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- SAXS (20) (entfernen)
Organisationseinheit der BAM
- 6 Materialchemie (20) (entfernen)
Eingeladener Vortrag
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Compared to the clear, real-space images you can get from electron microscopy, X-ray scattering patterns are rather featureless. These patterns, however, contain structural information from all of the material structure illuminated by the X-ray beam. With this technique, you can measure nanoparticle dispersions, catalysts, composites, MOF powders, battery materials, light metal alloys and gels to reveal information on the structural features found within these materials. We have even measured many such materials for several research groups from the University of Birmingham, revealing structure features in the sub-nm to the micrometer range.
Measuring an X-ray scattering pattern is relatively easy, but measuring a high-quality, useful pattern requires significant effort and good laboratory organization. Such laboratory organization can help address the reproducibility crisis in science, and easily multiply the scientific output of a laboratory, while greatly elevating the quality of the measurements. We have demonstrated this for small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering in the MOUSE project (Methodology Optimization for Ultrafine Structure Exploration) [1]. With the MOUSE, we have combined: a) a comprehensive and highly automated laboratory workflow with b) a heavily modified X-ray scattering instrument. This combination allows us to collect fully traceable scattering data, within a well-documented, FAIR-compliant data flow (akin to what is found at the more automated synchrotron beamlines). With two full-time researchers, our lab collects and interprets thousands of datasets, on hundreds of samples, for dozens of projects per year, supporting many users along the entire process from sample selection and preparation, to the analysis of the resulting data.
The SAXS platform at BAM
(2021)
Herein, we provide a "systems architecture"-like overview and detailed discussions of the methodological and instrumental components that, together, comprise the "MOUSE" project (Methodology Optimization for UltrafineStructure Exploration). The MOUSE project provides scattering information on a wide variety of samples, with traceable dimensions for both the scattering vector (q) and the absolute scattering cross-section (I). The measurable scattering vector-range of 0.012≤ q (nm-1) ≤ 92, allows information across a hierarchy of structures with dimensions ranging from ca. 0.1 to 400 nm. In addition to details that comprise the MOUSE project, such as the organisation and traceable aspects, several representative examples are provided to demonstrate its flexibility. These include measurements on alumina membranes, the tobacco mosaic virus, and dual-source information that overcomes fluorescence limitations on ZIF-8 and iron-oxide-containing carbon catalyst materials.
Hydrogels with a hierarchical structure were prepared from a new highly water-soluble crosslinker N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-N,N′-bis(2-ethylmethacrylate)-propyl-1,3-diammonium dibromide and from the sulfobetaine monomer 2-(N-3-sulfopropyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium)ethyl methacrylate. The free radical polymerization of the two compounds is rapid and yields near-transparent hydrogels with sizes up to 5 cm in diameter. Rheology shows a clear correlation between the monomer-to-crosslinker ratio and the storage and loss moduli of the hydrogels. Cryo-scanning electron microscopy, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering show that the gels have a hierarchical structure with features spanning the nanometer to the sub-millimeter scale. The NMR study is challenged by the marked inhomogeneity of the gels and the complex chemical structure of the sulfobetaine monomer. NMR spectroscopy shows how these complications can be addressed via a novel fitting approach that considers the mobility gradient along the side chain of methacrylate-based monomers.
The influence of zeolite support materials and their impact on CH4 oxidation activity was studied utilizing Pd supported on H-beta and H-SSZ-13. A correlation between CH4 oxidation activity, Si/Al ratio (SAR), the type of zeolite framework, reduction-oxidation behaviour, and Pd species present was found by combining catalytic activity measurements with a variety of characterization methods (operando XAS, NH3-TPD, SAXS, STEM and NaCl titration). Operando XAS analysis indicated that catalysts with high CH4 oxidation activity experienced rapid transitions between metallic- and oxidized-Pd states when switching between rich and lean conditions. This behaviour was exhibited by catalysts with dispersed Pd particles. By contrast, the formation of ion-exchanged Pd2+ and large Pd particles appeared to have a detrimental effect on the oxidation-reduction behaviour and the conversion of CH4. The formation of ion-exchanged Pd2+ and large Pd particles was limited by using a highly siliceous beta zeolite support with a low capacity for cation exchange. The same effect was also found using a small-pore SSZ-13 zeolite due to the lower mobility of Pd species. It was found that the zeolite support material should be carefully selected so that the well-dispersed Pd particles remain, and the formation of ion-exchanged Pd2+ is minimized.
SnOct2 (Sn(II) 2-ethylhexanoate) catalyzed ROPs of L-lactide were performed in bulk with eight different alcohols as initiators. The time was varied between 1 h and 24 h for all initiators. For two initiators the temperature was also lowered to 115 ◦C. Even-numbered chains were predominantly formed in all polymerizations at short times, but the rate of transesterification (e.g. even/odd equilibration) and the molecular weight distribution were found to depend significantly on the nature of the initiator. Observed transesterification reactions also continued in solid poly (L-lactide), and with the most active initiator, almost total equilibration was achieved even at 130 ◦C. This means that all chains including those of the crystallites were involved in transesterification reactions proceeding across the flat surfaces of the crystallites. The more or less equilibrated crystalline polylactides were characterized by DSC and SAXS measurements with regard to their melting temperature (Tm), crystallinity and crystal thickness.
In recent years, we have come to appreciate the astounding intricacy of the formation process of minerals from ions in aqueous solutions. In this context, a number of studies have revealed that nucleation in the calcium sulfate system is non-classical, involving the aggregation and reorganization of nanosized prenucleation particles. In a recent work we have shown that this particle-mediated nucleation pathway is actually imprinted in the resultant single micron-sized CaSO4 crystals. This property of CaSO4 minerals provides us with an unique opportunity to search for evidence of non-classical nucleation pathways in geological environments. In particular, we focused on the quintessential single crystals of anhydrite extracted from the Naica mine in Mexico. We elucidated the growth history from this mineral sample by mapping growth defects at different length scales. Based on these data we argue that the nano-scale misalignment of the structural sub-units observed in the initial calcium sulfate crystal seed propagate through different length-scales both in morphological, as well as strictly crystallographic aspects, eventually causing the formation of large mesostructured single crystals of anhydrite. Hence, the nanoparticle mediated nucleation mechanism introduces a 'seed of imperfection', which leads to a macroscopic single crystal, in which its fragments do not fit together at different length-scales in a self-similar manner. Consequently, anisotropic voids of various sizes are formed with very well-defined walls/edges. But, at the same time the material retains its essential single crystal nature. These findings shed new light on the longstanding concept of crystal structure.
Nachruf auf Wilhelm Ruland
(2021)
Mit Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Ruland starb am 3. Februar 2021 einer der letzten großen Wissenschaftler, welche die Streutheorie nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg vorangetrieben haben. Sein zentrales Thema war die Streuung an weicher Materie. Hier lieferte er bis ins hohe Alter grundlegende Beiträge, die den Stellenwert seines Leitspruchs demonstrieren: Nichts ist praktischer als eine gute Theorie.