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Paper des Monats
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Phosphotyrosine residues are essential functional switches in health and disease. Thus, phosphotyrosine biomimetics are crucial for the development of chemical tools and drug molecules. We report here the discovery and investigation of pentafluorophosphato amino acids as novel phosphotyrosine biomimetics. A mild acidic pentafluorination protocol was developed and two PF5-amino acids were prepared and employed in peptide synthesis. Their structures, reactivities, and fluorine-specific interactions were studied by NMR and IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and in bioactivity assays. The mono-anionic PF5 motif displayed an amphiphilic character binding to hydrophobic surfaces, to water molecules, and to protein-binding sites, exploiting charge and H−F-bonding interactions. The novel motifs bind 25- to 30-fold stronger to the phosphotyrosine binding site of the protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B than the best current biomimetics, as rationalized by computational methods, including molecular dynamics simulations.
The application of characterization methods with high spatial resolution to the analysis of buried coating/metal interfaces requires the design and use of model systems. Herein, an epoxy-like thin film is used as a model coating resembling the epoxy-based coatings and adhesives widely used in technical applications. Spin coating is used for the deposition of a 30 nm-thin bilayer (BL) composed of poly-(ethylenimine) (PEI) and poly[(o-cresyl glycidyl ether)-co-formaldehyde] (CNER). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results confirm that the exposure of coated AA2024-T3 (AA) samples to the corrosive electrolyte solution does not cause the degradation of the polymer layer. In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies are performed to monitor local corrosion processes at the buried interface of the epoxy-like film and the AA2024-T3 aluminum alloy surface in an aqueous electrolyte solution. Hydrogen evolution due to the reduction of water as the cathodic corrosion reaction leads to local blister formation. Based on the results of the complementary energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis performed at the same region of interest, most of the hydrogen evolved originates at the vicinity of Mg-containing intermetallic particles.
Highly anharmonic thermal vibrations may serve as a source of structural instabilities resulting in phase transitions, chemical reactions and even the mechanical disintegration of a material. Ab initio calculations model thermal motion within a harmonic or sometimes quasi-harmonic approximation and must be complimented by experimental data on temperature-dependent vibrational frequencies. Here multi-temperature atomic displacement parameters (ADPs), derived from a single-crystal synchrotron diffraction experiment, are used to characterize low-frequency lattice vibrations in the alpha-FOX-7 layered structure. It is shown that despite the limited quality of the data, the extracted frequencies are reasonably close to those derived from inelastic scattering, Raman measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Vibrational anharmonicity is parameterized by the Grüneisen parameters, which are found to be very different for in-layer and out-of-layer vibrations.
Iron-based catalysts are employed in CO2-FTS due to their ability to convert CO2 into CO in a first step and their selectivity towards higher hydrocarbons in a second CO hydrogenation step. According to the literature, iron carbides represent the active phase for hydrocarbon formation and are claimed to emerge in the presence of CO. We propose nanostructured FeOx films as model systems to assess information about the complex phase transformations during CO2-FTS. Mesoporous hematite, ferrihydrite, maghemite, maghemite/magnetite films were exposed to CO2-FTS atmospheres at 20 bar and 300°C. Up to three distinct phases were observed depending on the timeon-stream (TOS): a sintered maghemite/magnetite phase, a carbidic core-shell structure, and a low-crystalline, needle-type oxide phase. Our findings indicate that the formation of an intermediary maghemite/magnetite phase, predominant after short TOS (30 h), precedes the evolution of the carbide phase.
Yet, even after prolonged TOS (185 h), no full conversion into a bulk carbide is observed.
A recent approach to measure electron radiation doses in the kGy range is the use of phosphors with an irradiation dose-dependent luminescence decay time. However, the applicability of the previously investigated material NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ is limited as it shows pronounced fading. Therefore, in this work, a modified SrF2 synthesis is presented that results in SrF2 nanoparticles codoped with Yb and either Er, Hm, or Tm. To assess their suitability as dosimeter material, dose response, as well as its degree of fading over 50 up to 140 days after irradiation were measured. Fading rates as small as 5% in SrF2:Er,Yb and 4% in SrF2:Ho,Yb were derived, which are comparable to established dosimeter materials. A combination of spectroscopy, diffraction and DFT calculations was used to elucidate the effect of irradiation, pointing towards the formation of a secondary phase of Yb2+ that we predict could be Yb2OF2. This irreversible formation of a secondary phase is considered to be the explanation for the low fading behavior in SrF2-based phosphors compared to NaYF4:Yb, Er, a highly attractive feature for electron beam dosimetry.
Novel agar-based test electrolytes are used to perform electrochemical corrosion investigations on ZnFe and ZnNi binary as well as ZnFeMo ternary zinc coatings. The objectives of the electrochemical investigations include the characterization of the corrosion behavior, the description of the protective effect of the coatings as well as the investigation of the layer formation and degradation under artificial aging. ZnFe and ZnFeMo coatings are applied with varying iron content as well as an additional passivation layer, respectively, to study the effect on corrosion resistance. The results show that the protective effect of the coatings is not negatively influenced by different iron contents or the addition of molybdenum. Additional passivation of the ZnFe-containing coatings by means of a passivating agent leads to a significant improvement in the protective effect. Artificial aging leads to slight degradation of the additional passivation layer whereas coatings without post-treatment enhance their protective effect by the formation of corrosion product layers.
One-pot covalent functionalization of 2D black phosphorus by anionic ring opening polymerization
(2022)
In this work, a one-pot approach for the covalent functionalization of few-layer black phosphorus (BP) by anionic ring opening polymerization of glycidol to obtain multifunctional BP-polyglycerol (BP-PG) with high amphiphilicity for near-infrared-responsive drug delivery and biocompatibility is reported. Straightforward synthesis in combination with exceptional biological and physicochemical properties designates functionalized BP-PG as a promising candidate for a broad range of biomedical applications.
Using solid catalysts in disulfide-based dynamic combinatorial solution- and mechano-chemistry
(2022)
We here show for the first time that solid amines can act as catalysts for disulfide-based dynamic combinatorial chemistry by ball mill grinding. The mechanochemical Equilibrium for the two disulfide reactions studied is reached within one to three hours using ten different amine catalysts. This contrasts with the weeks to months to achieve solution equilibrium for most solid amine catalysts at 2%M at 2mM concentration in a suitable solvent. The final mechanochemical equilibrium is independent of the catalyst used, but varies with other ball mill grinding factors such as the presence of traces of solvent. The different efficiencies of the amines tested are discussed.
We demonstrate here using a disulfide system the first example of reversible, selective, and quantitative transformation between three crystalline polymorphs by ball mill grinding. This includes the discovery of a previously unknown polymorph. Each polymorph is reproducibly obtained under well-defined neat or liquid-assisted grinding conditions, revealing subtle control over the apparent thermodynamic stability. We discovered that the presence of a contaminant as low as 1.5% mol mol−1 acting as a template is required to enable all these three polymorph transformations. The relative stabilities of the polymorphs are determined by the sizes of the nanocrystals produced under different conditions and by surface interactions with small amounts of added solvent. For the first time, we show evidence that each of the three polymorphs is obtained with a unique and reproducible crystalline size. This mechanochemical approach gives access to bulk quantities of metastable polymorphs that are inaccessible through recrystallisation.
Next-generation thermal management requires the development of low lattice thermal conductivity materials, as observed in ionic conductors. For example, thermoelectric efficiency is increased when thermal conductivity is decreased. Detrimentally, high ionic conductivity leads to thermoelectric device degradation. Battery safety and design also require an understanding of thermal transport in ionic conductors. Ion mobility, structural complexity, and anharmonicity have been used to explain the thermal transport properties of ionic conductors. However, thermal and ionic transport are rarely discussed in direct comparison. Herein, the ionic conductivity of Ag+ argyrodites is found to change by orders of magnitude without altering the thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity measurements and two-channel lattice dynamics modeling reveal that the majority of Ag+ vibrations have a non-propagating diffuson-like character, similar to amorphous materials. It is found that high ionic mobility is not a requirement for diffuson-mediated transport. Instead, the same bonding and structural traits that can lead to fast ionic conduction also lead to diffuson-mediated transport. Bridging the fields of solid-state ionics and thermal transport, it is proposed that a vibrational perspective can lead to new design strategies for functional ionic conducting materials. As a first step, the authors relate the so-called Meyer-Neldel behavior in ionic conductors to phonon occupations.
The roles extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) play in mineral attachment and weathering were studied using genetically modified biofilms of the rock-inhabiting fungus Knufia petricola strain A95. Mutants deficient in melanin and/or carotenoid synthesis were grown as air-exposed biofilms. Extracted EPS were quantified and characterised using a combination of analytical techniques. The absence of melanin affected the quantity and composition of the produced EPS: mutants no longer able to form melanin synthesised more EPS containing fewer pullulan-related glycosidic linkages. Moreover, the melanin-producing strains attached more strongly to the mineral olivine and dissolved it at a higher rate. We hypothesise that the pullulan-related linkages, with their known adhesion functionality, enable fungal attachment and weathering. The released phenolic intermediates of melanin synthesis in the Δsdh1 mutant might play a role similar to Fe-chelating siderophores, driving olivine dissolution even further. These data demonstrate the need for careful compositional and quantitative analyses of biofilm-created microenvironments.
Electron microscopy (EM) is the gold standard for the characterisation of the morphology (size and shape) of nanoparticles. Visual observation of objects under examination is always a necessary first step in the characterisation process. Several questions arise when undertaking to identify and count particles to measure their size and shape distribution. In addition to challenges with the dispersion and identification of the particles, more than one protocol for counting particles is in use. This paper focuses on precise rules for the counting of particles in EM micrographs, as this influences the measurement accuracy of the number of particles, thus implicitly affecting the size values of the counted particles. We review and compare four different, commonly used methods for counting, which we then apply in case studies. The impact of the selected counting rule on the obtained final particle size distribution is highlighted. One main aim of this analysis is to support the application of a specific, well-defined counting approach in accordance with regulatory
requirements to contribute to achieving more reliable and reproducible results. It is also useful for the new harmonised measurement procedures for determining the particle size and particle size distribution of nanomaterials.
In this work, four triazole-based poly(ether-pyridine)s polymers were synthesized and used as an adsorbent for the removal of phenolic compounds from aqueous solutions. For this purpose, new fluoromonomers containing 1,2,3-triazole units were prepared by the Cu(I)-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction and then used for the elaboration of novel poly(ether-pyridine-triazole)s (PEPTs) by direct polyconden-sation with isosorbide and bisphenol A. Chemical structure of fluorinated pyridinicmonomers as well as resulting polymers was confirmed by 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopic methods. The thermal behavior of the obtained PEPTs was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Results of sorption showed that polymers can be effectively used as a sorbent for the removal of polarorganic pollutants. The isosorbide-based poly(ether-pyridine-triazole) which contains hydrophilic hydroxyl groups as pendants chains (P4) exhibited the highest sorption efficiencies (78%–100% after 1 h). In order to explain the results an adsorption mech-anism mainly based on π–π interactions and hydrogen bonding with the pendent groups is proposed.
One of the challenges of high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells is the poisoning of the Pt catalyst with H3PO4. H3PO4 is imbibed into the routinely used polybenzimidazole-based membranes, which facilitate proton conductivity in the temperature range of 120−200 °C. However, when leached out of the membrane by water produced during operation, H3PO4 adsorbs on the Pt catalyst surface, blocking the active sites and hindering the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).
The reduction of H3PO4 to H3PO3, which occurs at the anode due to a combination of a low potential and the presence of gaseous H2, has been investigated as an additional important contributing factor to the observed poisoning effect. H3PO3 has an affinity toward adsorption on Pt surfaces even greater than that of H2PO4 −. In this work, we investigated the poisoning effect of both H3PO3 and H3PO4 using a half-cell setup with a gas diffusion electrode under ambient conditions. By means of in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, it was possible to follow the signature of different species adsorbed on the Pt nanoparticle catalyst (H, O, H2PO4 −, and H3PO3) at different potentials under ORR conditions in various electrolytes (HClO4, H3PO4, and H3PO3). It was found that H3PO3 adsorbs in a pyramidal configuration P(OH)3 through a Pt−P bond. The competition between H3PO4 and H3PO3 adsorption was studied, which should allow for a better understanding of the catalyst poisoning mechanism and thus assist in the development of strategies to mitigate this phenomenon in the future by minimizing H3PO3 generation by, for example, improved catalyst design or adapted operation conditions or changes in the electrolyte composition.
A catalyst-free Schiff base reaction was applied to synthesize two imine-linked covalent organic frameworks (COFs). The condensation reaction of 1,3,5-tris-(4-aminophenyl)triazine (TAPT) with 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxaldehyde led to the structure of HHU-COF-1 (HHU = Heinrich-Heine University). The fluorinated analog HHU-COF-2 was obtained with 2,2′,3,3′,5,5′,6,6′-octafluoro-4,4′-biphenyldicarboxaldehyde. Solid-state NMR, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and elemental analysis confirmed the successful formation of the two network structures. The crystalline materials are characterized by high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface areas of 2352 m2/g for HHU-COF-1 and 1356 m2/g for HHU-COF-2. The products of a larger-scale synthesis were applied to prepare mixed-matrix membranes (MMMs) with the polymer Matrimid. CO2/CH4 permeation tests revealed a moderate increase in CO2 permeability at constant selectivity for HHU-COF-1 as a dispersed phase, whereas application of the fluorinated COF led to a CO2/CH4 selectivity increase from 42 for the pure Matrimid membrane to 51 for 8 wt% of HHU-COF-2 and a permeability increase from 6.8 to 13.0 Barrer for the 24 wt% MMM.
Ultrashort pulse laser processing can result in the secondary generation of unwanted X-rays if a critical laser irradiance of about 10^13 W/cm^2 is exceeded. Spectral X-ray emissions were investigated during the processing of tungsten and steel using three complementary spectrometers (based on CdTe and silicon drift detectors) simultaneously for the identification of a worst-case spectral scenario. Therefore, maximum X-ray photon energies were determined, and corresponding dose equivalent rates were calculated. An ultrashort pulse laser workstation with a pulse duration of 274 fs, a center wavelength of 1030 nm, pulse repetition rates between 50 kHz and 200 kHz, and a Gaussian laser beam focused to a spot diameter of 33 µm was employed in a single pulse and burst laser operation mode. Different combinations of laser pulse energy and repetition rate were utilized, keeping the average laser power constant close to the maximum power of 20 W. Peak irradiances ranging from 7.3 × 10^13 W/cm^2 up to 3.0 × 10^14 W/cm^2 were used. The X-ray dose equivalent rate increases for lower repetition rates and higher pulse energy if a constant average power is used. Laser processing with burst mode significantly increases the dose rates and the X-ray photon energies. A maximum X-ray photon energy of about 40 keV was observed for burst mode processing of tungsten with a repetition rate of 50 kHz and a peak irradiance of 3 × 10^14 W/cm^2.
The development of earth-abundant catalysts for selective electrochemical CO2 conversion is a central challenge. Cu-Sn bimetallic catalysts can yield selective CO2 reduction toward either CO or formate. This study presents oxide-derived Cu-Sn catalysts tunable for either product and seeks to understand the synergetic effects between Cu and Sn causing these selectivity trends. The materials undergo significant transformations under CO2 reduction conditions, and their dynamic bulk and surface structures are revealed by correlating observations from multiple methods—X-ray absorption spectroscopy for in situ study, and quasi in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for surface sensitivity. For both types of catalysts, Cu transforms to metallic Cu0 under reaction conditions. However, the Sn speciation and content differ significantly between the catalyst types: the CO-selective catalysts exhibit a surface Sn content of 13 at. % predominantly present as oxidized Sn, while the formate-selective catalysts display an Sn content of ≈70 at. % consisting of both metallic Sn0 and Sn oxide species. Density functional theory simulations suggest that Snδ+ sites weaken CO adsorption, thereby enhancing CO selectivity, while Sn0 sites hinder H adsorption and promote formate production. This study reveals the complex dependence of catalyst structure, composition, and speciation with electrochemical bias in bimetallic Cu catalysts.
n situ monitoring of mechanochemical reactions between dicyandiamide (DCD) and CuX2 salts (X = Cl−, NO3−), for the preparation of compounds of agrochemical interest, showed the appearance of a number of phases. It is demonstrated that milling conditions, such as the amount of water added in wet grinding and/or the milling frequency, may affect the course of the mechanochemical reactions, and drive the reaction towards the formation of different products. It has been possible to discover by in situ monitored experiments two novel crystalline forms, namely the neutral complexes [Cu(DCD)2(OH2)2(NO3)2] (2) and [Cu(DCD)2(OH2)Cl2]·H2O (4), in addition to the previously known molecular salt [Cu(DCD)2(OH2)2][NO3]2·2H2O (1, DIVWAG) and neutral complex [Cu(DCD)2(OH2)Cl2] (3, AQCYCU), for which no synthesis conditions were available. Compounds 2 and 4 were fully characterized via a combination of solid-state techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and TGA.
For the development of selective and sensitive chemical sensors, we have developed a new family of poly(etherphosphoramide) polymers. These polymers were obtained with satisfactory yields by nucleophilic aromatic polycondensation using isosorbide as green resources, and bisphenol A with two novel difluoro phosphinothioic amide monomers. Unprecedented, the thiophosphorylated aminoheterocycles monomers, functionalized with two heterocyclic amine, N-methylpiperazine and morpholine were successfully obtained by nucleophilic substitution reaction of P(S)–Cl compound. The resulting polymers were characterized by different analytical techniques (NMR, MALDI–ToF MS, GPC, DSC, and ATG). The resulting partially green polymers, having tertiary phosphine sulfide with P–N side chain functionalities along the main chain of polymers are the sensitive film at the surface of a gold electrode for the impedimetric detection of Cd, Ni, Pb and Hg. The bio-based poly(etherphosphoramide) functionalized with N-methylpiperazine modified sensor showed better analytical performance
than petrochemical based polymers for the detection of Ni2+. A detection limit of 50 pM was obtained which is very low compared to the previously published electrochemical sensors for nickel detection.
Iron nitride (Fe3N) and iron carbide (Fe3C) nanoparticles can be prepared via sol−gel synthesis. While sol−gel methods are simple, it can be difficult to control the crystalline composition, i.e., to achieve a Rietveld-pure product. In a previous in situ synchrotron study of the sol−gel synthesis of Fe3N/Fe3C, we showed that the reaction proceeds as follows:
Fe3O4 → FeOx → Fe3N → Fe3C. There was considerable overlap between the different phases, but we were unable to ascertain whether this was due to the experimental setup (side-on heating of a quartz capillary which could lead to thermal gradients) or whether individual particle reactions proceed at different rates. In this paper, we use in situ wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering (wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)) to demonstrate that the overlapping phases are indeed due to variable reaction rates. While the initial oxide nanoparticles have a small range of diameters, the size range expands considerably and very rapidly during the oxide−nitride transition. This has implications for the isolation of Rietveld-pure Fe3N, and in an extensive laboratory study, we were indeed unable to isolate phasepure Fe3N. However, we made the surprising discovery that Rietveld-pure Fe3C nanoparticles can be produced at 500 °C with a sufficient furnace dwell time. This is considerably lower than the previous reports of the sol−gel synthesis of Fe3C nanoparticles.
In order to bridge the gap between lab-scale and industrial-scale production of graphene it is necessary to develop processes, equipment and measurement procedures to control the material features. One of the crucial reasons of graphene’s limited commercialization is the lack of standard procedures to properly characterize and define the material chemical and structural properties down to the nanometer level. This leads to many issues regarding material synthesis repeatability, inappropriateness choice of measurands and measurement reproducibility which heavily affect the consistency of the material performance.
In our study, a comparative analysis is performed on two different series (G5 and G6) of industrial graphene powders, each series produced with four types of functionalization: raw graphene, oxygen-functionalized, nitrogen-functionalized and fluorine-functionalized. All the 8 sample variants were analyzed from a chemical and morphological point of view in the form of powders prepared as slightly pressed in metallic sample holders.
The results of the comparative chemical analyses XPS and EDS show a good agreement in the concentration values for all the elements present in the samples, despite the different analysis volumes addressed by the two techniques. For this reason, the samples can be considered homogeneous in both lateral and vertical direction.
A clear influence of the morphology on the composition is evident. Therefore, such correlative measurements of morphology and composition are necessary for a comprehensive characterization of industrial graphene flakes.
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.
Advanced peptide-based nanomaterials composed of self-assembling peptides (SAPs) are of emerging interest in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. The introduction of fluorine into peptides, in fact, offers unique opportunities to tune their biophysical properties and intermolecular interactions. In particular, the degree of fluorination plays a crucial role in peptide engineering as it can be used to control the characteristics of fluorine-specific interactions and, thus, peptide conformation and self-assembly. Here, we designed and explored a series of amphipathic peptides by incorporating the fluorinated amino acids (2S)-4-monofluoroethylglycine (MfeGly), (2S)-4,4-difluoroethylglycine (DfeGly) and (2S)-4,4,4-trifluoroethylglycine (TfeGly) as hydrophobic components. This approach enabled studying the impact of fluorination on secondary structure formation and peptide self-assembly on a systematic basis. We show that the interplay between polarity and hydrophobicity, both induced differentially by varying degrees of side chain fluorination, does affect peptide folding significantly. A greater degree of fluorination promotes peptide fibrillation and subsequent formation of physical hydrogels in physiological conditions. Molecular simulations revealed the key role played by electrostatically driven intra-chain and inter-chain contact pairs that are modulated by side chain fluorination and give insights into the different self-organization behaviour of selected peptides. Our study provides a systematic report about the distinct features of fluorinated oligomeric peptides with potential applications as peptide-based biomaterials.
The accuracy and comparability of nanoindentation results depend significantly on the calibration of area function and instrument compliance. The area function results should not depend on the reference material used or on the calibration method (direct or indirect). This has been investigated for 18 different Berkovich tips. A novel calibration method is proposed that confirms the material independence of the area function and gives a force-dependent instrument compliance function. An agreement between direct and indirect calibration could only be achieved by considering a radial displacement correction. Further, it is shown that the transition range from a spherical cap to the correct face angle of the pyramid can extend to a depth of more than 250 nm. A better parameter for the indenter than the tip radius is the offset of the contact radius to the radius of an ideal tip at a depth where the correct face angle is reached.
DNA long-term stability and integrity is of importance for applications in DNA based bio-dosimetry, data-storage, pharmaceutical quality-control, donor insemination and DNA based functional nanomaterials. Standard protocols for these applications involve repeated freeze-thaw cycles of the DNA, which can cause detrimental damage to the nucleobases, as well as the sugar-phosphate backbone and therefore the whole molecule. Throughout the literature three hypotheses can be found about the underlying mechanisms occurring during freeze-thaw cycles. It is hypothesized that DNA single-strand breaks during freezing can be induced by mechanical stress leading to shearing of the DNA molecule, by acidic pH causing damage through depurination and beta elimination or by the presence of metal ions catalyzing oxidative damage via reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here we test these hypotheses under well defined conditions with plasmid DNA pUC19 in high-purity buffer (1xPBS) at physiological salt and pH 7.4 conditions, under pH 6 and in the presence of metal ions in combination with the radical scavengers DMSO and Ectoine. The results show for the 2686 bp long plasmid DNA, that neither mechanical stress, nor pH 6 lead to degradation during repeated freeze-thaw cycles. In contrast, the presence of metal ions (Fe2+) leads to degradation of DNA via the production of radical species.
Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) can be used to introduce different functionalities into highly stable covalent organic frameworks (COFs). In this work, the irreversible three-component Doebner reaction is utilized to synthesize four chemically stable quinoline-4-carboxylic acid DMCR-COFs (DMCR-1−3 and DMCR-1NH) equipped with an acid−base bifunctionality. These DMCR-COFs show superior photocatalytic H2O2 evolution (one of the most important industrial oxidants) compared to the imine COF analogue (Imine-1). This is achieved with sacrificial oxidants but also in pure water and under an oxygen or air atmosphere. Furthermore, the DMCR-COFs show high photostability, durability, and recyclability. MCR-COFs thus provide a viable materials’ platform for solar to chemical energy conversion.
n this study, two green synthesis routes were used for the synthesis of Ag/ZnO nanoparticles, using cassava starch as a simple and low-cost effective fuel and Aloe vera as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The Ag/ZnO nanoparticles were characterized and used for bacterial dis-
infection of lake water contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli). Characterization indicated the formation of a face-centered cubic structure of metallic silver nanoparticles with no insertion of Ag into the ZnO hexagonal wurtzite structure. Physicochemical and bacteriological analyses described in “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater” were used to evaluate the efficiency of the treatment. In comparison to pure ZnO, the synthesized Ag/ZnO nanoparticles showed high efficiencies against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and general coliforms present in the lake
water. These pathogens were absent after treatment using Ag/ZnO nanoparticles. The results indicate that Ag/ZnO nanoparticles synthesized via green chemistry are a promising candidate for the treatment of wastewaters contaminated by bacteria, due to their facile preparation, low-cost synthesis,and disinfection efficiency.
X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) provides a unique, atom-specific tool to probe the electronic structure of solids. By surmounting long-held limitations of powder-based XAS using a dynamically averaged powder in a Resonant Acoustic Mixer (RAM), we demonstrate how time-resolved in situ (TRIS) XAS provides unprecedented detail of mechanochemical synthesis. The use of a custom-designed dispersive XAS (DXAS) setup allows us to increase the time resolution over existing fluorescence measurements from ∼15 min to 2 s for a complete absorption spectrum. Hence, we here establish TRIS-XAS as a viable method for studying mechanochemical reactions and sampling reaction kinetics. The generality of our approach is demonstrated through RAM-induced (i) bottom-up Au nanoparticle mechanosynthesis and (ii) the synthesis of a prototypical metal organic framework, ZIF-8. Moreover, we demonstrate that our approach also works with the addition of a stainless steel milling ball, opening the door to using TRIS-DXAS for following conventional ball milling reactions. We expect that our TRIS-DXAS approach will become an essential part of the mechanochemical tool box.
A versatile software package in the form of a Python extension, named CDEF (computing Debye’s scattering formula for extraordinary form factors), is proposed to calculate approximate scattering profiles of arbitrarily shaped nanoparticles for small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). CDEF generates a quasi-randomly distributed point cloud in the desired particle shape and then applies the open-source software DEBYER for efficient evaluation of Debye’s scattering formula to calculate the SAXS pattern (https://github.com/j-from-b/CDEF). If self-correlation of the scattering signal is not omitted, the quasi-random distribution provides faster convergence compared with a true-random distribution of the scatterers, especially at higher momentum transfer. The usage of the software is demonstrated for the evaluation of scattering data of Au nanocubes with rounded edges, which were measured at the four-crystal monochromator beamline of PTB at the synchrotron radiation facility BESSY II in Berlin. The implementation is fast enough to run on a single desktop computer and perform model fits within minutes. The accuracy of the method was analyzed by comparison with analytically known form factors and verified with another implementation, the SPONGE, based on a similar principle with fewer approximations. Additionally, the SPONGE coupled to McSAS3 allows one to retrieve information on the uncertainty of the size distribution using a Monte Carlo uncertainty estimation algorithm.
Luminescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are frequently used in the life and material sciences as reporter for bioimaging studies and as active components in devices such as displays, light-emitting diodes, solar cells, and sensors. Increasing concerns regarding the use of toxic elements like cadmium and lead, and hazardous organic solvents during QD synthesis have meanwhile triggered the search for heavy-metal free QDs using green chemistry syntheses methods. Interesting candidates are ternary AgInS2 (AIS) QDs that exhibit broad photoluminescence (PL) bands, large effective Stokes shifts, high PL quantum yields (PL QYs), and long PL lifetimes, which are particularly beneficial for applications such as bioimaging, white light-emitting diodes, and solar concentrators. In addition, these nanomaterials can be prepared in high quality with a microwave-assisted (MW) synthesis in aqueous solution. The homogeneous heat diffusion and instant temperature rise of the MW synthesis enables a better control of QD nucleation and growth and thus increases the batch-to-batch reproducibility. In this study, we systematically explored the MW synthesis of AIS/ZnS QDs by varying parameters such as the order of reagent addition, precursor concentration, and type of stabilizing thiol ligand, and assessed their influence on the optical properties of the resulting AIS/ZnS QDs. Under optimized synthesis conditions, water-soluble AIS/ZnS QDs with a PL QY of 65% and excellent colloidal and long-term stability could be reproducible prepared.
Here, we present a study on agarose thin-film samples that represent a model system for the exopolysaccharide matrix of biofilms. Povidone-iodide (PVP-I) was selected as an antibacterial agent to evaluate our x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)-based methodology to trace specific marker elements, here iodine, commonly found in organic matrices of antibiotics. The in-depth distribution of iodine was determined by XPS analyses with variable excitation energies and in combination with argon gas cluster ion beam sputter cycles. On mixed agarose/PVP-I nanometer-thin films, both methods were found to solve the analytical task and deliver independently comparable results. In the mixed agarose/PVP-I thin film, we found the outermost surface layer depleted in iodine, whereas the iodine is homogeneously distributed in the depth region between this outermost surface layer and the interface between the thin film and the substrate. Depletion of iodine from the uppermost surface in the thin-film samples is assumed to be caused by ultrahigh vacuum exposure resulting in a loss of molecular iodine (I2) as reported earlier for other iodine-doped polymers.
Water treatment with activated carbon (AC) is an established method for the removal of organic micropollutants and natu ral organic matter. However, it is not yet possible to predict the removal of individual pollutants. An appropriate material characterization, matching adsorption processes in water, might be the missing piece in the puzzle. To this end, this study examined 25 diferent commercially available ACs to evaluate their material properties. Frequently reported analyses, including N2 adsorption/desorption, CHNS(O), point of zero charge (PZC) analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, were conducted on a selected subset of powdered ACs. Inorganic elements examined using X-ray fuorescence and X-ray difraction spectroscopy revealed that relative elemental contents were distinctive to the individual AC’s raw material and activation procedure. This study also is the frst to use thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled to Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to conduct quantitative analyses of functional surface oxygen groups (SOGs: carboxylic acid, anhydride, lactone, phenol, carbonyl, and pyrone groups) on such a large number of ACs. The comparably economical TGA method was found to provide good surrogates for the PZC by pyrolytic mass loss up to 600 ◦C (ML600), for the oxygen content by ML1000 and for the carbon content by oxidation. Mass loss profles depict the AC’s chemistry like fngerprints. Furthermore, we found that SOG contents determined by TGA-FTIR covered a wide individual range and depended on the raw material and production process of the AC. TGA and TGA-FTIR might therefore be used to identify the suitability of a particular AC for a variety of target substances in diferent target waters. This can help practitioners to control AC use in waterworks or wastewater treatment plants.
Mono-, Di-, and Tri-valent Cation Doped BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 Nanoparticles: Ferroelectric Photocatalysts
(2022)
The ferroelectricity of multivalent co-doped Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3; BFO) nanoparticles (NPs) is revealed and utilized for light photocatalysis exploiting their narrow electronic band gap. The photocatalytic activity of ferroelectric photocatalysts BiFe0.95Mn0.05O3 (BFM) NPs and mono-, di-, or tri-valent cations (Ag+, Ca2+, Dy3+; MDT) co-incorporated BFM NPs are studied under ultrasonication and in acidic conditions. We find that such doping enhances the photocatalytic activity of the ferroelectric NPs approximately three times. The correlation of the photocatalytic activity with structural, optical, and electrical properties of the doped NPs is established. The increase of spontaneous polarization by the mono- and tri-valent doping is one of the major factors in enhancing the photocatalytic performance along with other factors such as stronger light absorption in the visible range, low recombination rate of charge carriers and larger surface area of NPs. A-site doping of BFO NPs by divalent elements suppresses the polarization, whereas trivalent (Dy3+) and monovalent (Ag+) cations provide an increase of polarization. The depolarization field in these single domain NPs acts as a driving force to mitigate recombination of the photoinduced charge carriers.
Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) are promising candidates for the active layer in gas separation membranes due to their high permeability and reasonable permselectivity. These appealing properties originate from a microporous structure as a result of inefficient segment packing in the condensed state due to a combination of a ladder-like rigid backbone and sites of contortion. However, this class of polymers suffers from a significant decrease in the permeability with time due to physical aging, whereby typically, the permselectivity increases. The initial microporous structures approach a denser state via local rearrangements, leading to the reduction of the permeability. Hence, a detailed characterization of the molecular mobility in such materials can provide valuable information on physical aging. In this work, the dielectric behavior of PIM-1 films and their behavior upon heating (aging) were revisited by isothermal frequency scans during different heating/cooling cycles over a broad temperature range between 133 and 523 K (−140 to 250 °C). In addition, the obtained results were compared with data of samples that were annealed at ambient temperatures over different time scales. Multiple dielectric processes were observed: several relaxation processes due to local fluctuations and a Maxwell−Wagner−Sillars polarization effect related to the microporosity. The temperature dependence of the rates of all processes follows the Arrhenius law where the estimated activation energy depends on the nature of the process. The influence of the thermal history (aging) on the processes is discussed in detail.
Electrical and optical applications based on micro- and nanoparticles have specific demands on their interfacial properties. These properties are strongly related to atmospheric conditions to which the particles were exposed during their formation. In this study, metallic In microparticles are synthesized by solidification of In droplets on an amorphous Mo substrate at normal pressure and under vacuum conditions. The influence of ambient pressure on the interface and surface shape is investigated. While solidification at atmospheric pressure leads to collapsed particles with undisturbed contact to the substrate, low pressures result in smooth spherical particles but with cavities inside. Numerical simulations with COMSOL Multiphysics reveal different temperature profiles and heat flux in particles during solidification for both cases. This indicates different starting conditions of the solidification, which leads to the described phenomenon eventually. The investigation of the varying process conditions on the particle shape in combination with the calculated and measured temperature curves over time gives valuable insights into new approaches to synthesize micro- and nanoparticles with defined interfacial properties. Both ambient pressure and cooling rate provide well-controllable and reliable parameters for the realization of different interfacial shapes.
An immobilization of graphene oxide (GO) into a matrix of polyvinyl formaldehyde (PVF) foam as an eco-friendly, low cost, superior, and easily recovered sorbent of Pb ions from an aqueous solution is described. The relationships between the structure and electrochemical properties of PVF/GO composite with implanted Pb ions are discussed for the first time. The number of alcohol groups decreased by 41% and 63% for PVF/GO and the PVF/GO/Pb composite, respectively, compared to pure PVF. This means that chemical bonds are formed between the Pb ions and the PVF/GO composite based on the OH groups. This bond formation causes an increase in the Tg values attributed to the formation of a strong surface complexation between adjacent layers of PVF/GO composite. The conductivity increases by about 2.8 orders of magnitude compared to the values of the PVF/GO/Pb composite compared to the PVF. This means the presence of Pb ions is the main factor for enhancing the conductivity where the conduction mechanism is changed from ionic for PVF to electronic conduction for PVF/GO and PVF/GO/Pb.
Nowadays, sensors based on polymers/nanostructured metal oxide composites have been investigated exten-sively because of their sensitivity to NO2 gas at ambient temperature. In this work, nanocomposite membranes of xanthan gum (XG) with different contents of MnO2 nanoparticles were prepared as a potential NO2 gas sensor operating at room temperature by a simple one-step oxidation-reduction reaction. The structural, morphological, thermal, and electrical properties of the composite membrane were investigated. The FT-IR results confirm the successful preparation of MnO2 through the oxidation of XG by KMnO4 and reveal further the structural changes of the XG/MnO2 nanocomposite upon its exposure to NO2 gas. The capping of the synthesized MnO2 nano-particles by XG, the surface composition of the XG/MnO2 nanocomposite membranes, and the effect of NO2 gas on the surface composition was investigated using the XPS technique. The DC conductivity and dielectric loss of nanocomposites were higher than for neat XG. The conductivities of the nanocomposites XG/MO-4, XG/MO-4/ low NO2, and XG/MO-4/high NO2 composites are half, one, and three orders of magnitude higher than that for pure XG revealing a transition from insulating to conductive properties. The results demonstrated that XG/MnO2 nanocomposite membranes are promising for potential applications in NO2 gas sensing.
Acrylic acid-styrene copolymer films were deposited plasma-chemically more gently using the pulsed plasma mode instead of the continuous mode, with linear and some slightly branched chains and marginal crosslinking.
Then, the styrene unit of copolymers was wet-chemically sulfonated by chlorosulfuric acid. On exposure to air, the formed 4-chlorosulfonic acid groups hydrolyze to sulfonic acid groups (-SO3H).
FTIR, XPS and broadband dielectric spectroscopy were employed to characterize the composition, the structure, the functional groups, and the electrochemical performance for the copolymers. A high concentration of sulfonic acid-containing groups was obtained in the sulfonated PS sample. The values of the DC conductivity DC for the sulfonated sample of the AA/S copolymer are ca. five orders of magnitude higher than that of the not-sulfonated copolymer materials.
Li-rich nanoparticles of Li1+xMn2–xO4 doped with Al, Co, or Ni are successfully synthesized using a facile, fast, and efficient microwave-assisted hydrothermal route. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction confirms the formation of the crystalline cubic spinel phase type. X-ray absorption spectroscopy analysis at the Co and Ni K- and L-edges verifies that the dopants are within the Li1+xMn2–xO4 spinel structure and are inactive during cycling in the bulk and at the surface. Moreover, we demonstrate that nanocrystallinity and cationic doping play an important role in improving the electrochemical performance with respect to LiMn2O4 microparticles. They significantly reduce the charge-transfer resistance, lower the first cycle irreversible capacity loss to 6%, and achieve a capacity retention between 85 and 90% after 380 cycles, with excellent Coulombic efficiency close to 99% without compromising the specific charge at a 5C cycling rate. Furthermore, the Mn K- and L-edges attest that after long cycling, the Mn oxidation state in the bulk differs from that at the surface caused by the Mn disproportion reaction; however, the cationic doping helps mitigate the Mn dissolution with respect to the undoped Li1+xMn2–xO4 nanoparticles, as indicated by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.
Unlike conventional alloys, high entropy alloys are characterized by one or more solid solution phase(s) without a clearly defined solvent, all element contribute to the matrix in a way that is still not entirely understood. In addition, it is not known to what extent classic thermodynamic rules can be applied to these multi-element alloys, especially concerning the question about what factor incites the matrix to undergo a phase transformation.
This work tackles directly some of these aspects on a chosen alloy, Al8Cr17Co17Cu8Fe17Ni33 (at.%), which presents a high temperature single-phase γ state and a two-phase state with γ′ precipitates, above and below 900 ◦C, respectively. A combined investigation via microstructural observations, hardness testing, X-ray absorption and photoelectron spectroscopy was carried out above the γ′ formation temperature. Hardness values are independent of the annealing temperatures, microstructural analysis shows no phase formation and X-ray absorption spectroscopy does not reveal observable changes in neither local atomic nor electronic structure, indicating that approaching γ′ formation temperature is not influenced by atomic or electronic rearrangements.
Interestingly, short-range chemical order remains quantitatively compatible at any annealing temperature in the single-phase γ state, and the observed preferred pairs Al–Cu and Al–Ni in the γ state match with the γ’ precipitates composition below 900 ◦C.
ABX3 metal halide perovskites revolutionized the research and development of new optoelectronics, including solar cells and light-emitting diodes. Processing polycrystalline thin films from precursor solutions is one of the core advantages of these materials since it enables versatile and cost-effective manufacturing. The perovskite film morphology, that is, continuous substrate coverage and low surface roughness, is of paramount importance for highly efficient solar cells and optoelectronic devices in general. Controlling the chemistry of precursor solutions is one of the most effective strategies to manage the perovskite film morphology. Herein, we show the fundamental influence of the A-site cation composition on the perovskite precursor arrangement and the consequent film formation. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering give unprecedented insights into the complex structural chemistry of the perovskite precursors and, in particular, their repulsive interactions as a crucial parameter for colloidal stability. Combining these techniques with in situ grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering during thin-film formation allows us to identify the mechanism for using alkali metals as a decisive criterion to control the colloidal stability of the perovskite precursor and thus the thin-film morphology. We illustrate the fundamental principle behind the systematic use of alkali metals regardless of whether they are incorporated in the lattice or not. Hence, this work provides tools to selectively control the morphology and crystal growth in present and future systems
With the increasing production of renewable energy and concomitant depletion of fossil resources, the demand for efficient water splitting electrocatalysts continues to grow. Iridium (Ir) and iridium oxides (IrOₓ) are currently the most promising candidates for an efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in acidic medium, which remains the bottleneck in water electrolysis. Yet, the extremely high costs for Ir hamper a widespread production of hydrogen (H₂) on an industrial scale. Herein, the authors report a concept for the synthesis of electrode coatings with template-controlled mesoporosity surface-modified with highly active Ir species. The improved utilization of noble metal species relies on the synthesis of soft-templated metal oxide supports and a subsequent shape-conformal deposition of Ir species via atomic layer deposition (ALD) at two different reaction temperatures. The study reveals that a minimum Ir content in the mesoporous titania-based support is mandatory to provide a sufficient electrical bulk conductivity. After ALD, a significantly enhanced OER activity results in dependency of the ALD cycle number and temperature. The most active developed electrocatalyst film achieves an outstanding mass-specific activity of 2622 mA mg(Ir)⁻¹ at 1.60 V(RHE) in a rotating-disc electrode (RDE) setup at 25 °C using 0.5 m H₂SO₄ as a supporting electrolyte.
Direct Laser Writing (DLW) and X-ray computed tomography (XCT) both offer unique possibilities in their respective fields. DLW produces full three-dimensional (3D) polymer structures on the microscale with resolutions below 100 nm. The fabricated structures can be analysed by XCT or X-ray microscopy (XRM), which incorporates additional X-ray lenses, in three dimensions down to a minimal basic spatial resolution of about 500 nm or 50 nm, respectively. In this work, two different DLW structures are analysed via XCT. Internal defects are detected and analysed for the purpose of quality control. Defects and structures with sizes down to 1.5 µm are successfully analysed. A 3D reconstruction and internal, hidden features of the fabricated structures are shown and discussed. In a first-of-its-kind study, we demonstrate the detectability of a single-voxel line inside a fabricated structure that would not be detectable with SEM or light microscopy. Furthermore, the direct fabrication on a PET substrate is shown to overcome the high X-ray absorbance of commonly used glass substrates. Attenuation spectra of SZ2080 and glass substrates are compared to a fabrication route direct on a 170 µm PET foil. The practical aspects of XCT measurements for DLW structures on different substrates will be discussed.
This paper presents the results concerning monotropic nematic liquid crystals 4-pentylphenyl 40-alkyl benzoate (5PnB) (n = 3 or 5 carbon atoms in the alkyl chain). Their mesophase properties were supported by images of the polarized optical microscopy. Molecular dynamics in the bulk samples or in the composites prepared with aerosil A380 was investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy in a large temperature range, appropriately chosen. Thermo gravimetric and infrared investigations were additionally performed. The data were compared with those of structurally related nematics like cyanophenyl pentyl benzoates, which have a cyan group instead of the pentyl chain. The dielectric spectra of the bulk 3P5B and 5P5B demonstrate a dielectric behavior with several relaxation processes as expected for nematic liquid crystals. The temperature dependence of the relaxation rates (and of the dielectric strength) seems to have two distinguished regimes. Thus, in the isotropic state, at higher temperatures the data obey the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann law, whereas an Arrhenius law is fitted at lower temperature, in a close similarity to the behavior of a constrained dynamic glass transition. Samples with a high density of silica (larger than 7 g aerosil/1 g of 5PnB) were prepared to observe a thin layer adsorbed on the particle surface; it was estimated that almost each guest 5PnB molecule interacts with the aerosil surface. For the composites only one main relaxation process is observed at frequencies much lower than those for the corresponding bulk, which was assigned to the dynamics of the molecules in the surface layer. Infrared spectroscopy shows that these molecules interact with the surface by the ester carbonyl group leading to the monolayer self-assembly at liquid–solid interface. We note once more the importance of the functional unit(s) for the interaction with the hydroxyl groups on the aerosil surface.
In a laboratory test, transparent high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) jerrycans have been exposed to both UV radiation and 55 wt‐% nitric acid solution at (41 ± 2)°C, for up to 20 days. For comparison, UV radiant exposure (21 days) and nitric acid exposure (up to 6 weeks) were performed separately, at nearly equal temperatures. The damages are compared with FTIR spectroscopy in ATR and HT‐gel permeation chromatography(GPC) on a molecular level and with hydraulic internal pressure testing as a component test. For the used jerrycans, relevant oxidation can only be found after the combined exposure. This is caused by the decomposition of nitric acid into nitrous gases by UV radiation, which is also observed at lower concentrations (28 wt‐%). After 6 days of laboratory exposure, this is rated as critical, which corresponds to about 1/10 year in Central Europe, according to the UV radiant exposure. The gradual increase in oxidative damage shows the reproducibility of the test.
Automated bonding analysis software has been developed based on Crystal Orbital Hamilton Populations to facilitate high-throughput bonding analysis and machine-learning of bonding features. This work presents the software and discusses its applications to simple and complex materials such as GaN, NaCl, the oxynitrides XTaO2N (X=Ca, Ba, Sr) and Yb14Mn1Sb11.
Invited for this month’s cover are researchers from Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing) in Germany, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Université catholique de Louvain, University of Oregon, Science & Technology Facilities Council, RWTH Aachen University, Hoffmann Institute of Advanced Materials, and Dartmouth College. The cover picture shows a workflow for automatic bonding analysis with Python tools (green python). The bonding analysis itself is performed with the program LOBSTER (red lobster). The starting point is a crystal structure, and the results are automatic assessments of the bonding situation based on Crystal Orbital Hamilton Populations (COHP), including automatic plots and text outputs. Coordination environments and charges are also assessed. More information can be found in the Research Article by J. George, G. Hautier, and co-workers.
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.
The ternary sulfido bismuthate K3[BiS3] is synthesized in quantitative yields. The material exhibits nonlinear optical properties with strong second harmonic generation properties at arbitrary wavelengths in the infrared spectral range and a notable laser-induced damage threshold of 5.22 GW cm−2 for pulsed laser radiation at a wavelength of 1040 nm, a pulse duration of 180 fs, and a repetition rate of 12.5 kHz. K3[BiS3] indicates semiconductivity with a direct optical band gap of 2.51 eV. Dielectric and impedance characterizations demonstrate κ values in the range of 6−13 at 1 kHz and a high electrical resistivity. A strong diamagnetic behavior with a susceptibility of −2.73 × 10−4 m3 kg−1 at room temperature is observed. These results suggest it is a promising nonlinear optical candidate for the infrared
region. The synergic physical characteristics of K3[BiS3] provide insight into the correlation of optical, electrical, and magnetic properties.