TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Career Options in Public Service N2 - In the following, an overview of possible career options for chemists is presented covering metrology institutes, departmental research institutes of ministries, Federal and state research institutes and options in areas such as Federal or state institutions in charge of occupational safety, the German armed forces, wastewater treatment plants and labs/institutes controlling water quality, and museums. Thereby also examples and personal insights of the daily work routine are provided for some employers. T2 - Career-Workshop ChiÖD CY - Karlsruhe, Germany DA - 02.04.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference analysis KW - Standardization KW - Metrology KW - Reference products KW - Reference materials KW - Mission PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62867 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rietsch, P. A1 - Sobottka, S. A1 - Hoffmann, K. A1 - Popov, A. A. A1 - Hildebrandt, P. A1 - Sarkar, B. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Eigler, S. T1 - Between Aromatic and Quinoid Structure: A Symmetrical UV to Vis/NIR Benzothiadiazole Redox Switch N2 - Reversibly switching the light absorption of organic molecules by redox processes is of interest for applications in sensors, light harvesting, smart materials, and medical diagnostics. This work presents a symmetrical benzothiadiazole (BTD) derivative with a high fluorescence quantum yield in solution and in the crystalline state and shows by spectroelectrochemical analysis that reversible switching of UV absorption in the neutral state, to broadband Vis/NIR absorption in the 1st oxidized state, to sharp band Vis absorption in the 2nd oxidized state, is possible. For the one-electron oxidized species, formation of a delocalized radical is confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroelectrochemistry. Furthermore, our results reveal an increasing quinoidal distortion upon the 1st and 2nd oxidation, which can be used as the leitmotif for the development of BTD based redox switches. KW - Dye KW - Electrochemistry KW - Switch KW - Redox KW - Sensor KW - Photophysics KW - Quantum yield KW - photoluminescence PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-517222 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202004009 VL - 26 IS - 72 SP - 17361 EP - 17365 PB - Wiley-VCH GmbH AN - OPUS4-51722 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Abram, Sarah-Luise A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Zou, Shan A1 - Johnston, Linda T1 - Behind the Paper: Nanoscale Reference and Test Materials for the Validation of Characterization Methods for Engineered Nanomaterials – Current State, Limitations and Needs N2 - Engineered nanomaterials (NMs) of different material composition, morphology, and surface chemistry are widely used in material and life sciences. For NM quality control and risk assessment, NM key properties must be characterized with validated methods, requiring reference materials (RMs). KW - Engineered Nanomaterials KW - Nanoscale reference materials KW - Interlaboratory comparisons KW - Traceability KW - Standardization and Regulation KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Quality assurance KW - Surface chemistry PY - 2025 UR - https://communities.springernature.com/posts/nanoscale-reference-and-test-materials-for-the-validation-of-characterization-methods-for-engineered-nanomaterials-current-state-limitations-and-needs SP - 1 EP - 3 PB - Springer Nature CY - Online AN - OPUS4-62572 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Scholtz, Lena A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Behind the Paper - Dual color pH probes made from silica and polystyrene nanoparticles and their performance in cell studies N2 - In this contribution we highlight the importance of comparison for scientific research while developing a new, functional pH sensor system, and the valuable insights this can provide. KW - Dye KW - Optical Spectroscopy KW - pH probe KW - Silica and Polystyrene Particles KW - Nano KW - Surface groups KW - Safe-by-Design KW - Cell studies KW - Sensors KW - Particle Synthesis KW - Fluorescence PY - 2023 UR - https://communities.springernature.com/posts/dual-color-ph-probes-made-from-silica-and-polystyrene-nanoparticles-and-their-performance-in-cell-studies SP - 1 EP - 2 PB - Springer Nature CY - London AN - OPUS4-59150 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Automatic Image Segmentation and Analysis using Neural Networks N2 - We present a workflow for obtaining fully trained artificial neural networks that can perform automatic particle segmentations of agglomerated, non-spherical nanoparticles from electron microscopy images “from scratch”, without the need for large training data sets of manually annotated images. This is achieved by using unsupervised learning for most of the training dataset generation, making heavy use of generative adversarial networks and especially unpaired image-to-image translation via cycle-consistent adversarial networks. The whole process only requires about 15 minutes of hands-on time by a user and can typically be finished within less than 12 hours when training on a single graphics card (GPU). After training, SEM image analysis can be carried out by the artificial neural network within seconds, and the segmented images can be used for automatically extracting and calculating various other particle size and shape descriptors. T2 - Machine Learning Workshop CY - Online Meeting DA - 18.03.2021 KW - Electron Microscopy KW - Neural Networks KW - Artificial Intelligence KW - Image Segmentation KW - Automated Image Analysis PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-52304 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - McGonigle, Rebecca A1 - Glasgow, Jodie A1 - Houston, Catriona A1 - Cameron, Iain