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Paper des Monats
- ja (18)
ZnSnOx coatings were deposited from two 2in magnetron targets made of
ZnO and SnO2 connected to DC pulsed and RF power supplies, respectively.
The pure Ar and reactive gas mixture Ar/O2 were used. DC pulsed power applied on ZnO target was kept constant 50W 50kHz, 20% d.c. and the RF power applied on SnO2 target was set to values from 0W (pure ZnO deposited) up to 150W (up to 8 at.% of Sn in films). The deposited films were investigated by multiple techniques as deposited at RT as well as after annealing at temperatures 200o C and 450o C. The lower annealing temperature is still compatible with many of common polymeric substrates.
The amount of Sn in the films is proportional to applied RF power on SnO2 target. But there is also significant influence of the post Deposition annealing on the film compositions. The ratio Zn/Sn is reduced by the annealing process. Therefore the annealing is promoting the migration of Sn toward the surface and Zn to inside. Moreover the films deposited in oxygen rich reactive gas mixture does not reduces the resistivity with added Sn in contrary to films deposited in Ar where the resistivity was reduced by 5 orders of magnitudes. The plasma parameters were investigated and mean energies of dominant species were in DC pulsed only about 3eV and DC + RF powered plasma up to 15eV. The expected higher energetic particles in the RF influenced plasma deliver an additional energy to the growing film. Therefore, we observed systematic differences between refractive indexes in the films deposited with low RF powered SnO2 magnetron at RT and post-annealed at 200 ° and practically no difference between RT and post-annealed film at higher RF power above 50 W. The XRD results proved the transitions from an amorphous to more crystalline structure by post-annealing of the films.
Various catalysts and polycondensation mechanisms (ROPPOC/REP/ROP)were presented and discussed with regard to the Formation of cyclic and linear polylactides. It could be shown that depending on the structure of the catalyst even- and od numbered cyclics were selectively formed. These data were supported by various analytical techniques like MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and Size Exclusion Chromatography.
The paper addresses the “State-of-the-Art in Multiple-Sample Evaluation of Adhesive and Bonding Strength” and the following points are discussed in more detail:
1. Motivation (coatings, varnishes, tapes, laminates, CFRP, adhesive-bonded joints)
2. Conventional single-sample testing (evaluation of adhesive and bonding strength; failure pattern)
3. Multiple-sample handling (MSH), bonding (MSB), and testing: centrifugal adhesion testing (CAT) (multiple-sample approach, tensile test within a centrifuge)
4. Application examples of CAT-Technology™ (laminates, optical coatings, CFRP joints)
Finally, a summary is given regarding status quo and benefits of CAT-technology under tensile stress conditions whereas examples of testing in a centrifuge under compressive stress conditions are mentioned in the outlook.
Mechanochemie
(2018)
Mechanochemistry is widely applicable for the synthesis of inorganic, metal-organic, and organic compounds. It is known for short reaction times, nearly quantitative conversions, and decreasing amount of solvents, which opens the field to more environmentally friendly syntheses routes. Among organic syntheses, the Knoevenagel condensation is an important C-C bond forming reaction leading to α,β-unsaturated compounds. To gain more information on the underlying processes, we investigated the syntheses by a combination of different in situ investigation techniques, including synchrotron X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and thermography. This combination provides information on the structural changes and temperature influences during milling. Benzaldehyde derivates (nitro- and fluoro-derivates) reacted with malononitrile to the respective benzylidenemalononitriles. The in situ investigations show direct and quantitative conversions. In the case of the fluorinated benzaldehyde derivates we showed the possibility of using liquid substrates in mechanochemical organic synthesis. Surprisingly, after crystallization from a viscous state, the material was suitable for single-crystal X-ray analysis.
Healable materials could play an important role in reducing the environmental footprint of our modern technological society through extending the life cycles of consumer products and constructions. Future technologies require smart materials with advanced properties including responsiveness to external stimuli and particularly the ability to autonomously repair inflicted damage. The introduction of reversible connections in the polymer architecture, either in a non-covalent fashion, such as in supramolecular polymers, or by using dynamic covalent chemistry. One facile approach involves the implementation of reversible polymer networks as they offer high mechanical strength and thermal properties that are readily modified by the nature of the connecting dynamic bonds and the crosslinking density. In this context, small-angle scattering allows a detailed insight into the network structure of self-healing polymers either in bulk materials or in form of hydrogels. Here we report on how small-angle scattering can contribute to reveal the network structure. A first example is the conditional repair by locally switching the thermal healing capability of dynamic covalent polymers with light.
Typical experimental SAXS curves of a photo- and thermal switchable polymer are shown. The scattering pattern show three characteristics. Region 1 is dominated by a forward scattering interpreted as resultant from large scale inhomogeneities of the bulk polymers (characterized by a first correlation length). The second scattering contribution can be interpreted as resultant from the network and is characterized by its entanglement distance. The mesh size of this network can be described by a second correlation length. Region 3 of the scattering pattern is dominated by a broad peak. Taking all effects into account, we approximate the total scattering as a sum of the three scattering contributions. In particular, the Debye-Büche function is used for I1 the Ornstein-Zernike function for the crosslinking contribution I2 and a Lorentzian peak function.
We discussed this simple and more sophisticated approaches for revealing network structures. Examples of studies from hydrogel networks are provided as important materials with polymeric networks in life science applications. Finally, the determination of mesh size distributions as a function of temperature, time and healing efficiency is discussed in detail.
Reversible light-modulation of fulgimide based monolayers on Si(1 1 1) and Si(1 0 0) was investigated using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Fulgimide monolayers were prepared from neat COOH-terminated SAMs on Si(1 1 1) obtained from methyl undec-10-enoate, (1:1)-diluted COOH-terminated monolayers on Si(1 1 1), and GPTMS monolayers on Si(1 0 0). The epoxy-terminated monolayer on oxidized Si(1 0 0) was characterized with ellipsometry, XPS, as well as contact angle measurements, and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy revealed a strong influence of toluene water content on reproducible high-quality monolayer formation. The results of this study show that environmental polarity has a strong influence on fulgimide imide IR band locations and read-out options for the two photostationary states PSS(365 nm), containing E/Z- and C-isomers, and PSS(545 nm), with solely the E/Zisomers.
Neat COOH-terminated monolayers on flat Si(1 1 1) have the Advantage of high functional Group concentration, orientation and stability, and an upright arrangement of fulgimide head groups.
Products containing engineered nanoparticles already encounter us in most areas of our daily life including cosmetics, clothing, detergents, paints, batteries and displays. In most cases the particles exhibit a core-shell morphology either voluntarily or involuntarily. The properties of the nanoparticle shell determine the interaction with their environment and, thus, reliable control over these properties means reliable control over the particles performance and their toxicity. Therefore, sophisticated techniques to measure thickness and elemental composition of the nanoparticle shell are urgently required.
Scanning Auger microscopy (SAM) is a powerful technique with a lateral resolution below 10 nm and a chemical contrast based on the characteristic kinetic energy of Auger electrons related to specific atomic levels and, thus, to a specific element. This work explores the potential of SAM for characterizing the core-shell structure of nanoparticles. A sample system of upconversion NaYF4:Yb,Er cores coated with SiO2 is investigated. Auger spectra, line scans and elemental maps of single nanoparticles will be presented. Challenges encountered will be highlighted, such as damage to the sample by electron beam irradiation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) are performed on the same samples, in order to verify the SAM results.
Starting from dibutyltin oxide, four catalysts were synthesized, namely the dibutyltin bisphenoxides of Phenol (SnPh), 4-chlorophenol (SnCP), 4-hydroxybenzonitrile (SnCN) and pentafluorophenol (SnOPF). With the first three catalysts polymerizations of L-lactide at 160 °C in bulk yielded large fraction of linear chains having phenylester end groups at short reaction times. At longer times the fraction of cycles considerably increased at the expense of the linear chains, when SnCN was used as catalyst. With SnOPF only cyclic polylactides were obtained at low Lac/Cat ratios (< 400) with weight average molecular weights (Mw) up to 90 000 Da, whereas for high Lac/Cat ratios mixtures of cyclic and linear chains were found. Polymerizations in solution enabled variation of the molecular weight. Polymerizations of meso-lactide at temperatures down to 60 °C mainly yielded even-numbered linear chains supporting the postulated ROPPOC mechanism.
Recent years have seen increasing development of nanoparticles for applications in a wide range of fields, including but not limited to areas of great impact such as catalysis, medicine, energy, optoelectronics, cosmetics, and many others. In particular, nanoparticles bearing some form of coating layer, whether by design or due to incidental processes such as contamination or oxidation, are among the most commonly studied and utilised. In the characterisation of nanoparticles, the surface properties are of great importance, because a large proportion of the particle forms a part of the surface or interface. In the case of coated nanoparticles, the thickness of the coating is significant in determining the properties of the nanoparticle, and defines its interactions with its environment. Measurement of surface chemistry and coating thickness of nanoparticles is a challenge to which electron spectroscopies are well suited, due to high surface sensitivity, well-understood physical principles and accessibility.
In the development of certified reference materials (CRM), it is necessary to examine appropriate materials in advance for homogeneity and stability to meet the criteria of a CRM.
In this case, the materials properties are characterized at the actual time without being possible to give a prognosis for suitability in the following years.
It is, therefore, necessary to follow the certified material parameters via a monitoring system over the years on sale.
For the current development of CRMs, the gained experience from long-term stability studies about the first generation of porous CRMs is significant. This experience is useful to better assess the suitability of candidate materials and thus develop higher quality CRMs in the future.
A comparison between the gas sorption CRM materials silica, activated carbons, alpha alumina and anatase titanium oxides will illustrate the importance of long-term stability studies on porous CRMs.
The test material EDS-TM001 together with an accompanying software package, “EDX spectrometer check”, have been made available in 2009 by BAM to be employed by EDS (energy dispersive spectrometer) users to check the performance of an EDS attached to the SEM. Particularly for test laboratories operating under accreditation schemes like ISO/IEC 17025, a periodical control of the critical instrumental parameters in end-user laboratories is required. With EDS-TM001 or EDS-TM002 (second generation) test material, this periodical check is reduced to the acquisition of only one 10 kV spectrum. The software “EDX spectrometer check” is destined to evaluate automatically this spectrum and determine the performance of the EDS in terms of energy resolution and calibration as well as possible alteration of low-energy efficiency due to detector contamination. Energy resolution can be compared with the specified values according to the international ISO standard ISO 15632:2012. EDS-TM is a synthetic material consisting of a thick layer of C, Al, Mn, Cu and Zr in a well-defined composition, deposited on a steel (in case of EDS-TM001) or silicon (in case of EDS-TM002) substrate. Meanwhile, more than one hundred laboratories (most of them located in Germany) use the EDS-TM001 or EDS-TM002 test material for the periodical check of their EDS. A detailed description of the test material and software together with examples of application was published recently. New results and gained experiences will be presented as well.
The main objectives of the new EMPIR project nPSize are to establish EU capability of traceable measurement of NP size and shape, lower uncertainties of NP size measurement by developement of new nano-CRMs, new models (physical and machine learning), 3D method combination, and also by new ISO and CEN standards on accurate NP size measurement and guidance and knowledge transfer. The envisaged outcomes of the project will be presented and their suitability will be discussed to be taken over as pertinent contributions to normative projects within CEN/TC 352 Nanotechnologies.
The EC Recommendation on the definition of nanomaterial, based solely on size of the constituent particles, foresees development of harmonised measurement methods ensuring ‘consistent results across materials and over time’. The EU/FP7 research project NanoDefine has been exclusively dedicated to support the implementation of this EC Recommendation for the European Union’s legislation. For the first time, measurement techniques able to determine the size of nanoparticles have been evaluated systematically on a well-defined set of quality control materials (spherical, monodisperse) as well as industrial materials of complex shapes and considerable polydispersity.
Particularly based on the analytical performance of the measurement techniques as tested on the challenging real-world particulate materials, it was possible to formulate recommendations for use of a new tiered approach consisting of screening and confirmatory techniques. Thus, a consistent framework of guidance for nanomaterial identification according to the EC Definition has been issued in form of the NanoDefiner e-tool, with a transparent decision flow scheme and an extensive user manual. Selected examples of analysis and classification as nano-/non-nanomaterials will be given, highlighting the limits of applicability of the available measurement techniques in dependence on sample properties. On some recent relevant developments in sample preparation – as a crucial part for an accurate analysis - will be also reported.
Due to the growing number of engineered nanomaterials (NM) the need for a reliable risk assessment for these materials is today bigger than ever before. Especially the nanomaterial’s surface or shell directly interacts with its environment and therefore is a crucial factor for NM’ toxicity or functionality.
Especially, titania is one of the NM with the greatest technological importance. It is used for a large number of applications and can be found in food, cosmetics, glasses, mirrors, paints to mention only a few. In 2012, experts estimate[d] the annual European nano-titania production or utilization at an amount of more than 10,000 t.
Great progress has been achieved in the area of NM investigation and characterization during the past decade. A variety of publications provide information about technological innovation as well as hazard potential, which means the potential risk on human health and ecosystems. However, enhanced data harmonization and well-defined standards for nanomaterial analysis, could significantly improve the reliability of such studies which often suffers from varying methods, parameters and sample preparations. To develop a suitable approach for the NM’s risk assessment, the ACEnano project aims at establishing a toolbox of verified methods. The size of this well-structured European project allows to handle even those big challenges like data harmonization and standardization.
Due to its powerful combination of superior surface sensitivity and lateral resolution down to the Nano regime, ToF-SIMS could become one of these toolbox methods. Supported by multivariate data analysis such as principal component analysis (PCA), the method can be used for sub-classification of nanomaterial families using slight differences in surface chemistry.
Here, we show a PCA supported classification of titania nanoparticles from various sources (NIST, JRC, BAM) with ToF-SIMS. Parameters like size, shell, pre-preparation and crystal system cause variance in the data and allow us to distinguish the species from each other. Moreover, this variance in the data also occurs and can be used for investigation when we compare our measurements of particle ensembles with those of grown titania films. The carefully selected and refined peaks allow a reasonable particle categorization and further a reliable allocation of blank feeds, which introduces a promising approach for NM characterization in the context of NM risk assessment.
The analysis of nanomaterials is currently an important task - especially in case of risk assessment – as the properties of these material class are not well understood and their growing use in everyday life. The rather high surface area of these objects renders their interactions significantly different to their corresponding bulk. Thus, the surface’s chemical composition must be investigated to get a better understanding and prediction of the nanomaterials’ behaviour. ToF-SIMS and XPS have proven to be powerful tools to determine the general chemical composition. The superior surface sensitivity of ToF-SIMS furthermore allows us to study mainly the utmost atomic layers and thus gives us an idea of possible interactions involved. Supported by multivariate data analysis such as principal component analysis (PCA), the method can also be used for sub-classification of different materials using slight differences in surface chemistry.
Here, we present data of the analysis of Hyflon®-polystyrene core-shell nanoparticles which can be used as a model system due to the known preparation and a rather good chemical as well as physical separation of core and shell. Principle component analysis (PCA) will be used to detect the influence of sample preparation and for a better separation of different samples. This is achieved by measurement of a statistically relevant set of samples for every particle sample. We acquired surface spectra under static SIMS conditions with Bi32+ and analysed the resulting spectra by PCA. The carefully selected and refined peaks allow a reasonable categorization and further a reliable allocation of blank feeds. In detail, the fluorine containing, organic fragments are an indication for a heterogeneous shell that has errors. Furthermore, results on Au nanoparticles with and without an antibody shell are presented. ToF-SIMS imaging is desired to be implemented for single particle detection as well.
The analysis of nanomaterials is currently an important task - especially in case of risk assessment – as the properties of these material class are not well understood. The rather high surface area of these objects renders their interactions significantly different to their corresponding bulk. Thus, the surface’s chemical composition must be investigated to get a better understanding and prediction of the nanomaterials’ behavior. ToF-SIMS and XPS have proven to be powerful tools to determine the general chemical composition. The superior surface sensitivity of ToF-SIMS furthermore allows us to study mainly the utmost atomic layers and thus gives us an idea of the interactions involved.
Here, we present initial data on the analysis of Hyflon®-polystyrene core-shell nanoparticles which can be used as a model system due to the known preparation and a rather good chemical as well as physical separation of core and shell. Furthermore, results on Au nanoparticles with and without an antibody shell are presented. Principle component analysis (PCA) will be used to detect the influence of sample preparation and for a better separation of different samples. ToF-SIMS imaging is desired to be implemented for single particle detection as well.
In this work, we describe a simple solvothermal route for the synthesis of Eu3+-doped gadolinium orthovanadate nanocrystals (Eu:GdVO4−PAA) functionalized with poly(acrylic)acid (PAA), that are applicable as cell labeling probes for multimodal cellular imaging. The Eu3+ doping of the vanadate matrix provides optical functionality, due to red photoluminescence after illumination with UV light. The Gd3+ ions of the nanocrystals reduce the T1 relaxation time of surrounding water protons, allowing these nanocrystals to act as a positive MRI contrast agent with a r1 relaxivity of 1.97 mM−1 s−1. Low background levels of Eu3+, Gd3+, and V5+ in biological systems make them an excellent label for elemental microscopy by Laser Ablation (LA)-ICP-MS. Synthesis resulted in polycrystalline nanocrystals with a hydrodynamic diameter of 55 nm and a crystal size of 36.7 nm, which were further characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The multifunctional nanocrystals were subsequently used for intracellular labeling of both human adipose-derived stem cells (MSCs) and A549 (adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial) cells.
Biomedical applications, including functional biomaterials, carbohydrate-arrays, and glycan-based biosensors.
The chemistry of glycan immobilization plays an essential role in the bioavailability and function of surface bound carbohydrate moieties. For biomedical applications the stability over time (shelf life) of glycan arrays is a crucial factor. Herein we report on approaches for surface and interface characterization relevant to the needs of production of glycan microarrays which were tested using model carbohydrate surfaces. For detailed characterization of glycan model surfaces we used a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), near edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (NEXAFS) and ToF SIMS which are complementary techniques of surface chemical analysis. Links to fluorescence spectroscopy often used for characterization in the microarray community were established as well. In detail, amine-reactive silicon oxide and glass surfaces were used for anchoring oligosaccharides with an amino linker. The amount of surface bound carbohydrates was estimated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Glycan immobilization was investigated using lectins, which are glycan-binding molecules. A shelf life study of model glycan microarrays on epoxy-coated glass surfaces was done over a period of 160 days under different storage conditions utilizing fluorescence, ToF-SIMS and XPS analysis. It was shown that glycan activity of the models used can be maintained at least for half a year of storage at 4 °C.
The pollution of marine, limnic and terrestrial environments with plastic waste and the potential impact especially on biota and humans has received increasing attention in recent years. Special focus is on particles smaller than 5 mm, the so-called microplastics. Consequently, possible regulations of emission and remediation efforts require sound information on the occurrence and fate of microplastics in the respective environmental compartments.
Microplastics (MP) differ from classical organic pollutants in biota or the environment in that they do not consist of clearly defined low-molecular weight compounds but of polymer particulates with varying sizes and chemical compositions. This leads to specific challenges regarding the analytical techniques to be employed for their identification and quantification.
Microplastics are defined as polymer particle in the size range between 1 µm and 5 mm and cover a wide range of polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate in variable geometric shapes. Properties relevant for environmental microplastics are polymer type, particle form and size distribution, surface morphology (aging status) and total mass fraction contained in a given sample. Polymer identification and particle size estimation using optical methods (IR and Raman spectroscopy) are time consuming and complicated by surface characteristics as a result of weathering, soiling, and microbial colonisation. Total mass fractions of MP in environmental samples can be determined by thermo-analytical methods.
There are currently no standardised methods for sampling, sampling preparation, or detection of MP in environmental samples. So far, qualitative and quantitative investigations are done by research institutes and have not reached the routine laboratory community. The near future will see harmonisation efforts of MP mass fraction determination in environmental matrices by thermo-analytical procedures.
The immediate need for reference materials during method development and comparison is outlined with regard to relevant matrix/polymer compositions, existing regulations and currently achievable detection limits. Examples for solid environmental matrix reference materials are discussed regarding the challenges encountered with matrices and polymer types as well as homogeneity testing and property value characterisation.
Nanocrystalline basaluminite [Al4OH10(SO4)(H2O)3–5] and Aggregation of the e-Keggin polyoxocation [Al12(AlO4)(OH)24(H2O)12]7+, referred to as Al13, have both been described to form in acid mine Drainage environments. Although the chemical composition is quite similar, their crystalline varieties significantly differ, demonstrating that various types of Al-hydroxysulfates can form under similar conditions and that their respective formation is not fully understood yet. Here, we report the occurrence of nanocrystalline precipitates that form naturally in a small alpine catchment in Switzerland where an acidic mountainous stream (pH 4) is neutralized successively after mixing with several neutral tributaries. The stepwise neutralization in conjunction with the large amount of precipitates provide an ideal setting for obtaining new insights into (i) the structure of naturally forming Al-hydroxysulfates, (ii) their formation mechanism, (iii) their role in controlling the solubility of Al, and (iv) their ability to lower the mobility of As. Synchrotron-based high-energy X-ray diffraction and subsequent pair distribution function analyses demonstrate that these precipitates are structurally identical to basaluminite samples obtained from acid mine drainage sites. In contrast, only minor amounts of tetrahedrally coordinated Al, as present in Al13, were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The precipitates are further characterized by elevated As concentrations up to 600 lg/g, whereas other heavy metals are at background concentrations only. Given the low As concentrations in the stream from which precipitation occurs (<0.03 mg/L), high As concentrations confirm that basaluminite serves as a highly efficient As sink, which is attributed to its high anion-exchange capacity. Chemical analysis of streamwater samples in combination with geochemical modeling show that precipitation occurs instantaneously upon mixing with neutral streams.
Moreover, our data reveal that the precipitation of basaluminite exerts a strong solubility control on dissolved Al concentrations as manifested by the quasi-constant basaluminite ion activity product observed during neutralization from pH 5 to pH 5.9. We hypothesize that in our field system, high fluoride and sulfate concentrations on the order of 100 and 1–2 mg/L,
TiO2 anatase nanoparticles are among the relevant players in the field of light-responsive semiconductor nanomaterials used to face environmental and energy issues. In particular, shape-engineered TiO2 anatase nanosheets with dominant {001} basal facets gained momentum because of the possibility to exploit different and/or improved functional behaviors with respect to usual bipyramidal TiO2 anatase nanoparticles, mainly exposing {101} facets. Nevertheless, such behavior depends in a significant extent on the physicochemical features of surfaces exposed by nanosheets.
They can vary in dependence on the presence or removal degree of capping agents, namely, fluorides, used for shape-engineering, and experimental investigations in this respect are still a few. Here we report on the evolution of interfacial/ surface features of TiO2 anatase nanosheets with dominant {001} facets from pristine nanoparticles fluorinated both in the bulk and at their surface to nanoparticles with F− free surfaces by treatment in a basic solution and to totally F− free nanoparticles by calcination at 873 K.
The nanoparticles fluorine content and its subsequent evolution is determined by complementary techniques (ion chromatography, TOF-SIMS, XPS, AES, SEM-EDX), probing different depths. In parallel, the evolution of the electronic properties and the Ti valence state is monitored by UV−vis spectroscopy and XPS. The calcination treatment results in {001} facets poorly hydroxylated, hydrated, and hydrophilic, which appear as surface features consequent to the expected (1 × 4) reconstruction. Moreover, IR spectroscopy of CO adsorbed as probe molecule indicates that the Lewis acidity of Ti4+ sites exposed on (1 × 4) reconstructed {001} facets of calcined TiO2 nanosheets is weaker than that of cationic centers on {101} facets of bipyramidal TiO2 anatase nanoparticles. The samples have also been tested in phenol photodegradation highlighting that differences in surface hydration, hydroxylation, and Lewis acidity between TiO2 nanoparticles with nanosheet (freed by F− by calcination at 873 K) and bipyramidal shape have a strong impact on the photocatalytic activity that is found to be quite limited for the nanoparticles mainly exposing (1 × 4) reconstructed {001} facets.
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) provides elemental and chemical information from the outermost ~10 nm of the sample surface. This is in the same order of magnitude as the thickness of the outer bacterial membrane of gram-negative bacteria, as well as outer membrane molecules as exopolysaccharides and lipopolysaccharides, commonly attached to the cell surface. With the development of near-ambient pressure (NAP)-XPS, bacteria can be analysed with minimal sample preparation.
EnviroESCA is a laboratory based NAP-XPS instrument, equipped with a monochromated Al Kα radiation source and a differentially pumped energy analyser connected to an exchangeable sample environment. It allows for measurements in various gas-atmospheres, including water vapor, which makes it possible to characterise bacteria and other biological samples close to their natural, hydrated state. Artificial model-biofilms of exopolysaccharides, planktonic Pseudomonas Fluorescens and biofilms of Escherichia Coli have been characterised in hydrated and dried state.
High-resolution XPS-spectra from carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorous can be assigned to carbohydrates, lipids and proteins in general agreement with literature. Especially the carbon 1s peak is of interest. A series of measurements of an E. coli biofilm from 11 mbar in humid environment to 1 mbar air reveal changes in the C1s peak, which suggests that the bacterial surface undergo substantial Change.
The CLEAN ENERGY Flagship is an initiative designed to utilize recent game changing developments in digital, materials and manufacturing technologies to catalyze a radical paradigm shift towards clean, reliable, efficient and cost-optimal energy.
Unifying and drastically accelerating radically new energy material design, processing and integration across the entire value chain addressing energy production, conversion, storage and systems.
CLEAN ENERGY participants are all distinguished research organisations that each benefit from their own industry networks and contacts with regions and state-level activities and have a long history of collaborating with each other (for 10 years now under the umbrella of EERA) within a European collaborative framework.
Through EERA, CLEAN ENERGY aims to become a crucial partner in the SET-Plan, supporting long-lasting approaches through its established networks and internal collaborations.
This poster deals with improvements and characteriztion of small-angle scattering limitations, by looking at the trifecta of Data collection and uncertainty propagation, data analysis methodologies, and real-world tests. It is found that - with appropriate care and instrumentation - accuracies of 1% on mean nanomaterial sizes, and 10% on the size distribution width as well as the volume fraction can be achieved.
The processing of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS, ripples) on metals and semiconductors in ambient air is usually accompanied by superficial oxidation effects - widely neglected in the current literature. In this contribution, chemical, structural, and mechanical alterations in the formation of femtosecond LIPSS are characterized by a variety of surface analytical techniques, including energy dispersive X-ray analyses (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), micro Raman spectroscopy (µ-RS), and depth-profiling Auger electron microscopy (AEM). Alternative routes of electrochemical and thermal oxidation allow to qualify the relevance of superficial oxidation effects on the tribological performance in oil lubricated reciprocating sliding tribological tests (RSTT). It is revealed that the fs-laser processing of near-wavelength sized LIPSS on metals leads to the formation of a few hundreds of nanometer thick graded oxide layer, consisting mainly of amorphous oxides.
Regardless of its reduced hardness and limited thickness, this nanostructured surface layer can effciently prevent a direct metal-metal contact in the RSTT and may also act as an anchor layer for specific wear-reducing additives contained in the engine oil involved
Ultrashort laser pulse micromachining features a high precision. By increasing the repetition rate of the applied laser to several 100 kHz, laser processing becomes quick and cost-effective and make
this method attractive for industrial applications. Upon exceeding a critical laser intensity, hard X-ray radiation is generated as a side effect. Even if the emitted X-ray dose per pulse is low, the accumulated X-ray dose becomes significant for high-repetition-rate laser systems so that radiation
safety must be considered.
The formation and alignment of gel fibres in alkanes (solvents) was investigated. The gel fibres consist of small amphiphilic molecules containing a C60 molecule and a small ligand chain. Under the right conditions, these self-assemble in core-shell micelles, which themselves pack into micron-sized fibre-like structures. These can be aligned using a strong magnetic field, as investigated using SANS with a 17T superconducting magnet at a range of field strengths.
Im Überblicksvortrag werden Untersuchungen zur Laser-Mikro- und Nanostrukturierung mit Femtosekunden-Laserimpulsen und ausgewählte Anwendungen, z.B. in der Photovoltaik und Biomedizin, vorgestellt. Aktuelle Fragestellungen zur sicheren Prozessführung, wie die mögliche Erzeugung von Röntgenstrahlung beim Laserbearbeitungsprozess und unerwünschte Partikelemissionen, werden aufgegriffen.
The photocatalytic (PC) performance of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles strongly depends on their specific surface, the presence of crystal defects, their crystal phase, and the exposed crystal facets. In order to understand which of these factors contributes most significantly to the PC activity of TiO2 colloids, all of them have to be individually analyzed. This study entails the synthesis of five anatase nanocrystal samples. By maintaining the same reactant ratios as well as hydrothermal sol–gel synthesis route and only varying the autoclaving time or temperature, different crystallite sizes are obtained under comparable experimental conditions. A decrease in PC performance with increase in specific surface area is found. Such an unexpected counterintuitive result establishes the basis for a better understanding of the crucial factors that ultimately determine the PC activity. These are investigated by studying nanocrystals bulk and surface structure and morphology using a selection of complementary analysis methods (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), X-ray diffraction (XRD)…). It is found that a change in the nanocrystal morphology from an equilibrium state truncated tetragonal bipyramid to a more elongated rod-like structure accompanied by an increase in oxygen vacancies is responsible for an augmented PC activity of the TiO2 nanocrystals.
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.
Characterization of (bio)macromolecules and polymeric materials with modern scattering methods
(2018)
The analysis of polymers, biopolymers and polymeric materials is of great interest in biomaterials science. Here small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), static light scatterin (SLS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) are described. Current efforts for digitalization of this methods are explaind with respect to modern data science in biomedical research.
Due to their excellent combination of ductility, strength and corrosive resistance, austenitic stainless steels (ASS) are widely used in many industrial applications. Thus, these steel grades can be found as structural components in the (petro-)chemical industry, in offshore applications and more recent for storage and transport of hydrogen fuel. Steels employed for these applications are exposed to aggressive environments and hydrogen containing media. The ingress and accumulation of hydrogen into the microstructure is commonly observed during service leading to a phenomenon called “hydrogen embrittlement”. A loss in ductility and strength, the formation of cracks and phase transformations are typical features of this hydrogen-induced degradation of mechanical properties.
Although, great efforts are made to understanding hydrogen embrittlement, there is an ongoing debate of the underlying mechanisms. This knowledge is crucial for the safe use and durability of components on the one side and the development of new materials on the other.
Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) was proven to be a powerful tool for depicting the distribution of the hydrogen isotope deuterium in the microstructure of austenitic and duplex steels. The combination with imaging techniques such as electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), delivering structural and morphological information, creates a comprehensive picture of the hydrogen/deuterium-induced effects in the materials. All the gathered data is treated with principal component analysis (PCA) and data fusion to enhance the depth of information.
The mobility of hydrogen and deuterium in a steel microstructure is affected by external mechanical stress. To investigate the behaviour of deuterium in a strained microstructure, a new in situ experimental approach was developed. This gives the possibility of analysing samples in the SIMS instrument simultaneously to four-point-bending-tests.
Specimens made from ASS AISI 304L were electrochemically charged with deuterium instead of hydrogen. This necessity stems from the difficulty to separate between artificially charged hydrogen and hydrogen existing in the pristine material or adsorbed from the rest gas in the analysis chamber. Nonetheless, similar diffusion, permeation and solubility data allow to draw qualitative conclusions from the experiments, which are relevant for the application addressed.
During the last years, there has been a rapid rise in the use of nanomaterials in consumer products. Especially silver nanoparticles are frequently used because of their well-known optical and antimicrobial properties. However, the toxicological studies focusing on silver nanoparticles are controversial, either claiming or denying a specific nano-efffect. To contribute to localizing nanoparticles in toxicological studies and to investigate the interaction of particles with cells, a fluorescent marker is often used to monitor their transport and possible degradation. A major problem, in this context is the issue of binding stability of a fluorescent marker which is attached to the particle.
In order to overcome this problem we provide an investigation of the binding properties of fluorescence-labeled BSA to small silver nanoparticles. Therefore, we synthesized small silver nanoparticles which are stabilized by poly(acrylic acid). The particles are available as reference candidate material and were thoroughly characterized in an earlier study. The ligand was exchanged by fluorescence marked albumin (BSA-FITC). The adsorption of the ligands was monitored by dynamic light scattering (DLS). To verify that the observed effects on the hydrodynamic radius originate from the successful ligand exchange and not from agglomeration or aggregation we used small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The fluorescent particles were characterized by UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Afterwards, desorption of the ligand BSA-FITC was monitored by fluorescence spectroscopy and the uptake of particles in different in vitro models was studied.
The particles are spherical and show no sign of aggregation after successful ligand exchange. The fluorescence intensity is quenched significantly by the presence of the silver cores as expected, but the remaining fluorescence intensity was high enough to use these particles in biological investigations. Half-life of fluorescence labeling on the particle was 21 d in a highly concentrated solution of non-labeled BSA. Thus, a very high dilution and long incubation times are needed to remove BSA-FITC from the particles. Finally, the fluorescence-labeled silver nanoparticles were used for uptake studies in human liver and intestinal cells, showing a high uptake for HepG2 liver cells and almost no uptake in differentiated intestinal Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, we showed production of fluorescence-marked silver nanoparticles. The fluorescence marker is strongly adsorbed to the silver surface which is crucial for future investigations in biological matrices. This is necessary for a successful investigation of the toxicological potential of silver nanoparticles.
Bonding strength is crucial on polymers of low surface energy, for clean surfaces limited to 0.5, 1, and 2 MPa for PTFE, PP, and PE. Plasma treatment may improve bonding strength by a factor of 2 (PTFE) or 5 (PP and PE). The efficiency of treatment is usually 10% as both low pressure and atmospheric pressure processes show low topographic conformity.
Besides, lifetime of activation/modification is rather short. Hence, bonding has to be carried out immediately after plasma treatment.
The concept of plasma-assisted ALD (atomic layer deposition) interlayers was introduced in the project HARFE of SENTECH (modification/deposition/in-situ monitoring) and BAM (bonding, characterization, testing). ALD deposition has a high surface conformity and for dielectric films of Al2O3 also a good long-term stability given that the films are dense enough.
Based on TMA and O2/O3 precursors, ALD layer stacks from 60 to 375 monolayers were prepared under different conditions. For a transfer time of 24 hours from deposition to measurement, bonding strength could be increased up to 5 MPa (PTFE) respectively 10 MPa (PP, PE). The huge potential of ALD layers as adhesive interlayers was demonstrated for Al2O3 on stainless steel with bonding strength beyond 15 MPa, i.e. interface
strength within the ALD stack is also in this range.
This is a prerequisite for subsequent PVD/CVD-deposition in hybrid systems. By means of the SI ALD LL system of SENTECH thermal and plasma-supported ALD processes can be alternatively realized.
Ellipsometric in-situ monitoring provides monolayer sensitivity and reveals that the efficient bonding of the lower ALD layers on the polymer has to be further improved. Testing of bonding strength was realized by CAT (centrifugal adhesion testing) technology. It was shown that ALD modification correlates with the increase of surface energy and bonding strength.
The majority of all products have coated surfaces designed to fulfil different requirements. Building constructions are exposed to external influences like a wide temperature and humidity range, rain and UV radiation to name a few. The extension of machine life for metal cutting tools, like drills or milling cutters is another field of application for coated surfaces. The surfaces have to be modified in a way to maintain their specific functionality. Although adhesion testing of coatings is of great interest, it is still a challenge to obtain reliable quantitative results and to meet economic requirements.
In this talk we deal with the curing behaviour of different 2-component epoxy paint systems for corrosion protection of metal constructions. After preparation of specimens the strength was determined in specified time intervals during curing. It could be shown that epoxy paints differ significantly on curing time as well as final strength. The second experimental study deals with coating systems on glass fibre reinforced plastics which are used for wind power turbines to reduce abrasive wear and ice adhesion for aerodynamic and safety reasons.
All measurements have been carried out by CAT-TechnologyTM (Centrifugal Adhesion Testing), which uses the radially directed centrifugal force as test-load. The multi-sample test instrument analyses up to eight test specimen under identical testing conditions. By varying the rotational speed (100 rpm up to 13,000 rpm), forces from 0.1 N to 6.5 kN are applied. Upon reaching the critical rupture force, the stamp separates from the substrate and a sample related IR-signal is sent from the spinning rotor. For each test specimen breaking force is calculated and displayed in real-time. The innovative measurement principle meets the requirements of DIN EN 15870 and ISO 4624.
The test material EDS-TM001 together with an accompanying software package, “EDX spectrometer check”, have been made available in 2009 by BAM to be employed by EDS (energy dispersive spectrometer) users to check the performance of an EDS attached to the SEM. Particularly for test laboratories operating under accreditation schemes like ISO/IEC 17025, a periodical control of the critical instrumental parameters in end-user laboratories is required. With EDS-TM001 or EDS-TM002 (second generation) test material, this periodical check is simplified to the acquisition of only one 10 kV spectrum. The software “EDX spectrometer check” is destined to evaluate automatically this spectrum and determine the performance of the EDS in terms of energy resolution and calibration as well as possible alteration of low-energy efficiency due to detector contamination. Energy resolution can be compared with the specified values according to the international ISO standard ISO 15632:2012. EDS-TM is a synthetic material consisting of a thick layer of C, Al, Mn, Cu and Zr in a well-defined composition, deposited on a steel (in case of EDS-TM001) or silicon (in case of EDS-TM002) substrate. Meanwhile, more than one hundred laboratories use the EDS-TM001 or EDS-TM002 test material for the periodical check of their EDS. A detailed description of the test material and software together with examples of application was published recently. New results and gained experiences will be presented as well.
When the FWHM of lines appearing in the EDS-TM spectrum are determined, the spectrum background must be subtracted accurately. The applied physical background subtraction procedure is robust and takes into account the transmission of the detector window. While the previous version considers only Moxtek AP windows, the new version includes selection of silicon nitride window and the case of windowless detector. Moreover, the new version allows importing of spectra in Bruker spx format and EMSA/MSA files from EDAX TEAM software.
Extraction of true, 3D shape (and size) of non-spherical nanoparticles (NPs) is associated with errors by conventional 2D electron microscopy using projection images. Significant efforts within the ISO technical committee TC 229 ‘Nanotechnologies’ are aimed at establishing accurate TEM and SEM measurement of NP size and shape as robust, standard procedures. Study groups have been organizing inter-laboratory comparisons on well-selected NP systems according to the market needs, such as aggregated titania nano-powder for which size and shape distribution of primary crystallites of irregular shape must be measured accurately. To be noticed is e. g. the fact that the measurement procedure allows only manual selection of the particles clearly distinguishable for analysis as well as manual definition of the contour of the imaged NPs.
An inter-laboratory exercise on titania NPs (pure anatase, grown by hydrothermal synthesis) of well-defined non-spherical shape, i.e. bipyramidal has been recently started within ISO/TC 229 under similar conditions as for the irregular shaped titania. Overlapped particles were allowed to be considered, as long as they are clearly distinguishable. One decisive NP selection criterion was to analyze only those NPs with a roundness value below 0.7, i.e. the NPs laying on the support foil and, hence, with projection areas clearly deviating from perfect circles (R=1). The overall evaluation (for 15 labs) of the size descriptors (area, Feret, minFeret, perimeter) and shape descriptors (aspect ratio, roundness, compactness, extent) by analysis of variance is just to be finished and included in ISO/WD 21363 Nanotechnologies -- Protocol for particle size distribution by transmission electron microscopy.
The presence of polycarboxylate ether (PCE) based superplasticizers (SPs) has an enormous influence on the early hydration of cement. Therefore, the talk presents first experimental results about the influence of a delayed addition time of PCE SPs on the hydration of cement and tricalcium aluminate (C3A) pastes, investigated by isothermal heat flow calorimetry and in-situ XRD.
The presence of polycarboxylate ether (PCE) based superplasticizers (SPs) has an enormous influence on the early hydration of cement. The hydration is retarded and the timing of formation and the morphology of hydrates is affected. This short paper presents experimental results about the influence of delayed Addition time of PCE SPs on hydration of cement and tricalcium aluminate (C3A) pastes, investigated by isothermal heat flow calorimetry. For cement pastes the hydration is retarded with SP, whereby the high charge PCE has a stronger retarding effect than the low charge PCE. With delayed PCE addition the cement shows a less retarded setting than with simultaneous addition. The alteration caused by PCE is much more pronounced for C3A and gypsum mixes than for cement. If the SP is added simultaneous, the exothermic peak of C3A is retarded. However, with delayed addition of SP the hydration is shortened, the gypsum depletion is fastened and the exothermic peak occurs less retarded or even accelerated compared to simultaneous addition. It is obvious that for C3A pastes there is less retardation the later the Addition of SP. Furthermore, the PCE alter the hydration of C3A when added delayed and exhibit changes in kinetics and hydration rates. The rate of reaction in the second stage is lower, discernible in decreased slopes and broader peaks. Besides this, a distinct ramp in the C3A heat flow curves within the first stage of C3A hydration occurs for all pastes with delayed addition of SP, which suggests an accelerated ettringite formation.
Die Rheologie von fließfähigen zementären Systemen mit Fließmitteln wird durch eine Vielzahl parallel stattfindender Effekte beeinflusst. Zu diesen Effekten zählen Wechselwirkungen zwischen den Polymeren und Ionen in der Porenlösung, frühe Phasenbildung, zeitabhängige und kompetitive Adsorption zwischen anionischen Polymeren und Sulfationen, Bildung von Phasen in der Porenlösung sowie Morphologieänderungen an Partikeloberflächen. Die frühe Hydratation von Zement, die durch Lösungs- und Fällungsprozesse angetrieben wird, beeinflusst diese Effekte erheblich. Das permanente Ungleichgewicht der Porenlösung führt zu Veränderungen der Partikeloberflächen, welches widerum zur Folge hat, dass rheometrische Messungen dieser Zementleime anfällig für Streuungen sind. Um die Einflüsse aus der Zementhydratation zu minimieren, wurden die rheometrischen Untersuchungen mit Zement in Wasser, wässriger Phase von Zementleim bzw. mit vorhydratisiertem Zement durchgeführt. Zusätzlich wurden die gleichen Systeme mit Zugabe von Polycarboxylatethern untersucht.
Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Leime mit Wasser niedrigere Werte für Fließgrenze und plastische Viskosität aufweisen, als die Systeme mit der wässrigen Phase von Zementleim. Während die Polymere eine Verminderung der Fließgrenze zur Folge hatte, war die Wirkung von Polymeren auf die plastische Viskosität vernachlässigbar. Zusätzlich wurde die frühe Hydratation unter Verwendung von Wärmeflusskalorimetrie, Rasterelektronenmikroskopie und Nadeleindringtiefe beobachtet.
Die Rheologie von fließfähigen zementären Systemen mit Fließmitteln wird durch eine Vielzahl parallel stattfindender Effekte beeinflusst. Zu diesen Effekten zählen Wechselwirkungen zwischen den Polymeren und Ionen in der Porenlösung, frühe Phasenbildung, zeitabhängige und kompetitive Adsorption zwischen anionischen Polymeren und Sulfationen, Bildung von Phasen in der Porenlösung sowie Morphologieänderungen an Partikeloberflächen. Die frühe Hydratation von Zement, die durch Lösungs- und Fällungsprozesse angetrieben wird, beeinflusst diese Effekte erheblich. Das permanente Ungleichgewicht der Porenlösung führt zu Veränderungen der Partikeloberflächen, welches widerum zur Folge hat, dass rheometrische Messungen dieser Zementleime anfällig für Streuungen sind. Um die Einflüsse aus der Zementhydratation zu minimieren, wurden die rheometrischen Untersuchungen mit Zement in Porenlösung durchgeführt. Die Experimente wurden mit verschiedenen Feststoffvolumenfraktionen durchgeführt und mit den Ergebnissen identischer Systeme mit Wasser anstelle von Porenlösung verglichen. Zusätzlich wurden die gleichen Systeme mit Zugabe von Polycarboxylatethern untersucht.
Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Leime mit Wasser niedrigere Werte für Fließgrenze und plastische Viskosität aufweisen, als die Systeme mit Porenlösung. Während die Polymere eine Verminderung der Fließgrenze zur Folge hatte, war die Wirkung von Polymeren auf die plastische Viskosität vernachlässigbar. Zusätzlich wurde die frühe Hydratation unter Verwendung von Wärmeflusskalorimetrie, Rasterelektronenmikroskopie und Nadeleindringtiefe beobachtet.
The present study repeats electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) measurements with the thin film analysis software Stratagem on an Fe-Ni thin films on silicon and reports - for the first-time – results of analysis on Si-Ge thin films deposited on a non-conductive aluminium oxide substrate.
If the very good EPMA/Stratagem results for the FeNi system were expected due to previous studies [2], the data obtained for the SiGe films are particularly valuable, because of the challenging insulator substrate of Al2O3. The conductivity of the Si1-xGex surface necessary for charging-free analysis was ensured by applying conductive copper tape onto film surface down to sample stage. Four accelerating voltages, 15, 20, 25 and 30 kV, have been applied, so that the Ge Kα X-ray line at 9.87 keV could be excited.
For the determination of porosity of Ir oxide thin films, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) can be used as part of a combined SEM/EDS/STRATAGem analysis. The mass deposition (in μg cm-2) of films was calculated with the analysis software STRATAGem via k-values measured with EDS. The average density of coated films was obtained from the mass deposition and the film thickness as measured by the cross-section SEM. The porosity was calculated by dividing the average film density by the bulk (theoretical) density of the film material.
Film porosities were counterchecked by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) using the Bruggeman effective medium approximation (BEMA).
The results obtained by both analytical approaches/methods used, SEM/EDS/STRATAGem and SE were in good agreement.
A femto-second pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) procedure for the generation of titanium oxide nanoparticles (NP) is reported with the purpose of understanding morphology and structure of the newly generated NPs. Ablation duration was varied for optimization of NP generation processes between 10 and 90 min. Surface morphology of NPs as well as their size and shape (distribution) were analysed by various complementary electron microscopy techniques, i.e. SEM, TSEM and TEM. The crystalline structure of titanium oxide particles was investigated by XRD(two instruments operated in different geometries) and HR-TEM. Concentration of generated titanium oxide NPs in liquid was analysed by ICP-MS. A mix of crystalline (mainly anatase), partly crystalline and amorphous spherical titanium oxide NPs can be reported having a mean size between 10 and 20 nm, which is rather independent of the laser ablation (LA) duration. A second component consisting of irregularly shaped, but crystalline titanium oxide nanostructures is co-generated in the LA water, with more pronounced occurrence at longer LA times. The provenance of this component is assigned to those spherical particles generated in suspension and passing through the converging laser beam, being hence subject to secondary irradiation effects, e. g. fragmentation.
The passivation behavior of alloy 31 was investigated as a function of passivation potential in a green-death solution at 40 °C. The alloy 31 surface is in a stable passive state during cyclic potentiodynamic polarization. In potentiostatic polarization of alloy 31, passive current density increases with an increase in the passivation potential. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Mott–Schottky (M–S) analysis showed that a more defective n-type semiconductive passive film forms as the potential increases. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed that passive film consists of mainly chromium and minor iron and nickel oxides. The increase of the applied potential is considered to be a reason for the change in passive film stability.
Microbiologically influence corrosion (MIC) has become a big concern due the increased usage of different metals by our society. Microorganisms can use metal as an electron donor, causing unpredictable but serious damages. Nowadays it is known that besides sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), other microorganisms including acetogens, iron oxidizers and methanogens can also induce MIC. Current studies related to methanogen-induced MIC (MI-MIC) mainly focused on environmental isolates from the oil and gas industry (e.g. Methanococcus maripaludis) with industrial materials e.g. iron. However, MI-MIC can occur in many other environments as well, including the oral cavity. Methanobrevibacter oralis is a methanogen isolated from the human oral cavity and was found more frequently in patients suffering from peri-implantitis/periodontitis. Titanium-implants removed from those patients have also showed clear signs of corrosion. The aim of our study is to establish and analyze corrosion potentials of dental metals (e.g. titanium) by oral methanogens. Periodontal pockets samples from patients suffering from periodontitis/peri-implantitis were taken for methanogenic and SRB enrichments. Stainless steel, pure titanium or Ti-6Al-4V alloy was used for corrosion studies. Corrosion rates and methane production were measured using weight-loss method and gas chromatography, respectively. Metal surfaces were visualized with scanning electron microscopy. Microbial communities in the dental pockets of healthy people and patients will be compared using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Overall, this is the first study investigating the susceptibility of different dental implant materials to corrosion using human-related Archaea. The outcomes of this study can be further explored for a variety of clinical applications.
Collective Orientational Order and Phase Behavior of a Discotic Liquid Crystal under Confinement
(2018)
Discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) are a promising class of soft matter for electronic applications. This is due to their ability to self-organize into columns in a hexagonal columnar mesophase, driven by the overlapping of the π orbitals of their aromatic cores. This leads to a high charge-carrier mobility along the column axis. Embedding liquid crystals into nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) results in a 2D nanoconfinement of these materials. This confinement affects their properties, compared to the bulk, such as phase transition temperatures and enthalpies, molecular mobility, and crystallization.
In this study, 2,3,6,7,10,11 hexakis[hexyloxy] triphenylene (HAT6) was confined into parallel aligned cylindrical nanopores of AAO membranes by melt infiltration. The membrane as confining hosts used have varying pore diameters, from 10 nm to 160 nm, covering a broad pore size range, thus, a better understanding of the confinement effect on phase behavior and molecular configuration in the pores. Furthermore, it is aimed to obtain axial ordering or to increase degree of axial ordering by chemically modifying the surfaces of the pores. Therefore, the pore surfaces the membranes were chemically modified, resulting in a more hydrophobic pore surface than the unmodified ones. The phase behavior was explored by a power-compensated DSC allowing the detecting of small changes in the phase behavior. In the literature, dielectric spectroscopy was demonstrated as a method to monitor molecular order inside the pores. Here, we also investigate the collective orientational order, corresponding to dominating molecular ordering, by dielectric spectroscopy.