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- Alkaline earth metal fluorides (1)
- Biochemical sensor system (1)
- Calciumfluorid (1)
- Core-shell nanoparticles (1)
- Ellipsometry (1)
- Europium (1)
- FT-IR spectroscopy (1)
- Fluorolytic sol–gel synthesis (1)
- Gas chromatography (1)
- IMS (1)
Organisationseinheit der BAM
The metabolism of moulds results in the formation of various microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs). These substances can be used as an indicator for the presence of moulds in the indoor environment. Three different mould strains were cultivated on culture media and IMS spectra of gaseous mould metabolites were recorded using a portable mini system with a tritium source and a 5 cm drift cell. The headspace spectra are characteristic for mould species and their age. Typical gaseous components of the metabolites were identified and compared with results obtained from gas chromatography using a mass spectrometer detector. It was observed that the MVOCs formation depends on mould species and their growing stage with a maximum of MVOCs emission occurring during the first 10 days. These preliminary results show that IMS can be applied to detect MVOCs in indoor environment and indicate hidden mould growth.
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.
Optical constants of harmful and highly energetic liquids for application to THz screening systems
(2016)
The far-infrared (IR) optical constants of a set of hazardous and flammable liquids have been obtained by means of spectroscopic ellipsometry in attenuated total reflection configuration over a broad spectral range. Such liquids recently became of considerable concern for transportation security measures worldwide. Their optical identification at check-in gates can only become possible if the characteristic spectra are already known. The refractive indices and the extinction coefficients reported here contribute to a spectroscopic data base in the far-IR and terahertz (THz) spectral regions and may support modeling the performance of THz screening systems on liquids for airports and other security sensitive areas. Examples of several container material/liquid systems are discussed. From the measured optical constants typical THz waveforms are calculated and discussed.
In this article, the high potential of the fluorolytic sol–gel process to synthesize nanoscopic rare earth-doped calcium fluoride sols is shown. Through a fluorolytic sol–gel process we manage to achieve spherical monodisperse ~5 nm sized nanoparticles using a simple and reproducible one-pot-wet chemical route at room temperature. The as-synthesized clear sols exhibit an intense red and green luminescence under UV excitation at room temperature. A spectroscopic study of the sols revealed the characteristic transitions 5D0 → 7FJ of Eu3+ and 5D4 → 7FJ of Tb3+, with 5D0 → 7F2 (611 nm) of Eu3+ and 5D4 → 7F4 (581 nm) of Tb3+ as the most prominent transitions. This facile synthetic strategy is also valuable for developing other luminescent nanoparticles.
A universal fast and easy access at room temperature to transparent sols of nanoscopic Eu3+ and Tb3+ doped CaF2, SrF2 and BaF2 particles via the fluorolytic sol–gel synthesis route is presented. Monodisperse quasi-spherical nanoparticles with sizes of 3–20 nm are obtained with up to 40% rare earth doping showing red or green luminescence. In the beginning luminescence quenching effects are only observed for the highest content, which demonstrates the unique and outstanding properties of these materials. From CaF2:Eu10 via SrF2:Eu10 to BaF2:Eu10 a steady increase of the luminescence intensity and lifetime occurs by a factor of ≈2; the photoluminescence quantum yield increases by 29 to 35% due to the lower phonon energy of the matrix. The fast formation process of the particles within fractions of seconds is clearly visualized by exploiting appropriate luminescence processes during the synthesis. Multiply doped particles are also available by this method. Fine tuning of the luminescence properties is achieved by variation of the Ca-to-Sr ratio. Co-doping with Ce3+ and Tb3+ results in a huge increase (>50 times) of the green luminescence intensity due to energy transfer Ce3+ → Tb3+. In this case, the luminescence intensity is higher for CaF2 than for SrF2, due to a lower spatial distance of the rare earth ions.
Detection of suspended nanoparticles with near-ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
(2017)
Two systems of suspended nanoparticles have been studied with near-ambient pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy: silver nanoparticles in water and strontium fluoride—calcium fluoride core-shell nanoparticles in ethylene glycol. The corresponding dry samples were measured under ultra high vacuum for comparison. The results obtained under near-ambient pressure were overall comparable to those obtained under ultra high vacuum, although measuring silver nanoparticles in water requires a high pass energy and a long acquisition time. A shift towards higher binding energies was found for the silver nanoparticles in aqueous Suspension compared to the corresponding dry sample, which can be assigned to a change of surface potential at the water-nanoparticle interface. The shell-thickness of the core-shell nanoparticles was estimated based on simulated spectra from the National Institute of Standards and Technology database for simulation of electron spectra for surface analysis. With the instrumental set-up presented in this paper, nanoparticle suspensions in a suitable Container can be directly inserted into the analysis chamber and measured without prior sample preparation.