A1 - Homann, Christian A1 - Black, Dominic J. A1 - Pal, Robert A1 - MacKenzie, Lewis E. ED - MacKenzie, Lewis E. T1 - Autoclave reactor synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles, unreported variables, and safety considerations N2 - Autoclave reactors are widely used across chemical and biological sciences, including for the synthesis of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and other nanomaterials. Yet, the details of how autoclave reactors are used in such synthesis are rarely reported in the literature, leaving several key synthesis variables widely unreported and thereby hampering experimental reproducibility. In this perspective, we discuss the safety considerations of autoclave reactors and note that autoclaves should only be used if they are (a) purchased from reputable suppliers/manufacturers and (b) have been certified compliant with relevant safety standards. Ultimately, using unsuitable autoclave equipment can pose a severe physical hazard and may breach legal safety requirements. In addition, we highlight several parameters in autoclave synthesis that should be reported as standard to maximise the reproducibility of autoclave synthesis experiments across materials and chemistry research. We encourage users of autoclave synthesis vessels to: (1) adopt high-safety autoclaves and (2) report the many experimental variables involved to enhance experimental reproducibility. KW - Reference material KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Shell KW - Fluorescence KW - Lifetime KW - Decay kinetics KW - Synthesis KW - Quality assurance KW - Method KW - Energy transfer KW - Upconversion KW - Autoclave synthesis KW - Data comparability PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-625672 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s42004-025-01415-3 VL - 8 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-62567 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Biesen, L. A1 - Krenzer, J. A1 - Nirmalananthan-Budau, Nithiya A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Müller, Th. J. J. T1 - Asymmetrically bridged aroyl-S,N-ketene acetalbased multichromophores with aggregationinduced tunable emission N2 - Asymmetrically bridged aroyl-S,N-ketene acetals and aroyl-S,N-ketene acetal multichromophores can be readily synthesized in consecutive three-, four-, or five-component syntheses in good to excellent yields by several successive Suzuki-couplings of aroyl-S,N-ketene acetals and bis(boronic)acid esters. Different aroyl-S,N-ketene acetals as well as linker molecules yield a library of 23 multichromophores with substitution and linker pattern-tunable emission properties. This allows control of different communication pathways between the chromophores and of aggregation-induced emission (AIE) and energy transfer (ET) properties, providing elaborate aggregation-based fluorescence switches. KW - Dye KW - Aggregation KW - Aggregation induced emission KW - Signal enhancement KW - Energy transfer KW - Switch KW - Sensor KW - Quantum yield KW - Lifetime KW - Photophysics KW - Sythesis KW - Nanaoparticle PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-550719 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d2sc00415a VL - 13 SP - 5374 EP - 5381 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-55071 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - da Rocha, Morgana A1 - Chaves, Eduardo T1 - Assessment of Pd Nanoparticles as Chemical Modifiers and Preconcentration Agents for Cd Determination in River Water by HR-CS GFAAS N2 - Cadmium is a heavy metal that can be hazardous to environmental and human health, even in trace levels.[1] In this way, the extraction and/or preconcentration of this element from environmental samples, such as river water, is important to obtain information about the composition and monitoring of potential contamination.[2] High-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS GFAAS) is widely used for Cd determination. However, the determination of this element at trace-level can be challenging, especially in complex matrices. Thus, nanoparticles (NPs) can be used as an alternative for the extraction and preconcentration of Cd in environmental samples, minimizing the potential interferences and improving the method´s limit of detection (LOD). Considering that Pd is also widely used as a “universal” chemical modifier, this project aims todevelop PdNPs capped with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) to assess its potential as a chemical modifier and preconcentration agent for Cd determination by HR-CS GF AAS in river water. In this way, the synthesis of PdNPs was performed in an aqueous medium by using ascorbic acid as a reducing agent. The characterization of PdNPs was performed by checking the size via dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer in single particle mode (spICP-MS), where the median size was 56 ± 14 nm. The temperature program of HR-CS GFAAS was optimized for river water under three conditions: using Pd(NO3)2/Mg2+ (0.01%/0.5% m/v) as a chemical modifier (condition A), using Pd NPs as a chemical modifier (condition B), and without chemical modifiers (condition C). The pyrolysis and atomization temperatures for condition A were 900 and 1900 ºC, for condition B were 700 ºC and 1900 ºC, and for condition C were 500 and 1900ºC, respectively. Besides the temperature of pyrolysis for the universal chemical modifier being higher than that of PdNPs, using the PdNPs, the absorbance is significantly greater, according to the t-test for pairs, at a 95% confidence level. In addition, the evaluation of the preconcentration property of the PdNP was performed by adding 1 µg L-1 of Cd2+ in buffer pH 4 in two systems: one with and the other without PdNPs. After 1 h of stirring, both systems were centrifuged at 3600 rpm for 10 min, and the absorbance in HR-CS GFAAS for Cd in both supernatants was evaluated. According to ANOVA from the t-test, at a 95% confidence level, there was a significant difference in the absorbance, indicating that Cd is interacting with the PdNPs. A multifactorial planning 2k, where k is the number of parameters of the extraction, which was time of extraction (10; 35; 60 min), Volume of Pd NPs (100; 300; 500 µL), pH (3; 5; 7), was used to evaluate the parameters with significant influence in the preconcentration of Cd2+. According to ANOVA, with 95% confidence, there is no lack of fit, and the parameters volume of PdNP and pH significantly influenced the response. In this way, the Doehlert methodology surface will be applied to both significant parameters. The goal is to achieve optimal conditions that increase the extraction efficiency of Cd2+ from environmental samples. The results indicate that the developed material is promising to use as a chemical modifier and for the preconcentration of Cd2+ in environmental samples. T2 - 17th Rio Symposium on Atomic Spectrometry (RSAS 2025) CY - Sao Pedro, Brazil DA - 12.11.2025 KW - Pd Nanoparticles KW - HR-CS GFAAS KW - Cadmium Ion Sensing KW - Particle Characterization KW - Particle Surface PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64997 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Islam, Fahima A1 - Prinz, Carsten A1 - Gehrmann, P. A1 - Licha, K. A1 - Roik, Janina A1 - Recknagel, Sebastian A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Assessing the reproducibility and up‑scaling of the synthesis of Er,Yb‑doped NaYF4‑based upconverting nanoparticles and control of size, morphology, and optical properties N2 - Lanthanide-based, spectrally shifting, and multi-color luminescent upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) have received much attention in the last decades because of their applicability as reporter for bioimaging, super-resolution microscopy, and sensing as well as barcoding and anti-counterfeiting tags. A prerequisite for the broad application of UCNPs in areas such as sensing and encoding are simple, robust, and easily upscalable synthesis protocols that yield large quantities of UCNPs with sizes of 20 nm or more with precisely controlled and tunable physicochemical properties from lowcost reagents with a high reproducibility. In this context, we studied the reproducibility, robustness, and upscalability of the synthesis of β-NaYF4:Yb, Er UCNPs via thermal decomposition. Reaction parameters included solvent, precursor chemical compositions, ratio, and concentration. The resulting UCNPs were then examined regarding their application-relevant physicochemical properties such as size, size distribution, morphology, crystal phase, chemical composition, and photoluminescence. Based on these screening studies, we propose a small volume and high-concentration synthesis approach that can provide UCNPs with different, yet controlled size, an excellent phase purity and tunable morphology in batch sizes of up to at least 5 g which are well suited for the fabrication of sensors, printable barcodes or authentication and recycling tags. KW - Photoluminescence KW - Nano KW - Nanomaterial KW - Synthesis KW - Reproducibility KW - Upconversion nanoparticle KW - Lanthanide PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-570170 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-28875-8 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 13 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 13 AN - OPUS4-57017 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Saleh, Maysoon I. A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Wang, Shu A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - You, Yi A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Assessing the protective effects of different surface coatings on NaYF4:YB3+, Er3+, upconverting nanoparticles in buffer and DMEM N2 - We studied the dissolution behavior of β NaYF4:Yb(20%), Er(2%) UCNP of two different sizes in biologically relevant media i.e., water (neutral pH), phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium (DMEM) at different temperatures and particle concentrations. Special emphasis was dedicated to assess the influence of different surface functionalizations, particularly the potential of mesoporous and microporous silica shells of different thicknesses for UCNP stabilization and protection. Dissolution was quantified electrochemically using a fluoride ion selective electrode (ISE) and by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). In addition, dissolution was monitored fluorometrically. These experiments revealed that a thick microporous silica shell drastically decreased dissolution. Our results also underline the critical influence of the chemical composition of the aqueous environment on UCNP dissolution. In DMEM, we observed the formation of a layer of adsorbed molecules on the UCNP surface that protected the UCNP from dissolution and enhanced their fluorescence. Examination of this layer by X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and mass spectrometry (MS) suggested that mainly phenylalanine, lysine, and glucose are adsorbed from DMEM. These findings should be considered in the future for cellular toxicity studies with UCNP and other nanoparticles and the design of new biocompatible surface coatings. KW - Fluorescence KW - Lifetime KW - Method KW - Quantification KW - Stability KW - Coating KW - Surface chemistry KW - Lanthanide KW - Fluoride KW - Electrochemistry KW - ICP-OES KW - Upconversion KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Aging KW - Quality assurance KW - Mass spectrometry KW - XPS PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-515984 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76116-z SN - 2045-2322 VL - 10 IS - 1 SP - 19318-1 EP - 19318-11 PB - Springer Nature CY - London AN - OPUS4-51598 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -