TY - CONF A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella T1 - Design of Fluorescent, Amorphous Silica-NPs and their Versatile Use in Sensing Applications N2 - Surface functionalized silica nanoparticles (SiO2-NP) gained great interest in the life and material sciences, as they can be used e.g. as drug carriers, fluorescent sensors, and multimodal labels in bioanalytical assays and imaging applications. They are highly stable, are easily produced and modified on a large scale at low cost and can be labeled or stained with a multitude of sensor dyes. These dye modified particle conjugates have several advantages as compared to conventional molecular probes like enhanced brightness, ease of designing ratiometric systems by combining analyte-sensitive and inert reference dyes, and increased photostability. Moreover, stained nanoparticles can enable the use of hydrophobic dyes in aqueous environments. Here we present our work on multicolored sensors for the measurement of pH, oxygen and saccharides utilizing amorphous SiO2 NPs. T2 - Focus Area Day Analytical Sciences 2023 CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 20.04.2023 KW - Amorphous silica particles KW - Particle Synthesis KW - Nano KW - Ratiometric Sensors KW - Fluorescence KW - pH probe KW - Dye PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-59151 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella T1 - Development of amorphous silica particle based reference materials for surface functional group quantification N2 - Functionalized nanomaterials (NM) with their unique size-dependent properties are of increasing relevance for current and future developments in various fields such as medical and pharmaceutical industry, computing, electronics or food and consumer products. The performance and safety of NM are determined by the sum of their intrinsic physicochemical properties.1 Besides other key parameters, the particle surface chemistry, which is largely controlled by the chemical nature and density of functional groups and ligands, must be considered for a better performance, stability, and processibility of NM, as well as their interaction with the environment. Thus, particle standards with well-designed surfaces and methods for functional group quantification can foster the sustainable development of functional and safe(r) NM.2 Here we provide a brief overview of the ongoing research in division Biophotonics to design tailored amorphous silica reference particles with bioanalytically relevant functional groups and ligands, for the development of standardized and validated surface functional group quantification methods. T2 - Workshop NanoRiskSD project CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 09.06.2022 KW - Nanoparticle KW - Surface analysis KW - Silica KW - Fluorescence KW - Assay PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-55004 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella T1 - Rational Design of Analyte-responsive Fluorescent Particle Sensors for Life Sciences Applications N2 - Engineered and tailor-made nanomaterials (NM) are of increasing relevance for current and future developments in the life and material sciences for applications, e.g., as drug carriers, fluorescent sensors, and multimodal labels in bioanalytical assays, and reporters for imaging applications. For instance, NM-based reporters and sensors, that are labelled or stained with a multitude of conventional or sensor dyes, have several advantages as compared to molecular probes like enhanced brightness, i.e., amplified signals, ease of designing ratiometric systems by combining analyte-sensitive and inert reference dyes, and increased photostability. Moreover, this can enable the use of hydrophobic dyes in aqueous environments. For rational NM design, choosing and tailoring the intrinsic physicochemical properties, such as particle size, size distribution, morphology, and surface chemistry of the NM application-specific considerations like biocompatibility, ease and low cost of preparation, and colloidal stability and performance in the targeted environment must be considered. In this lecture, different design concepts of inorganic, organic, and hybrid NM and microparticles with hydrophilic surface chemistries and different functionalities are presented that can be used for the targeting of lysosomes; and to monitor functional parameters of endo-lysosomal compartments, like pH or enable oxygen sensing. T2 - Chemical Probes for Lysosomal Biology CY - York, United Kingdom DA - 09.09.2024 KW - Luminescence KW - Quantification KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Method KW - Uncertainty KW - Reference material KW - Sensor KW - Synthesis KW - Dye KW - pH KW - Silica KW - Polystyrene KW - Surface analysis PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-62173 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sun, Yijuan A1 - Pérez-Padilla, Víctor A1 - Valderrey, Virginia A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Ratiometric detection of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids using dual fluorescent nanoparticles and a miniaturised microfluidic platform N2 - The widespread contamination of soil and water with perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has caused considerable societal and scientific concern. Legislative measures and an increased need for remediation require effective on-site analytical methods for PFAS management. Here we report on the development of a green-fluorescent guanidine-BODIPY indicator monomer incorporated into a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the selective detection of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Complexation of PFOA by the indicator, which is mediated by concerted protonation-induced ion pairing-assisted hydrogen bonding, significantly enhances fluorescence in polar organic solvents. The MIP forms as a thin layer on silica nanoparticles doped with tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride, which provides an orange emission signal as internal reference, resulting in low measurement uncertainties. Using a liquid-liquid extraction protocol, this assay enables the direct detection of PFOA in environmental water samples and achieves a detection limit of 0.11 µM. Integration into an opto-microfluidic system enables a compact and user-friendly system for detecting PFOA in less than 15 minutes. KW - PFAS KW - Molecular imprinting KW - Microfluidics KW - Fluorescence KW - Onsite assay PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-650270 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-66872-9 SN - 2041-1723 VL - 16 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-65027 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sun, Yijuan A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia A1 - Valderrey, Virginia A1 - Bhattacharya, Biswajit A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Ratiometric Molecularly Imprinted Particle Probes for Reliable Fluorescence Signaling of Carboxylate-Containing Molecules N2 - In addition to sensitivity, selectivity, and portability, chemical sensing systems must generate reliable signals and offer modular configurability to address various small molecule targets, particularly in environmental applications. We present a versatile, modular strategy utilizing ratiometric molecularly imprinted particle probes based on BODIPY indicators and dyes for recognition and internal referencing. Our approach employs polystyrene core particles doped with a red fluorescent BODIPY as an internal standard, providing built-in reference for environmental influences. A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) recognition shell, incorporating a green-fluorescent BODIPY indicator monomer with a thiourea binding site for carboxylate containing analytes, is grafted from the core particles in the presence of the analyte as the template. The dual-fluorescent MIP probe detects fexofenadine as the model analyte with a change in green emission signal referenced against a stable red signal, achieving a detection limit of 0.13 μM and a broad dynamic range from 0.16 μM to 1.2 mM, with good discrimination against other antibiotics in acetonitrile. By selecting a versatile dye scaffold and recognition element, this approach can be extended to other carboxylate-containing analytes and/or wavelength combinations, potentially serving as a robust multiplexing platform. KW - Core-shell particles KW - Molecular imprinting KW - Pharmaceutical contaminants KW - Self-referenced measurements KW - Fluorescence PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-609385 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c09990 SP - 1 EP - 13 PB - American Chemical Society (ACS) AN - OPUS4-60938 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sun, Yijuan A1 - Gawlitza, Kornelia A1 - Valderrey, Virginia A1 - Bell, Jérémy A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Polymerizable BODIPY probe crosslinker for the molecularly imprinted polymer-based detection of organic carboxylates via fluorescence N2 - This contribution reports the development of a polymerizable BODIPY-type fluorescent probe targeting small-molecule carboxylates for incorporation into molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs). The design of the probe crosslinker includes a urea recognition site p-conjugated to the 3-position of the BODIPY core and two methacrylate moieties. Titration experiments with a carboxylate-expressing antibiotic, levofloxacin (LEVO), showed a blue shift of the absorption band as well as a broadening and decrease in emission, attributed to hydrogen bonding between the probe’s urea group and the carboxylate group of the antibiotic. Using this probe crosslinker, core–shell particles with a silica core and a thin MIP shell were prepared for the detection of LEVO. The MIP exhibited highly selective recognition of LEVO, with an imprinting factor of 18.1 compared to the non-imprinted polymer. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed the core–shell structure and spectroscopic studies revealed that the receptor’s positioning leads to a unique perturbation of the polymethinic character of the BODIPY chromophore, entailing the favourable responses. These features are fully preserved in the MIP, whereas no such response was observed for competitors such as ampicillin. The sensory particles allowed to detect LEVO down to submicromolar concentrations in dioxane. We have developed here for the first time a BODIPY probe for organic carboxylates and incorporated it into polymers using the imprinting technique, paving the way for BODIPY-type fluorescent MIP sensors. KW - Fluorescence KW - BODIPY probe KW - Molecularly Imprinted Polymers KW - Sensor Materials KW - Dyes KW - Water analysis KW - Advanced materials PY - 2024 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-598629 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MA00476G SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) AN - OPUS4-59862 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stroyuk, O. A1 - Raievska, O. A1 - Barabash, A. A1 - Batentschuk, M. A1 - Osvet, A. A1 - Fiedler, Saskia A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Hauch, J. A1 - Brabec, C. J. T1 - "Green" synthesis of highly luminescent lead-free Cs2AgxNa1-xBiyIn1-yCl6 perovskites N2 - A new “green” and mild synthesis of highly stable microcrystalline Cs2AgxNa1-xBiyIn1-yCl6 (CANBIC) perovskites under ambient conditions was developed that is scalable to the multi-gram production. Under UV illumination, the CANBIC perovskites emit intense broadband photoluminescence (PL) with a quantum yield (QY) of 92% observed for x = 0.35 and y = 0.01-0.02. The combination of strong UV absorbance and broadband visible emission, high PL QY, and long PL lifetimes of up to 1.4 μs, along with an outstanding stability makes these CANBICs a promising material class for many optical applications. KW - Fluorescence KW - Perovskites KW - Solar cell KW - Automated synthesis KW - Green synthesis KW - Quantum yield KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Absolute fluorescence KW - Quality assurance KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Application KW - Semiconductor KW - Quantum dot KW - Renewable energy PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/d2tc02055f SN - 2050-7526 VL - 10 IS - 27 SP - 9938 EP - 9944 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-55453 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Srivastava, Priyanka A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Genger, C. A1 - Welker, P. A1 - Huebner, Oskar A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Multicolor Polystyrene Nanosensors for the Monitoring of Acidic, Neutral, and Basic pH Values and Cellular Uptake Studies N2 - A first tricolor fluorescent pH nanosensor is presented, which was rationally designed from biocompatible carboxylated polystyrene nanoparticles and two analyte-responsive molecular fluorophores. Its fabrication involved particle staining with a blue-red-emissive dyad, consisting of a rhodamine moiety responsive to acidic pH values and a pH-inert quinoline fluorophore, followed by the covalent attachment of a fluorescein dye to the particle surface that signals neutral and basic pH values with a green fluorescence. These sensor particles change their fluorescence from blue to red and green, depending on the pH and excitation wavelength, and enable ratiometric pH measurements in the pH range of 3.0−9.0. The localization of the different sensor dyes in the particle core and at the particle surface was confirmed with fluorescence microscopy utilizing analogously prepared polystyrene microparticles. To show the application potential of these polystyrene-based multicolor sensor particles, fluorescence microscopy studies with a human A549 cell line were performed, which revealed the cellular uptake of the pH nanosensor and the differently colored emissions in different cell organelles, that is, compartments of the endosomal-lysosomal pathway. Our results demonstrate the underexplored potential of biocompatible polystyrene particles for multicolor and multianalyte sensing and bioimaging utilizing hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic stimuli-responsive luminophores. KW - Microparticle KW - Fluorescence KW - Sensor KW - pH KW - Quantum yield KW - Multiplexing KW - Imaging KW - Cell KW - Quality assurance KW - Nano KW - Polymer KW - Bioimaging KW - Particle KW - Application PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.2c00944 VL - 94 IS - 27 SP - 9656 EP - 9664 PB - ACS AN - OPUS4-55365 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Srivastava, Priyanka T1 - Multi-color nanosensors for ratiometric measurements of acidic, neutral, and basic pH based on silica and polystyrene particles N2 - pH presents one of the most important analytes in the life and material sciences, indicating, e.g., diseases and corrosion processes. This includes the optical monitoring of pH in living cells for studying cellular internalization pathways, such as phagocytosis, endocytosis, and receptor mediated internalization with the aid of molecular and nanoscale fluorescent sensors. Nanoparticle (NP)-based sensors, that are labelled or stained with a multitude of sensor dyes, have several advantages as compared to conventional molecular probes like enhanced brightness, i.e., amplified signals, ease of designing ratiometric systems by combining analyte-sensitive and inert reference dyes, and increased photostability. Moreover, this can enable the use of hydrophobic dyes in aqueous environments. Versatile templates and carriers for the fabrication of nanosensors by staining and/or labelling with different fluorophores and sensor molecules are surface-functionalized particles like silica (SiO2) and polystyrene (PS) particles. Here we present a platform of blue-red-green fluorescent pH nanosensors for the measurement of acidic, neutral, and basic pH utilizing both types of matrices and two spectrally distinguishable sensor dyes with an integrated reference dye and demonstrate its applicability for cellular studies. T2 - E-MRS Spring Meeting 2022 CY - Online meeting DA - 30.05.2022 KW - Nanosensors KW - pH sensing KW - Silica- and polystyrene particles KW - Ratiometric sensors KW - Fluorescence PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-55597 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Shovo, Redoy Gazi A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Katcharava, Zviadi A1 - Marinvo, Anja A1 - Hoppe, Richard A1 - Woltersdorf, Georg A1 - Du, Mengxue A1 - Androsch, Rene A1 - de Souza e Silva, Juliana Martins A1 - Busse, Karste A1 - Binder, Wolfgang H. T1 - Generating Tagged Micro- and Nanoparticles of Poly(ethylene furanoate) and Poly(ethylene terephthalate) as Reference Materials N2 - Detecting nanoplastic particles in environmental samples and biological tissues remains a significant challenge, especially in view of newly emerging polymers, not yet commercially exploited. Fluorescent labeling provides a tagging strategy to overcome this limitation by reducing the detection limit of individual particles, especially for small-sized particles. We present a method for producing labeled nanoparticles (NP/MP) of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(ethylene furanoate) (PEF), tagged with Alexa Fluor 633 or Alexa Fluor 647. Our preparations used mechanical grinding or solvent-based approaches (confined impinging jet mixing, ((CIJ, precipitation), generating particles with hydrodynamic diameters of 200–700 nm, displaying long-term stability in water of up to 57 days. Stable suspensions with concentrations of the particles ranging from 10 µg/mL (surfactant-free, by solvent mixing) to 5.88 mg/mL (precipitation, containing surfactant) were generated with zeta-potentials from −5 to −50 mV. Characterization of the nanoparticles by SEC, DSC, and XRD showed no significant changes in molecular weight, thermal behavior, or crystallinity via the solvent-based methods, compared to the pristine polymer, highlighting their suitability for producing standardized nanoparticle dispersions. Fluorescence spectroscopy of the Alexa-dye-labeled particles confirmed the successful incorporation of the Alexa dyes, so improving monitoring of their biological profiles of the PEF-MP/NPs. s-SNOM (near field imaging) could identify individual PEF-particles sized ∼200 nm by direct imaging. KW - Reference Materials KW - Nanoplastics KW - Microplastics KW - Polymer KW - Fluorescence PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-655531 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/marc.202500839 SN - 1521-3927 VL - 47 IS - 4 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Wiley VHC-Verlag CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-65553 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schweizer, S. T1 - Interlaboratory comparison on absolute PL quantum yield measurements of scattering luminescent materials N2 - Optical measurements of scattering luminescent materials dispersed in liquid and solid matrices and luminescent powders play an important role in fundamental research and industry. Typical examples are luminescent nano- and microparticles and phosphors of different composition in different matrices or incorporated into ceramics with applications in energy conversion, solid-state lighting, medical diagnostics, and security barcoding. The key parameter for the performance of these materials is the photoluminescence quantum yield QY, i.e., the number of emitted photons per number of absorbed photons. QY of transparent luminophore solutions can be determined relatively to a fluorescence quantum yield standard of known QY. Such standards are meanwhile available as certified reference materials.[1] The determination of QY of scattering liquid and solid samples like dispersions of luminescent nanoparticles, solid phosphors, and optoceramics requires, however, absolute measurements with an integrating sphere setup. Although the importance of reliable absolute QY measurements has been recognized, no interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) on measurement uncertainties and the identification of typical sources of uncertainty have been yet reported. Also, no scattering reference materials with known QY are available. We present here the results of a first ILC of 3 laboratories from academia and industry performed to identify and quantify sources of uncertainty of absolute QY measurements of scattering samples. Thereby, two types of commercial stand-alone integrating sphere setups with different illumination and detection geometries were utilized for measuring QY of transparent and scattering dye solutions and solid phosphors. As representative and industrially relevant solid and scattering samples, YAG:Ce optoceramics of varying surface roughness were chosen, applied, e.g., as converter materials for blue light emitting diodes. Special emphasis was dedicated to the influence of the measurement geometry, the optical properties of the blank, utilized to determine the number of photons of the incident excitation light absorbed by the sample, and the sample-specific surface roughness. While matching QY values could be obtained for transparent dye solutions and scattering dispersions, here using a blank with scattering properties closely matching those of the sample, QY measurements of optoceramic samples with different blanks revealed substantial differences, with the blank's optical properties accounting for measurement uncertainties of more than 20 %. Based upon the ILC results, we recommend non-absorbing blank materials with a high reflectivity (>95 %) such as a 2 mm-thick PTFE target placed on the sample holder which reveals a near-Lambertian light scattering behavior, yielding a homogeneous light distribution within the integrating sphere. T2 - 8th IWASOM CY - Gdánsk, Poland DA - 07.07.2024 KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - Method KW - Sensor KW - Film KW - Absolute quantum yield KW - Scattering KW - YAG:Ce KW - Quality assurance KW - Lanthanide KW - Upconverter KW - LED KW - Uncertainty KW - Standardization KW - Reference material PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-62100 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Scholtz, Lena A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Eckert, J. G. A1 - Lutowski, Marc A1 - Geißler, Daniel A1 - Hertwig, Andreas A1 - Hidde, Gundula A1 - Bigall, N. C. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Influence of nanoparticle encapsulation and encoding on the surface chemistry of polymer carrier beads N2 - Surface-functionalized polymer beads encoded with molecular luminophores and nanocrystalline emitters such as semiconductor nanocrystals, often referred to as quantum dots (QDs), or magnetic nanoparticles are broadly used in the life sciences as reporters and carrier beads. Many of these applications require a profound knowledge of the chemical nature and total number of their surface functional groups (FGs), that control bead charge, colloidal stability, hydrophobicity, and the interaction with the environment and biological systems. For bioanalytical applications, also the number of groups accessible for the subsequent functionalization with, e.g., biomolecules or targeting ligands is relevant. In this study, we explore the influence of QD encoding on the amount of carboxylic acid (COOH) surface FGs of 2 μm polystyrene microparticles (PSMPs). This is done for frequently employed oleic acid and oleylamine stabilized, luminescent core/shell CdSe QDs and two commonly used encoding procedures. This included QD addition during bead formation by a thermally induced polymerization reaction and a post synthetic swelling procedure. The accessible number of COOH groups on the surface of QD-encoded and pristine beads was quantified by two colorimetric assays, utilizing differently sized reporters and electrostatic and covalent interactions. The results were compared to the total number of FGs obtained by a conductometric titration and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, a comparison of the impact of QD and dye encoding on the bead surface chemistry was performed. Our results demonstrate the influence of QD encoding and the QD-encoding strategy on the number of surface FG that is ascribed to an interaction of the QDs with the carboxylic acid groups on the bead surface. These findings are of considerable relevance for applications of nanoparticle-encoded beads and safe-by-design concepts for nanomaterials. KW - Optical spectroscopy KW - Particle KW - Optical assay KW - IR spectroscopy KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - Quality assurance KW - Nano KW - Synthesis KW - Surface chemistry KW - Quantification KW - Method KW - Conductometry PY - 2023 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-581502 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38518-7 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 13 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - Springer Nature CY - London AN - OPUS4-58150 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - 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 - Scholtz, Lena T1 - Luminescent, Semiconductor Nanoparticle-loaded Polymer Microbeads - Comparing Particle Architectures N2 - The synthesis of luminescent polymer microparticles stained with different, including non-spherical, semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) was developed and optimized while ensuring a good preservation of the particle photoluminescence. The aplicability of the different semiconductor NPs was determined to depend on their surface chemistry and shape. Thus, a first correlation of semiconductor NP architecture and applicability could be deduced, which has not been reported before. T2 - 821. WE-Heraeus-Seminar CY - Bad Honnef, Germany DA - 12.11.2024 KW - Nanoparticle KW - Surface chemistry KW - Synthesis KW - Fluorescence KW - Luminescence PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-61732 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Scholtz, Lena T1 - Luminescent, Semiconductor Nanoparticle-Loadedpolymer Microbeads–Comparingparticlearchitectures N2 - Luminescent polymer microparticles (PMPs) are applied in various (bio)analytical and diagnostic processes.[1] The staining of these beads is important for the realization of optically distinguishable barcodes that can be read out, e.g., by a flow cytometer or fluorescence microscope. Typically, luminescent semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) absorb in a broad wavelength range and show narrow emission bands, which enables simultaneous excitation of differently colored luminophores and facilitates a spectral discrimination.[1] This makes them ideal candidates for this purpose and encouraged us to explore and develop a simple, effective approach to luminescent semiconductor NP encoding of polystyrene PMPs and identify suitable synthesis conditions.[2] Until now, mainly semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have been used for the synthesis of luminescent PMPs, although NPs with different shapes could introduce beneficial new features. Aiming for the application of our developed procedure to non-spherical NPs, we systematically investigated the luminescence properties of the resulting NP-stained beads using fluorescence and integrating sphere spectroscopy as well as fluorescence and electron microscopy. These studies showed that the suitability of semiconductor NPs for the synthesis of luminescent PMPs depends not only on their shape, but also heavily on their surface chemistry.[3] The successful incorporation of nonspherical NPs opens the path to include even more NPs, and the results can help to deduce future applications for the beads which best suit their specific properties. T2 - E-MRS Fall Meeting 2025 CY - Warsaw, Poland DA - 15.09.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Quantum dot KW - Quantum rod KW - Platelet KW - Quantum yield KW - Polymer particle KW - Encoding KW - Surface chemistry KW - Mechanism KW - Characterization KW - Lifetime KW - Barcode KW - Polymerization KW - Method PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64242 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schlögl, Johanna A1 - Krappe, Alexander R. A1 - Fürstenwerth, Paul C. A1 - Brosius, Amelie L. A1 - Fasting, Carlo A1 - Hoffmann, Kurt F. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Eigler, Siegfried A1 - Steinhauer, Simon A1 - Riedel, Sebastian T1 - Luminescent Perhalofluoro Trityl Radicals N2 - In this proof-of-concept study, we show that polyfluorinated trityl radicals with the, to this date, highest fluorination grade can be accessed in quantitative yields in a straightforward manner starting from the perfluorinated trityl cation. The trityl skeleton is functionalized with trimethylsilyl halides to yield perhalofluoro trityl cations, which are subsequently reduced using commercial zinc powder. In this way, we prepare three perhalofluoro trityl radicals and analyze the impact of the fluorine ligands on their electro-optical properties, revealing some interesting trends. In comparison to literature-known polychlorinated trityl radicals, the new polyfluorinated derivatives exhibit substantially higher fluorescence quantum yields, longer luminescence lifetimes, and an expanded emission range that extends into the yellow spectral region. They further display enhanced photostability under light irradiation. In radical-stained polystyrene nanoparticles, an additional broad emission band in the red−NIR wavelength region is observed, which is attributed to excimer formation. Finally, the stability of the new radicals is investigated under ambient conditions, showing the slow conversion with atmospheric oxygen yielding the respective peroxides, which are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All in all, our study extends the present scope of luminescent trityl radicals, as the functionalization of the perfluorinated cationic precursor unlocks the path toward a vast variety of polyfluorinated trityl radicals. KW - Dye KW - Fluorescence KW - Radical KW - Synthesis KW - Mechanism KW - Signal enhancement KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Characterization KW - Quantum yield KW - Photophysics KW - Lifetime KW - Polarity KW - Polymer KW - Solvatchromism KW - Excimer PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-647973 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c16418 SN - 0002-7863 VL - 147 IS - 46 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - American Chemical Society (ACS) AN - OPUS4-64797 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - 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 - CONF A1 - Rurack, Knut T1 - Sensitive and multiplexed assays for point-of-need applications: innovations for robust, reliable, and user-friendly diagnostics N2 - The development of portable analytical assays, particularly during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, has revolutionized diagnostics and expanded their use to areas such as food safety, environmental monitoring and forensics. These assays offer the advantage of rapid on-site decision making without the need for laboratory facilities. The omnipresence of mobile devices with advanced cameras and processing power further increases their usability. However, most current assays are limited to detecting single parameters. The challenge now is to develop robust multiplexed assays that can simultaneously detect multiple parameters with high sensitivity. This lecture will present generic approaches developed at BAM with a focus on supramolecular chemistry, luminescence detection, nanomaterials and miniaturization of devices. Examples include mesoporous nanomaterials, gated indicator systems, imprinted polymers, microfluidic devices, test strips and smartphone-based analysis. T2 - Kolloquium Optische Technologien der FH Münster CY - Steinfurt, Germany DA - 18.12.2024 KW - Rapid testing KW - Fluorescence KW - Explosives KW - Environmental contaminants KW - Multiplexing PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-62322 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rodriguez, Santiago A1 - Kumanski, Sylvain A1 - Ayed, Zeineb A1 - Fournet, Aurélie A1 - Bouanchaud, Charlène A1 - Sagar, Amin A1 - Allemand, Frédéric A1 - Baulin, Vladimir A. A1 - Resch‐Genger, Ute A1 - Cortés, Juan A1 - Sibille, Nathalie A1 - Chirot, Fabien A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Antoine, Rodolphe A1 - Le Guével, Xavier A1 - Bernadó, Pau T1 - Programming the Optoelectronic Properties of Atomically Precise Gold Nanoclusters Using the Conformational Landscape of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins N2 - The rational design of hybrid nanomaterials with precisely controlled properties remains a central challenge in materials science. While atomically precise gold nanoclusters (Au‐NCs) offer molecule‐like control over a metallic core, tuning their optoelectronic behavior via surface engineering is often empirically driven. Here, we establish a design principle by demonstrating that the conformational landscape of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDP) can be used as a programmable scaffold to rationally modulate the photophysical properties of a covalently bound Au‐NC. We synthesized a series of bioconjugates between Au 25 nanoclusters and bioengineered IDPs containing a variable number of cysteine anchoring points. A combination of mass spectrometry, small‐angle X‐ray scattering, and modeling on the conjugates indicates that increasing the number of covalent anchors systematically restricts the conformational ensemble, inducing a progressively more compact protein shell around nanoclusters. This structural rigidification at the interface directly translates into a 15‐fold enhancement of the Au‐NC near‐infrared photoluminescence and a six‐fold increase in its average lifetime. Our findings demonstrate that the conformational plasticity of IDPs and the capacity to engineer them can be harnessed as a molecular tuning knob, moving to a new regime of programmable soft‐matter control over the properties of quantum‐confined nanomaterials for tailored biotechnological applications. KW - Fluorescence KW - Custer KW - Nano KW - Advanced material KW - Characterization KW - Fluorescence quantum yield KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Thiol ligands KW - Gold KW - Surface chemistry KW - SWIR KW - Mass spectrometry KW - Protein PY - 2026 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-655086 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202502991 SN - 0947-6539 SP - 1 EP - 9 PB - Wiley VHC-Verlag AN - OPUS4-65508 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rietsch, P. A1 - Zeyat, M. A1 - Hübner, Oskar A1 - Hoffmann, Katrin A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Kutter, M. A1 - Paskin, A. A1 - Uhlig, J. A1 - Lentz, D. A1 - Eigler, S. T1 - Substitution Pattern-Controlled Fluorescence Lifetimes of Fluoranthene Dyes N2 - The absorption and emission properties of organic dyes are generally tuned by altering the substitution pattern. However, tuning the fluorescence lifetimes over a range of several 10 ns while barely affecting the spectral features and maintaining a moderate fluorescence quantum yield is challenging. Such properties are required for lifetime multiplexing and barcoding applications. Here, we show how this can be achieved for the class of fluoranthene dyes, which have substitution-dependent lifetimes between 6 and 33 ns for single wavelength excitation and emission. We explore the substitution-dependent emissive properties in the crystalline solid state that would prevent applications. Furthermore, by analyzing dye mixtures and embedding the dyes in carboxyfunctionalized 8 μm-sized polystyrene particles, the unprecedented potential of these dyes as labels and encoding fluorophores for time-resolved fluorescence detection techniques is demonstrated. KW - Fluorescence KW - Label KW - Fluoranthene KW - Quantum yield KW - Reporter KW - Crystal KW - Encoding KW - Multiplexing KW - Particle KW - Bead KW - Lifetime KW - Dye KW - Barcoding PY - 2021 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c08851 SN - 1520-5207 VL - 125 IS - 4 SP - 1207 EP - 1213 PB - American Chemical Society AN - OPUS4-52087 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rietsch, P. A1 - Witte, F. A1 - Sobottka, S. A1 - Germer, G. A1 - Becker, A. A1 - Güttler, Arne A1 - Sarkar, B. A1 - Paulus, B. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Eigler, S. T1 - Diaminodicyanoquinones: Fluorescent dyes with high dipole moments and electron-acceptor properties N2 - Fluorescent dyes are applied in various fields of research,includingsolarcellsandlight-emittingdevices,andas reporters for assays and bioimaging studies.Fluorescent dyes with an added high dipole moment pave the way to nonlinear optics and polarity sensitivity.Redox activity makes it possible to switch the moleculeQsphotophysical properties.Diaminodicyanoquinone derivatives possess high dipole moments,yet only lowfluorescence quantum yields,and have therefore been neglected as fluorescent dyes.Here we investigate the fluorescencepropertiesofdiaminodicyanoquinonesusingacombined theoretical and experimental approach and derive molecules with afluorescence quantum yield exceeding 90%. The diaminodicyanoquinone core moiety provides chemical versatility and can be integrated into novel molecular architectures with unique photophysical features. KW - Dipole moment KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - Quinones PY - 2019 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201903204 SN - 1433-7851 SN - 1521-3773 VL - 58 IS - 24 SP - 8235 EP - 8239 PB - Wiley Online Libary CY - Weihnheim AN - OPUS4-48890 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Richter, Maria A1 - Güttler, Arne A1 - Pauli, Jutta A1 - Vogel, K. A1 - Homann, Christian A1 - Würth, Christian A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Extending certified spectral fluorescence standards for the calibration and performance validation of fluorescence instruments to the NIR—closing the gap from 750 to 940 nm with two novel NIR dyes N2 - Fluorescence techniques such as fluorescence spectroscopy, microfluorometry, and fluorescence microscopy, providing spectral, intensity, polarization, and lifetime information, are amongst the most broadly utilized analytical methods in the life and materials sciences. However, the measured fluorescence data contain sample- and instrument-specific contributions, which hamper their comparability across instruments and laboratories. Comparable, instrument-independent fluorescence data require the determination of the fluorescence instrument’s wavelength-dependent spectral responsivity, also termed emission correction curve, for the same instrument settings as those used for the fluorescence measurements as a prerequisite for the subsequent correction of the measured instrument-specific data. Such a spectral correction is essential for the performance comparison of different fluorescent labels and reporters, quantitative fluorescence measurements, the determination of the fluorescence quantum yield, and the spectroscopic measure for the fluorescence efficiency of a fluorophore. Simple-to-use tools for obtaining emission correction curves are chromophore-based reference materials (RMs), referred to as fluorescence standards, with precisely known, preferably certified instrument-independent fluorescence spectra. However, for the increasingly used near-infrared (NIR) wavelength region >700 nm, at present, no spectral fluorescence standards are available. To close this gap, we developed two novel spectral fluorescence standards, BAM F007 and BAM-F009, with broad emission bands from about 580 to 940 nm in ethanolic solution. These liquid fluorescence standards currently under certification, which will be released in 2025, will expand the wavelength range of the already available certified Calibration Kit BAM F001b-F005b from about 300–730 to 940 nm. In this research article, we will detail the criteria utilized for dye and matrix selection and the homogeneity and stability tests accompanying dye certification as well as the calculation of the wavelength-dependent uncertainty budgets of the emission spectra BAM F007 and BAM-F009, determined with the traceably calibrated BAM reference spectrofluorometer. These fluorescence standards can provide the basis for comparable fluorescence measurements in the ultraviolet, visible, and NIR for the fluorescence community. KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Fluorescence KW - Dye KW - Traceability KW - Metrology KW - Calibration KW - Reference data KW - Reference product KW - Digital certificate KW - NIR KW - Instrument performance validation PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-626317 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-024-05723-w SN - 1618-2650 SP - 1 EP - 15 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-62631 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rezvani, A. A1 - Wang, Z. A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Soltanmoradi, H. A1 - Kichigin, A. A1 - Zhou, X. A1 - Gantenberg, T. A1 - Schram, J. A1 - Zubiri, B. A. A1 - Spiecker, E. A1 - Walter, J. A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Segets, D. T1 - Separation of Indium Phosphide/Zinc Sulfide Core−Shell Quantum Dots from Shelling Byproducts through Multistep Agglomeration N2 - Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) possess unique electronic and optical properties, making them promising candidates for applications in lightemitting diodes, solar cells, bioimaging, and photocatalysis. Precise control over their size, shape, and chemical and electronic structure is crucial to ensure the desired functional properties and optimize device performance. However, challenges in QD synthesis and post-synthesis modification persist, especially in large-scale production. This study addresses the classification of QDs synthesized in a tubular flow reactor consisting of a mixture of the desired InP/ZnS core−shell QDs and QDs made from the shell material, i.e., here ZnS QDs formed as a byproduct during the formation step of the ZnS shell. The homogeneous nucleation of ZnS nanoparticles from the shelling material introduces a heterogeneity in size and composition and affects the optical properties of the resulting QDs. To address this issue, we developed a size-selective agglomeration (SSA) technique by incrementally introducing ethanol as a poor solvent and classified the synthesized QDs into 13 distinct fractions. These 13 fractions are sorted into three distinct groups: (i) larger InP/ZnS QDs, (ii) a combination of smaller InP/ZnS QDs and larger ZnS QDs, and (iii) predominant ZnS QDs with some very tiny InP/ZnS QDs. The comprehensive characterization of the fractions was conducted using UV−visible absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, total reflection X-ray fluorescence, and analytical ultracentrifugation. We could demonstrate that our method effectively separated unwanted ZnS QDs from the target InP/ZnS QDs. In addition, the fractions enriched in smaller InP/ZnS QDs exhibited a higher photoluminescence quantum yield compared to the fractions with larger QDs. This demonstrates the efficacy of SSA in finetuning the composition of QD mixtures produced on a larger scale to improve their functional properties. This approach provides fundamental understanding toward the development of a scalable two-dimensional classification process for such ultrasmall nanoparticles by particle size and composition. KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Quantum dot KW - Synthesis KW - Flow reactor KW - InP KW - Shell KW - ZnS KW - Surface chemistry KW - Method KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - TEM PY - 2025 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.4c18530 SN - 1936-086X VL - 19 IS - 20 SP - 19080 EP - 19094 PB - ACS Publications AN - OPUS4-63215 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Sloniec-Myszk, Jagoda ED - Hennig, Andreas T1 - Chiral, J-aggregate-forming dyes for alternative signal modulation mechanisms in self-immolative enzyme-activatable optical probes N2 - Enzyme-activatable optical probes are important for future advances in cancer imaging, but may easily suffer from low signal-to-background ratios unless not optimized. To address this shortcoming, numerous mechanisms to modulate the fluorescence signal have been explored. We report herein newly synthesized probes based on selfimmolative linkers containing chiral J-aggregate-forming dyes. Signal modulation by formation of chiral J-aggregates is yet unexplored in optical enzyme probe design. The comprehensive characterization of the probes by absorption, CD, fluorescence, and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy revealed dye−dye interactions not observed for the free dyes in solution as well as dye−protein interactions with the enzyme. This suggested that J-aggregate formation is challenging to achieve with current probe design and that interactions of the dyes with the Enzyme may interfere with achieving high signal-to-background ratios. The detailed understanding of the interactions provided herein provides valuable guidelines for the future design of similar probes. KW - Signal amplification KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - Optical spectroscopy KW - Dye KW - Cyanine KW - Characterization KW - Assay KW - Chiral KW - Aggregation KW - Activatable probe PY - 2016 DO - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b10526 SN - 1520-5207 SN - 1520-6106 VL - 120 IS - 5 SP - 877 EP - 885 PB - ACS Publications AN - OPUS4-35949 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - GEN A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Richter, Maria A1 - Güttler, Arne A1 - Pauli, Jutta A1 - Vogel, K. A1 - Homann, Christian A1 - Würth, Christian T1 - Extending Certified Spectral Fluorescence Standards for the Calibration and Performance Validation of Fluorescence Instruments to the NIR – Closing the Gap from 750 nm to 940 nm with Two Novel NIR Dyes N2 - Fluorescence methods provide spectral, intensity, polarization, and lifetime information, which contain sample- and instrument-specific contributions. Fluorescence data, comparable across instruments and laboratories, require validated calibration procedures and certified fluorescence standards. KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Fluorescence KW - Dye KW - Traceability KW - Metrology KW - Calibration KW - Reference data KW - Reference product KW - Digital certificate KW - NIR KW - Instrument performance validation PY - 2025 SP - 1 EP - 4 PB - Springer Nature CY - London AN - OPUS4-62739 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Pilch, A. A1 - Würth, Christian A1 - Kaiser, Martin A1 - Wawrzynczyk, D. A1 - Kurnatowska, M. A1 - Arabasz, S. A1 - Prorok, K. A1 - Samoc, M. A1 - Strek, W. A1 - Bednarkiewicz, A. T1 - Shaping luminescent properties of Yb3+ and Ho3+ co-doped upconverting core-shell ß-NaYF4 nanoparticles by dopant distribution and spacing N2 - At the core of luminescence color and lifetime Tuning of rare earth doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs), is the understanding of the Impact of the particle architecture for commonly used sensitizer (S) and activator (A) Ions. In this respect, a series of core@Shell NaYF4 UCNPs doped with Yb3+ and Ho3+ ions are presented here, where the same dopant concentrations are distributed in different particle architectures following the scheme: YbHo core and YbHo@..., ...@YbHo, Yb@Ho, Ho@Yb, YbHo@Yb, and Yb@YbHo core-Shell NPs. As refealed by quantitative steady-state and time-resolved luminescence studies, the relative spatial Distribution of the A and S ions in the UCNPs and their protection from surface quenching has a critical Impact on ther luminescence characteristics. Although the increased amount of Yb3+ Ions boosts UCNP Performance by amplifying the Absorption, the Yb3+ ions can also efficiently dissipate the energy stored in the material through energy Migration to the surface, thereby reducing the Overall energy Transfer Efficiency to the activator ions. The results provide yet another proof that UC Phosphor chemistry combined with materials Engineering through intentional core@shell structures may help to fine-tune the luminescence Features of UCNPs for their specific future applications in biosensing, bioimaging, photovoltaics, and Display technologies. KW - Fluorescence KW - Upconversion KW - NIR KW - Nonlinear KW - Nanoparticle KW - Surface chemistry KW - Quantum yield KW - Liftetime KW - Nanocrystal KW - Lanthanide KW - Ho(III) KW - Yb(III) KW - Mechanism KW - Absolute flourescence KW - Excitation power density dependence PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201701635 SN - 1613-6810 VL - 13 IS - 47 SP - 1701635, 1 EP - 13 PB - WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & co. KGaA CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-43629 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Pauli, J. A1 - Güttler, Arne A1 - Richter, Maria A1 - Fiedler, Saskia A1 - Frenzel, Florian A1 - Wegner, Karl David A1 - Würth, Christian T1 - Photoluminescence Quantum Yields of Luminescent Nanocrystals and Particles in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR N2 - The rational design of functional luminescent materials such as semiconductor quantum dots and lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles, all photophysical and mechanistic studies, and the comparison of different emitters require accurate and quantitative photoluminescence measurements. Particularly the reliable determination of the key performance parameter photoluminescence quantum yield (f), the number of emitted per absorbed photons, and the brightness are of special importance for luminescence applications in the life and material sciences and nano(bio)photonics.[1] In this context, examples for absolute measurements of the photoluminescence quantum yields of UV/vis/NIR/SWIR emissive semiconductor quantum dots and rods, made from different materials, and spectrally shifting lanthanide upconversion nanocrystals with different surface chemistries in transparent matrices are presented including excitation wavelength and power density dependent studies utilizing integration sphere spectroscopy.[2,3] In addition, procedures for the absolute determination of the photoluminescence quantum yields of scattering dispersions of larger size quantum rods and differently sized inorganic particles have been developed as well as procedures for the characterization of solid luminescent nanomaterials such as different perovskites and YAG:Cer converter materials.[4] Thereby, challenges and pitfalls of f measurements in different wavelength regions including the SWIR and material-specific effects related to certain emitter classes are addressed, achievable uncertainties are quantified, and relative and absolute measurements of photoluminescence quantum yield measurements are compared to underline limitations of the former approach. Finally, a set of novel UV/vis/NIR quantum yield standards is presented including their certification with a complete uncertainty budget.[5] T2 - NANAX 10 CY - Klosterneuburg, Austria DA - 03.07.2023 KW - Fluorescence KW - Optical spectroscopy KW - Reference data KW - Traceability KW - NIR KW - Scattering KW - Reference material KW - Certification KW - Quality assurance KW - Dye KW - Reference product KW - SWIR KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Perovskite KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Quantum yield PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-58238 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Meermann, Björn A1 - Koch, Matthias A1 - Weller, Michael G. T1 - Editorial: Analytical methods and applications in materials and life sciences N2 - Current trends in materials and life sciences are flanked by the need to push detection limits to single molecules or single cells, enable the characterization of increasingly complex matrices or sophisticated nanostructures, speed up the time of analysis, reduce instrument complexity and costs, and improve the reliability of data. This requires suitable analytical tools such as spectroscopic, separation and imaging techniques, mass spectrometry, and hyphenated techniques as well as sensors and their adaptation to application-specific challenges in the environmental, food, consumer product, health sector, nanotechnology, and bioanalysis. Increasing concerns about health threatening known or emerging pollutants in drinking water, consumer products, and food and about the safety of nanomaterials led to a new awareness of the importance of analytical sciences. Another important driver in this direction is the increasing demand by legislation, particularly in view of the 17 sustainable development goals by the United Nations addressing clean energy, industry, and innovation, sustainable cities, clean water, and responsible consumption and production. In this respect, also the development of analytical methods that enable the characterization of material flows in production processes and support recycling concepts of precious raw materials becomes more and more relevant. In the future, this will provide the basis for greener production in the chemical industry utilizing recycled or sustainable starting materials. This makes analytical chemistry an essential player in terms of the circular economy helping to increase the sustainability of production processes. In the life sciences sector, products based on proteins, such as therapeutic and diagnostic antibodies, increase in importance. These increasingly biotechnologically produced functional biomolecules pose a high level of complexity of matrix and structural features that can be met only by highly advanced methods for separation, characterization, and detection. In addition, metrological traceability and target definition are still significant challenges for the future, particularly in the life sciences. However, innovative reference materials as required for the health and food sector and the characterization of advanced materials can only be developed when suitable analytical protocols are available. The so-called reproducibility crisis in sciences underlines the importance of improved measures of quality control for all kinds of measurements and material characterization. This calls for thorough method validation concepts, suitable reference materials, and regular interlaboratory comparisons of measurements as well as better training of scientists in analytical sciences. The important contribution of analytical sciences to these developments is highlighted by a broad collection of research papers, trend articles, and critical reviews from these different application fields. Special emphasis is dedicated to often-overlooked quality assurance and reference materials. T2 - 150 years BAM: Science with impact CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 01.01.2021 KW - Analysis KW - Life sciences KW - Analytical sciences KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Fluorescence KW - Nanoparticle KW - Sensor KW - Material sciences KW - Pollutant KW - Environment KW - Method KW - Limit of detection KW - 150th anniversary KW - ABC KW - BAM KW - Collection KW - Editorial KW - Special issue KW - Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung KW - Jahrestag PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-550720 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-022-04082-8 SN - 1618-2642 SN - 1618-2650 VL - 414 IS - Topical collection: Analytical methods and applications in the materials and life sciences SP - 4267 EP - 4268 PB - Springer CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-55072 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Gorris, H.H. T1 - Perspectives and challenges of photon-upconversion nanoparticles - Part I: routes to brighter particles and quantitative spectroscopic studies N2 - Lanthanide-doped photon-upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have been the Focus of many Research activities in materials and life sciences in the last 15 years because of their potential to convert light between different spectral regions and their unique photophysical properties. To fully exploit the application potential of These facinating nanomaterials, a number of challenges have to be overcome, such as the low brightness, particularly of small UCNPs, and the reliable quantification of the excitation-power-density-dependent upconversion luminescence. In this series of critical Reviews, recent developments in the design, Synthesis, optical-spectroscopic characterization, and application of UCNPs are presented with Special Focus on bioanalysis and the life sciences. Here we guide the reader from the Synthesis of UCNPs to different concepts to enhance their luminescence, including the required optical-spectroscopic assessment to quantify material Performance; surface modification strategies and bioanalytical applications as well as selected examples of the use of UCNPs as reporters in different Assay formats are addressed in part II. Future Trends and challenges in the field of upconversion are discussed with Special emphasis on UCNP Synthesis and material characterization, particularly quantitative luminescence studies. KW - Fluorescence KW - Lanthanide KW - Upconversion KW - Brightness KW - Quantification KW - Nanoparticle KW - Absolute fluorometry KW - NIR KW - IR KW - Quantum yield PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-017-0499-z SN - 1618-2650 SN - 1618-2642 VL - 409 IS - 25 SP - 5855 EP - 5874 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-41665 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Fallisch, A. A1 - Petrov, E. P. A1 - Salhany, R. A1 - Forthman, C. A1 - Guttenberg, Z. A1 - Nitschke, R. T1 - Spectral fluorescence standards for the calibration and performance validation of fluorescence microscopes N2 - The standardization and calibration of fluorescence microscopy have become increasingly vital due to the wide-spread use of in life and materials sciences. As the demand for reliable and user-friendly methods to assess micro-scope performance grows, universal calibration tools accessible to both researchers and vendors are needed. To support the standardization of characterization methods in microscopy, it is crucial to provide calibration tools together with standardized operating procedures for their effective implementation. The public-funded project "FluMiKal"* develops calibration tools in the shape of typical microscopic slides to assess key parameters such as spatial resolution, point spread function, spectral sensitivity, linearity and sensitivity of the detection system. The focus is on creating calibration tools that are user-friendly, robust, and versatile in their application. This work addresses the critical parameter of wavelength-dependent spectral sensitivity, which affects the meas-ured signals from the instrument side, yielding instrument-specific data and instrument aging-induced changes over time. For this purpose, μ-slides from ibidi with six channels are used, allowing them to be filled with different solutions containing molecular or nanoscale fluorophores with well-characterized absorption and fluorescence properties. The certified spectral fluorescence standards BAM-F003, F004, F005, and F007 assessed provided as ethanolic solutions by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), cover a broad spectral range from the blue to the near-infrared [1], [2]. Dye-based slide prototypes have been used to determine the spectral sensitivity of confocal microscopes from different vendors with various detector types by acquiring the spectral data of the BAM dyes under standardized measurement conditions, demonstrating the applicability of this concept. Proof-of-concept experiments could demonstrate the proper sealing of the slides. Further experiments will explore long-term stability and their potential as standards for relative intensity calibrations. * FluMiKal is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Germany (WIPANO FKZ 03TN0047B) [1] doi: 10.1007/4243_2008_028. [2] doi: 10.1007/s00216-024-05723-w. T2 - European Light Microscopy Initiative - ELMI 2025 CY - Heidelberg, Germany DA - 03.06.2025 KW - Fluorescence KW - Advanced material KW - Validation KW - Calibration KW - Method comparison KW - Reference material KW - Dye KW - Fluorescence standard KW - Microscopy KW - CLSM KW - Imaging PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64206 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Carl, F. A1 - Grauel, Bettina A1 - Pons, Monica A1 - Würth, Christian A1 - Haase, M. T1 - LiYF4:Yb/LiYF4 and LiYF4:Yb,Er/LiYF4 core/shell nanocrystals with luminescence decay times similar to YLF laser crystals and the upconversion quantum yield of the Yb,Er doped nanocrystals N2 - We developed a procedure to prepare luminescent LiYF4:Yb/LiYF4 and LiYF4:Yb,Er/LiYF4 core/shell nanocrystals with a size of approximately 40 nm revealing luminescence decay times of the dopant ions that approach those of high-quality laser crystals of LiYF4:Yb (Yb:YLF) and LiYF4:Yb,Er (Yb,Er:YLF) with identical doping concentrations. As the luminescence decay times of Yb3+ and Er3+ are known to be very sensitive to the presence of quenchers, the long decay times of the core/shell nanocrystals indicate a very low number of defects in the core particles and at the core/shell interfaces. This improvement in the performance was achieved by introducing two important modifications in the commonly used oleic acid based synthesis. First, the shell was prepared via anewly developed method characterized by a very low nucleation rate for particles of pure LiYF4 shell material. Second, anhydrous acetates were used as precursors and additional drying steps were applied to reduce the incorporation of OH− in the crystal lattice, known to quench the emission of Yb3+ ions. Excitation power density (P)-dependent absolute measurements of the upconversion luminescence quantum yield (Φ,UC) of LiYF4:Yb,Er/LiYF4 core/shell particles reveal a maximum value of 1.25% at P of 180 W·cm−2. Although lower than the values reported for NaYF4:18%Yb,2%Er core/shell nanocrystals with comparable sizes, these Φ, UC values are the highest reported so far for LiYF4:18%Yb,2%Er/LiYF4 nanocrystals without additional dopants. Further improvements May nevertheless be possible by optimizing the dopant concentrations in the LiYF4 nanocrystals. KW - Nano KW - Crystal KW - Quantum yield KW - LiYF4 KW - Synthesis KW - Lifetime KW - Fluorescence KW - NIR KW - Photoluminescence KW - Lanthanide KW - Upconversion nanoparticle KW - Nanomaterial PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-515395 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-020-3116-y SN - 1998-0124 VL - 14 IS - 3 SP - 797 EP - 806 PB - Springer AN - OPUS4-51539 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Brunet, G. A1 - Marin, R. A1 - Monk, Melissa-Jane A1 - Galico, D. A. A1 - Sigoli, F. A. A1 - Suturina, E. A. A1 - Hemmer, E. A1 - Murugesu, M. T1 - Exploring the dual functionality of an Ytterbium complex for luminescence thermometry and slow magnetic relaxation† N2 - We present a comprehensive investigation of the magnetic and optical properties of an ytterbium complex, which combines two desirable and practical features into a single molecular system. Based upon YbIII Ions that promote near-infrared optical activity and a chemical backbone that is ideal for an in-depth understanding of the magnetic behaviour, we have designed a multifunctional opto-magnetic species that operates as a luminescent thermometer and as a single-molecule magnet (SMM). Our magnetic investigations, in conjunction with ab initio calculations, reveal one of the highest energy barriers reported for an YbIII-based complex. Moreover, we correlate this anisotropic barrier with the Emission spectrum of the compound, wherein we provide a complete assignment of the energetic profile of the complex. Such studies lay the foundation for the design of exciting multi-faceted materials that are able to retain information at the single-molecule level and possess built-in thermal self-monitoring capabilities. KW - Magnetic KW - Fluorescence KW - NIR KW - Temperature KW - Dual sensing KW - Sensor KW - Yb(III) complex KW - Lanthanide KW - Quantum yield KW - Quality assurance PY - 2019 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-486659 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/c9sc00343f VL - 10 IS - 28 SP - 6799 EP - 6808 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry AN - OPUS4-48665 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Reliable Photoluminescence Quantum Yields – New Reference Materials and Interlaboratory Comparisons N2 - The rational design and choice of molecular and nanoscale reporters, the comparison of different emitter classes, and photophysical and mechanistic studies require quantitative photoluminescence measurements and the reliable determination of the key performance parameter photoluminescence quantum yield (QY), i.e., the number of emitted per absorbed photons. This is of special importance for all photoluminescence applications in the life and material sciences in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR. To improve the reliability and comparability of photoluminescence and QY measurements across laboratories, pitfalls, achievable uncertainties, and material-specific effects related to certain emitter classes must be explored. Also, suitable protocols and reference materials are needed which have been validated in interlaboratory comparisons for different wavelength regions and transparent and scattering luminophores.[1] Based on absolute and relative photoluminescence measurements of functional dyes and luminescent nanomaterials, reliable methods for determining QY of transparent and scattering luminophores, nonlinear emitters, and solid luminescent nanomaterials have been developed.[1-4] Thereby, material- and method-related uncertainties of relative and absolute QY measurements and achievable uncertainties could be quantified for linear and nonlinear UV/vis/NIR/SWIR emitters and lately for also luminescent and scattering materials and solid phoshors. In this context, we present the development and certification of a first set of UV/vis/NIR quantum yield standards with a complete uncertainty budget,[5] which present simple tools for a better comparability of QY measurements. In addition, a first interlaboratory comparison of absolute QY measurements of solid and scattering LED converter materials with integrating sphere spectroscopy has been performed.[5] The outcome of this study is presented, thereby addressing common pitfalls and measurement uncertainties and providing recommendations for the performance of reliable QY measurements of linear and non-linear emitters in transparent, scattering, and solid samples. T2 - Anakon 2025 CY - Leipzig, Germany DA - 10.03.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Method KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - Absolute KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Dye KW - Film KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Scattering KW - Uncertainty KW - LED converter PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-62792 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Reliable measurements of the photoluminescence quantum yield of transparent and scattering luminophores N2 - Optical measurements of transparent solutions of organic dyes and semiconductor quantum dots and scattering materials such as luminescent nanocomposites and microparticles and phosphors dispersed in liquid and solid matrices play an important role in energy conversion, solid-state lighting, medical diagnostics, and security barcoding. A key performance parameter is the photoluminescence quantum yield QY, i.e., the number of emitted per number of absorbed photons. QY of transparent luminophore solutions can be obtained relative to a fluorescence QY standard of known QY.[1] Meanwhile, a first set of certified fluorescence QY standards is available.[2] Such relative QY measurements require a calibrated spectrofluorometer.[1,3] For determining QY of scattering liquid and solid samples, absolute measurements of QY with a calibrated integrating sphere setup are mandatory.[1,4,5] However, scattering QY standards are not available and uncertainties of such measurements have not yet been assessed in interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs). To determine typical sources of uncertainty of absolute QY measurements, we assessed the influence of the measurement geometry and the optical properties of the blank for determining the number of incident photons absorbed by the sample in an ILC using commercial integrating sphere setups and a custom-designed integrating sphere setup. Samples examined included transparent and scattering dye solutions, solid phosphors such as YAG:Ce optoceramics used as LED converter material, and polymer films stained with different amounts of phosphor microparticles. Matching QY values could be obtained for transparent dye solutions and scattering dispersions with a blank with scattering properties closely matching those of the sample, while QY measurements of optoceramic samples with different blanks revealed substantial differences of more than 20 %. Based on our data, we recommend non-absorbing blank materials with a high reflectivity (>95 %) such as a 2 mm-thick PTFE target placed on the sample holder as blanks. T2 - eMRS 2025 Fall Meeting CY - Warsaw, Poland DA - 15.09.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Advanced material KW - Synthesis KW - Characterization KW - Fluorescence quantum yield KW - Phosphor KW - Absolute KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Dye KW - Standardization KW - Reference material KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Uncertainty PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64184 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Introduction to Fluorescence Spectroscopy N2 - A brief introduction to fluorescence spectroscopy will be provided, ranging from typically measured fluorescence quantities over instrument-specific contributions to measured fluorescence signals to selected applications. In this context, an overview of the photoluminescence properties of molecular and nanoscale luminescence reporters will be given including a brief insight into their photophysics and fluorescence standards designed by division Biophotonics for the calibration and instrument performance validation of fluorescence measuring devices will be presented. T2 - Analytical Academy CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 13.01.2020 KW - Linearity KW - Fluorescence KW - Dye KW - Quality assurance KW - Nnano particle KW - Method KW - Measurement uncertainty KW - Quantification PY - 2020 AN - OPUS4-51618 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Absolute Fluorescence Measurements > 800 nm - Setup Design, Challenges, and Characterization of Semiconductor and Lanthanide-based Nanocrystals N2 - There is an increasing interest in optical reporters like semiconductor and lanthanide-based nanocrystals with emission > 800 nm and recently also > 1000 nm for bioanalysis, medical diagnostics, and safety barcodes. Mandatory for the comparison of different emitter classes and the rational design of the next generation of reporters for the short wavelength infrared (SWIR) region are reliable and quantitative photoluminescence measurements in this challenging wavelength region. This is of special relevance for nanocrystalline emitters like semiconductor quantum dots and rods as well as for upconversion and downconversion nanocrystals, where surface states and the accessibility of emissive states by quenchers largely control accomplishable quantum yields and hence, signal sizes and detection sensitivities from the reporter side. Such measurements are currently hampered by the lack of suitable methods and standards for instrument calibration and validation as well as by the lack of quantum yield standards with emission > 800 nm and especially > 1000 nm. In this respect, we present the design of integrating sphere setups for absolute and excitation power densitydependent measurements of emission spectra and quantum yields in the wavelength region of 650 to 1650 nm including calibration strategies and first candidates for potential fluorescence standards. Subsequently, the photoluminescence properties of different types of nanocrystals are presented and discussed including absolute photoluminescence measurements of upconversion and down conversion emission in different solvents. T2 - MRS 2017 CY - Boston, MA, USA DA - 26.11.2017 KW - Upconversion KW - Nanoparticle KW - Absolute fluorometry KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - NIR KW - IR KW - Fluorescence KW - Surface chemistry KW - Deactivation pathways KW - Semiconductor quantum dot KW - SWIR KW - Quantum yield KW - Energy transfer KW - Size PY - 2017 AN - OPUS4-43202 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - From molecular and nanoscale chromophores with UV/VIS/NIR/SWIR luminescence to multi method characterization of surface coatings N2 - An overview of the research activities of division Biophotonics is presented covering examples for photophysical studies of different types of molecular and nanocrystalline luminophores, luminescent particles, and sensor systems in solution, in dispersion, and in the solid state and multi-method charactreization workflow for the characterization of surface-functionalized engineered nanomaterials. In addition, the importance of reliable optical measurements, particularly standardized workflows for the determination of the key performance parameter luminescence quantum yield of transparent and scattering luminescent samples with fluorescence and integrating sphere spectroscopy, and validated methods for quantifying surface functional groups and ligands on nanomaterials is highlighted. Thereby, also ongoing standardization activities are presented as well as certified reference materials and reference materials from division Biophotonics. T2 - Chinese-German Chemical Association - Annual Meeting CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 22.08.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Quantum yield KW - Characterization KW - Advanced material KW - Surface KW - Lifetime KW - Sensor KW - Oxygen KW - Ph KW - Standardization KW - Fluorescent probe KW - Reference material PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64181 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Molecular and nanoscale emitters photophysics , photoluminescence quantum yields, and surface chemistry N2 - Inorganic nanocrystals such as spectrally shifting lanthanide-based nanoparticles (LnNCs) like NaYF4: Yb, Er and semiconductor quantum dots, organic and inorganic particles stained with sensor molecules, and organic dyes showing aggregation-induced emission are meanwhile broadly applied in the life and material sciences. The identification of optimum particle architectures and molecular structures for photonic applications requires quantitative spectroscopic studies and methods to control and analyse particle surface chemistry. In the following, photoluminescence studies of different emitter classes are presented, thereby addressing the measurement of particle brightness and photoluminescence quantum yields in different spectral windows parameters required for an in-depth mechanistic understanding. In addition, examples for the quantification of surface functional groups on nanomaterials with optical spectroscopy are given. T2 - GdCH Kolloquium CY - Düsseldorf, Germany DA - 11.11.2025 KW - Dye KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - Lifetime KW - Sensor materials KW - Temperature KW - Cr(III) complex KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Polymer KW - Metrology KW - Quality assurance KW - Reference material KW - Surface chemistry KW - Size KW - Shape KW - Particle number concentration KW - Method KW - Optical assay KW - qNMR KW - Validation KW - Potentiometry KW - XPS PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64728 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Quantifying functional groups and coatings on nanoobjects N2 - Engineered nanomaterials (NM) of different size, shape, chemical composition, and surface chemistry are increasingly used for many key technologies of the 21st century and consumer products. This includes polymer and silica or silica-coated nanoparticles (NP) with covalently bound surface groups, semiconductor quantum dots (QD), metal and metal oxide NP, and lanthanide NP with coordinatively or electrostatically bound ligands, as well as surface-coated nanostructures like micellar encapsulated NP. Decisive for most applications of NMs are their specific surface properties, which are largely determined by the chemical nature and amounts of ligands and functional groups (FGs) on the NM surface. The surface chemistry can strongly affect the physicochemical properties of NM, their charge, hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, reactivity, function, stability, and processability and thereby their impact on human health and environment. Knowledge of NM surface chemistry plays an important role for NM functionality and performance in (bio)applications and the fate, exposure, dissolution, transformation, and accumulation of NM, and thus, the potential risks for human health and the environment. This highlights the importance of reliable, validated, and eventually standardized analytical methods for analyzing and quantifying NM surface chemistry for process and quality control of NM production, safe use of NMs, design of novel NM, and sustainable concepts for NM fabrication.[1-3] In this context, interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) are needed to assess method reliability and reference materials with known surface chemistries for establishing surface analytical methods and their performance validation.[2,4] Also, to respond to the increasing number of samples to be analyzed, cost-efficient automation concepts for surface analysis are needed that can be realized with affordable and preferably commercial instrumentation.[5] Here, we provide an overview of analytical methods for FG analysis and quantification used by us for quantifying broadly utilized FGs and ligands on different types of NMs with electrochemical titration methods, optical assays, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and vibrational (IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray based and thermal analysis methods.[1,2] Thereby, method- and material-related challenges are addressed, and the importance of multi-method characterization approaches easing method validation by method cross-validation. Special emphasis is dedicated to simple, versatile, and cost-efficient methods such as optical assays and electrochemical titration methods. T2 - eMRS Fall Meeting 2025 CY - Warsaw, Poland DA - 15.09.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Characterization KW - Advanced material KW - Surface KW - Standardization KW - Reference material KW - Functional group KW - Quantification KW - Coating KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Uncertainty PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64183 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Assessing different types of silica networks for the complete protection of nir luminescent molecular rubies from oxygen quenching in air N2 - The application of emerging luminophores such as near-infrared (NIR) emissive earth-abundant chromium(III) (CrIII) complexes and triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) systems in air as optical reporters for bioimaging or photonic materials for energy conversion requires simple and efficient strategies for their complete protection from luminescence quenching by oxygen. Therefore, we explored the influence of sol-gel synthesis routes on the oxygen protection efficiency of the resulting core and core/shell silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs), utilizing the molecular ruby-type luminophores CrPF6 ([Cr(ddpd)2](PF6)3; ddpd = N,N’-dimethyl- N,N’-dipyridin-2-ylpyridin-2,6-diamine) and CrBF4 ([Cr(ddpd)2](BF4)3) with their oxygen-dependent, but polarity-, proticity-, viscosity-, and concentration-independent luminescence as optical probes for oxygen permeability. The sol-gel chemistry routes we assessed include the classical Stöber method and the underexplored larginine approach, which relies on the controlled hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in a biphasic cyclohexane/water system with the catalyst l-arginine. As demonstrated by luminescence measurements of air- and argon-saturated dispersions of CrPF6- and CrBF4-stained SiO2 NPs of different size and particle architecture, utilizing the luminescence decay kinetics of argon-saturated solutions of CrPF6 and CrBF4 in acetonitrile (ACN) as benchmarks, only SiO2 NPs or shells synthesized by the l-arginine approach provided complete oxygen protection of the CrIII complexes under ambient conditions. We ascribe the different oxygen shielding efficiencies of the silica networks explored to differences in density and surface chemistry of the resulting nanomaterials and coatings, leading to different oxygen permeabilities. Our l-arginine based silica encapsulation strategy can open the door for the efficient usage of oxygen-sensitive luminophores and TTA-UC systems as optical reporters and spectral shifters in air in the future. T2 - eMRS Strasbourg CY - Strasbourg, France DA - 26.05.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Quantum yield KW - NIR KW - Mechanism KW - Characterization KW - Electron microscopy KW - Silica KW - Oxygen sensing KW - Surface KW - Doping KW - Lifetime KW - Cr(III) complex PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63300 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Getting it right with photoluminescence quantum yields of molecular and nanoscale luminophores and luminescent particles N2 - Photophysical and mechanistic studies, the comparison of different emitter classes, and the rational design of the next generation of molecular and nanoscale reporters require quantitative photoluminescence measurements and the reliable determination of the key performance parameter photoluminescence quantum yield (QY), i.e., the number of emitted per absorbed photons. This is of special importance for all photoluminescence applications in the life and material sciences in the UV/vis/NIR/SWIR. To improve the reliability and comparability of photoluminescence and QY measurements across laboratories, pitfalls, achievable uncertainties, and material-specific effects related to certain emitter classes must be explored. Also, suitable protocols and reference materials are needed which have been validated in interlaboratory comparisons for different wavelength regions and transparent and scattering luminophores.[1] Based on absolute and relative photoluminescence measurements of functional dyes and nanomaterials like semiconductor quantum dots and rods, spectrally shifting lanthanide upconversion nanocrystals, perovskites, and YAG:Cer converter materials, reliable methods for determining QY of transparent and scattering luminophores, nonlinear emitters, and solid luminescent nanomaterials have been developed.[2,3] Thereby, material- and method-related uncertainties of relative and absolute QY measurements and achievable uncertainties could be quantified for linear and nonlinear UV/vis/NIR/SWIR emitters and lately for also luminescent and scattering materials and solid phoshors, here in an interlaboratory comparison of three labs utilizing integrating sphere spectroscopy.[4,5] In addition, to provide simple tools for a better comparability of QY measurements, recently, a first set of UV/vis/NIR quantum yield standards has been developed and certified with complete uncertainty budgets.[6] In the following, the outcome of these studies will be presented, thereby addressing common pitfalls and providing recommendations on the performance of reliable QY measurements of linear and non-linear emitters in transparent, scattering, and solid samples. T2 - 29th Lecture Conference on Photochemistry (LCP 2024) GDCh CY - Mainz, Germany DA - 16.09.2024 KW - Nanoparticle KW - Nano KW - Luminescence KW - Quality assurance KW - Synthesis KW - Standardization KW - Reference material KW - Quantum yield KW - Fluorescence KW - Reference data KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - ILC KW - Converter material KW - YAG:Ce KW - Optoceramic PY - 2024 AN - OPUS4-61075 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Quantifying the total and accessible amount of surface functionalities and ligands on nanomaterials N2 - Engineered nanomaterials (NMs) of various chemical composition and surface functionalization are routinely fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, opto-electronics, and information storage. NM dispersibility, stability, processability, and function as well as the interaction with biological species and environmental fate are largely determined by NM surface functionalities, i.e., functional groups (FGs) and ligands. Therefore, reliable, reproducible, and eventually standardized surface characterization methods are vital for quality control of NMs, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. Suitable methods for determining surface functionalities on ligand-stabilized core and core/shell NPs include advanced techniques such as traceable quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) as well as X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS) and time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and simpler optical and electrochemical methods.[1] The latter less costly and fast methods, which can be automated, are often used by NM producers for process and quality control.[1,2] To validate methods, establish measurement uncertain-ties, test reference materials, and produce reference data, multi-method characterization studies are needed.[3,4] as well as interlaboratory comparisons (ILC) on determining NM surface chemistry and well characterized test and reference NMs providing benchmark values.[5,6] Here, we present examples for quantifying common surface FGs such as amino and carboxyl groups on functional NMs of different chemical composition such as silica, polymer, iron oxide, and lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles with optical assays, electrochemical titration methods, qNMR, and chromatographic separation techniques. In addition, ongoing interlaboratory comparisons will be presented. T2 - Yucomat 2025 CY - Herec Novi, Montenegro DA - 01.09.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Synthesis KW - Characterization KW - Advanced material KW - Surface KW - Standardization KW - Reference material KW - Functional group KW - Quantification KW - Coating KW - Interlaboratory comparison KW - Uncertainty PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64182 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Measurements of Photoluminescence Quantum Yields of Scattering LED Converter Materials N2 - How to Get it Right with the Absolute Measurement of Photoluminescence Quantum Yields of Scattering LED Converter Materials Saskia Fiedler+,a, Florian Frenzel+,a, Christian Würth a, Isabella Tavernaro a, Michelle Grüne c, Stefan Schweizer c,d, Axel Engel e, and Ute Resch-Genger a* a Division Biophotonics, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstaetter-Strasse 11, D-12489 Berlin, Germany; email: ute.resch@bam.de b Present address: Photonic Materials, NWO-Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands c Faculty of Electrical Engineering, South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences, Lübecker Ring 2, 59494, Soest, Germany d Fraunhofer Application Center for Inorganic Phosphors, Branch Lab of Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, Lübecker Ring 2, 59494, Soest, Germany e Schott AG Technical Services, Hattenbergstrasse 10, D-55122 Mainz, Germany Optical measurements of scattering materials such as luminescent nano- and microparticles and phosphors dispersed in liquid and solid matrices play an important role in energy conversion, solid-state lighting, medical diagnostics, and security barcoding. A key performance parameter is the photoluminescence quantum yield QY, i.e., the number of emitted per number of absorbed photons. QY of transparent luminophore solutions can be obtained relative to a fluorescence QY standard of known QY, meanwhile available as certified reference materials.[1] The determination of QY of scattering liquid and solid samples like nanoparticle dispersions, phosphors, and optoceramics requires, however, absolute measurements with an integrating sphere setup. Despite the need for reliable absolute QY measurements, no interlaboratory comparison (ILCs) on measurement uncertainties has been performed and scattering standards with known QY are not available. We present the results of an ILC of 3 labs from academia and industry on measurements of transparent and scattering dye solutions and solid phosphors and converter materials like YAG:Ce optoceramics with commercial stand-alone integrating sphere setups of different illumination and detection geometries. Special emphasis was dedicated to the influence of measurement geometry, optical properties of the blank for determining the number of incident photons absorbed by the sample, and sample-specific surface roughness. Matching QY values could be obtained for transparent dye solutions and scattering dispersions with a blank with scattering properties closely matching those of the sample, QY measurements of optoceramic samples with different blanks revealed substantial differences of more than 20 %. Based on our data, we recommend non-absorbing blank materials with a high reflectivity (>95 %) such as a 2 mm-thick PTFE target placed on the sample holder as blanks. T2 - eMRS CY - Strasbourg, France DA - 26.05.2025 KW - Quality assurance KW - Fluorescence KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Quantum yield KW - NIR KW - Characterization KW - Electron microscopy KW - Film KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Calibration KW - Lifetime KW - Advanced materials KW - LED converter KW - YAG:Ce KW - ILC KW - Measurement uncertainty KW - Absolute quantum yield PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63327 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Methods for the determination of the optical properties and the surface chemistry of fluorescent particles N2 - Fluorescent particles like nm- and m-sized polymeric beads doped or labeled with different types of fluorophores and nanocrystalline systems like quantum dots and upconversion phosphors emitting in the visible (vis), near-infrared (NIR), and IR (infrared) region are of increasing importance as fluorescent reporters for bioanalysis and medical diagnostics. The assessment and comparison of material performance and the development of rational design strategies for improved systems requires suitable spectroscopic tools for the determination of signal-relevant optical properties and analytical tools for the determination of the number of surface groups, ligands, biomolecules and /or fluorophores per bead. In this respect, suitable spectroscopic tools for the characterization of the optical properties of such materials like photoluminescence quantum yields and brightness values and the determination of their surface chemistry are introduced. This includes integrating sphere setups for absolute measurements of fluorescence quantum yields of liquid and solid, transparent and scattering materials in the wavelength region of 350 nm to 1600 nm at varying excitation power densities for the study of multi-photon processes and simple optical assays, validated by comparison with established analytical techniques relying on different detection principles. Here, different examples for the optical and analytical characterization of different types of nanoscale reporters are presented. T2 - MoLife Research Seminar CY - Bremen, Germany DA - 26.04.2016 KW - Optical assay KW - Fluorescence KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Quantum yield KW - NIR KW - IR KW - Optical spectroscopy KW - Nanomaterials KW - Semiconducor nanocrystals KW - Upconversion nanocrystals KW - Surface analysis KW - Ligand analysis PY - 2016 AN - OPUS4-35954 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Design and Quantitative Characterization of Functional Molecular Chromophores and Nanomaterials with UV/vis/NIR/IR Emission – An Overview of Research Activities in Division Biophotonics N2 - In the focus of division Biophotonics are the design, preparation, analytical and spectroscopic characterization, and application of molecular and nanoscale functional materials, particularly materials with a photoluminescence in the visible, near infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR). This includes optical reporters for bioimaging and sensing, security and authentication barcodes, and materials for solid state lighting, energy conversion, and photovoltaics. For the identification of optimum particle structures quantitative spectroscopic studies are performed under application-relevant conditions, focusing on the key performance parameter photoluminescence quantum yield. In addition, simple, cost-efficient, and standardizable strategies for quantifying functional groups on the surface of nano- and microparticles are developed, here with a focus on optical assays and electrochemical titration methods, cross-validated by more advanced methods such as quantitative NMR. In addition, reference materials and reference products are developed for optical methods, particularly luminescence techniques, and for analytical methods utilized for the characterization of nanomaterials. T2 - Projekttreffen Nile-Chrome 2.0 CY - Mainz, Germany DA - 11.12.2023 KW - Fluorescence KW - Quantum yield KW - Optical spectroscopy KW - Reference material KW - Reference data KW - Quality assurance KW - Dye KW - Reference product KW - NIR KW - SWIR KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Polymer KW - Surface group analysis KW - Sensor molecules PY - 2023 AN - OPUS4-59123 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute ED - Otto, S. ED - Scholz, Norman ED - Behnke, Thomas ED - Heinze, K. T1 - Thermo-Chromium: A Contactless Optical Molecular Thermometer N2 - The unparalleled excited-state potential-energy landscape of the chromium(III)-based dye [1]3+ ([Cr(ddpd)2]3+; ddpd=N,N’-dimethyl-N,N’-dipyridin-2-ylpyridin-2,6-diamine) enables a strong dual emission in the near infrared region. The temperature dependence of this dual emission allows the use of [1]3+ as an unprecedented molecular ratiometric thermometer in the 210–373 K temperature range in organic and in aqueous media. Incorporation of [1]3+ in biocompatible nanocarriers, such as 100 nm-sized polystyrene nanoparticles and solutol micelles, provides nanodimensional thermometers operating under physiological conditions. KW - Temperature KW - Sensor KW - Dual emission KW - Fluorescence KW - Cr complex KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Micelle KW - Probe KW - Environment PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201701726 SN - 0947-6539 VL - 23 IS - 50 SP - 12131 EP - 12135 PB - Wiley-VCH AN - OPUS4-42539 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Quantification of Parameters Affecting the Upconversion Luminescence of Lanthanide-Based Upconversion Nanocrystals N2 - Lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) like hexagonal Beta-NaYF4 UCNPs doped with Yb3+ and Er3+, which efficiently convert 976 nm light to ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared photons, offer new strategies for luminescence-based sensing, barcoding, and imaging. The properties of their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, the concentration and spatial arrangement of the dopant ions, surface chemistry including presence and thickness of surface passivation and shielding shells, microenvironment/presence of quenchers with high energy vibrations, and excitation power density (P). We present here a comprehensive study of the influence of UCNP size and particle architecture for Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doped NaYF4 core-only and core-shell nanostructures in the size range of about 5 nm to 50 nm, which underlines the importance of particle synthesis, surface chemistry, and quantitative luminescence measurements for mechanistic insights and the determination of application-relevant matrix- and P-dependent optimum dopand concentrations. T2 - Materials Challenges in Alternative and Renewable Energy (MCARE) 2018 CY - Vancouver, BC, Canada DA - 20.08.2018 KW - Upconverting nanoparticles KW - Size KW - Energy transfer KW - Fluorescence KW - Absolute fluorescence quantum yield KW - Fluorescence decay kinetics KW - Power density dependence PY - 2018 AN - OPUS4-46393 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Measuring the Upconversion Luminescence of Ensemble and Single Particle Lanthanide-Based Upconversion Nanocrystals N2 - Lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) like hexagonal 𝛽-NaYF4 UCNPs doped with Yb3+ and Er3+, which efficiently convert 976 nm light to ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared photons, offer new strategies for luminescence-based sensing, barcoding, and Imaging. Their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) features like UCL intensity, quantum yield, relative spectral distribution / UCL luminescence color, and luminescence decay kinetics are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, dopant ion concentration, particle architecture, surface chemistry including presence and thickness of surface passivation and shielding shells, microenvironment/presence of quenchers with high energy vibrations, and excitation power density (P). We present here a comprehensive study of the influence of excitation power density on the UCL features of different types of UCNPs, focusing on Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doped NaYF4 core-only and core-shell nanostructures with different sizes and doping ion concentration, which underlines the importance of P-dependent optimum dopant concentrations for UCNP performance and the potential of P-tuning of UCL. T2 - Materials Challenges in Alternative & Renewable Energy 2021 (MCARE 2021) CY - Online meeting DA - 19.07.2021 KW - Fluorescence KW - Lifetime KW - Method KW - Stability KW - Coating KW - Surface chemistry KW - Lanthanide KW - Upconversion KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Single particle spectroscopy KW - Quantum yield KW - Microscopy KW - Photophysics PY - 2021 AN - OPUS4-53111 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Absolute spectroscopic characterization of the optical properties of semiconductor and upconversion nanocrystals in the vis and IR N2 - Nanocrystalline fluorophores like semiconductor quantum dots and rods and recently also lanthanide-based upconversion phosphors with emission in the visible (vis), near-infrared (NIR), and IR (infrared) region are increasingly being used in bioimaging studies and fluorescence assays as well as in photovoltaics and solid state lighting. The assessment and comparison of material performance as well as the development of rational design strategies for improved systems require spectroscopic tools, which enable the determination of the signal-relevant optical properties like photoluminescence quantum yields and brightness values. In the case of nonlinear fluorescence as shown by upconversion materials, such measurements must be also performed as function of excitation power density. In this work, we report on methods for the absolute determination of the photoluminescence quantum yield and brightness of fluorescent particles in dispersion and as powders based on integrating sphere spectroscopy and underline the importance of such measurements for the understanding of the photophysics of such nanocrystals. T2 - International Conference on Fundamental Processes in Semiconductor Nanocrystals (FQDots16) CY - Berlin, Germany DA - 05.09.2016 KW - Fluorescence KW - Nanoparticle KW - Semiconductor quantum dot KW - Upconversion nanocrystal KW - NIR KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - Fluorescence quantum yield KW - Method PY - 2016 AN - OPUS4-38695 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Effect of Particle Size and Excitation Power Density on the Luminescence Efficiency of Upconversion Nanocrystals in Different Dispersion Media N2 - Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) offer new strategies for luminescence-based sensing and imaging. One of the best studied materials are ..-NaYF4 UCNPs doped with 20 % Yb3+ and 2 % Er3+, which efficiently convert 976 nm light to photons emitted at 540 nm, 655 nm, and 845 nm, respectively, reveal long luminescence lifetimes (> 100 µs), are photostable and chemically inert. Their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) properties are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, surface chemistry, and microenvironment. In addition, the multiphotonic absorption processes responsible for UCL render UCL excitation power density (..) dependent. This makes quantitative UCL measurements as well as the determination of UC quantum yields (.UC) very challenging. The rational design of brighter UCNPs particle architectures and the interest in identifying optimum particle architectures for FRET-based sensing and imaging schemes, which often rely on core-only UCNPs to minimize donor-acceptor distances, encouraged us to assess the influence of particle size and P on UCL. Here, we present the photophysical properties of a series of hexagonal NaYF4 UCNPs with sizes from 10 to 43 nm with different surface ligands dispersed in organic solvents and water studied by steady state and time-resolved fluorometry as well as quantitatively by integrating sphere spectrometry with P varied over about three orders of magnitude. Our results underline the need for really quantitative luminescence studies for mechanistic insights and the potential of high P to compensate for UCL quenching due to high energy phonons and surface effects. T2 - 15th Conference on Methods and Applications in Fluorescence CY - Bruges, Belgium DA - 10.09.2017 KW - Upconversion KW - Nanoparticle KW - Absolute fluorometry KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - NIR KW - IR KW - Fluorescence KW - Surface chemistry KW - Deactivation pathways KW - Photophysics KW - Quantum yield PY - 2017 AN - OPUS4-43181 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -