to testing and assessment (IATAs). The framework starts with basic physicochemical characterisation (step 1), followed by assessing the potential for inhalative exposure (step 2) and includes several modules for toxicological assessment (step 3). We provide guidance on how to apply the framework and suggest suitable methods for characterization of physicochemical properties, exposure and hazard assessment. We put special emphasis on new approach methodologies (NAMs) and included grouping, where adequate. The framework has been improved in several iterative cycles by taking into account expert feedback and is currently being tested in several case studies. Overall, it can be regarded as an important step forward to tackle human health risk assessment. KW - Microplastics KW - Nanoplastics KW - Human health KW - Risk assessment KW - Integrated approaches to testing and assessment (IATAs) KW - Polymers of low concern (PLC) KW - Poorly soluble low toxicity particles (PSLT) PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-623790 DO - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12989-024-00602-9 SN - 1743-8977 VL - 21 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 21 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-62379 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Chemello, Giovanni A1 - Despotelis, Konstantinos A1 - Paton, Keith A1 - Clifford, Charles A A1 - Pollard, Andrew A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Approaches for the measurement of lateral dimensions of graphene oxide flakes using scanning electron microscopy N2 - There is a practical need, especially from the industrial community, to accurately measure the size and shape of graphene oxide (GO) flakes of commercial origin, in a reliable, simple, and unambiguous way. The sample preparation is a decisive step to obtain a homogeneous distribution of flakes on a substrate, which is suitable for image analysis. A certain level of inhomogeneity was still found but could be accepted for the purpose of this lateral size measurement study. A measurement procedure for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) including sample preparation, measurement, image analysis and reporting was developed and validated to be applied for the lateral size analysis of “real-world” 2D flakes. Samples were produced for analysis by drop casting GO dispersions onto Si/SiO2 substrates. After SEM imaging, the images were analysed using two approaches to derive size and shape parameters. The influence of different operators has been evaluated. A maximum difference of 10% for the size descriptor and 2% for shape descriptor was found for both image analysis approaches when different samples of the same source material are measured and analysed by the same operator, hence indicating variability caused by sample preparation and analysing different sample areas. When different laboratories/operators perform the image analysis on exactly the same images and same flakes, the deviation found for the size descriptor is 2% and 4.6% corresponding to the two approaches applied, while no difference in the shape descriptor is observed. KW - Graphene oxide KW - SEM KW - Lateral dimension KW - Standardisation KW - Imaging PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-625070 DO - https://doi.org/10.1088/2632-959X/adae28 VL - 6 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - IOP Publishing AN - OPUS4-62507 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Madbouly, Loay Akmal A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul A1 - Stockmann, Jörg Manfred A1 - Jones, Elliot A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Comparative Elemental Analysis of Commercial Functionalized Graphene Nanoplatelets Along the Production Chain With X‐Ray Photoelectron and Energy‐Dispersive X‐Ray Spectroscopy N2 - Graphene has been commercialized for over a decade, primarily in the form of suspensions and inks. In this study, we investigate the properties of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and their functionalized derivatives, incorporating fluorine or nitrogen as functional groups (FG). The analysis was conducted on three forms, that is, powders, suspensions, and inks, using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX). The objective of this work is to establish a rapid and comprehensive systematic approach for elemental analysis of commercial functionalized graphene, which can be used for quality control. Functionalization is employed to tailor the material's physical and chemical properties. In our study, graphene samples, functionalized with fluorine or ammonia in a plasma reactor, were investigated. Both XPS and EDX were applicable for all three forms and showed, in general, similar trends between the three forms, so that both XPS and EDX can be used for quality control of GNPs along the production chain. KW - Commercial graphene KW - Functionalized graphene KW - Graphene inks KW - SEM/EDS KW - XPS PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-625752 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/sia.7386 SN - 1096-9918 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-62575 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - John, Elisabeth A1 - Weise, Matthias A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Stockmann, Jörg Manfred A1 - Lange, Thorid A1 - Sahre, Mario A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Towards a New Reference Material—Analytical Challenges in Examining High-Entropy Alloy Thin Films N2 - A new high-entropy alloy (HEA) consisting of titanium, chromium, manganese, iron, and nickel was deposited as a thin-film on silicon substrates using magnetron sputtering from a novel segmented target composed of metal stripes. This material was explored with the goal to create a new reference material for surface analysis and evaluation of complex composite materials. The film's morphology was initially characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), followed by crystallographic analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The two-dimensional compositional homogeneity was assessed using a combination of scanning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The in-depth chemical composition was further analysed using ToF-SIMS and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Our findings demonstrate that it is possible to produce thin HEA films with a homogeneous in-depth composition from a segmented target. Notably, despite the fixed composition of the target, we were able to vary the HEA's composition by exploiting inhomogeneities within the magnetrons sputter plasma. Additionally, we successfully created HEA films with significant compositional gradients. T2 - ECASIA CY - Gothenburg, Sweden DA - 10.06.2024 KW - Reference material KW - High-entropy alloy KW - Thin-films PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-625777 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/sia.7387 SN - 1096-9918 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Wiley AN - OPUS4-62577 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul T1 - Comparative study of suitable preparation methods to evaluate irregular shaped, polydisperse nanoparticles by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). N2 - Reliable characterization of materials at the nanoscale regarding their physio-chemical properties is a challenging task, which is important when utilizing and designing nanoscale materials. Nanoscale materials pose a potential toxicological hazard to the environment and the human body. For this reason, the European Commission amended the REACH Regulation in 2018 to govern the classification of nanomaterials, relying on number-based distribution of the particle size. Suitable methods exist for the granulometric characterization of monodisperse and ideally shaped nanoparticles. However, the evaluation of commercially available nanoscale powders is problematic. These powders tend to agglomerate, show a wide particle size distribution and are of irregular particle shape. Zinc oxide, aluminum oxide and cerium oxide with particle sizes less than 100 nm were selected for the studies and different preparation methods were used comparatively. First, the nanoparticles were dispersed in different dispersants and prepared on TEM-supported copper grids. Furthermore, individual powders were deposited on carbon-based self-adhesive pads. In addition, the samples were embedded by hot mounting and then ground and polished. The prepared samples were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (including the transmission mode STEM-in-SEM) and Dynamic Light scattering. The software package ImageJ was used to segment the SEM images and obtain the particle sizes and shapes and finally the number-based particles size distribution with size expressed as various descriptors. T2 - Ceramics 2021 CY - Online meeting DA - 19.04.2021 KW - Nanoparticles KW - Preparation KW - Characterization PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-53272 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul T1 - Fine iron oxide nanoparticles as a candidate reference material for reliable measurement of particle size N2 - Background, Motivation and Objective Nanomaterials are at the core of some of the 21st century’s most promising technologies. In order to utilize and rationally design materials at the nanoscale the reliable characterization of their physico-chemical properties is highly important. Furthermore, the European Commission has taken measures via the REACH Regulations to control the classification of nanomaterials. REACH Annexes which entered into force in January 2020 require manufacturers to register nanomaterials that are traded in larger quantities (at least 1 ton). Every powder or dispersion where 50% (number distribution) of the constituent particles have sizes ≤ 100 nm in at least one dimension are defined as a nanomaterial. This creates a need for both industrial manufacturers and research and analytical service facilities to reliably characterize potential nanomaterials. Currently, BAM is working on developing reference nanoparticles, which shall expand the scarce list of worldwide available nano reference materials certified for particle size distribution, but also targeting other key parameters such as shape, structure (including porosity) and functional properties. Thus, candidate materials are considered to complement the already available spherical and monodisperse silica, Au and polystyrene reference nanoparticles, e.g. iron oxide and titanium oxide, with an average atomic number between those of silica and gold. Particularly for the imaging by electron microscopies, new nanoparticles of well-defined size in the range of 10 nm are decisive for the accurate particle segmentation by setting precise thresholds. Statement of Contribution/Methods Synthesis: Highly monodisperse iron oxide nanoparticles can be synthesized in large quantities by thermal decomposition of iron oleate or iron acetylacetonate precursors in high boiling solvents such as octadecene or dioctyl ether in the presence of oleic acid and oleylamine as capping agents. Scanning Electron Microscope: An SEM of type Supra 40 from Zeiss has been used including the dedicated measurement mode transmission in SEM (STEM-in-SEM) with a superior material contrast for the nanoparticle analysis. The software package ImageJ has been used for the analysis of the STEM-in-SEM images and to determine the particle size distribution. Dynamic Light scattering (DLS): Particles in suspension were measured in comparison by means of Zetasizer Nano (Malvern Panalytical; cumulants analysis) and NanoFlex (Microtrac; frequency power spectrum). Results/Discussion In this study iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized at BAM and pre-characterized by DLS, SEM (including the transmission mode STEM-in-SEM) are presented. The particles are spherical and highly monodisperse with sizes slightly larger than 10 nm. T2 - Nanosafe 2020 CY - Online meeting DA - 16.11.2020 KW - Reference nanomaterials KW - Imaging techniques KW - Size and size distribution KW - Reliable characterization KW - Iron oxide nanoparticles PY - 2020 AN - OPUS4-51767 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schusterbauer, Robert T1 - Correlative chemical imaging to reveal the nature of different commercial graphene materials N2 - Since the original report in 2004 by Novoselov and Geim, Graphene gained incredible attention due to its fascinating properties. In the past 20 years, the synthesis and functionalization of graphene has evolved significantly[3]. Different synthesis techniques were developed which led to other graphenerelated materials such as graphene oxide (GO) or elemental-doped graphene. Further chemical functionalization can enhance but also alter or reduce specific properties of the graphene. To reveal the nature of these materials a proper physico‑chemical characterization with different analytical techniques is crucial. Single-layer GO flakes kindly provided by Graphenea (Spain) were prepared for systematic image analysis. These flakes were disposed on an alignment-marked SiO2 substrate and correlatively imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and Raman spectroscopy. The high lateral resolution and/ or extreme surface sensitivity of the mentioned techniques is necessary to explore monolayers. The ToF-SIMS images match well with the SEM and AFM images and provide information about the chemistry. With 2D Raman spectroscopy it is possible to differentiate between the number of stacked single-layer flakes. This is visualized in a 3D image (Figure b). Well-defined GO flakes could be used as a reference material for imaging of graphene-like structures but also of other types of 2D materials. In addition to these monolayer GO flakes, commercial graphene-containing inks (Haydale) with a more complex morphology were also correlatively imaged. ToF-SIMS and SEM images were merged to identify the origin of different chemical fragments. The findings correlate closely with the expectation that the specific functionalizations (with fluorine and nitrogen as marker elements) are present only on the graphene flakes as presumed from the SEM images. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) supports these results, yet with a much lower sensitivity compared to ToF-SIMS. T2 - MaterialsWeek 2024 CY - Limassol, Cyprus DA - 17.06.2024 KW - Graphene oxide flakes KW - ToF-SIMS KW - SEM KW - Raman KW - Correlative imaging PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60681 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan ED - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Liaison Report from ISO/TC 202 'Microbeam Analysis' to ISO/TC 229 'Nanotechnologies' N2 - Liaison activities within ISO/TC 202 'Microbeam Analysis' which are relevant to ISO/TC 229 'Nanotechnologies' are reported acoording to the structure defined by ISO/TC229 Nanotechnologies Liaisons Coordination Group (NLCG): new standards/documents, coordination issues, and further detailed specific information, e.g. publications, events, comments. KW - ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies KW - ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis KW - Standardisation PY - 2023 SP - 1 EP - 3 CY - ISO, Geneva, CH AN - OPUS4-58986 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dumit, Verónica I. A1 - Furxhi, Irini A1 - Nymark, Penny A1 - Afantitis, Antreas A1 - Ammar, Ammar A1 - Amorim, Monica J. B. A1 - Antunes, Dalila A1 - Avramova, Svetlana A1 - Battistelli, Chiara L. A1 - Basei, Gianpietro A1 - Bossa, Cecilia A1 - Cimpan, Emil A1 - Cimpan, Mihaela Roxana A1 - Ciornii, Dmitri A1 - Costa, Anna A1 - Delpivo, Camilla A1 - Dusinska, Maria A1 - Fonseca, Ana Sofia A1 - Friedrichs, Steffi A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Hristozov, Danail A1 - Isigonis, Panagiotis A1 - Jeliazkova, Nina A1 - Kochev, Nikolay A1 - Kranjc, Eva A1 - Maier, Dieter A1 - Melagraki, Georgia A1 - Papadiamantis, Anastasios G. A1 - Puzyn, Tomasz A1 - Rauscher, Hubert A1 - Reilly, Katie A1 - Jiménez, Araceli Sánchez A1 - Scott‐Fordsmand, Janeck J. A1 - Shandilya, Neeraj A1 - Shin, Hyun Kil A1 - Tancheva, Gergana A1 - van Rijn, Jeaphianne P. M. A1 - Willighagen, Egon L. A1 - Wyrzykowska, Ewelina A1 - Bakker, Martine I. A1 - Drobne, Damjana A1 - Exner, Thomas E. A1 - Himly, Martin A1 - Lynch, Iseult T1 - Challenges and Future Directions in Assessing the Quality and Completeness of Advanced Materials Safety Data for Re‐Usability: A Position Paper From the Nanosafety Community N2 - Ensuring data quality, completeness, and interoperability is crucial for progressing safety research, Safe‐and‐Sustainable‐by‐Design approaches, and regulatory approval of nanoscale and advanced materials. While the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re‐usable) principles aim to promote data re‐use, they do not address data quality, essential for data re‐use for advancing sustainable and safe innovation. Effective quality assurance procedures require (meta)data to conform to community‐agreed standards. Nanosafety data offer a key reference point for developing best practices in data management for advanced materials, as their large‐scale generation coincided with the emergence of dedicated data quality criteria and concepts such as FAIR data. This work highlights frameworks, methodologies, and tools that address the challenges associated with the multidisciplinary nature of nanomaterial safety data. Existing approaches to evaluating the reliability, relevance, and completeness of data are considered in light of their potential for integration into harmonized standards and adaptation to advance material requirements. The goal here is to emphasize the importance of automated tools to reduce manual labor in making (meta)data FAIR, enabling trusted data re‐use and fostering safer, more sustainable innovation of advanced materials. Awareness and prioritization of these challenges are critical for building robust data infrastructures. KW - Advanced materials KW - Safety data KW - Re-usability KW - Nanosafety KW - SSbD KW - FAIR KW - Standardisation PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-652918 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/adsu.202500567 SN - 2366-7486 SP - 1 EP - 18 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-65291 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Müller, Kai T1 - ToF-SIMS as a new tool for nano-scale investigation of ps-laser generated surface structures on Titanium substrates N2 - The fabrication of laser-generated surface structures on titanium and titanium alloys has recently gained remarkable interests, being technologically relevant for applications in optics, medicine, fluid transport, tribology, and wetting of surfaces. The morphology of these structures, and so their chemistry, is influenced by the different laser processing parameters such as the laser fluence, wavelength, pulse repetition rate, the effective number of laser pulses per beam spot area, etc. A simple way to characterize laser-generated surface structures is by means of optical microscopy (OM) or white light interference microscopy (WLIM). The latter can address the surface topography, while having a lateral resolution limit of ~(lambda)/2 (lambda = illumination wavelength). To resolve morphologies with spatial periods significantly smaller than (lambda)/2, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is often used, taking benefit of the reduced de Broglie wavelength associated to the electrons of several keV energy. However, all the above-mentioned techniques lack the necessary depth-resolution to reveal and quantify sub-surface material modifications of these laser-generated structures. Time-of-Flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) represents a promising surface analytical technique for studying laser-induced chemical surface alterations since the method combines a high surface sensitivity with the capability to perform a depth-profiling of the laser-affected surface zone. In this study we combine WLIM and high-resolution SEM with ToF-SIMS to fully characterize the evolution of various types of laser-generated micro- and nanostructures formed on Ti-6Al-4V alloys upon irradiation by near infrared ultrashort laser pulses (1030 nm, 925 fs) at different laser fluence levels, effective number of pulses, and at different pulse repetition rates (1 – 400 kHz). We show how this combined surface analytical approach allows to evaluate alterations in the surface chemistry and topography of the laser-generated surface structures depending on the laser processing parameters T2 - ECASIA 2022 CY - Limerick, Ireland DA - 29.05.2022 KW - Laser-induced periodic surface structures KW - Time of Flight - Secondary ion mass spectrometry KW - White light interferometric microscopy KW - Titanium alloy PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-54992 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Radnik, Jörg T1 - Graphene Week - Training Session: Standardisation and Validation N2 - In this training session the standardisation landscape will be presented. Another focus is how science can put into standards. In the second part the validation of protocols will be validated. Reference materials and interlaboratory comparisons as validation tools will be discussed. T2 - Graphene Week 2024 CY - Prague, Czech Republic DA - 14.10.2024 KW - Precision KW - Trueness KW - Accuracy KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Certified reference materials PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-61469 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Fernandez-Poulussen, D. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Holistic, reliable and practical Characterization Framework for Graphene Family Materials, a correlated approach including Imaging based techniques N2 - ACCORDs is an Horizon Europe project working in the development of an imaging-based characterization framework (ACCORDs framework) for the holistic correlative assessment of Graphene Family Materials (GFMs) as a representative of 2D nanomaterials (NMs) to assess and predict 2D NMs health and environmental risks. The ACCORDs framework will operationalise safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) strategies proposed in past or ongoing H2020 projects or within OECD by correlating low-, medium-, and high-resolution physico-chemical-biological imaging-based methods with non-imaging methods in a tiered approach. ACCORDs will deliver the ACCORDs framework and user guidance, new imaging-based characterisation methods, reference in vitro tests, new reference 2D NMs for different matrices, a new minimum information reporting guideline for FAIR data sharing and reuse of images as well as an atlas with reference images for diagnostics of compromised safety of GFMs/GFM products. The new guidelines and standard proposals will be submitted to standardisation bodies to allow creation of regulatory ready products. The novelty of ACCORDs is in translating the principles of medical imaging-based diagnostics to 2D material hazard diagnostics. ACCORDs will accelerate industrial sectors in the area of aviation, marine construction, drone production, flexible electronics, photovoltaics, photocatalytics and print inks-based sensors. The value ACCORDs proposes to the graphene industry are practical, easy, imaging-based tools for GFM quality monitoring next to the production line with a possibility to be correlated with advanced highresolution imaging characterization methods in case hazard i.e. deviation from controls (benchmark values) are diagnosed. The ACCORDs framework and tools will contribute to the European Green Deal by addressing the topic: “Graphene: Europe in the lead” and to a new European strategy on standardization, released on 2nd February, 2022. T2 - MaterialsWeek 2024 CY - Limassol, Cyprus DA - 17.06.2024 KW - Graphene KW - Graphene-related 2D materials KW - SSbD KW - Imaging KW - ACCORDs PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60573 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Towards Standardised Procedures for Morphology Measurement of 2D-Materials by Imaging N2 - The industry uptake of graphene-related 2D materials (GR2M) material increases, and international standardization is critical to enable commercialization. Reliable, accurate, and reproducible measurements are important due to the multiple production routes and producers of the material to maintain quality in manufacture. Several standards are under development within ISO/TC 229 ‘Nanotechnologies’, i.e. ISO/AWI TS 23879 “Structural characterization of graphene oxide flakes: thickness and lateral size measurement using AFM and SEM” or ISO DTS 23359 “Chemical characterization of graphene in powders and suspensions”, which focus on determining the dimensional and chemical properties of GR2M. Interlaboratory comparisons are required to develop best practice and understand the associated measurement uncertainties. In this contribution challenges and solutions for the accurate measurement of the lateral size of GR2M will be discussed based on the results of a recently completed interlaboratory comparison organized under the pre-standardisation platform of VAMAS (www.vamas.org/twa41/documents/2023_vamas_twa41_project13_GO_SEM.pdf). Aspects related to sample preparation, measurement conditions, and image analysis with different approaches to extract the corresponding size and shape descriptors will be presented. A discussion on the measurement uncertainty budget associated to the final result will be also included. T2 - Graphene Week 2025 CY - Vicenza, Italy DA - 22.09.2025 KW - Graphene-related 2D materials (GR2M) KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - VAMAS KW - Lateral size KW - ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64250 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Knigge, Xenia A1 - Guo, Z. A1 - Valsami-Jones, E. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Radnik, Jörg T1 - Influence of Sterilization on the Surface of Nanoparticles Studied with XPS / HAXPES in Comparison to SEM / EDS N2 - Nanosafety is becoming increasingly important as nanomaterials are widely used in industrial processes and consumer products. For nanotoxicity measurements prior sterilization of the samples is necessary, but as structure activity relationships are made with properties of pristine particles, the question arises, if the sterilization process has an impact on the physico-chemical properties of nanoparticles and thus on the biological behavior. This question will be addressed in this talk. For this purpose, results from SEM and EDS measurements are combined with those of a novel lab-based HAXPES spectrometer in order to obtain a more complete picture. At the end, an influence of sterilization will be evident, which indicates a restructuring of the nanoparticles owing to sterilization. T2 - Microscopy & Microanalysis 2022 CY - Portland, USA DA - 31.07.2022 KW - XPS KW - HAXPES KW - SEM KW - EDS KW - Nanoparticles PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927622004287 VL - 28 SP - 986 EP - 988 PB - Cambridge University Press AN - OPUS4-55352 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Eggert, Claudia A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Welcome and Introduction N2 - Nanotechnology has emerged over the past decade as a key field involving the design, characterization, production, and application of materials, structures, devices, and systems at the nanometer scale. Due to their large specific surface area and significant surface chemistry, nanomaterials offer enhanced material properties and product functionalities. However, alongside these advancements comes the potential risk to humans and the environment. The development of nanomaterials has provided new opportunities to understand matter at the nanoscale, accelerating the creation of innovative advanced materials and devices. The expertise gained in the standardization and regulation of nanomaterials, particularly in characterizing nanoparticulate matter, should be applied to other innovative advanced materials, such as (nano)composites, 2D structures, additive manufactured materials, gels, and foams. Initial guidance for the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) development of advanced materials during the early innovation phase has been introduced by various groups and projects. Additionally, digital material passports (DMP) and digital product passports (DPP) need to be defined and implemented uniformly across Europe. In 2024, the Innovative Advanced Materials Initiative (IAM-I) was launched by European stakeholders to contribute to a "Research and Innovation ecosystem that will significantly accelerate the time-to-market of sustainable innovative advanced materials (IAMs) and associated technologies designed for a digital circular economy." Knowledge transfer is a crucial pillar of this ecosystem, and a future IAM-I Academy could be a valuable tool. Initially, it is essential to define "education & training needs to boost Europe’s competitiveness and sovereignty within the area of IAM." T2 - Nano and Beyond - What can we learn from Nano for other Innovative Advanced Materials? CY - Online meeting DA - 04.07.2025 KW - Advance Materials KW - Nanomaterials KW - IAM-I KW - SSbD KW - DMP KW - DPP PY - 2025 UR - https://www.bam-akademie.de/kursangebot/kurs/webinar-nano-and-beyond-55.html?lang=en AN - OPUS4-63690 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Advanced physico-chemical Characterisation & Correlation of Results with different Methods for GFMs N2 - An accurate characterisation of the morphological, structural, and chemical properties of nano and advanced materials is key for the understanding of the material functionality and constitutes the basis for future optimisation or even prediction of the product performance. Further, the correlation of the physical-chemical properties with results from biological testing leads to an understanding of the potential toxicological effects so that a minimisation of the materials risks becomes possible. The presentation will highlight with examples the importance of the selection of the relevant parameters/descriptors and particularly their measurement for the reliable characterisation of the morphology, structure, and chemistry of graphene-related 2D-materials (GR2M’s) [1-3]. One crucial aspect is also one of most challenging ones in the characterisation chain: the proper sample preparation, which shall be tailored to the accurate measurement of the defined analytical parameter. Practical examples of measurement of morphological descriptors of GR2M’s, such as equivalent circular diameter (ECD), minimum and maximum Feret, and aspect ratio with electron microscopy, or of the thickness with atomic force microscopy (AFM) will be showed, together with quantitative chemical characterisation with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and, newly, with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy with a scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDX) [4] by evaluating accurately the elemental content as the ratio of O/C and the composition of impurities. Another relevant, but challenging part of the characterisation of GR2M’s, particularly as the final products containing mostly low amounts of GR2M’s, is the analysis of homogeneity of the chemical composition by sensitive imaging methods. Examples of successful analysis with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), even if not quantitative, will be presented. T2 - Joint online Workshop: Harmonisation & Standardisation of Test Methods for Nano- and Advanced Materials CY - Paris, France DA - 19.06.2025 KW - Physico-chemical characterisation KW - Graphene-related 2D materials KW - OECD KW - Standardisation KW - GO flakes PY - 2025 UR - https://macrame-project.eu/macrame-meetings-workshops/ws_hamonisation_standardisation_2023/ AN - OPUS4-63557 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - (Pre)Standardisation and Metrology in Microbeam Analysis – Ongoing Activities and Opportunities N2 - The presentation addresses the current ongoing projects as well as the gaps and opportunities in microbeam analysis within ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis standardisation body and in-liaison Technical Working Areas (TWAs) at the pre-standardization platform of VAMAS (Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards). T2 - EMAS 2023 - 17th European Workshop on Modern Developmennts and Applications in Microbeam Analysis - General Assembly CY - Krakow, Poland DA - 07.05.2023 KW - Microbeam analysis KW - EDS KW - Electron microscopy KW - Inter-laboratory comparison KW - EBSD KW - Standardisation PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-57483 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Measurement of the Lateral Size of Graphene Oxide Flakes by SEM N2 - The progress of the VAMAS interlaboratory comparison Project P13 "Lateral size of graphene oxide flakes by SEM" within the Technical Working Area 41 "Graphene and Related 2D Materials" is presented. The challenges at sample preparation on substrates for accurate measurement and image analysis as well as two different analysis approaches, containing exact guidance how to measure the main descriptors for the lateral size measurement of the imaged graphene oxide flakes with Scanning Electron Microscopy are highlighted. The size and shape distributions as measured by 17 laboratories are showed expressed in size and shape descriptors extracted from SEM images by using two proposed measurement approaches. The implementation of the results into the corresponding ISO technical specification AWI/TS 23879 is discussed and planned, in relation with the AFM part. T2 - ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies Meeting Week CY - Stockholm, Sweden DA - 19.05.2025 KW - Graphene oxide KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - SEM KW - Lateral size KW - VAMAS KW - ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63189 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sachse, René A1 - Moor, Maëlle A1 - Kraehnert, Ralph A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Hertwig, Andreas T1 - Ellipsometry-based approach for the characterization of mesoporous thin films for H2 technologies N2 - Porous thin layer materials are gaining importance in different fields of technology and pose a challenge to the accurate determination of materials properties important for their function. In this work, we demonstrate a hybrid measurement technique using ellipsometry together with other independent methods for validation. Ellipsometry provides information about the porosity of different mesoporous films (PtRuNP/OMC = 45%; IrOx = 46%) as well as about the pore size (pore radius of ca. 5 nm for PtRuNP/OMC). In addition, the electronic structure of a material, such as intraband transitions of a mesoporous IrOx film, can be identified, which can be used to better understand the mechanisms of chemical processes. In addition, we show that ellipsometry can be used as a scalable imaging and visualization method for quality assurance in production. These require accurate and traceable measurements, with reference materials playing an important role that include porosity and other related properties. We show that our novel analytical methods are useful for improving analytical work in this entire field. KW - Porous materials KW - Electrolysis KW - Spectroscopic ellipsometry KW - Hybrid metrology measurement KW - Electron microscopy PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.202101320 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - Wiley-VCH AN - OPUS4-53960 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - VAMAS interlaboratory comparisons on nanoparticles associated with the outcomes of the EMPIR project nPSize N2 - Following points are presented and discussed: i) nPSize as an EMPIR project on the nanoparticle size and shape distribution of (more) complex particles including sample preparation and machine learning approaches; ii) parallel development of ISO 21363 (PSSD by TEM), ISO 19749 (PSSD by SEM), ISO 22292 (3D TEM), ISO 52408 (NP Prep for AFM and EM), iii) VAMAS and pre-standardisation, TWA 34 „Nanoparticle Populations“ with two nPSize ILC projects P15 & P16 – results to be published and integrated in ISO 21363 (PSSD by TEM); iv) Remaining challenges: platelets, 2D materials (TiO2 and GR2M); v) Reference data sets as part of a complete Characterisation Workflow. T2 - How to identify Nanomaterials more effectively? Good Practices and Ways to Progress CY - Paris, France DA - 11.05.2023 KW - Nanoparticles KW - VAMAS KW - nPSize KW - Particle size distribution KW - Nanoparticle concentration KW - Interlaboratory comparison PY - 2023 UR - https://www.lne.fr/fr/service/formation/journee-technique-nanomateriaux-comment-identifier-efficacement-nanomateriaux?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Tweet&utm_campaign=JT2301 AN - OPUS4-57485 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Ongoing VAMAS ILC s on Nanoparticles and Graphene Oxide N2 - This contributions shows the first results of the ongoing interlaboratory comparisons under VAMAS/TWA 34 Nanoparticle populations related on the determination of pasrticle size distribution and relative concentration of nanoparticles and an example of an ILC running under VAMAS/TWA 41 Graphene and Related 2D Materials on the determination of the lateral diemsnions of graphene oxide flakes by Scanning Electron Microscopy. The link to related standardisation projects at ISO/TC Nanotechnologies are explained. T2 - Webinar Building the Foundation: Interlaboratory Comparisons and Reference Products for Advanced Materials CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 16.05.2024 KW - Nanoparticles KW - VAMAS KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Standardisation KW - Electron microscopy KW - AFM KW - SAXS PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60097 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Habibimarkani, Heydar T1 - Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) for in situ investigation on FeNi nanoparticles N2 - The modern economy is dependent on catalysis, which is main efforts to create environmentally and energy-friendly technologies. The storage of excess electrical energy into chemical energy by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen is a feasible solution to this energy demand. Due to their abundance on Earth and inherent stability in alkaline solution, transition-metal oxides have become one of several viable alternatives to noble-metal catalysts. Since NiFe oxide is one of the most active oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts for alkaline water electrolysis, it has been the subject of extensive research. In this work, NiFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) of various sizes, specific stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric Fe:Ni surface ratios are synthesized. we will use a combination of ultra-high vacuum surface analysis techniques, such as time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), to obtain the detailed characterization of the OER electrocatalysts top-surface layer, which is required to identify the rate-limiting step intermediates, and surface morphological changes at the electrolyte/catalyst. T2 - SALSA Make&Measure 2022 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 15.09.2022 KW - ToF-SIMS KW - FeNi nanoparticles PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-56157 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Radnik, Jörg T1 - The next steps in the standardisation of graphene-related and other 2D materials (GR2M) N2 - The first products with graphene-related 2D material (GR2M) are on the market. In this phase trust is essential for the commercial success of these products, between the individual partners of the product value chain, and between the manufacturer and the consumer. Standards are an important tool for building this trust. The first steps have been taken in standardisation, e.g. in terminology and the characterization of raw materials. But there are still some challenges to overcome such as bringing the standards to the factory floor and real-world products. For the validation of new protocols and methods there is a need of reference data and materials. But not only the measurement should be reproducible, the whole analytical workflow from sample storage and preparation to data analysis should be reproducible. Another important issue is the establishment of credible structure-activity relationships which allows the prediction of the properties of the GR2M, but also of the biological activity including the safety for the human health and the environment. Such relationships can be used for read-across and grouping and can facilitate the regulation of the advanced materials. In addition, 2D materials beyond graphene should also be considered and can benefit from the experience from the standardisation of graphene and graphene oxide. T2 - Nanomaterials Standardization Strategy Forum - Europe - Republic of Korea CY - Online meeting DA - 08.07.2025 KW - Commercialisation KW - Product-value chain KW - Confidence building PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63731 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul T1 - Standardized Chemical Composition Analysis of Graphene Oxide Flakes with SEM/EDS and XPS Works Reliably N2 - Reliable quantification of the chemical composition of graphene-related 2D materials as powders and liquid suspensions is a challenging task. Analytical methods such as XPS, ICP-MS, TGA and FTIR are recommended to be used in ongoing projects at standardization bodies. The specific parameters to be measured are also defined, e.g. the oxygen-to-carbon (O/C) concentration ratio, the trace metal impurities, or the functional groups present [1]. In this contribution, for the first time, the results of a systematic study on the capability of SEM/EDS to reliably quantify the O/C ratio in a well-defined and well-characterized graphene oxide material [2] are presented. It is expected that the quantitative EDS analysis of light elements emitting characteristic X-ray lines below 1 keV to be provided with significantly larger measurement uncertainties than the analysis of elements with an atomic number of 11 (Na) or above [3]. The robustness of the SEM/EDS results obtained at various measurement conditions (various excitation energies) is tested by comparing the results to the established XPS analysis [4], which has been carried out on the same samples. A crucial step in sample preparation from liquid suspension with graphene oxides flakes onto a substrate for analysis with both XPS and EDS. It is demonstrated that if a closed and enough thick drop-cast deposited spot is succeeded to be deposited on a substrate, both surface-sensitive XPS analysis and bulk-characterizing EDS result in very similar elemental composition of oxygen and carbon. Hence, theoretical, expected O/C atomic ratio values for pure graphene oxide of ~0.5 [1] are achieved (with both methods), see Figure 1. Further, the effect of untight deposited material enabling co-analysis of the (silicon) substrate, is evaluated for both methods, XPS and EDS. To note that all the EDS results in this study have been quantified standardless. The effect of the variation of beam voltage on the result of the quantification of the O/C ratio is shown in Figure 2. No clear tendency is visible by varying the kV, which is a confirmation of the quality of the standardless analysis at the used EDS spectrometer. The results of this study demonstrate the reliability of the reference measurement protocol for SEM/EDS to be introduced into ISO/DTS 23359, including the dedicated sample preparation, particularly for the cases when the concentration of the GO flakes in stock liquid suspension is low. Further, also the consideration of this GO material as one of the very few available as a commercial material on the market as the very first GO reference material with regard to its morphology as well as chemical composition. Both the standard measurement procedure and the candidate reference material will immensely contribute to characterise reliably the chemical composition of graphene-related 2D materials with SEM/EDS as one of the most widely used methods in analytical laboratories. T2 - Microscopy and Microanalysis 2025 CY - Salt Lake City, UTAH, USA DA - 27.07.2025 KW - Graphene oxide flakes KW - SEM/EDS KW - XPS KW - O/C ratio KW - Impurities PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64085 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Liaison report from VAMAS with ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis N2 - The progress in the activities on Microbeam Analysis under VAMAS/TWA 37 is reviewed. Particularly the liaison with the new projects within the ISO technical committee TC 202 is presented and discussed with respect to the possibility of identifying and launching related VAMAS projects/inter-laboratory comparisons. The recently started project FIB sample processing for TEM is presented. Next projects in the pipeline involving EBSD and TKD are shortly announced. The need of more promotion for the engagement of more experts from industry and academia at national, European and international level is highlighted. Also, the competition with the other technical working areas (on 'nano' or materials-related) is critically discussed. T2 - 29th Annual Meeting of ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis CY - Online meeting DA - 28.11.2022 KW - VAMAS KW - ISO/TC 202 KW - Microbeam Analysis KW - EBSD KW - Electron microscopy KW - Thin films PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-56424 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Chemello, Giovanni T1 - Towards Reproducible Analysis Workflows for Reliable Structural and Chemical Composition of Industrial Graphene N2 - The scientific and technological interest in graphene has been growing more and more in the late years due to its outstanding properties and diverse promising applications. However, graphene implementation into the industrial market is still limited and many challenges are yet to be addressed before this material can become suitable for the large-scale production. One of the most crucial challenge to overcome is to develop reliable and reproducible ways to characterize the material properties which can heavily affect the product performance. In our study the chemical composition of nine different samples of industrial graphene, graphene oxide and functionalized graphene were investigated. The samples were analysed both in form of powder and pellets. A comparative characterisation of the chemical composition was performed through X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). XPS depth resolution is in the order of 10 nm, while for EDX the analysis was performed at two different energy levels, i.e. 5 keV and 15 keV, and thus varying the analysis depth from 200 nm to 2000 nm. The XPS measurement area is 300x700 µm² while the EDX measurement was performed by analysing a grid of 25 locations (5x5) of 150 x 150 ?m2 area, covering the whole pellet surface of 5 mm diameter and then calculating the mean of the elemental concentration. The results of the elemental concentration values from XPS and EDX analyses show a good agreement for all the elements presents in the samples, despite the different spatial resolutions of the two techniques. Therefore, the samples appear homogeneous both in the lateral and vertical directions. The results relative to powder and pellets samples do not differ in a significant way except for a slight increase in the carbon content regarding the pellet samples, probably due to a minor contamination effect introduced through pressing. Nevertheless, pellets samples appear to be quite representative for the material while being much more convenient in terms of handling and safety compared to nano-powders and providing a regular flat surface for EDX analysis. Finally, this approach correlating XPS and EDS represents a simple, fast and reliable way for characterizing the chemical composition and the homogeneity of industrial graphene. This study is part of the project Standardisation of structural and chemical properties of graphene (ISO-G-SCoPe) which has received funding from the EMPIR programme co-financed by the Participating States and from the European Union?s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant agreement No. 19NRM04. T2 - SALSA Make and Measure... and Machines CY - Online meeting DA - 16.09.2021 KW - Graphene KW - XPS KW - EDX KW - Graphene functionalisation PY - 2021 UR - https://fakultaeten.hu-berlin.de/en/mnf/forschung_internationales/grs/salsa/SALSA_MM AN - OPUS4-53463 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - About Interlaboratory Comparisons (ILCs) and VAMAS N2 - Advanced materials, such as nanomaterials, 2D materials, or thin films, play a crucial role in driving economic development and addressing major challenges in the coming years. These challenges include mitigating the impact of climate change, advancing lightweight engineering, enhancing catalysis, and improving medical applications. To comprehend the performance of these materials and ensure their acceptance across various sectors as safe and sustainable for both humans and the environment, the availability of reference procedures, materials, and data is essential. One versatile tool for establishing such references and evaluating the proficiency of individual laboratories and their competencies is through (international) interlaboratory comparisons (ILC). Notably, initiatives like the Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards (VAMAS) provide a platform for conducting ILCs. This webinar will showcase various examples of interlaboratory comparisons, illustrating their impact on the development of reference products. T2 - Webinar Building the Foundation: Interlaboratory Comparisons and Reference Products for Advanced Materials CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 16.05.2024 KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Reference products KW - VAMAS KW - Standardisation PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60096 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Morphology Analysis of Graphene Oxide Flakes with SEM - Preparation of an Inter-Laboratory Comparison @VAMAS N2 - Experience gained at BAM within the European project ISGScope on the accurate measureemnt of graphene oxide flakes by electron microscopy is presented. Particularly, factors such as the type of solvent, substrate temperature, but also proper, gentle measurement parameters and image analysis conditions towards automation are highlighted. The measurement procedures in develeopment are being prepared to launch an inter-laboratory comparison under VAMAS (TWA41) as preparatory guidance for future standardisation at ISO. T2 - ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies Plenary Meeting - Graphene Standardisation CY - Teddington, UK DA - 14.11.2022 KW - Graphene oxide flakes KW - SEM KW - Morphology KW - VAMAS KW - Standardisation KW - Sample preparation KW - ISOGScope PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-56300 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Measurement of Lateral Size of Graphene Oxide Flakes by SEM - An Update of the VAMAS TWA 41 Project P13 N2 - The progress of the VAMAS interlaboratory comparison Project P13 "Lateral size of graphene oxide flakes by SEM" within the Technical Working Area 41 "Graphene and Related 2D Materials" is presented. The challenges at sample preparation on substrates for accurate measurement and image analysis as well as two different analysis approaches, containing exact guidance how to measure the main descriptors for the lateral size measurement of the imaged graphene oxide flakes with Scanning Electron Microscopy are highlighted. The implementation of the results into the corresponding ISO technical specification AWI/TS 23879 is also discussed and planned, in relation with the AFM part. T2 - The 32nd ISO/TC 229 IEC/TC 113 JWG2 General Meeting CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 06.11.2023 KW - VAMAS KW - ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Graphene oxide flakes KW - SEM PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-58813 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Matthews, Lauren T1 - Rapid Desease Monitoring with Resistive-Pulse Sensing in Nanopipettes N2 - Following parts of the research project as proceeded at University of Birminngham are presented: Translocation, Experiments, Synthesis of DNA Structures, Antibody, Biomarker, Binding. Following works have been carried out at BAM: High Resolution Electron Microscopy, Dedicated Sample Preparation, Surface Analysis Methods. T2 - UoB-BAM Chemistry Theme Meeting CY - Online meeting DA - 15.05.2024 KW - Nanopipettes KW - Sensing KW - Diagnosis KW - Surface analysis PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60451 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Ongoing International Interlaboratory Comparisons on Size, Shape and (Relative) Concentration of Complex Nanoparticles under the Pre-Standardization Platform of VAMAS N2 - Traceable morphological and chemical characterization of nanomaterials with respect to the various possible sizes, size distributions, shapes, and concentrations of real-world nanoparticles (NPs) is a challenging task. Particularly for the nonspherical, non-monodisperse nanoparticles – as typically for most of the commercial particles, including their strong tendency to agglomerate, there is a lack of standard operation procedures providing accurate nanoparticle characterisation. In the framework of the pre-standardisation framework of VAMAS (Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards, www.vamas.org) two interlaboratory comparison (ILC) studies are being carried out under the Technical Working Area (TWA) 34 “Nanoparticle Populations”:i) Project #15 addresses the analysis of the size and shape distribution of TiO2 bipyramidal NPs by traceable imaging methods such as TEM, SEM, STEM-in-SEM, AFM as well as with SAXS as an ensemble method. This ILC is thought as the next level development of the case studies exemplified in the published ISO standards ISO 21363 and ISO 19749. It was agreed to complete the first ILC with the NPs already prepared according to the same procedure on a TEM grid, and, at a later stage, to carry out second ILCs with the same NPs distributed to the participants as liquid suspensions together with protocols for the uniform NP deposition on suited substrates - as developed and optimized within the European project nPSize. Once having good deposition protocols available, the door for automated image analysis gets opened. Corresponding image analysis protocols and reporting templates have been distributed to the ILC participants, too. ii) Project #16: two spherical SiO2 NP samples with bi-modal size distributions in two nominal relative number concentrations were prepared and distributed also as liquid suspensions accompanied by sample preparation, measurement, and image analysis protocols and reporting templates. Here, the NP concentration is the primary parameter to be measured. For the imaging methods it is targeted to measure the relative nanoparticle concentrations (relative populations of the two modes). The results of all the participating laboratories, in both ILCs, compiled in comparative representations will be shown and discussed for the first time. The reduction of the measurement uncertainties associated to the size, shape and number-concentration results induced by the significant improvement of the sample preparation on substrates (as single particles with a high-density coverage), combined with well-defined image analysis procedures will be highlighted. Finally, a very recent 3rd ILC an the determination of lateral size of Graphene Oxide flakes by SEM is presented as project P13 under VAMAS TWA41 Graphene and Related 2D. T2 - Microscopy and Microanalysis 2024 CY - Cleveland, OH, USA DA - 28.07.2024 KW - VAMAS KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Imaging KW - Nanoparticles KW - Electron microscopy KW - Graphene oxide KW - Particle size distribution PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60875 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Physical-chemical Characterization of Graphene-Related 2D Materials: Development of Approaches for Reliable Quantification N2 - An accurate characterisation of the morphological, structural, and chemical properties of nano and advanced materials is key for the understanding of the material functionality and constitutes the basis for future optimisation or even prediction of the product performance. Further, the correlation of the physical-chemical properties with results from biological testing leads to an understanding of the potential toxicological effects so that a minimisation of the materials risks becomes possible. The presentation will highlight with examples the importance of the selection of the relevant parameters/descriptors and particularly their measurement for the reliable characterisation of the morphology, structure, and chemistry of graphene-related 2D-materials (GR2M’s) [1-3]. One crucial aspect is also one of most challenging ones in the characterisation chain: the proper sample preparation, which shall be tailored to the accurate measurement of the defined analytical parameter. Practical examples of measurement of morphological descriptors of GR2M’s, such as equivalent circular diameter (ECD), minimum and maximum Feret, and aspect ratio with electron microscopy, or of the thickness with atomic force microscopy (AFM) will be showed, together with quantitative chemical characterisation with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and, newly, with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy with a scanning electron microscope (SEM/EDX) [4] by evaluating accurately the elemental content as the ratio of O/C and the composition of impurities. Another relevant, but challenging part of the characterisation of GR2M’s, particularly as the final products containing mostly low amounts of GR2M’s, is the analysis of homogeneity of the chemical composition by sensitive imaging methods. Examples of successful analysis with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), even if not quantitative, will be showed. T2 - SaferWorldbyDesign Webinars CY - Online meeting DA - 25.03.2025 KW - Graphene-related 2D materials KW - Standardisation KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Physico-chemical characterisation PY - 2025 UR - https://saferworldbydesign.com/webinars/ AN - OPUS4-62791 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Quantitative EDS analysis on graphene related 2D materials N2 - The elemental analysis of solid matter by means of the Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (EDS) is meanwhile posible as a quick (seconds!) and more and more accurate analysis via standardsless (instantaneous) quantification. The sensitivity & quantification accuracy for light elements (C, O,..) has significantly increased in the recent years. The availability via table-top SEMs with incorporated EDS is also enhanced. Further, the EDS analysis at an SEM is well-standardized, see ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis & VAMAS/ TWA 37 Quantitative Microstructural Analysis in good liaisonships with ISO/TC 229 Nanotechnologies. It is demostrated that key parameters such as oxygen-to-carbon atomic-% ratio and impurities can be realibly measured, with XPS as a reference method. Various EDS spectrometers and analysis conditions are tested and the validity of the EDS quantification of an ionic liquid of well-defined chemical composition is demonstrated. Next steps are to launch a corresponding VAMAS interlaboratory comparison and to discuss within ISO/TC 229 towards inclusion of EDS as a routine method for the elemental analysis of GR2M into the ISO/TS 23359 Nanotechnologies — Chemical characterization of GR2Ms in powders and suspensions. T2 - Annual Microscopy Community Meeting for the National Research Council in Canada CY - Online meeting DA - 18.11.2025 KW - Graphene-related 2D materials (GR2M) KW - Elemental analysis KW - Light elements KW - SEM/EDS KW - Standardisation PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64766 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Chemello, Giovanni T1 - Correlative analysis through XPS and EDX measurements for accurate chemical composition of industrial Graphene N2 - The scientific and technological interest in graphene has been growing more and more in the late years due to its outstanding properties and diverse promising applications. However, graphene implementation into the industrial market is still limited and many challenges are yet to be addressed before this material can become suitable for the large-scale production. One of the most crucial challenge to overcome is to develop reliable and reproducible ways to characterize the material properties which can heavily affect the product performance. In our study the chemical composition of nine different samples of industrial graphene, graphene oxide and functionalized graphene were investigated. The samples were analysed both in form of powder and pellets. A comparative characterisation of the chemical composition was performed through X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX). XPS depth resolution is in the order of 10 nm, while for EDX the analysis was performed at two different energy levels, i.e. 5 keV and 15 keV, and thus varying the analysis depth from 200 nm to 2000 nm. The XPS measurement area is 300x700 µm² while the EDX measurement was performed by analysing a grid of 25 locations (5x5) of 150 x 150 ?m2 area, covering the whole pellet surface of 5 mm diameter and then calculating the mean of the elemental concentration. The results of the elemental concentration values from XPS and EDX analyses show a good agreement for all the elements presents in the samples, despite the different spatial resolutions of the two techniques. Therefore, the samples appear homogeneous both in the lateral and vertical directions. The results relative to powder and pellets samples do not differ in a significant way except for a slight increase in the carbon content regarding the pellet samples, probably due to a minor contamination effect introduced through pressing. Nevertheless, pellets samples appear to be quite representative for the material while being much more convenient in terms of handling and safety compared to nano-powders and providing a regular flat surface for EDX analysis. Finally, this approach correlating XPS and EDS represents a simple, fast and reliable way for characterizing the chemical composition and the homogeneity of industrial graphene. This study is part of the project ?Standardisation of structural and chemical properties of graphene? (ISO-G-SCoPe) which has received funding from the EMPIR programme co-financed by the Participating States and from the European Union?s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant agreement No. 19NRM04. T2 - 2021 Fall Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) CY - Online meeting DA - 20.9.2021 KW - Graphene KW - XPS KW - EDS KW - Standardisation KW - Graphene functionalization PY - 2021 UR - https://www.european-mrs.com/meetings/2021-fall-meeting AN - OPUS4-53462 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Radnik, Jörg T1 - Reliable chemical characterization of industrial graphene related materials N2 - International standards describing reliable protocols will facilitate the commercialization of graphene and related 2D materials. One physico-chemical key property next to flake size and thickness is the chemical composition of the material. Therefore, an ISO standard is under development with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy having a prominent role. With its information depth of around 10 nm which is the similar length scale as the thickness as of particles of 2D materials consisting of a few monolayer XPS seems to be highly suitable for this purpose. Different sample preparation methods like pressing the powders onto adhesive tapes, into recesses, or into solid pellets result in inconsistencies in the quantification. For the validation of the quantification with XPS an interlaboratory comparison was initiated under the auspice of the “Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards” (VAMAS). First results confirm that the sample preparation method (pellet vs. powder) influences the quantification results clearly. Considering this effect, a good agreement of the results from the different participants were observed. Similar results were observed for raw, N- and F-functionalized graphene. T2 - Graphene CY - Manchester, England, UK DA - 27.06.2023 KW - X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy KW - Functionalized graphene KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - VAMAS PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-57895 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Measurement of Lateral Dimensions of Particles & Flakes (2D) by Imaging Methods N2 - An overview with the basics of size and shape measurement of particles and 2D structures according to established methodologies (and popular imaging processing software packages) with imaging techniques is given. Main descriptors are explained based on practical cases are determined interactively at the flipchart. T2 - MaterialsWeek 2024 CY - Limassol, Cyprus DA - 17.06.2024 KW - Nanoparticles KW - 2D materials KW - Lateral dimensions KW - ISO KW - Imaging PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-60454 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Correlative Morphological-Chemical Imaging of Nanostructured Materials N2 - Newly developed methodical approaches with an emphasis on correlative imaging analysis of morphology and chemistry of nanomaterials will be presented. Correlative imaging by high-resolution SEM with STEM-in-SEM as well as with EDS, and further with AFM, or with the new technique TKD (Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction) will be explained on various examples of nanostructures, both as starting materials and as embedded/functionalized nanoparticles in products. The unique analytical benefits of the Auger electron probe as a veritable nano-tool for the local surface chemistry will be highlighted. Examples of hybrid analysis of the bulk of nanomaterials by X-ray Spectroscopy and the highest surface-sensitive methods XPS and ToF-SIMS as advanced surface characterization methods available in the Competence Centre nano@BAM will be showed. Particularly for the spatially resolved analysis of the chemistry of nanostructures, such in-depth and lateral gradients of chemistry within mesoporous thin layers, or the completeness of the shells of core-shell nanoparticles, the latter methods are inherent. Other dedicated developments like approaches for the quantitative determination of the porosity of thin mesoporous layers by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) with SEM or the quantitative determination of the roughness of particle surface by high-resolution imaging with electron microscopy will be also presented. T2 - Conference on Applied Surface and Solid Material Analysis AOFKA 2023 CY - Zurich, Switzerland DA - 11.09.2023 KW - Correlative imaging KW - Electron microscopy KW - X-ray spectroscopy KW - Nanostructures PY - 2023 UR - https://aofka23.scg.ch/ AN - OPUS4-58338 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Correlative imaging analysis of non-spherical nanoparticles N2 - It sounds like being a simple analytical task, it is definitely not. The way toward accurate measurement of the size distribution of nanoparticles (NPs) with complex shape, having a broad size polydispersity, with inhomogeneous chemistry, and with a high degree of agglomeration/aggregation is very challenging for all available analytical methods. Particularly for the NPs with complex shape, the access to the smallest dimension (as e.g. required for regulatory purposes) can be enabled only by using imaging techniques with spatial resolution at the nanoscale. Moreover, the full 3D-chacterisation of the NP shape can be provided either by advanced characterization techniques like 3D-TEM tomography or by correlative analysis, i. e. synergetic/complementary measurement of the same field-of-view of the sample with different probes. Examples of the latter type of analysis are: i) electron microscopy for the lateral dimensions and AFM for the height of the NPs, ii) SEM with STEM-in-SEM (also called T-SEM), iii) Electron Microscopy with TKD (Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction) for determination of the geometrical orientation of crystalline NPs, iv) Raman and SEM for e.g. thickness of graphen flakes, or v) Electron Microscopy for descriptive NP shape and SAXS for the NP concentration, the latter as a NP property able to be measured with higher and higher accuracy. For all these types of measurement, reference NPs are necessary for the validation of the measured size. Particularly non-spherical reference NPs are still missing. Examples of such new reference NPs as characterized by the correlative analyses enumerated above will be presented in detail in the contribution. T2 - 2021 Fall Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) CY - Online meeting DA - 20.9.2021 KW - Nanoparticles KW - Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction (TKD) KW - Correlative imaging KW - Electron microscopy KW - AFM KW - TiO2 KW - VAMAS PY - 2021 UR - https://www.european-mrs.com/meetings/2021-fall-meeting AN - OPUS4-53367 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Henning, L. M. A1 - Müller, J. T. A1 - Smales, Glen Jacob A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard A1 - Schmidt, J. A1 - Bekheet, M. F. A1 - Gurlo, A. A1 - Simon, U. T1 - Hierarchically porous and mechanically stable monoliths from ordered mesoporous silica and their water filtration potential N2 - Mechanically stable structures with interconnected hierarchical porosity combine the benefits of both small and large pores, such as high surface area, pore volume, and good mass transport capabilities. Hence, lightweight micro-/meso-/macroporous monoliths are prepared from ordered mesoporous silica COK-12 by means of spark plasma sintering (SPS, S-sintering) and compared to conventionally (C-) sintered monoliths. A multi-scale model is developed to fit the small angle X-ray scattering data and obtain information on the hexagonal lattice parameters, pore sizes from the macro to the micro range, as well as the dimensions of the silica population. For both sintering techniques, the overall mesoporosity, hexagonal pore ordering, and amorphous character are preserved. The monoliths' porosity (77–49%), mesopore size (6.2–5.2 nm), pore volume (0.50–0.22 g cm-3 ), and specific surface area (451–180 m2 g-1) decrease with increasing processing temperature and pressure. While the difference in porosity is enhanced, the structural parameters between the C-and S-sintered monoliths are largely converging at 900 C, except for the mesopore size and lattice parameter, whose dimensions are more extensively preserved in the S-sintered monoliths, however, coming along with larger deviations from the theoretical lattice. Their higher mechanical properties (biaxial strength up to 49 MPa, 724 MPa HV 9.807 N) at comparable porosities and ability to withstand ultrasonic treatment and dead-end filtration up to 7 bar allow S-sintered monoliths to reach a high permeance (2634 L m-2 h-1 bar-1), permeability (1.25 x 10^-14 m2), and ability to reduce the chemical oxygen demand by 90% during filtration of a surfactant-stabilized oil in water emulsion, while indicating reasonable resistance towards fouling. KW - SAXS KW - Hierarchically porous KW - Silica KW - Water filtration PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-555928 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D2NA00368F SN - 2516-0230 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-55592 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - VIDEO A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard T1 - "Ultima Ratio": Multi-scale, high-resolution 3D-FFT scattering pattern simulations N2 - This talk highlights a proof-of-concept that demonstrates the ability to calculate high-resolution Fourier transforms. These can be combined with multi-scale modeling to simulate scattering over a wide range, from small-angle scattering to XRD and PDF. The preprint documenting this is available on the ArXiv here: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2303.13435 The Jupyter notebook, VASP calculation details and MOUSE measured scattering patterns are available from this Zenodo repository: https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7764045 T2 - Shapespyer/MuSSIC Launch Workshop CY - Didcot, UK DA - 20.02.2023 KW - Video KW - Simulation KW - High-resolution KW - Fourier Transform KW - 3D FFT KW - Nanomaterial KW - Metal organic framework KW - MOF KW - SAXS KW - XRD KW - PDF KW - X-ray diffraction KW - Pair distribution function KW - Small-angle X-ray scattering PY - 2023 UR - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEApkOqR5e8 DO - https://doi.org/10.26272/opus4-57212 PB - YouTube, LLC CY - San Bruno, CA, USA AN - OPUS4-57212 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - VIDEO A1 - Pauw, Brian Richard T1 - How to run a (lab) SAXS instrument efficiently N2 - Here I talk about our holistic approach to X-ray scattering, and what improvements we made to our methodology to make measuring with us a very streamlined process. KW - Laboratory management KW - MOUSE KW - X-ray scattering KW - Instrument utilization KW - Research efficiency KW - Automation KW - Metadata collection KW - Laboratory automation PY - 2022 UR - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncadUQ43Uwc DO - https://doi.org/10.26272/opus4-55761 PB - YouTube, LLC CY - San Bruno, CA, USA AN - OPUS4-55761 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - de Oliveira Guilherme Buzanich, Ana T1 - Bridging Structure and Electronic State: Real-time XES–XRD Fusion for Functional Alloys N2 - We present a unified X-ray Emission Spectroscopy (XES) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) approach for real-time, in situ characterization of materials, demonstrated on Co₂FeSi Heusler alloys under varied heat treatments. The combination of XES and XRD is particularly well-suited to Heusler alloys, where subtle changes in atomic ordering and electronic structure (e.g. site occupancy, hybridization, and spin state) are tightly interdependent and critical for their magnetic and transport properties. In addition, this method enables more efficient materials design by reducing experimental iterations through comprehensive structural and electronic analysis. Developed at the mySpot beamline at BESSY-II, the platform integrates (a) digital twin-based experiment planning, (b) open-source XES spectral simulations, (c) an optimized single-shot, two-element XES setup with sub-pixel resolution for enhanced energy precision, and (d) result-driven beamtime utilization. With an unprecedented synchronized XES-XRD platform, we aim to shed light on how diffusion-controlled processes in Heusler alloys and double perovskites at elevated temperatures establish the formation of specific phases with distinct structure types in real time. This, in turn, strongly impacts the functional properties of the materials under scrutiny. T2 - XLIV Colloquium Spectroscopicum Internationale CY - Ulm, Germany DA - 27.07.2025 KW - Multimodal KW - X-ray spectroscopy KW - X-ray diffraction KW - Functional alloys PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63991 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Durlo Tambara, Luís Urbano A1 - Matos, P. R. de A1 - Lima, G. T. S. A1 - Silvestro, L. A1 - Rocha, J.C. A1 - Campos, C. E. M. de A1 - Gleize, P. J. P. T1 - Influence of Nanosilica and Superplasticizer Incorporation on the Hydration, Strength, and Microstructure of Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cement Pastes N2 - This study investigated the effect of incorporating three types of nanosilica (NS), two powders, and one colloidal suspension on the hydration, strength, and microstructure of calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement pastes prepared with and without a superplasticizer (SP). X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and compressive strength tests were performed after 2, 5, and 28 days of hydration. The results showed that both NS powders delayed cement hydration at an early age, which was attributed to particle agglomeration (confirmed by dynamic light scattering). Whereas well-dispersed colloidal NS did not significantly affect the hydration of CSA at the investigated ages. SP incorporation improved the dispersion of CSA cement particles, resulting in a 10% increase in the degree of hydration of ye’elimite at 28 days for the system without NS. Conversely, when the SP was incorporated in NS-containing mixtures, it hindered cement hydration of the systems with powdered NS, but did not significantly affect the cement hydration of the system containing colloidal NS. The SEM images suggested that the SP changed the ettringite morphology, thereby negatively affecting the mechanical strength of the CSA pastes. KW - Calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement KW - Nanosilica (NS) KW - Hydration KW - Microstructure PY - 2023 DO - https://doi.org/10.1061/JMCEE7.MTENG-15570 SN - 0899-1561 VL - 35 IS - 7 SP - 04023216 PB - ASCE AN - OPUS4-57404 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lutz, C. A1 - Hampel, S. A1 - Ke, X. A1 - Beuermann, S. A1 - Turek, T. A1 - Kunz, U. A1 - de Oliveira Guilherme Buzanich, Ana A1 - Radtke, Martin A1 - Fittschen, U. T1 - Evidence for redox reactions during vanadium crossover inside the nanoscopic water-body of Nafion 117 using X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy N2 - A major source of capacity fade of the common vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) is the vanadium ion transport through the separator. However, different transport models disagree significantly in the diffusion coefficient for the different V species and the influence of different transport mechanisms. The underlying hypothesis of this work is that reactions inside the membrane are partly responsible for these discrepancies. Accordingly, it was investigated if redox reactions inside the nanoscopic water body of Nafion 117 can occur. X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) was used to distinguish between the different V species inside hydrated Nafion 117 and novel PVDF-based membranes. It was validated that the speciation of vanadium can be performed using the pre-edge peak energy and intensity. The experiments were performed as follows: strips of the membrane were exposed from one site to a V3+ solution (green) and from the other site to a VO2+ solution (yellow). The ions could diffuse into the membrane from both sides. A change of color of the membrane strip was observed. The blue color in the middle of the strip indicated that VO2+ was formed where V3+ and VO2+ got in contact. Using XANES this reaction inside Nafion was proven. KW - PVDF-Based membrane KW - VRFB KW - Vanadium speciation KW - XANES KW - Nafion 117 PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2020.229176 VL - 483 SP - 229176 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-51719 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Risse, Kerstin A1 - Nikiforidis, Constantinos V. A1 - Morris, Imogen A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Drusch, Stephan T1 - Regulating the heat stability of protein-phospholipid stabilised oil-water emulsions by changing the phospholipid headgroup or fatty acyl chain N2 - Stabilising oil–water emulsions remains a central challenge across food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) and phospholipids (PLs) can act synergistically at oil-water interfaces: PLs adsorb rapidly, while β-LG forms a viscoelastic protein network that enhances long-term stability. However, competitive adsorption between proteins and PLs can disrupt interfacial structure. In addition, for commercial production, emulsions are often exposed to heat treatment during or after manufacture, for instance due to food safety requirements. Yet, the combined effects of PL structure and heat treatment on interfacial organisation and emulsion stability remain poorly understood. Here we show that PL saturation and processing temperature jointly determine interfacial organisation, protein-PL interactions and emulsion stability. Using β-LG-PL emulsions, we combined ζ-potential measurements, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), micro-differential scanning calorimetry (μDSC), X-ray diffraction and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to link interfacial composition with functional stability. Below the β-LG denaturation temperature (≤75 °C), saturated PLs promoted partial unfolding of β-LG at the interface without displacement, producing mixed protein-PL networks with enhanced viscoelasticity and stability. Unsaturated PLs displaced β-LG, yielding less elastic interfaces and promoting protein aggregation in the bulk. At ≥75 °C, increased hydrophobicity intensified protein-protein interactions irrespective of PL type. Our findings reveal that saturated PLs shift the β-LG denaturation temperature upward by restricting molecular mobility, without preventing quaternary-level protein-protein interactions. Thermal denaturation, regardless of PL type, promoted interfacial multilayer formation at 90 °C. These results provide a mechanistic framework for tailoring emulsion stability via lipid saturation and processing temperature. KW - Small-angle X-ray scattering KW - SAXS KW - Nanostructure KW - Reference Method KW - Colloid KW - Nanoparticle PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-648956 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2025.139530 SN - 0021-9797 VL - 705 SP - 1 EP - 25 PB - Elsevier Inc. AN - OPUS4-64895 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Gruber, Alexandra A1 - Klinger, Daniel T1 - Amphiphilic Nanogels: Fuzzy Spheres with a Pseudo-Periodic Internal Structure N2 - Amphiphilic polymer nanogels (NGs) are promising drug delivery vehicles that extend the application of conventional hydrophilic NGs to hydrophobic cargoes. By randomly introducing hydrophobic groups into a hydrophilic polymer network, loading and release profiles as well as surface characteristics of these colloids can be tuned. However, very little is known about the underlying internal structure of such complex colloidal architectures. Of special interest is the question how the amphiphilic network composition influences the internal morphology and the “fuzzy” surface structure. To shine light into the influence of varying network amphiphilicity on these structural features, we investigated a small library of water-swollen amphiphilic NGs using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). It was found that overall hydrophilic NGs, consisting of pure poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) (PHPMA), display a disordered internal structure as indicated by the absence of a SAXS peak. In contrast, a SAXS peak is present for amphiphilic NGs with various amounts of incorporated hydrophobic groups such as cholesteryl (CHOLA) or dodecyl (DODA). The internal composition of the NGs is considered structurally homologous to microgels. Application of the Teubner–Strey model reveals that hydrophilic PHPMA NGs have a disordered internal structure (positive amphiphilicity factor) while CHOLA and DODA samples have an ordered internal structure (negative amphiphilicity factor). From the SAXS data it can be derived that the internal structure of the amphiphilic NGs consists of regularly alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains with repeat distances of 3.45–5.83 nm. KW - Polymer KW - Nanoparticle KW - SAXS PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c01812 VL - 36 IS - 37 SP - 10979 EP - 10988 PB - American Chemical Society AN - OPUS4-51302 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stock, V. A1 - Fahrenson, C. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Donmez, M. H. A1 - Voss, L. A1 - Bohmert, L. A1 - Braeuning, A. A1 - Lampen, A. A1 - Sieg, H. T1 - Impact of artificial digestion on the sizes and shapes of microplastic particles N2 - Current analyses show a widespread occurrence of microplastic particles in food products and raise the question of potential risks to human health. Plastic particles are widely considered to be inert due to their low chemical reactivity and therefore supposed to pose, if at all only minor hazards. However, variable physicochemical conditions during the passage of the gastrointestinal tract gain strong importance, as they may affect particle characteristics. This study aims to analyze the impact of the gastrointestinal passage on the physicochemical particle characteristics of the five most produced and thus environmentally relevant plastic materials polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and subsequent image analysis were employed to characterize microplastic particles. Our results demonstrate a high resistance of all plastic particles to the artificial digestive juices. The present results underline that the main stages of the human gastrointestinal tract do not decompose the particles. This allows a direct correlation between the physicochemical particle characteristics before and after digestion. Special attention must be paid to the adsorption of organic compounds like proteins, mucins and lipids on plastic particles since it could lead to misinterpretations of particle sizes and shapes. KW - Artificial digestion KW - Gastrointestinal barrier KW - Microplastic KW - Oral uptake KW - Particle size PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.111010 VL - 135 SP - 111010 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-49999 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Baglo, K. A1 - Sauermoser, M. A1 - Lid, M. A1 - Paschke, T. A1 - Bin Afif, A. A1 - Lunzer, M. A1 - Bock, Robert A1 - Steinert, M. A1 - Flaten, A. A1 - Torgersen, J. T1 - Overcoming the transport limitations of photopolymer-derived architected carbon N2 - Photopolymer derived carbon grows in popularity, yet the range in available feature sizes is limited. Here we focus on expanding the field to low surface to volume ratio (SVR) structures. We describe a high temperature acrylic photopolymerizable precursor with FTIR and DSC and develop a thermal inert-gas treatment for producing architected carbon in the mm scale with SVR of 1.38 x10-3 μm-1. Based on TGA and MS, we distinguish two thermal regimes with activation energies of ~79 and 169 kJ mol-1, which we reason with mechanisms during the polymer’s morphologic conversion between 300 - 500 °C. The temperature range of the major dimensional shrinkage (300-440 °C, 50%) does not match the range of the largest alteration in elemental composition (440-600 °C, O/C 0.25-0.087%). The insights lead to an optimized thermal treatment with an initial ramp (2 °C min-1 to 350 °C), isothermal hold (14h), post hold ramp (0.5 °C min-1 to 440 °C) and final ramp (10 °C min-1 to 1000 °C). The resulting carbon structures are dimensionally stable, non-porous at the μm scale, and comprise an unprecedented variation in feature sizes (from mm to μm scale). The findings shall advance architected carbon to industrially relevant scales. KW - Carbon KW - Photopolymer KW - Transport limitations KW - Porous materials KW - Additive manufacturing PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-575038 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202300092 SN - 2365-709X SP - 2300092 PB - Wiley-VCH GmbH AN - OPUS4-57503 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gawek, Marcel A1 - Omar, Hassan A1 - Szymoniak, Paulina A1 - Schönhals, Andreas T1 - Growth kinetics of the adsorbed layer of poly(2-vinylpyridine) - An indirect observation of desorption of polymers from substrates N2 - The growth kinetics of the adsorbed layer of poly(2-vinylpiridine) on silicon oxide is studied using a leaching technique which is based on the Guiselin brushes approach. The adsorbed layer is grown from a 200 nm thick P2VP film for several annealing time periods at different annealing temperatures. Then the film is solvent-leached, and the height of the remaining adsorbed layer is measured by atomic force microscopy. At the lowest annealing temperature only a linear growth regime is observed, followed by a plateau. Here, the molecular mobility of segments is too low to allow for a logarithmic growth. At higher annealing temperatures, both linear and logarithmic growth regimes are observed, followed by a plateau. At even higher annealing temperatures, the growth kinetics of the adsorbed layer changes. A linear growth followed by logarithmic growth kinetics is observed for short annealing time periods. For longer annealing time periods, an upturn of the growth kinetics is observed. At the highest annealing temperature, only a logarithmic growth regime is found. The change in the growth kinetics is discussed by an alteration in the structure of the adsorbed layer. Moreover, the interaction between the polymer segments and the substrate becomes weaker due to both enthalpic and entropic effects. Therefore, at high annealing temperatures the polymer segments might more easily desorb from the substrate. KW - Ultra thin polymer films PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-575423 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d3sm00129f SN - 1744-683X SN - 1744-6848 VL - 19 IS - 21 SP - 3975 EP - 3982 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) CY - London AN - OPUS4-57542 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Srivastava, Priyanka A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Scholtz, Lena A1 - Genger, C. A1 - Welker, P. A1 - Schreiber, Frank A1 - Meyer, Klas A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Dual color pH probes made from silica and polystyrene nanoparticles and their performance in cell studies N2 - Ratiometric green–red fluorescent nanosensors for fluorometrically monitoring pH in the acidic range were designed from 80 nm-sized polystyrene (PS) and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles (NPs), red emissive reference dyes, and a green emissive naphthalimide pH probe, analytically and spectroscopically characterized, and compared regarding their sensing performance in aqueous dispersion and in cellular uptake studies. Preparation of these optical probes, which are excitable by 405 nm laser or LED light sources, involved the encapsulation of the pH-inert red-fuorescent dye Nile Red (NR) in the core of self-made carboxylated PSNPs by a simple swelling procedure and the fabrication of rhodamine B (RhB)-stained SiO2-NPs from a silane derivative of pH-insensitive RhB. Subsequently, the custom-made naphthalimide pH probe, that utilizes a protonation-controlled photoinduced electron transfer process, was covalently attached to the carboxylic acid groups at the surface of both types of NPs. Fluorescence microscopy studies with the molecular and nanoscale optical probes and A549 lung cancer cells confirmed the cellular uptake of all probes and their penetration into acidic cell compartments, i.e., the lysosomes, indicated by the switching ON of the green naphthalimide fluorescence. This underlines their suitability for intracellular pH sensing, with the SiO2-based nanosensor revealing the best performance regarding uptake speed and stability. KW - Sensors KW - Silica and polystyrene nanoparticles KW - pH probe KW - Fluorescence spectroscopy KW - Cell studies KW - Dye KW - Particle synthesis PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-569198 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28203-0 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 13 IS - 1 SP - 1321 EP - 1336 PB - Nature CY - London AN - OPUS4-56919 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -