TY - JOUR A1 - Dietrich, P. M. A1 - Kjærvik, Marit A1 - Willneff, E. A. A1 - Unger, Wolfgang T1 - In-depth analysis of iodine in artificial biofilm model layers by variable excitation energy XPS and argon gas cluster ion sputtering XPS N2 - Here, we present a study on agarose thin-film samples that represent a model system for the exopolysaccharide matrix of biofilms. Povidone-iodide (PVP-I) was selected as an antibacterial agent to evaluate our x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)-based methodology to trace specific marker elements, here iodine, commonly found in organic matrices of antibiotics. The in-depth distribution of iodine was determined by XPS analyses with variable excitation energies and in combination with argon gas cluster ion beam sputter cycles. On mixed agarose/PVP-I nanometer-thin films, both methods were found to solve the analytical task and deliver independently comparable results. In the mixed agarose/PVP-I thin film, we found the outermost surface layer depleted in iodine, whereas the iodine is homogeneously distributed in the depth region between this outermost surface layer and the interface between the thin film and the substrate. Depletion of iodine from the uppermost surface in the thin-film samples is assumed to be caused by ultrahigh vacuum exposure resulting in a loss of molecular iodine (I2) as reported earlier for other iodine-doped polymers. KW - Biofilm KW - XPS KW - Argon gas cluster ion sputtering KW - Variable excitation KW - Iodine PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0001812 SN - 1934-8630 VL - 17 IS - 3 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - AVS AN - OPUS4-54973 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kjaervik, Marit A1 - Schwibbert, Karin A1 - Dietrich, P.M. A1 - Unger, Wolfgang T1 - NAP-XPS spectra of the bacterial cell-envelope of Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria N2 - Pseudomonas fluorescens (Gram-negative) bacteria purchased from Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures were analyzed using high-resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at near ambient pressure conditions (NAP-XPS), 1500 Pa water vapor atmosphere. Fresh layers of P. fluorescence bacteria were grown on Luria Broth agar plates. Bacteria were taken from the agar plate with a sterile spatula and gently spread on a Si-wafer piece for NAP-XPS analysis. The NAP-XPS spectra of the bacterial envelope of P. fluorescence were obtained using monochromatic Al Kα radiation and include a survey scan and high-resolution spectra of C 1s, N 1s, P 2p, and O 1s as well. The presentation of the C 1s high-resolution spectrum includes the results of peak fitting analysis. KW - Pseudomonas fluorescens KW - Cell-envelope KW - Water atmosphere KW - Near ambient x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy KW - NAP-XPS PY - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1116/6.0001543 SN - 1055-5269 VL - 29 IS - 1 SP - 014008-1 PB - AVS AN - OPUS4-54464 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Unger, Wolfgang A1 - Fujimoto, T. T1 - The Surface Analysis Working Group at the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance, Metrology in Chemistry and Biology: A successful initiative by Martin Seah N2 - Dr Martin Seah, NPL, was the initiator, founder, and first chairman of the Surface Analysis Working Group (SAWG) at the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance, Metrology in Chemistry and Biology (CCQM) at the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM), the international organization established by the Metre Convention. This tribute letter summarizes his achievements during his chairmanship and his long-running impact on the successful work of the group after his retirement. KW - CCQM (Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance) KW - Metrology in Chemistry and Biology KW - Martin Seah KW - Metrology KW - Quantitative surface chemical analysis KW - Surface Analysis Working Group PY - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/sia.7033 SN - 0142-2421 VL - 54 IS - 4 SP - 314 EP - 319 PB - John Wiley & Sons Ltd AN - OPUS4-53714 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kovacevic, E. A1 - Strunskus, T. A1 - Santhosh, N. M. A1 - Zavasnik, Z. A1 - Unger, Wolfgang A1 - Sauvage, T. A1 - Ammar, M.-R. A1 - Cvelbar, U. A1 - Berndt, J. T1 - Thermal stability studies of plasma deposited hydrogenated carbon nitride nanostructures N2 - Thermally stable carbon nitride nanostructures have potential applications in surface coatings and automotive fields. In this work, hydrogenated nitrogen-rich carbon nitride nanoparticles have been synthesised via low-pressure low-power plasma vapour deposition technique from methane/Nitrogen gas mixture in a dry process. Thermal stability of the initially prepared hydrogenated carbon Nitride structures has been analysed by near-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS, insitu), Raman spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and nuclear reaction Analysis (NRA). Thermal studies reveal the excellent stability of the material and nitrogen-rich characteristics (N/C ratio 0.5e0.2 ± 0.01). The obtained results suggest transformation of sp3-rich as-deposited carbon Nitride into sp2-carbon phase with more graphitic features upon thermal annealing. Such in-situ thermal studies of plasma deposited carbon nitrides confirm the conversion of sp3-rich phase to sp2-rich carbon phase at the critical temperature (about 450 K), without a huge loss in nitrogen content. The analysis revealed that the material is a stable plasma deposit after this critical temperature up to >1100 K. Additionally, super hydrophilic carbon nitride nanostructure transforms into a hydrophobic surface after thermal annealing. These thermally stable hydrophobic carbon nitride nanoparticles could be used as a promising material for the hydrophobic coatings for various applications, especially for harsh conditions. KW - Carbon nanoparticles KW - Hydrogenated nanostructures KW - Plasma deposition KW - NEXAFS KW - Thermal annealing PY - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-536163 SN - 0008-6223 VL - 184 SP - 82 EP - 90 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-53616 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Anja A1 - Krahl, T. A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Wagner, Andreas A1 - Werner, W. S. M. A1 - Ritter, B. A1 - Kemnitz, E. A1 - Unger, Wolfgang T1 - Chemical in-depth analysis of (Ca/Sr)F2 core–shell like nanoparticles by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with tunable excitation energy N2 - The fluorolytic sol–gel synthesis is applied with the intention to obtain two different types of core–shell nanoparticles, namely, SrF2–CaF2 and CaF2–SrF2. In two separate fluorination steps for core and shell formation, the corresponding metal lactates are reacted with anhydrous HF in ethylene glycol. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) confirm the formation of particles with mean dimensions between 6.4 and 11.5 nm. The overall chemical composition of the particles during the different reaction steps is monitored by quantitative Al Kα excitation X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Here, the formation of stoichiometric metal fluorides (MF2) is confirmed, both for the core and the final core–shell particles. Furthermore, an in-depth analysis by synchrotron radiation XPS (SR-XPS) with tunable excitation energy is performed to confirm the core–Shell character of the nanoparticles. Additionally, Ca2p/Sr3d XPS intensity ratio in-Depth profiles are simulated using the software Simulation of Electron Spectra for Surface Analysis (SESSA). In principle, core–shell like particle morphologies are formed but without a sharp interface between calcium and strontium containing phases. Surprisingly, the in-depth chemical distribution of the two types of nanoparticles is equal within the error of the experiment. Both comprise a SrF2-rich core domain and CaF2-rich shell domain with an intermixing zone between them. Consequently, the internal morphology of the final nanoparticles seems to be independent from the synthesis chronology. KW - Metal fluorides KW - Sol-gel synthesis KW - Synchrotron radiation KW - X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy PY - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-522284 SN - 0142-2421 VL - 53 IS - 5 SP - 494 EP - 508 PB - Wiley VCH AN - OPUS4-52228 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Marcoulaki, E. A1 - M. López de Ipina, J. A1 - Vercauteren, S. A1 - Bouillard, J. A1 - Himly, M. A1 - Lynch, I. A1 - Witters, H. A1 - Shandilya, N. A1 - van Duuren-Stuurman, B. A1 - Kunz, Valentin A1 - Unger, Wolfgang A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Bard, D. A1 - Evans, G. A1 - Jensen, K. A. A1 - Pilou, M. A1 - Viitanen, A.-K. A1 - Bochon, A. A1 - Duschl, A. A1 - Geppert, M. A1 - Persson, K. A1 - Votgreave, I. A1 - Niga, P. A1 - Gini, M. A1 - Eleftheriadis, K. A1 - Scalbi, S. A1 - Caillard, B. A1 - Arevalillo, A. A1 - Frejafon, E. A1 - Aguerre-Chariol, O. A1 - Dulio, V. T1 - Blueprint for a self-sustained European Centre for service provision in safe and sustainable innovation for nanotechnology N2 - The coming years are expected to bring rapid changes in the nanotechnology regulatory landscape, with the establishment of a new framework for nano-risk governance, in silico approaches for characterisation and Risk assessment of nanomaterials, and novel procedures for the early identification and management of nanomaterial risks. In this context, Safe(r)-by-Design (SbD) emerges as a powerful preventive approach to support the development of safe and sustainable (SSbD) nanotechnology-based products and processes throughout the life cycle. This paper summarises the work undertaken to develop a blueprint for the deployment and operation of a permanent European Centre of collaborating laboratories and research organisations supporting safe Innovation in nanotechnologies. The proposed entity, referred to as “the Centre”, will establish a ‘one-stop shop’ for nanosafety-related services and a central contact point for addressing stakeholder questions about nanosafety. Its operation will rely on significant business, legal and market knowledge, as well as other tools developed and acquired through the EU-funded EC4SafeNano project and subsequent ongoing activities. The proposed blueprint adopts a demand-driven service update scheme to allow the necessary vigilance and flexibility to identify opportunities and adjust its activities and services in the rapidly evolving regulatory and nano risk governance landscape. The proposed Centre will play a major role as a conduit to transfer scientific knowledge between the Research and commercial laboratories or consultants able to provide high quality nanosafety services, and the end-users of such services (e.g., industry, SMEs, consultancy firms, and regulatory authorities). The Centre will harmonise service provision, and bring novel risk assessment and management approaches, e.g. in silico methodologies, closer to practice, notably through SbD/SSbD, and decisively support safe and sustainable innovation of industrial production in the nanotechnology industry according to the European Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability. KW - Nanotechnology KW - European Centre KW - Nano-safety KW - Nanomaterials KW - analytical service PY - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.impact.2021.100337 VL - 23 SP - 100337 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-52942 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Steiner, S. A1 - Heldt, J. A1 - Sobol, Oded A1 - Unger, Wolfgang A1 - Frömeling, T. T1 - Influence of oxygen vacancies on core-shell formation in solid solutions of (Na,Bi)TiO3 and SrTiO3 N2 - Solid solutions of (Na,Bi)TiO3 (NBT) and SrTiO3 (ST) are materials of interest for high-strain or high-energy density capacitor applications. Often, they exhibit chemical heterogeneity and develop core-shell structures during regular solid-state synthesis with an NBT-rich core. In this case, the NBT forms first so that the strontium needs to diffuse into the material to reach chemical homogeneity. Depending on the presence of core-shell structures, the electrical properties can vary drastically. In this work, we rationalize the effect of variations in oxygen vacancy concentration by Fe-acceptor and Nb-donor doping. It can be shown that a diffusion couple of strontium and oxygen is responsible for chemical homogenization and that the oxygen vacancy content can control the formation of a core-shell structure. KW - Lead-free ceramics KW - Bismuth titanates KW - Core-shell structures KW - Diffusion/diffusivity KW - Ferroelectricity/ferroelectric materials PY - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-525988 SP - 1 EP - 10 PB - Wiley Periodicals LLC, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. AN - OPUS4-52598 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sobol, Oded A1 - Holzlechner, Gerald A1 - Nolze, Gert A1 - Wirth, Thomas A1 - Eliezer, D. A1 - Böllinghaus, Thomas A1 - Unger, Wolfgang T1 - Time-of-Flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) imaging of deuterium assisted cracking in a 2205 duplex stainless steel microstructure N2 - In the present work, the influence of deuterium on the microstructure of a duplex stainless steel type EN 1.4462 has been characterized by Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), focused ion beam (FIB), electron back scattered diffraction(EBSD) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) investigations. Characterization has been carried out before and after electrochemical charging with deuterium which has been used as a tracer, due to its similar behavior to hydrogen in the steel microstructure. In a first approach, the distribution of the deuterium occurring at temperatures above 58 °C has been visualized. Further it turned out that sub-surface micro blisters are formed in the ferrite-austenite interface, followed by the formation of needle shaped plates and subsequent cracking at the ferrite surface. In the austenite phase, parallel cracking alongside twins and hexagonal close packed (martensitic) regions has been observed. In both phases and even in the apparent interface, cracking has been associated with high deuterium concentrations, as compared to the surrounding undamaged microstructure. Sub-surface blistering in the ferrite has to be attributed to the accumulation and recombination of deuterium at the ferrite-austenite interface underneath the respective ferrite grains and after fast diffusing through this phase. Generally, the present application of chemometric imaging and structural analyses allows characterization of hydrogen assisted degradation at a sub-micron lateral resolution. KW - ToF-SIMS KW - Hydrogen assisted cracking KW - Hydrogen embrittlement KW - SEM KW - FIB KW - EBSD PY - 2016 UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921509316310334 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2016.08.107 SN - 0921-5093 VL - 676 SP - 271 EP - 277 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-37298 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ortel, Erik A1 - Häusler, Ines A1 - Österle, Werner A1 - Narbey, S. A1 - Oswald, F. A1 - Andersen, I. H. A1 - Holzweber, Markus A1 - Unger, Wolfgang A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - In-depth structural and chemical characterization of engineered TiO2 films N2 - Analytical routines for a comprehensive in-depth morphological, structural, and chemical characterization of functionalized TiO2 films by using different state-of-the-art analytical techniques are presented and discussed with the main objective to identify potential reference TiO2 coating parameters able to be certified at a later stage. TiO2 films fabricated by two different synthetic procedures as representative for two main large-scale applications were selected: (i) pulsed d.c. magnetron sputtering for photocatalytic applications and (ii) screen printing from preformed anatase nanoparticles. The screen-printed films were further loaded with a sensitizing dye for application as a dye-sensitized solar cell. Film properties such as microstructure and crystallographic texture of pulsed d.c. magnetron sputtering synthesized films were systematically studied by means of scanning nanobeam electron diffraction in a transmission electron microscope and the surface and inner morphology by scanning electron microscopy. The dye distribution over the depth of screen-printed TiO2 layers was analyzed before and after dye-loading by means of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy at scanning electronmicroscope, Auger electron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. The long-term goal of the present study is the improvement of quality of the TiO2 film parameters as measured by using different types of reference TiO2 coatings having specific parameters certified. T2 - 16th European Conference on Applications of Surface and Interface Analysis ECASIA'15 CY - Granada, Spain DA - 28.09.2015 KW - Mapping KW - Line scan KW - Depth profiling KW - TiO2 films KW - Crystallinity KW - Ru dye sensitizer PY - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/sia.5966 SN - 0142-2421 SN - 1096-9918 VL - 48 SP - 664 EP - 669 PB - John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. AN - OPUS4-36791 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sobol, Oded A1 - Holzlechner, Gerald A1 - Holzweber, Markus A1 - Lohninger, H. A1 - Böllinghaus, Thomas A1 - Unger, Wolfgang T1 - First use of data fusion and multivariate analysis of ToF-SIMS and SEM image data for studying deuterium-assisted degradation processes in duplex steels N2 - Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy are well-acknowledged tools in materials characterization. The ability to map chemical species on the surface of an investigated sample with often low mass detection limits makes ToF-SIMS an essential tool in fields where many question marks concerning Degradation processes and damage mechanisms exist. The aim of this paper is to describe the power of data fusion of ToF-SIMS and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy results employing computational methods for multivariate data Analysis such as principal component analysis. As a case study the investigation of hydrogen distribution in an artificially charged Duplex stainless steel microstructure is presented aiming on a better understanding of hydrogen embrittlement. T2 - 16th European Conference on Applications of Surface and Interface Analysis CY - Granada, Spain DA - 28.09.2015 KW - ToF-SIMS KW - HR-SEM KW - Data fusion KW - Duplex stainless steel KW - Hydrogen embrittlement PY - 2016 UR - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/sia.6015/full U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/sia.6015 VL - 48 IS - 7 SP - 474 EP - 478 PB - John Wiley & Sons, Ltd CY - Surface and Interface Analysis AN - OPUS4-36832 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -