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AbstractThis work addresses the critical need for multifunctional materials and substrate‐independent high‐precision surface modification techniques that are essential for advancing microdevices and sensing elements. To overcome existing limitations, the versatility of mussel‐inspired materials (MIMs) is combined with state‐of‐the‐art multiphoton direct laser writing (DLW) microfabrication. In this way, 2D and 3D MIM microstructures of complex designs are demonstrated with sub‐micron to micron resolution and extensive post‐functionalization capabilities. This study includes polydopamine (PDA), mussel‐inspired linear, and dendritic polyglycerols (MI‐lPG and MI‐dPG), allowing their direct microstructure on the substrate of choice with the option to tailor the patterned topography and morphology in a controllable manner. The functionality potential of MIMs is demonstrated by successfully immobilizing and detecting single‐stranded DNA on MIM micropattern and nanoarray surfaces. In addition, easy modification of MIM microstructure with silver nanoparticles without the need of any reducing agent is shown. The methodology developed here enables the integration of MIMs in advanced applications where precise surface functionalization is essential.
Mechanical flexibility in single crystals of covalently bound materials is a fascinating and poorly understood phenomenon. We present here the first example of a plastically flexible one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymer. The compound [Zn(m-Cl)2(3,5-dichloropyridine)2]n is flexible over two crystallographic faces. Remarkably, the single crystal remains intact when bent to 1808. A combination of microscopy, diffraction, and spectroscopic studies have been used to probe the structural response of the crystal lattice to mechanical bending. Deformation of the covalent polymer chains does not appear to be responsible for the observed macroscopic bending. Instead, our results suggest that mechanical bending occurs by displacement of the coordination polymer chains. Based on experimental and theoretical evidence, we propose a new model for mechanical flexibility in 1D coordination polymers. Moreover, our calculations propose a cause of the different mechanical properties of this compound and a structurally similar elastic material
A new concept for the ecotoxicological assessment of plastics under consideration of aging processes
(2023)
Microplastics are widely distributed in aquatic and terrestrial environments, but up to now less is known about (eco)toxicological impacts under realistic conditions. Research so far has focused mainly on impacts on organisms by fresh, single‐origin plastic fragments or beads. However, plastics found in the environment are complex in composition, this means different polymer types and sources, with and without additives and in all stages of age, and therefore, in a more or less advanced stage of degradation. For oxidized degradation products that might be released from plastic materials during aging, there is a lack of information on potentially adverse effects on aquatic biota. The latter is of particular interest as oxidized degradation products might become more water soluble due to higher polarity and are more bioavailable, therefore. The present study focused on plastic leachates of polystyrene (PS) and polylactic acid (PLA), which were derived from alternating stress by hydrolysis and ultraviolet (UV) radiation—representing a realistic scenario in the environment. Test specimens of PS, PLA, or a PLA/PS layer (each 50%) were alternately exposed to UV radiation for 5 days followed by hydrolysis for 2 days, for several weeks alternating. Ecotoxicological effects of the storage water (artificial freshwater) of the test specimens and additionally, in a second experimental setup, the effects of five potential polymer degradation products were detected by 72 h algae growth inhibition tests with Desmodesmus subspicatus. Results clearly indicate inhibitory effects on algae growth by contaminants in the storage water of stressed plastics with increasing growth inhibition of proceeding hydrolysis and UV stress times. Different polymers caused variable inhibitions of algae growth with stronger inhibitions by PS and less effects by PLA and the mixed layer of both. Moreover, not microplastic particles but the resulting dissolved degradation products after aging caused the ecotoxicological effects—with strong effects by the oxidized degradation products. The existing data highlight the relevance of plastic aging as a framework for microplastic ecotoxicity evaluation and allow a proof of concept.
Herein, two polyurethane oligomers were successfully synthesized using a prepolymer mixing process. The prepolymers were synthesized based on the step-growth addition polymerization of polypropylene glycol, Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate. Isopropanol was functioned as the isocyanate blocking agent. Thereafter, different terpolymer emulsions were prepared by the emulsion graft copolymerization with the vinyl acetate monomer in presence of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate as a vinyl monomer. The chemical structures of the synthesized oligomeric monomers were probed by FTIR spectroscopy and found to vary with the content of acrylic monomer used in the oligomer synthesis phase (i.e.hydroxyethyl acrylate or hydroxyethyl methacrylate). The topography, thermal stability, and particle size of terpolymers were investigated by SEM, TGA, and zeta potential, respectively. The TGA results demonstrated marked enhancement in thermal stability of the synthesized terpolymers up to ca. 600°C, which was concurrent with enhanced surface homogeneity and film properties as evidenced by the SEM images. These terpolymers showed also property enhancement as binders for textile pigment printing in terms of rubbing resistance, color strength and fastness to washing when compared to the commercial binders.
These judgments would provide a new competent synthesis route by introducing polyurethane acetate vinyl acrylate as the binder for use in pigment printing of cotton fabrics.
Inputs of plastic impurities into the environment via the application of fertilizers are regulated in Germany and the EU by means of ordinances. Robust and fast analytical methods are the basis of legal regulations. Currently, only macro- and large microplastic contents (>1 mm) are measured. Microplastics (1–1,000 µm), are not yet monitored. Thermal analytical methods are suitable for this purpose, which can determine the mass content and can also be operated fully automatically in routine mode. Thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) allows the identification of polymers and the determination of mass contents in solid samples from natural environments. In accordance with the German or European Commission (EC) Fertiliser Ordinance, composting plants should be monitored for microplastic particles with this method in the future. In this context a compost plant was sampled. At the end of the rotting process, the compost was sieved and separated in a coarse (>1 mm) and a fine fraction (<1 mm). The fine fraction was processed using density separation comparing NaCl and NaI as possible salt alternative and screened for microplastic masses by TED-GC/MS with additional validation and quality assurance experiments. With TED-GC/MS total microplastics mass contents of 1.1–3.0 μg/mg in finished compost could be detected with polyethylene mainly. What differs much to the total mass of plastics in the coarse fraction with up to 60 μg/mg, which were visually searched, identified via ATR-FTIR and gravimetrically weighted.
Microplastic (MP) contamination in natural water circulation is a concern for environmental issues and human health. Various types of polymer materials have been identified and were detected in MP analytic test procedures. Beyond MP polymer type, particle size and form play a major role in water analysis due to possible negative toxicologic effects on flora and fauna. However, the correct quantitative measurement of MP size distribution over several orders of magnitude is strongly influenced by sample preparation, filtration materials and processes, and microanalytical techniques, as well as data acquisition and analysis. In this paper, a reference methodology is presented aiming at an improved quantitative analysis of MP particles. An MP analysis workflow is demonstrated including all steps from reference materials to sample preparation, filtration handling, and MP particle size distribution analysis. Background-corrected particle size distributions (1–1000 µm) have been determined for defined polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) reference samples. Microscopically measured particle numbers and errors have been cross-checked with the total initial mass. In particular, defined reference MP samples (PE, PET) are initially characterized and applied to filtration experiments. Optical microscopy imaging on full-area Si filters with subsequent image analysis algorithms is used for statistical particle size distribution analysis. To quantify the effects of handling and filtration, several blind tests with distilled water are carried out to determine the particle background for data evaluation. Particle size distributions of PE and PET reference samples are qualitatively and quantitatively reproduced with respect to symmetry, and maximum and cut-off diameter of the distribution. It is shown that especially MP particles with a radius of >50 µm can be detected and retrieved with high reliability. For particle sizes <50 µm, a significant interference with background contamination is observed. Data from blank samples allows a correction of background contaminations. Furthermore, for enhanced sampling statistics, the recovery of the initial amount of MP will be qualitatively shown. The results are intended as an initial benchmark for MP analytics quality. This quality is based on statistical MP particle distributions and covers the complete analytic workflow starting from sample preparation to filtration and detection. Microscopic particle analysis provides an important supplement for the evaluation of established spectroscopic methods such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy or Raman spectroscopy.
Accessing radiation damage to biomolecules on the nanoscale by particle-scattering simulations
(2023)
Radiation damage to DNA plays a central role in radiation therapy to cure cancer. The physico-chemical and biological processes involved encompass huge time and spatial scales. To obtain a comprehensive understanding on the nano and the macro scale is a very challenging tasks for experimental techniques alone. Therefore particle-scattering simulations are often applied to complement measurements and aide their interpretation, to help in the planning of experiments, to predict their outcome and to test damage models. In the last years, powerful multipurpose particle-scattering framework based on the Monte-Carlo simulation (MCS) method, such as Geant4 and Geant4-DNA, were extended by user friendly interfaces such as TOPAS and TOPAS-nBio. This shifts their applicability from the realm of dedicated specialists to a broader range of scientists. In the present review we aim to give an overview over MCS based approaches to understand radiation interaction on a broad scale, ranging from cancerous tissue, cells and their organelles including the nucleus, mitochondria and membranes, over radiosensitizer such as metallic nanoparticles, and water with additional radical scavenger, down to isolated biomolecules in the form of DNA, RNA, proteins and DNA-protein complexes. Hereby the degradation of biomolecules by direct damage from inelastic scattering processes during the physical stage, and the indirect damage caused by radicals during the chemical stage as well as some parts of the early biological response is covered. Due to their high abundance the action of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and secondary low energy electrons (LEE) as well as prehydrated electrons are covered in additional detail. Applications in the prediction of DNA damage, DNA repair processes, cell survival and apoptosis, influence of radiosensitizer on the dose distribution within cells and their organelles, the study of linear energy transfer (LET), the relative biological effectiveness (RBE), ion beam cancer therapy, microbeam radiation therapy (MRT), the FLASH effect, and the radiation induced bystander effect are reviewed.
Microplastic particles with sizes between 1 to 1000 μm are widely distributed worldwide. Origin, transport pathways and fate are poorly known, as sampling, sample preparation and detection methods are major challenges. In addition, reference materials that mimic environmental particles are lacking. Most challenging is the yield of MP particle production and the need for resource-intensive grinding with liquid nitrogen. In this paper, a machine is designed to produce aged microplastic particles as reference material candidates with high yield. The machine is based on ultraviolet aging of a thin foil and mechanical fragmentation using clean air. An example of aging and fragmentation of high density polyethylene with additional physical and chemical characterization of shape, size, aging state by carbonyl index and density is presented.
Mechanically flexible single crystals of molecular materials offer potential for a multitude of new directions in advanced materials design. Before the full potential of such materials can be exploited, insight into their mechanisms of action must be better understood. Such insight can be only obtained through synergistic use of advanced experimentation and simulation. We herein report the first detailed mechanistic study of elasto-plastic flexibility in a molecular solid. An atomistic origin for this mechanical behaviour is proposed through a combination of atomic force microscopy, μ-focus synchrotron X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, ab initio simulation, and computed elastic tensors. Our findings suggest that elastic and plastic bending are intimately linked and result from extensions of the same molecular deformations. The proposed mechanism bridges the gap between contested mechanisms, suggesting its applicability as a general mechanism for elastic and plastic bending in organic molecular crystals.
Polyether and -ester urethanes (PU) were exposed to artificial weathering at 40 °C and artificial UV radiation in a weathering chamber. In 3 parallel exposures, humidity was varied between dry, humid, and wet conditions. Material alteration was investigated by various analytical techniques like size exclusion chromatography
(SEC), liquid chromatography-infrared spectroscopy (LC-FTIR), thermal-desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS), fluorescence mapping and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Our results show that depending on the weathering conditions, different degradation effects can be observed. By means of SEC an initial strong decrease of the molar masses and a broadening of the mass distributions was found. After a material dependent time span this was followed by a plateau where molar mass changes were less significant. A minor moisture-dependent degradation effect was only found for polyester PU. Fluorescence measurements on two materials revealed an increase in the luminescence intensity upon weathering process reaching a saturation level after about 500 h. The changes in the optical properties observed after different exposure conditions and times were very similar. The TD-GC-MS data showed the fate of the stabilizers and antioxidant in the course of weathering. LC-FTIR measurements revealed a change in peak intensities and the ratio of urethane and carbonyl bands.
Polymers with intrinsic microporosity are promising candidates for the active separation layer in gas separation membranes. Here, the vibrational density of states (VDOS) for PIM-1, the prototypical polymer with intrinsic microporosity, is investigated by means of inelastic neutron scattering. The results are compared to data measured for a more conventional high-performance polyimide used in gas separation membranes (Matrimid). The measured data show the characteristic low frequency excess contribution to VDOS above the Debye sound wave level, generally known as the Boson peak in glass-forming materials. In comparison to the Boson peak of Matrimid, that of PIM-1 is shifted to lower frequencies. This shift is discussed considering the microporous, sponge-like structure of PIM-1 as providing a higher compressibility at the molecular scale than for conventional polymers. For an annealed PIM-1 sample, the Boson peak shifts to higher frequencies in comparison to the un-annealed sample. These changes in the VDOS of the annealed PIM-1 sample are related to changes in the microporous structure as confirmed by X-ray scattering.
The antibacterial features of natural pine/spruce rosin are well established, yet the functionality in various thermoplastics has not been surveyed. This work focuses on the processing of industrial grade purified rosin mixed with polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polylactic acid (PLA), polyamide (PA) and corn starch based biopolymer (CS). Homopolymer masterbatches were extrusion-compounded and melt-spun to form fibres for a wide range of products, such as filters, reinforcements, clothing and medical textiles. Due to the versatile chemical structure of rosin, it was observed compatible with all the selected polymers. In general, the rosin-blended systems were shear-thinning in a molten condition. The doped fibres spun of PE and PP indicated adequate melt-spinning capability and proper mechanical properties in terms of ultimate strength and Young's modulus. The antibacterial response was found dependent on the selected polymer. Especially PE with a 10 wt% rosin content showed significant antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli DH5α and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12598 when analysed in the Ringer's solution for 24 h.
The TED-GC-MS analysis is a two-step method. A sample is first decomposed in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and the gaseous decomposition products are then trapped on a solid-phase adsorber. Subsequently, the solid-phase adsorber is analyzed with thermal desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TDU-GC-MS). This method is ideally suited for the analysis of polymers and their degradation processes. Here, a new entirely automated System is introduced which enables high sample throughput and reproducible automated fractioned collection of decomposition products. Strengths and limitations of the system configuration are elaborated via three examples focused on practical challenges in materials analysis and identification: i) separate analysis of the components of a wood-plastic-composite material, ii) quantitative determination of weight concentration of the constituents of a polymer blend and iii) quantitative analysis of model samples of microplastics in suspended particulate matter.
Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) can be used for structural determination of biological macromolecules and polymers in their native states (e.g. liquid phase). This means that the structural changes of (bio-)polymers, such as proteins and DNA, can be monitored in situ to understand their sensitivity to changes in chemical environments. In an attempt to improve the reliability of such experiments, the reduction of radiation damage occurring from exposure to X-rays is required. One such method, is to use scavenger molecules to protect macromolecules against radicals produced during radiation exposure, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study we investigate the feasibility of applying the compatible solute, osmolyte and radiation protector Ectoine (THP(B)), as a scavenger molecule during SAXS measurements of the single-stranded DNA-binding protein Gene-V Protein (G5P/GVP). In this case, we monitor the radiation induced changes of G5P during bio-SAXS measurments and the resulting microscopic energy-damage relation was determined from microdosimetric calculations by Monte-Carlo based particle scattering simulations with TOPAS/Geant4 and a custom target-model. This resulted in a median-lethal energy deposit of pure G5P at 4 mg mL−1 of E1/2 = 7 ± 5 eV, whereas a threefold increase of energy-deposit was needed under the presence of Ectoine to reach the same level of damage. This indicates that Ectoine increases the possible exposure time before radiation-damage to G5P is observed. Furthermore, the dominant type of damage shifted from aggregation in pure solutions towards a fragmentation for solutions containing Ectoine as a cosolute. These results are interpreted in terms of indirect radiation damage by reactive secondary species, as well as post-irradiation effects, related to preferential-exclusion of the cosolute from the protein surface. Hence, Ectoine is shown to provide a non-disturbing way to improve structure-determination of proteins via bio-SAXS in future studies.
In this work, a novel boehmite (BA)-embedded organic/inorganic nanocomposite coating based on cycloaliphatic epoxy oligosiloxane (CEOS) resin was fabricated applying UV-induced cationic polymerization. The main changes of the material behavior caused by the nanofiller were investigated with regard to its photocuring kinetics, thermal stability, and glass transition. The role of the particle surface was of particular interest, thus, unmodified nanoparticles (HP14) and particles modified with p-toluenesulfonic acid (OS1) were incorporated into a CEOS matrix in the concentration range of 1–10 wt.%. Resulting nanocomposites exhibited improved thermal properties, with the glass transition temperature (Tg) being shifted from 30 °C for unfilled CEOS to 54 °C (2 wt.% HP14) and 73 °C (2 wt.% OS1) for filled CEOS. Additionally, TGA analysis showed increased thermal stability of samples filled with nanoparticles. An attractive interaction between boehmite and CEOS matrix influenced the curing. Real-time infrared spectroscopy (RT-IR) experiments demonstrated that the epoxide conversion rate of nanocomposites was slightly increased compared to neat resin. The beneficial role of the BA can be explained by the participation of hydroxyl groups at the particle surface in photopolymerization processes and by the complementary contribution of p-toluenesulfonic acid surface modifier and water molecules introduced into the system with nanoparticles.
Branched Polyurethanes Based on Synthetic Polyhydroxybutyrate with Tunable Structure and Properties
(2018)
Branched, aliphatic polyurethanes (PURs) were synthesized and compared to linear analogues. The influence of polycaprolactonetriol and synthetic poly([R,S]-3-hydroxybutyrate) (R,S-PHB) in soft segments on structure, thermal and sorptive properties of PURs was determined.
Using FTIR and Raman spectroscopies it was found that increasing the R,S-PHB amount in the structure of branched PURs reduced a tendency of urethane groups to hydrogen bonding. Melting enthalpies (on DSC thermograms) of both soft and hard segments of linear PURs were higher than branched PURs, suggesting that linear PURs were more crystalline. Oil sorption by samples of linear and branched PURs, containing only polycaprolactone chains in soft segments, was higher than in the case of samples with R,S-PHB in their structure. Branched PUR without R,S-PHB absorbed the highest amount of oil. Introducing R,S-PHB into the PUR structure increased water sorption.
Thus, by operating the number of branching and the amount of poly([R,S]-3-hydroxybutyrate) in soft segments thermal and sorptive properties of aliphatic PURs could be controlled.
A key application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) is the measurement of physical properties at sub-micrometer resolution. Methods such as force–distance curves (FDCs) or dynamic variants (such as intermodulation AFM (ImAFM)) are able to measure mechanical properties (such as the local stiffness, kr) of nanoscopic heterogeneous materials. For a complete structure–property correlation, these mechanical measurements are considered to lack the ability to identify the chemical structure of the materials. In this study, the measured attractive force, Fattr, acting between the AFM tip and the sample is shown to be an independent measurement for the local chemical composition and hence a complete structure–property correlation can be obtained. A proof of concept is provided by two model samples comprised of (1) epoxy/polycarbonate and (2) epoxy/boehmite. The preparation of the model samples allowed for the assignment of material phases based on AFM topography. Additional chemical characterization on the nanoscale is performed by an AFM/infrared-spectroscopy hybrid method. Mechanical properties (kr) and attractive forces (Fattr) are calculated and a structure–property correlation is obtained by a manual principle component analysis (mPCA) from a kr/Fattr diagram. A third sample comprised of (3) epoxy/polycarbonate/boehmite is measured by ImAFM. The measurement of a 2 × 2 µm cross section yields 128 × 128 force curves which are successfully evaluated by a kr/Fattr diagram and the nanoscopic heterogeneity of the sample is determined.
Epoxy nanocomposites are promising materials for industrial applications (i.e., aerospace, marine and automotive industry) due to their extraordinary mechanical and thermal properties. Here, the effect of hollow halloysite nanotubes (HNT) on an epoxy matrix (Ep) was the focus of the study. The structure and molecular mobility of the nanocomposites were investigated using a combination of X-ray scattering, calorimetry (differential (DSC) and fast scanning calorimetry (FSC)) and dielectric spectroscopy. Additionally, the effect of surface modification of HNT (polydopamine (PDA) and Fe(OH)3 nanodots) was considered. For Ep/HNT, the glass transition temperature (Tg) is was de-creased due to a nanoparticle-related decrease of the crosslinking density. For the modified system, Ep/m-HNT, the surface modification resulted in enhanced filler–matrix interactions leading to higher Tg values than the pure epoxy in some cases. For Ep/m-HNT, the amount of interface formed between the nanoparticles and the matrix ranged from 5% to 15%. Through BDS measurements, localized fluctuations were detected as a β- and γ-relaxation, related to rotational fluctuations of phenyl rings and local reorientations of unreacted components. A combination of calorimetry and BDS dielectric spectroscopy revealed a dynamic and structural heterogeneity of the matrix, as confirmed by two glassy dynamics in both systems, related to regions with different crosslinking densities.
Carbon nanomembranes are synthetic two-dimensional sheets with nanometer thickness, macroscopic lateral dimensions, and high structural homogeneity. They have great application potential in various branches of nanotechnology. Because of their full carbon structure, it is not clear whether macromolecules like poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) can be irreversibly adsorbed on their surface. Here, irreversible adsorption means that the polymer chains cannot be removed by a leaching process, which is assumed in technological transfer processes. However, if polar defects are present on the carbon nanomembranes (CNMs), it may occur that polymers can be irreversibly adsorbed. To address this question, PMMA was spin-coated on top of CNMs, annealed for a specific time at different temperatures, and then tried to be removed by a acetone treatment in a leaching approach. The samples were investigated in detail by atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and broadband dielectric spectroscopy, where the latter method has been applied to CNMs for the first time. Unambiguously, it was shown that PMMA can be adsorbed on the surface of CNMs after annealing the sample above the glasstransition temperature of PMMA. The general occurrence of polar defects on the surface of CNMs and the adsorption of polymers open opportunities for advanced innovative hybrid materials combining the properties of the CNM with those of the polymer.
The reinforcing effect of boehmite nanoparticles (BNP) in epoxy resins for fiber composite lightweight construction is related to the formation of a soft but bound interphase between filler and polymer. The interphase is able to dissipate crack propagation energy and consequently increases the fracture toughness of the epoxy resin. Usually, the nanoparticles are dispersed in the resin and then mixed with the hardener to form an applicable mixture to impregnate the fibers. If one wishes to locally increase the fracture toughness at particularly stressed positions of the fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPC), this could be done by spraying nanoparticles from a suspension. However, this would entail high costs for removing the nanoparticles from the ambient air. We propose that a fiber fleece containing bound nanoparticles be inserted at exposed locations. For the present proof-of-concept study, an electrospun polycarbonate nonwoven and taurine modified BNP are proposed. After fabrication of suitable PC/EP/BNP composites, the thermomechanical properties were tested by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Comparatively, the local nanomechanical properties such as stiffness and elastic modulus were determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). An additional investigation of the distribution of the nanoparticles in the epoxy matrix, which is a prerequisite for an effective nanocomposite, is carried out by scanning electron microscopy in transmission mode (TSEM). From the results it can be concluded that the concept of carrier fibers for nanoparticles is viable.
Water treatment with activated carbon (AC) is an established method for the removal of organic micropollutants and natu ral organic matter. However, it is not yet possible to predict the removal of individual pollutants. An appropriate material characterization, matching adsorption processes in water, might be the missing piece in the puzzle. To this end, this study examined 25 diferent commercially available ACs to evaluate their material properties. Frequently reported analyses, including N2 adsorption/desorption, CHNS(O), point of zero charge (PZC) analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, were conducted on a selected subset of powdered ACs. Inorganic elements examined using X-ray fuorescence and X-ray difraction spectroscopy revealed that relative elemental contents were distinctive to the individual AC’s raw material and activation procedure. This study also is the frst to use thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled to Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to conduct quantitative analyses of functional surface oxygen groups (SOGs: carboxylic acid, anhydride, lactone, phenol, carbonyl, and pyrone groups) on such a large number of ACs. The comparably economical TGA method was found to provide good surrogates for the PZC by pyrolytic mass loss up to 600 ◦C (ML600), for the oxygen content by ML1000 and for the carbon content by oxidation. Mass loss profles depict the AC’s chemistry like fngerprints. Furthermore, we found that SOG contents determined by TGA-FTIR covered a wide individual range and depended on the raw material and production process of the AC. TGA and TGA-FTIR might therefore be used to identify the suitability of a particular AC for a variety of target substances in diferent target waters. This can help practitioners to control AC use in waterworks or wastewater treatment plants.
Tire and road wear particles (TRWPs) are heteroagglomerates of tire rubber and other particles deposited on the road surface and one of the main contributors to non-exhaust emissions of automobile traffic. In this study, samples from road environments were analyzed for their TRWP contents and concentra- tions of eight organic tire constituents. TRWP concentrations were determined by quantifying Zn in the density fraction < 1.9 g/cm ³and by thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) and the concentrations ranged from 3.7 to 480 mg TRWP/g. Strong and statistically signif- icant correlations with TRWPs were found for 2-hydroxybenzothiazole and 2-aminobenzothiazole, indi- cating that these substances may be suitable markers of TRWPs. The mass distribution of TRWPs in road dust suggests that the main mass fraction formed on roads consists of coarse particles ( > 100 μm). Data for a sedimentation basin indicate that the fine fraction ( < 50 μm) is preferentially transported by road runoffinto receiving waters. The size distribution and density data of TRWP gathered by three different quantitation approaches also suggest that aging of TRWPs leads to changes in their particle density. An improved understanding of the dynamics of TRWP properties is essential to assess the distribution and dissipation of this contaminant of emerging concern in the environment.
The phase behavior and molecular ordering of hexakishexyloxy triphenylene (HAT6) DLC under cylindrical nanoconfinement is studied utilizing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dielectric spectroscopy (DS), where cylindrical nanoconfinement is established through embedding HAT6 into the nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide membranes (AAO), and a silica membrane with pore diameters ranging from 161 nm down to 12 nm. Both unmodified and modified pore walls were considered, and in the latter case the pore walls of AAO membranes were chemical treated with n octadecylphosphonic acid (ODPA) resulting in the formation of a 2.2 nm thick layer of grafted alkyl chains. Phase transition enthalpies decrease with decreasing pore size, indicating that a large proportion of the HAT6 molecules within the pores has a disordered structure, which increases with decreasing pore size for both pore walls. In the case of the ODPA modification the amount of ordered HAT6 is increased compared to the unmodified case. The pore size dependencies of the phase transition temperatures were approximated using the Gibbs Thomson equation, where the estimated surface tension is dependent on the molecular ordering of HAT6 molecules within the pores and upon their surface. DS was employed to investigate the molecular ordering of HAT6 within the nanopores. These investigations revealed that with a pore size of around 38 nm, for the samples with the unmodified pore walls, the molecular ordering changes from planar axial to homeotropic radial. However, the planar axial configuration, which is suitable for electronic applications, can be successfully preserved through ODPA modification for most of the pore sizes.
Dose enhancement by gold nanoparticles (AuNP) increases the biological effectiveness of Radiation damage in biomolecules and tissue. To apply them effectively during cancer therapy their influence on the locally delivered dose has to be determined. Hereby, the AuNP locations strongly influence the energy deposit in the nucleus, mitochondria, membrane and the cytosol of the targeted cells. To estimate these effects, particle scattering simulations are applied. In general, different approaches for modeling the AuNP and their distribution within the cell are possible. In this work, two newly developed continuous and discrete-geometric models for simulations of AuNP in cells are presented.
These models are applicable to simulations of internal emitters and external radiation sources. Most of the current studies on AuNP focus on external beam therapy. In contrast, we apply the presented models in Monte-Carlo particle scattering simulations to characterize the energy deposit in cell organelles by radioactive 198AuNP. They emit beta and gamma rays and are therefore considered for applications with solid tumors. Differences in local dose enhancement between randomly distributed and nucleus targeted nanoparticles are compared. Hereby nucleus targeted nanoparticels showed a strong local dose enhancement in the radio sensitive nucleus. These results are the foundation for future experimental work which aims to obtain a mechanistic understanding of cell death induced by radioactive 198Au.
The quantitative difference in the antibacterial response was measured for pine rosin and propolis against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12598. The activity was studied for fibrous networks that form entirely bio-based cellulose-acetate (CA) materials. The analysis considers the effects of bacterial input, additive dosage, solvent type, variation in preparation, as well as the effect of storage time. Based on the results, the electrospun network structure is dependent on the solvent and the concentration of rosin and propolis. Both rosin and propolis improved the cellulose acetate solution processability, yet they formed beads at high concentrations. Rosin and propolis created strong antibacterial properties when these material systems were immersed in the liquid for 24 h at room temperature. The response remained visible for a minimum of two months. The electrospun networks of water and DMAc solvent systems with 1 to 5 wt% rosin content were clearly more efficient (i.e., decrease of 4 to 6 logs in colony forming units per mL) than the propolis networks, even after two months. This efficiency is likely due to the high content of abietic acids present in the rosin, which is based on the Fourier transform infrared spectra. The results of the additional analysis and cell cultivation with dermal fibroblast cells indicated an impairing effect on skin tissue by the rosin at a 1 wt% concentration compared to the pure CA fibers.
The complex effects of nanoparticles on a thermosetting material based on an anhydride cured DGEBA/Boehmite nanocomposite with different particle concentrations is considered. A combination of X-ray scattering, calorimetry, including fast scanning calorimetry as well as temperature modulated calorimetry and dielectric spectroscopy, was employed to study the structure, the vitrification kinetics and the molecular dynamics of the nanocomposites. For the first time in the literature for an epoxy-based composite a detailed analysis of the X-ray data was carried out. Moreover, the unfilled polymer was found to be intrinsically heterogeneous, showing regions with different crosslinking density, indicated by two separate dynamic glass transitions. The glass transition temperature decreases with increasing nanoparticle concentration, resulting from a change in the crosslinking density. Moreover, on the one hand, for nanocomposites the incorporation of nanofiller increased the number of mobile segments for low nanoparticle concentrations, due to the altered crosslinking density. On the other hand, for higher loading degrees the number of mobile segments decreased, resulting from the formation of an immobilized interphase (RAF). The simultaneous mobilization and immobilization of the segmental dynamics cannot be separated unambiguously. Taking the sample with highest number of mobile segments as reference state it was possible to estimate the amount of RAF.
The molecular dynamics of the triphenylene-based discotic liquid crystal HAT6 is investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy, advanced dynamical calorimetry and neutron scattering. Differential scanning calorimetry in combination with X-ray scattering reveals that HAT6 has a plastic crystalline phase at low temperatures, a hexagonally ordered liquid crystalline phase at higher temperatures and undergoes a clearing transition at even higher temperatures. The dielectric spectra show several relaxation processes: a localized gamma-relaxation a lower temperature and a so called alpha-2-relaxation at higher temperatures. The relaxation rates of the alpha-2-relaxation have a complex temperature dependence and bear similarities to a dynamic glass transition. The relaxation rates estimated by hyper DSC, Fast Scanning calorimetry and AC Chip calorimetry have a different temperature dependence than the dielectric alpha-2-relaxation and follows the VFT-behavior characteristic for glassy dynamics. Therefore, this process is called alpha-1-relaxation. Its relaxation rates show a similarity with that of polyethylene. For this reason, the alpha-1-relaxation is assigned to the dynamic glass transition of the alkyl chains in the intercolumnar space. Moreover, this process is not observed by dielectric spectroscopy which supports its assignment. The alpha-2-relaxation was assigned to small scale translatorial and/or small angle fluctuations of the cores.
The neutron scattering data reveal two relaxation processes. The process observed at shorter relaxation times is assigned to the methyl group rotation. The second relaxation process at longer time scales agree in the temperature dependence of its relaxation rates with that of the dielectric gamma-relaxation.
Comprehensive Characterization of APTES Surface Modifications of Hydrous Boehmite Nanoparticles
(2020)
Hydrous boehmite (γ-AlOOH) nanoparticles (BNP) show great potential as nanoscale filler for the fabrication of fiber reinforced nanocomposite materials. Notably, the particle−matrix interaction has been demonstrated to be decisive for improving the matrix-dominant mechanical properties in the past years. Tailoring the surface properties of the nanofiller enables to selectively design the interaction and thus to exploit the benefits of the nanocomposite in an optimal way. Here, an extensive study is presented on the binding of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), a common silane surface modifier, on BNP in correlation to different process parameters (concentration, time, temperature, and pH). Furthermore, a comprehensive characterization of the modified BNP was performed by using elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with mass spectrometry (TGA-MS), and Kaiser’s test (KT). The results show an increasing monolayer formation up to a complete surface coverage with rising APTES concentration, time, and temperature, resulting in a maximal grafting density of 1.3 molecules/nm². Unspecific multilayer formation was solely observed under acidic conditions. Comparison of TGA-MS results with data recorded from EA, TGA, and KT verified that TGA-MS is a convenient and highly suitable method to elucidate the ligand binding in detail.
Thin films (200-7nm) of the asymmetric polymer blend poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME)/polystyrene (PS) (25/75wt%) were investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). Thicker samples ([Formula: see text]37 nm) were measured by crossed electrode capacitors (CEC), where the film is capped between Al-electrodes. For thinner films ([Formula: see text]37 nm) nanostructured capacitors (NSC) were employed, allowing one free surface in the film. The dielectric spectra of the thick films showed three relaxation processes ( [Formula: see text] -, [Formula: see text] - and [Formula: see text] -relaxation), like the bulk, related to PVME fluctuations in local spatial regions with different PS concentrations. The thickness dependence of the [Formula: see text] -process for films measured by CECs proved a spatially heterogeneous structure across the film with a PS-adsorption at the Al-electrodes. On the contrary, for the films measured by NSCs a PVME segregation at the free surface was found, resulting in faster dynamics, compared to the CECs. Moreover, for the thinnest films ([Formula: see text]26 nm) an additional relaxation process was detected. It was assigned to restricted fluctuations of PVME segments within the loosely bounded part of the adsorbed layer, proving that for NSCs a PVME enrichment takes place also at the polymer/substrate interface.
Ionic Liquid Crystals are ionic liquids that exhibit liquid crystalline mesomorphism together with ionic conductivity. As known confined liquid crystal mesophases can show an anomalous dynamics and phase behavior. Investigations considering the factors controlling the macroscopic properties of ILCs in confinement are scare in the literature. This study reports the molecular mobility, and the phase transition behavior of a guanidinium based columnar ILC confined in the nanopores of self-ordered anodic aluminum oxide membranes of various pore diameters (25 – 180 nm) using Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS), calorimetry and X-ray scattering. It is aimed to reveal in which way the pore size as well as the pore surface wettability (hydrophobic or hydrophilic) alters the molecular dynamics, and phase transition behavior for this system. These properties are crucial for applications. The DSC investigations reveal: (i) the phase transition temperature for the transition from the plastic crystalline to the crystalline-liquid state has non-monotonic dependence versus the inverse pore diameter and (ii) the transition from the liquid crystalline to the isotropic phase is suppressed for all nanoconfined samples. This transition suppressed in the thermal signal was evidenced by BDS and X-ray scattering. It is discussed as a continuous phase transition taking place in the pores instead of a discontinuous first order transition as observed for the bulk. BDS investigations show different relaxation processes for the bulk and the nanoconfined ILC. Molecular origins for various relaxation processes are discussed and suggested. It is further shown that the self-assembly of this ILC is dynamic in nature which might apply for other ILCs too. The obtained results will have implications for the nanoscale applications of ionic liquid crystals.
Copper has a strong bactericidal effect against multi-drug resistant pathogens and polyethers are known for their resistance to biofilm formation. Herein, we combined Cu nanoparticles (NPs) and a polyether Plasma polymer in the form of nanocomposite thin films and studied whether both effects can be coupled. Cu NPs were produced by magnetron sputtering via the aggregation in a cool buffer gas whereasolyether layers were synthesized by Plasma-Assisted Vapor Phase Deposition with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) used as a precursor. In situ specific heat spectroscopy and XPS analysis revealed the formation of a modified polymer layer around the NPs which propagates on the scale of a few nanometers from the Cu NP/polymer interface and then transforms into a bulk polymer phase. The chemical composition of the modified layer is found to be ether-deficient due to the catalytic influence of copper whereas the bulk polymer Phase exhibits the chemical composition close to the original PEO. Two cooperative glass transition phenomena are revealed that belong to the modified polymer layer and the bulk phase. The former is characterized by constrained mobility of polymer segments which manifests itself via a 30 K increase of dynamic glass transition temperature. Furthermore, the modified layer is characterized by the heterogeneous structure which results in higher fragility of this layer as compared to the bulk phase. The Cu NPs/polyether thin films exhibit reduced Protein adsorption; however, the constrained segmental dynamics leads to the Deterioration of the non-fouling properties for ultra-thin polyether coatings. The films are found to have a bactericidal effect against multi-drug resistant Gram-positive Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
A fast method for microplastic detection is thermal extraction desorption‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED‐GC/MS), which uses polymer‐specific thermal decomposition products as marker compounds to determine polymer mass contents in environmental samples. So far, matrix impacts of different environmental matrices on TED‐GC/MS performance had not yet been assessed systematically. Therefore, three solid freshwater matrices representing different aquatic bodies with varying organic matter contents were spiked with a total of eight polymers. Additionally, for the first time, the two biodegradable polymers polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and polylactide (PLA) were analysed using TED‐GC/MS. The methodological focus of this work was on detectability, quality of signal formation as well as realisation of quantification procedures and determination of the limit of detection (LOD) values. Overall, TED‐GC/MS allowed the unambiguous detection of the environmentally most relevant polymers analysed, even at low mass contents: 0.02 wt% for polystyrene (PS), 0.04 wt% for the tyre component styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) and 0.2 wt% for polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and PBAT. Further, all obtained LOD values were increased in all matrices compared to the neat polymer without matrix. The LOD of the standard polymers were increased similarly (PS: 0.21–0.34 μg, SBR: 0.27–0.38 μg, PP: 0.32–0.36 μg, PMMA: 0.64–1.30 μg, PET: 0.90–1.37 μg, PE: 3.80–6.99 μg) and their decompositions by radical scission processes were not significantly influenced by the matrices. In contrast, matrixspecific LOD increases of both biodegradable polymers PBAT (LOD: 1.41–7.18 μg) and PLA (0.84–20.46 μg) were observed, probably due to their hetero‐functional character and interactions with the matrices. In conclusion, the TED‐GC/MS performance is not solely determined by the type of the polymers but also by the composition of the matrix.
The need of clean water and the water-poor are increasing daily in the world. In addition, we are facing a dramatic increase in the industrial pollutions of rivers and groundwater, which led us to find a new way to treat industrial pollutants. The plasma discharge technique is one of the important, safe, and applicable for industrial wastewater decontamination. Decolorization of Brilliant Blue R (BBR) dye as a hazard material was noticed when the contaminated solution was exposed to the plasma discharge technique. The combination between the nonthermal plasma and catalysts was evaluated in this work to optimize the degradation efficiency. The PVDF/(MWCNTs/TiO2) as three system composites was employed to enhance the nonthermal plasma performance. The surface area, phase purity, shape, and photonic efficiency were characterized employing XRD, FTIR, SEM, DSC, and UV–Vis. techniques. The obtained results of degradation using NTP technique in presence of the PVDF/MWCNTs catalyst have been enhanced the BBR dye degradation by 19% than only plasma treatment for 20 min.
The durability processes of prepared PVDF/(MWCNTs/TiO2) was investigated and evaluated until 8 solar photocatalytic process repeating times.
Decolorization of Acid Orange 142 (AO142) as important water pollutant was observed on the exposure of the dye solutions to an atmospheric non-thermal gas plasma. Aresponse Surface methodology (RSM) combined with a central composite design (CCD) was utilized to optimize the main factors (variables) affecting the degradation efficiency (response) of AO142, such as the applied voltage, the gap distance between the high voltage electrode and the surface of the solution. The regression analysis showed that a first-order polynomial model well fits the experimental data with a coefficient of determination R2=0.96. FT-IR, UV-vis,TOCand GC-MS measurements were used to investigate the decolorization of the dye on exposure to the plasma discharges. A possible Degradation pathway was postulated. Additionally, the conductivity and pH changes during the treatment were also evaluated. The plasma treatment combined with Fe2+ (plasma Fenton reaction) exhibited a higher degradation efficiency, higher energy yield connected with lower energy consumption in comparison to the plasma treatment without Fe2+ addition.
We found previously how to estimate the density of the adsorbed surface species in the case of the molecules interacting to the oxide support surface by one type of bond. Here this algorithm is developed for the case of the molecules which can be bonded to the support surface by two types of bonds. The adsorption assumptions are similar to those considered in the case of only one type of bond. The calculation is exemplified for some composites of cyanophenyl alkylbenzoates (CPnBs) (n is the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain) interacting with Aerosil A380. The interaction takes place by hydrogen bonding between the –OH groups or the support and the functional groups of the CPnB molecules. The estimated values of the total surface density of CPnBs agree well with those found for the composites containing related but simpler molecules.
The scientific and practical challenge of detecting microplastics (MPs) in the environment in a targeted and rapid manner is solved by innovative coupling of thermogravimetric analysis with mass spectrometric methods.
Fast identification and quantitative determination of most thermoplastic polymers and elastomers is possible by using thermal extraction Desorption gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (TED-GC–MS).
Tire wear (TW) constitutes a significant source of microplastic in terrestrial ecosystems. It is known that particles emitted by roads can have an effect up to 100 m into adjacent areas. Here, we apply for the first-time thermal extraction desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) to determine TW in soil samples by detection of thermal decomposition products of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), without additional enrichment. Additionally, zinc contents were determined as an elemental marker for TW. Mixed soil samples were taken along three transects along a German motorway in 0.3, 2.0, and 5.0 m distance from the road. Sampling depths were 0–2, 2–5, 5–10, and 10–20 cm. Four fine fractions, 1 000–500, 500–100, 100–50, and <50 μm, were analyzed.
TW contents based on SBR ranged from 155 to 15 898 mg kg−1. TW contents based on zinc were between 413 and 44 812 mg kg−1. Comparison of individual values of SBR and zinc reveals SBR as a more specific marker. Results confirm that most TW ends up in the topsoil within a 2 m distance.
The sampling strategy resulted in representative data for a larger area. Standard deviations of quadruple TED-GC/MS determination of SBR were <10% for all grain size fractions. TED-GC/MS is a suitable analytical tool for determining TW in soil samples without the use of toxic chemicals, enrichment, or special sample preparation.
A harmonization of sampling, sample preparation and detection is pivotal in order to obtain comparable data on microplastics (MP) in the environment. This paper develops and proposes a suitable sampling concept for waterbodies that considers different plastic specific properties and influencing factors in the environment.
Both artificial water including defined MP fractions and the discharge of a wastewater treatment plant were used to verify the derived sampling procedure, sample preparation and the subsequent analysis of MP using thermal extraction-desorption gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS).
A major finding of this paper is that an application of various particle size classes greatly improves the practical handling of the sampling equipment. Size classes also enable the TED-GC-MS to provide any data on the MP size distribution, a substantial sampling property affecting both the necessary sampling volume and the optimal sampling depth.
In the artificial water with defined MP fractions, the recovery rates ranged from 80 to 110%, depending on the different MP types and MP size classes. In the treated wastewater, we found both Polyethylene and polystyrene in different size classes and quantities.
An investigation of microplastic (MP) occurrence in a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent with tertiary treatment was carried out. Representative sample volumes of 1 m3 were taken by applying a fractionated filtration method (500, 100, and 50 µm mesh sizes). The detection of MP mass fractions by thermal extraction desorption–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) was achieved without the previously required additional sample pretreatment for the first time. Different types of quantification methods for the evaluation of TED-GC/MS data were tested, and their accuracy and feasibility have been proven for real samples. Polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene were identified in effluent samples. The polymer mass content varied significantly between 5 and 50 mg m−3. A correlation between the MP load and the quantity of suspended matter in the WWTP effluents, particle size distribution, particle type, and operation day (i.e., weekday, season, and capacity) was not found. It can be concluded that a meaningful assessment of WWTPs requires a comprehensive sampling campaign with varying operation conditions.
Nanocomposites based on MgAL layered double hydroxides (LDH) and an epoxy resin were prepared and investigated by a combination of complementary methods. As epoxy resin Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (DGEBA) was used with Diethylenetriamine as curing agent. The LDH was modified with taurine, which acts as an additional crosslinking agent due to its amine groups. The epoxy resin was cured in a presence of the nanofiller, which was added to the system in various concentrations. X-ray scattering, by combination of SAXS and WAXS was used to characterize the morphology of the obtained nanocomposites. These investigations show that the filler is distributed in the matrix as small stacks of ca. 10 layers. The molecular dynamics of the system, as probe for structure, was investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy. In addition to the - and -relaxation (dynamic glass transition), characteristic for the unfilled materials, a further process was found which was assigned to localized fluctuations of segments physically adsorbed or chemically bonded to the nanoparticles. The dielectric -relaxation is shifted to higher temperatures for the nanocomposites in comparison to the pure material but depends weakly on the content of nanoparticles. Further, for the first time Flash DSC was employed to a thermosetting system to investigate the glass transition behavior of the nanocomposites. The heating rates were converted in to relaxation rates. For low concentrations of the nanofiller the thermal data overlap more or less with that of the pure epoxy. For higher concentrations the thermal data are shifted significantly to higher temperatures. This is discussed in terms the cooperativity approach to the glass transition.
DNA long-term stability and integrity is of importance for applications in DNA based bio-dosimetry, data-storage, pharmaceutical quality-control, donor insemination and DNA based functional nanomaterials. Standard protocols for these applications involve repeated freeze-thaw cycles of the DNA, which can cause detrimental damage to the nucleobases, as well as the sugar-phosphate backbone and therefore the whole molecule. Throughout the literature three hypotheses can be found about the underlying mechanisms occurring during freeze-thaw cycles. It is hypothesized that DNA single-strand breaks during freezing can be induced by mechanical stress leading to shearing of the DNA molecule, by acidic pH causing damage through depurination and beta elimination or by the presence of metal ions catalyzing oxidative damage via reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here we test these hypotheses under well defined conditions with plasmid DNA pUC19 in high-purity buffer (1xPBS) at physiological salt and pH 7.4 conditions, under pH 6 and in the presence of metal ions in combination with the radical scavengers DMSO and Ectoine. The results show for the 2686 bp long plasmid DNA, that neither mechanical stress, nor pH 6 lead to degradation during repeated freeze-thaw cycles. In contrast, the presence of metal ions (Fe2+) leads to degradation of DNA via the production of radical species.
The thermodynamic behavior of thin PVME films including the irreversible adsorbed layer on the substrate is investigated. In a first step, the growth kinetics of the adsorbed layer was studied combining a leaching technique and atomic force microscopy. Further, it was shown that there is a critical initial film thickness for the formation of a surface-filling adsorbed layer. Additionally, spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements were carried out to investigate the influence of the adsorbed layer on the glass transition temperature of the thin films. For 30 nm films and below, the influence of the adsorbed layer percolates strongly to the bulk-like layer of the film. Finally, the molecular dynamics of the adsorbed layer was studied by broadband dielectric spectroscopy, employing nanostructured-electrode systems. One process was revealed, which was assigned either to molecular fluctuations taking place in a loosely-bounded the part of the adsorbed layer, or to the desorption/adsorption of segments at the substrate.
Amphiphilic amino acids represent promising scaffolds for biologically active soft matter. In order to understand the bulk self-assembly of amphiphilic amino acids into thermotropic liquid crystalline phases and their biological properties a series of tyrosine ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) was synthesized, carrying a benzoate unit with 0–3 alkoxy chains at the tyrosine unit and a cationic guanidinium head group. Investigation of the mesomorphic properties by polarizing optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (WAXS, SAXS) revealed smectic A bilayers (SmAd) for ILCs with 4-alkoxy- and 3,4-dialkoxybenzoates, whereas ILCs with 3,4,5-trisalkoxybenzoates showed hexagonal columnar mesophases (Colh ), while different counterions had only a minor influence. Dielectric measurements revealed a slightly higher dipole moment of non-mesomorphic tyrosine-benzoates as compared to their mesomorphic counterparts. The absence of lipophilic side chains on the benzoate unit was important for the biological activity. Thus, non-mesomorphic tyrosine benzoates and crown ether benzoates devoid of additional side chains at the benzoate unit displayed the highest cytotoxicities (against L929 mouse fibroblast cell line) and antimicrobial activity (against Escherichia coli DTolC and Staphylococcus aureus) and promising selectivity ratio in favour of antimicrobial activity.
Dynamics and ionic conductivity of ionic liquid crystals forming a hexagonal columnar mesophase
(2018)
For the first time, the molecular mobility of two linear-shaped tetramethylated guanidinium triflate ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) having different length of alkyl chains were investigated by a combination of broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and specific heat spectroscopy (SHS). By self-assembly, these ILCs can form a hexagonal ordered mesophase besides plastic crystalline phases and the isotropic state. Three dielectric active processes were found by BDS for both samples. At low temperatures, a γ-process in the plastic crystalline state is observed which is assigned to localized fluctuations of methyl groups including nitrogen atoms in the guanidinium head. At higher temperatures but still in the plastic crystalline state, an α1-process takes place. An α2 process was detected by SHS but with a completely different temperature dependence of the relaxation times than that of the α1-relaxation. This result is discussed in detail, and different molecular assignments of the processes are suggested. At even higher temperatures, electrical conductivity is detected and an increase in the DC conductivity by four orders of magnitude at the phase transition from the plastic crystalline to the hexagonal columnar mesophase is found. This result is traced to a change in the charge transport mechanism from a delocalized electron hopping in the stacked aromatic systems (in the plastic phase) to one dominated by an ionic conduction in the quasi-1D ion channels formed along the supermolecular columns in the ILCs hexagonal mesophases.
Ectoine is a small zwitterionic osmolyte and compatible solute, which does not interfere with cell metabolism even at molar concentrations. Plasmid DNA (pUC19) was irradiated with ultraviolet radiation (UV-C at 266 nm) under quasi physiological conditions (PBS) and in pure water in the presence and absence of ectoine (THP(B)) and hydroxyectoine (THP(A)). Different types of UV induced DNA damage were analysed: DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs), abasic sites and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs). A complex interplay between these factors was observed with respect to the nature and occurrence of DNA damage with 266 nm photons. In PBS, the cosolutes showed efficient protection against base damage, whilst in pure water, a dramatic shift from SSB damage to base damage was observed when cosolutes were added. To test whether these effects are caused by ectoine binding to DNA, further experiments were conducted: small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), surface-plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements and Raman spectroscopy. The results show, for the first time, a close interaction between ectoine and DNA. This is in stark contrast to the assumption made by preferential exclusion models, which are often used to interpret the behaviour of compatible solutes within cells and with biomolecules. It is tentatively proposed that the alterations of UV damage to DNA are attributed to ectoine influence on nucleobases through the direct interaction between ectoine and DNA.
Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs) of high performance have developed as materials with a wide application range in gas separation and other energy-related fields. Further optimization and long-term behavior of devices with PIMs require an understanding of the structure-property relationships including physical aging. In this context the glass transi-tion plays a central role, but with conventional thermal analysis a glass transition is usually not detectable for PIMs be-fore their thermal decomposition. Fast scanning calorimetry provides evidence of the glass transition for a series of PIMs, as the time scales responsible for thermal degradation and for the glass transition are decoupled by employing ultrafast heating rates of tens of thousands K s-1. The investigated PIMs were chosen considering the chain rigidity. The estimated glass transition temperatures follow the order of the rigidity of the backbone of the PIMs.
For the first time, structure−electrochemical relationships of thin films of a plasma-polymerized acrylic acid/carbon dioxide AA/CO2 (75/25%) copolymer modified by implanted silver nanoparticles are discussed. The pulsed plasma polymerization of AA/CO2 was utilized and adjusted to obtain a maximal amount of COOH Groups forming an almost uncross-linked polymer structure. The prepared polymer layer is rinsed by a silver nitrate solution to impregnate Ag+ ions. This step is followed by its reduction of Ag+ with NaBH4 as a chemical route in comparison to the reduction by sunlight as an ecofriendly photoreduction method. The chemical composition and morphology of the topmost surface layer of the AA/CO2 polymer thin film were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Moreover, the molecular mobility, conductivity, and thermal stability of the polymer layer were analyzed using broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The dielectric properties of the AA/
CO2 polymer thin film were studied in the presence of Ag+ ions or Ag0. It was found that a cross-linked polymer layer with a smooth surface and high conductivity was obtained in the presence of Ag+/ Ag0.
The effects of weathering exposure on unfilled and filled thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) materials are described as performed under different humidity conditions. For this purpose, a weathering device was used with UV-A 340 nm lamps at a constant temperature of 40 °C. The effects of environmental (UV and humidity condition) degradation on the frictional properties of TPU materials are presented along with surface analyses to characterize the chemistry of the degradative process. Photooxidative degradation of unfilled polymer leads to deterioration of physical and mechanical properties, which affects its tribological behavior significantly. Due to crosslinking, the stiffness of the material increases, reducing drastically the friction coefficient of unfilled TPUs. The frictional behavior of glass fiber reinforced TPU is less affected by radiation.
Electrical conductivity and multiple glassy dynamics of crow-ether based columnar liquid crystals
(2020)
The phase behavior of two unsymmetrical triphenylene crown ether-based columnar liquid crystals (CLCs) bearing different lengths of alkyl chains, KAL465 and KAL468, was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A plastic crystalline (Cry), columnar liquid crystalline (Colh) and an isotropic phase were observed along with two glass transitions in the Cry phase. The molecular mobility of the KAL compounds was further studied by a combination of broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and advanced calorimetric techniques. By the BDS investigations, three dielectric active relaxation processes were observed for both samples. At low temperatures, a γ-process in the Cry state was detected and is assigned to the localized fluctuations taking place in the alkyl chains. An α2-process takes place at higher temperatures in the Cry phase. An α3 process was found in the Colh mesophase. The advanced calorimetric techniques consist of fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) and specific heat spectroscopy (SHS) employing temperature modulated DSC and FSC (TMDSC and TMFSC). The advanced calorimetric investigations revealed that besides the α2 process in agreement with BDS, a second dynamic glass transition (α1-process) is present which is not observed by dielectric spectroscopy. The results are in good agreement with the glass transitions detected by DSC for this process. The temperature dependences of the relaxation rates of the α1 , α2 and α3 processes are all different. Therefore, different molecular assignments for the relaxation processes are proposed. In addition to the relaxation processes, a conductivity contribution was explored by BDS for both KAL compounds. The conductivity contribution appears in both Cry and Colh phases, where the conductivity increases by ca. one order of magnitude at phase transition from the crystalline to the hexagonal phase.
Though the reinforcing properties of inorganic particles in thermosetting nanocomposites, has been exploited, the integration of nanoparticles continues to be challenging in terms of their homogeneous distribution and their manipulation which can contribute to occupational hazards. Due to a second encapsulations of nanoparticles, electrospun nanocomposite fibers containing nanoparticles might be an alternative for overcoming these issues, as the fiber nonwovens contains the nanoparticles allowing for safer manipulation. Here, the morphology, and the thermal properties of electrospun polycarbonate fibers containing taurine modified boehmite nanoparticles (BNP) are investigated by means of small and wide-angle X-ray scattering as well as fast scanning and temperature modulated fast scanning calorimetry for the first time. The latter techniques allow the investigation of the thermal properties of single fibers at heating rates up to 10^4 K s^-1 keeping its structure intact. A quantitative analysis of the scattering data reveals a porous structure of the fibers. The porous structure is quantified regarding the pore volume and the pore size. A constant amount of aggregation is found even for the highly BNP loaded fibers. Thermal analysis on the fibers reveals a rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) where it is known that RAF determinates the properties of a nanocomposite to a large extent. For the fibers RAF amounts up to 40 wt%, which is essential higher compared to equally formulated PC/BNP composite cast films. The RAF in the case of the fibers, is not only due to the presence of particles in the polymer but also due to orientation effects induced by the electrospinning process.
The composition of the surface layer in dependence from the distance of the polymer/air interface in thin films with thicknesses below 100 nm of miscible polymer blends in a spatial region of a few nanometers is not investigated completely. Here, thin films of the blend poly vinyl methyl ether) (PVME)/polystyrene (PS) with a composition of 25/75 wt% are investigated by Energy Resolved X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (ER-XPS) at a synchrotron storage ring using excitation energies lower than 1 keV. By changing the energy of the photons the information depth is varied in the range from ca. 1 nm to 10 nm. Therefore, the PVME concentration could be estimated in dependence from the distance of the polymer/air interface for film thicknesses below 100 nm. Firstly, as expected for increasing information depth the PVME concentration decreases. Secondly, it was found that the PVME concentration at the surface has a complicated dependence on the film thickness. It increases with decreasing film thickness until 30 nm where a maximum is reached. For smaller film thicknesses the PVME concentration decreases. A simplified layer model is used to calculate the effective PVME concentration in the different spatial regions of the surface layer.
The plastic value chain, central part of modern living, caused environmental pollution and bioaccumulation of plastic nanoparticles (PNPs). Their ubiquitous presence in different environmental and biological compartments has become a serious threat to human health and ecosystems. Frequently used plastic materials such as polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE) have been detected in the form of PNPs in the food chain, soil, water and air, as well as in human feces and blood. In this study, we aimed to provide novel insights in endocrine disrupting properties of PNPs using in vitro estrogen receptor (ER) transactivation assay. The effects of PP-NPs, PE-NPs and PS-NPs and their mixture on T47D-KBluc cell line stably transfected with luciferase as reporter enzyme was evaluated by means of cytotoxicity, cellular uptake and ER activation. Tested dose range for PNPs was 0.001 – 10 mg/L. Both cellular uptake and cytotoxicity for all PNPs was found to be dose-dependent. Only the highest dose of PP-NPs and PE-NPs induced apoptosis and cell death, while PS-NPs were not cytotoxic in tested dose range. For tested concentrations, PP-NPs and PE-NPs showed significant agonistic activity on ER, while PS-NPs cannot be considered ER active. When, applied as mixture, PNP demonstrated additive toxicity effects compared to the effect of each individual PNPs. Additivity was also observed for ER agonistic effect of PNPs mixture according to the benchmark dose-addition modelling approach. This study provides missing science-based evidence on endocrine disrupting effects of PE-NPs, PP-NPs, PS-NPs and their mixtures and highlights the importance of considering unintentional, aggregate and combined exposure to different PNPs in risk management.
Microplastic particles are currently detected in almost all environmental compartments. The results of detection vary widely, as a multitude of very different methods are used with very different requirements for analytical validity.
In this work four thermoanalytical methods are compared and their advantages and limitations are discussed. One of them is thermal extraction-desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS), an analysis method for microplastic detection that has become established in recent years. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR) and mass spectrometry (TGA-MS) were applied, two methods that are less common in this field but are still used in other research areas. Finally, microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC) was applied, a method not yet used for microplastic detection.
The presented results are taken from a recently published interlaboratory comparison test by Becker et al. (2020). Here a reference material consisting of suspended matter and specified added polymer masses was examined, and only the results of the recoveries were presented. In the present paper, however, the results for the individual polymers are discussed in detail and individual perspectives for all instruments are shown.
It was found that TED-GC/MS is the most suitable method for samples with unknown matrix and unknown, variable kinds and contents of microplastic. TGA-FTIR is a robust method for samples with known matrix and with defined kinds of microplastic. TGA-MS may offer a solution for the detection of PVC particles in the future. MCC can be used as a very fast and simple screening method for the identification of a potential microplastic load of standard polymers in unknown samples.
Spherical lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) fabricated via nanoprecipitation of dissolved lignin are among the most attractive biomass-derived nanomaterials. Despite various studies exploring the methods to improve the uniformity of LNPs or seeking more application opportunities for LNPs, little attention has been given to the fundamental aspects of the solvent effects on the intrinsic properties of LNPs. In this study, we employed a variety of experimental techniques and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the solvent effects on the intrinsic properties of LNPs. The LNPs were prepared from softwood Kraft lignin (SKL) using the binary solvents of aqueous acetone or aqueous tetrahydrofuran (THF) via nanoprecipitation. The internal morphology, porosity, and mechanical properties of the LNPs were analyzed with electron tomography (ET), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and intermodulation AFM (ImAFM). We found that aqueous acetone resulted in smaller LNPs with higher uniformity compared to aqueous THF, mainly ascribing to stronger solvent−lignin interactions as suggested by MD simulation results and confirmed with aqueous 1,4-dioxane (DXN) and aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).
More importantly, we report that both LNPs were compact particles with relatively homogeneous density distribution and very low porosity in the internal structure. The stiffness of the particles was independent of the size, and the Young’s modulus was in the range of 0.3−4 GPa. Overall, the fundamental understandings of LNPs gained in this study are essential for the design of LNPs with optimal performance in applications.
Exploratory analysis of hyperspectral FTIR data obtained from environmental microplastics samples
(2020)
Hyperspectral imaging of environmental samples with infrared microscopes is one of the preferred methods to find and characterize microplastics. Particles can be quantified in terms of number, size and size distribution. Their shape can be studied and the substances can be identified. Interpretation of the collected spectra is a typical problem encountered during the analysis. The image datasets are large and contain spectra of countless particles of natural and synthetic origin. To supplement existing Analysis pipelines, exploratory multivariate data analysis was tested on two independent datasets. Dimensionality reduction with principal component analysis (PCA) and uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) was used as a core concept. It allowed for improved visual accessibility of the data and created a chemical two-dimensional image of the sample. Spectra belonging to particles could be separated from blank spectra, reducing the amount of data significantly. Selected spectra were further studied, also applying PCA and UMAP. Groups of similar spectra were identified by cluster analysis using k-means, density based, and interactive manual clustering. Most clusters could be assigned to chemical species based on reference spectra. While the results support findings obtained with a ‘targeted analysis’ based on automated library search, exploratory analysis points the attention towards the group of unidientified spectra that remained and are otherwise easily overlooked.
Despite the increasing concern about the harmful effects of micro- and
nanoplastics (MNPs), there are no harmonized guidelines or protocols yet available for MNP ecotoxicity testing. Current ecotoxicity studies often use commercial spherical particles as models for MNPs, but in nature, MNPs occur in variable shapes, sizes and chemical compositions. Moreover, protocols developed for chemicals that dissolve or form stable dispersions are currently used for assessing the ecotoxicity of MNPs. Plastic particles, however, do not dissolve and also show dynamic behavior in the exposure medium, depending on, for example, MNP physicochemical properties and the medium’s conditions such as pH and ionic strength. Here we describe an exposure protocol that considers the particle-specific properties of MNPs and their dynamic behavior in exposure systems. Procedure 1 describes the top-down production of more realistic MNPs as representative of MNPs in nature and particle characterization (e.g., using thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry). Then, we describe exposure system development for short- and long-term toxicity tests for soil (Procedure 2) and aquatic (Procedure 3) organisms. Procedures 2 and 3 explain how to modify existing ecotoxicity guidelines for chemicals to target testing MNPs in selected exposure systems. We show some examples that were used to develop the protocol to test, for example, MNP toxicity in marine rotifers, freshwater mussels, daphnids and earthworms. The present protocol takes between 24 h and 2 months, depending on the test of interest and can be applied by students, academics, environmental risk assessors and industries.
Powdered activated carbon (PAC) for organic micro-pollutant (OMP) removal can be applied effectively on wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents by using re-circulation schemes, accumulating the PAC in the system. This technique is complex because several factors are unknown: (i) the PAC concentration in the system, (ii) specific and average contact times of PAC particles, and (iii) PAC particle loadings with target compounds/competing water constituents. Thus, performance projections (e.g. in the lab) are very challenging. We sampled large-scale PAC plants with PAC sludge re-circulation on eight different WWTPs. The PAC plant-induced OMP removals were notably different, even when considering PAC concentrations in proportion to background organic sum parameters. The variability is likely caused by differing PAC products, varying water composition, differently effective plant/re-circulation operation, and variable biodegradation. Plant PAC samples and parts of the PAC plant influent samples were used in laboratory tests, applying multiples (0.5, 1, 2, 4) of the respective large-scale “fresh” PAC doses, and several fixed contact times (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 48 h). The aimwas to empirically identify suitable combinations of lab PAC dose (as multiples of the plant PAC dose) and contact time, which represent the PAC plant
performances in removing OMPs (for specific OMPs at single locations, and for averages of different OMPs at all locations). E.g., for five well adsorbing, little biodegradable OMPs, plant performances can be projected by using a lab PAC dose of twice the respective full-scale PAC dose and 4 h lab contact time (standard deviation of 13 %-points).
Polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) represent a novel, innovative class of materials with great potential in various applications from high-performance gas separation membranes to electronic devices. Here for the first time, for PIM-1, as the archetypal PIM, fast scanning calorimetry provides definitive evidence for a glass transition (Tg=715 K, heating rate 3·10^4 K/s) by decoupling the time-scales responsible for glass transition and decomposition. As the rigid molecular structure of PIM-1 prevents any conformational changes, small-scale bend and flex fluctuations must be considered the origin of its glass transition. This result has strong implications for the fundamental understanding of the glass transition and for the physical aging of PIMs and other complex polymers, both topical problems of materials science.
With femtosecond-laser direct writing (fs-LDW) maturing in all aspects as a manufacturing technology, a toolset for quality assurance must be developed. In this work we introduce a first of its kind test artifact. Test artifacts are standardized 3D models with specific geometric features to evaluate the performance of writing parameters. Test artifacts are already common in other 3D additive manufacturing technologies e.g. selective laser melting. The test artifact introduced in this work was developed in particular to accommodate the high geometrical resolution of fs-LDW structures and the limited possibilities to examine the resulting structure. Geometric accuracy, surface adhesion as well as confocal Raman spectroscopy results were considered when evaluating the design of the test artifact. We will explain the individual features and design considerations of our fs-LDW test artifact. The difference between two slicers, Cura and 3DPoli, and the implications on measured feature sizes and the general shape is quantified. The measured geometries are used to derive a general design guide for a specific combination of photoresists, laser power and scanning speed and to analyze the geometric accuracy of a structure produced using these guidelines. The shown test artifact is publicly available as STL file on GitHub (https://github.com/BAMresearch/2PP-TestArtifact) and in the supplement.
Methods and materials are presented here, which enable the manufacturing of fine structures using a 3D-printing method known as two-photon polymerization (2PP). As traditional photolithography methods for structuring ceramic slurries do not function with 2PP, due to light scattering on ceramic particles, a novel water-based photoresist with high ceramic loading of extremely well dispersed ceramic nano particles was developed. This photoresist is basically a ceramic slurry containing a photocurable agent and a photoinitiator to be crosslinkable with the 780 nm wavelength femtosecond laser light source of the 2PP machine. It is demonstrated that it is possible to gain a highly transparent and low viscous slurry suitable for 2PP processing. This work shows the development of the slurry, first printing results and the post-printing processes required to form three dimensional ceramic microstructures consisting of alumina toughened zirconia (ATZ).
This study reflects typical consumer textile washing behaviour while taking into account existing standards in the household appliance and garment industries. Two garments were washed repeatedly with artificial dirt and detergent 30 times. The collected washing water was separated using fractional filtration. Textile physical tests were used to follow property changes of the garments, the microplastic release is determined using thermoextraction/desorbtion–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and the total organic carbon was measured as a sum parameter for the organic bonded carbon. This article shows the importance of a reality‐based approach when investigating microplastics of textile origin in the laundry care process. Deposits of detergent and dirt on the textiles were detected. The total mass of sieve residues was much higher than the release of synthetic polymers. The cotton content of the garments causes a much higher fibre release than synthetic fibres. Both will lead to false results by purely gravimetric analysis because nonpolymer fibres will be included microplastic mass. The results cannot be generalised only by the main polymer type, knowledge of the textile construction must be included for final evaluation.
An immobilization of graphene oxide (GO) into a matrix of polyvinyl formaldehyde (PVF) foam as an eco-friendly, low cost, superior, and easily recovered sorbent of Pb ions from an aqueous solution is described. The relationships between the structure and electrochemical properties of PVF/GO composite with implanted Pb ions are discussed for the first time. The number of alcohol groups decreased by 41% and 63% for PVF/GO and the PVF/GO/Pb composite, respectively, compared to pure PVF. This means that chemical bonds are formed between the Pb ions and the PVF/GO composite based on the OH groups. This bond formation causes an increase in the Tg values attributed to the formation of a strong surface complexation between adjacent layers of PVF/GO composite. The conductivity increases by about 2.8 orders of magnitude compared to the values of the PVF/GO/Pb composite compared to the PVF. This means the presence of Pb ions is the main factor for enhancing the conductivity where the conduction mechanism is changed from ionic for PVF to electronic conduction for PVF/GO and PVF/GO/Pb.
The growth kinetics of the adsorbed layer of poly(2-vinylpiridine) on silicon oxide is studied using a leaching technique which is based on the Guiselin brushes approach. The adsorbed layer is grown from a 200 nm thick P2VP film for several annealing time periods at different annealing temperatures. Then the film is solvent-leached, and the height of the remaining adsorbed layer is measured by atomic force microscopy. At the lowest annealing temperature only a linear growth regime is observed, followed by a plateau. Here, the molecular mobility of segments is too low to allow for a logarithmic growth. At higher annealing temperatures, both linear and logarithmic growth regimes are observed, followed by a plateau. At even higher annealing temperatures, the growth kinetics of the adsorbed layer changes.
A linear growth followed by logarithmic growth kinetics is observed for short annealing time periods. For longer annealing time periods, an upturn of the growth kinetics is observed. At the highest annealing temperature, only a logarithmic growth regime is found. The change in the growth kinetics is discussed by an alteration in the structure of the adsorbed layer. Moreover, the interaction between the polymer segments and the substrate becomes weaker due to both enthalpic and entropic effects. Therefore, at high annealing temperatures the polymer segments might more easily desorb from the substrate.
The glass transition behavior of thin films of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PBAC) was studied employing ellipsometry. The glass transition temperature increases with the reduction of the film thickness. This result is attributed to the formation of an adsorbed layer with a reduced mobility compared to bulk PBAC. Therefore, for the first time, the growth kinetics of the adsorbed layer of PBAC was investigated, prepared by leaching samples from a 200 nm thin film which were annealed for several times at three different temperatures. The thickness of each prepared adsorbed layer was measured by multiple scans using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Additionally, an unannealed sample was measured. Comparison of the measurements of the unannealed and the annealed samples provides proof of a pre-growth regime for all annealing temperatures which was not observed for other polymers. For the lowest annealing temperature after the pre-growth stage only a growth regime with a linear time dependence is observed. For higher annealing temperatures the growth kinetics changes from a linear to a logarithmic growth regime at a critical time. At the longest annealing times the films showed signs of dewetting where segments of the adsorbed film were removed from the substrate (dewetting by desorption). The dependence of the surface roughness of the PBAC surface on annealing time also confirmed that the films annealed at highest temperatures for the longest times desorbed from the substrate.
Hierarchical micro/-nanostructures were produced on polycarbonate polymer surfaces by employing a two-step UV-laser processing strategy based on the combination of Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) of gratings and pillars on the microscale (3 ns, 266 nm, 2 kHz) and subsequently superimposing Laser-induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS; 7–10 ps, 350 nm, 100 kHz) which adds nanoscale surface features. Particular emphasis was laid on the influence of the direction of the laser beam polarization on the morphology of resulting hierarchical surfaces. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopy methods were used for the characterization of the hybrid surface structures. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations of the laser intensity distribution on the DLIP structures allowed to address the specific polarization dependence of the LIPSS formation observed in the second processing step. Complementary chemical analyzes by micro-Raman spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy provided in-depth information on the chemical and structural material modifications and material degradation imposed by the laser processing. It was found that when the linear laser polarization was set perpendicular to the DLIP ridges, LIPSS could be formed on top of various DLIP structures. FDTD calculations showed enhanced optical intensity at the topographic maxima, which can explain the dependency of the morphology of LIPSS on the polarization with respect to the orientation of the DLIP structures. It was also found that the degradation of the polymer was enhanced for increasing accumulated fluence levels.
The synthesis and optimization of superior and eco-friendly sorbents for Pb(II) pose a great challenge in the field of water treatment. The sorbent was developed by introducing graphene oxide (GO) into the matrix of polyvinyl formaldehyde (PVF) foam. The immobilization of GO in PVF results in significant increase in the maximum adsorption capacity (Qt) of GO powder for Pb(II), from ≈800 to ≈1730 mg g−1 in the case of GO/PVF foam. As compared with GO powder in Pb(II) aqueous solutions, PVF matrix keeps GO sheets stable without any agglomeration. The large surface area of GO sheet allows the abundant oxygenated functional groups on its surface to participate effectively in the Pb(II) adsorption process, leading to the huge increase of the Qt. Adsorption isotherms and kinetic studies indicated that the sorption process of Pb(II) on GO/PVF was done on heterogenous surface by ion-exchange reaction. The GO/PVF foam showed an excellent reusability for more than 10 cycles with almost the same efficiency and without any significant change in its physical properties.
Mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) initiated a multifunctional modification route that leads to the generation of novel advanced materials and their applications. However, existing PDA deposition techniques still exhibit poor spatial control, have a very limited capability of micropatterning and do not allow to locally tune PDA topography. Herein, we demonstrate PDA deposition based on Multiphoton Lithography (MPL) that enables full spatial and temporal control with nearly total freedom of patterning design. Using MPL, we achieve 2D microstructures of complex design with pattern precision of 0.8 μm without the need of a photomask or stamp. Moreover, this approach permits adjusting the morphology and thickness of the fabricated microstructure within one deposition step, resulting in a unique tunability of materials properties. The chemical composition of PDA is confirmed and its ability for protein enzyme immobilization is demonstrated. This work presents a new methodology for high precision and complete control of PDA deposition, enabling PDA incorporation in applications where fine and precise local surface functionalization is required. Possible applications include multicomponent functional elements and devices in microfluidics or lab-on-a-chip systems.
In recent years, thermoextraction/desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) has been developed as a rapid detection method for the determination of microplastics (MP) mass contents in numerous environmentally relevant matrices and, in particular, for the measurement of polymers in water samples without time-consuming sample preparation. The TED-GC/MS method was applied to investigate a typical European municipal wastewater system for possible MP masses. Such investigations are important in view of the recent revision of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. Four different representative sampling sites were selected: greywater (domestic wastewater without toilet), combined sewer, and influent and effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). All samples were collected by fractional filtration. Filtration was carried out over mesh sizes of 500, 100, 50, and in some cases, 5 µm. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) were detected in all samples, with the PE fraction dominating in all cases. Styrene-butadiene rubber which serves as an indication of tire abrasion, was only found in the influent of the WWTP. The highest MP mass contents were found in the combined sewer, so MP can become a source of pollution during heavy rain events when the capacity limits of the effluent are reached, and the polluted effluent is released uncontrolled into the environment. Based on the studies, MP retention from the WWTP could be estimated to be approximately 96%. Few trends in polymer type or mass contents were detected within the different fractions of the samples or when comparing samples to each other.
Ionizing radiation damage to DNA plays a fundamental role in cancer therapy. X-ray photoelectron-spectroscopy (XPS) allows simultaneous irradiation and damage monitoring. Although water radiolysis is essential for radiation damage, all previous XPS studies were performed in vacuum. Here we present near-ambient-pressure XPS xperiments to directly measure DNA damage under water atmosphere. They permit in-situ monitoring of the effects of radicals on fully hydrated double-stranded DNA. The results allow us to distinguish direct damage, by photons and secondary low-energy electrons (LEE), from damage by hydroxyl radicals or hydration induced modifications of damage pathways. The exposure of dry DNA to x-rays leads to strand-breaks at the sugar-phosphate backbone, while deoxyribose and nucleobases are less affected. In contrast, a strong increase of DNA damage is observed in water, where OH-radicals are produced. In consequence, base damage and base release become predominant, even though the number of strand-breaks increases further.
Based on the three-phase model of semi-crystalline polymers, we determined all phase fractions of the NiAl-LDH/PLLA nanocomposites in dependence on the concentration of the nanofiller. Moreover, the rigid amorphous fraction (RAF) was separated into the RAFcrystal and the RAFfiller unbiasedly. A detailed comparison to the related nanocomposite system MgAl-LDH/PLLA was made considering that Mg and Ni have different atomic weights. As a first result is was found that NiAl-LDH/PLLA displays a higher crystallization rate compared to MgAl-LDH/PLLA, which is related to the different morphologies of the two nanocomposite systems. For both systems RAFcrystal increases with increasing concentration of the nanofiller. This means in the case of the nanocomposite not each crystal produces the same amount of RAF, as often assumed. Also, RAFfiller increases with the concentration for both systems but in a different way. This is discussed considering again the different morphologies of both nanocomposites.
Superglassy polymers with a large fractional free volume have emerged as novel materials with a broad range of applications, especially in the field of membrane separations. Highly permeable addition-type substituted polynorbornenes with high thermal resistance and chemical stability are among the most promising materials. The major obstacle for extending the practical membrane application is their strong tendency to physical aging, leading to a partial decline in their superior transport performance over time. In the present study, broadband dielectric spectroscopy with complementary X-ray scattering techniques were employed to reveal changes in microporous structure, molecular mobility, and conductivity by systematic
comparison of two polynorbornenes with different numbers of trimethylsilyl side groups. Their response upon heating (aging) was compared in terms of structure, dynamics, and charge transport behavior. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of the observed
Maxwell−Wagner−Sillars polarization at internal interfaces provides unique information about the microporous structure in the
solid films. The knowledge obtained from the experiments will guide and unlock potential in synthesizing addition-type polynorbornenes with versatile properties.
Showcasing research from the Federal Institute for Material Research and Testing Berlin and Fraunhofer Institute for Celltherapy and Immunology Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses Potsdam.
Bio-SAXS of single-stranded DNA-binding proteins: Radiation protection by the compatible solute ectoine.
We aimed to increase the possible undisturbed exposure time during bio-SAXS measurements of single-stranded DNA-binding proteins. Therefore small angle X-ray scattering was performed on Gene-V Protein (G5P/GVP), which is involved in DNA repair processes. To achieve this, irradiations were performed in presence and absence of the hydroxyl-radical scavenger and osmolyte Ectoine, which showed efficient radiation protection and prevented protein aggregation, thus allows for a non-disturbing way to improve structure-determination of biomolecules.
Understanding the interaction between nanoparticles and the matrix and the properties of interphase is crucial to predict the macroscopic properties of a nanocomposite system. Here, we investigate the interaction between boehmite nanoparticles (BNPs) and epoxy using different atomic force microscopy (AFM) approaches. We demonstrate benefits of using multifrequency intermodulation AFM (ImAFM) to obtain information about conservative, dissipative and van der Waals tip-surface forces and probing local properties of nanoparticles, matrix and the interphase.
We utilize scanning kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) to probe surface potential as a tool to visualize material contrast with a physical parameter, which is independent from the mechanics of the surface. Combining the information from ImAFM stiffness and SKPM surface potential results in a precise characterization of interfacial region, demonstrating that the interphase is softer than epoxy and boehmite nanoparticles. Further, we investigated the effect of boehmite nanoparticles on the bulk properties of epoxy matrix. ImAFM stiffness maps revealed the significant stiffening effect of boehmite nanoparticles on anhydride-cured epoxy matrix. The energy Dissipation of epoxy Matrix locally measured by ImAFM shows a considerable increase compared to that of neat epoxy. These measurements suggest a substantial alteration of epoxy structure induced by the presence of boehmite.
Gene-V protein (G5P/GVP) is a single-stranded (ss)DNA-binding protein (SBP) of bacteriophage f1 that is required for DNA synthesis and repair. In solution, it exists as a dimer that binds two antiparallel ssDNA strands with high affinity in a cooperative manner, forming a left-handed helical protein–DNA filament. Here, we report on fluorescence studies of the interaction of G5P with different DNA oligonucleotides having a hairpin structure (molecular beacon, MB) with a seven base-pair stem (dT24-stem7, dT18-stem7), as well as with DNA oligonucleotides (dT38, dT24) without a defined secondary structure. All oligonucleotides were end-labeled with a Cy3-fluorophore and a BHQ2-quencher. In the case of DNA oligonucleotides without a secondary structure, an almost complete quenching of their strong fluorescence (with about 5% residual intensity) was observed upon the binding of G5P. This implies an exact alignment of the ends of the DNA strand(s) in the saturated complex. The interaction of the DNA hairpins with G5P led to the unzipping of the base-paired stem, as revealed by fluorescence measurements, fluorescence microfluidic mixing experiments, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay data. Importantly, the disruption of ssDNA’s secondary structure agrees with the behavior of other single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SBPs). In addition, substantial protein-induced fluorescence enhancement (PIFE) of the Cy3-fluorescence was observed.
The Gay-Berne model is studied numerically with a choice of parameters allowing for the formation of a discotic liquid crystal at low temperatures. We show that the model has strong virial potential-energy correlations in the isotropic phase at high temperatures, i.e., it obeys the criterion for the existence of isomorphs, which are curves of approximately invariant structure and dynamics. These properties are demonstrated to be approximately invariant in reduced units along the isomorph studied. The isomorph is described well by the constant density-scaling exponent 11.5, a number that is significantly larger than the density-scaling exponents of various Lennard-Jones models that are always below 6.
In order to understand the role of dipolar interactions vs. H-bonding, a series of hydrazones were synthesised from 4-alkoxy-, 3,4-dialkoxy- or 3,4,5-trialkoxybenzaldehydes and phenyl, bromo- or nitrophenylhydrazine, respectively. Their mesomorphic properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarising optical microscopy (POM), X-ray diffraction (WAXS, SAXS) and compared with known members. Only those hydrazones derived from 3,4,5-trisalkoxybenzaldehyde and either meta, meta-dinitro- or ortho, para-dinitrophenylhydrazine displayed hexagonal columnar mesophases. All other derivatives were non-mesomorphic, even when H-bonds were present. Dipole moments of the various nitro-substituted hydrazones were experimentally determined by dielectric measurements and supported by theoretical DFT calculations, which indicated that the mesophase formation is mostly governed by strong dipole moment and further enforced by intramolecular H-bonding.
Long-time behavior of surface properties of microstructures fabricated by multiphoton lithography
(2021)
The multiphoton lithography (MPL) technique represents the future of 3D microprinting, enabling the production of complex microscale objects with high precision. Although the MPL fabrication parameters are widely evaluated and discussed, not much attention has been given to the microscopic properties of 3D objects with respect to their surface properties and time-dependent stability. These properties are of crucial importance when it comes to the safe and durable use of these structures in biomedical applications. In this work, we investigate the surface properties of the MPL-produced SZ2080 polymeric microstructures with regard to the physical aging processes during the post-production stage. The influence of aging on the polymeric microstructures was investigated by means of Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). As a result, a time-dependent change in Young’s Modulus, plastic deformation, and adhesion and their correlation to the development in chemical composition of the surface of MPL-microstructures are evaluated. The results presented here are valuable for the application of MPL-fabricated 3D objects in general, but especially in medical technology as they give detailed information of the physical and chemical time-dependent dynamic behavior of MPL-printed surfaces and thus their suitability and performance in biological systems.
Inelastic incoherent neutron time-of flight scattering was employed to measure the low frequency density of states for a series of addition polynorbornenes with bulky side groups. The rigid main chain in combination with the bulky side groups give rise to a microporosity of these polymers in the solid state. The microporosity characterized by the BET surfaces area varies systematically in the considered series. Such materials have some possible application as active separation layer in gas separation membranes.
All investigated materials show excess contributions to the Debye type density of states characteristic for glasses known as Boson peak. The maximum position of the Boson peak shifts to lower frequency values with increasing microporosity. Data for PIM-1 and Matrimid included for comparison are in good agreement to this dependency. This result supports the sound wave interpretation of the Boson peak.
The microscopic diffusion and the low frequency density of states (VDOS) of PIM-EATB(CH3) are investigated by inelastic and quasi-elastic neutron scattering where also the demethylated counterpart of PIM-EA-TB(H2) is considered. These intrinsic microporous polymers are characterized by large BET surface area values of several hundred m2/g and pore sizes between 0.5 and 2 nm. Detailed comparison is made to the archetype of polymers of intrinsic microporosity, PIM-1, and polynorbornenes also bearing a microporosity. Due to the wavelength of neutrons, the diffusion and vibrations can be addressed on microscopic length and time scales. From the inelastic neutron scattering experiments the low frequency density of states (VDOS) is estimated which shows excess contributions to the Debye-type VDOS known as Boson peak. It was found that the maximum frequency of the Boson peak decreases with increasing microporosity characterized by the BET surface area. However, besides the BET surface area, additional factors such as the backbone stiffness govern the maximum frequency of the Boson peak. Further the mean squared displacement related to microscopic motions was estimated from elastic fixed window scans. At temperatures above 175 K, the mean squared displacement PIM-EA-TB(CH3) is higher than that for the demethylated counterpart PIM-EA-TB(H2). The additional contribution found for PIM-EATB(CH3) is ascribed to the rotation of the methyl group in this polymer because the only difference between the two structures is that PIM-EA-TB(CH3) has methyl groups where PIM-EA-TB(H2) has none. A detailed comparison of the molecular dynamics is also made to that of PIM-1 and the microporous polynorbornene PTCNSi1. The manuscript focuses on the importance of vibrations and the localized molecular mobility characterized by the microscopic diffusion on the gas Transport in polymeric separation membranes. In the frame of the random gate model localized fluctuations can open or close bottlenecks between pores to enable the diffusion of gas molecules.
Inelastic incoherent neutron time-of-flight scattering was employed to investigate the low-frequency vibrational density of states (VDOSs) for a series of glassy Janus-poly(tricyclononenes), which consist of a rigid main chain and flexible alkyl side chains. Here, the length of the flexible side chains was systematically varied from propyl to octyl. Such materials have potential applications as active separation layers in gas separation membranes as a green future technology, especially for the separation of higher hydrocarbons. From the morphological point of view, the Janus polynorbornenes undergo a nanophase separation into alkyl side chain-rich nanodomains surrounded by a rigid polynorbornene matrix. Here, the influence of the nanophase-separated structure on the low-frequency VDOS is investigated from a fundamental point of view. The low-frequency VDOSs of these Janus polynorbornene show excess contributions to the Debye type VDOS known as the Boson peak (BP) for all side chain lengths. Due to the high incoherent scattering cross-section of hydrogen, most of the scattering comes from the alkyl side chain-rich domains.
Compared to conventional glass-forming materials, in the considered Janus polynorbornenes, the BP has a much lower intensity and its frequency position is shifted to higher values. These experimental results are discussed in terms of the nanophase-separated structure where the alkyl chain-rich domains were constrained by the surrounding matrix dominated by the rigid backbone. With increasing alkyl chain length, the size of the alkyl chain-rich domains increases. The frequency position of the BP shifts linearly to lower frequencies with the size of these nanodomains estimated from X-ray measurements. The obtained results support the sound wave interpretation to the BP
In this work the flexural rigidity of individual large diameter multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was investigated. The bending modulus were obtained by detecting the resonance frequencies of mechanically excited cantilevered carbon nanotubes using the so-called dynamic scanning electron microscopy technique, and applying the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory. For the nanotubes studied, we determined a modulus of up to 160 GPa. This agrees with values reported by other authors for MWCNTs produced by catalytic chemical vapor deposition, however, it is 6-8 times smaller than values reported for single and multi-walled carbon nanotubes produced by arc-discharge synthesis. Toxicological studies with carbon nanotubes have been showing that inhaled airborne nanofibers that reach the deep airways of the respiratory system may lead to serious, asbestos-like lung diseases. These studies suggested that their toxicity critically depends on the fiber flexural rigidity, with high rigidity causing cell lesions. To complement the correlation between observed toxicological effects and fiber rigidities, reliable and routinely applicable measurement techniques for the flexural rigidity of nanofibers are required.
Background: The ubiquitous occurrence of microplastic particles in marine and aquatic ecosystems was intensively investigated in the past decade. However, we know less about the presence, fate, and input paths of microplastic in terrestrial ecosystems. A possible entry path for microplastic into terrestrial ecosystems is the agricultural application of sewage sludge and solid bio-waste as fertilizers. Microplastic contained in sewage sludge also includes Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which could originate as fiber from textile products or as a fragment from packaging products (foils, bottles, etc.). Information about microplastic content in such environmental samples is limited yet, as most of the used analytical methods are very time-consuming, regarding sample preparation and detection, require sophisticated analytical tools and eventually need high user knowledge.
Results: Here, we present a simple, specific tool for the analysis of PET microplastic particles based on alkaline extraction of PET from the environmental matrix and subsequent determination of the monomers, terephthalic acid, using liquid chromatography with UV detection (LC-UV). The applicability of the method is shown for different types of PET in several soil-related, terrestrial environmental samples, e.g., soil, sediment, compost, fermentation residues, but also sewage sludge, suspended particles from urban water management systems, and indoor dust. Recoveries for model samples are between 94.5 and 107.1%. Limit of determination and limit of quantification are absolute masses of 0.031 and 0.121 mg PET, respectively. In order to verify the measured mass contents of the environmental samples, a method comparison with thermal extraction-desorption-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) was conducted. Both methods deliver similar results and corroborated each other. PET mass contents in environmental samples range from values below LOQ in agriculture soil up to 57,000 mg kg−1 in dust samples.
Conclusions: We demonstrate the potential of an integral method based on chemical extraction for the Determination of PET mass contents in solid environmental samples. The method was successfully applied to various matrices and may serve as an analytical tool for further investigations of PET-based microplastic in terrestrial ecosystems.
Tracking waterborne microplastic (MP) in urban areas is a challenging task because of the various sources and transport pathways involved. Since MP occurs in low concentrations in most wastewater and stormwater streams, large sample volumes need to be captured, prepared, and carefully analyzed. The recent research in urban areas focused mainly on MP emissions at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), as obvious entry points into receiving waters. However, important transport pathways under wet-weather conditions are yet not been investigated thoroughly. In addition, the lack of comprehensive and comparable sampling strategies complicated the attempts for a deeper understanding of occurrence and sources. The goal of this paper is to (i) introduce and describe sampling strategies for MP at different locations in a municipal catchment area under dry and wet-weather conditions, (ii) quantify MP emissions from the entire catchment and two other smaller ones within the bigger catchment, and (iii) compare the emissions under dry and wet-weather conditions. WWTP has a high removal rate of MP (>96%), with an estimated emission rate of 189 kg/a or 0.94 g/[population equivalents (PEQ · a)], and polyethylene (PE) as the most abundant MP. The specific dry-weather emissions at a subcatchment were ≈30 g/(PEQ · a) higher than in the influent of WWTP with 23 g/(PEQ · a). Specific wet-weather emissions from large sub-catchment with higher traffic and population densities were 1952 g/(ha · a) higher than the emissions from smaller catchment (796 g/[ha · a]) with less population and traffic. The results suggest that wet-weather transport pathways are likely responsible for 2–4 times more MP emissions into receiving waters compared to dry-weather ones due to tire abrasion entered from streets through gullies. However, more investigations of wet-weather MP need to be carried out considering additional catchment attributes and storm event characteristics.
AbstractMicroplastics (MP) can be detected in all environmental systems. Marine and terrestrial aquatic systems, especially the transported suspended solids, have often been the focus of scientific investigations in the past. Sediments of aquatic river systems, on the other hand, were often ignored due to the time‐consuming sample preparation and analysis procedures. Spectroscopic measurement methods counting particle numbers are hardly suitable as detection methods, because there are plenty of natural particles next to a small number of MP particles. Integral methods, such as thermoanalytical methods are determining the particle mass independently of the inorganic components.In this study, a workflow for sample preparation via density separation and subsequent analysis by thermal extraction desorption‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry is presented, which leads to representative and homogeneous samples and allows fast and robust MP mass content measurements suitable for routine analysis. Polymers were identified and quantified in all samples. Polyethylene and styrene‐butadiene rubber are the dominant polymers, besides polypropylene and polystyrene. Overall, total polymer masses between 1.18 and 337.0 µg/g could be determined. Highest MP concentrations in riverbed sediment are found in sites characterized by low flow velocities in harbors and reservoirs, while MP concentrations in sandy/gravelly bed sediments with higher flow velocities are small.
In this study, carried out within the Joint Danube Survey 4, a comprehensive microplastic screening in the water column within a large European river basin from its source to estuary, including major tributaries, was realized. The objective was to develop principles of a systematic and practicable microplastic monitoring strategy using sedimentation boxes for collection of suspended particulate matter followed by its subsequent analysis using thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In total, 18 sampling sites in the Danube River Basin were investigated. The obtained suspended particulate matter samples were subdivided into the fractions of >100 μm and <100 μm and subsequently analyzed for microplastic mass contents. The results showed that microplastics were detected in all samples, with polyethylene being the predominant polymer with maximum contents of 22.24 μg/mg, 3.23 μg/mg for polystyrene, 1.03 μg/mg for styrene-butadiene-rubber, and 0.45 μg/mg for polypropylene. Further, polymers such as different sorts of polyester, polyacrylates, polylactide, and natural rubber were not detected or below the detection limit. Additional investigations on possible interference of polyethylene signals by algae-derived fatty acids were assessed. In the context of targeted monitoring, repeated measurements provide more certainty in the interpretation of the results for the individual sites. Nevertheless, it can be stated that the chosen approach using an integrative sampling and determination of total plastic content proved to be successful.
The molecular dynamics of addition-type poly(tricyclononenes) with Si-substituted bulky side groups has been investigated by a combination of neutron time-of-flight and neutron backscattering spectroscopy methods on a time scale from 0.1 ps to ca. 3 ns. The investigated poly(tricyclononenes) PTCNSi1 and PTCNSi2g both bear a high microporosity which makes them promising candidates for active separation layers for gas separation membranes. At least for larger gas molecules it is assumed that the pathways for diffusion require an enlargement of pre-existing micropores in terms of an activated zone. A low temperature relaxation process was found for both polymers by the performed neutron scattering experiments. This process was assigned to the methyl group rotation. It was analysed in terms of a jump diffusion in a three-fold potential. The analysis of the dependence of the elastic incoherent structure factor on the scattering vector yields the number of methyl groups which might be immobilized. For PTCNSi1 (3 methyl groups in the monomeric unit) it was found that all methyl groups take part in the methyl group rotation whereas for PTCNSi2g (6 methyl groups in monomeric unit) a considerable number of methyl groups are blocked in their rotation. This immobilization of methyl groups is due to the sterically demanding arrangement of the methyl groups in PTCNSi2g. This conclusion is further supported by the result that the activation energy for the methyl group rotation is three times higher for PTCNSi2g than that of PTCNSi1.
Fungal pigments such as melanin and carotenoids are distinctive markers of animal and plant pathogenic fungi as well as their environmental relatives. These complex pigments play important roles in pathogenicity and stress tolerance while also being useful as biomarkers. Accordingly, it is important to be able to identify in situ the pigments in black fungi, a group of clinical and environmental importance. In this study, wild-type and genetically modified strains of Knufia petricola A95 and wild fungal cells attached to ancient rock were investigated for their spectroscopic and microscopic Raman features and morphological appearance. Knockout mutants of melanin synthesis genes pks1 (polyketide synthase), sdh1 (scytalone dehydratase), and both pks1 and the carotenoid synthesis gene phd1 (phytoene desaturase) were studied We applied two different Raman microscopes using two lasers, with 633 nm and 488 nm wavelengths. We analyzed and compared Raman spectra between the measured reference substances and the mutant and wild-type strains. In the wild strain WT:A95, the peaks close to melanin peals were found at 1353 cm−1 and 1611 cm−1. There are no characteristic melanin peaks at 1580–1600 cm−1 and around 1350 cm−1 at the spectrum of the Δpks1/Δphd1 mutant and the Δsdh1 mutant. The Δpks1 mutant spectrum has the peaks at the beta-carotene v2 C-C in-plane stretch at 1155 cm−1 and v3 C-CH3 deformation at 1005 cm−1. The peaks of carotenoids and melanin were found in all mutants and the wild strain, except the Δpks1/Δphd1 mutant. Raman spectra allow for discrimination between the various pigments. Hence, interactions between natural fungal melanin, as well as other protective pigments, and complex environmental matrices can be characterized on a range of spatial and temporal scales.
The work explores the synthesis and the properties of a novel composite membrane System based on modified polystyrene (PS) grafted onto a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane.
PVC membranes were prepared by solution-casting followed by exposure to an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) with O2 to obtain an activated Surface for grafting PS to it. Moreover, the thus prepared membranes were chemically modified furthermore by amination with polyethyleneimine or sulfonation with 4 M sulfuric acid.
The membrane surface characteristics such as wettability, structure and morphology were investigated using water contact angle measurements, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy experiments. The thermogravimetric stability and electrolytic responses of the membranes were studied utilizing TGA, ion exchange capacity (IEC), and solvent uptake. A significant result of plasma and chemical modification was to produce a membrane material with low permeability. Thus, the methanol permeability of the sulfonated membranes measured for 12 h was measured to 2.34$108 cm2 s1 compared to 177.00$108 cm2 s1 of Nafion 117®which is considered as a benchmark. This result indicates that the prepared sulfonated samples are an innovative and effective material for decreasing the methanol crossover in fuel cells to a great extent. This makes the PVC-g-St membranes are promising and attractive as new materials for polyelectrolyte membrane for fuel cells.
Molecular mobility and conductivity of four bent shaped tetramethylated guanidinium based ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) with varying head group configuration (cyclic or acyclic) and alkyl chain length is investigated by a combination of broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and specific heat spectroscopy (SHS). Two dielectrically active processes observed in the plastic crystalline phase at low and high temperatures are denoted as γ and α1 relaxation. The former is assigned to localized fluctuations of methyl groups including nitrogen atoms in the guanidinium head groups. SHS investigations reveal one calorimetrically active process termed as α2 relaxation process. The temperature dependencies of the relaxation rates of α1 and α2 are similar for the cyclic ILC while for the acyclic counterpart they are different. Possible molecular assignments for the α1 and α2 relaxation are discussed in detail. Alongside relaxation processes, a significant conductivity contribution was observed for all ILCs, where the absolute value of DC conductivity increases by 4 orders of magnitude at the transition from the crystalline to the hexagonal columnar phase. The increase is traced to the change in the underlying conduction mechanism from the delocalized electrical conduction in the Cry phase to ionic conduction in the quasi 1D ion columns formed in the hexagonal columnar mesophase.
Molecular mobility of cyanophenyl alkylbenzoates (CPnBs) (n = 2, 3, 7 – number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain) in the bulk and in composites with aerosil A380 is investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy, while thermal analysis and infrared spectroscopy were applied to characterise the molecular species. The work completes preliminary results obtained for the members with n = 4 … 6. An interaction by hydrogen bonding, between aerosil surface – OH groups and – CN or ester groups of the CPnB molecules takes place. It slows down the relaxation process as observed for related composites in comparison to the pure materials. The existence of two types of bonding might be the reason that Vogel temperature for the relaxation process in the surface layer does not show the odd-even effect. Temperature dependence of the relaxation rates for composites
shows a crossover behaviour from a high to a low temperature regime. Moreover, the temperature dependence of the dielectric strength is unusual. As the loading degree is similar, comparison of the dielectric, spectroscopic and thermal data obtained here and with the results obtained for the composites with n = 4 … 6 can be directly done. Increasing the number of the members of the homologous series confirms and hardens the preliminary conclusions.
This paper presents the results concerning monotropic nematic liquid crystals 4-pentylphenyl 40-alkyl benzoate (5PnB) (n = 3 or 5 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain). Their mesophase properties were supported by images of the polarized optical microscopy. Molecular dynamics in the bulk samples or in the composites prepared with aerosil A380 was investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy in a large temperature range, appropriately chosen. Thermo gravimetric and infrared investigations were additionally performed. The data were compared with those of structurally related nematics like cyanophenyl pentyl benzoates, which have a cyan group instead of the pentyl chain. The dielectric spectra of the bulk 3P5B and 5P5B demonstrate a dielectric behavior with several relaxation processes as expected for nematic liquid crystals. The temperature dependence of the relaxation rates (and of the dielectric strength) seems to have two distinguished regimes. Thus, in the isotropic state, at higher temperatures the data obey the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann law, whereas an Arrhenius law is fitted at lower temperature, in a close similarity to the behavior of a constrained dynamic glass transition. Samples with a high density of silica (larger than 7 g aerosil/1 g of 5PnB) were prepared to observe a thin layer adsorbed on the particle surface; it was estimated that almost each guest 5PnB molecule interacts with the aerosil surface. For the composites only one main relaxation process is observed at frequencies much lower than those for the corresponding bulk, which was assigned to the dynamics of the molecules in the surface layer. Infrared spectroscopy shows that these molecules interact with the surface by the ester carbonyl group leading to the monolayer self-assembly at liquid–solid interface. We note once more the importance of the functional unit(s) for the interaction with the hydroxyl groups on the aerosil surface.
For the first time, dielectric and calorimetric investigations of an homologous series of Janus polynorbornenes with rigid main backbones and flexible -Si(OR)3 side groups, of differing length alkyl chains (R = Propyl, Butyl, Hexyl, Octyl, Decyl) is reported. Generally, this class of polymers has some potential for applications in the field of gas separation membranes. Two dielectrically active processes are observed at low temperatures, denoted as β- and α- relaxation. The former can be assigned to localized fluctuations, whilst the latter is related to the glassy dynamics of the flexible -Si(OR)3 side groups, creating a nanophase separation in both the alkyl chain rich and backbone rich domains. This is confirmed through temperature modulated DSC measurements and X-ray scattering experiments. The glass transition temperatures of the backbone rich domains, which are beyond or near to their degradation temperatures in terms of conventional DSC, are determined for the first time using Fast Scanning Calorimetry employing both fast heating and cooling rates. This is complimented with scattering experiments that show how the size of the alkyl chain rich domains increases with chain length. Alongside these results, a significant conductivity contribution was observed for all poly(tricyclononenes) with -Si(OR)3 side groups, which is interpreted in terms of a percolation model.
The molecular mobility of the highly asymmetric miscible blend poly(vinyl methyl ether)/polystyrene was investigated by broadband dielectric (frequency range 10^-1 Hz – 10^9 Hz) and specific heat spectroscopy (frequency range 10^1 Hz – 10^4 Hz). The dielectric spectra revealed a complex molecular dynamic behavior, where three different relaxation processes were observed. At temperatures below the glass transition temperature an α´-relaxation was found, with an Arrhenius-like temperature dependence of its relaxation rates. It is assigned to localized fluctuations of the confined PVME segments within a frozen glassy matrix dominated by PS. Above the thermal glass transition temperature two processes with a VFT behavior of their relaxation rates were detected called α1- and α2-relaxation, both originating from PVME dipoles fluctuating in PS-rich environments, however with diverse PS concentrations. The relevant length scales for the processes are assumed to be different, corresponding to the Kuhn segment length for the former relaxation and to the CRR for the latter one. The observed multiple glassy dynamics result from spatial local compositional heterogeneities on a microscopic level. Additionally, SHS investigations were performed for the first time for this system, proving an existence of a fourth relaxation process (α3-relaxation) due to the cooperative fluctuations of both PS and PVME segments. The separation between the thermal α3- and dielectric α2-relaxation increases dramatically with increasing polystyrene concentration, proving that the thermal response is dominated by PS.
Polymers with intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) are gaining attention as gas separation membranes. Nevertheless, they face limitations due to pronounced physical aging. In this study a covalent organic framework containing λ5-phosphinine moieties, CPSF-EtO were incorporated as a nanofiller (concentration range 0-10 wt%) into a PIM-1 matrix forming dense films with a thickness of ca. 100 μm. The aim of the investigation was to investigate possible enhancements of gas transport properties and mitigating effects on physical aging. The incorporation of the nanofiller occurred on aggregate level with domains up to 100 nm as observed by T-SEM and confirmed by X-ray scattering. Moreover, the X-ray data show that the structure of the microporous network of the PIM-1 matrix is changed by the nanofiller.
As the molecular mobility is fundamental for gas transport as well as for physical aging, the study includes dielectric investigations of pure PIM-1 and PIM-1/CPSF-EtO mixed matrix membranes to establish a correlation between the molecular mobility and the gas transport properties. Using the time-lag method the gas permeability and the permselectivity were determined for N2, O2, CH4 and CO2 for samples with variation in filler content. A significant increase in the permeability of CH4 and CO2 (50 % increase compared to pure PIM-1) was observed for a concentration of 5 wt% of the nanofiller. Furthermore, the most pronounced change in the permselectivity was found for the gas pair CO2/N2 at a filler concentration of 7 wt%.
The molecular dynamics of two addition type polynorbornenes, exo-PNBSiand PTCNSi1, bearing microporosity has been investigated by broadbanddielectric spectroscopy, fast scanning calorimetry, and neutron scattering. Bothpolymers have the same side groups but different backbones. Due to theirfavorable transport properties, these polymers have potential applications inseparation membranes for gases. It is established in literature that molecularfluctuations are important for the diffusion of small molecules through poly-mers. For exo-PNBSi, two dielectric processes are observed, which are assignedto Maxwell/Wagner/Sillars (MWS) process due to blocking of charge carriersat internal voids or pore walls. For PTCNSi1, one MWS-polarization process isfound. This points to a bimodal pore-size distribution for exo-PNBSi. A glasstransition for exo-PNBSi and for PTCNSi1 could be evidenced for the first timeusing fast scanning calorimetry. For Tgand the corresponding apparent activa-tion energy, higher values were found for PTCNSi1 compared to exo-PNBSi.For both polymers, the neutron scattering data reveal one relaxation process.This process is mainly assigned to methyl group rotation probably overlayedby carbon–carbon torsional fluctuations.
Quasielastic neutron scattering by employing a combination of time-of-flight and backscattering techniques is carried out to explore the molecular mobility of a polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1) at microscopic time scales in comparison with a high-performance polyimide. Molecular fluctuations can change the structure of the temporary network of micropores and open or close pathways for gas molecules. Therefore, the investigation might help to understand the selectivity of PIMs in gas separation processes. The performed neutron scattering experiments provide evidence for a low-temperature relaxation process, which was assigned to methyl group rotation. This methyl group rotation was analyzed in terms of jump diffusion in a three-fold potential. The analysis results in a fraction of methyl groups which are immobilized. For PIM-1 it was found that the fraction of immobilized methyl groups decreases with increasing temperature up to 350 K. At higher temperatures the number of immobilized methyl group increases gain due to an underlying relaxation process. This motional process on a somewhat larger length scale might lead to a reversible structural rearrangement which partially hinders the strongly localized methyl group rotation. In addition, it was found that the activation energy for the methyl group rotation for PIM-1 and the polyimide is significantly higher than for conventional polymers.
We report dielectric and calorimetric studies on metathesis and addition-type polytricyclononenes, both based on the same monomer bearing three pendant OSiMe3 groups. For the addition-type polymer, dielectric spectroscopy reveals a β*-process related to the microporosity, whereas for its metathesis counterpart, the segmental dynamics manifests as an α-process related to a glass transition. Besides active dielectric processes, a significant conductivity contribution is detected for both samples which for the microporous additiontype polymer is three orders of magnitude greater than for the metathesis polymer. The broadband dielectric spectroscopy is complemented by detailed calorimetric investigations, comprising DSC, FSC, and TMDSC. The calorimetric methods detected the glass transition for the metathesis polymer in agreement with the observed dielectric α-process. Furthermore, the already reported gas transport properties for both polymers are compared, setting them in correlation with the observed molecular mobility and conductivity behavior. The discussed results reflect significant differences in molecular mobility of the two polymers affecting the appearance of microporosity which strongly determines the gas transport properties.
Reliable simulation of polymers on an atomistic length scale requires a realistic representation of the cured material. A molecular modelling method for the curing of epoxy systems is presented, which is developed with respect to efficiency while maintaining a well equilibrated system. The main criterion for bond formation is the distance between reactive groups and no specific reaction probability is prescribed. The molecular modelling is studied for three different mixing ratios with respect to the curing evolution of reactive Groups and the final curing stage. For the first time, the evolution of reactive groups during the curing process predicted by the molecular modelling is validated with near-infrared spectroscopy data, showing a good agreement between simulation results and experimental measurements. With the proposed method, deeper insights into the curing mechanism of epoxy systems can be gained and it allows us to provide reliable input data for molecular Dynamics simulations of material properties.
A selected series of dipole functionalized triphenylene-based discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) was synthesized and investigated in a systematic way to reveal the phase behavior and molecular dynamics. The later point is of particular importance to understand the charge transport in such systems which is the key property for their applications such as organic field-effect transistors, solar cells or as nanowires in molecular electronics, and also to tune the properties of DLCs. The mesomorphic properties were studied by polarizing optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry, which were compared to the corresponding unfunctionalized DLC. The molecular dynamics were investigated by a combination of state-of-the-art broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and advanced calorimetry such as fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) and specific heat spectroscopy (SHS). Besides localized fluctuations, surprisingly multiple glassy dynamics were detected for all materials for the first time. Glassy dynamics were proven for both processes unambiguously due to the extraordinary broad frequency range covered. The a1-process is attributed to fluctuations of the alky chains in the intercolumnar space because a polyethylene-like glassy dynamics is observed. This corresponds to a glass transition in a confined three-dimensional space. The a2-process found at temperatures lower than a1-process, is assigned to small scale rotational and/or translational in plane fluctuations of the triphenylene core inside distorted columns. This can be considered as a glass transition in a one-dimensional fluid. Therefore, obtained results are of general importance to understand the glass transition, which is an unsolved problem of condensed matter science.
Hexakis(n-alkyloxy)triphenylene) (HATn) consisting of an aromatic triphenylene core and alkyl side chains are model discotic liquid crystal (DLC) systems forming a columnar mesophase. In the mesophase, the molecules of HATn self-assemble in columns, which has one-dimensional high charge carrier mobility along the columns. Here, a homologous series of HATn with different length of the alkyl chain (n = 5,6,8,10,12) is investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) and advanced calorimetric techniques including fast scanning calorimetry (FSC) and specific heat spectroscopy (SHS). The investigation of the phase behavior was done utilizing DSC experiments and the influence of the alkyl chain length on the phase behavior was revealed. By the dielectric investigations probing the molecular mobility, a c-relaxation due to localized fluctuations as well as two glassy dynamics, the acore- and aalkyl-relaxation, were observed in the temperature range of the plastic crystalline phase. Moreover, the observed glassy dynamics were further studied employing advanced calorimetry. All observed relaxation processes are attributed to the possible specific molecular fluctuations and discussed in detail. From the results a transition at around n = 8 from a rigid constrained (n = 5,6) to a softer system (n = 10,12) was revealed with increasing alkyl chain length. A counterbalance of two competing effects of a polyethylene-like behavior of the alkyl chains in the intercolumnar domains and self-organized confinement is discussed in the context of a hindered glass transition.