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In our current view, reference datasets in the MSE domain represent specific material properties, e.g., structural, mechanical, … characteristics. A reference dataset must fulfill high-quality standards, not only in precision of measurement but also in a comprehensive documentation of material, processing, and testing history (metadata). This Infrastructure Use Case (IUC) aims to develop a framework for generating reference material datasets using creep data of a single crystal Ni-based superalloy as a best practice example. In a community-driven process, we aim to encourage the discussion and establish a framework for the creation and distribution of reference material datasets. In this poster presentation, we highlight our current vision and activities and intend to stimulate the discussion about the topic reference datasets and future collaborations and work.
Polymeric membranes represent a low-cost, energy efficient solution for gas separation. Recently polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) have emerged as prestigious membrane materials featuring a large concentration of pores smaller than 1 nm, a BET surface area larger than 700 m2/g and high gas permeability and selectivity. Unusual chain structure combining rigid segments with sites of contortion gives rise to the intrinsic microporosity. However, this novel class of glassy polymers are prone to pronounced physical aging. The initial microporous structures approach a denser state via local small scale fluctuataions, leading to a dramatic reduction in the gas permeabilities. For the first time, dielectric relaxation spectroscopy with state-of-the-art high-resolution analyzers was employed to investigate three representative PIMs with a systematic change in chain rigidity: PIM-EA-TB 〉 PIM-1 〉 PIM-MDPH-TB. The molecular mobility, the charge transport and their response upon heating (aging) in the polymers were measured in a broad temperature range through isothermal frequency scans during different heating / cooling cycles. Multiple dielectric processes following Arrhenius behavior were observed for the investigated polymers. Local fluctuations, Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars (MWS) polarization and structural relaxation phenomena were discussed and attempted to be correlated with the structural features of PIMs. Moreover, all PIMs showed conductivity in the glassy state. The significant increase in the conductivity with increasing temperature far below the glass transition temperature of PIMs is explained in terms of the loosely packed microporous structure and the formation of local intermolecular agglomerates due to interaction of π-electrons in aromatic moieties of the polymer backbone.
Collective Orientational Order and Phase Behavior of a Discotic Liquid Crystal under Confinement
(2018)
Discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) are a promising class of soft matter for electronic applications. This is due to their ability to self-organize into columns in a hexagonal columnar mesophase, driven by the overlapping of the π orbitals of their aromatic cores. This leads to a high charge-carrier mobility along the column axis. Previous studies on DLCs showed that their properties, such as phase transition temperatures and enthalpies, are susceptible to nanoconfinement. In this study, 2,3,6,7,10,11 hexakis[hexyloxy] triphenylene (HAT6) was confined into parallel aligned cylindrical nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes by melt infiltration. Furthermore, the pore surfaces of a series of membranes were chemically modified, resulting in a more hydrophobic pore surface than the unmodified ones. Collective orientational order and phase behavior of HAT6 confined into modified and unmodified nanopores of AAO were investigated by broadband dielectric spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry respectively.
Collective Orientational Order and Phase Behavior of a Discotic Liquid Crystal under Confinement
(2018)
Discotic liquid crystals (DLCs) are a promising class of soft matter for electronic applications. This is due to their ability to self-organize into columns in a hexagonal columnar mesophase, driven by the overlapping of the π orbitals of their aromatic cores. This leads to a high charge-carrier mobility along the column axis. Embedding liquid crystals into nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) results in a 2D nanoconfinement of these materials. This confinement affects their properties, compared to the bulk, such as phase transition temperatures and enthalpies, molecular mobility, and crystallization.
In this study, 2,3,6,7,10,11 hexakis[hexyloxy] triphenylene (HAT6) was confined into parallel aligned cylindrical nanopores of AAO membranes by melt infiltration. The membrane as confining hosts used have varying pore diameters, from 10 nm to 160 nm, covering a broad pore size range, thus, a better understanding of the confinement effect on phase behavior and molecular configuration in the pores. Furthermore, it is aimed to obtain axial ordering or to increase degree of axial ordering by chemically modifying the surfaces of the pores. Therefore, the pore surfaces the membranes were chemically modified, resulting in a more hydrophobic pore surface than the unmodified ones. The phase behavior was explored by a power-compensated DSC allowing the detecting of small changes in the phase behavior. In the literature, dielectric spectroscopy was demonstrated as a method to monitor molecular order inside the pores. Here, we also investigate the collective orientational order, corresponding to dominating molecular ordering, by dielectric spectroscopy.
Since discovery of discotic liquid crystals (DLCs), consisting of a disklike rigid aromatic core and flexible alkyl chains attached to the core, dating back to Chandrasekhar’s work in 1977, they have been extensively investigated to reveal their fundamental properties and potential for applications. The researches on DLCs in last decades showed that DLCs can be considered as promising materials for organic electronic applications since they exhibit one dimensional high charge mobility along the column axis in a columnar mesophase. The mobilies of the rigid aromatic core and the flexible alkyl chains can influence their application properites, e.g. the charge carrier mobility, therefore, it needs to be explored in detailed.
In this study, a series of dipole functionalized triphenylene-based discotics, forming a columnar mesophase, were investigated to reveal the influence of the functionalization on phase behavior, molecular dynamics and as well as conductivity. The molecular mobility of the discotics was probed by broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS). In addition to conductivity and localized dynamics, glassy dynamics were also observed. The phase behavior of the material was explored by a power-compansated differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Beside the phase transition temperatures and enthalpies, thermal glass transitions were found for all the materials. Moreover, the glassy dynamics were further investigated by Flash DSC, which is a chip-based calorimetry technique allows fast heating and cooling rates as high as 10000K/s.
Die Rasterkraftmikroskopie (AFM) hat sich in den letzten Jahren als eine vielseitige Abbildungstechnik von Oberflächen mit einer sehr hohen Ortsauflösung etabliert. Über die Untersuchung der reinen Oberflächentopographie sind erweiterte Modi in der Lage, gleichzeitig Informationen über die elektrischen und magnetischen Eigenschaften sowie Adhäsionsprozesse auf Oberflächen zu liefern. Interessanter wird es, wenn das AFM mit geeigneten Messzellen für in-situ-Untersuchungen in kontrollierten Atmosphären oder in Elektrolyten unter elektrochemischer Kontrolle ausgestattet ist. Dies ermöglicht die Untersuchung von Korrosions- und Adhäsionsprozessen unter Bedingungen, die die Betriebsumgebung repräsentieren.
Ein aktueller Forschungsschwerpunkt unseres Fachbereiches liegt in den Untersuchungen der Deformationseigenschaften von Funktionsschichten auf Leichtmetalllegierungen, sowie in situ Untersuchungen des Korrosionsverhaltens unter kombinierter korrosiver und mechanischer Beanspruchung mittels AFM. Durch die Integrierung eines Zug-Druckmoduls in den Probentisch des Rasterkraftmikroskops haben wir jetzt die Möglichkeit, verschiedene Materialien uniaxialen Umformversuchen mit bis zu 5 kN Kraft zu unterziehen. Dabei können unter anderem auch zyklische Belastungen genutzt werden, um Ermüdungsprozesse zu simulieren. Da die Messungen in situ ohne die De- und Remontage der Probe durchgeführt werden, ermöglicht der Aufbau nicht nur Messungen mit präziser Positionssteuerung, sondern auch die Untersuchung von Prozessen im elastischen Bereich, die für die Aufklärung der Mechanismen, die zu Ermüdungsversagen führen, entscheidend sind.
Die Posterpräsentation wird detaillierte Informationen zum neuen AFM-Setup liefern und unsere aktuellen Ergebnisse zur Verformung dünner Schutzschichten auf AA2024-T3 zusammenfassen.
3D coherence scanning interferometry (CSI) is anoptical, non-contact and rapide measurement technique using a defined bandwidth of white light at normal incidence. White light interference microscopy (WLIM) providest here-dimensional surface topometry data up to a resolution of 0.4 µm lateral and 0.1 nm vertical. Three operating modi, surface, films and advanced films, enable measurements of step heights, roughness, wear volume, cone angle, surface pattern and layer thickness. Traceability to SI system is ensured by certified standards (PTB/NIST) within a DAkkS DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018 accredited lab.
Microplastics are solid polymeric particles with a size of 1-1000 μm (ISO/TR21960:2020), which can be emitted from mismanaged waste into the environment, where microplastic is now ubiquitous. What happens to the microplastics after ending up in the environment, which risks entail and what effects it has are not sufficiently clarified up to now. The most certain issue is that the plastic particles in the environment are exposed to natural ageing, are fragmenting and degrading, such that the potential risk to ecosystems and humans is increasing due to the formation of smaller and smaller particles, potentially even including nanoplastics, if these are ingested before their further degradation. Therefore, and in view of a possible registration of polymers under REACH in the future, it is necessary to investigate the degradation of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) regarding hydrolysis stability to evaluate possible risks and effects to the environment.
In the present studies, one thermoplastic polyurethane – with and without hydrolysis stabilizer – is exposed to different pH buffers at 50°C for 14 days to investigate hydrolysis depending to different pH values (acid, alkali and neutral) based on OECD guideline TG111. The hydrolysis behavior of the TPUs is characterized by surface sensitive techniques and on bulk properties. First degradation effects can be detected by SEC. Hydrolysis, especially under acidic and basic conditions, leads to chain scissions to lower molecular masses. Furthermore, the degradation products which indicate the structure of the bulk material were detected by thermo-analytical methods like TGA-FTIR for the small degradation products and the thermo extraction/desorption-gaschromatography/mass spectrometry (TED-GC/MS) for bigger degradation products. Acidic and basic hydrolysis shows the same degradation behavior which is caused by a preferred scission of the ester and urethane functionalities. Surface-sensitive techniques such as XPS demonstrate less carboxylic acid formation at acidic than at alkaline pH value in the TPU without stabilator, where as the TPU with stabilator ages to the same extent in both pH ranges. Altogether, the hydrolysis of TPUs – independently of added stabilizer or not – in acid and alkali environment is accelerated compared to the neutral hydrolysis.
To date, there are very few technologies available for the conversion of low-temperature waste heat into electricity. Thermomagnetic generators are one approach proposed more than a century ago. Such devices are based on a cyclic change of magnetization with temperature. This switches a magnetic flux and, according to Faraday’s law, induces a voltage.
Here we give an overview on our research, covering both materials and systems. We demonstrate that guiding the magnetic flux with an appropriate topology of the magnetic circuit improves the performance of thermomagnetic generators by orders of magnitude. Through a combination of experiments and simulations, we show that a pretzel-like topology results in a sign reversal of the magnetic flux. This avoids the drawbacks of previous designs, namely, magnetic stray fields, hysteresis and complex geometries of the thermomagnetic material.
Though magnetocaloric materials had been the first choice also for thermomagnetic generators, they require some different properties, which we illustrate with Ashby plots for materials selection. Experimentally we compare La-Fe-Co-Si and Gd plates in the same thermomagnetic generator. Furthermore, we discuss corrosion and deterioration under cyclic use is a severe problem occurring during operation. To amend this, composite plates using polymer as a matrix have been suggested previously.
Water as side effect of reinforcing boehmite filler Local changes in anhydride cured epoxy resin
(2019)
Nanocomposites offer wide opportunities for lightweight constructions and enable reduction of weight and volume. Beside macroscopic toughening nanoparticle reinforced polymers show a soft interface around boehmite (AlOOH) filler nanoparticles. A related strong interaction between boehmite and the anhydride cured resin system is widely suspected in literature but not determined by structural Analysis. Determination of the molecular structure is important to allow simulations approaching the real system and predict future reinforcing effects.
DRIFT (diffuse refletance infrared fourier transformed) spectra of the boehmite reinforced anhydride cured epoxy show significant changes in the molecular structure compared to the neat polymer. Further investigations of the interactions between the single components of the resin system and the boehmite filler pointed out reactions between released water released from the boehmite filler and the anhydride hardener or amine accelerator. This leads to the discussion of competing polymerisation mechanisms that highly influence the polymer properties. Ongoing experiments and literature research approve that this impact of water is able to locally change the stoichiometrie, alter the curing mechanism or support an inhomogeneous crosslink density.
New Focus On Boehmite-Reinforced Nanocomposites Molecular Approach With Advanced FTIR-Techniques
(2019)
By FTIR-study it was possible to proof a chemical reaction between boehmite and the hardener of anhydride cured epoxy resins. Future studies can assume that the chemical environment of the resin system is changed in the surrounding of boehmite nanoparticles. This highly affects especially localized properties.
Nonporous corundum powder was functionalized covalently with protein binders to isolate and enrich specific proteins from complex matrices.The common crosslinker glutaraldehyde was compared with a hyperbranched polyglycerol (PG) of around 10 kDa. The latter was oxidized with periodate to generate aldehyde groups that can covalently react with the amines of the surface and the amino groups from the protein via a reductive amination process. The amount of bound protein was quantified via aromatic amino acid analysis (AAAA). As a proof of concept, IgG was extracted with protein A from crude human plasma. The advantages of corundum include the very low price, extremely high physical and chemical stability, pressure resistance, favorable binding kinetics, convenient handling, and flexible application.
Inspired by the chemistry of mussel adhesive proteins, polydopamine (PDA) exhibits strong adhesion to nearly any kind of organic or inorganic surface and shows high ability for surface post-modification and secondary reactions. As a result, PDA has been widely used as a base adlayer to enable versatile surface chemistry and functionalization. It has shown great potential in wide range of applications including biomedical field (e.g., drug delivery, adhesives, photothermal therapy, bone and tissue engineering, cell adhesion, biosensing). However, implementation of PDA in microdevices is still hindered by insufficient spatial and temporal control of excited deposition methods.
In this work we present a novel approach to fabricate tunable micropatterned substrates where mussel-inspired chemistry provides base for various surface modification [2]. Current approach applies Multiphoton Lithography (MPL) to initiate local PDA formation, and, therefore, does not require use of microstamp or photomask. As a result, the microstructures of complex designs can be produced with the spatial resolution down to 0.8 μm (Figure 1). The desired design can be easily altered by adjusting the stl model or the fabrication code. Unlike the conventional deposition of PDA based on dopamine auto-oxidation, our method does not require presence of strong oxidants, metal ions or alkaline pH. Herein-demonstrated deposition approach will significantly facilitate applications of polydopamine and other mussel-inspired materials in microdevices and high-resolution active microcomponents (e.g., in MEMS and microfluidics).
Adjustment of MPL parameters revealed that the morphology and thickness of resulted PDA microstructures can be controlled by altering the laser power and its scanning velocity. As a result, it also enables the production of micropatterns with structural gradient. Apart from the glass substrate, we performed PDA patterning at surfaces of different nature such as polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylene terephthalate, silicon wafers, and fluorinated glass coverslips. We tested different composition of dopamine solution for its ability of PDA buildup. Solutions containing Tris buffer, phosphate buffer or DI water only as well as different pH (6.0, 7.0 and 8.5) could be successfully applied for high-precision PDA micropatterning. Moreover, the effect of antioxidants and purging of the solution with oxygen and nitrogen was investigated. In all cases, no decrease of deposition efficiency was observed. The chemical nature of PDA was confirmed by locally recorded vibrational and x-ray photoelectron spectra. To ensure post-modification potential of MPL deposited PDA we demonstrated one-step deposition of micropatterns with trypsin. Obtained bio-functionalised surface can be further applied as a protein sensing active microelement.
Polydopamine (PDA) is one of the simplest and most versatile approaches for forming an excellent binding exterior to confer new functionalities to nearly any material surface. Inspired by nature, it mimics the behavior of mussels and can be easily deposited on virtually all types of inorganic and organic substrates, including superhydrophobic surfaces. Moreover, PDA exhibits high potential for surface modification and diversified secondary reactions that makes it extremely interesting for a wide range of application including biomedical field, e.g., drug delivery, adhesives, cell adhesion, biosensing. PDA has undergone significant expansion in its applications and is one of the most attractive areas within the materials field. Nevertheless, PDA integration in microdevices is still constrained by poor spatial and temporal control of excited deposition methods.
Herein, we demonstrate a novel maskless approach for PDA micropatterning based on Direct Laser Writing that overcomes present limitations. The pattern is formed upon exposure of the dopamine solution by light produced by tightly-focused fs NIR laser that scans substrate surface accordingly to the selected pattern design. Neither strong oxidants, metal ions nor adjusting pH to alkaline is required by this technique to perform dopamine polymerization. Our method achieves the PDA micropatterns with the spatial resolution of 0.8 µm, at least an order of magnitude smaller than what is possible with other PDA microplanning techniques. Some examples of PDA patterns are shown in Figure 1. The here introduced PDA deposition technique will uniquely unravel applications of polydopamine and other catecholamine-based mussel-inspired materials in various multifunctional systems and microdevices (e.g., MEMS elements, microfluidics).
The chemical nature of PDA was confirmed by locally recorded vibrational and x-ray photoelectron spectra. Moreover, the morphology and thickness of PDA microstructure can be controlled by the laser power and scanning velocity revealing the possibility of fabricating the structures with gradient. In most of the applied conditions the increase of the laser intensity and decrease of the scanning velocity would lead to the thicker PDA pattern. Different morphologies from smooth and bulky-like to grain like has been obtained.
PDA was produced in the presence of tris buffer, phosphate buffer and DI water only. We also tested the effect of the solution pH applying pH 6.0, 7.0 and 8.5. Furthermore, the effect of antioxidants and purging of the solution with oxygen and nitrogen was investigated. Summarizing, we could see that the structures could be produced in all the given conditions, however their thickness and quality, morphology and roughness would differ. We did not observe negative impact of the antioxidants and nitrogen purging on the performance of PDA build up indicating that the PDA formation mechanism is different to common autooxidation. The current mechanism is based on the interaction of dopamine molecules with the photoinitiator added to solution as active to DLW laser light component.
Apart from the glass substrate, we achieved PDA patterning at surfaces of different nature such as polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylene terephthalate, silicon wafers, and fluorinated glass coverslips.
We also performed facile posts-modification of the PDA surface with protein enzymes like trypsin that was confirmed by XPS. Obtained bioactive pattern could be further integrated in the protein sensing devices.
Presented in this work DLW-based microfabrication technique and the possibilities for further PDA surface post-functionalization empowers advanced applications of this material in single-molecule bioassays, sensors and other complex microdevices.
Inspired by the chemistry of mussel adhesive proteins, polydopamine (PDA) is one of the simplest and most versatile approaches to confer new functionalities to nearly any material surface. Moreover, PDA exhibits high potential for surface modification and diversified secondary reactions that makes it extremely interesting for a wide range of application including biomedical field, e.g., drug delivery, adhesives, cell adhesion, biosensing. PDA has undergone significant expansion in its applications and is one of the most attractive areas within the materials field. Nevertheless, PDA integration in microdevices is still constrained by poor spatial and temporal control of excited deposition methods.
Herein, we demonstrate a novel maskless approach for PDA micropatterning based on Direct Laser Writing (DLW) that overcomes present limitations. The pattern is formed upon exposure of the dopamine solution by light produced by tightly-focused fs NIR laser that scans substrate surface accordingly to the selected pattern design. Neither strong oxidants, metal ions nor adjusting pH to alkaline is required by this technique. Our method achieves the PDA micropatterns with the spatial resolution of 0.8 µm, at least an order of magnitude smaller than what is possible with other PDA microplanning techniques. The here introduced PDA deposition technique will uniquely unravel applications of polydopamine and other catecholamine-based mussel-inspired materials in various multifunctional systems and microdevices (e.g., MEMS elements, microfluidics).
Adjustment of MPL parameters revealed that the morphology and thickness of resulted PDA microstructures can be controlled by altering the laser power and its scanning velocity. As a result, it also enables the production of micropatterns with structural gradient.
Apart from the glass substrate, we achieved PDA patterning at surfaces of different nature such as polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylene terephthalate, silicon wafers, and fluorinated glass coverslips.
The chemical nature of PDA was confirmed by locally recorded vibrational and x-ray photoelectron spectra. To ensure post-modification potential of MPL deposited PDA we demonstrated one-step deposition of micropatterns with trypsin. Obtained bio-functionalised surface can be further applied as a protein sensing active microelement.
Presented in this work DLW-based microfabrication technique and the possibilities for further PDA surface post-functionalization empowers advanced applications of this material in single-molecule bioassays, sensors and other complex microdevices.
Hybrid materials have attracted growing interest during the last decade, particularly due to their extraordinary properties. Cycloalyphatic-epoxy oligosiloxane (CEO) resin was shown to be a good candidate as a barrier material for the encapsulation purposes. Incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles such as Boehmite (BA) into polymers was observed to modify their specific characteristics, in particular, thermal, thermo-oxidative and barrier ones. In this work, novel BA-embedded organic inorganic hybrid nanocomposite material was engineered by combining the advantageous properties of hybrid polymers and nanoparticle enhancement effect. Impacts of particles on the photocuring kinetics, degree of crosslinking and the resultant changes in the thermal properties of the cured films were investigated. CEO synthesis via condensation reaction was confirmed by 1H and 29Si NMR. The particle distribution within the films was verified by SEM including transmission mode coupled with EDX elemental analysis. Photocuring kinetics and thermal properties of the films were studied by in situ FTIR spectroscopy and DSC with TGA, respectively.
Coating materials are nowadays often required to deliver not only sufficient barrier performance and suited optical appearance but a broad range of other functional properties. The incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) is known to improve many key characteristics and provide new functionalities in polymer materials. Presented work aims to prepare and characterize an organic-inorganic coating material designed to bring together advantageous properties of hybrid materials and reinforcement effect delivered from the inorganic NPs embedment.
Siloxane-based hybrid resins hold great advantages as coating materials as their properties can be tuned between those of polymers and those of glasses, thus, the compositions with superior thermal and mechanical properties can be achieved. We used Cycloaliphatic Epoxy Oligosiloxane (CEOS) resin as a polymeric matrix where the network formation was achieved by UV induced cationic polymerisation. Boehmite Alumina (BA) nanoparticles were added to CEOS resin as a reinforcing agent and resultant material was processed into films either by bar-coating or by spin-coating depending on further characterization procedure. Two different types of BA NPs, hydrophilic and organophilic, were used in order to assess the impact of particles surface on the resin characteristics. CEOS synthesis by condensation reaction was confirmed using 13C and 29Si NMR. Changes in CEOS photocuring process, resulting from particles incorporation, were monitored by real-time IR spectroscopy. At the same time, the thermal behaviour was evaluated by DSC and TGA methods. Morphology of the coatings was investigated by means of SEM operated in transmission mode.
It was observed that BA presence increased the epoxy conversion degree and glass transition temperature. Material formulations providing best film characteristics were determined with regard to the particle type and loading. Compared to the hydrophilic nanoparticles, organophilic BA NPs yield superior overall performance of the foils.
Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) provides a non-destructive approach in the dedicated thin film analysis mode with the commercial StrataGem software. Recently, the open-source programme BadgerFilm by Moy and Fournelle became available. Similarly to StrataGem, it is based on the algorithm of Pouchou and Pichoir and needs intensity ratios of the unknown sample and standards (k-values). We have evaluated the k-values measured for the FeNi and SiGe film systems using the BadgerFilm software package and compared the thickness and composition with the results obtained with the established StrataGem software and other reference methods. The thicknesses of the SiGe films obtained by the BadgerFilm software agree within 20% with the StrataGem and TEM results; the elemental compositions BadgerFilm-StrataGEM agree within 2% with one exception (9%).
Electron probe microanalysis (EPMA)is a non-destructive technique which assumes a sample of homogenous (bulk) chemical composition and can, therefore, not be used for thin film samples. However, in combination with one of the possible thin film software packages, STRATAGEM, the thickness as well as the composition of such films on a substrate can be determined.
This has been demonstrated for FeNi on Si and SiGe on Al2O3 film systems. For both systems five samples with different elemental composition and a reference were produced and characterised by the Korean research institute KRISS using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), Rutherford backscattering (RBS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
In 2021, a new and open source thin film evaluation programme called BADGERFILM has been released. It can also be used to determine thin film composition and thickness from intensity ratios of the unknown sample and standards (k-ratios).
In this contribution, we re-evaluated the data acquired for the FeNi and SiGe systems using the BADGERFILM software package and compared the resulting composition and thickness with the results of the established STRATAGEM software and other reference methods. With the current evaluation, the BADGERFILM software shows good agreement with the composition and thickness calculated by STRATAGEM and provided by the KRISS.
These results between two well-known layered material systems analysed with available conventional EMPA approaches (STRATAGEM and direct thickness measurement by TEM) and a new one (BADGERFILM) proves that reliable non-destructive thin film analysis is possible. In this way, we validate the performance of the new software, which is not at all self-explanatory for such
complex quantification algorithms lying behind the final quantified results.
In recent years, substantial efforts have been devoted to investigating nanoscopic confinement of polymers, and its effect on glassy dynamics. Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) was used to study the dynamics of ultra-thin films of PVME/PS 50/50 wt% blend, employing a novel nano-structured capacitor sample arrangement. The investigated system shows a complex dynamic behavior. First, an α-relaxation, related to a bulk-like layer was found. Second, an α’-relaxation was observed, characteristic for dynamically asymmetric blends, where the out of equilibrium dynamics is attributed to weakly-cooperative PVME segments relaxing within a frozen environment of PS segments. Thirdly, for thinnest films, an Arrhenius-like process was dominant in the dielectric spectra, indicating localized fluctuations of the segments. Relaxation rates of this process resembled that of the degenerated α-relaxation of the adsorbed layer, found for pure PVME, thus it was assigned accordingly. For thinnest films, this process undergoes a further confinement, due to the topological constraints, introduced by PS. Such multiple confinement effect has not been reported for ultra-thin films of polymer blends, before this study.