6 Materialchemie
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Paper des Monats
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Tuning and controlling the solid-state photophysical properties of organic luminophore are very important to develop next-generation organic luminescent materials. With the aim of discovering new functional luminescent materials, new cocrystals of 9-anthracene carboxylic acid (ACA) were prepared with two different dipyridine coformers: 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene and 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane. The cocrystals were successfully obtained by both mechanochemical approaches and conventional solvent crystallization. The newly obtained crystalline solids were characterized thoroughly using a combination of single crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential thermal analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Structural analysis revealed that the cocrystals are isostructural, exhibiting two-fold interpenetrated hydrogen bonded networks. While the O–H···N hydrogen bonds adopts a primary role in the stabilization of the cocrystal phases, the C–H···O hydrogen bonding interactions appear to play a significant role in guiding the three-dimensional assembly. Both π···π and C–H···π interactions assist in stabilizing the interpenetrated structure. The photoluminescence properties of both the starting materials and cocrystals were examined in their solid states. All the cocrystals display tunable photophysical properties as compared to pure ACA. Density functional theory simulations suggest that the modified optical properties result from charge transfers between the ACA and coformer molecules in each case. This study demonstrates the potential of crystal engineering to design solid-state luminescence switching materials through cocrystallization.
In this work, we describe the use of artificial neural networks for the quantification of X-ray fluorescence measurements. The training data were generated using Monte Carlo simulation, which avoided the use of adapted reference materials. The extension of the available data set by means of an ANN to generate additional data was demonstrated. Particular emphasis was put on the comparability of simulated and experimental data and how the influence of deviations can be reduced. The search for the optimal hyperparameter, manual and automatic, is also described. For the presented case, we were able to train a network with a mean absolute error of 0.1 weight percent for the synthetic data and 0.7 weight percent for a set of experimental data obtained with certified reference materials.
In the present work a series of design rules are developed in order to tune the morphology of TiO2 nanoparticles through hydrothermal process. Through a careful experimental design, the influence of relevant process parameters on the synthesis outcome are studied, reaching to the develop predictive models by using Machine Learning methods. The models, after the validation and training, are able to predict with high accuracy the synthesis outcome in terms of nanoparticle size, polydispersity and aspect ratio. Furthermore, they are implemented by reverse engineering approach to do the inverse process, i.e. obtain the optimal synthesis parameters given a specific product characteristic. For the first time, it is presented a synthesis method that allows continuous and precise control of NPs morphology with the possibility to tune the aspect ratio over a large range from 1.4 (perfect truncated bipyramids) to 6 (elongated nanoparticles) and the length from 20 to 140 nm.
The present study investigates the possibility of improving the selective oxidation of methane to formaldehyde over V-SBA-15 catalysts in two different ways. In a classical approach of catalyst optimization, the in situ synthesis of V-SBA-15 catalysts was optimized with regard to the applied pH value. Among the set of catalysts synthesized, a higher amount of incorporated vanadium, a higher content of polymeric VOx species as well as a less ordered structure of the support material were observed by increasing the pH values from 2.0 to 3.0. An optimum in performance during the selective oxidation of methane to formaldehyde with respect to activity and selectivity was found over V-SBA-15 prepared at a pH value of 2.5. With this knowledge, we have now evaluated the possibilities of reaction control using this catalyst. Specifically, artificial neural network modelling was applied after the collection of 232 training samples for obtaining insight into the influence of different reaction parameters (temperature; gas hourly space velocity (GHSV); and concentration of O2, N2 and H2O) onto methane conversion and selectivity towards formaldehyde.
This optimization of reaction conditions resulted in an outstanding high space-time yield of 13.6 kgCH2O∙kgcat∙h−1
Methods and materials are presented here, which enable the manufacturing of fine structures using a 3D-printing method known as two-photon polymerization (2PP). As traditional photolithography methods for structuring ceramic slurries do not function with 2PP, due to light scattering on ceramic particles, a novel water-based photoresist with high ceramic loading of extremely well dispersed ceramic nano particles was developed. This photoresist is basically a ceramic slurry containing a photocurable agent and a photoinitiator to be crosslinkable with the 780 nm wavelength femtosecond laser light source of the 2PP machine. It is demonstrated that it is possible to gain a highly transparent and low viscous slurry suitable for 2PP processing. This work shows the development of the slurry, first printing results and the post-printing processes required to form three dimensional ceramic microstructures consisting of alumina toughened zirconia (ATZ).
Controlling thickness and tightness of surface passivation shells is crucial for many applications of core–shell nanoparticles (NP). Usually, to determine shell thickness, core and core/shell particle are measured individually requiring the availability of both nanoobjects. This is often not fulfilled for functional nanomaterials such as many photoluminescent semiconductor quantum dots (QD) used for bioimaging, solid state lighting, and display technologies as the core does not show the applicationrelevant functionality like a high photoluminescence (PL) quantum yield, calling for a whole nanoobject approach. By combining high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), a novel whole nanoobject approach is developed representatively for an ultrabright oleic acid-stabilized, thick shell CdSe/CdS QD with a PL quantum yield close to unity. The size of this spectroscopically assessed QD, is in the range of the information depth of usual laboratory XPS. Information on particle size and monodispersity were validated with dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and compared to data derived from optical measurements. In addition to demonstrating the potential of this novel whole nanoobject approach for determining architectures of small nanoparticles, the presented results also highlight challenges faced by different sizing and structural analysis methods and method-inherent uncertainties.
n this work, three new pharmaceutical hydrated salts of ciprofloxacin with selected derivatives of benzoic acid, namely 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-aminobenzoic acid and gallic acid, were obtained and systematically investigated by several solid-state analytical techniques. In situ Raman spectroscopy was applied to elucidate the alternative pathways of the solid forms' formation under mechanochemical conditions. Crystal structure analysis and a CSD survey allowed us to establish a distinct supramolecular motif formed by infinite columnar stacks of ciprofloxacin dimers arranged in the “head-to-tail” manner. An alternative “head-to-head” packing arrangement was only observed in the crystal of the hydrated ciprofloxacin salt with 4-aminobenzoic acid. In addition, the pH-solubility behavior of the solid forms was thoroughly investigated. Furthermore, a distinct structure–property relationship between the specific features of the supramolecular organization of the hydrated salts and their solubility was observed and discussed.
Amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) is an important precursor in the biomineralization of crystalline CaCO3. In nature, it serves as a storage material or as a permanent structural element, whose lifetime is regulated by an organic matrix. The relevance of ACC in materials science is primarily related to our understanding of CaCO3 crystallization pathways and CaCO3/(bio)polymer nanocomposites. ACC can be synthesized by liquid–liquid phase separation, and it is typically stabilized with macromolecules. We have prepared ACC by milling calcite in a planetary ball mill. Phosphate “impurities” were added in the form of monetite (CaHPO4) to substitute the carbonate anions, thereby stabilizing ACC by substitutional disorder. The phosphate anions do not simply replace the carbonate anions. They undergo shear-driven acid/base and condensation reactions, where stoichiometric (10%) phosphate contents are required for the amorphization to be complete. The phosphate anions generate a strained network that hinders ACC recrystallization kinetically. The amorphization reaction and the structure of BM-ACC were studied by quantitative Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and solid state 31P, 13C, and 1H magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which are highly sensitive to symmetry changes of the local environment. In the first—and fast—reaction step, the CO32– anions are protonated by the HPO42– groups. The formation of unprecedented hydrogen carbonate (HCO3–) and orthophosphate anions appears to be the driving force of the reaction, because the phosphate group has a higher Coulomb energy and the tetrahedral PO43– unit can fill space more efficiently. In a competing second—and slow—reaction step, pyrophosphate anions are formed in a condensation reaction. No pyrophosphates are formed at higher carbonate contents. High strain leads to such a large energy barrier that any reaction is suppressed. Our findings aid in the understanding of the mechanochemical amorphization of calcium carbonate and emphasize the effect of impurities for the stabilization of the amorphous phases in general. Our approach allowed the synthesis of new amorphous alkaline earth defect variants containing the unique HCO3– anion. Our approach outlines a general strategy to obtain new amorphous solids for a variety of carbonate/phosphate systems that offer promise as biomaterials for bone regeneration.
A major source of capacity fade of the common vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) is the vanadium ion transport through the separator. However, different transport models disagree significantly in the diffusion coefficient for the different V species and the influence of different transport mechanisms. The underlying hypothesis of this work is that reactions inside the membrane are partly responsible for these discrepancies. Accordingly, it was investigated if redox reactions inside the nanoscopic water body of Nafion 117 can occur. X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) was used to distinguish between the different V species inside hydrated Nafion 117 and novel PVDF-based membranes. It was validated that the speciation of vanadium can be performed using the pre-edge peak energy and intensity. The experiments were performed as follows: strips of the membrane were exposed from one site to a V3+ solution (green) and from the other site to a VO2+ solution (yellow). The ions could diffuse into the membrane from both sides. A change of color of the membrane strip was observed. The blue color in the middle of the strip indicated that VO2+ was formed where V3+ and VO2+ got in contact. Using XANES this reaction inside Nafion was proven.
The present study investigates early stages of ZIF-8 crystallization up to 5 minutes post mixing of precursor solutions. Dispersive X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (DXAS) provides a refined understanding of the evolution of the coordination environment during ZIF-8 crystallization. Linear Combination Fiting (LCF) suggests tetrakis(1-methylimidazole)zinc2+ to be a suitable and stable mononuclear structure analogue for some early stage ZIF-8 intermediates. Our results pave the way for more detailed studies on physico-chemical aspects of ZIF-8 crystallization to better control tailoring ZIF-8 materials for specific applications.
Control over the bottom up synthesis of metal nanoparticles (NP) depends on many experimental factors, including the choice of stabilising and reducing agents. By selectively manipulating these species, it is possible to control NP characteristics through solution-phase synthesis strategies. It is not known, however, whether NPs produced from mechanochemical syntheses are governed by the same rules. Using the Au NPs mechanosynthesis as a model system, we investigate how a series of common reducing agents affect both the reduction kinetics and size of Au NPs. It is shown that the relative effects of reducing agents on mechanochemical NP synthesis differ significantly from their role in analogous solution-phase reactions. Hence, strategies developed for control over NP growth in solution are not directly transferrable to environmentally benign mechanochemical approaches. This work demonstrates a clear need for dedicated, systematic studies on NP mechanosynthesis.
Current time-resolved in situ approaches limit the scope of mechanochemical investigations possible. Here we develop a new, general approach to simultaneously follow the evolution of bulk atomic and electronic structure during a mechanochemical synthesis. This is achieved by coupling two complementary synchrotron-based X-ray methods: X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray diffraction. We apply this method to investigate the bottom-up mechanosynthesis of technologically important Au micro and nanoparticles in the presence of three different reducing agents, hydroquinone, sodium citrate, and NaBH4. Moreover, we show how XAS offers new insight into the early stage generation of growth species (e.g. monomers and clusters), which lead to the subsequent formation of nanoparticles. These processes are beyond the detection capabilities of diffraction methods. This combined X-ray approach paves the way to new directions in mechanochemical research of advanced electronic materials.
Insights into the In Vitro Formation of Apatite from Mg‐Stabilized Amorphous Calcium Carbonate
(2020)
A protein‐free formation of bone‐like apatite from amorphous precursors through ball‐milling is reported. Mg2+ ions are crucial to achieve full amorphization of CaCO3. Mg2+ incorporation generates defects which strongly retard a recrystallization of ball‐milled Mg‐doped amorphous calcium carbonate (BM‐aMCC), which promotes the growth of osteoblastic and endothelial cells in simulated body fluid and has no effect on endothelial cell gene expression. Ex situ snapshots of the processes revealed the reaction mechanisms. For low Mg contents (<30%) a two phase system consisting of Mg‐doped amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) and calcite “impurities” was formed. For high (>40%) Mg2+ contents, BM‐aMCC follows a different crystallization path via magnesian calcite and monohydrocalcite to aragonite. While pure ACC crystallizes rapidly to calcite in aqueous media, Mg‐doped ACC forms in the presence of phosphate ions bone‐like hydroxycarbonate apatite (dahllite), a carbonate apatite with carbonate substitution in both type A (OH−) and type B (PO43−) sites, which grows on calcite “impurities” via heterogeneous nucleation. This process produces an endotoxin‐free material and makes BM‐aMCC an excellent “ion storage buffer” that promotes cell growth by stimulating cell viability and metabolism with promising applications in the treatment of bone defects and bone degenerative diseases.
The present study addresses the capability of measurement of relative particle number concentration by scanning electron microscopy for model bimodal silica and gold samples prepared in the frame of the European research project “nPSize - Improved traceability chain of nanoparticle size measurements” as candidate reference nanoparticles.
In this paper one refined approach is applied to determine the exact orientation of bipyramidal TiO2 nanoparticles prepared with good dispersion as almost isolated particles on a carbon TEM grid. The advantages of the recently developed high-throughput Transmission Kikuchi Diffraction (TKD) are used to identify quickly and reliably the geometrical orientation of the crystalline TiO2 nanoparticle bipyramids (anatase) on a statistically relevant number of particles.
In this contribution different ways are explored with the aim to generate suitable training data for ‘non-ideal’ samples using various approaches, e.g., computer-generated images or unsupervised learning algorithms such as generative adversarial networks (GANs). We used these data to train simple CNNs to produce segmentation masks of SEM images and tested the trained networks on real SEM images of complex nanoparticle samples. The novel use of CNN for the automated analysis of the size of nanoparticles of complex shape and with a high degree of agglomeration has proved to be a promising tool for the evaluation of particle size distribution on a large number of constituent particles. Further development and validation of the preliminary model, respectively larger training and validation data sets are necessary.
In recent years, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has gained significant attention as a means for simple elemental analyses. The suitability of LIBS for contactless analysis allows it to be a perfect candidate for underwater applications. While the majority of LIBS systems still rely upon sub-kHz pulsed lasers, this contribution introduces 10s-kHz low pulse-energy lasers into underwater LIBS to improve the throughput and statistical validity. Interestingly, the spectral component significantly changed above a critical laser repetition-rate threshold. Spectral lines of atomic hydrogen and oxygen stemming from water become visible beyond a ∼10 kHz repetition rate. This observation suggests a different plasma dynamic compared to low repetition rates. When the pulse-to-pulse interval becomes sufficiently short, a cumulative effect begins to be significant. Apparently, the new phenomena occur on a timescale corresponding to a threshold rate of ∼10 kHz, i.e. ∼100 μs. Analytically, the high repetition rates result in improved statistical validity and throughput. More plasma events per unit time allowed the use of low efficiency Echelle spectrometers without compromising on the analytical performance. Meanwhile, the presence of H I and O I out of the water (as the matrix) also offers internal standardization in underwater elemental analysis. Since the laser fluence was on the lower edge of the plasma threshold, an additional ultrasound source was introduced to induce external perturbation, which significantly improved the plasma formation stability. A huge advantage of LIBS is the possibility of detecting almost all elements within a sample simultaneously. Throughout the periodic table, chlorine is one of the most challenging elements. Consequently, Ca2+ and Na+ were used as samples to demonstrate the capability of this high repetition-rate LIBS platform. As an ambitious benchmark for our system, chlorine detection in water was also discussed.
The technological advances in lasers enabled the wide application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a powerful analytical means for elemental analyses. Rather than commonly used lasers that operate at several to several-tens of Hz, the high repetition rate ones that operate at tens of kHz showed superior analytical advantages while implying unique excitation pathways. Specifically, the production of excited atomic hydrogen and oxygen, which can serve as internal standards, is quite different from that in commonly reported double-pulse LIBS. In this part of the work, it was found that the atomic emitters stemming from water are not related to cavitation bubbles. Moreover, the emitter productions of dissolved species, e.g., Na+, and water-related species, e.g., H-α, are two distinctive mechanisms. Towards analytical applications of the high repetition-rate system, the fundamental investigation can provide important guidelines to address real-life challenges. In this part of the work, the high repetition-rate regime of operation is explored from a more kinetic perspective.
Fluorides are well-known as wood preservatives. One of the limitations of fluoride-based wood preservatives is their high leachability. Alternative to current fluoride salts such as NaF used in wood protection are low water-soluble fluorides. However, impregnation of low water-soluble fluorides into wood poses a challenge. To address this challenge, low water-soluble fluorides like calcium fluoride (CaF2) and magnesium fluoride (MgF2) were synthesized as nanoparticles via the fluorolytic sol−gel synthesis and then impregnated into wood specimens. In this study, the toxicity of nano metal fluorides was assessed by termite mortality, mass loss and visual analysis of treated specimens after eight weeks of exposure to termites, Coptotermes formosanus. Nano metal fluorides with sol concentrations of 0.5 M and higher were found to be effective against termites resulting in 100% termite mortality and significantly inhibited termite feeding. Among the formulations tested, the least damage was found for specimens treated with combinations of CaF2 and MgF2 with an average mass loss less than 1% and visual rating of “1”. These results demonstrate the efficacy of low water-soluble nano metal fluorides to protect wood from termite attack.
The aim of this study is to develop nanometer-thin epoxy-based films on aluminium alloy AA2024-T3 as a model coating system for high resolution corrosion studies. Spin coating was used for the layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition of poly-(ethylenimine) (PEI) and poly([o-cresyl glycidyl ether]-co-formaldehyde) (CNER) bilayers. The film chemistry and the cross-linking process were characterized by means of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
Ellipsometric data confirmed the linear increase of film thickness. The potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results indicate the improvement of the film barrier properties with increasing film thickness. Mapping of the topography and the volta potential was performed by means of scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM).
The results indicate the presence of a homogeneous film structure, while the intermetallic phases can still be identified below the coating. The SKPFM Analysis confirmed that the model films are suitable for investigation of corrosion processes at the coating/metal interface.
Imaging and small-spot (small area) XPS have become increasingly important components of surface chemical analysis during the last three decades, and its use is growing. Some ambiguity in the use of terminology, understanding of concepts, and lack of appropriate reference materials leads to confusing and not always reproducible data. In this paper, it is shown that by using existing knowledge, appropriate test specimens, and standardized approaches, problems of comparability and such reproducibility issues recently observed for XPS data reported in the scientific literature can be overcome. The standardized methods of ISO 18516:2019, (i) the straight-edge, (ii) the narrow-line, and (iii) the grating method, can be used to characterize and compare the lateral resolution achieved by imaging XPS instruments and are described by reporting examples. The respective measurements are made using new test specimens. When running an XPS instrument in the small-spot (small area) mode for a quantitative analysis of a feature of interest, the question arises as to what contribution to the intensity originates from outside the analysis area. A valid measurement approach to control the intensity from outside the nominal analysis area is also described. As always, the relevant resolution depends on the specific question that needs to be addressed. The strengths and limitations of methods defining resolution are indicated.
Hydrogen economy is a central aspect of future energy supply, as hydrogen can be used as energy storage and fuel. In order tomake water electrolysis efficient, the limiting oxygen evolution reaction (OER) needs to be optimized. Therefore, C-based composite materials containing earth-abundant Fe and Mn were synthesized, characterized and tested in the OER. For pyrolysis temperatures above 700°C N-rich multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are obtained. Inside the tubes Fe3C particles are formed, Fe and Mn oxides are incorporated in the carbon matrix and metal spinel nanoparticles cover the outer surface. The best catalyst prepared at 800°C achieves a low overpotential of 389 mV (at 10 mA/cm2) and high stability (22.6 h). From electrochemical measurements and characterization it can be concluded that the high activity is mainly provided by MWCNT, Fe3C and the metal oxides in the conductive carbon matrix. The metal spinel nanoparticles in
contrast protect the MWCNT from oxidation and thereby contribute to the high stability.
In a recent publication the authors have presented theoretical and experimental results indicating that the Jacobson–Stockmayer (JS) theory does not provide a correct description of reversible polycondensations for all polymers and for high conversions (e.g. polycondensation in bulk). In this context reversibility means that all condensation step whether resulting in chain growth or in cyclization are reversible and thus, part of an equilibrium. The first two sections of that paper were focused on the demonstration that small, and above all, large cycles can be formed by end-to-end (ete) cyclization in reversible like in irreversible polycondensations. A significant contribution of ete-cyclization to the course of reversible polycondensations was denied by J + S apparently as a contribution to Florýs dogma, that the end groups of long polymer chains will never meet.
The effect of the presence of Fe(III) during the cultivation on the electrochemical activity and corrosion behaviour of dissimilatory iron reducing bacteria Shewanella putrefaciens was studied by means of ex situ and in situ X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES). Stainless steel AISI 304 and thin iron films were studied as substrates. XANES analysis indicated an accelerated iron dissolution and growth of an oxide/hydroxide film for the culture grown with Fe(III) in comparison to the culture grown in absence of Fe(III). Electrochemical Analysis indicated that the biofilm resulted in acceleration of the general corrosion but provides protection against local corrosion.
This paper reports a systematic study into the effect of different biomass-derived precursors on the structure and porosity of carbons prepared via catalytic graphitization. Glucose, starch and cellulose are combined with iron nitrate and heated under a nitrogen atmosphere to produce Fe3C nanoparticles, which catalyze the conversion of amorphous carbon to graphitic nanostructures. The choice of organic precursor provides a means of controlling the catalyst particle size, which has a direct effect on the porosity of the material. Cellulose and glucose produce mesoporous carbons, while starch produces a mixture of micro- and mesopores under the same conditions and proceeds via a much slower graphitization step, generating a mixture of graphitic nanostructures and turbostratic carbon. Porous carbons are critical to energy applications such as batteries and electrocatalytic processes. For These applications, a simple and sustainable route to those carbons is essential. Therefore, the ability to control the precise structure of a biomass-derived carbon simply through the choice of precursor will enable the production of a new generation of energy materials.
X-ray imaging methods are used in many fields of research, as they allow a non-destructive Investigation of the elemental content of various samples. As for every imaging method, for X-ray imaging the optics are of crucial importance. However, these optics can be very expensive and laborious to build, as the requirements on surface roughness and precision are extremely high. Angles of reflection and refraction are often in the range of a few mrad, making a compact design hard to achieve. In this work we present a possibility to simplify X-ray imaging. We have adapted the coded aperture method, a high energy radiation imaging method that has its origins in astrophysics, to full field X-ray fluorescence imaging. In coded aperture imaging, an object is projected through a known mask, the coded aperture, onto an area sensitive detector. The resulting image consists of overlapping projections of the object and a reconstruction step is necessary to obtain the information from the recorded image. We recorded fluorescence images of different samples with an energy-dispersive 2D detector (pnCCD) and investigated different reconstruction methods. With a small coded aperture with 12 holes we could significantly increase the count rate compared to measurements with a straight polycapillary optic. We show that the reconstruction of two different samples is possible with a deconvolution approach, an iterative algorithm and a neural network. These results demonstrate that X-ray fluorescence imaging with coded apertures has the potential to deliver good results without scanning and with an improved count rate, so that measurement times can be shortened compared to established methods.
Efficient water electrolysis requires highly active electrodes. The activity of corresponding catalytic coatings strongly depends on material properties such as film thickness, crystallinity, electrical conductivity, and chemical surface speciation. Measuring these properties with high accuracy in vacuum-free and nondestructive methods facilitates the elucidation of structure−activity relationships in realistic environments. Here, we report a novel approach to analyze the optical and electrical properties of highly active oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts via spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). Using a series of differently calcined, mesoporous, templated iridium oxide films as an example, we assess the film thickness, porosity, electrical resistivity, electron concentration, electron mobility, and interband and intraband transition energies by modeling of the optical spectra. Independently performed analyses using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, ellipsometric porosimetry, X-ray reflectometry, and absorption spectroscopy indicate a high accuracy of the deduced material properties. A comparison of the derived analytical data from SE, resonant photoemission spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with activity measurements of the OER suggests that the intrinsic activity of iridium oxides scales with a shift of the Ir 5d t2g sub-level and an increase of p−d interband transition energies caused by a transition of μ1-OH to μ3-O species.
We studied the dissolution behavior of β NaYF4:Yb(20%), Er(2%) UCNP of two different sizes in biologically relevant media i.e., water (neutral pH), phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium (DMEM) at different temperatures and particle concentrations. Special emphasis was dedicated to assess the influence of different surface functionalizations, particularly the potential of mesoporous and microporous silica shells of different thicknesses for UCNP stabilization and protection. Dissolution was quantified electrochemically using a fluoride ion selective electrode (ISE) and by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). In addition, dissolution was monitored fluorometrically. These experiments revealed that a thick microporous silica shell drastically decreased dissolution. Our results also underline the critical influence of the chemical composition of the aqueous environment on UCNP dissolution. In DMEM, we observed the formation of a layer of adsorbed molecules on the UCNP surface that protected the UCNP from dissolution and enhanced their fluorescence. Examination of this layer by X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and mass spectrometry (MS) suggested that mainly phenylalanine, lysine, and glucose are adsorbed from DMEM. These findings should be considered in the future for cellular toxicity studies with UCNP and other nanoparticles and the design of new biocompatible surface coatings.
Microplastic particles are currently detected in almost all environmental compartments. The results of detection vary widely, as a multitude of very different methods are used with very different requirements for analytical validity.
In this work four thermoanalytical methods are compared and their advantages and limitations are discussed. One of them is thermal extraction-desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS), an analysis method for microplastic detection that has become established in recent years. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR) and mass spectrometry (TGA-MS) were applied, two methods that are less common in this field but are still used in other research areas. Finally, microscale combustion calorimeter (MCC) was applied, a method not yet used for microplastic detection.
The presented results are taken from a recently published interlaboratory comparison test by Becker et al. (2020). Here a reference material consisting of suspended matter and specified added polymer masses was examined, and only the results of the recoveries were presented. In the present paper, however, the results for the individual polymers are discussed in detail and individual perspectives for all instruments are shown.
It was found that TED-GC/MS is the most suitable method for samples with unknown matrix and unknown, variable kinds and contents of microplastic. TGA-FTIR is a robust method for samples with known matrix and with defined kinds of microplastic. TGA-MS may offer a solution for the detection of PVC particles in the future. MCC can be used as a very fast and simple screening method for the identification of a potential microplastic load of standard polymers in unknown samples.
Multidrug solids have a potential use to efficiently treat and control a superfluity of medical conditions.
To address the current drawbacks of drug development in R&D, it was targeted to achieve new pharmaceutical solid forms of fenamic acids having improved solubility and thermal stability. Subsequently, five new multicomponent solids consisting of three salt hydrates of trimethoprim (TMP) with mefenamic acid (TMP-MFA-H2O), tolfenamic acid (TMP-TFA-H2O) and flufenamic acid (TMP-FFA-H2O), and two cocrystals of sulfamethazine (SFZ) with flufenamic acid (SFZ-FFA) and niflumic acid (SFZ-NFA) were prepared by liquid assisted grinding. Looking at the structures of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) molecules, it was quite expected that a wide range of supramolecular synthons would lead to cocrystallization.
New forms were characterized thoroughly by various solid-state techniques, including single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), which provided details of hydrogen bonding, molecular packing and interactions between drug and coformer. Kinetic solubility at pH 7.4 buffer study has been carried out and a comparison is made with respect to the parent drugs. A significant enhancement of NSAIDs solubility was observed in all salt hydrate systems of TMP. Thus with increasing physicochemical properties such as improved solubility further leads to the enhancement of bioavailability, which has implications to overcoming the formulation related problems of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
Porous ceramic diesel particulate filters (DPFs) are extruded products that possess macroscopic anisotropic mechanical and thermal properties. This anisotropy is caused by both morphological features (mostly the orientation of porosity) and crystallographic texture. We systematically studied those two aspects in two aluminum titanate ceramic materials of different porosity using mercury porosimetry, gas adsorption, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray refraction radiography. We found that a lower porosity content implies a larger isotropy of both the crystal texture and the porosity orientation. We also found that, analogous to cordierite, crystallites do align with their axis of negative thermal expansion along the extrusion direction. However, unlike what found for cordierite, the aluminium titanate crystallite form is such that a more pronounced (0 0 2) texture along the extrusion direction implies porosity aligned perpendicular to it.
Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are often present when processing solid targets with linearly polarized ultrashort laser pulses. The different irradiation parameters to produce them on metals, semiconductors and dielectrics have been studied extensively, identifying suitable regimes to tailor its properties for applications in the fields of optics, medicine, fluidics and tribology, to name a few. One important parameter widely present when exposing the samples to the high intensities provided by these laser pulses in air environment, that generally is not considered, is the formation of a superficial laser-induced oxide layer. In this paper, we fabricate LIPSS on a layer of the oxidation prone hard-coating material chromium nitride in order to investigate the impact of the laser-induced oxide layer on its formation. A variety of complementary surface analytic techniques were employed, revealing morphological, chemical and structural characteristics of well-known high-spatial frequency LIPSS (HSFL) together with a new type of low-spatial frequency LIPSS (LSFL) with an anomalous orientation parallel to the laser polarization. Based on this input, we performed finite-difference time-domain calculations considering a layered system resembling the geometry of the HSFL along with the presence of a laser-induced oxide layer. The simulations support a scenario that the new type of LSFL is formed at the interface between the laser-induced oxide layer and the non-altered material underneath. These findings suggest that LSFL structures parallel to the polarization can be easily induced in materials that are prone to oxidation.
Effects of laser-induced periodic surface structures on the superconducting properties of Niobium
(2020)
It is well known that the use of ultrashort (fs) pulsed lasers can induce the generation of (quasi-) periodic nanostructures (LIPSS, ripples) on the surface of many materials. Such nanostructures have also been observed in sample’s surfaces irradiated with UV lasers with a pulse duration of 300 ps. In this work, we compare the characteristics of these nanostructures on 1-mm and on 25-μm thick niobium sheets induced by 30 fs n-IR and 300 ps UV pulsed lasers. In addition to conventional continuous or burst mode processing configurations, two-dimensional laser beam and line scanning modes have been investigated in this work. The latter allows the processing of large areas with a more uniform distribution of nanostructures at the surface. The influence of the generated nanostructures on the superconducting properties of niobium has also been explored. For this aim, magnetic hysteresis loops have been measured at different cryogenic temperatures to analyse how these laser treatments affect the flux pinning behaviour and, in consequence, the superconductor’s critical current values. It was observed that laser treatments are able to modify the superconducting properties of niobium samples.
Alkali–silica reaction (ASR) is an ongoing problem that causes damage to concrete constructions and reduces their durability. Therefore, minimizing this undesired reaction is of great interest for both safety and economic reasons. Additives containing high aluminium content are very effective in reducing the release of silica and enhancing the durability of concrete; however, the mechanism for this effect is still under discussion. In this study, an enrichment of aluminium in the near‐surface region was observed for natural quartzite rock after storage in Al (OH)3 and metakaolin as aluminium sources, from which we conclude that the formation of aluminosilicate sheets of a few nanometres inhibits the silica release; this hypothesis is supported by high‐resolution spectra of Al 2p, Si 2p and O 1s.
Lead(II) is a toxic pollutant often found in metalcontaminated soils and wastewaters. In acidic aqueous environments, Pb(II) is highly mobile. Chemical treatment strategies of such systems therefore often include neutralization agents and metal sorbents. Since metal solubility and the retention potential of sorbents depend on the redox state of the aqueous system, we tested the efficiency of the naturally occurring redox-sensitive ferrous iron carbonate mineral siderite to remove Pb(II) from acidic aqueous solutions in batch experiments under oxic and anoxic conditions over a total of 1008 h. Siderite dissolution led to an increase in reactive solution pH from 3 to 5.3 and 6.9, while 90 and 100% of the initial aqueous Pb(II) (0.48 × 10−3 mol kg−1) were removed from the oxic and anoxic systems, respectively.
Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, combined with X-ray absorption and photoelectron spectroscopy, indicated that under oxic conditions, Pb(II) was consumed by cerussite precipitation and inner-sphere surface complexation to secondary goethite.
Under anoxic conditions, Pb(II) was removed by the rapid precipitation of cerussite. This efficient siderite dissolution-coupled sequestration of Pb(II) into more stable solid phases demonstrates this potential method for contaminated water Treatment regardless of the redox environment.
The catalytic potential of bismuth subsalicylate (BiSub), a commercial drug, for ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of L-lactide was explored by variation of co-catalyst and polymerization time. Various monofunctional phenols or carboxylic acids, aromatic ortho-hydroxy acids and diphenols were examined as potential co-catalysts. 2,2´-Dihydroxybiphenyl proved to be the most successful co-catalyst yielding weight average molecular weights (uncorrected Mw values up to 185 000) after optimization of reaction time and temperature. Prolonged heating (>1-2h) depending on catalyst concentration) caused thermal degradation. In polymerization experiments with various commercial Bi(III) salts a better alternative to BiSub was not found. By means of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry a couple of unusual and unexpected transesterification reactions were discovered. Finally, the effectiveness of several antioxidants and potential catalyst poisons was explored, and triphenylphosphine was found to be an effective catalyst poison.
Nanoparticles have gained increasing attention in recent years due to their potential and application in different fields including medicine, cosmetics, chemistry, and their potential to enable advanced materials. To effectively understand and regulate the physico-chemical properties and potential adverse effects of nanoparticles, validated measurement procedures for the various properties of nanoparticles need to be developed. While procedures for measuring nanoparticle size and size Distribution are already established, standardized methods for analysis of their surface chemistry are not yet in place, although the influence of the surface chemistry on nanoparticle properties is undisputed. In particular, storage and preparation of nanoparticles for surface analysis strongly influences the analytical results from various methods, and in order to obtain consistent results, sample preparation must be both optimized and standardized. In this contribution, we present, in detail, some standard procedures for preparing nanoparticles for surface analytics. In principle, nanoparticles can be deposited on a suitable substrate from suspension or as a powder. Silicon (Si) Wafers are commonly used as substrate, however, their cleaning is critical to the process. For sample preparation from suspension, we will discuss drop-casting and spin-coating, where not only the cleanliness of the substrate and purity of the suspension but also its concentration play important roles for the success of the preparation methodology.
For nanoparticles with sensitive ligand shells or coatings, deposition as powders is more suitable, although this method requires particular care in fixing the sample.
As the most electronegative element, fluorine has a strong influence on material properties such as absorption behaviour or chemical and thermal stability. Fluorine can be easily integrated into coordination polymers (CPs) via a fluorinated acetate, here trifluoroacetate in Ba(CF3COO)2, or directly via a metal fluorine bond (BaF(CH3COO)). In the present study both possibilities of fluorine integration were tested and their effect on structure and properties of barium coordination polymers was investigated in comparison with the non-fluorinated barium acetate (Ba(CH3COO)2). In addition to the study of their thermal behaviour and their decomposition temperature, the CPs structures were tested for their application as possible anode materials in lithium ion batteries and for their sorption of water and ammonia. The properties of the CPs can be traced back to the individual structural motifs and could thus trigger new design ideas for CPs in LIBs and/or catalysis.
Herein, two polyurethane oligomers were successfully synthesized using a prepolymer mixing process. The prepolymers were synthesized based on the step-growth addition polymerization of polypropylene glycol, Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate. Isopropanol was functioned as the isocyanate blocking agent. Thereafter, different terpolymer emulsions were prepared by the emulsion graft copolymerization with the vinyl acetate monomer in presence of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate as a vinyl monomer. The chemical structures of the synthesized oligomeric monomers were probed by FTIR spectroscopy and found to vary with the content of acrylic monomer used in the oligomer synthesis phase (i.e.hydroxyethyl acrylate or hydroxyethyl methacrylate). The topography, thermal stability, and particle size of terpolymers were investigated by SEM, TGA, and zeta potential, respectively. The TGA results demonstrated marked enhancement in thermal stability of the synthesized terpolymers up to ca. 600°C, which was concurrent with enhanced surface homogeneity and film properties as evidenced by the SEM images. These terpolymers showed also property enhancement as binders for textile pigment printing in terms of rubbing resistance, color strength and fastness to washing when compared to the commercial binders.
These judgments would provide a new competent synthesis route by introducing polyurethane acetate vinyl acrylate as the binder for use in pigment printing of cotton fabrics.
The synthesis and optimization of superior and eco-friendly sorbents for Pb(II) pose a great challenge in the field of water treatment. The sorbent was developed by introducing graphene oxide (GO) into the matrix of polyvinyl formaldehyde (PVF) foam. The immobilization of GO in PVF results in significant increase in the maximum adsorption capacity (Qt) of GO powder for Pb(II), from ≈800 to ≈1730 mg g−1 in the case of GO/PVF foam. As compared with GO powder in Pb(II) aqueous solutions, PVF matrix keeps GO sheets stable without any agglomeration. The large surface area of GO sheet allows the abundant oxygenated functional groups on its surface to participate effectively in the Pb(II) adsorption process, leading to the huge increase of the Qt. Adsorption isotherms and kinetic studies indicated that the sorption process of Pb(II) on GO/PVF was done on heterogenous surface by ion-exchange reaction. The GO/PVF foam showed an excellent reusability for more than 10 cycles with almost the same efficiency and without any significant change in its physical properties.
Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) was used as a chemical precursor to deposit ultra-thin SiO x C y plasma polymer films onto mild steel surfaces for preventing the corrosion process. The structure–property relationships of the coatings were evaluated by X-ray Photo Spectroscopy (XPS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform InfraRed spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) completed with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The SEM micrographs confirmed a pinhole-free surface morphology of the low-pressure deposited plasma polymer films. The TEOS molecules become fragmented in the plasma by numerous collisions with energy-rich electrons and heavier particles. Recombination of fragments and condensation onto the steel substrate is responsible for the formation of organic SiO containing plasma polymer layers. Such thin layers consist of predominantly SiO x structures. Their properties are determined largely by the gap distance between the two samples used as electrodes in the plasma. The efficiency of the corrosion-protecting coating was compared with uncoated samples. The corrosion protection was determined by exposure of samples to 3.5% NaCl aqueous solutions. For this purpose, polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) were used to monitor the corrosion. The optimal gap distance between the electrodes was determined for corrosion protection. The best protective efficiency reached more than 97% of the total protection as measured at room temperature.
For the first time, structure−electrochemical relationships of thin films of a plasma-polymerized acrylic acid/carbon dioxide AA/CO2 (75/25%) copolymer modified by implanted silver nanoparticles are discussed. The pulsed plasma polymerization of AA/CO2 was utilized and adjusted to obtain a maximal amount of COOH Groups forming an almost uncross-linked polymer structure. The prepared polymer layer is rinsed by a silver nitrate solution to impregnate Ag+ ions. This step is followed by its reduction of Ag+ with NaBH4 as a chemical route in comparison to the reduction by sunlight as an ecofriendly photoreduction method. The chemical composition and morphology of the topmost surface layer of the AA/CO2 polymer thin film were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Moreover, the molecular mobility, conductivity, and thermal stability of the polymer layer were analyzed using broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The dielectric properties of the AA/
CO2 polymer thin film were studied in the presence of Ag+ ions or Ag0. It was found that a cross-linked polymer layer with a smooth surface and high conductivity was obtained in the presence of Ag+/ Ag0.
Misfits of γ- γ’ based Al10Co25Cr8Fe15Ni36Ti6 and its Mo- and Hf-variations are studied up to a temperature of 980 °C and compared with Ni- and Co-based superalloys. The trace elements decrease (Hf) or increase (Mo) the edge radii of the γ’ cuboids without changing their sizes. Atom probe measurements revealed that the Hf alloy prefers the γ’ phase while Mo prefers the γ matrix, leading to a lattice parameters enhancement of both phases, as could be revealed by synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The misfit is influenced in opposite ways: Hf increases the positive misfit, while Mo reduces it at all investigated temperatures.
Hydrocarbons fuel our economy. Furthermore, intermediate goods and consumer products are often hydrocarbon-based. Beside all the progress they made possible, hydrogen-containing substances can have severe detrimental effects on materials exposed to them. Hydrogen-assisted failure of iron alloys has been recognised more than a century ago. The present study aims to providing further insight into the degradation of the austenitic stainless steel AISI 304L (EN 1.4307) exposed to hydrogen. To this end, samples were electrochemically charged with the hydrogen isotope deuterium (2H, D) and analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). It was found that deuterium caused a phase transformation from the original γ austenite into ε- and α’-martensite. Despite their low solubility for hydrogen, viz. deuterium, the newly formed phases showed high deuterium concentration which was attributed to the increased density of traps. Information about the behaviour of deuterium in the material subjected to external mechanical load was gathered. A four-point-bending device was developed for this purpose. This allowed to analyse in-situ pre-charged samples in the ToF-SIMS during the application of external mechanical load. The results indicate a movement of deuterium towards the regions of highest stress.
Zur Ermittlung von Mikroplastik-Gehalten in verschiedenen Umweltmatrices ist ein schnelles Detektionsverfahren für die Routineanalytik notwendig. Ein solches Verfahren wird hier in Form der ThermoExtraktion/Desorption-GasChromatographie/ MassenSpektroskopie (TED-GC/MS) vorgestellt. Neben grundlegenden verfahrensspezifischen Erläuterungen zur Identifizierung und Quantifizierung von Mikroplastik werden auch exemplarische Beispiele aus unterschiedlichen Umweltkompartimenten und Produkten dargestellt. Neu vorgestellt wird ein neues Verfahren zur Analytik von Flaschenwasser. Dazu wurde ein Messfiltertiegel entwickelt, der besonders für Proben mit geringen Gehalten an abfiltrierbaren Stoffen geeignet ist
A sedimented freshwater suspended organic matter fortified with particles of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was employed in an interlaboratory comparison of thermoanalytical methods for microplastics identification and quantification. Three laboratories performed pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS), three others provided results using thermal extraction desorption followed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS). One participant performed thermogravimetry-infrared spectroscopy (TGA-FTIR) and two participants used thermogravimetry coupled to mass spectrometry (TGA-MS). Further participants used differential scanning microscopy (DSC), a procedure based on micro combustion calorimetry (MCC) and a procedure based on elemental analysis.
Each participant employed a different combination of sample treatment, calibration and instrumental Settings for polymer identification and quantification. Though there is obviously room for improvements regarding the between-laboratory reproducibility and the harmonization of procedures it was seen that the participants Performing Py-GC-MS, TED-GC-MS, and TGA-FTIR were able to correctly identify all polymers and to report reasonable quantification results in the investigated concentration range (PE: 20.0 μg/mg, PP: 5.70 μg/mg; PS: 2.20 μg/mg, PET: 18.0 μg/mg). Although for the other methods limitations exists regarding the detection of specific polymers, they showed potential as alternative approaches for polymer quantification in solid environmental matrices.
Comprehensive Characterization of APTES Surface Modifications of Hydrous Boehmite Nanoparticles
(2020)
Hydrous boehmite (γ-AlOOH) nanoparticles (BNP) show great potential as nanoscale filler for the fabrication of fiber reinforced nanocomposite materials. Notably, the particle−matrix interaction has been demonstrated to be decisive for improving the matrix-dominant mechanical properties in the past years. Tailoring the surface properties of the nanofiller enables to selectively design the interaction and thus to exploit the benefits of the nanocomposite in an optimal way. Here, an extensive study is presented on the binding of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), a common silane surface modifier, on BNP in correlation to different process parameters (concentration, time, temperature, and pH). Furthermore, a comprehensive characterization of the modified BNP was performed by using elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with mass spectrometry (TGA-MS), and Kaiser’s test (KT). The results show an increasing monolayer formation up to a complete surface coverage with rising APTES concentration, time, and temperature, resulting in a maximal grafting density of 1.3 molecules/nm². Unspecific multilayer formation was solely observed under acidic conditions. Comparison of TGA-MS results with data recorded from EA, TGA, and KT verified that TGA-MS is a convenient and highly suitable method to elucidate the ligand binding in detail.
Simultaneous characterization of poly(acrylic acid) andpolysaccharide polymers and copolymers
(2020)
Copolymer products that result from grafting acrylic acid and other hydrophilicmonomers onto polysaccharides have recently gained significant interest in researchand industry. Originating from renewable sources, these biodegradable, low toxicity,and polar copolymer products exhibit potential to replace polymers from fossil sourcesin several applications and industries. The methods usually employed to character-ize these copolymers are, however, quite limited, especially for the measurement ofbulk properties. With more sophisticated applications, for example, in pharmaceu-tics requiring a more detailed analysis of the chemical structure, we describe a newapproach for this kind of complex polymers. Our approach utilizes chromatographyin combination with several detection methods to separate and characterize reactionproducts of the copolymerization of acrylic acid and chemically hydrolyzed starch.These samples consisted of a mixture of homopolymer poly (acrylic acid), homopoly-mer hydrolyzed starch, and – in a lower amount – the formed copolymers. Several chro-matographic methods exist that are capable of characterizing either poly (acrylic acid)or hydrolyzed starch. In contrast, our approach offers simultaneous characterization ofboth polymers. The combination of LC and UV/RI offered insight into the compositionand copolymer content of the samples. Size exclusion chromatography experimentsrevealed the molar mass distribution of homopolymers and copolymers. FTIR inves-tigations confirmed the formation of copolymers while ESI-MS gave more details onthe end groups of hydrolyzed starches and poly (acrylic acids). Evidence of copolymerstructures was obtained through NMR measurements. Finally, two-dimensional chro-matography led to the separation of the copolymers from both homopolymers as wellas the additional separation of sodium clusters. The methods described in this work area powerful toolset to characterize copolymerization products of hydrolyzed starch andpoly(acrylic acid). Together, our approach successfully correlates the physicochemicalproperties of such complex mixtures with their actual composition.
Aluminum (Al) can be taken up from food, packaging, or the environment and thus reaches the human gastrointestinal tract. Its toxic potential after oral uptake is still discussed. The fate of different solid and ionic Al species during the passage through the digestive tract is the focus of this research, as well as the cellular effects caused by these different Al species. The present study combines the physicochemical processing of three recently studied Al species (metallic Al0, mineral Al2O3, and soluble AlCl3) in artificial digestion fluids with in vitro cell systems for the human intestinal barrier. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) methods were used to characterize the Al species in the artificial digestion fluids and in cell culture medium for proliferating and differentiated intestinal Caco-2 cells. Cytotoxicity testing and cellular impedance measurements were applied to address the effects of digested Al species on cell viability and cell proliferation. Microarray-based transcriptome analyses and quantitative real-time PCR were conducted to obtain a deeper insight into cellular mechanisms of action and generated indications for cellular oxidative stress and an influence on xenobiotic metabolism, connected with alterations in associated signaling pathways. These cellular responses, which were predominantly caused by formerly ionic Al species and only at very high concentrations, were not impacted by artificial digestion. A two-directional conversion of Al between ionic species and solid particles occurred throughout all segments of the gastrointestinal tract, as evidenced by the presence of nanoscaled particles. Nevertheless, this presence did not increase the toxicity of the respective Al species.
ZnO nanoparticles are found in different food and consumer products, and their toxicological effects are still under investigation. It is therefore important to understand their behavior in the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we used an in vitro model to assess the physicochemical fate of ZnO nanoparticles during the digestive process in artificial saliva, stomach juice, and intestinal juice. Atomic absorption spectrometry and small-angle X-ray scattering were employed to investigate two ZnO nanomaterials, one intensively characterized reference material and soluble ZnCl2 in a broad range of concentrations between 25 and 1000 μg/mL in the intestinal fluid. Because food components may influence the behavior of nanomaterials in the gastrointestinal tract, starch, milk powder, and olive oil were used to mimic carbohydrates, protein, and fat, respectively. Additionally, ion release of all Zn species was assessed in cell culture media and compared to artificial intestinal juice to investigate relevance of typical cell culture conditions in ZnO nanotoxicology. ZnCl2 as well as the ZnO species were present as particles in artificial saliva but were solubilized completely in the acidic stomach juice. Interestingly, in the intestinal fluid a concentration-independent de novo formation of particles in the nanoscale range was shown. This was the case for all particles as well as for ZnCl2, regardless of the concentration used. Neither of the food components affected the behavior of any Zn species. On the contrary, all Zn species showed a Zn-concentration-dependent ion release in common cell culture medium. This questions the suitability of cell culture studies to investigate the effect of ZnO nanoparticles on intestinal cells. Our results show that Zn-containing nanoparticles reach the intestine. This underlines the importance of determining the influence of the test environment on nanoparticle fate.
Current analyses show a widespread occurrence of microplastic particles in food products and raise the question of potential risks to human health. Plastic particles are widely considered to be inert due to their low chemical reactivity and therefore supposed to pose, if at all only minor hazards. However, variable physicochemical conditions during the passage of the gastrointestinal tract gain strong importance, as they may affect particle characteristics. This study aims to analyze the impact of the gastrointestinal passage on the physicochemical particle characteristics of the five most produced and thus environmentally relevant plastic materials polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate and polystyrene. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and subsequent image analysis were employed to characterize microplastic particles. Our results demonstrate a high resistance of all plastic particles to the artificial digestive juices. The present results underline that the main stages of the human gastrointestinal tract do not decompose the particles. This allows a direct correlation between the physicochemical particle characteristics before and after digestion. Special attention must be paid to the adsorption of organic compounds like proteins, mucins and lipids on plastic particles since it could lead to misinterpretations of particle sizes and shapes.
Two sets of polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) with comparable core sizes but different carboxyl group densities were made and separated using asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF4), capillary electrophoresis (CE), and the off-line hyphenation of both methods. Our results revealed the significant potential of two-dimensional off-line AF4-CE hyphenation to improve the separation and demonstrated for the first time, the applicability of CE to determine the functional group density of nanoparticles (NPs). Compared to the result acquired with conductometric titration, the result obtained with synthesized 100 nm sized PSNPs revealed only a slight deviation of 1.7%. Commercial 100 nm sized PSNPs yielded a deviation of 4.6 %. For 60 nm sized PSNPs, a larger deviation of 10.6 % between both methods was observed, which is attributed to the lower separation resolution.
Amphiphilic polymer nanogels (NGs) are promising drug delivery vehicles that extend the application of conventional hydrophilic NGs to hydrophobic cargoes. By randomly introducing hydrophobic groups into a hydrophilic polymer network, loading and release profiles as well as surface characteristics of these colloids can be tuned. However, very little is known about the underlying internal structure of such complex colloidal architectures. Of special interest is the question how the amphiphilic network composition influences the internal morphology and the “fuzzy” surface structure. To shine light into the influence of varying network amphiphilicity on these structural features, we investigated a small library of water-swollen amphiphilic NGs using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). It was found that overall hydrophilic NGs, consisting of pure poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) (PHPMA), display a disordered internal structure as indicated by the absence of a SAXS peak. In contrast, a SAXS peak is present for amphiphilic NGs with various amounts of incorporated hydrophobic groups such as cholesteryl (CHOLA) or dodecyl (DODA). The internal composition of the NGs is considered structurally homologous to microgels. Application of the Teubner–Strey model reveals that hydrophilic PHPMA NGs have a disordered internal structure (positive amphiphilicity factor) while CHOLA and DODA samples have an ordered internal structure (negative amphiphilicity factor). From the SAXS data it can be derived that the internal structure of the amphiphilic NGs consists of regularly alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains with repeat distances of 3.45–5.83 nm.
Iron oxides used as food colorants are listed in the European Union with the number E172. However, there are no specifications concerning the fraction of nanoparticles in these pigments.
Here, seven E172 products were thoroughly characterized. Samples of all colors were analyzed with a Broad spectrum of methods to assess their physico-chemical properties. Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), zeta-potential, Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET), Asymmetric Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (AF4) and in vitro cell viability measurements were used.
Nanoparticles were detected in all E172 samples by TEM or SAXS measurements. Quantitative results from both methods were comparable. Five pigments were evaluated by TEM, of which four had a size median below 100 nm, while SAXS showed a size median below 100 nm for six evaluated pigments. Therefore, consumers May be exposed to iron oxide nanoparticles through the consumption of food pigments.
The hexapeptide hIAPP22–27 (NFGAIL) is known as a crucial amyloid core sequence of the human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) whose aggregates can be used to better understand the wild‐type hIAPP′s toxicity to β‐cell death. In amyloid research, the role of hydrophobic and aromatic‐aromatic interactions as potential driving forces during the aggregation process is controversially discussed not only in case of NFGAIL, but also for amyloidogenic peptides in general. We have used halogenation of the aromatic residue as a strategy to modulate hydrophobic and aromatic‐aromatic interactions and prepared a library of NFGAIL variants containing fluorinated and iodinated phenylalanine analogues. We used thioflavin T staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) to study the impact of side‐chain halogenation on NFGAIL amyloid formation kinetics. Our data revealed a synergy between aggregation behavior and hydrophobicity of the phenylalanine residue. This study introduces systematic fluorination as a toolbox to further investigate the nature of the amyloid self‐assembly process.
By adding hyaluronic acid (HA) to dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT)‐stabilized gold nanotriangles (AuNTs) with an average thickness of 7.5±1 nm and an edge length of about 175±17 nm, the AOT bilayer is replaced by a polymeric HA‐layer leading to biocompatible nanoplatelets. The subsequent reduction process of tetrachloroauric acid in the HA‐shell surrounding the AuNTs leads to the formation of spherical gold nanoparticles on the platelet surface. With increasing tetrachloroauric acid concentration, the decoration with gold nanoparticles can be tuned. SAXS measurements reveal an increase of the platelet thickness up to around 14.5 nm, twice the initial value of bare AuNTs. HRTEM micrographs show welding phenomena between densely packed particles on the platelet surface, leading to a crumble formation while preserving the original crystal structure. Crumbles crystallized on top of the platelets enhance the Raman signal by a factor of around 20, and intensify the plasmon‐driven dimerization of 4‐nitrothiophenol (4‐NTP) to 4,4′‐dimercaptoazobenzene in a yield of up to 50 %. The resulting crumbled nanotriangles, with a biopolymer shell and the absorption maximum in the second window for in vivo imaging, are promising candidates for biomedical sensing.
This paper reports the formation of zinc phosphate nanoparticles from the artificial digestion of zinc chloride. Initially, the formation of amorphous primary particles with a mean radius of 1.1 nm is observed, alongside the formation of larger, protein stabilized aggregates. These aggregates, with a radius of gyration of 37 nm, are observed after 5 minutes of exposure to artificial saliva and are shown to be colloidally stable for a minimum time of two weeks. The initially formed primary particles are thought to consist of amorphous zinc phosphate, which is then transformed into crystalline Zn3(PO4)2·4H2O over the course of two weeks. Our results demonstrate that the interaction of inorganic salts with bodily fluids can induce the formation of de novo nanoparticles, which in turn, provides insights into how zinc‐enriched foods may also facilitate the formation of nanoparticles upon contact with saliva. As such, this may be considered as an undesirable (bio)mineralization.