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Paper des Monats
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Analytical Sciences has developed from Ostwald’s “unentbehrlichen Dienstmagd” to a chemical discipline at the core of many of today’s fundamental and applied scientific problems and innovations. An atomic or molecular understanding of basic processes in chemistry, soft matter physics, materials and life science is enabled only through new analytical methods and instrumentation. Similar observations can be found for pressing sociopolitical conflicts of the future: A rational discussion of global climate change or new energy sources is only possible with reliable analytical results. Progress in Analytical Sciences is only possible if the underlying interdisciplinary character is acknowledged and valued. The talk will illustrate the scope of modern Analytical Science through examples from process analysis relevant to modern process intensification and industry 4.0 to bioanalysis and the use of synchrotron radiation to elucidate fundamental reactions materials.
This talk highlights a proof-of-concept that demonstrates the ability to calculate high-resolution Fourier transforms. These can be combined with multi-scale modeling to simulate scattering over a wide range, from small-angle scattering to XRD and PDF.
The preprint documenting this is available on the ArXiv here:
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2303.13435
The Jupyter notebook, VASP calculation details and MOUSE measured scattering patterns are available from this Zenodo repository: https://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7764045
We demonstrate a strategy for simulating wide-range X-ray scattering patterns, which spans the small- and wide scattering angles as well as the scattering angles typically used for Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analysis. Such simulated patterns can be used to test holistic analysis models, and, since the diffraction intensity is on the same scale as the scattering intensity, may offer a novel pathway for determining the degree of crystallinity.
The "Ultima Ratio" strategy is demonstrated on a 64-nm Metal Organic Framework (MOF) particle, calculated from Q < 0.01 1/nm up to Q < 150 1/nm, with a resolution of 0.16 Angstrom. The computations exploit a modified 3D Fast Fourier Transform (3D-FFT), whose modifications enable the transformations of matrices at least up to 8000^3 voxels in size. Multiple of these modified 3D-FFTs are combined to improve the low-Q behaviour. The resulting curve is compared to a wide-range scattering pattern measured on a polydisperse MOF powder. While computationally intensive, the approach is expected to be useful for simulating scattering from a wide range of realistic, complex structures, from (poly-)crystalline particles to hierarchical, multicomponent structures such as viruses and catalysts.
The chapter gives a brief introduction to (nano)compositecomposite materials having the focus on polymer-based nanocomposites. The different dimensionalities of nanoparticles are introduced, along with their distribution in the matrix.
Different application fields of polymer-based nanocomposites, like flame retardancy, filled rubbers, nanofilled thermosets and thermoplastics, separation membranes and nanodielectrics, are considered in greater detail.
(Pre)Standardisation and Metrology in Microbeam Analysis – Ongoing Activities and Opportunities
(2023)
The presentation addresses the current ongoing projects as well as the gaps and opportunities in microbeam analysis within ISO/TC 202 Microbeam Analysis standardisation body and in-liaison Technical Working Areas (TWAs) at the pre-standardization platform of VAMAS (Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards).
The ionic liquid 1,3-dimethyl-imidazolium-dimethylphosphate ([MMIM]+[DMP]−) was analyzed using (hard) x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Here, XPS and HAXPES spectra are shown in comparison. For the acquisition of the XPS spectra, monochromatic Al Kα radiation at 1486.6 eV was used, while for the acquisition of the HAXPES spectra, monochromatic Cr Kα radiation at 5414.8 eV was applied. Here, survey scans and high-resolution spectra of P 2p, P 2s, C 1s, O 1s, and N 1s for both methods and P 1s, P KL2,3L2,3, and P KL1L2,3 for HAXPES are shown.
1-Propyl-3-methyl-imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (Solarpur®), an ionic liquid was purchased from Merck (formerly Sigma Aldrich), was analyzed using hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES). The liquid is UHV stable, vertically and laterally homogeneous, and is easy to clean; thus, it can be used as a reference material. The HAXPES spectra of Solarpur® obtained using monochromatic Cr Kα radiation at 5414.8 eV include a survey scan, high-resolution spectra of C 1s, O 1s, N 1s, S 2p, S 1s, S 2s, F 1s, and S KLL.
The small-pore framework sodium stannosilicate AV-10, chemical composition Na2SnSi3O9⋅2H2O and known crystallographic structure, was synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization. This stannosilicate is built up of a three-dimensional network of corner-shared SiO4 tetrahedra and SnO6 octahedra. The SnO6 sites are linked to six SiO4 tetrahedra (Sn(6Si)) while each of the two crystallographically different SiO4 units are connected to two SnO6 and SiO4 units (Si(2Si,2Sn)). This material was used as model compound for developing a solid-state MAS NMR strategy aimed on the challenges and possibilities for structural studies, particularly considering the short and medium range order to verify the connectivity of SiO4 and SnO6 of such compounds despite the low natural abundances of 4.68% for 29Si and 8.59% for 119Sn nuclei as a real challenge. 29Si{119Sn} and 119Sn{29Si} REDOR (Rotational-Echo Double-Resonance) NMR measurements after 1H cross-polarization (CP) were carried out. The REDOR curves show a significant change after the “normal” quadratic short time evolution from which both (i) the shortest internuclear 29Si – 119Sn distances (and vice versa) and (ii) the number of corner-sharing SiO4 tetrahedra around the SnO6 octahedra (and vice versa) can be obtained. Based on these data, optimized 29Si {119Sn} and 119Sn{29Si} REPT-HMQC (Recoupled Polarization Transfer-Heteronuclear Multiple-Quantum Correlation, again after 1H CP) experiments were implemented, which directly show those heterogroup connectivity as correlation peaks in a 2D spectrum. This information was also obtained using 2D29Si{119Sn}-J-Coupling NMR experiments. Furthermore, 2D29Si INADEQUATE NMR experiments are also feasible, showing the connectivity of SiO4 tetrahedra. The combination of REDOR, REPT-HMQC, J-Coupling and INADEQUATE experiments yielded a complete analysis of the short and medium range structure of this microporous stannosilicate, in agreement with the previously published structure obtained Ab Initio from powder X-Ray diffraction data (XRD).
A novel cop olyme r based on supramolecular motif2,6-diaminopyridin e and water-soluble acrylamide, poly[N-(6-ace tamidopyridin-2-yl) acrylamide-co-acrylamide], was synthe-size d via rev ersible addi tion–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)polymerization with various monomer compositions. The thermo-respon sive behavior of the copolymers was studied by turbidime-try and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The obtained copolymersshowed an upper critical solution temperature (UCST)-typ e phasetransition behavior in water and electrolyte solution. The phasetransition temperature was found to increase with decreasingam ount of acrylamide in the copolymer and increasing concentra-tion of the solution. Furth ermore, the phase transition temperatureva ried in aqueous solutions of electrolytes according to the naturean d concentration of the electrolyte in accordance with theHoffmeister series. A dramatic solvent isotope effect on thetransition temperature was o bserved in this study, as the transitiontemperature was almost 10–12C higher in D2OthaninH2Oatthesame concentration and acrylamide co mposition. The size of theaggregates below the transition temperature was larger in D2Ocompared to that in H2O that can be explained by deuterium iso-tope effect. The thermoresponsive behavior of the copolymers wasalso investigated in different cell medium and found to be exhibitedUCST-type phase transition behavior in different cell medium.Such behavior of the copo lyme rs can be useful in many a pplica-tions including biomedical, microfluidics, optical materials, and indrug delivery.
Gold nanocubes with a monodispersed size distribution (edge = 55 nm) deposited on a silicon wafer. These tiny uniform cubes were produced as reference nanoparticles within the EMPIR project nPSize - Improved traceability chain of nanoparticle size measurements. SEM image acquired at 10 kV with an in-lens secondary electron detector. Image colored in ImageJ using LUT “Orange hot.” Published in Microscopy and Microanalysis 25(S2) (2019) 2328.
The influence of starting materials and synthesis route on the properties and the structure of cementitious sodium aluminosilicate gels is not fully understood, partly due their amorphous nature and the fact that they often contain residual reactants, which can make the results of single-pulse NMR spectroscopy applied to these materials difficult to interpret or ambiguous. To overcome some of these limitations, 29Si{27Al} TRAPDOR NMR as well as 27Al{29Si} and 27Al{1H} REDOR NMR spectroscopy were applied to materials synthesized by the one-part alkali-activation route from three different amorphous silica starting materials, including rice husk ash. The latter led to formation of a fully amorphous sodium aluminosilicate gel (geopolymer), while the materials produced from the other silicas contained amorphous phase and crystalline zeolites. Application of the double-resonance NMR methods allowed to identify hydrous alumina gel domains in the rice husk ash-based material as well as significantly differing amounts of residual silica in the three cured materials. Four-coordinated Al existed not only in the aluminosilicate gel framework but also in a water-rich chemical environment with only a small amount of Si in proximity, likely in the alumina gel or possibly present as extra-framework Al in the aluminosilicate gel. The results demonstrate how the employment of different silica starting materials determines the phase assemblage of one-part alkali-activated materials, which in turn influences their engineering properties such as the resistance against chemically/biologically aggressive media.
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.
2PP-TestArtifact
(2023)
This repository contains a test artifact (TA), also called test structure, designed for two-photon polymerization (also known as Direct Laser Writing (DLW) or Two/Multi-photon lithography (2PA/MPA)). Test artifacts can be used to compare structures, to check options used by the slicer, check the state of the 2PP machine itself or to get a construction guidelines for a certain combination of power, velocity and settings.
The associated paper can be found here: https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/acc47a
General ideas behind the test artifact:
1. optimized for 2PP-DLW
2. should be fast and easy to analyse with optical microscopy or 3. scanning electron microscopy without tilt.
3. short time to fabricate
4. include a reasonable amount of different features
5. bulk and small structures on the substrate
Absorption edge tomography, also known as differential tomography at absorption edges, is a method which exploits the sudden change of the attenuation coefficient, when the photon energy crosses the absorption edge of an element. Synchrotron radiation is the best source for absorption edge tomography, because of its small bandwidth, high intensity and easily adjustable photon energy. The synchrotron beamline BAMline at the synchrotron radiation facility BESSY II in Berlin, which is operated by the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), provides a monochromatized beam in a photon energy range from 5 keV up to 80 keV with a bandwidth of 2%, when the double multilayer monochromator is used. Together with the microtomography setup, this enables differential tomography with submicron resolution at the K edge of the elements from chromium up to the lanthanides, and up to uranium, when the L edges are used as well.
In this work, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) embedded in polymer are characterized using differential tomography. MOFs are microporous structures of metal ions, coordinated by organic linker molecules, that can be used in a broad field of applications, especially in gas storage and catalysis. In this work, polymer embedded MOFs were extruded into filaments, which could be used for 3d-printing to profit from the specific properties of the MOFs in polymeric materials combined with the arbitrary shapes provided by 3d-printing. For the extrusion, different polymer classes like ABS, polyester- and polyetherurethanes, as well as different MOFs (ZIF-8, ZIF-67, HKUST-1) were used to create MOF containing filaments with a nominal diameter of 3.0 mm. Differential tomography at the edges of the Zn, Co, and Cu was then used to find the distribution of the corresponding MOF in the filament and to analyze the shape of the inclusions.
The co-crystallisation of [NiEn3](NO3)2 (En = ethylenediamine) with Na2MoO4 and Na2WO4 from a water solution results in the formation of [NiEn3](MoO4)0.5(WO4)0.5 co-crystals. According to the X-ray diffraction analysis of eight single crystals, the parameters of the hexagonal unit cell (space group P–31c, Z = 2) vary in the following intervals: a = 9.2332(3)–9.2566(6); c = 9.9512(12)–9.9753(7) Å with the Mo/W ratio changing from 0.513(3)/0.487(3) to 0.078(4)/0.895(9). The thermal decomposition of [NiEn3](MoO4)0.5(WO4)0.5 individual crystals obtained by co-crystallisation was performed in He and H2 atmospheres. The ex situ X-ray study of thermal decomposition products shows the formation of nanocrystalline refractory alloys and carbide composites containing ternary Ni–Mo–W phases. The formation of carbon–nitride phases at certain stages of heating up to 1000 °C were shown.
The processing of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) represents a simple and robust way for the nanostructuring of solids that allows creating a wide range of surface functionalities featuring applications in optics, tribology, medicine, energy technologies, etc. While the currently available laser and scanner technology already allows surface processing rates at the m2/min level, industrial applications of LIPSS are sometimes hampered by the complex interplay between the nanoscale surface topography and the specific surface chemistry. This typically manifests in difficulties to control the processing of LIPSS and in limitations to ensure the long-term stability of the created surface functions. This presentation aims to identify some unsolved scientific problems related to LIPSS, discusses the pending technological limitations, and sketches the current state of theoretical modelling. Hereby, it is intended to stimulate further research and developments in the field of LIPSS for overcoming these limitations and for supporting the transfer of the LIPSS technology into industry.
The mechanochemical formation of the ionic cocrystals of glucose (Glc) and sodium salts is presented. Products are formed by co-milling Glc with three sodium salts (NaCl, NaBr, NaI). The reaction pathways of the three ionic cocrystals were investigated using our tandem approach comprising a combination of in situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy.
The mechanochemical formation of the ionic cocrystals of glucose (Glc) and sodium salts Glc2NaCl·H2O (1) and Glc2NaX (X = Br (2), I (3)) is presented. Products are formed by co-milling Glc with three sodium salts (NaCl, NaBr, NaI). The ionic cocrystals were obtained under both neat grinding and liquid-assisted grinding conditions, the later found to accelerate the reaction kinetics. The crystal structures of the ionic cocrystals (2) and (3) were solved from powder X-ray diffraction data. The structure solution contrasts with the structure of Glc2NaCl·H2O (1) where the electron density at three halide crystallographic sites is modeled as of being the intermediate between water molecule and a chloride ion. The reaction pathways of the three ionic cocrystals were investigated in real time using our tandem approach comprising a combination of in situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate the rapid formation of each cocrystal directly from their respective starting materials without any intermediate moiety formation. The products were further characterized by DTA-TG and elemental analysis.
Lake Magadi, East African Rift Valley, is a hyperalkaline and saline soda lake highly enriched in Na+, K+, CO32–, Cl–, HCO3–, and SiO2 and depleted in Ca2+ and Mg2+, where thick evaporite deposits and siliceous sediments have been forming for 100 000 years. The hydrogeochemistry and the evaporite deposits of soda lakes are subjects of growing interest in paleoclimatology, astrobiology, and planetary sciences. In Lake Magadi, different hydrates of sodium carbonate/bicarbonate and other saline minerals precipitate. The precipitation sequence of these minerals is a key for understanding the hydrochemical evolution, the paleoenvironmental conditions of ancient evaporite deposits, and industrial crystallization. However, accurate determination of the precipitation sequence of these minerals was challenging due to the dependency of the different hydrates on temperature, water activity, pH and pCO2, which could induce phase transformation and secondary mineral precipitation during sample handling. Here, we report a comprehensive methodology applied for monitoring the evaporitic mineral precipitation and hydrochemical evolution of Lake Magadi. Evaporation and mineral precipitations were monitored by using in situ video microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction of acoustically levitated droplets. The mineral patterns were characterized by ex situ Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Experiments were coupled with thermodynamic models to understand the evaporation and precipitation-driven hydrochemical evolution of brines. Our results closely reproduced the mineral assemblages, patterns, and textural relations observed in the natural setting. Alkaline earth carbonates and fluorite were predicted to precipitate first followed by siliceous sediments. Among the salts, dendritic and acicular trona precipitate first via fractional crystallization─reminiscent of grasslike trona layers of Lake Magadi. Halite/villiaumite, thermonatrite, and sylvite precipitate sequentially after trona from residual brines depleted in HCO3–. The precipitation of these minerals between trona crystals resembles the precipitation process observed in the interstitial brines of the trona layers. Thermonatrite precipitation began after trona equilibrated with the residual brines due to the absence of excess CO2 input. We have shown that evaporation and mineral precipitation are the major drivers for the formation of hyperalkaline, saline, and SiO2-rich brines. The discrepancy between predicted and actual sulfate and phosphate ion concentrations implies the biological cycling of these ions. The combination of different in situ and ex situ methods and modeling is key to understanding the mineral phases, precipitation sequences, and textural relations of modern and ancient evaporite deposits. The synergy of these methods could be applicable in industrial crystallization and natural brines to reconstruct the hydrogeochemical and hydroclimatic conditions of soda lakes, evaporite settings, and potentially soda oceans of early Earth and extraterrestrial planets.
Physical adsorption at cryogenic temperature (cryoadsorption) is a reversible mechanism that can reduce the pressure of conventional compressed gas storage systems. Metal–organic framework (MOF) materials are remarkable candidates due to the combination of high specific surface area and density which, in some cases, provide a high volumetric storage capacity. However, such extensive use of MOFs for this application requires the selection of affordable structures, easy to produce and made from feasible metallic and organic components. Herein, we introduce a MOF database detailing the crystallographic and porous properties of 3600 existing MOFs made from industrially relevant metals and their organic composition. The comparison of the available minimum costs of linkers allowed the creation of a database to select affordable structures with high potential for volumetric hydrogen storage by cryoadsorption, considering their composition based on individual or mixed building blocks. A user interface, available online, facilitates the selection of MOFs based on the properties or names of structures and linkers.
In order to identify the best porous materials for the cryogenic physisorption of hydrogen, high-throughput calculations are performed starting, i.e., from the collected information in crystallographic databases. However, these calculations, like molecular simulations, require specific training and significant computational cost. Herein, a relatively simple procedure is proposed to estimate and compare hydrogen uptakes at 77 K and pressure values from 40 bar starting from the porous properties of MOF materials, without involving simulation tools. This procedure uses definitions for adsorption and considers the adsorbed phase as an incompressible fluid whose pressure-density change is that for the liquid phase at 19 K. For the 7000 structures from the CoRE MOF database, the average error of the predictions is only of 1% from reference values at 100 bar, with an SD of ±8%. This accuracy is lower than that from simulation tools, but involving lower computational cost and training.
The Kemnitz et al. developed a fluorolytic route to access metal fluorides 1 such as AlF3 2 and MgF2 3 which possess a high surface area. In aluminium-based systems, the synthetic approach led to amorphous xerogels that can be further converted into Lewis superacids.2 Still, despite zirconium oxide being described as a stronger Lewis acid than other metal oxides4 zirconium fluoride-based materials have only recently been reported or investigated. In this work we extend the class of amorphous Lewis acidic heterogeneous catalysts to an amorphous ZrF4 that is active in C-F bond activation.
Kemnitz et al. developed a fluorolytic route to access metal fluorides 2 such as AlF3 3 and MgF2 4 which possess a high surface area. In aluminium-based systems, the synthetic approach led to amorphous xerogels that can be further converted into Lewis superacids.3 Still, despite zirconium oxide being described as a stronger Lewis acid than other metal oxides 4 zirconium fluoride-based materials have only recently been reported or investigated. 6 In this work we extend the class of amorphous Lewis acidic heterogeneous catalysts to an amorphous ZrF4 that is active in C-F bond activation.
A route to a ZrF4 catalyst active in room temperature Friedel–Crafts and dehydrofluorination reactions was developed via a fluorolytic sol–gel route, which was followed by a postfluorination step using a stream of CHClF2. The behaviour of different Zr(IV) precursors in a sol–gel reaction with anhydrous isopropanol/HF solution was investigated. The subsequent post-fluorination step was optimised in its temperature ramp and confirmed the necessity of a fluorination of the generated xerogels to obtain catalytic activity. The process is discussed in the context of the analysis of the materials using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The local structure of the amorphous catalyst was elucidated by extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS).
The common characterization and identification of pollen is a time-consuming task that mainly relies on microscopic determination of the genus-specific pollen morphology. A variety of spectroscopic and spectrometric approaches have been proposed to develop a fast and reliable pollen identification using specific molecular information. Amongst them, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) shows a high potential for the successful investigation of such complex biological samples. Based on optimized MALDI sample preparation using conductive carbon tape, the application of multivariate statistics (e.g. principal components analysis, PCA) yields an enormous improvement concerning taxonomic classification of pollen species compared to common microscopic techniques.
Since multivariate evaluation of the recorded mass spectra is of vital importance for classification, it’s helpful to implement the applied sequence of standard Matlab functions into a graphical user interface (GUI). In this presentation, a stand-alone application (GUI) is shown, which provides multiple functions to perform fast multivariate analysis on multiple datasets. The use of a GUI enables a first overview on the measured dataset, conducts spectral pretreatment and can give classification information based on HCA and PCA evaluation. Moreover, it can be used to improve fast spectral classification and supports the development of a simple routine method to identify pollen based on mass spectrometry.
The very strong Lewis acid aluminium chlorofluo-ride (ACF) was loaded with anhydrous HF. The interactionbetween the surface of the catalyst and HF was investigatedusing a variety of characterization methods, which revealed he formation of polyfluorides. Moreover, the reactivity ofthe HF-loaded ACF towards the hydrofluorination of alkyneswas studied.
In our (dramatically understaffed) X-ray scattering laboratory, developing a systematic, holistic methodology1 let us provide scattering and diffraction information for more than 2100 samples for 200+ projects led by 120+ collaborators over the last five years. Combined with universal, automat-ed data correction pipelines, as well as our analysis and simulation software, this led to more than 40 papers2 in the last 5 years with just over 2 full-time staff members.
While this approach greatly improved the consistency of the results, the consistency of the samples and sample series provided by the users was less reliable nor necessarily reproducible. To address this issue, we built an EPICS-controlled, modular synthesis platform to add to our laboratory. To date, this has prepared over 1200 additional (Metal-Organic Framework) samples for us to meas-ure, analyse and catalogue. By virtue of the automation, the synthesis of these samples is automat-ically documented in excruciating detail, preparing them for upload and exploitation in large-scale materials databases alongside the morphological results obtained from the automated X-ray scat-tering analysis.
Having developed these proof-of-concepts, we find that the consistency of results are greatly im-proved by virtue of their reproducibility, hopefully adding to the reliability of the scientific findings as well. Additionally, the nature of the experiments has changed greatly, with much more emphasis on preparation and careful planning. This talk will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this highly integrated approach and will touch upon upcoming developments.
A look inside nanoparticles
(2019)
Small-angle scattering is the method of choice when it comes to obtaining information about the interior of nanoparticles. The aim is to make nanotechnology safer. While the use of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is limited to a few instruments in the world, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is widely accessible, with an upward trend. The example of core-shell particles shows how simple their analysis is with data from an Anton Paar laboratory system. Here, SAXS is a central tool for the development of new reference materials based on poly(methyl) acrylate-PVDF core-shell particles. The dimensions of the cores and shells can be precisely determined. A detailed analysis makes it possible to show that the cores contain fluorinated and nonfluorinated polymers, whereas the shell consist only of PVDF. This core-shell particles with a diameter around 40 nm show a significantly higher PVDF beta phase content than the PVDF homopolymer when using an emulsion polymerization technique. This finding is of importance with respect to applications in electroactive devices.
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.
In this work, a new setup for dispersive XAFS measurements is presented. This reproducible and scanningfree setup yields both time- and laterally-resolved XAFS experiments in a ‘single-shot’. It allows a straightforward adjustment for probing different elements covering many relevant applications in materials science. An incoming energetic broadband beam is diffracted by a Si (111) crystal after passing through the sample and collected by an area sensitive detector. Depending on the energy range of the incoming beam, XANES and/or EXAFS spectra can be recorded with a time resolution down to 1 s. The feasibility of this setup was demonstrated at the BAMline at BESSY II (Berlin, Germany) with reference Fe and Cu foils and the results are hereby presented and discussed. Additionally, an application where time resolution on the second scale is required is briefly evaluated. The presented example concerns studying early stages of zinc(II)2-methylimidazolate (ZIF-8) crystallization. This is particularly important for biomedical applications.
Small Area Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) is a powerful tool for investigating small surface features. It is often unclear, if the signal in the spectrum is an unwanted contamination of the Field of View (FoV) or is it originated from outside. The reason is, that XPS-spectra are affected by beam shapes. Scheithauer proposed to measure Pt apertures of different diameters and normalize the Pt4f count rate by a second measurement on the Pt metal. New reference materials were developed and tested in the VAMAS TWA2 A22 Project.
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.
Protein adsorption at the air–water interface is a serious problem in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM) as it restricts particle orientations in the vitrified ice-film and promotes protein denaturation. To address this issue, the preparation of a graphene-based modified support film for coverage of conventional holey carbon transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grids is presented. The chemical modification of graphene sheets enables the universal covalent anchoring of unmodified proteins via inherent surface-exposed lysine or cysteine residues in a one-step reaction. Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) trough approach is applied for deposition of functionalized graphene sheets onto commercially available holey carbon TEM grids. The application of the modified TEM grids in single particle analysis (SPA) shows high protein binding to the surface of the graphene-based support film. Suitability for high resolution structure determination is confirmed by SPA of apoferritin. Prevention of protein denaturation at the air–water interface and improvement of particle orientations is shown using human 20S proteasome, demonstrating the potential of the support film for structural biology.
Small-area/spot photoelectron spectroscopy (SAXPS) is a powerful tool for the investigation of small surface features like microstructures of electronic devices, sensors or other functional surfaces, and so forth. For evaluating the quality of such microstructures, it is often crucial to know whether a small signal in a spectrum is an unwanted contamination of the field of view (FoV), defined by the instrument settings, or it originated from outside. To address this issue, the d80/20 parameter of a line scan across a chemical edge is often used. However, the typical d80/20 parameter does not give information on contributions from the long tails of the X-ray beam intensity distribution or the electron-optical system as defined by apertures. In the VAMAS TWA2 A22 project “Applying planar, patterned, multi-metallic samples to assess the impact of analysis area in surface-chemical analysis,” new test specimen was developed and tested. The here presented testing material consists of a silicon wafer substrate with an Au-film and embedded Cr circular and square spots with decreasing dimensions from 200 μm down to 5 μm. The spot sizes are traceable to the length unit due to size measurements with a metrological SEM. For the evaluation of the FoV, we determined the Au4f intensities measured with the center of the FoV aligned with the center of the spot and normalized to the Au4f intensity determined on the Au-film. With this test specimen, it was possible to characterize, as an example, the FoV of a Kratos AXIS Ultra DLD XPS instrument.
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.
Understanding the chemistry and nature of individual chemical bonds is essential for materials design. Bonding analysis via the LOBSTER software package has provided valuable insights into the properties of materials for thermoelectric and catalysis applications. Thus, the data generated from
bonding analysis becomes an invaluable asset that could be utilized as features in large-scale data analysis and machine learning of material properties. However, no systematic studies exist that conducted high-throughput materials simulations to curate and validate bonding data obtained from LOBSTER. Here we present an approach to constructing such a large database consisting of quantum-chemical bonding information.
An in-depth insight into the chemistry and nature of the individual chemical bonds is essential for understanding materials. Bonding analysis is thus expected to provide important features for large-scale data analysis and machine learning of material properties. Such chemical bonding information can be computed using the LOBSTER software package, which post-processes modern density functional theory data by projecting the plane wave-based wave functions onto an atomic orbital basis. With the help of a fully automatic workflow, the VASP and LOBSTER software packages are used to generate the data. We then perform bonding analyses on 1520 compounds (insulators and semiconductors) and provide the results as a database. The projected densities of states and bonding indicators are benchmarked on standard density-functional theory computations and available heuristics, respectively. Lastly, we illustrate the predictive power of bonding descriptors by constructing a machine learning model for phononic properties, which shows an increase in prediction accuracies by 27% (mean absolute errors) compared to a benchmark model differing only by not relying on any quantum-chemical bonding features.
A deep insight into the chemistry and nature of individual chemical bonds is essential for understanding materials. Bonding analysis is expected to provide important features for large-scale data analysis and machine learning of material properties. Such information on chemical bonds can be calculated using the LOBSTER (www.cohp.de) software package, which post-processes data from modern density functional theory computations by projecting plane wave-based wave functions onto a local atomic orbital basis. We have performed bonding analysis on 1520 compounds (insulators and semiconductors) using a fully automated workflow combining the VASP and LOBSTER software packages. We then automatically evaluated the data with LobsterPy (https://github.com/jageo/lobsterpy) and provide results as a database. The projected densities of states and bonding indicators are benchmarked on VASP projections and available heuristics, respectively. Lastly, we illustrate the predictive power of bonding descriptors by constructing a machine-learning model for phononic properties, which shows an increase in prediction accuracies by 27 % (mean absolute errors) compared to a benchmark model differing only by not relying on any quantum-chemical bonding features.
This database consists of bonding data computed using Lobster for 1520 solid-state compounds consisting of insulators and semiconductors. It consists of two kinds of json files. Smaller lightweight JSONS consists of summarized bonding information for each of the compounds. The files are named as per ID numbers in the materials project database.
Here we provide also the larger computational data json files for 700 compounds. This files consists of all important LOBSTER computation output files data stored as dictionary.
This database consists of bonding data computed using Lobster for 1520 solid-state compounds consisting of insulators and semiconductors. The files are named as per ID numbers in the materials project database.
Here we provide the larger computational data JSON files for the rest of the 820 compounds. This file consists of all important LOBSTER computation output files data stored as a dictionary.
A brief introduction is given into our data collection and organization procedure, and why we have settled on the HDF5-based NeXus format for describing experimental data.
The links between NeXus and the SciCat data catalog is also provided, showing how the NeXus metadata is automatically added as searchable metadata in the catalog.
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.
Organic/inorganic mixtures were prepared from ordinary Portland cement (OPC), water (w/c 0.22), a fluorescent dye in aqueous solution (stable at alkaline pH; BAM-I), and two different comb shape polycarboxylates (PCEs), i.e., high charge (PCE-HC) and low charge (PCE-LC), respectively. Rheological and calorimetric measurements were performed prior to optical studies in order to select PCE concentrations. Absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of the system OPC + BAM-I (CBAM-I) revealed maxima of dye BAM-I located at 645 nm and 663 nm, respectively. In presence of PCE-HC and PCE-LC, these mixtures displayed a small red shift in reflectance and a faster decrease in intensity compared to studies with CBAM-I; however, only slight differences were observed between the different PCEs. With time, all systems exhibited a decrease in intensity of BAM-I in absorption/reflectance and emission. This could be caused by dye adsorption and possibly decomposition when in contact with cement particles or hydration products.
The damage caused by ionizing radiation to DNA and proteins is the reason to treat cancer by radiation therapy. A better understanding of the molecular processes and quantification of the different damaging mechanisms is the prerequisite to develop more efficient therapies. Hereby the understanding of the processes involved in the damage to DNA are of key interest due to its central role in reproduction and mutation.
For radiation with low linear energy transfer (LET), most of the damage is caused by the secondary particles produced by scattering of the ionizing radiation with water. Thereby a multitude of species are produced, whereby especially kinetic low energy electrons, prehydrated electrons, OH-radicals and ions are of importance. With higher LET the relative amount of the direct damaging effects increases. This is especially important considering the increased usage of high LET nucleons in radiation therapy. Therefore, the quantification of the contribution to DNA damage of direct and indirect effects and the different secondary species is of high interest due to the increase of radio biological efficiency when applying high LET radiation.
Here we present an approach to investigate the relative contributions to DNA strand break yield for radiation of different LET within a single electron microscope in combination with electron scattering simulations.
The present study addresses the capability of measurement of relative particle number concentration by scanning electron microscopy for model bimodal silica and gold samples prepared in the frame of the European research project “nPSize - Improved traceability chain of nanoparticle size measurements” as candidate reference nanoparticles.
Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS, ripples) are a universal phenomenon that can be observed on almost any material after the irradiation by linearly polarized laser beams, particularly when using ultrashort laser pulses with durations in the femtosecond to picosecond range.
During the past few years significantly increasing research activities have been reported in the field of LIPSS, since their generation in a single-step process provides a simple way of nanostructuring and surface functionalization towards the control of optical, mechanical, biological, or chemical surface properties. In this contribution the mechanisms of formation and current applications of LIPSS are reviewed, including the colorization of technical surfaces, the control of surface wetting properties, the mimicry of the natural texture of animal integuments, the tailoring of surface colonization by bacterial biofilms, the advancement of medical pacemakers, and the improvement of the tribological performance of nanostructured metal surfaces.
Worldwide there is a variety of regulatory provisions addressing nanomaterials. The identification as nanomaterial in a regulatory context often has the consequence that specific legal rules apply. In identifying nanomaterials, and to find out whether nanomaterial-specific provisions apply, the external size of particles is globally used as a criterion. For legal certainty, its assessment for regulatory purposes should be based on measurements and methods that are robust, fit for the purpose and ready to be accepted by different stakeholders and authorities. This should help to assure the safety of nanomaterials and at the same time facilitate their international trading. Therefore, we propose a categorisation scheme which is driven by the capabilities of common characterisation techniques for particle size measurement. Categorising materials according to this scheme takes into account the particle properties that are most important for a determination of their size. The categorisation is exemplified for the specific particle number based size metric of the European Commission's recommendation on the definition of nanomaterial, but it is applicable to other metrics as well. Matching the performance profiles of the measurement techniques with the material property profiles (i) allows selecting the most appropriate size determination technique for every type of material considered, (ii) enables proper identification of nanomaterials, and (iii) has the potential to be accepted by regulators, industry and consumers alike. Having such a scheme in place would facilitate the regulatory assessment of nanomaterials in regional legislation as well as in international relations between different regulatory regions assuring the safe trade of nanomaterials.
Mesoporous phosphates are a group of nanostructured materials with promising applications, particularly in biomedicine and catalysis. However, their controlled synthesis via conventional template-based routes presents a number of challenges and limitations. Here, we show how to synthesize a mesoporous Magnesium phosphate with a high surface area and a well-defined pore structure through thermal decomposition of a crystalline struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) precursor. In a first step, struvite crystals with various morphologies and sizes, ranging from a few micrometers to several millimeters, had been synthesized from supersaturated aqueous solutions (saturation index (SI) between 0.5 and 4) at ambient pressure and temperature conditions. Afterwards, the crystals were thermally treated at 70–250 °C leading to the release of structurally bound water (H2O) and ammonia (NH3). By combining thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), N2 sorption analyses and small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) we show that this decomposition process results in a pseudomorphic transformation of the original struvite into an amorphous Mg-phosphate. Of particular importance is the fact that the final material is characterized by a very uniform mesoporous structure with 2–5 nm wide pore channels, a large specific surface area of up to 300 m2 g−1 and a total pore volume of up to 0.28 cm3 g−1. Our struvite decomposition method is well controllable and reproducible and can be easily extended to the synthesis of other mesoporous phosphates. In addition, the so produced mesoporous material is a prime candidate for use in biomedical applications considering that Magnesium phosphate is a widely used, non-toxic substance that has already shown excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability.
The precise analysis of cation diffusion profiles through corrosion scales is an important aspect to evaluate corrosion phenomena under multicomponent chemical load, as during high‐temperature corrosion under deposits and salts. The present study shows a comprehensive analysis of cation diffusion profiles by electron microprobe analysis and microbeam X‐ray absorption near edge structure (µ‐XANES) spectroscopy in mixed oxide/sulfide scales grown on Fe–Cr model alloys after exposing them to 0.5% SO2. The results presented here correspond to depth‐dependent phase identification of oxides and sulfides in the corrosion scales by µ‐XANES and the description of oxidation‐state‐dependent diffusion profiles. Scales grown on low‐ and high‐alloyed materials show both a well‐pronounced diffusion profile with a high concentration of Fe3+ at the gas and a high concentration of Fe2+ at the alloy interface. The distribution of the cations within a close‐packed oxide lattice is strongly influencing the lattice diffusion phenomena due to their different oxidation states and therefore different crystal‐field preference energies. This issue is discussed based on the results obtained by µ‐XANES analysis.
Structural modularity of polymer frameworks is a key advantage of covalent organic polymers, however, only C, N, O, Si and S have found their way into their building blocks so far. Here, we expand the toolbox available to polymer and materials chemists by one additional nonmetal, phosphorus. Starting with a building block that contains a λ⁵‐phosphinine (C₅P) moiety, we evaluate a number of polymerisation protocols, finally obtaining a π‐conjugated, covalent phosphinine‐based framework (CPF‐1) via Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling. CPF‐1 is a weakly porous polymer glass (72.4 m2 g‐1 N2 BET at 77 K) with green fluorescence (λmax 546 nm) and extremely high thermal stability. The polymer catalyzes hydrogen evolution from water under UV and visible light irradiation without the need for additional co‐catalyst at a rate of 33.3 μmol h‐¹ g‐¹. Our results demonstrate for the first time the incorporation of the phosphinine motif into a complex polymer framework. Phosphinine‐based frameworks show promising electronic and optical properties that might spark future interest in their applications in light‐emitting devices and heterogeneous catalysis.
Polynuclear aluminium species (Al13 keggin cluster) find application in different areas like water purification [1], contaminant transport [2], and as pilling clays with high specific surface areas[3], due to their strong binding ability to aggregates and high positive charge.
In the present contribution, we report on the in situ investigation of the Al13 sulfate synthesis by synchrotron wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). Al13 cluster were crystallized by precipitating hydrolyzed aluminum solutions by the addition of sodium sulfate. The measurements were performed using a custom-made acoustic levitator as sample holder. The study provides information about the intermediates during the crystallization process. From the data, a mechanism was derived indicating the influence of the crystallization process.
We present a first-principles approach for the computation of the magnetic Gibbs free energy ofmaterials using magnetically constrained supercell calculations. Our approach is based on an adiabatic approximation of slowly varying local moment orientations, the so-called finite-temperature disordered local moment picture. It describes magnetic phase transitions and how electronic and/or magnetostructural mechanisms generate a discontinuous (first-order) character. We demonstrate that the statistical mechanics of the local moment orientations can be described by an affordable number of supercell calculations containing noncollinear magnetic configurations.
The applicability of our approach is illustrated by firstly studying the ferromagnetic state in bcc Fe. We then investigate the temperature-dependent properties of a triangular antiferromagnetic state stabilizing in two antiperovskite systems Mn3AN (A = Ga, Ni). Our calculations provide the negative thermal expansion of These materials as well as the ab initio origin of the discontinuous character of the phase transitions, electronic and/or magnetostructural, in good agreement with experiment.
We study single-site and two-site defect structures in B2-type Fe-Al alloys by means of density functional theory supercell calculations. The defect formation energies are calculated as functions of the chemical potential, which are used to obtain the dependence of the defect concentrations on Al content at different temperatures. We also examine the converging behavior of the formation energies with respect to the supercell size to study the corresponding limit of dilute defects. The effect of magnetism is investigated by considering nonmagnetic, ferromagnetic, and paramagnetic states, calculations for the latter showing that the magnitude of the local magnetic moments strongly impacts the defect formation energies. The methodological studies are used to provide explanations for the wide spread of defect formation energies reported by experiments and other theoretical investigations. Based on these insights, the stability of the B2-FeAl structure as a function of Al concentration is obtained and discussed.
Thermodynamic bulk phase diagrams have become the roadmap used by researchers to identify alloy compositions and process conditions that result in novel materials with tailored microstructures. On the other hand, recent progress in experimental atomic-scale characterization techniques allows one to study the local chemical composition at individual defects such as interfaces, grain boundaries, dislocations and surfaces. They show that changes in the alloy composition can drive not only transitions in the bulk phases present in a material, but also in the concentration and type of defects they contain. Defect phase diagrams, using chemical potentials as thermodynamics variables, provide a natural route to study these chemically driven defects. Our results show, however, that the direct application of thermodynamic approaches can fail to reproduce the experimentally observed defect formation.
Therefore, we extend the concept to metastable defect phase diagrams to account for kinetic limitations that prevent the system from reaching equilibrium. We use ab initio calculations based on density functional theory to quantify the extension of regions where defect formation is expected. We successfully applied this concept to explain the formation of large concentrations of planar defects in supersaturated Fe2Nb Laves phases. In addition, we identify in a joint study with experiments conditions and structures in Mg-Al-Ca alloys for defect phase occurrence. The concept offers new avenues for designing materials with tailored defect structures.
At first, formation of cycles in commercial poly(Llactide)s is discussed and compared with benzyl alcoholinitiated polymerizations performed in this work. This comparison was extended to polymerizations initiated with 4-cyanophenol and pentafluorothiophenol which yielded cyclic polylactides via end-biting. The initiator/catalyst ratio and the acidity of the initiator were found to be decisive for the extent of cyclization. Further polymerizations of L-lactide were performed with various diphenols as initiators/co-catalysts. With most diphenols, cyclic polylactides were the main reaction products. Yet, only catechols yielded even-numbered cycles as main reaction products, a result which proves that their combination with SnOct2 catalyzed a ring-expansion polymerization (REP). The influence of temperature, time, co-catalyst, and catalyst concentrations was studied. Four different transesterification reactions yielding cycles were identified. For the cyclic poly(L-lactide)s weight average molecular weights (Mw’s) up to 120,000 were obtained, but 1H NMR end group analyses indicated that the extent of cyclization was slightly below 100%.
The influence of various parameters like structure of Initiator and catalyst and temperature on the formation of cyclic poly(Llactide)s has been investigated. Depending on the chosen conditions, the course of the polymerization can be varied from a process yielding exclusively linear polylactides to mainly cyclic polylactides. Three different reaction pathways for cyclization reactions have been identified.
1-Hydroxymethylnaphtalene (HMN) or 11-bromoundecanol (BUND) were used as initiators and Sn(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (SnOct2) as catalyst for ROPs of L-Lactide (LA) at 115 °C in bulk or in 4 M and 2M solutions in toluene. The LA/In ratio, the LA/Cat ratio and the time were varied. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI TOF) mass spectra exclusively displayed peaks of linear chains, when the ROPs were conducted in bulk. But in contrast to reports in the literature, mixtures of linear and cyclic poly(L-lactide) (PLA), were obtained, when the ROPs were performed in solution. The intensity distribution of the mass peaks of cyclic PLAs displayed a “saw-tooth pattern” after annealing in contrast to the mass peak distribution of the liner chains. This new phenomenon indicated that cyclic PLAs and linear PLAs crystallized in separate crystals from the same reaction mixture. This conclusion was confirmed by fractionated crystallization from 2 M solution, which confirmed that the cyclic PLAs nucleate and crystallize faster than the linear chains.
Ring-expansion polymerizations (REPs) catalyzed by two cyclic tin catalysts(2-stanna-1.3-dioxa-4,5,6,7-dibenzazepine [SnBiph] and
2,2-dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dithiolane [DSTL) are performed at 140 °C in bulk.
Small amounts (4 vol%) of chlorobenzene or other solvents are added to facilitate transesterification reactions (ring–ring equilibration) in the solid poly(l-lactide)s. In the mass range up to m/z 13 000 crystalline PLAs displaying a so-called saw-tooth pattern in the MALDI-TOF mass spectra are obtained indicating the formation of extended-ring crystals. The characteristics of extended-ring crystallites and folded-ring crystallites are discussed. Furthermore, extremely high melting temperatures (Tm’s up to 201.2 °C) and melting enthalpies (𝚫Hm’s up to 106 J g−1)) are found confirming that 𝚫Hmmax, the 𝚫Hm of a perfect crystal, is around or above 115 J g−1 in contrast to literature data.
Ring-expansion polymerizations (REPs) catalyzed by two cyclic tin catalysts (2-stanna-1.3-dioxa-4,5,6,7-dibenzazepine [SnBiph] and
2,2-dibutyl-2-stanna-1,3-dithiolane [DSTL]) are performed at 140 °C in bulk.
Small amounts (4 vol%) of chlorobenzene or other solvents are added to
facilitate transesterification reactions (ring–ring equilibration) in the solid poly(l-lactide)s. In the mass range up to m/z 13 000 crystalline PLAs displaying a so-called saw-tooth pattern in the MALDI-TOF mass spectra are obtained indicating the formation of extended-ring crystals. The characteristics of extended-ring crystallites and folded-ring crystallites are discussed. Furthermore, extremely high melting temperatures (Tm’s up to 201.2 °C) and melting enthalpies (𝚫Hm’s up to 106 J g−1)) are found confirming that 𝚫Hm max, the 𝚫Hm of a perfect crystal, is around or above 115 J g−1 in contrast to literature data.
L-Lactide was polymerized in bulk with tin(II)2-ethylhexanoate SnOct2) as catalyst and salicylic acid as cocatalyst. The Lac/Cat ratio, Cocat/Cat ratio, temperature and time were varied. Increasing Cocat/Cat ratios reduced both,polymerization rate and molecular weight. However,under optimized conditions high molar mass (Mw up to 178,000), colorless, cyclic polylactides were formed in a short time. A few polymerizations performed at 160 and 180°C with the combination of SnOct2 and silylated salicylic acid gave similar results. Neat tin II) salicylate was prepared from SnOct2 and used for REPs of L-lactide in bulk, but the results were not better than those obtained from combinations of SnOct2 and salicylic acid. Furthermore, dibutyltin salicylate was synthesized and used as catalyst for polymerizations of L-lactide in bulk at temperatures varying from 102 to 160°C. Cyclic polylactides with Mw’s up to 40,000 were the main reaction products. At 100–102°C a predominance of odd-numbered cycles was found proving a REP mechanism.
Cyclic polylactides were prepared in bulk at 170 °C, crystallized at 120 °C and then annealed at temperatures between 130 and 170 C with variation of catalyst, catalyst concentration and annealing time. The transformation of the initially formed low melting (LTm) crystallites, having melting temperatures (Tm) <180 °C into high melting (HTm) crystallites having Tm values > 189 °C was monitored by means of DSC measurements and characterized in selected cases by SAXS measurements. It was confirmed that the formation of HTm crystallites involves a significant growth of the thickness of the lamellar crystallites along with smoothing of their surface. Annealing at 170 °C for 1 d or longer causes thermal degradation with lowering of the molecular weights, a gradual transition of cyclic into linear chains and a moderate decrease of lamellar thickness. An unexpected result revealed by MALDI TOF mass spectrometry is a partial reorganization of the molecular weight distribution driven by a gain of crystallization enthalpy.
Der Mangel an Anwendungsrichtlinien und Validierungsverfahren für struktur-eingebettete faseroptische Dehnungssensoren, insbesondere auf Faser-Bragg-Gitter (FBG)-Basis, führte bislang dazu, dass diese Sensoren trotz ihrer hervorragenden Eigenschaften im Bereich der kommerziellen Material- und Strukturüberwachung nur in geringem Umfange eingesetzt wurden. Fragen zur Degradation der Sensoren unter Beanspruchung, Alterung durch klimatische Einflüsse und Enthaftung infolge Belastung der Struktur konnten bisher nur theoretisch simuliert oder anhand exemplarischer Proben für einzelne einflussnehmende Parameter im Labor untersucht werden. Die Erfassung des Sensorverhaltens im Bauteil unter komplexen Umwelteinflüssen während des Bauteilbetriebes, um damit eine Aussage zur Zuverlässigkeit der Sensormessdaten zu gewinnen, war bisher nicht möglich.
Im Forschungsprojekt FAMOS² wurde deshalb von 2014 bis 2018 die Realisierung eines Autodiagnoseverfahrens für faseroptische Dehnungssensoren erarbeitet, um die Funktionszuverlässigkeit und Langzeitstabilität der Sensoren während des Bauteilbetriebes innerhalb einer Bauteilstruktur bewerten zu können. Im Rahmen des Forschungsprojektes wurde gezeigt, dass ein FBG-Sensor mit einer speziell angepassten magnetostriktiven Schicht magnetisch so angeregt werden kann, dass mit einer zugeschnittenen Messmethodik zu jedem Zeitpunkt eine Bewertung der Sensorzuverlässigkeit unter Betriebsbedingungen möglich ist. Die auf den Sensor aufgebrachte magnetostriktive Schicht erzeugt bei Anregung mit einem passenden Magnetfeld eine gepulste, synthetische Dehnung. Diese Dehnung steht in einem definierten Verhältnis zum anregenden Magnetfeld und wird optisch über die Verschiebung der Bragg-Wellenlänge ausgelesen. Die Konstanz dieses Verhältnisses stellt dann ein Maß für die korrekte Funktionsfähigkeit des Sensors dar. Das Beschichtungs-verfahren, das magnetische Anregungs- und optische Ausleseverfahren, wie auch die Validierung des Sensors unter Berücksichtigung faseroptischer Effekte wurden während des Projekts konzeptionell entwickelt, aufgebaut und charakterisiert. Qualitativ kann mit diesem Verfahren zunächst eine Gut-/Schlecht-Beurteilung des Sensors vorgenommen werden. Perspektivisch bietet das Verfahren jedoch auch die Möglichkeit, verschiedene Versagensmechanismen bestimmen und klassifizieren zu können. Es zeichnete sich schon während des Projektverlaufs ab, dass sich aus den erzielten Ergebnissen über das Autodiagnoseverfahren hinaus weitere Anwendungsmöglichkeiten für den Einsatz des kombinierten magnetostriktiv-faseroptischen Sensorprinzips, beispielsweise als reiner Magnetfeldsensor, ergeben.
Nach Abschluss dieses Forschungsprojekts besteht nun die Möglichkeit, den Funktionszustand faseroptischer Dehnungssensoren jederzeit unabhängig von Alter, Belastung oder Kenntnis eines Referenzzustands zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt bestimmen zu können. Aufbauend auf diesen Ergebnissen können weiterführende Forschungen die Messmethodik vertiefend charakterisieren und weitere Anwendungsfälle erschließen.
Im Fokus des Vorhabens steht das mit dem Innovationspreis Berlin-Brandenburg 2012 ausgezeichnete Mehr-Proben-Prüfverfahren zur Festigkeitsprüfung unter Verwendung einer analytischen Zentrifuge mit dem Ziel des Einsatzes in der Qualitätssicherung. Nachdem im MNPQ-Projekt QUO VADIS die grundsätzliche Anwendbarkeit der Zentrifugentechnologie auf Beanspruchungen auf Zug (Kleb-, Haft- und Verbundfestigkeit) nachgewiesen worden war, wurden im Vorhaben QUO VADIS PLUS folgende erweiterte Prüfszenarien und technische Weiterentwicklungen etabliert: 1. Beanspruchung auf Druck (Härte von Materialien, Kompressibilität von Schäumen, Kompaktierbarkeit von Pulvern), 2. Erweiterung der Beanspruchung auf Zug (Kombination von Normal- und Lateralkräften), 3. Erweiterung auf die Bewertung plasto-elastischenn Materialverhaltens, 4. Vermeidung von Schockwellen im Hochlastbereich
The effect of the presence of Fe(III) during the cultivation on the electrochemical activity and corrosion behaviour of dissimilatory iron reducing bacteria Shewanella putrefaciens was studied by means of ex situ and in situ X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES). Stainless steel AISI 304 and thin iron films were studied as substrates. XANES analysis indicated an accelerated iron dissolution and growth of an oxide/hydroxide film for the culture grown with Fe(III) in comparison to the culture grown in absence of Fe(III). Electrochemical Analysis indicated that the biofilm resulted in acceleration of the general corrosion but provides protection against local corrosion.
There is growing interest in quantifying microplastics in environmental samples. This application note presents a thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) method that is well suited to automation and increased sample throughput. The method is also able to detect all particle sizes in the sample as long as the limit of detection (LOD) is reached and allows analysis of larger samples of 15 to 25 mg or more. Samples were decomposed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the gaseous decomposition products were trapped on a solid-phase sorbent, followed by thermal desorption‑gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS) using an Agilent 5977B GC/MSD coupled to an Agilent 7890B GC. Target microplastic particle (MP) polymers were identified in environmental samples including surface water, finished compost, house dust, and drinking water. Quantification of MP polymers in environmental samples provided LODs of 0.06 to 2.2 μg, allowing the detection of MPs in trace amounts with sample weights of up to 1 g. Method repeatability was adequate for reliable quantification with RSDs of approximately 6 to 12%.
The stability of materials is a very important property for materials discovery. In recent years, we have explored several approaches for advancing the prediction of the stability of crystals (e.g., classical chemical heuristics and machine-learned interatomic potentials). For example, we have assessed a famous chemical heuristic – the Pauling rules – regarding their usefulness for structure prediction. They are only of limited predictive power, i.e. the rules 2 to 5 only work for 13 % of all tested oxides. Furthermore, we have shown that machine-learned interatomic potentials can be used to predict phonon properties of a range of silicon allotropes accurately and, therefore, they can also be used to assess the dynamic stability of materials. To do so, we have developed new schemes to build reference databases for machine learned interatomic potentials.
It is of high priority to capture the extent of microplastics (MP) contamination for understanding its impact and consequences to our environment. However, due to a lack of standardized methods, MP analysis as well as its quality assurance, is still a challenge. The thermal extraction desorption-gas chromatography/-mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) as a novel innovative thermoanalytic method can detect MP particles in environmental samples based on their decomposition products. According to MP analysis, a distinctively larger polyethylene (PE) content in comparison to other synthetic polymers was detected in environmental samples. Various substances within the matrix which have a similar molecular structure to PE, like fats and oils, might interfere with its marker and lead to an overestimation. In this investigation an automated extraction method, the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), is introduced as quality control tool before TED-GC/MS measurement. Thereby, not the extract like usually used, but the solid filtrate is analyzed. The aim is to clean the environmental samples from solvent removable compounds which could lead to false positive signals and thus receive a more accurate PE mass. Consequently, a sample mimicking environmental samples with a defined matrix and a known polymer mass was generated. The common polymers polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and styrene-butadiene rubber, used as an indication for tire wear, were added to the matrix. Different parameters for ASE extraction were varied such as different solvents, filters and purge time. Finally, a PE recovery rate of 91 % after extraction could be reached.
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.
Ellipsometry has been an extremely successful and fast expanding method in the past decades along with other related techniques using polarisation sensitive measurements. Opening new fields of application for a successful measurement technique brings some requirements and issues that have to be solved. From a metrological point of view, ellipsometry has the problem that uncertainties are difficult to determine for model-based analysis techniques in general. In this presentation, we will explore how the usefulness of polarimetric methods like ellipsometry can be increased.
Ellipsometry as a method could profit from several current developments which will be discussed in this presentation:
• Standardisation initiatives on national and international level developing standards for best practice when using ellipsometry. A series of at least six standards is currently developed on national German and international level covering different levels of sample complexity.
• Projects on traceability of ellipsometry and structured surface spectrometry as well as new dielectric function database initiatives.
• Metadata handling and data ontology providing a better framework for exchange and collaborative use of research data.
We will also explore the quantification of measurement uncertainty using examples from projects in which BAM is involved. Examples will be presented of multilayer and non-ideal materials as well as the determination of layer properties for technical applications such as thin layer catalysts and complex polymers. The definition of reference materials will be discussed.
The debate on the mechanisms which underpin mechanochemical reactions via ball mill grinding is still open. Our ability to accurately measure the microstructural (crystal size and microstrain) evolution of materials under milling conditions as well as their phase composition as a function of time is key to the in-depth understanding of the kinetics and driving forces of mechanochemical transformations. Furthermore, all ball milling reactions end with a steady state or milling equilibrium – represented by a specific phase composition and relative microstructure – that does not change as long as the milling conditions are maintained. The use of a standard sample is essential to determine the instrumental contribution to the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) peak broadening for time-resolved in situ (TRIS) monitoring of mechanochemical reactions under in operando conditions. Using TRIS-XRPD on a ball milling setup, coupled with low-energy synchrotron radiation, we investigated different data acquisition and analysis strategies on a silicon standard powder. The diffraction geometry and the microstructural evolution of the standard itself have been studied to model the instrumental contribution to XRPD peak broadening throughout the grinding activity. Previously proposed functions are here challenged and further developed. Importantly, we show that minor drifts of the jar position do not affect the instrumental resolution function significantly. We here report and discuss the results of such investigations and their application to TRIS-XRPD datasets of inorganic and organic ball mill grinding reactions.
Accurate characterisation of the morphology (size) and chemistry of graphene-related 2D materials (GR2M) is key in understanding their extraordinary functionalities. Hence, not only the tailoring of these functionalities aiming at applications of increased-performance becomes possible, but also the correlation of the physico-chemical properties with the understanding of the potential toxicity eventually enables a safe and sustainable development of the GR2M for new applications. Whilst AFM and Raman Spectroscopy are recommended to measure the thickness of GO flakes, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) is the most suited method to assess their lateral size, which varies between tens of µm down to below 100 nm. In this paper, procedures for the accurate determination of lateral size of graphene oxide (GO) flakes by SEM are presented. The prerequisite for accurate flake size analysis is the proper sample preparation, i.e. deposition of ideally isolated flakes on a substrate, with the flakes being unfolded, non-overlapped, parallel with the substrate, and having a high coverage density. Examples of optimum image caption conditions and image analysis procedures will be presented. The size descriptors and their measurement are described in the context of the corresponding analysis approach: i) length and width of the flakes with a quick and rough, but robust procedure, and ii) exact contouring of the flakes as part of a highly accurate, but more time-consuming measurement approach. The possibility of application of automated image analysis is discussed as the alternative to the manual flakes analysis.
Natural zeolite clinoptilolite CLIN with a framework ratio of Si/Al ≥ 4 containing mainly potassium and calcium ions in its internal channel system was used as a starting material. The acidic HCLIN catalysts were prepared under soft conditions avoiding the use of environmental less benign mineral acids. The starting material was ion exchanged using a 0.2 M aqueous ammonium nitrate solution at a temperature 80 ◦C for 2 h. The obtained NH4CLIN was converted into the acid HCLIN catalyst by calcination at 300–600 ◦C. The obtained samples were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM/TEM, AAS, and EDX element mapping. The state of aluminium and silicon was studied by 27Al- and 29SiMAS NMR spectroscopy. The textural properties of the catalysts were investigated by nitrogen adsorption and desorption measurements. The Brønsted acidity of the HCLIN catalysts was studied by temperature-programmed decomposition of the exchanged ammonium ions releasing ammonia as well as 1H MAS NMR, {1H–27Al} Trapdor, and {1H–27Al}
Redor experiments. The strongly agglomerated samples were crystalline and thermally stable up to >500 ◦C. Although a part of the clinoptilolite framework is maintained up to 600 ◦C, a loss of crystallinity is already observed starting from 450 ◦C. The specific surface areas of the starting CLIN and ammonium exchanged NH4CLIN are low with ca. 26 m2/g. The pores are nearly blocked by the exchangeable cations located in the zeolite pores. The thermal decomposition of the ammonium ions by calcination at 400 ◦C causes an opening of the pore entrances and a markable increase in the specific micropore area and micropore volume to ca. 163 m2/g and 0.07 cm3/g, respectively. It decreases with further rising calcination temperature indicating some structural loss. The catalysts show a broad distribution of Brønsted acid sites (BS) ranging from weak to strong sites as indicated the
thermal decomposition of exchanged ammonium ions (TPDA). The ammonium ion decomposition leaving BS, i.e., H+ located at Al–O–Si framework bridges, starts at ≥250 ◦C. A part of the Brønsted sites is lost after calcination specifically at 500 ◦C. It is related to the formation of penta-coordinated aluminium at the expense of tetrahedral framework aluminium. The Brønsted sites are partially recreated after repeated ammonium ion exchange. The catalytic performance of the acidic HCLIN
catalysts was tested in the etherification of glycerol as a green renewable resource with different C1 -C4 alcohols. The catalysts are highly active in the etherification of glycerol, especially with alcohols containing the branched, tertiary alkyl groups. Highest activity is observed with the soft activated catalyst HCLIN300 (300 ◦C, temperature holding time: 1 min). A total of 78% conversion of glycerol to mono and di ether were achieved with tert-butanol at 140 ◦C after 4 h of reaction.
The mono- and di-ether selectivity were 75% and 25%, respectively. The catalyst can be reused.
In this talk sample prep/handling, instrument calibration and data acquisition methods with examples from XPS, Auger and SIMS will be addressed in terms of their contributions to the reproducibility of data delivered by the methods.
Active parties in the field are VAMAS TWA 2 “Surface chemical analysis” (http://www.vamas.org/twa2/index.html), ISO/TC 201 “Surface chemical analysis” (https://www.iso.org/committee/54618.html) and the Surface Analysis Working Group (SAWG) at the International Meter Convention (https://www.bipm.org/en/ committees/cc/wg/sawg.html). The tools to improve the reproducibility of spectra, depth profiles and images at these international platforms are inter-laboratory comparisons, validated SOPs, standards and certified reference materials (CRM) as well as uncertainty budgets and establishment of traceability chains. The last point is of specific importance because all the methods, XPS, Auger and SIMS, are not primary methods.
To address quantitative XPS, AES and SIMS results of relevant inter-laboratory comparisons organized by SAWG considering measurands as alloy surface composition and thickness of thin films will be introduced. These comparisons delivered results which are viewed to be benchmarking, some of them resulted in ISO/TC 201 standards. For quantitative XPS and AES the principal outline of an uncertainty budget will be discussed together with the audience. Another issue of quantitative XPS which definitely needs consideration are valid methods for a determination of the transmission function of the instruments and even for the emission angle in the respective experiments.
Concerning the field of depth profiling it has to be investigated together with the audience whether the ISO (or ASTM) standards we have are sufficient to guarantee comparable results. Having in mind the number of different sputter ion species available today and range of samples of interest (metals, semiconductors, organic films) this might be questionable. And, how do depth profiling by AR-XPS and variable excitation energy XPS compete here?
For imaging surface chemical analysis, the characterization of the imaging system is an issue to be investigated. Here the determination of lateral resolution is a relevant topic.
Finally, the future needs to develop metrology for new applications e.g., ambient-pressure XPS, bio samples, and core-shell nanoparticles, will be issues raised for a discussion with the audience.
Flexible organic crystals (elastic and plastic) are important materials for optical waveguides, tunable optoelectronic devices, and photonic integrated circuits. Here, we present highly elastic organic crystals of a Schiff base, 1-((E)-(2,5-dichlorophenylimino)methyl)naphthalen-2-ol (1), and an azine molecule, 2,4-dibromo-6-((E)-((E)-(2,6-dichlorobenzylidene)hydrazono)methyl)phenol (2). These microcrystals are highly flexible under external mechanical force, both in the macroscopic and the microscopic regimes. The mechanical flexibility of these crystals arises as a result of weak and dispersive C−H⋅⋅⋅Cl, Cl⋅⋅⋅Cl, Br⋅⋅⋅Br, and π⋅⋅⋅π stacking interactions. Singly and doubly-bent geometries were achieved from their straight shape by a micromechanical approach using the AFM cantilever tip. Crystals of molecules 1 and 2 display a bright-green and red fluorescence (FL), respectively, and selective reabsorption of a part of their FL band. Crystals 1 and 2 exhibit optical-path-dependent low loss emissions at the termini of crystal in their straight and even in extremely bent geometries. Interestingly, the excitation position-dependent optical modes appear in both linear and bent waveguides of crystals 1 and 2, confirming their light-trapping ability.
3D microstructures with sub-micron resolution can be manufactured in additive manner applying multi-photon laser structuring technique. This paper is focused on the incorporation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles into the photoresist in order to manufacture micrometer-sized devices featuring a magnetic moment. The aim of the project is to achieve untethered actuation of the presented objects through externally applied magnetic fields. Future medical application scenarios such as drug delivery and tissue engineering are targeted by this research.
Sufficient adhesion/tensile strength are basic requirements for any coating/composite material. For coatings, adhesive strength in N/mm2 is of Major interest for various applications such as decorative and water-repellent coatings on wood (paints and varnishes), optical coatings on glass and polymers (reflectors and filters), electrical coatings on semiconductors, glass and polymers (conducting and bondable layers), mechanical coatings on metals and polymers (wear-reduction, scratch-resistance) and adhesion-promoting layers. For composite materials, tensile strength in N/mm2 is also a key quantity for carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFC), laminates and adhesive-bonded joints. Centrifugal adhesion testing (CAT) transfers the single-sample tensile test from a tensile or universal testing machine into an analytical centrifuge as multiple-sample test of up to eight test pieces. The one-sided sample support instead of a two-sided sample clamping and the absence of mounting- and testing-correlated shear forces provides fast and reliable results both for adhesive strength and bonding strength by means of bonded test stamps. For bonding strength, the evaluation of failure pattern from microscopic inspection is required in order to determine the failure pattern according to ISO 10365 such as adhesive failure (AF), delamination failure (DF) and cohesive failure (CF). Hence, one test run by CAT-technology provides either statistics or ranking of up to eight samples at once. For adhesive strength of coatings, a variety of examples is discussed such as ALD-Al203 layers as adhesion promoters, evaporated Ag-layers on N-BK7 glass, sputtered Cr- and Al-layers on Borofloat 33 glass, evaporated Au-films on N-BK7 glass and sputtered SiO2 -layers on CR39 Polymer. Provided adhesive or bonding strength are high enough, the substrate or the joining part may also fail.
Iron (oxyhydr)oxides play an important role in controlling the mobility and toxicity of arsenic (As) in contaminated soils and groundwaters. However, dynamic subsurface geochemical conditions can potentially impact As sequestration since this is highly dependent on the dominant iron mineral phases present and the pathways through which they form. In this study, we investigated the Fe2+-induced transformation of As(V)-bearing ferrihydrite (As-FH) to more crystalline phases under relevant anoxic subsurface conditions. Specifically, we examined the influence of varying Fe2+(aq)/Fe(III)solid¬ ratios on the behavior and speciation of the mineral-bound As species during the mineralogical transformation of As-FH at pH 6.5 for 24 h. At lower Fe2+(aq)/Fe(III)solid¬ ratios (0.5 to 1), goethite, green rust sulfate (GR¬SO4) and lepidocrocite formed within the first 2 hours of the reaction, but only goethite and some unreacted FH remained after 24 h. At Fe2+(aq)/Fe(III)solid¬ ratio = 2, GRSO4 remained stable throughout the 24 h reaction, alongside goethite and unreacted FH. Despite >82% of the As-FH being transformed to goethite GRSO4 in these reactions, no significant As release (>99.9% removal) was observed. However, while As remained mineral-bound, partial oxidation of the initially added As(V) was reduced to As(III), most likely, by the goethite-Fe2+(aq) redox couple. The extent of As(V) reduction increased from ~40% to ~50%, as the Fe2+(aq)/Fe(III)solid¬ ratio increased from 0.5 to 2. Overall, these results provide important insights into transformation pathways of iron (oxyhydr)oxide minerals in As contaminated, anoxic soils and sediments, and also demonstrate the great impact these can have on As oxidation state and, hence, toxicity and mobility in these environments.
The EC’s recommendation for a definition of nanomaterial (2011/696/EU) should allow the identification of a particulate nanomaterial based on the number-based metric criterion according to which at least 50% of the constituent particles have the smallest dimension between 1 and 100 nm. However, it has been recently demonstrated that the implementation of this definition for regulatory purposes is conditioned by the large deviations between the results obtained by different sizing methods or due to practical reasons such as high costs and time-consuming (SEM, TEM).
Within the European project NanoDefine (www.nanodefine.eu) a two-tier approach has been developed, whereby firstly a screening method is applied for the rough classification as a nano-/non-nanomaterial, and for borderline cases a confirmatory method (imaging methods or field flow fractionation) must be considered.
One of the measurement methods well suited to particulate powder is the determination of volume-specific surface area (VSSA) by means of gas adsorption as well as skeletal density. The value of 60 m2/cm3 corresponding to spherical, monodisperse particles with a diameter of 100 nm constitutes the threshold for decisioning if the material is a nano- or non-nanomaterial. The correct identification of a nanomaterial by VSSA method is accepted by the EU recommendation.
However, the application of the VSSA method is associated also by some limitations. The threshold of 60 m2/cm3 is dependent on the particle shape, so that it changes considerably with the number of nano-dimensions of the particles. For particles containing micro-pores or having a microporous coating false positive results will be produced. Furthermore, broad particle size distributions make necessary to adjust the threshold. Based on examples of commercially available ceramic powders, the applicability of the VSSA approach will be tested (in relation with SEM and TEM measurements) in order to expand the actual knowledge and to improve this good available and agglomeration tolerant method.
Both essential aspects of the surface of solid matter, its morphology and chemistry, are studied traditionally at BAM starting in the 60’s with different cyclical research focus areas, mostly related either to applicative research or method development. In the recent years, the focus has shifted almost exclusively to the nano-analytics of advanced materials such as complex nanoparticles, (ultra)thin films/coatings, nanocomposites, 2D materials, energy materials, etc. This is also the reason why BAM has established recently the new Competence Center nano@BAM (www.bam.de/Navigation/DE/Themen/Material/Nanotechnologie/sichere-nanomaterialien.html) with the five sub-fields nanoCharacterisation, nanoMaterial, nanoSafety, nanoData and nanoTechnology. The link to the BAM central guidelines to the safety in technology and chemistry is given by the development of reference products such as reference measurement procedures, reference (nano)materials, and newly reference data sets. Thus, an internationally well-networked group in surface analysis has been established @BAM, with regular contributions to integral analytical characterization with metrological and standardization background.
Examples of newly developed methodical approaches will be given with an emphasis on correlative nano-analysis of morphology and chemistry of nanomaterials. Correlative imaging by STEM-in-SEM with high-resolution SEM and EDX, and further with AFM or the new technique TKD (Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction) will be explained on various examples of nanostructures, both as starting materials and embedded/functionalized nanoparticles in products. The unique analytical benefits of the Auger electron probe as a veritable nano-tool for surface chemistry will be highlighted. The panoply of advanced surface characterization methods @BAM is completed by discussing examples of hybrid analysis of the bulk of nanomaterials by X-ray Spectroscopy with the highest surface-sensitive methods X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Particularly for the analysis of the surface chemistry of nanostructures, such as the completeness of the shells of core-shell nanoparticles or in-depth and lateral gradients of chemistry within mesoporous thin layers, the latter methods are inherent.
Other special developments like approaches for the quantitative determination of the roughness of particle surface by electron microscopy or for the quantitative determination of the porosity of thin mesoporous layers by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) with SEM will be presented.
Both essential aspects of the surface of solid matter, its morphology and chemistry, are studied traditionally at BAM starting in the 60’s with different cyclical research focus areas, mostly related either to applicative research or method development. In the recent years, the focus has shifted almost exclusively to the nano-analytics of advanced materials such as complex nanoparticles, (ultra)thin films/coatings, nanocomposites, 2D materials, energy materials, etc. This is also the reason why BAM has established recently the new Competence Center nano@BAM (www.bam.de/Navigation/DE/Themen/Material/Nanotechnologie/sichere-nanomaterialien.html) with the five sub-fields nanoCharacterisation, nanoMaterial, nanoSafety, nanoData and nanoTechnology. The link to the BAM central guidelines to the safety in technology and chemistry is given by the development of reference products such as reference measurement procedures, reference (nano)materials, and newly reference data sets. Thus, an internationally well-networked group in surface analysis has been established @BAM, with regular contributions to integral analytical characterization with metrological and standardization background.
Examples of newly developed methodical approaches will be given with an emphasis on correlative nano-analysis of morphology and chemistry of nanomaterials. Correlative imaging by STEM-in-SEM with high-resolution SEM and EDX, and further with AFM or the new technique TKD (Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction) will be explained on various examples of nanostructures, both as starting materials and embedded/functionalized nanoparticles in products. The unique analytical benefits of the Auger electron probe as a veritable nano-tool for surface chemistry will be highlighted. The panoply of advanced surface characterization methods @BAM is completed by discussing examples of hybrid analysis of the bulk of nanomaterials by X-ray Spectroscopy with the highest surface-sensitive methods X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). Particularly for the analysis of the surface chemistry of nanostructures, such as the completeness of the shells of core-shell nanoparticles or in-depth and lateral gradients of chemistry within mesoporous thin layers, the latter methods are inherent.
Other special developments like approaches for the quantitative determination of the roughness of particle surface by electron microscopy or for the quantitative determination of the porosity of thin mesoporous layers by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) with SEM will be presented in conjunction with the corresponding advanced materials studied.
Current research projects, promising ideas, including ongoing (pre-)standardization activities in the field of the challenging nano/surface analysis will be touched systematically, with the open goal of identifying future bilateral cooperation possibilities between EMPA and BAM.
The accurate EDS microanalysis of light elements such as boron and carbon by spectrum imaging will be demonstrated using a sintered hard ceramic material composed of the three major phases titanium boride (TiB2), titanium carbide (TiC), silicon carbide (SiC) and minor phases, sub-μm in size.
The combination of these three materials leads to improved mechanical and tribological properties. Silicon carbide is a material used for mechanical seals. It has the disadvantage of reduced failsafe running functions, causing increased wear when running dry. The added titanium components (TiC and TiB2) improve the failsafe running functions. This technology has already been transferred to industrial applications.
We show how historical gypsum plaster preparation methods affect the microstructure and the wettability properties of the final stucco materials. We reproduced a traditional Persian recipe (Gach-e Koshteh, ~14th century AD), which involves a continuous mechanical treatment during plaster hydration. These samples were compared with a laboratory-replicated historical recipe from Renaissance Italy (Gesso Sottile, ~15th century AD) and contemporary low-strength plaster. The Koshteh recipe induces the formation of gypsum platelets, which exhibit preferential orientation in the plaster bulk. In contrast,
the Italian and low-strength plasters comprise a typical needle-like morphology of gypsum crystals. The platelets in Koshteh expose the more hydrophilic {010} face of gypsum in a much more pronounced manner than needles. Consequently, the Iranian plaster displays enhanced wettability, enabling its direct use for water-based decoration purposes, or as a fine finishing thin layer, without the need of mixing it with a binder material.
Contrary, in Sottile, gypsum crystals are left to equilibrate in large excess of water, which promotes the growth of long needles at the expense of smaller crystals. Typically, such needles are several times longer than those found in a control regular plaster. For this
crystal habit, the total surface of hydrophilic faces is minimized. Consequently, such plaster layers tend to repel water, which can then be used, e.g., as a substrate for oilbased panel paintings. These findings highlight the development of advanced functional materials, by tuning their microtexture, already during the premodern era.
The EU recommendation for a definition of nanomaterial (2011/696/EU) should allow the identification of a particulate nanomaterial based on the number-based metric criterion according to which at least 50% of the constituent particles have the smallest dimension between 1 and 100 nm. Within the European Project NanoDefine (www.nanodefine.eu) a two-tier approach has been developed, whereby firstly a screening method is applied for the rough classification as a nanomaterial or non-nanomaterial, and for borderline cases a confirmatory method (imaging methods or field flow fractionation) must be considered.
One of the measurement methods well suited to particulate powder is the determination of volume-specific surface area (VSSA) by means of gas adsorption as well as skeletal density. The value of 60 m2/cm3 corresponding to spherical, monodisperse particles with a diameter of 100 nm constitutes the threshold for decisioning if the material is a nanomaterial or non-nanomaterial. The correct identification of a nanomaterial by VSSA method (positive test) is accepted by the EU recommendation.
However, the application of the VSSA method is associated also by some limitations. The threshold of 60 m2/cm3 is dependent on the particle shape. For particles containing micro-pores or having a microporous coating, false positive results will be produced.
Furthermore, broad particle size distributions – as typically for ceramic materials – as well as multi-modal size distributions make necessary to adjust the threshold.
Based on examples of commercially available ceramic powders, the applicability of the VSSA approach will be tested (in relation with SEM and TEM measurements) in order to expand the actual knowledge and
improve the method.
Nickel nanoparticles are an active research area due to their multiple applications as catalysts in different processes. A variety of preparation techniques have been reported for the synthesis of these nanoparticles, including solvothermal, microwave-assisted, and emulsion techniques. The well-studied solvothermal oleylamine synthesis route comes with the drawback of needing standard air-free techniques and often space-consuming glassware. Here, we present a facile and straightforward synthesis method for size-controlled highly monodisperse nickel nanoparticles avoiding the use of, e.g., Schlenk techniques and space-consuming labware. The nanoparticles produced by this novel synthetic route were investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray spectroscopy. The nanoparticles were in a size range of 4–16 nm, show high sphericity, no oxidation, and no agglomeration after synthesis.
Advances in ultrafast laser manufacturing: nanostructures, thin films, and scaling perspectives
(2024)
Advanced ultrafast laser technology is a rapidly growing field that currently enables many new industrial and scientific applications. During the last decades, this has been significantly driven by the availability of high-repetition-rate laser sources and novel beam delivery concepts. At the laser side, Moore’s law equally manifests for ultrafast laser technologies, since the average output power of such lasers doubles approximately every two years. This development is mainly driven by the increase of the pulse repetition rates of energetic laser pulses, currently enforcing the development of smart beam control and novel scanning strategies for preventing heat-accumulation and plasma-shielding effects during laser-based materials processing. This keynote presentation addresses the advantages, recent developments, and perspectives of laser processing with ultrashort laser pulses. A special focus is laid on the tailored structuring of thin films as well as the manufacturing and probing of sub-diffraction surface nanostructures – an ongoing race to extreme scales. Current limitations are identified and an outlook to future scaling perspectives will be provided.
Die Rasterkraftmikroskopie (AFM) hat sich in den letzten Jahren als eine vielseitige Abbildungstechnik von Oberflächen mit einer sehr hohen Ortsauflösung etabliert. Über die Untersuchung der reinen Oberflächentopographie sind erweiterte Modi in der Lage, gleichzeitig Informationen über die elektrischen und magnetischen Eigenschaften sowie Adhäsionsprozesse auf Oberflächen zu liefern. Interessanter wird es, wenn das AFM mit geeigneten Messzellen für in-situ-Untersuchungen in kontrollierten Atmosphären oder in Elektrolyten unter elektrochemischer Kontrolle ausgestattet ist. Dies ermöglicht die Untersuchung von Korrosions- und Adhäsionsprozessen unter Bedingungen, die die Betriebsumgebung repräsentieren.
Ein aktueller Forschungsschwerpunkt unseres Fachbereiches liegt in den Untersuchungen der Deformationseigenschaften von Funktionsschichten auf Leichtmetalllegierungen, sowie in situ Untersuchungen des Korrosionsverhaltens unter kombinierter korrosiver und mechanischer Beanspruchung mittels AFM. Durch die Integrierung eines Zug-Druckmoduls in den Probentisch des Rasterkraftmikroskops haben wir jetzt die Möglichkeit, verschiedene Materialien uniaxialen Umformversuchen mit bis zu 5 kN Kraft zu unterziehen. Dabei können unter anderem auch zyklische Belastungen genutzt werden, um Ermüdungsprozesse zu simulieren. Da die Messungen in situ ohne die De- und Remontage der Probe durchgeführt werden, ermöglicht der Aufbau nicht nur Messungen mit präziser Positionssteuerung, sondern auch die Untersuchung von Prozessen im elastischen Bereich, die für die Aufklärung der Mechanismen, die zu Ermüdungsversagen führen, entscheidend sind.
Die Posterpräsentation wird detaillierte Informationen zum neuen AFM-Setup liefern und unsere aktuellen Ergebnisse zur Verformung dünner Schutzschichten auf AA2024-T3 zusammenfassen.
A brief introduction to the efforts we have done in our lab towards AI/ML analysis of SAXS data. For this, we need to extend the data with an extensive, structured hierarchy of metadata and associated data. A practical look into the information stored in our files, and the organization of the files in a data catalog is presented.
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.
Laser-induced plasma (LIP) has drawn significant amount of attentions in the past decades, particular in elemental analyses for solid or liquid samples. Through proper focusing of the highly energetic laser beam, the plasma can also be ignited in the ambient air, where airborne analytes can be ionized. Such an effect enabled the use of airborne LIP as an ambient ionization source for mass spectrometric analyses. In contrast to other ambient desorption/ionization sources, airborne LIP does not require a specific discharge medium or expensive gas stream. Meanwhile, the airborne LIP produces reagent ion species for both proton-transfer and charge-transfer reactions in addition to the vacuum ultraviolent photons that are capable of promoting single photon ionization, which can be utilized to ionize polar and non-polar analytes. In order to gauge the analytical performance of airborne LIP, it is critical to understand the undergoing chemistry and physics during and after the plasma formation.
Due to the ambient nature of airborne LIP, the variations of air composition and flow strongly affect the plasma behaviors. Preliminary result suggested the addition of a laminar flow of nitrogen gas favored the formation of protonated species (MH+) against the molecular ones (M+). Although the gas addition approach cannot fully tune the ionization process towards the specific production of pseudo-molecular species versus molecular ones, the alternation of molecular ion formation can be used for analyte recognitions through post processing of the ion patterns. The pulsed character of the used lasers makes the reagent ion equilibrium both transient- and highly fluid-dynamically controlled. The acoustic shock-waves induced by the airborne LIP get affected by an applied gas streams towards the plasma center, influencing the molecular-ion and ion-ion interactions in the near proximity of the plasma.
To understand the airborne LIP formation, the temporally and spatially resolved optical emission spectra were recorded. The results will be correlated to time-resolved mass-spectrometric investigations of the ion profile during different stages of the plasma formation. As one example, the formation of pyrylium ion originating from aromatic compounds will be highlighted.
In diesem Beitrag wird der Einfluss des Aktivkohleprodukts auf die Adsorption von Spurenstoffen aus Kläranlagenablauf gezeigt und diskutiert. Im zweiten Teil wird das Material Aktivkohle analytisch charakterisiert und die Eigenschaften systematisiert. Die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse werden mit Bezug zu Praxislösungen zusammengefasst.
Eine umfangreich ausgestaltete Trinkwasseraufbereitung als Multibarrieren-System ist notwendig, wenn das Rohwasser direkt aus Fließgewässern entnommen wird (z. B. für das Mülheimer Verfahren). Eine der Barrieren wird, als gezielte Behandlungs- oder Sicherheitsstufe, oft als Filter mit granulierter Aktivkohle (GAK-Filter) realisiert. Ihre Standzeit kann bei geringer Wasserbelastung (DOC < 2 mg/L), z. B. bei der Landeswasserversorgung Langenau, bis zu 5 Jahre betragen. Bei Rohwasser mit höherem Organikgehalt (DOC > 7 mg/L), wie bei der Nordwasser in Rostock, wird hingegen mindestens alle drei Jahre die GAK in den Filterkolonnen ausgetauscht.
Die Rest-Adsorptionskapazität der GAK kann durch verschiedene Verfahren abgeschätzt werden, ist aber nach wie vor Gegenstand aktueller Forschung. Die weitergehende Charakterisierung der beladenen GAK kann hierbei helfen.
Auf dem Poster sollen erste Ergebnisse zu den in Langenau und Rostock eingesetzten Aktivkohlen präsentiert werden. Hierzu wurden die frischen und nach unterschiedlichen Laufzeiten beladenen GAK untersucht. Die Zusammensetzung der Anorganik und der adsorbierten Organik, welche mittels Zersetzungs¬gasanalyse charakterisiert wurde, zeigt deutliche Unterschiede. Bspw. nimmt der Calcium-Gehalt der GAK in Langenau kontinuierlich zu, wohingegen dieser in den Proben aus Rostock mit zunehmender Laufzeit zurückgeht. Umgekehrt verhält es sich mit der Organik: Die GAK aus Rostock zeigen Hinweise auf biologische Besiedelung, während diese in Langenau trotz längerer Filterlaufzeit auszubleiben scheint.
Modern design of superior multi-functional alloys composed of several principal components requires in-depth studies of their local structure for developing desired macroscopic properties. Herein, peculiarities of atomic arrangements on the local scale and electronic states of constituent elements in the single-phase face-centered cubic (fcc)- and body-centered cubic (bcc)-structured high-entropy Alx-CrFeCoNi alloys (x = 0.3 and 3, respectively) are explored by element-specific X-ray absorption spectroscopy in hard and soft X-ray energy ranges. Simulations based on the reverse Monte Carlo approach allow to perform a simultaneous fit of extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectra recorded at K absorption edges of each 3d constituent and to reconstruct the local environment within the first coordination shells of absorbers with high precision. The revealed unimodal and bimodal distributions of all five elements are in agreement with structure-dependent magnetic properties of studied alloys probed by magnetometry. A degree of surface atoms oxidation uncovered by soft X-rays suggests different kinetics of oxide formation for each type of constituents and has to be taken into account. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism technique employed at L2,3 absorption edges of transition metals demonstrates reduced magnetic moments of 3d metal constituents in the sub-Surface region of in situ cleaned fcc-structured Al0.3-CrFeCoNi compared to their bulk values. Extended to nanostructured versions of multicomponent alloys, such studies would bring new insights related to effects of high entropy mixing on low dimensions.