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Most industrial nanoparticles have non-spherical shapes and also possess polydisperse size distributions, and due to their agglomeration/ aggregation state are difficult (or even impossible) to be addressed individually. Further, driven by regulatory purposes related to the identification of a material as a nanomaterial, the accurate measurement of the smallest dimension of a (nano)particulate material makes the analysis even more complex.
In the first phase of the EU Project nPSize - Improved traceability chain of nanoparticle size measurements (https://www.bam.de/Content/DE/Projekte/laufend/nPSize/npsize.html), the efforts are focused on synthesis of nanoparticles of well-defined, non-spherical shape. Following candidates of reference materials (CRM) with certifiable particle size (distribution) are under characterization with respect to their homogeneity and stability: (i) titania nanoplatelets (10-15 nm thickness x 50-60 nm lateral), (ii) titania bipyramides (~60 nm length x 40 nm width), (iii) titania acicular particles (100 nm length x 15-20 nm width; aspect ratio 5.5/6), (iv) gold nanorods (~10 nm width x 30 nm length), and (v) gold nanocubes (~55 nm x 55 nm x 55 nm).
In this paper one refined approach is applied to determine the exact orientation of bipyramidal TiO2 nanoparticles prepared with good dispersion as almost isolated particles on a carbon TEM grid. The advantages of the recently developed high-throughput Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction (TKD) are used to identify quickly and reliably the geometrical orientation of the crystalline TiO2 nanoparticle bipyramids (anatase) on a statistically relevant number of particles.
Titanium dioxide is one of the most studied metal oxides due to its chemical, surface, electronic and (photo)catalytic properties, providing this material of multisectorial applications ranging from healthcare, photocatalysis, smart materials with self cleaning and self sterilizing properties and solar energy harvesting. However it is difficult to correlate the functional properties of TiO2 nanomaterials to the properties at single nanoparticle level due to the high polydispersity in shape, size and surface features of the currently available TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). Although intensive experimental and theoretical studies have been conducted on the reactivity of different surfaces of metal oxides such as TiO2 much less attention is paid on the dependence of functional properties, like photocatalytic activity, dye adsorption, open circuit potential and fill factor in dye sensitized solar cells, on crystal facets in different orientations. One of the goal of SETNanoMetro project was the development of design rules to tune crystal facets of TiO2 NPs in order to optimize and control functional properties. In the present work we have developed a series of design rules in order to obtain sets of anatase TiO2 NPs with low polydispersity and to tune their shape and size by hydrothermal processing of Ti(IV)-
Triethanolamine complex in presence of different shape controllers. Through a careful experimental design, a predictive soft model was developed. The model is able to predict the synthesis outcome allowing to tune the shape factor from 5 (prisms) to 1.5 (bipyramids) to 0.2 (platelets). This allows to control the main crystal facets exposed ranging from (100) to (001). Due to the dependence of functional properties of nanomaterials on shape distribution and not only size, the availability of NPs sets with uniform and well defined and tunable shapes can be of paramount relevance in order to produce reference nanomaterials for shape measurement.
Titanium dioxide is one of the most studied metal oxides due to its chemical, surface, electronic and (photo)catalytic properties, providing this material of multisectorial applications ranging from healthcare, photocatalysis, smart materials with self cleaning and self sterilizing properties and solar energy harvesting. However it is difficult to correlate the functional properties of TiO2 nanomaterials to the properties at single nanoparticle level due to the high polydispersity in shape, size and surface features of the currently available TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). Although intensive experimental and theoretical studies have been conducted on the reactivity of different surfaces of metal oxides such as TiO2 much less attention is paid on the dependence of functional properties, like photocatalytic activity, dye adsorption, open circuit potential and fill factor in dye sensitized solar cells, on crystal facets in different orientations. One of the goal of SETNanoMetro project was the development of design rules to tune crystal facets of TiO2 NPs in order to optimize and control functional properties. In the present work we have developed a series of design rules in order to obtain sets of anatase TiO2 NPs with low polydispersity and to tune their shape and size by hydrothermal processing of Ti(IV)-Triethanolamine complex in presence of different shape controllers. Through a careful experimental design, a predictive soft model was developed. The model is able to predict the synthesis outcome allowing to tune the shape factor from 5 (prisms) to 1.5 (bipyramids) to 0.2 (platelets). This allows to control the main crystal facets exposed ranging from (100) to (001). Due to the dependence of functional properties of nanomaterials on shape distribution and not only size, the availability of NPs sets with uniform and well defined and tunable shapes can be of paramount relevance in order to produce reference nanomaterials for shape measurement.
The aim of this study was to evaluate cytotoxicity (WST-1 assay), LDH release (LDH assay) and genotoxicity (Comet assay) of three engineered TiO2-NPs with different shapes (bipyramids, rods, platelets) in comparison with two commercial TiO2-NPs (P25, food grade). After NPs characterization (SEM/T-SEM and DLS), biological effects of NPs were assessed on BEAS-2B cells in presence/absence of light. The cellular uptake of NPs was analyzed using Raman spectroscopy.
The cytotoxic effects were mostly slight. After light exposure, the largest cytotoxicity (WST-1 assay) was observed for rods; P25, bipyramids and platelets showed a similar effect; no effect was induced by food grade. No LDH release was detected, confirming the low effect on plasma membrane. Food grade and platelets induced direct genotoxicity while P25, food grade and platelets caused oxidative DNA damage. No genotoxic or oxidative damage was induced by bipyramids and rods. Biological effects were overall lower in darkness than after light exposure. Considering that only food grade, P25 and platelets (more agglomerated) were internalized by cells, the uptake resulted correlated with genotoxicity.
In conclusion, cytotoxicity of NPs was low and affected by shape and light exposure, while genotoxicity was influenced by cellular-uptake and aggregation tendency.
Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) are one of the main sources of the nanoparticulate matter to which humans are directly exposed and several studies have demonstrated their potential toxic effects. The in vivo detailed spatial distribution of TiO₂ NPs is investigated herein for the first time, using a 2D chemical imaging analysis based on confocal Raman spectroscopy. The invertebrate nematode C. elegans was employed as a prototypical model of living organisms. Rod, bipyramidal and quasispherical engineered TiO₂ NPs with different primary particle sizes and agglomeration states were prepared, characterized and then administered to nematodes. Exploiting the typical fingerprint of TiO₂ in the Raman spectrum, we monitored the biodistribution of NPs inside the worm using a non-invasive, label-free method. The high spatial resolution chemical imaging and the specificity of the Raman technique in the localization of TiO₂ NPs helped in the design of behavioral C. elegans studies aimed at elucidating the relationship among the size, shape, and agglomeration state of NPs and their ability to induce specific toxic effects. Rod-shaped NPs were the most toxic, greatly impairing pharyngeal function, reproduction and larval growth; this indicates that the rod shape, more than the bipyramidal and spherical shapes, enables NPs to interact with biological systems. These findings indicate that this Raman-nematode combined approach represents a step forward in the field of detection of NPs in living organisms, and being rapid and inexpensive enough, it can be applied as the first screening for the ability of NPs to biodistribute and exert toxicological properties in vivo.
Extraction of true, 3D shape (and size) of non-spherical nanoparticles (NPs) is associated with Errors by conventional 2D electron microscopy using projection images. Significant efforts within the ISO technical committee TC 229 ‘Nanotechnologies’ are aimed at establishing accurate TEM and SEM measurement of NP size and shape as robust, standard procedures. Study groups have been organizing inter-laboratory comparisons on well-selected NP systems according to the market needs, such as aggregated titania nano-powder for which size and shape distribution of primary crystallites of irregular shape must be measured accurately. To be noticed is e. g. the fact that the measurement procedure allows only manual selection of the particles clearly distinguishable for analysis as well as manual definition of the contour of the imaged NPs.
An inter-laboratory exercise on titania NPs (pure anatase, grown by hydrothermal synthesis) of well-defined non-spherical shape, i.e. bipyramidal, has been recently started within ISO/TC 229 under similar conditions as for the irregular shaped titania. In the TEM micrograph the particles tracked manually according to the measurement protocol. Overlapped particles were allowed to be considered, as long as they are clearly distinguishable. One decisive NP selection criterion was to analyze only those NPs with a roundness value below 0.7, i.e. the NPs laying on the support foil and, hence, with projection areas clearly deviating from perfect circles (R=1). The overall evaluation (for 15 labs) of the size descriptors (area, Feret, minFeret, perimeter) and shape descriptors (aspect ratio, roundness, compactness, extent) by analysis of variance is just to be finished and included in ISO/WD 21363 Nanotechnologies -- Protocol for particle size distribution by transmission electron microscopy.
A case study on the TEM analysis of the size and shape distribution of TiO2 bipyramidal nanoparticles prepared on TEM grids was included in the recently published ISO standard ISO 21363. It was agreed to organize at a later stage a second inter-lab comparison with the nanoparticles distributed to the participants as a liquid suspension. Protocols for uniform nanoparticle deposition on suited supports developed and optimized within the EMPIR nPSize project are also prepared to be distributed. For this, we have chosen the VAMAS platform (www.vamas.org) which offers an excellent international infrastructure of laboratories with high competence in nanoparticle measurement. The VAMAS technical working area dedicated to nanoparticle measurement is TWA 34 ‘Nanoparticle populations’. For this type of nanoparticles, the size and shape distributions are the primary parameters to be reported. Due to the good deposition protocols developed, an automated image analysis is enabled (in contrast to the manual analysis of irregular TiO2 nanoparticles.
In parallel with the TiO2 nanoparticle exercise, two spherical SiO2 nanoparticle samples with bi-modal size distributions (nominal relative number concentrations of 1:1 and 10:1) are prepared for a second VAMAS inter-lab comparison. Here, the nanoparticle concentration is the primary parameter to be measured. For the imaging methods it is targeted to measure the relative nanoparticle concentrations of the two modes. For the absolute nanoparticle concentration to be measured by imaging methods it is necessary to control the volume of the liquid suspension deposited on the substrate and to obtain such a homogeneous nanoparticle deposition on the substrate which allows to count (or extrapolate) all the deposited particles.
Morphology and structure of TixOy nanoparticles generated by femtosecond laser ablation in water
(2018)
In this work femto-second pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) procedure for the generation of titanium oxide nanoparticles (NP) is reported with the purpose of understanding morphology and structure of the newly generated NPs. Ablation duration was varied for optimization of NP generation processes between 10 and 90 min. Surface morphology of NPs as well as their size and shape (distribution) were analysed by various complementary electron microscopy techniques, i.e. SEM, TSEM and TEM. The crystalline structure of titanium oxide particles was investigated byXRD(two instruments operated in different geometries) and HR-TEM. Concentration of generated titanium oxide NPs in liquid was analysed by ICP-MS. A mix of crystalline (mainly anatase), partly crystalline and amorphous spherical titanium oxide NPs can be reported having a mean size between 10 and 20 nm, which is rather independent of the laser ablation (LA) duration. A second component consisting of irregularly shaped, but crystalline titanium oxide nanostructures is co-generated in the LA water, with more pronounced occurrence at longer LA times. The provenance of this component is assigned to those spherical particles generated in suspension and passing through the converging laser beam, being hence subject to secondary irradiation effects, e. g. fragmentation.
The conversion of solar energy into electricity and solar fuels is of crucial importance for a green and sustainable future. Water splitting using semiconductor photo-catalysts is considered a sustainable method to produce clean hydrogen (H2) fuel. Nevertheless, H2 photo-production efficiency remains still low, although extensive research works to understand better the mechanisms of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) and the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) are being carried out. In this respect, TiO2 is a key photoactive material, usually employed with a co-catalyst deposited onto the surface to enhance charge carriers’ separation and catalyze surface charge transfer reactions. The deposition of a co-catalyst on the TiO2 nanoparticle surface represents one successful way to enhance the activity of the photocatalyst through a modification of its surface and redox properties. In this context, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy coupled with elemental analysis by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) is fundamental for studying and understanding the effect of the nanoparticle morphology on the functional properties of shape-controlled TiO2 crystals (bipyramides, platelets, and elongated particles). Different types of metal-semiconductor combinations, TiO2 shapes and dopant metals (Ag, Pt, etc) and metal concentrations will be discussed.