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 - TY - JOUR A1 - Kossatz, Philipp A1 - Mezhov, Alexander A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Prinz, Carsten A1 - Schmidt, Wolfram A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Assessing the Applicability of Lanthanide-Based Upconverting Nanoparticles for Optically Monitoring Cement Hydration and Tagging Building Materials N2 - Chemically stable, lanthanide-based photon upconversion micro- and nanoparticles (UCNPs) with their characteristic multicolor emission bands in the ultraviolet (UV), visible (vis), near-infrared (NIR), and short-wave infrared (SWIR) arepromising optical reporters and barcoding tags. To assess the applicability of UCNPs for the monitoring of early stage cement hydration processes and as authentication tags for cementitious materials, we screened the evolution of the luminescence of Selfmade core-only NaYF4:Yb,Er UCNPs and commercial μm-sized Y2O2S:Yb,Er particles during the first stages of cement hydration, which largely determines the future properties of the hardened material. Parameters explored from the UCNP side included particle size, morphology, surface chemistry or coating, luminescence properties, and concentration in different cement mixtures. From the cement side, the influence of the mineral composition of the cement matrix was representatively examined for ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and its constituents tricalcium aluminate (C3A), tricalcium silicate (C3S), and gypsum at different water to cement ratios. Based on reflection and luminescence measurements, enabling online monitoring, which were complemented by XRD and isothermal heat-flow calorimetric measurements to determine whether the incorporation of these particles could impair cement hydration processes, well suited lanthanide particle reporters could be identified as well as application conditions. In addition, thereby the reporter influence on cement hydration kinetics could be minimized while still preserving a high level of information content. The best performance for the luminescence probing of changes during early stage cement hydration processes was observed for 25 nm-sized oleate (OA)-coated UCNPs added in a concentration of 0.1 wt %. Higher UCNP amounts of 1.0 wt % delayed cement hydration processes size- and surface coatingspecifically in the first 24 h. Subsequent luminescence stability screening studies performed over a period of about one year support the applicability of UCNPs as optical authentication tags for construction materials. KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Quantum yield KW - NIR KW - Mechanism KW - Characterization KW - XRD KW - Calorimetry KW - Advanced material KW - Cement KW - Monitoring KW - Surface KW - Size KW - Lifetime KW - Barcode KW - Lanthanide KW - Upconversion KW - Encoding KW - Method PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-638318 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.5c02236 SN - 2470-1343 VL - 10 IS - 29 SP - 31587 EP - 31599 PB - ACS Publications CY - Washington, DC AN - OPUS4-63831 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Assessing different types of silica networks for the complete protection of nir luminescent molecular rubies from oxygen quenching in air N2 - The application of emerging luminophores such as near-infrared (NIR) emissive earth-abundant chromium(III) (CrIII) complexes and triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) systems in air as optical reporters for bioimaging or photonic materials for energy conversion requires simple and efficient strategies for their complete protection from luminescence quenching by oxygen. Therefore, we explored the influence of sol-gel synthesis routes on the oxygen protection efficiency of the resulting core and core/shell silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs), utilizing the molecular ruby-type luminophores CrPF6 ([Cr(ddpd)2](PF6)3; ddpd = N,N’-dimethyl- N,N’-dipyridin-2-ylpyridin-2,6-diamine) and CrBF4 ([Cr(ddpd)2](BF4)3) with their oxygen-dependent, but polarity-, proticity-, viscosity-, and concentration-independent luminescence as optical probes for oxygen permeability. The sol-gel chemistry routes we assessed include the classical Stöber method and the underexplored larginine approach, which relies on the controlled hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in a biphasic cyclohexane/water system with the catalyst l-arginine. As demonstrated by luminescence measurements of air- and argon-saturated dispersions of CrPF6- and CrBF4-stained SiO2 NPs of different size and particle architecture, utilizing the luminescence decay kinetics of argon-saturated solutions of CrPF6 and CrBF4 in acetonitrile (ACN) as benchmarks, only SiO2 NPs or shells synthesized by the l-arginine approach provided complete oxygen protection of the CrIII complexes under ambient conditions. We ascribe the different oxygen shielding efficiencies of the silica networks explored to differences in density and surface chemistry of the resulting nanomaterials and coatings, leading to different oxygen permeabilities. Our l-arginine based silica encapsulation strategy can open the door for the efficient usage of oxygen-sensitive luminophores and TTA-UC systems as optical reporters and spectral shifters in air in the future. T2 - eMRS Strasbourg CY - Strasbourg, France DA - 26.05.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Quantum yield KW - NIR KW - Mechanism KW - Characterization KW - Electron microscopy KW - Silica KW - Oxygen sensing KW - Surface KW - Doping KW - Lifetime KW - Cr(III) complex PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63300 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Krenzer, Julius A1 - Mueller, Thomas T1 - Aroyl-S,N-ketene acetal based bichromophores exhibiting energy transfer and aggregation induced (dual) emission N2 - A series of aroyl-S,N-ketene acetal based bichromophores is readily synthesized by Buchwald-Hartwig amination and Ullmann reaction in moderate to good yields. The aminated aroyl-S,N-ketene acetals are emissive in the solid state and in the aggregate, but not in solution, thus, they are AIEgens (aggregation induced emission chromogens). Aggregation is induced by fractional alternation of the solvent mixture, here by increasing the water fraction of ethanol/water mixtures. For most derivatives, the emission upon induced aggregation stems solely from the aroyl-S,N-ketene acetal chromophore, regardless whether excitation occurs at the absorption maximum of the triarylamine or the aroyl-S,N-ketene acetal. Therefore, a pronounced energy transfer from the triarylamine donor to the aroyl-S,N-ketene acetal acceptor can be inferred. The color of the emission can be controlled by choosing the para-aroyl substituent. A partial energy transfer could also be observed for some bichromophores, leading to aggregation-induced dual emission (AIDE). In addition, four examples of aminated diaroyl-S,N-ketene acetals were added to the compound library. The electron-withdrawing properties of the additional aroyl group provide a bathochromic shift of the emission band of the aroyl-S,N-ketene acetal. These bichromophores also show AIDE and in one case even aggregation-induced white light emission as a result of additive color mixing. T2 - Beilstein Symposium on pi-Conjugated Molecules and Materials CY - Limburg, Germany DA - 07.11.2023 KW - aggregation-induced dual emission (AIDE) PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-59006 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Geißler, Daniel A1 - Nirmalananthan-Budau, Nithiya A1 - Scholtz, Lena A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Analyzing the surface of functional nanomaterials — how to quantify the total and derivatizable number of functional groups and ligands N2 - Functional nanomaterials (NM) of different size, shape, chemical composition, and surface chemistry are of increasing relevance for many key technologies of the twenty-first century. This includes polymer and silica or silica-coated nanoparticles (NP) with covalently bound surface groups, semiconductor quantum dots (QD), metal and metal oxide NP, and lanthanide-based NP with coordinatively or electrostatically bound ligands, as well as surface-coated nanostructures like micellar encapsulated NP. The surface chemistry can significantly affect the physicochemical properties of NM, their charge, their processability and performance, as well as their impact on human health and the environment. Thus, analytical methods for the characterization of NM surface chemistry regarding chemical identification, quantification, and accessibility of functional groups (FG) and surface ligands bearing such FG are of increasing importance for quality control of NM synthesis up to nanosafety. Here, we provide an overview of analytical methods for FG analysis and quantification with special emphasis on bioanalytically relevant FG broadly utilized for the covalent attachment of biomolecules like proteins, peptides, and oligonucleotides and address methodand material-related challenges and limitations. Analytical techniques reviewed include electrochemical titration methods, optical assays, nuclear magnetic resonance and vibrational spectroscopy, as well as X-ray based and thermal analysis methods, covering the last 5–10 years. Criteria for method classification and evaluation include the need for a signal-generating label, provision of either the total or derivatizable number of FG, need for expensive instrumentation, and suitability for process and production control during NM synthesis and functionalization. KW - Functional group quantification KW - Surface ligand KW - Nanomaterial KW - Optical detection KW - Electrochemical titration KW - Nanosafety (Safe-by-design) PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-533597 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-021-04960-5 VL - 188 IS - 10 SP - 1 EP - 28 PB - Springer Nature AN - OPUS4-53359 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stiegler, L. M. S. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Weigert, Florian A1 - Peukert, W. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Walter, J. T1 - Analysis of Giant-Shell CdSe/CdS Quantum Dots via Analytical Ultracentrifugation Combined with Spectrally Resolved Photoluminescence N2 - Knowledge of the structure–property relationships of functional nanomaterials, including, for example, their size- and composition-dependent photoluminescence (PL) and particle-to-particle variations, is crucial for their design and reproducibility. Herein, the Angstrom-resolution capability of an analytical ultracentrifuge combined with an in-line multiwavelength emission detection system (MWE-AUC) for measuring the sedimentation coefficient-resolved spectrally corrected PL spectra of dispersed nanoparticles is demonstrated. The capabilities of this technique are shown for giant-shell CdSe/CdS quantum dots (g-QDs) with a PL quantum yield (PL QY) close to unity capped with oleic acid and oleylamine ligands. The MWE-AUC PL measurements are calibrated and validated with certified fluorescence standards. The spectrally corrected and size-dependent PL spectra of the g-QDs derived from a single MWE-AUC experiment are then analyzed and compared with the results of single-particle spectroscopic studies, yielding the PL spectra, decay kinetics, and blinking behavior of individual g-QDs. This study underlines the vast potential of MWE-AUC with in-line optical detection for the characterization of advanced nanomaterials with a complex structure. KW - Quantum dots KW - Analytical ultracentrifugation KW - Photoluminescence KW - Advanced nanomaterial characterization KW - Calibrated fluorescence measurements KW - Reference materials PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-624357 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/smtd.202401700 SN - 2366-9608 SP - 1 EP - 7 PB - Wiley VHC-Verlag AN - OPUS4-62435 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella T1 - Amorphous, fluorescent silica particles for bioimaging applications N2 - Nowadays amorphous silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NP) are one of the most abundant engineered nanomaterials, with an annual production of hundreds of thousands of tons, that are used in a broad field of industrial products and processes. Since SiO2 NP are highly stable and easily produced on a large scale at low cost, they are widely employed as fillers for rubbers and composites, absorbents, catalysts, advanced coating additives as well as plant growth agents in agriculture, anti-caking agents in food products, or as carrier material in cosmetic industry. Moreover, they are promising candidates for colloidal scaffolds in biomedical applications like bioimaging, sensing or controlled drug delivery. SiO2 NP modified with luminescent chromophores have several advantages as compared to conventional molecular probes like enhanced brightness, ease of designing ratiometric systems, and increased photostability. Here we present our work on multicolored SiO2 NP for imaging and sensing applications. T2 - FUNGLASS Workshop CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 06.03.2024 KW - Sensors KW - Nano KW - Particles KW - Silica KW - Luminescence KW - Fluorescence KW - Quality assurance KW - Method KW - Synthesis KW - Dye KW - pH KW - Surface analysis PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-62167 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wegner, Karl David T1 - Ag₂S nanocrystals as next-generation, heavy-metal free SWIR emitter for biomedical imaging and sensing applications N2 - There is a growing interest in the exploitation of the short-wave infrared (SWIR), which refers to the wavelength band of light between 900 nm and 2500 nm. Luminophores that emit in the SWIR are used in various areas of telecommunications, photovoltaics, security systems (night vision), and in biomedicine. In particular for biomedical applications, the SWIR range is highly promising because light scattering, absorption, and autofluorescence of tissue and biological compounds are strongly reduced compared to the visible (400–700 nm) and NIR (~700–900 nm). The benefits of SWIR-emissive QDs have been demonstrated for a variety of applications, such as in thermal sensing, as photoelectrochemical biosensor, in in vivo vascular imaging, and for fluorescence-guided surgery. Full exploitation of SWIR photoluminescence (PL) imaging and sensing is currently hampered by i.) a lack of suitable advanced nanomaterials with a high PL quantum yield (PL QY) and a high brightness, that can be used safely in vivo and ii.) a lack of quantitative and reliable data on the optical properties of many SWIR emitters. Promising nanomaterials for the SWIR are heavy metal-free Ag2S quantum dots (QDs). Aiming for the development of SWIR advanced nanomaterials with optimum performance, we have dived deeper into the photophysical processes occurring in these nanomaterials, thereby exploring in depth how the environment such as temperature, surface ligand composition, and the incorporation of transition metals influence the optical properties Ag2S QDs. We observed a strong enhancement of the SWIR emission of upon addition of metal ions such as Zn2+, yielding PL quantum yields of about 10% and thus making them highly suitable for non-invasive deep imaging of vascular networks and 3D fluid flow mapping. T2 - Shining a light on biomedical and energy applications (Shift) CY - Tenerife, Spain DA - 13.10.2025 KW - Quantum dots KW - Short-wave infrared KW - SWIR KW - Spectroscopy KW - Photoluminescence KW - Quantum yield PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64673 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Witte, F. A1 - Rietsch, P. A1 - Nirmalananthan-Budau, Nithiya A1 - Weigert, Florian A1 - Götze, J. P. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Eigler, S. A1 - Paulus, B. T1 - Aggregation-induced emission leading to two distinct emissive species in the solid-state structure of high-dipole organic chromophores N2 - The concept of aggregation-induced emission represents a means to rationalise photoluminescence of usually nonfluorescent excimers in solid-state materials. In this publication, we study the photophysical properties of selected diaminodicyanoquinone (DADQ) derivatives in the solid state using a combined approach of experiment and theory. DADQs are a class of high-dipole organic chromophores promising for applications in non-linear optics and light-harvesting devices. Among the compounds investigated, we find both aggregation-induced emission and aggregation-caused quenching effects rationalised by calculated energy transfer rates. Analysis of fluorescence spectra and lifetime measurements provide the interesting result that (at least) two emissive species seem to contribute to the photophysical properties of DADQs. The main emission peak is notably broadened in the long-wavelength limit and exhibits a blue-shifted shoulder. We employ high-level quantum-chemical methods to validate a molecular approach to a solid-state problem and show that the complex emission features of DADQs can be attributed to a combination of H-type aggregates, monomers, and crystal structure defects. KW - Fluorescence KW - Optical probe KW - Dye KW - Photophysics KW - Theory KW - Quantum yield KW - Mechanism KW - Quantum chemistry KW - Modelling KW - Aggregation KW - Lifetime KW - Single particle KW - Microscopy KW - Solid KW - Crystal PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-531138 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d1cp02534a SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-53113 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Wegner, Karl David T1 - Advancing Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) Emission N2 - There is a growing interest in the exploitation of the short-wave infrared (SWIR), which refers to the wavelength band of light between 900 nm and 2500 nm. Luminophores that emit in the SWIR are used in various areas of telecommunications, photovoltaics, security systems (night vision), and in biomedicine. In particular for biomedical applications, the SWIR range is highly promising because light scattering, absorption, and autofluorescence of tissue and biological compounds are strongly reduced compared to the visible (400–700 nm) and NIR (~700–900 nm). The benefits of SWIR-emissive QDs have been demonstrated for a variety of applications, such as in thermal sensing, as photoelectrochemical biosensor, in in vivo vascular imaging, and for fluorescence-guided surgery.[1] Full exploitation of SWIR photoluminescence (PL) imaging and sensing is currently hampered by i.) a lack of suitable advanced nanomaterials with a high PL quantum yield (PL QY) and a high brightness, that can be used safely in vivo and ii.) a lack of quantitative and reliable data on the optical properties of many SWIR emitters. Promising nanomaterials for the SWIR are heavy metal-free Ag2S quantum dots (QDs). Aiming for the development of SWIR advanced nanomaterials with optimum performance, we have dived deeper into the photophysical processes occurring in these nanomaterials, thereby exploring in depth how the environment such as temperature, surface ligand composition, and the incorporation of transition metals influence the optical properties Ag2S QDs. We observed a strong enhancement of the SWIR emission of upon addition of metal ions such as Zn2+, yielding PL quantum yields of about 10% and thus making them highly suitable for non-invasive deep imaging of vascular networks and 3D fluid flow mapping. T2 - Anakon 2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - Quantum dots KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - SWIR KW - Fluorescence KW - Temperature KW - Ag2S KW - Quality assuarance KW - Ligand KW - Sensor PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62769 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Deumer, J. A1 - Andresen, Elina A1 - Gollwitzer, C. A1 - Schürmann, R. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Adding More Shape to Nanoscale Reference Materials-LiYF4:Yb,Tm Bipyramids as Standards for Sizing Methods and Particle Number Concentration N2 - The increasing industrial use of nanomaterials calls for the reliable characterization of their physicochemical key properties like size, size distribution, shape, and surface chemistry, and test and reference materials (RMs) with sizes and shapes, closely matching real-world nonspheric nano-objects. An efficient strategy to minimize efforts in producing nanoscale RMs (nanoRMs) for establishing, validating, and standardizing methods for characterizing nanomaterials are multimethod nanoRMs. Ideal candidates are lanthanide-based, multicolor luminescent, and chemically inert nanoparticles (NPs) like upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), which can be prepared in different sizes, shapes, and chemical composition with various surface coatings. This makes UCNPs interesting candidates as standards not only for sizing methods, but also for element-analytical methods like laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), quantitative bioimaging methods like X-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT), and luminescence methods and correlative measurements. Here, we explore the potential of two monodisperse LiYF4:Yb,Tm bipyramids with peak-to-peak distances of (43 ± 2) nm and (29 ± 2) nm as size standards for small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and tools for establishing and validating the sophisticated simulations required for the analysis of SAXS data derived from dispersions of nonspheric nano-objects. These SAXS studies are supplemented by two-dimensional (2D)-transmission electron microscopy measurements of the UCNP bipyramids. Additionally, the particle number concentration of cyclohexane dispersions of these UCNP bipyramids is determined by absolute SAXS measurements, complemented by gravimetry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). This approach enables traceable particle number concentration measurements of ligand-capped nonspheric particles with unknown chemical composition. KW - Fluorescence KW - Upconversion nanoparticles KW - SAXS KW - Particle number concentration KW - Reference material KW - Traceability KW - Quality assurance KW - Quantum yield KW - Spectroscopy KW - Synthesis KW - Quantification KW - NanoRM KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Bipyramid KW - Reference data KW - Simulation PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-617940 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c03641 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - ACS Publications AN - OPUS4-61794 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -