Analytische Chemie
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Organisationseinheit der BAM
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In this breakout session first, an introduction is given on the planning and organisation of an inter-laboratory comparison (ILC) under the pre-standardisation plattform VAMAS within the newly formed technical working area TWA 45 Micro and Nano Plastics in the Environment. An update with the ILCs on micro- and nanoplastic performed so far is also given. In the third part, the requirements for a reference materials are presented. The needs from the different H2020 micro- and nanoplastic projects are collected and compiled in an ILC matrix for joint activities as the next steps.
The wide use of nanoforms with at least one dimension below 100 nm in our daily life requires a detailed knowledge of their physicochemical properties which are needed for risk assessment or quality control. Therefore, a comprehensive characterization of these properties was considered as relevant including: chemical composition, crystallinity, particle size, particle shape, surface chemistry, and specific surface area (SSA).
We want to discuss, how Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) in the version with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) can contribute to gain comprehensive insights into the nature of the nanoparticles. SEM results provide the particle size and shape (distribution). A quick identification of the main chemical elements present in the sample can be obtained with EDS, whereas XPS allows a more detailed chemical identification of the small nanoparticles below 20 nm or of the near-surface region of larger particles. ToF-SIMS is even much more surface-sensitive and leads to a deeper understanding of the surface chemistry of the nanoparticles. As exemplary samples, two Al-coated TiO2 samples in nanopowder form were chosen from the JRC repository, capped either with a hydrophilic or a hydrophobic organic shell.
A focus of our case study was to show, how reliable, reproducible and traceable data can be obtained. Therefore, each step in the workflow of sample investigation must be described in detail. For the most of these steps, well-established standards are available. Usually, the conditions of the particular measurements with each analysis method are saved as meta-data in the common file formats. But other factors like sample preparation and data reduction approaches may influence the result of the investigations in a significant manner and must be described often in a separate file (as a protocol) together with the data file. For sensitive materials like nanoobjects, the preparation of the sample influences the results crucially, e.g. measured as suspension or as powders. Furthermore, data reduction like selection of relevant peaks in spectra or particles in images, background subtraction, peak deconvolution, models for the quantification of the spectra must be considered in the interpretation of the results ideally with associated individual measurement uncertainties. Only a detailed description of all these factors allows to obtain a comprehensive characterization with reliable, reproduceable and traceable data. Examples of standardized procedures of measurement or on data reduction will be highlighted.
We thank for the funding from the European Unions’s Horizon 2020 for the project NanoSolveIt (grant agreement No. 814572) and for the project NANORIGO (grant agreement No. 814530).
Der Vortrag wurde im Rahmen der Abschlusskonferenz des Forschungsschwerpunktes "Plastik in der Umwelt" des BMBF gehalten. Er fasst die Ergebnisse des Verbundprojektes RUSEKU zusammen. Es wurde die Herstellung verschiedener Testmaterialien für die Mikroplastik (MP) Analytik beschrieben. Im weiteren geht es um verschiedene Ansätze MP kostengünstig und schnell zu detektieren, z.B. mit Nahinfrarotspektroskopie. Nanoplastik konnte mit der Transmissionselektronenmikroskopie sichtbar gemacht werden. Für die praxisnahe Beprobung von Gewässern wurde die Fraktionierte Filtration entwickelt. Integrale Beprobungen können mit dem Sedimentationskasten erfolgen. Als Beispiele für die Beprobung realer Gewässer wurde das urbane Abwassersystem Kaiserslautern, Getränkewasser und Waschmaschinenwasser gezeigt.
Monitoring von Mikroplastik
(2021)
The lack of on-line validation procedures for structure-embedded fiber-optical strain sensors, in particular fiber-Bragg-gratings (FBG), resulted in limited applications in structural health monitoring (SHM). Degradation under service conditions and ageing as a result of climatic influences or delamination under load were unsolved Validation issues. This could be overcome by means of an auto-diagnosis procedure based on FBG-sensors coated by electrochemical deposition (ECD) with a magnetostrictive NiFe-coating on top of an adhesive Cu/Cr adhesive layer deposited by physical vapour deposition (PVD) around the FBG strain sensor. This allows at any time under Service a validation of sensor functionality, stability, and reliability. For this purpose, a magnetic strain-proportional reference field is introduced. The optical read-out is realized by the measurement of the Bragg-wavelength shift.
The ratio of resulting strain and exciting magnetic reference field should be constant given that the sensor is in proper function.
In principle, the magnetostrictive coating around the FBG should also work as on-line magnetic field sensor and other applications in material science. One of these applications is the in-situ monitoring of ECD processes as the deposition of the ECD NiFe-layer on the FBG revealed. Challenges are the monitoring of temperature, deposition
stages/thickness, and resulting mechanical stress under given plating conditions. Monitoring problems can be solved by applying a pre-coated FBG to the electrolytic process as the shift of the Bragg wavelength is affected by both the temperature of the electrolyte near the substrate and the stress formation in the growing layer. The experimental FBG set-up and the quantitative determination of temperature- and stress-related strain are described for a nickeliron
electrolyte. The in-situ measurement of Bragg wavelength shifts of a pre-coated FBG during electrochemical deposition allows a detailed analysis of stress states due to changes in the growth morphology of the layer. The separation of mechanical and thermal contributions to this shift provides information on the individual Deposition processes in terms of a process fingerprint.
The main outcomes of the EMPIR project nPSize are presented and the suitability of the new capabilities (e.g. reference materials, measurement procedures, inter-laboratory comparisons) as pertinent contributions to normative projects within CEN/TC 352 Nanotechnologies are discussed. E.g. the first technical report of nPSize on full algorithm sequences for nanoparticle detection and size measurement as developed on both a physical basis (SEM, TSEM, AFM and SAXS) and by machine learning is put at disposal.
(1) First results show the suitability of IL as reference for quantification of XPS (at least for organic materials).
(2) Different quantification methods lead to similar results (with a slight advantage for “background method”).
(3)Promising reference material for a better understanding and traceable protocols for the quantification of organic materials with XPS.
Nanomaterials may have brought many beneficial innovations with them in our daily lives and and have become indispensable for the society. However, one needs to be concerned of the risks which are still unknown and not sufficietly studied and therefore there is a need for a nanorisk governance. At the core of nanorisk governance is gathering, processing and analysing reliable data which will be used for decision making. The challenge is to assure data reliability and transform it into knowledge. To address this challenge, we used analogy to technology readiness level (TRL) approach (developed by NASA), and elaborated knowledge readiness level (KaRL). KaRL is a nine-scale system to categorize data and knowledge (documents) into levels of readiness for particular purposes and to enhance readiness level by using quality and completeness filters, compliance requirements, nanorisk-related tools, stakeholders’ input. By our approach we addressed key issues in nanotechnology such as societal and ethical concerns, circular economy and sustainability, traceability of data, knowledge and decisions.
The use of inorganic lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) in bioimaging and cellular studies requires biocompatible particles. One possible cause of UCNP toxicity is the release of potentially harmful fluoride and lanthanide ions as revealed by dilution studies in aqueous environments, particularly under high dilution conditions. To address this issue, suitable surface coatings preventing such effects in combination with fast screening methods suited for online monitoring and in situ analyses are desired.
Here we present systematic studies of differently sized β-NaYF4:Yb,Er UCNP stabilized with different surface coatings and hydrophilic ligands varying in binding strength to the particle surface in various aqueous environments at different temperatures and UCNP concentrations. The concentration of the fluoride and lanthanide ions released upon particle dissolution was quantified electrochemically with a fluoride ion-sensitive electrode and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and monitored fluorometrically, thereby exploiting the sensitivity of the upconversion luminescence to changes in size and surface chemistry. Moreover, changes in surface chemistry were determined with X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Based upon our results, we could derive optimum screening parameters for UCNP stability studies and determine conditions and coating procedures and ligands for enhancing UCNP stability in aqueous environments.
A brief perspective of BAM on nanocarriers is presented including examples with special emphasis on the characterization of such materials and underlying challenges. In this respect, also ongoing activities at BAM on different types of core/shell nanomaterials and related systems are briefly summarized.
Gold ist eines der sieben bereits in der Antike bekannten Metalle und wurde wegen seines Glanzes und seiner Seltenheit seit jeher als Tauschmittel und zur Herstellung von Schmuck verwendet. Außerdem ist es leicht zu bearbeiten und weitgehend resistent gegen chemische Einflüsse.
Die Analyse von Gold mit der durch Synchrotronstrahlung angeregten Röntgenfluoreszenzanalyse ist zerstörungsfrei und liefert Informationen über die in der untersuchten Probe vorhandenen chemischen Elemente.
Im Mittelpunkt der hier vorgestellten Untersuchungen an der BAMline stehen Fragen nach der Herkunft, dem Herstellungsprozess und der Zugehörigkeit von Goldfunden. Die verschiedenen Fragestellungen werden anhand einer Reihe von Beispielen erläutert, die vom Wikingerschatz von Hiddensee über die Himmelsscheibe von Nebra bis hin zu Funden aus Ägypten reichen. Darüber hinaus werden die heute am Synchrotron verfügbaren modernen Messmethoden vorgestellt.
Mechanochemistry is increasingly used for synthesizing soft matter materials including metal organic compounds and cocrystals.1 The ever-increasing interest in this method is contrasted by a limited mechanistic understanding of the mechanochemical reactivity and selectivity. Time-resolved in situ investigations of milling reactions provide direct insights in the underlying mechanisms.2-4 We recently introduced different setups enabling in situ investigation of mechanochemical reactions using synchrotron XRD combined with Raman spectroscopy and thermography. The presented setup allows the detection of crystalline, amorphous, eutectic, and liquid intermediates. Furthermore, the chemical composition of the reaction mixture was found to be directly correlated with changes in the temperature profile of the reaction. The resulting deeper kinetic and thermodynamic understanding of milling processes is the key for future optimization of mechanochemical syntheses. In this contribution, we will discuss our recent results investigating the formation of (polymorphic) cocrystals and coordination polymers.2,3,5 Our results indicate that in situ investigation of milling reactions offer a new approach to tune and optimize mechanochemical syntheses.
Mechanochemistry has emerged as one of the most interesting synthetic protocols to produce new materials. The development of mechanochemistry as a synthetic method is supported by excellent research by many groups worldwide in a wide range of applications. The potential of mechanochemistry is also reflected in the inclusion in IUPAC’s 10 chemical innovations that will change our world’.[1] Solvent-free methodologies lead to unique chemical processes during synthesis with the consequent formation of martials with new properties.2 In this contribution, we will discuss our recent results investigating the formation of (polymorphic) cocrystals, coordination polymers, metal oxides and metal nanoparticles.[3-8] We introduced different setups enabling in situ investigation of mechanochemical reactions using synchrotron XRD combined with Raman spectroscopy and thermography.
High entropy alloys (HEAs) are considered as a new class of alloys containing at least 5 elements with concentrations between 5 and 35 atomic percent. There has been a growing interest in HEAs in the material research field in recent years. Due to their adjustable composition, which enables the modifications of mechanical properties (such as hardness, strength and ductility etc) and their stability at high temperatures, HEAs have been the focus of various studies.
Especially the corrosion behavior of HEAs has been a wide research interest. Since the grazing exit X-ray fluorescence (GEXRF) offers a non-destructive way to collect notable information regarding the high temperature oxidation, we consider it as a useful method to investigate how HEAs behave in corrosive environments.
The main idea of grazing geometry is to enhance the fluorescence signal of the surface. This enables highly sensitive surface analyses of thin protective film on surface in sub-micrometer scale. Position-sensitive area detectors provide information regarding the signal emitted from the sample as a function of emission angle and thus allow depth-sensitive analysis. Furthermore, the data collected from samples of an incidence energy which lays within a specific energy range provides XANES data to determine oxidation states. Moreover, since GEXRF profiles can also be simulated through physical models (Urbach 1999), they enable us to determine the layer thickness of a given sample in a non-destructive way.
In this contribution, we present the preliminary results of a conceptual study regarding layer properties of CrCoNi medium entropy alloy. The successful implementation of such methodological concept will pave the way for the investigation of more complex alloys with multiple layers, which is planned for the later phases of the project.
X-ray photoelectron-spectroscopy (XPS) allows simultaneous irradiation and damage monitoring. Although water radiolysis is essential for radiation damage, all previous XPS studies were performed in vacuum. Here we present near-ambient-pressure XPS experiments to directly measure DNA damage under water atmosphere. They permit in-situ monitoring of the effects of radicals on fully hydrated double-stranded DNA. Our results allow us to distinguish direct damage, by photons and secondary low-energy electrons (LEE), from damage by hydroxyl radicals or hydration induced modifications of damage pathways. The exposure of dry DNA to x-rays leads to strand-breaks at the sugar-phosphate backbone, while deoxyribose and nucleobases are less affected. In contrast, a strong increase of DNA damage is observed in water, where OH-radicals are produced. In consequence, base damage and base release become predominant, even though the number of strand-breaks increases further.
Carbonization of fluorinated metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) should yield fluorinated nitrogen- and metal-doped carbons (F-NMCs), which are a combination of NMCs and fluorinated carbons, each promising electrocatalysts on their own. We synthesized two polymorphs of a fluorinated MOF by mechanical ball mill grinding, and carbonized them to yield potential electrocatalyt materials. The catalytical activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was examined, finding good activites. Simulations from a theoretic model helped assesing the stability of proposed catalytic sites and understanding the measured activites towards the ORR catalysis.
Introduction
A good laboratory organization can help address the reproducibility crisis in science, and easily multiply the scientific output of a laboratory, while greatly elevating the quality of the measurements. We have demonstrated this for small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering in the MOUSE project (Methodology Optimization for Ultrafine Structure Exploration). In the MOUSE, we have combined: a) a comprehensive laboratory workflow with b) a heavily modified, highly automated X-ray scattering instrument. This combination allows us to collect fully traceable scattering data, with a well-documented data flow (akin to what is found at the more automated beamlines). With two full-time researchers, the lab collects and interprets thousands of datasets, on hundreds of samples for dozens of projects per year, supporting many users along the entire process from sample selection and preparation, to the analysis of the resulting data.
While these numbers do not light a candle to those achieved by our hardworking compatriots at the synchrotron beamlines, the laboratory approach does allow us to continually modify and fine-tune the integral methodology. So for the last three years, we have incorporated e.g. FAIR principles, traceability, automated processing, data curation strategies, as well as a host of good scattering practices into the MOUSE system. We have concomitantly expanded our purview as specialists to include an increased responsibility for the entire scattering aspect of the resultant publications. This ensures full exploitation of the data quality, whilst avoiding common pitfalls.
Talk scope
This talk will present the MOUSE project as implemented to date, and will introduce foreseeable upgrades and changes. These upgrades include better pre-experiment sample scattering predictions to filter projects on the basis of their suitability, exploitation of the measurement database for detecting long-term changes and automated flagging of datasets, extending the measurement range through an Ultra-SAXS module, and enhancing MC fitting with sample scattering simulations for better matching of odd-shaped scatterers.
Compared to the clear, real-space images you can get from electron microscopy, X-ray scattering patterns are rather featureless. These patterns, however, contain structural information from all of the material structure illuminated by the X-ray beam. With this technique, you can measure nanoparticle dispersions, catalysts, composites, MOF powders, battery materials, light metal alloys and gels to reveal information on the structural features found within these materials. We have even measured many such materials for several research groups from the University of Birmingham, revealing structure features in the sub-nm to the micrometer range.
Measuring an X-ray scattering pattern is relatively easy, but measuring a high-quality, useful pattern requires significant effort and good laboratory organization. Such laboratory organization can help address the reproducibility crisis in science, and easily multiply the scientific output of a laboratory, while greatly elevating the quality of the measurements. We have demonstrated this for small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering in the MOUSE project (Methodology Optimization for Ultrafine Structure Exploration) [1]. With the MOUSE, we have combined: a) a comprehensive and highly automated laboratory workflow with b) a heavily modified X-ray scattering instrument. This combination allows us to collect fully traceable scattering data, within a well-documented, FAIR-compliant data flow (akin to what is found at the more automated synchrotron beamlines). With two full-time researchers, our lab collects and interprets thousands of datasets, on hundreds of samples, for dozens of projects per year, supporting many users along the entire process from sample selection and preparation, to the analysis of the resulting data.
The unambiguous correlation of possible health and sustainability risks to nanoparticle size must be enabled by reliable measurement of nanoparticle size, to ensure comparability and compatibility between results measured under different methods. The NPSIZE project funded by European Metrology Program (EMPIR) develop methods, reference materials and modelling to improve the traceability chain, comparability and compatibility of nanoparticle size measurements. In this work, we present how spherical silica nanoparticles are synthetized with controlled monomodal or bimodal dispersion to be use as reference materials and international round-robin. Improving the fabrication requires a fine understanding of synthesis (1), coupled with an expertise of in-situ or ex-situ analysis methods. This is a new challenge for the analysis : determining not only average characteristics (size, chemical composition and shape ...) but also the concentration and the distribution over the population studied (2). Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (3) allows very precise measurements of the nanoparticles size and concentration that can be directly link to the metric system (4) (metrological traceability) . We developed a SAXS laboratory instrument dedicated to the in-situ characterization of nanoparticles, which enable fast measurements, and the monitoring of the synthesis parameters. Measurement protocols and software processing chain (5) (i.e. size distribution) are also combined & optimized.
The formation of DNA-protein complexes ocurrs during replication and repair within cells. They are assumed to modify the damage caused by ionization radiation during radaition therapy. Hereby the assumption is, that the underlying damaging channels in DNA and proteins are modified, especially when compared to single molecules.
Hydrogen production via water electrolysis will be an essential cornerstone in development of sustainable, fossil-free fuel and chemical production on a global scale. The activity and stability of each catalyst is highly dependent on the properties of the coating, i.e., phase composition, crystallinity, accessible surface area, and many other factors. The key to developing improved catalysts is a better understanding of the relationships between their performance, stability, and physicochemical properties. However, these relationships can be complex and are also strongly influenced by the reaction environment. Therefore, operando analysis of the catalyst material during catalysis at realistic potentials and current densities is highly desirable. However, many analytical techniques cannot be applied in liquid environments at realistic potentials and current densities.
We propose environmental ellipsometric analysis in a dedicated electrochemical flow cell as a method to evaluate gas evolution reactions operando under realistic working conditions. Figure 1 illustrates schematically the developed technique. Key factors to success are highly active model-type catalysts, a suitable sample environment, and a deep understanding of the appropriate model development, as well as concise cross validation with numerous other analytical techniques.
The method was developed and validated by analyzing a calcination series (300 – 600 °C) of mesoporous templated IrOx films ex-situ and operando under oxygen evolution reaction (OER) conditions. The employed environmental electrochemical spectroscopic ellipsometric (ECSE) analysis revealed during OER the change of optical and electronic properties, i.e. the dielectric functions, resistivity and band-to-band transitions (p-d band transitions). Film thickness and porosity were validated by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray reflectometry (XRR) or ellipsometric porosimetry (EP), electrical and electronic properties by means of conductivity measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) or UV-Vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy. The electronic structures of the catalysts from valence electron energy loss spectra (VEELS) derived from ε1 and ε2 from SE measurements reveal a direct correlation with electrochemical activities in OER.
In the presentation reversible and irreversible potential-dependent changes of the catalyst properties during operation will be discussed along with the dynamics of gas formation, transport and dissolution at different potentials.
In this talk I’ll describe the use of artificial neural networks (ANN) for quantifying X-ray fluorescence (XRF) measurements. The main idea of this talk is to give an overview of the process needed to generate a model that can then be applied to a specific problem.
In XRF, a sample is excited with X-rays and the resulting characteristic radiation is detected to determine elements quantitatively and qualitatively. This is traditionally done in several time-consuming steps. I’ll show the possibilities and problems of using a neural network to realise a "one-click" quantification. This includes generating training data using Monte Carlo simulation and augmenting the existing data set with an ANN to generate more data. The search for the optimal hyperparameters, manually and automatically, is also described. For the case presented, we were able to train a network with a mean absolute error of 0.1% by weight for the synthetic data and 0.7% by weight for a set of experimental data obtained with certified reference materials.
ML@BAMLINE
(2021)
Die MALDI-TOF Massenspektrometrie stellt eine wichtige Methode zur simultanen Bestimmung von Molmassen, Molmassenverteilungen und Endgruppen von synthetischen Polymeren dar. In dem Vortrag wird gezeigt, welche zusätzlichen Informationen über die Art der Polymerisation, der Nebenreaktionen und der Topologie der gebildeten hochmolekularen Polylaktid-Homo- und Copolymere im Verlauf ihrer Synthese erhalten werden können.
We present a workflow for obtaining fully trained artificial neural networks that can perform automatic particle segmentations of agglomerated, non-spherical nanoparticles from electron microscopy images “from scratch”, without the need for large training data sets of manually annotated images. This is achieved by using unsupervised learning for most of the training dataset generation, making heavy use of generative adversarial networks and especially unpaired image-to-image translation via cycle-consistent adversarial networks. The whole process only requires about 15 minutes of hands-on time by a user and can typically be finished within less than 12 hours when training on a single graphics card (GPU). After training, SEM image analysis can be carried out by the artificial neural network within seconds, and the segmented images can be used for automatically extracting and calculating various other particle size and shape descriptors.
Reference Materials at BAM
(2021)
Ellipsometry is a powerful tool, which allows the investigation of material properties over a broad spectral range. Over the course of several years, the ellipsometry lab at BAM has become an accredited testing lab according to ISO/IEC 17025 laying bare the need of better methods for accuracy and traceability. Despite its wide range of application in both research and development as well as industry, there have been no generally accepted standards dealing with model validation and measurement uncertainties.
Based on the first German standard DIN 50989 – 1: 2018 Ellipsometry - Part 1: Principles (currently international standard ISO 23131: 2021) and under consideration of GUM [1] a series of standards for ellipsometry was developed. The entire 6-part series covers several model-based application cases. This standards series avoids having narrow and material specific application cases but instead classifies applications of ellipsometry according to the sample complexity. The concept of ellipsometric transfer quantities (Ψ and Δ or alternatively the elements of transfer matrices) is implemented in the series. For each application case a model-based validation strategy was developed. Thus, the standards are applicable to all materials, instruments and measuring principles.
The uniform structure concept of the series facilitates its practical applicability for users. The standards include the model-based GUM-compliant determination/estimation of the measurement uncertainties. In addition, the appendices of the documents contain numerous measurement and simulation examples as well as recommendations for measuring practice.
In this contribution we present the application cases and basic structure of the standards developed in collaboration with Accurion GmbH and SENTECH Instruments GmbH in the project SNELLIUS.
The fabrication of laser-generated surface structures on titanium and titanium alloys has recently gained remarkable interests, being technologically relevant for applications in optics, medicine, fluid transport, tribology, and wetting of surfaces. The morphology of these structures, and so their chemistry, is influenced by the different laser processing parameters such as the laser fluence, wavelength, pulse repetition rate, the effective number of laser pulses per beam spot area, etc. A simple way to characterize laser-generated surface structures is by means of optical microscopy (OM) or white light interference microscopy (WLIM). The latter can address the surface topography, while having a lateral resolution limit of ~(lambda)/2 (lambda = illumination wavelength). To resolve morphologies with spatial periods significantly smaller than (lambda)/2, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is often used, taking benefit of the reduced de Broglie wavelength associated to the electrons of several keV energy. However, all the above-mentioned techniques lack the necessary depth-resolution to reveal and quantify sub-surface material modifications of these laser-generated structures. Time-of-Flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) represents a promising surface analytical technique for studying laser-induced chemical surface alterations since the method combines a high surface sensitivity with the capability to perform a depth-profiling of the laser-affected surface zone. In this study we combine WLIM and high-resolution SEM with ToF-SIMS to fully characterize the evolution of various types of laser-generated micro- and nanostructures formed on Ti-6Al-4V alloys upon irradiation by near infrared ultrashort laser pulses (1030 nm, 925 fs) at different laser fluence levels, effective number of pulses, and at different pulse repetition rates (1 – 400 kHz). We show how this combined surface analytical approach allows to evaluate alterations in the surface chemistry and topography of the laser-generated surface structures depending on the laser processing parameters
A brief introduction is given into our data collection and organization procedure, and why we have settled on the HDF5-based NeXus format for describing experimental data.
The links between NeXus and the SciCat data catalog is also provided, showing how the NeXus metadata is automatically added as searchable metadata in the catalog.
Nanoforms with at least one dimension below 100 nm have an important part to play in more and more areas of our daily life. Therefore, risk assessment of these materials is becoming increasingly important. In this context, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) considered eleven physico-chemical properties as relevant, of which the following six are essential for the registration: chemical composition, crystallinity, particle size, particle shape, surface chemistry and specific surface area. Four of these priority properties can be obtained with electron microscopy and surface analytics like XPS and ToF-SIMS. The reliability of this data must be ensured, especially for their use for grouping and read across approaches. On the other hand, the “reproducibility” crisis has revealed major shortcomings in the reliability of published data.
In a case study, we show how the quality of the data can be ensured by using existing standards and protocols of each step in the workflow of sample characterization. As exemplary samples, two Al-coated TiO2 samples as nanopowders were selected from the JRC repository, capped either with a hydrophilic or a hydrophobic organic ultrathin shell. SEM results provided the size and shape of the nanoparticles, a first overview about the composition was obtained with EDS. XPS and ToF-SIMS supplied the surface chemistry, especially information about the shell and the coating of the particles. Standards and protocols of all steps of the analytical workflow including preparation and data reduction are discussed regarding reliable and reproducible data. Additionally, uncertainties for the different steps are specified.
Only such a detailed description of all these factors allows a comprehensive physico-chemical characterization of the nanoparticles with understanding of their potential risk assessment.
Due to their unique physico-chemical properties, nanoparticles are well established in research and industrial applications. A reliable characterization of their size, shape, and size distribution is not only mandatory to fully understand and exploit their potential and develop reproducible syntheses, but also to manage environmental and health risks related to their exposure and for regulatory requirements. To validate and standardize methods for the accurate and reliable particle size determination nanoscale reference materials (nanoRMs) are necessary. However, there is only a very small number of nanoRMs for particle size offered by key distributors such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and, moreover, few provide certified values. In addition, these materials are currently restricted to polymers, silica, titanium dioxide, gold and silver, which have a spherical shape except for titania nanorods. To expand this list with other relevant nanomaterials of different shapes and elemental composition, that can be used for more than one sizing technique, we are currently building up a platform of novel nanoRMs relying on iron oxide nanoparticles of different shape, size and surface chemistry. Iron oxide was chosen as a core material because of its relevance for the material and life sciences.
VAMAS-Enabling international standardisation for increasing the take up of Emerging Materials
(2022)
VAMAS (Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards) supports world trade in products dependent on advanced materials technologies by providing technical basis for harmonized measurements, testing, specification, reference materials and standards. The major tools for fulfilling this task are interlaboratory comparisons (ILC). The organisation structure of VAMAS is presented. It is discussed, how a new technical activity can initiate.
In the present talk the basics of the Raman spectroscopy and particularly of Raman microscopy are explained. Advantages and disadvantages of the method are highlighted through selected case studies. In the second part of the lecture examples of correlative imaging with electron, X-ray, ion and optical microscopies from micro- to the nanoscale are highlighted.
In this talk an overview about artificial intelligence/machine learning applications @BAMline is given. In the first part, the use of neural networks for the quantification of XRF measurements and the decoding of coded-aperture measurements are shown. Then it is shown how Gaussian processes and Bayesian statistics can be used to achieve an optimal alignment of the set-up and in general for optimization of measurements.
Getting more efficient – The use of Bayesian optimization and Gaussian processes at the BAMline
(2022)
For more than 20 years, BAM is operating the BAMline at the synchrotron BESSY II in Berlin Adlershof. During this time, the complexity of the setup and the amount of data generated have multiplied. To increase the effectiveness and in preparation for BESSY III, algorithms from the field of machine learning are increasingly used.
In this paper, several examples in the areas of beamline alignment and measurement time optimization based on Bayesian optimization (BO) with Gaussian processes (GP) are presented. BO is a method for finding the global optimum of a function using a probabilistic model represented by a GP. The advantage of this method is that it can handle high-dimensional problems, does not depend on the initial estimate, and also provides uncertainty estimates.
After a short introduction to BO and GP, the first example is the automatic alignment of our double multilayer monochromator (DMM). To achieve optimal performance, up to three linear and two angular motor positions have to be optimized. To achieve this with a grid scan, at least 100^5 measurement points would be required. Assuming that all positions can be aligned independently, 100*5 points are still necessary. We show that with BO and GP less than 100 points are sufficient to achieve equal or better results.
The second example is the optimization of measurement time in XRF scanning. Here we will show the advantage of the BO GP approach over point-by-point scanning. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the number of points required and thus the measurement time can be reduced by a factor of 50, while the loss in image quality is acceptable. The advantages and limitations of this approach will be discussed.
Gold is one of the seven metals already known in antiquity and was used from time immemorial as a medium of exchange and for the production of jewelry because of its luster and rarity. In addition, it is easy to work and largely resistant to chemical influences. Investigations of gold using synchrotron radiation excited X-ray fluorescence analysis are non-destructive and provide information about the chemical elements present in the sample under investigation. The investigations presented here at BAMline focus on questions such as the origin, manufacturing process, and association of gold findings. The different questions are explained by a number of examples ranging from the Viking treasure from Hiddensee to the Nebra Sky Disk and finds from Egypt. The find from Bernstorf is discussed in detail. A Bayesian treatment of the authenticity is shown.
News from the BAMline
(2022)
Mechanochemical reactions promise a new direction for environmentally benign preparation of materials, and has been dubbed by IUPAC as one of the 10 chemical innovations that will change our world. Despite this significant promise, very little is known about the mechanisms that drive mechanochemical transformations, posing significant barriers to realizing their full potential. To this end, there is growing need to follow mechanochemical reactions in situ and in real time. We here describe advances in the development and application of XAS methods to monitor material synthesis in real time under mechanochemical conditions. We demonstrate the generality of our approaches by describing mechanochemical syntheses of materials by both vibratory ball milling and by Resonant Acoustic Mixing (RAM), where a time resolution of 1 second is for a whole XAS spectrum was achieved. Moreover, we describe how spectroscopic methods can be coupled to diffraction-based approaches, thereby providing new dimensions in understanding mechanochemical synthesis.