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 - 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 - 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 - Spectroscopic properties of upconversion nanoparticles N2 - Lanthanide-doped up-converting nanoparticles (UCNPs) are promising reporters for medical diagnostics and bioimaging. Current limitations present their relative low absorption cross sections and low fluorescence efficiencies, with the latter being affected by particle size, surface chemistry, and microenvironment, particularly water. Here, we present results from systematic studies of the excitation power density dependent upconversion luminescence spectra, intensities/intensity ratios of the individual emission bands, slope factors, and quantum yields of UCNPs of varying size, dopant concentration, and surface chemistry in different microenvironments as well as the up- and downconversion luminescence decay kinetics of the different emission bands. Moreover, first studies of the energy transfer from UCNPs to surface-bound organic dyes acting as fluorescence acceptors are shown. Based upon these measurements, fluorescence deactivation channels are identified and spectroscopic parameters for the screening of material performance are derived. T2 - Projekttreffen COST CY - Straßbourg, France DA - 09.01.2017 KW - Upconverting nanoparticles KW - Size KW - FRET KW - Fluorescence KW - Absolute fluorescence quantum yield KW - Fluorescence decay kinetics KW - Power density dependence PY - 2017 AN - OPUS4-39076 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Recent insights in the spectroscopic properties of upconversion nanoparticles N2 - Lanthanide-doped up-converting nanoparticles (UCNPs) are promising reporters for medical diagnostics and bioimaging, which are excited in the near infrared (NIR) by multiphoton absorption processes, and show multiple narrow emission bands in the visible (vis) and NIR, long luminescence lifetimes in the μs range, and excellent photostability. Current limitations present their relative low absorption cross sections and low fluorescence efficiencies, with the latter being affected by particle size, surface chemistry, and microenvironment, particularly water. Here, we present results from systematic studies of the excitation power density dependent upconversion luminescence spectra, intensities/intensity ratios of the individual emission bands, slope factors, and quantum yields of UCNPs of varying size, dopant concentration, and surface chemistry in different microenvironments as well as the up- and downconversion luminescence decay kinetics of the different emission bands. Moreover, first studies of the energy transfer from UCNPs to surface-bound organic dyes acting as fluorescence acceptors are shown. Based upon these measurements, fluorescence deactivation channels are identified and spectroscopic parameters for the screening of material performance are derived. T2 - Spie Photonics west 2017 CY - San Francisco, USA DA - 28.01.2017 KW - Upconverting nanoparticles KW - Size KW - FRET KW - Fluorescence KW - Absolute fluorescence quantum yield KW - Fluorescence decay kinetics KW - Power density dependence PY - 2017 AN - OPUS4-39075 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Effect of particle architecture, dopant concentration, size, and excitation power density on the luminescence efficiency of upconversion nanocrystals N2 - Lanthanide-based upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) offer new strategies for luminescence-based sensing and imaging. One of the best studied materials are hexagonal ß-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), and are very photostable and chemically inters.[1,2] The properties of their upconversion (UC) luminescence (UCL) are, however, strongly influenced by particle size, concentration and spatial arrangement of dopant Ions, surface chemistry, and microenvironment.[3,4] In addition, the multiphotonic absorption processes responsible for UCL render UCL dependent on excitation power density (P). The rational design of brighter UCNPs particle architectures encouraged us to assess systematically the influence of these parameters on UCL for differently doped UCNPs relying on the commonly used ß-NaYf4 matrix using steady state and time resolved fluorometry as well as integrating sphere spectroscopy for P varied over almost three orders of magnitude. This includes comprehensive studies of the influence of size and shell, Yb3+ and Er3+ dopand concentrations, and energy Transfer processes from UCNPs to surface-bound organic dyes or vice versa [5]. Our results underline the need for really quantitative luminescence studies for mechanistic insights, the potential of high p to compensate for UCL surface quenching, and the matrix- and P-dependence of the optimum dopand concentration. T2 - BIOSPIE 2018 CY - San Francisco, USA DA - 27.01.2018 KW - Upconversion KW - Nanoparticle KW - Absolute fluorometry KW - Integrating sphere spectroscopy KW - NIR KW - IR KW - Fluorescence KW - Surface chemistry KW - Deactivation pathways KW - Modeling KW - Size PY - 2018 AN - OPUS4-43939 LA - deu AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Automated determination of genotoxicity of nanoparticles with DNA-based optical assays - The NANOGENOTOX project N2 - The overall interest in nanotoxicity, triggered by the increasing use of nanomaterials in the material and life sciences, and the synthesis of an ever increasing number of new functional nanoparticles calls for standardized test procedures1,2 and for efficient approaches to screen the potential genotoxicity of these materials. Aiming at the development of fast and easy to use, automated microscopic methods for the determination of the genotoxicity of different types of nanoparticles, we assess the potential of the fluorometric γH2AX assay for this purpose. This assay, which can be run on an automated microscopic detection system, relies on the detection of DNA double strand breaks as a sign for genotoxicity3. Here, we provide first results obtained with broadly used nanomaterials like CdSe/CdS and InP/ZnS quantum dots as well as iron oxide, gold, and polymer particles of different surface chemistry with previously tested colloidal stability and different cell lines like Hep-2 and 8E11 cells, which reveal a dependence of the genotoxicity on the chemical composition as well as the surface chemistry of these nanomaterials. These studies will be also used to establish nanomaterials as positive and negative genotoxicity controls or standards for assay performance validation for users of this fluorometric genotoxicity assay. In the future, after proper validation, this microscopic platform technology will be expanded to other typical toxicity assays. T2 - SPIE 2018 CY - San Francisco, USA DA - 27.01.2018 KW - Nanoparticle KW - Fluorescence KW - Surface chemistry KW - Size KW - Assay KW - Microscopy KW - Nanotoxicity KW - Toxicity KW - Automation KW - Calibration KW - Standard PY - 2018 AN - OPUS4-44186 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Effect of surface chemistry on optical, chemical and electronic properties of blue luminescent graphene quantum dots N2 - Due to their unique physical properties, particularly their electronic and luminescent properties, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are expected to be suitable for a wide range of applications in bioimaging, electro-optical and photonic materials or energy harvesting among others.1 Tuning the surface chemistry provides an efficient approach to modulate the fluorescence and distinct electronic properties of GQDs.2 Nevertheless, the role of surface chemistry on the electronic structure of GQDs remains poorly understood. In this presentation, we will compare systematically the electronic and chemical structures of GQDs functionalized with carboxylic and aminated groups to those of non-functionalized GQDs, combining theoretical and experimental approaches, here various photon-based spectroscopies. First, the electronic structure of GQDs was characterized by soft X-ray absorption (XA) and X-ray emission (XE) spectroscopies, probing unoccupied and occupied electronic states, respectively, at the carbon K edge for the first time. The interpretation of the XA/XE spectra was done based on theoretical calculations. Then, the chemical structure of the GQDs was characterized in situ by ATR-FTIR in water, thereby accounting for the importance of the interface between GQDs and water believed to play a central role in the chemical reactivity and the optical properties. We previously demonstrated that monitoring the OH vibrations of water molecules during exposure to humid air was a powerful method to probe H-bonding environment around carbon nanomaterials.3 For GQDs, clear surface-dependent water adsorption profiles are observed and discussed. Finally, UV/Vis absorption and photoluminescence measurements were done to characterize the optical properties of these GQDs. Our results suggest that the surface chemistry of the GQDs affects significantly their electronic structure and optical properties. These findings will contribute to an improved understanding of the structure–activity relationship of GQDs and other carbon nanomaterials with surface modifications. T2 - MRS Fall Meeting 2017 CY - Boston, USA DA - 26.11.2017 KW - Carbon KW - Nanoparticle KW - Fluorescence KW - NIR KW - IR KW - Surface chemistry KW - Deactivation pathways KW - Lifetime KW - Size KW - Giant carbon dot KW - Quantum yield PY - 2017 AN - OPUS4-43494 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Mrkwitschka, Paul A1 - Abram, Sarah-Luise A1 - Thünemann, Andreas A1 - Rühle, Bastian A1 - Radnik, Jörg A1 - Bresch, Harald A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Hodoroaba, Vasile-Dan T1 - The Role of Electron Microscopy in the Development of Monodisperse Cubic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Certified Reference Material for Size and Shape N2 - BAM is currently building up a platform of novel nanoRMs relying on iron oxide nanoparticles of different shape, size and surface chemistry. Iron oxide was chosen as a core material because of its relevance to the material and life sciences. As a first candidate of this series, we present cubic iron oxide nanoparticles with a nominal edge length of 8 nm. These particles were synthesized by thermal decomposition of iron oleate in high boiling organic solvents adapting well-known literature procedures. After dilution to a concentration suitable for electron microscopy (TEM and SEM) as well as for small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements, the candidate nanoRM was bottled and assessed for homogeneity and stability by both methods following the guidelines of ISO 17034 and ISO Guide 35. The particle sizes obtained by both STEM-in-SEM and TEM are in excellent agreement with a minimum Feret of 8.3 nm ± 0.7 nm. The aspect ratio (AR) of the iron oxide cubes were extracted from the images as the ratio of minimum Feret to Feret resulting in an AR of 1.18 for TEM to 1.25 for SEM. Alternatively, a rectangular bounding box was fitted originating from the minimum Feret and the longest distance through the particle in perpendicular direction. This led to AR values of 1.05 for TEM and 1.12 for SEM, respectively. The results confirm the almost ideal cubic shape. KW - Reference nanoparticles KW - Iron oxide KW - Cubical shape KW - Electron microscopy KW - SAXS KW - Nano CRM KW - Size PY - 2022 DO - https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927622003610 SN - 1435-8115 VL - 28 IS - Suppl. 1 SP - 802 EP - 805 PB - Cambridge University Press AN - OPUS4-55599 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute A1 - Tavernaro, Isabella A1 - Abram, Sarah-Luise A1 - Homann, Christian A1 - Scholtz, Lena A1 - Radnik, Jörg T1 - Validated and standardized measurements and quantification of surface functionalities on nanoparticles N2 - Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with various chemical compositions and surface functionalities are routinely fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, opto-electronics, and information storage which improve the quality of life and European prosperity. Nanoparticle function, interaction with biological species, and environmental fate are largely determined by surface functionalities. Reliable, reproducible, and standardized surface characterization methods are therefore vital for quality control of NPs, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. Also, industry, regulatory agencies, and policymakers need validated traceable measurement methods and reference materials. Industry, e.g., must comply with various regulations, including the chemicals´ regulation REACH (2006/1907) and cosmetic products regulation (2009/1223), depending on the use. Therefore, standardization organizations such as the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) as well as industrial stakeholders, European Medicine Agency (EMA), and the nanosafety community responsible for guidelines for nanomaterial (NM) regulation like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have expressed needs for standardized methodologies to measure NP surface chemical properties. Despite these needs, methodologies for determining NP surface properties, including the amount, chemical composition, and homogeneity of surface functionalities and coatings are largely non-standardized. Specifically, validated quantitative procedures for the measurement of thickness and composition of nanoparticle coatings and other surface functionalities are needed. 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. The latter less costly methods are often used by SMEs, e.g., for quality control. To validate methods, establish measurement uncertainties, test reference materials, and produce reference data, international interlaboratory comparisons (ILC) on NP surface functionalization measurements are required. These needs have been addressed by us in two interlaboratory comparisons, that will be presented. In addition, the European metrology project SMURFnano will be briefly presented involving 12 partners from different National Metrology Institutes, designated institutes, and research institutes, two university groups as well as one large company and one SME producing NPs. T2 - NanoCarbon Annual Conference 2025 CY - Würzburg, Germany DA - 18.03.2025 KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica 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 - OPUS4-62790 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Resch-Genger, Ute T1 - Standardized Measurements of Surface Functionalities on Nanoparticles - F. Synthesis and characterization of functional nanocomposite materials N2 - Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) with various chemical compositions and surface functionalities are routinely and commonly fabricated for industrial applications such as medical diagnostics, drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, energy conversion and storage, opto-electronics, and information storage. NP function, their interaction with biological species, and also their environmental fate are largely determined by the surface functionalities of the particles. Reliable, reproducible, and standardized surface characterization methods are therefore vital for quality control of NPs, determination of their applicability, and mandatory to meet increasing concerns regarding their safety. In addition, industry as well as international standardization organizations, regulatory agencies, and policymakers need validated and standardized measurement methods and reference materials. However, methodologies for determining NP surface properties, including the amount, chemical composition, and homogeneity of surface functionalities and coatings are largely non-standardized up until now. 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. The latter, typically less costly methods are often used by SMEs, e.g., for quality control. To validate methods, establish measurement uncertainties, test reference materials, and produce reference data, international interlaboratory comparisons (ILC) on NP surface functionalization measurements are required to provide well characterized test and reference nanomaterials including benchmark values.[1] These needs are addressed by the current European metrology project SMURFnano, involving 12 partners from different National Metrology Institutes, designated and research institutes, two university groups as well as one large company and one SME producing NPs. This project, as well as first results derived from the development of test and reference materials with a well characterized surface chemistry, and ongoing interlaboratory comparisons, will be presented. T2 - Shift 2025 CY - La Laguna, Tenerife DA - 13.10.2025 KW - Nano KW - Particle KW - Silica KW - Iron oxide KW - Lanthanide 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 KW - ILC KW - Standardization PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64370 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -