TY - JOUR A1 - Mech, A. A1 - Wohlleben, W. A1 - Ghanem, A. A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan A1 - Weigel, S. A1 - Babick, F. A1 - Brüngel, R. A1 - Friedrich, C. M. A1 - Rasmussen, K. A1 - Rauscher, H. T1 - Nano or Not Nano? A Structured Approach for Identifying Nanomaterials According to the European Commission’s Definition JF - Small N2 - Identifying nanomaterials (NMs) according to European Union Legislation is challenging, as there is an enormous variety of materials, with different physico-chemical properties. The NanoDefiner Framework and its Decision Support Flow Scheme (DSFS) allow choosing the optimal method to measure the particle size distribution by matching the material properties and the performance of the particular measurement techniques. The DSFS leads to a reliable and economic decision whether a material is an NM or not based on scientific criteria and respecting regulatory requirements. The DSFS starts beyond regulatory requirements by identifying non-NMs by a proxy Approach based on their volume-specific surface area. In a second step, it identifies NMs. The DSFS is tested on real-world materials and is implemented in an e-tool. The DSFS is compared with a decision flowchart of the European Commission’s (EC) Joint Research Centre (JRC), which rigorously follows the explicit criteria of the EC NM definition with the focus on identifying NMs, and non-NMs are identified by exclusion. The two approaches build on the same scientific basis and measurement methods, but start from opposite ends: the JRC Flowchart starts by identifying NMs, whereas the NanoDefiner Framework first identifies non-NMs. KW - Classification KW - Definition KW - Identification KW - Nanomaterials KW - Particle size KW - Regulation PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-510917 DO - https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202002228 SN - 1613-6829 SP - 2002228-1 EP - 2002228-16 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim AN - OPUS4-51091 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Wollschläger, Nicole A1 - Palasse, L. A1 - Häusler, Ines A1 - Dirscherl, K. A1 - Oswald, F. A1 - Narbey, S. A1 - Ortel, Erik A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - Characterization of the inner structure of porous TiO2 nanoparticle films in dye sensitive solar cells (DSSC) by focused ion beam (FIB) tomography and transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD) in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) JF - Materials Characterization N2 - A combined methodical approach is tested for the first time with respect to the characterization of the inner structure of porous TiO2 layers infiltrated with ruthenium molecular sensitizer as typically used in modern dye sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Their performance is directly linked to the surface area ‘offered’ by the pore Network to the dye. The micrometer thick layer employed was manufactured by screen-printing of a starting TiO2 powder constituted of shape-controlled, bipyramidal anatase nanoparticles (NPs) on FTO/glass substrates. The analytical methods exploited in our study are Focused Ion Beam (FIB) slicing followed by 3D reconstruction as well as the new approach transmission Kikuchi diffraction (TKD) technology in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). While the first method results in the visualization of the 3D pore network within the TiO2 layer, the second one can be successfully applied to analyze the crystal orientation of grains (i.e. NPs in our case) in nanometer resolution. Moreover, size and shape distribution of the TiO2 NPs within the layer can be extracted. SEM in transmission mode and atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been used to verify the dimensional data obtained by the new combined methodical approach. Its analytical benefits but also the challenges and limitations are highlighted. KW - Transmission Kikuchi diffraction KW - Focused ion beam tomography KW - Titanium dioxide KW - Nanoparticles KW - Porosity KW - Particle size KW - DSSC PY - 2017 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2017.06.030 SN - 1044-5803 SN - 1873-4189 VL - 131 SP - 39 EP - 48 PB - Elsevier AN - OPUS4-40875 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stock, V. A1 - Fahrenson, C. A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Donmez, M. H. A1 - Voss, L. A1 - Bohmert, L. A1 - Braeuning, A. A1 - Lampen, A. A1 - Sieg, H. T1 - Impact of artificial digestion on the sizes and shapes of microplastic particles JF - Food and chemical toxicology N2 - Current analyses show a widespread occurrence of microplastic particles in food products and raise the question of potential risks to human health. Plastic particles are widely considered to be inert due to their low chemical reactivity and therefore supposed to pose, if at all only minor hazards. However, variable physicochemical conditions during the passage of the gastrointestinal tract gain strong importance, as they may affect particle characteristics. This study aims to analyze the impact of the gastrointestinal passage on the physicochemical particle characteristics of the five most produced and thus environmentally relevant plastic materials polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and subsequent image analysis were employed to characterize microplastic particles. Our results demonstrate a high resistance of all plastic particles to the artificial digestive juices. The present results underline that the main stages of the human gastrointestinal tract do not decompose the particles. This allows a direct correlation between the physicochemical particle characteristics before and after digestion. Special attention must be paid to the adsorption of organic compounds like proteins, mucins and lipids on plastic particles since it could lead to misinterpretations of particle sizes and shapes. KW - Artificial digestion KW - Gastrointestinal barrier KW - Microplastic KW - Oral uptake KW - Particle size PY - 2020 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2019.111010 VL - 135 SP - 111010 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-49999 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -