Filtern
Erscheinungsjahr
- 2022 (339) (entfernen)
Dokumenttyp
- Zeitschriftenartikel (208)
- Vortrag (66)
- Posterpräsentation (17)
- Beitrag zu einem Tagungsband (15)
- Sonstiges (9)
- Buchkapitel (7)
- Forschungsbericht (6)
- Monografie (2)
- Dissertation (2)
- Newsletter (2)
Schlagworte
- Nanoparticles (24)
- Fluorescence (21)
- Nano (20)
- SAXS (19)
- Nanoparticle (17)
- Quantum yield (15)
- Sensor (15)
- Lanthanide (13)
- Nanomaterial (11)
- Photophysics (11)
Organisationseinheit der BAM
- 6 Materialchemie (133)
- 1 Analytische Chemie; Referenzmaterialien (84)
- 6.1 Oberflächen- und Dünnschichtanalyse (53)
- 1.2 Biophotonik (42)
- 8 Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung (36)
- 5 Werkstofftechnik (33)
- 4 Material und Umwelt (31)
- 6.3 Strukturanalytik (28)
- 6.6 Physik und chemische Analytik der Polymere (24)
- 7 Bauwerkssicherheit (22)
Paper des Monats
- ja (7)
Plants and microorganisms, besides the climate, drive nitrogen (N) cycling in ecosystems. Our objective was to investigate N losses and N acquisition strategies along a unique ecosystem-sequence (ecosequence) ranging from arid shrubland through Mediterranean woodland to temperate rainforest. These ecosystems differ in mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperate, and vegetation cover, but developed on similar granitoid soil parent material, were addressed using a combination of molecular biology and soil biogeochemical tools. Soil N and carbon (C) contents, δ15N signatures, activities of N acquiring extracellular enzymes as well as the abundance of soil bacteria and fungi, and diazotrophs in bulk topsoil and rhizosphere were determined. Relative fungal abundance in the rhizosphere was higher under woodland and forest than under shrubland. This indicates toward plants' higher C investment into fungi in the Mediterranean and temperate rainforest sites than in the arid site. Fungi are likely to decompose lignified forest litter for efficient recycling of litter-derived N and further nutrients. Rhizosphere—a hotspot for the N fixation—was enriched in diazotrophs (factor 8 to 16 in comparison to bulk topsoil) emphasizing the general importance of root/microbe association in N cycle. These results show that the temperate rainforest is an N acquiring ecosystem, whereas N in the arid shrubland is strongly recycled. Simultaneously, the strongest 15N enrichment with decreasing N content with depth was detected in the Mediterranean woodland, indicating that N mineralization and loss is highest (and likely the fastest) in the woodland across the continental transect. Higher relative aminopeptidase activities in the woodland than in the forest enabled a fast N mineralization. Relative aminopeptidase activities were highest in the arid shrubland. The highest absolute chitinase activities were observed in the forest. This likely demonstrates that (a) plants and microorganisms in the arid shrubland invest largely into mobilization and reutilization of organically bound N by exoenzymes, and (b) that the ecosystem N nutrition shifts from a peptide-based N in the arid shrubland to a peptide- and chitin-based N nutrition in the temperate rainforest, where the high N demand is complemented by intensive N fixation in the rhizosphere.
The field of materials science is defined as “the study of the properties of solid materials and how those properties are determined by a material’s composition and structure.”. Many –if not most– of the materials that are produced nowadays owe their properties to structures engineered down to the nanoscopic level. This need has been partly realized thanks to the understanding of materials’ building blocks via characterization techniques that reach this level of resolution. Transmission electron microscopy, since its first implementation in the early 1930s (in Berlin), has been implemented to achieve imaging –and spectral– analysis at lateral resolutions down to the atomic level.
In this contribution, a series of practical examples will be presented, where applied materials are characterized by a range of transmission electron microscopy techniques to understand structural and functional properties of a wide range of materials. Among these materials examples will be presented on structural conventionally and additively manufactured metallic alloys, high entropy alloys, dissimilar aluminum-to-steel welds, magnetic nanoparticles, ceramic coatings, high temperature oxidation products. Addressed will be either the effect of processing route or that of the exposure to experimental conditions similar to those found in the respective intended applications.
Additive manufacturing (AM) of metallic alloys has gained momentum in the past decade for industrial applications. The microstructures of AM metallic alloys are complex and hierarchical from the macroscopic to the nanometer scale. When using laser-based powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process, two main microstructural features emerge at the nanoscale: the melt pool boundaries (MPB) and the solidification cellular substructure.
Here, details of the MPB are revealed to clearly show the three-dimensional nature of MPBs with changes of cell growth of direction and their relation to their surrounding cellular substructure, as investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for L-PBF 316L austenitic stainless steel (cf. Figure 1). A hitherto unknown modulated substructure with a period of 21 nm is further discovered within cells as the result of a partial Ga+-focused ion beam-induced ferritic transformation of the austenite. Cell cores and cell boundaries differ notably regarding the modulated substructure.
This article presents deep unfolding neural networks to handle inverse problems in photothermal radiometry enabling super-resolution (SR) imaging. The photothermal SR approach is a well-known technique to overcome the spatial resolution limitation in photothermal imaging by extracting high-frequency spatial components based on the deconvolution with the thermal point spread function (PSF). However, stable deconvolution can only be achieved by using the sparse structure of defect patterns, which often requires tedious, handcrafted tuning of hyperparameters and results in computationally intensive algorithms. On this account, this article proposes Photothermal-SR-Net, which performs deconvolution by deep unfolding considering the underlying physics. Since defects appear sparsely in materials, our approach includes trained block-sparsity thresholding in each convolutional layer. This enables to super-resolve 2-D thermal images for nondestructive testing (NDT) with a substantially improved convergence rate compared to classic approaches. The performance of the proposed approach is evaluated on various deep unfolding and thresholding approaches. Furthermore, we explored how to increase the reconstruction quality and the computational performance. Thereby, it was found that the computing time for creating high-resolution images could be significantly reduced without decreasing the reconstruction quality by using pixel binning as a preprocessing step.
The application of characterization methods with high spatial resolution to the analysis of buried coating/metal interfaces requires the design and use of model systems. Herein, an epoxy-like thin film is used as a model coating resembling the epoxy-based coatings and adhesives widely used in technical applications. Spin coating is used for the deposition of a 30 nm-thin bilayer (BL) composed of poly-(ethylenimine) (PEI) and poly[(o-cresyl glycidyl ether)-co-formaldehyde] (CNER). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results confirm that the exposure of coated AA2024-T3 (AA) samples to the corrosive electrolyte solution does not cause the degradation of the polymer layer. In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies are performed to monitor local corrosion processes at the buried interface of the epoxy-like film and the AA2024-T3 aluminum alloy surface in an aqueous electrolyte solution. Hydrogen evolution due to the reduction of water as the cathodic corrosion reaction leads to local blister formation. Based on the results of the complementary energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis performed at the same region of interest, most of the hydrogen evolved originates at the vicinity of Mg-containing intermetallic particles.
Im Verbundprojekt RUSEKU wurde die Probenahme von Wasserproben entscheidend weiterentwickelt. Wichtig ist hierbei zu gewährleisten, dass genügend Merkmalsträger in jeder Probe untersucht werden. Es muss daher eine für den Probenahmeort repräsentative Beprobung hinsichtlich des Wasservolumens in Abhängigkeit der Partikelanzahl gewährleistet sein.
Das Hauptaugenmerk lag im vorliegenden Projekt auf einer praxisnahen Beprobungsstrategie. Es wurden verschiedene Konzepte ausprobiert.
• Grundsätzlich hat sich gezeigt, dass eine Stichprobe eine Momentaufnahme des MP-Massengehaltes zeigt. Es wird eine hohe Statistik, also eine Vielzahl an Messungen am gleichen Probenahmeort, benötigt, um eine valide Aussage über den MP-Gehalt zu machen.
• Es zeigt sich, dass eine integrale Probenahme über mehrere Wochen mit dem SK routinemäßig möglich ist. Die erfassten MP-Massen sind reproduzierbar und robust.
• Die DFZ ist für Stichproben geeignet. Partikel < 50 µm werden eventuell unterschätzt
• Die fraktionierte Filtration kann für Stich- und Mischproben direkt im Feld genutzt werden. Fraktionen von 10 und 5 µm werden später im Labor Vakuum filtriert. Es erfolgt eine Fraktionierung der Probe mit Siebmaschenweiten von 1000, 500, 100, 50, 10 und 5 µm.
• Die fraktionierte Filtration kann auch anschließend an die Beprobung mit dem SK zur Anwendung kommen. Wird die mit dem SK gewonnene Wasserprobe fraktioniert filtriert, kann neben einem MP-Gesamtgehalt auch eine Einschätzung über die Partikelgrößen gewonnen werden.
• Für Wässer mit geringen Partikelzahlen wurde ein Messfiltertiegel entwickelt. Dieser hat eine Maschenweite von 6 µm. Seine Anwendung kann mögliche Verluste beim Transferieren vom Probenahmetool zum Messgefäß und mögliche Kontaminationen reduzieren.
Die Optimierung der Probenahmestrategie wurde durch Modellversuche und Simulationen unterstützt. Modellversuche zum Sinkverhalten und Simulationen von MP in realen Gewässern verdeutlichten das komplexe Verhalten der Partikel. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass Partikel ab einer bestimmten Größe (und kleiner) bei genügend starker Turbulenz sich in der Wassersäule unabhängig von ihrer Dichte verhalten und so auch MP mit kleiner Dichte (z.B. PE) in der gesamten Wassersäule zu finden sind. Es konnte mit dem TEM die Existenz von NP gezeigt werden.
Ein wesentlicher Aspekt des RUSEKU Projektes war die Beprobung realer Kompartimente. Beprobt wurde neben Oberflächengewässern, das urbane Abwassersystem der Stadt Kaiserslautern, Waschmaschinenabwasser und Flaschenwasser.
• In Oberflächengewässern wurde hauptsächlich PE gefunden. Je nach Probe und Gewässer konnten auch PP, PS, PET, PA, SBR und Acrylate nachgewiesen werden.
• Im urbanen Abwassersystem der Stadt Kaiserslautern konnte an allen Probenahmestandorten MP nachgewiesen werden. Es wurde hauptsächlich PE, neben geringeren Mengen an PP, PS und SBR gefunden. Nach einem Regenereignis war der SBR Anteil deutlich erhöht.
• Die Beprobung eines realen Wäschepostens, bestehend aus T-Shirts und Hemden mit PA/CO oder PES/CO Mischgewebe, zeigte einen PA- und PES-Austrag im Waschwasser. Der überwiegende Teil der detektierten Fasern ist aber auf Baumwolle zurückzuführen. Reine gravimetrische Messungen zur Detektion von MP führen zu einer starken Überschätzung.
• In Flaschenwasser (PET-Flaschen) konnte MP detektiert werden. PET wurde nur im stillen Mineralwasser, nicht in Mineralwasser mit Kohlensäure gefunden werden. Teilweise wurde auch das MP-Material des Verschlusses im Wasser detektiert.
• Für Luftproben konnte ein Aufbau zur größenselektiven Beprobung getestet werden.
Neben der Probenahme hat das Projekt auch gezeigt, dass die TED-GC/MS geeignet für die MP-Detektion im Routinebetrieb ist. Die TED-GC/MS konnte weiter optimiert werden. Es wurden MP-Massen bestimmt.
Im Projekt wurden erste realitätsnahe Referenzmaterialien für die MP Detektion hergestellt. Die Herstellung von realitätsnahen Polymeren in ausreichender Homogenität und Menge hat sich als große Herausforderung herausgestellt.
Objectives: Using a murine model of multiple sclerosis, we previously showed that repeated administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine led to retention of gadolinium (Gd) within cerebellar structures and that this process was enhanced with inflammation. This study aimed to compare the kinetics and retention profiles of Gd in inflamed and healthy brains after application of the macrocyclic Gd-based contrast agent (GBCA) gadobutrol or the linear GBCA gadopentetate. Moreover, potential Gd-induced neurotoxicity was investigated in living hippocampal slices ex vivo.
Materials and Methods: Mice at peak of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE; n = 29) and healthy control mice (HC; n = 24) were exposed to a cumulative dose of 20 mmol/kg bodyweight of either gadopentetate dimeglumine or gadobutrol (8 injections of 2.5 mmol/kg over 10 days). Magnetic resonance imaging (7 T) was performed at baseline as well as at day 1, 10, and 40 post final injection (pfi) of GBCAs. Mice were sacrificed after magnetic resonance imaging and brain and blood Gd content was assessed by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-mass spectrometry (MS) and ICP-MS, respectively. In addition, using chronic organotypic hippocampal slice cultures, Gd-induced neurotoxicity was addressed in living brain tissue ex vivo, both under control or inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α] at 50 ng/μL) conditions.
Results: Neuroinflammation promoted a significant decrease in T1 relaxation times after multiple injections of both GBCAs as shown by quantitative T1 mapping of EAE brains compared with HC. This corresponded to higher Gd retention within the EAE brains at 1, 10, and 40 days pfi as determined by laser ablation-ICP-MS. In inflamed cerebellum, in particular in the deep cerebellar nuclei (CN), elevated Gd retention was observed until day 40 after last gadopentetate application (CN: EAE vs HC, 55.06 ± 0.16 μM vs 30.44 ± 4.43 μM). In contrast, gadobutrol application led to a rather diffuse Gd content in the inflamed brains, which strongly diminished until day 40 (CN: EAE vs HC, 0.38 ± 0.08 μM vs 0.17 ± 0.03 μM). The analysis of cytotoxic effects of both GBCAs using living brain tissue revealed an elevated cell death rate after incubation with gadopentetate but not gadobutrol at 50 mM. The cytotoxic effect due to gadopentetate increased in the presence of the inflammatory mediator TNF-α (with vs without TNF-α, 3.15% ± 1.18% vs 2.17% ± 1.14%; P = 0.0345).
Conclusions: In the EAE model, neuroinflammation promoted increased Gd retention in the brain for both GBCAs. Whereas in the inflamed brains, efficient clearance of macrocyclic gadobutrol during the investigated time period was observed, the Gd retention after application of linear gadopentetate persisted over the entire observational period. Gadopentetate but not gadubutrol appeared to be neurotoxic in an ex vivo paradigm of neuronal inflammation.
NIR-excitable lanthanide nanocrystals (LnNC) show multi-color emission pattern composed of a multitude of narrow bands of varying intensity in the ultraviolet, visible, near-infrared, and short-wave infrared detectable with miniaturized optical instruments and simple color (RGB) cameras in complex environments. This makes these chemically inert luminescent materials ideal candidates for anticounterfeiting and authentication applications as well as for modules in optical sensors in which the LnNCs can be used as nanolamps in combination with analyte-sensitive fluorophores or the temperature sensitivity of defined emission bands can be utilized.
Therefore, we are building up and exploring a platform of LnNC with application-specifically tuned size, composition, and surface chemistry.
Iron-based catalysts are employed in CO2-FTS due to their ability to convert CO2 into CO in a first step and their selectivity towards higher hydrocarbons in a second CO hydrogenation step. According to the literature, iron carbides represent the active phase for hydrocarbon formation and are claimed to emerge in the presence of CO. We propose nanostructured FeOx films as model systems to assess information about the complex phase transformations during CO2-FTS. Mesoporous hematite, ferrihydrite, maghemite, maghemite/magnetite films were exposed to CO2-FTS atmospheres at 20 bar and 300°C. Up to three distinct phases were observed depending on the timeon-stream (TOS): a sintered maghemite/magnetite phase, a carbidic core-shell structure, and a low-crystalline, needle-type oxide phase. Our findings indicate that the formation of an intermediary maghemite/magnetite phase, predominant after short TOS (30 h), precedes the evolution of the carbide phase.
Yet, even after prolonged TOS (185 h), no full conversion into a bulk carbide is observed.
A recent approach to measure electron radiation doses in the kGy range is the use of phosphors with an irradiation dose-dependent luminescence decay time. However, the applicability of the previously investigated material NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ is limited as it shows pronounced fading. Therefore, in this work, a modified SrF2 synthesis is presented that results in SrF2 nanoparticles codoped with Yb and either Er, Hm, or Tm. To assess their suitability as dosimeter material, dose response, as well as its degree of fading over 50 up to 140 days after irradiation were measured. Fading rates as small as 5% in SrF2:Er,Yb and 4% in SrF2:Ho,Yb were derived, which are comparable to established dosimeter materials. A combination of spectroscopy, diffraction and DFT calculations was used to elucidate the effect of irradiation, pointing towards the formation of a secondary phase of Yb2+ that we predict could be Yb2OF2. This irreversible formation of a secondary phase is considered to be the explanation for the low fading behavior in SrF2-based phosphors compared to NaYF4:Yb, Er, a highly attractive feature for electron beam dosimetry.
One aim of the EMPIR nPSize project 17NRM04 was to develop and validate three classes of candidate reference (test) materials (RTMs), with i) well-defined non-spherical shape, ii) relatively high polydispersity index, and iii) accurate particle concentrations.
To fulfil the requirements of the project, 11 different types of materials were prepared. Following the initial assessment of the materials suitability, nPSize5_PT_UNITO, nPSize6_AC_UNITO and nPSize7_GN_CEA materials were found unsuitable for the project, due to various reasons. PT material was deemed unsuitable due to its predominantly agglomerated nature. AC material contained relatively high amount of impurities (other particle forms). GN material was found too heterogeneous in both the length and width for the purpose of the project. The remaining 8 candidate RTMs were assessed for their homogeneity and stability and used for successful delivery of the associated activities within the nPSize project.
Stability, dissolution, and cytotoxicity of NaYF4‑upconversion nanoparticles with different coatings
(2022)
Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their unique photophysical properties. Their utilization in biomedical applications depends on the understanding of their transformations under physiological conditions and their potential toxicity. In this study, NaYF4: Yb,Er UCNPs, widely used for luminescence and photophysical studies, were modified with a set of four different coordinatively bound surface ligands, i.e., citrate, alendronate (AA), ethylendiamine tetra(methylene phosphonate) (EDTMP), and poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-octadecene) (PMAO), as well as silica coatings with two different thicknesses. Subsequently, the aging-induced release of fluoride ions in water and cell culture media and their cytotoxic profile to human keratinocytes were assessed in parallel to the cytotoxic evaluation of the ligands, sodium fluoride and the lanthanide ions. The cytotoxicity studies of UCNPs with different surface modifications demonstrated the good biocompatibility of EDTMP-UCNPs and PMAO-UCNPs, which is in line with the low amount of fluoride ions released from these samples. An efficient prevention of UCNP dissolution and release of cytotoxic ions, as well as low cytotoxicity was also observed for UCNPs with a sufficiently thick silica shell. Overall, our results provide new insights into the
understanding of the contribution of surface chemistry to the stability, dissolution behavior, and cytotoxicity of UCNPs. Altogether, the results obtained are highly important for future applications of UCNPs in the life sciences and bioimaging studies.
One-pot covalent functionalization of 2D black phosphorus by anionic ring opening polymerization
(2022)
In this work, a one-pot approach for the covalent functionalization of few-layer black phosphorus (BP) by anionic ring opening polymerization of glycidol to obtain multifunctional BP-polyglycerol (BP-PG) with high amphiphilicity for near-infrared-responsive drug delivery and biocompatibility is reported. Straightforward synthesis in combination with exceptional biological and physicochemical properties designates functionalized BP-PG as a promising candidate for a broad range of biomedical applications.
Das Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war die rekombinante Herstellung der AnFAO in E. coli, welche ursprünglich von A. niger produziert wird, und deren anschließende Anwendung in der Entwick-lung eines Fumonisin- Biosensors für die Lebensmittelanalytik. In Bezug auf die aktuell steigen-den Lebensmittel- und Rohstoffpreise ist die Entwicklung eines Schnelltestsystems zur Detektion von Kontaminationen mit Mykotoxinen besonders gefragt, da zusätzliche Verluste und Kosten verhindert werden können. Für die Herstellung der AnFAO als MBP-Fusionsprotein und Biotin-Fusionsprotein mit zusätzlichem 6x His-Tag wurden die pET-MBP-AnFAO und pRSET-BH6-An-FAO Expressionsvektoren erfolgreich konstruiert. Die lösliche Expression im Cytoplasma wurde von MBP-AnFAO erreicht, wobei die Expression von BH6-AnFAO in inclusion bodies erfolgte und keine Aktivität des Enzyms nachgewiesen wurde. Die Enzymaktivität von MBP-AnFAO wurde im optischen Assay und amperometrisch durch die Detektion von H2O2 ermittelt. Im optischen Assay wurde die maximale spezifische Aktivität von 2,45 U/mg bei 45 °C, einer Enzymkonzentration von 3 μM und 50 μM FB1 erreicht. Generell wurden mit FB1 als Enzymsubstrat höhere Fluoreszenzsig-nale und dementsprechend höhere Enzymaktivitäten als für FB2 beobachtet. Es wurde ein linearer Zusammenhang der Enzymaktivitäten mit der Substratkonzentration beobachtet. Außerdem wurde ein Anstieg der H2O2-Konzentration mit zunehmender Inkubationszeit (bis zu 60 Minuten) erkannt. Des Weiteren wurde der Einfluss des MBP-Fusionsproteins auf die Enzymaktivität des AnFAO untersucht. Dabei wurde anhand von wesentlich geringeren Aktivitäten für AnFAO allein ein eventueller Einfluss des MBP auf dessen Aktivität festgestellt. Ein elektrochemischer Aufbau wurde zur Entwicklung eines Fumonisin- Sensors genutzt. Dazu wurde nachgewiesen, dass FB1 von rekombinant hergestelltem MBP-AnFAO unter Bildung von NH3 und H2O2 zu weniger toxi-schem FB1, dem FPy1, oxidiert werden kann. An der PB/Kohlenstoff-Elektrode, welche sensitiver gegenüber H2O2 und stabiler als die CoPC/Kohlenstoff Elektrode war, wurde die Reduktion des enzymatisch gebildeten H2O2 gemessen. Die Erstellung einer FB1- Kalibriergerade mit FB1- Lösun-gen verschiedener Konzentrationen zeigte, dass das Enzym auch in immobilisierter Form in der Lage ist unterschiedliche Konzentrationen an FB1 zu desaminieren. Dazu gehört auch der Kon-zentrationsbereich unterhalb des festgelegten Grenzwertes von 2,7 μmol/kg für Fumonisin. Die amperometrischen Kurven hierfür wurden an der PB/Kohlenstoff-Elektrode erfolgreich aufge-nommen. Störungen des H2O2- Redoxstroms durch das Enzym, der Enzymsubstrate und der Ne-benprodukte während der amperometrischen Messung wurden ausgeschlossen. Sowohl im opti-schen als auch im amperometrischen Assay wurde ausschließlich das enzymatisch gebildete H2O2 bestimmt.
We demonstrate here using a disulfide system the first example of reversible, selective, and quantitative transformation between three crystalline polymorphs by ball mill grinding. This includes the discovery of a previously unknown polymorph. Each polymorph is reproducibly obtained under well-defined neat or liquid-assisted grinding conditions, revealing subtle control over the apparent thermodynamic stability. We discovered that the presence of a contaminant as low as 1.5% mol mol−1 acting as a template is required to enable all these three polymorph transformations. The relative stabilities of the polymorphs are determined by the sizes of the nanocrystals produced under different conditions and by surface interactions with small amounts of added solvent. For the first time, we show evidence that each of the three polymorphs is obtained with a unique and reproducible crystalline size. This mechanochemical approach gives access to bulk quantities of metastable polymorphs that are inaccessible through recrystallisation.
A global transition towards more sustainable, affordable and reliable energy systems is being stimulated by the Paris Agreement and the United Nation's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This poses a challenge for the corrosion industry, as building climate‐resilient energy systems and infrastructures brings with it a long‐term direction, so as a result the long‐term behaviour of structural materials (mainly metals and alloys) becomes a major prospect. With this in mind “Corrosion Challenges Towards a Sustainable Society” presents a series of cases showing the importance of corrosion protection of metals and alloys in the development of energy production to further understand the science of corrosion, and bring the need for research and the consequences of corrosion into public and political focus. This includes emphasis on the limitation of greenhouse gas emissions, on the lifetime of infrastructures, implants, cultural heritage artefacts, and a variety of other topics.
Next-generation thermal management requires the development of low lattice thermal conductivity materials, as observed in ionic conductors. For example, thermoelectric efficiency is increased when thermal conductivity is decreased. Detrimentally, high ionic conductivity leads to thermoelectric device degradation. Battery safety and design also require an understanding of thermal transport in ionic conductors. Ion mobility, structural complexity, and anharmonicity have been used to explain the thermal transport properties of ionic conductors. However, thermal and ionic transport are rarely discussed in direct comparison. Herein, the ionic conductivity of Ag+ argyrodites is found to change by orders of magnitude without altering the thermal conductivity. Thermal conductivity measurements and two-channel lattice dynamics modeling reveal that the majority of Ag+ vibrations have a non-propagating diffuson-like character, similar to amorphous materials. It is found that high ionic mobility is not a requirement for diffuson-mediated transport. Instead, the same bonding and structural traits that can lead to fast ionic conduction also lead to diffuson-mediated transport. Bridging the fields of solid-state ionics and thermal transport, it is proposed that a vibrational perspective can lead to new design strategies for functional ionic conducting materials. As a first step, the authors relate the so-called Meyer-Neldel behavior in ionic conductors to phonon occupations.
Atomically precise gold nanoclusters are a fascinating class of nanomaterials that exhibit molecule-like properties and have outstanding photoluminescence (PL). Their ultrasmall size, molecular chemistry, and biocompatibility make them extremely appealing for selective biomolecule labeling in investigations of biological mechanisms at the cellular and anatomical levels. In this work, we report a simple route to incorporate a preformed Au25 nanocluster into a model bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein. A new approach combining small-angle X-ray scattering and molecular modeling provides a clear localization of a single Au25 within the protein to a cysteine residue on the gold nanocluster surface.
Attaching Au25 to BSA strikingly modifies the PL properties with enhancement and a redshift in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window. This study paves the way to conrol the design of selective sensitive probes in biomolecules through a ligand-based strategy to enable the optical detection of biomolecules in a cellular environment by live imaging.
This paper discusses the feasibility of a novel strategy based on the combination of bioprinting nano-doping technology and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis for the preparation and characterization of gelatin- based multi-element calibration standards suitable for quantitative imaging. To achieve this, lanthanide up-conversion nanoparticles were added to a gelatin matrix to produce the bioprinted calibration standards. The features of this bioprinting approach were com- pared with manual cryosectioning standard preparation, in terms of throughput, between batch repeatability and elemental signal homogeneity at 5 μm spatial resolution. By using bioprinting, the between batch variability for three independent standards of the same concentration of 89 Y (range 0–600 mg/kg) was reduced to 5% compared to up to 27% for cryosectioning. On this basis, the relative standard deviation ( RSD ) obtained between three independent calibration slopes measured within 1 day also reduced from 16% (using cryosectioning ) to 5% (using bioprinting), supporting the use of a single standard preparation replicate for each of the concentrations to achieve good calibration performance using bioprinting. This helped reduce the analysis time by approximately 3-fold. With cryosectioning each standard was prepared and sectioned individually, whereas using bio-printing it was possible to have up to six different standards printed simultaneously, reducing the preparation time from approximately 2 h to under 20 min (by approxi- mately 6-fold). The bio-printed calibration standards were found stable for a period of 2 months when stored at ambient temperature and in the dark.
Methodologies for model parameterization of virtual CTs for measurement uncertainty estimation
(2022)
X-ray computed tomography (XCT) is a fast-growing technology for dimensional measurements in industrial applications. However, traceable and efficient methods to determine measurement uncertainties are not available. Guidelines like the VDI/VDE 2630 Part 2.1 suggest at least 20 repetitions of a specific measurement task, which is not feasible for industrial standards. Simulation-based approaches to determine task specific measurement uncertainties are promising, but require closely adjusted model parameters and an integration of error sources like geometrical deviations during a measurement. Unfortunately, the development of an automated process to parameterize and integrate geometrical deviations into XCT models is still an open issue. In this work, the whole processing chain of dimensional XCT measurements is taken into account with focus on the issues and requirements to determine suitable parameters of geometrical deviations. Starting off with baseline simulations of different XCT systems, two approaches are investigated to determine and integrate geometrical deviations of reference measurements. The first approach tries to iteratively estimate geometric deviation parameter values to match the characteristics of the missing error sources. The second approach estimates those values based on radiographs of a known calibrated reference object. In contrast to prior work both approaches only use a condensed set of parameters to map geometric deviations. In case of the iterative approach, some major issues regarding unhandled directional dependencies have been identified and discussed. Whereas the radiographic method resulted in task specific expanded measurements uncertainties below one micrometre even for bi-directional features, which is a step closer towards a true digital twin for uncertainty estimations in dimensional XCT.
Traceable determination of non-static XCT machine geometry: New developments and case studies
(2022)
It is fundamental to determine the machine geometry accurately for dimensional X-ray computed tomography (XCT) measurements. When performing high-accuracy scans, compensation of a non-static geometry, e.g. due to rotary axis errors or drift, might become necessary. Here we provide an overview of methods to determine and account for such deviations on a per projection basis. They include characterisation of stage error motions, in situ geometry measurements, numerical simulations, and reconstruction-based optimization relying on image quality metrics and will be discussed in terms of their metrological performance. Since a radiographic calibration is always required to provide an initial absolute geometry, this method will be presented as well. The improvements of the XCT geometry correction methods are presented by means of case studies. The methods can be applied individually or in combination and are intended to provide a toolbox for XCT geometry compensation.
Porous carbons are promising anode materials for next generation lithium batteries due to their large lithium storage capacities. However, their highsloping capacity during lithiation and delithiation as well as capacity fading due to intense formation of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) limit their gravimetric and volumetric energy densities. Herein we compare a microporous carbide-derived carbon material (MPC) as promising future anode for all solid-state batteries with a commercial high-performance hard carbon anode. The MPC obtains high and reversible lithiation capacities of 1000 mAh g−1carbon in half-cells exhibiting an extended plateau region near 0 V vs. Li/Li+ preferable for full-cell application. The well-defined microporosity of the MPC with a specific surface area of >1500 m2 g−1 combines well with the argyrodite-type electrolyte (Li6PS5Cl) suppressing extensive SEI formation to deliver high coulombic efficiencies. Preliminary full-cell measurements vs. nickel-rich NMC-cathodes (LiNi0.9Co0.05Mn0.05O2) provide a considerably improved average potential of 3.76 V leading to a projected energy density as high as 449 Wh kg−1 and reversible cycling for more than 60 cycles. 7Li Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy was combined with ex-situ Small Angle X-ray Scattering to elucidate the storage mechanism of lithium inside the carbon matrix. The formation of extended quasi-metallic lithium clusters after electrochemical lithiation was revealed.
In an interdisciplinary collaboration, restorers, art historians, and scientists examined Guilio Romano’s The Madonna with the Wash-Basin of 1525 (Dresden State Art Collections). Insights into the painting technique along with art historical comparisons provided the opportunity for a better understanding of the painting’s genesis, in particular concerning an early reworking of the background by the artist. A recovery and reconstruction of the earlier version of the background is now possible. The discovery of zinc in distinct passages of the painting, as well as the grey-black pigment stibnite and glass particles used as a supplement in paint layers are of special interest. The technological investigation initiated a discussion about the circumstances of the revision, as well as the painting’s relation to Vasari’s Lives of Artists.
Die Reduktion von Reibung und Verschleiß in technischen Systemen bietet ein großes Potenzial zur Reduktion von CO2-Emissionen. Dieser Beitrag diskutiert die Erzeugung und tribologische Charakterisierung von Ultrakurzpuls-generierten Nano- und Mikrostrukturen auf Metallen (Stahl, Titan). Besonderes Augenmerk wird dabei auf die Rolle der laserinduzierten Oxidschicht im Zusammenspiel mit verschleißreduzierenden Additiven in ölbasierten Schmiermitteln gerichtet.
Laser-induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS, ripples) are a universal phenomenon and can be generated in a contactless, single-step process on almost any type of solid upon irradiation with intense laser pulses. They represent a (quasi-)periodic modulation of the surface topography in the form of a linear grating and are typically formed in a “self-ordered” way in the focus of a laser beam. Thus, they are often accompanying laser material processing applications. The structural sizes of LIPSS typically range from several micrometers down to less than 100 nanometers – far beyond the optical diffraction limit – while their orientations exhibit a clear correlation with the local polarization direction of the laser radiation. From a theoretical point of view, a controversial debate has emerged during the last decades, whether LIPSS originate from electromagnetic effects (seeded already during the laser irradiation) – or whether they emerge from matter-reorganization processes (distinctly after the laser irradiation). From a practical point of view, however, LIPSS represent a simple and robust way for the nanostructuring of solids that allows creating a wide range of different surface functionalities featuring applications in optics, tribology, medicine, energy technologies, etc. While the currently available laser and scanner technology already allows surface processing rates at the m^2/min level, industrial applications of LIPSS are sometimes limited by the complex interplay between the nanoscale surface topography and the specific surface chemistry. This typically manifests in difficulties to control the processing of LIPSS and in limitations to ensure the long-term stability of the created surface functions. This presentation reviews the currently existent theories of LIPSS. A focus is laid on the historic development of the fundamental ideas behind the LIPSS, their corresponding mathematical descriptions and numerical implementations, along with a comparison and critical assessment of the different approaches. Moreover, some unsolved scientific problems related to LIPSS are identified and the pending technological limitations are discussed. Hereby, it is intended to stimulate further research and developments in the field of LIPSS for overcoming these limitations and for supporting the transfer of the LIPSS technology into industry.
Laser-induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS): Mechanisms, Applications, and unsolved Problems
(2022)
Laser-induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS, ripples) are a universal phenomenon and can be generated in a contactless, single-step process on almost any type of solid upon irradiation with intense laser pulses. They represent a (quasi-)periodic modulation of the surface topography in the form of a linear grating and are typically formed in a “self-ordered” way in the focus of a laser beam. Thus, they are often accompanying laser material processing applications. The structural sizes of LIPSS typically range from several micrometers down to less than 100 nanometers – far beyond the optical diffraction limit – while their orientations exhibit a clear correlation with the local polarization direction of the laser radiation. From a theoretical point of view, a controversial debate has emerged during the last decades, whether LIPSS originate from electromagnetic effects (seeded already during the laser irradiation) – or whether they emerge from matter-reorganization processes (distinctly after the laser irradiation). From a practical point of view, however, LIPSS represent a simple and robust way for the nanostructuring of solids that allows creating a wide range of different surface functionalities featuring applications in optics, tribology, medicine, energy technologies, etc. While the currently available laser and scanner technology already allows surface processing rates at the m^2/min level, industrial applications of LIPSS are sometimes limited by the complex interplay between the nanoscale surface topography and the specific surface chemistry. This typically manifests in difficulties to control the processing of LIPSS and in limitations to ensure the long-term stability of the created surface functions. This presentation reviews the currently existent theories of LIPSS. A focus is laid on the historic development of the fundamental ideas behind the LIPSS, their corresponding mathematical descriptions and numerical implementations, along with a comparison and critical assessment of the different approaches. Moreover, some unsolved scientific problems related to LIPSS are identified and the pending technological limitations are discussed. Hereby, it is intended to stimulate further research and developments in the field of LIPSS for overcoming these limitations and for supporting the transfer of the LIPSS technology into industry
Imaging Keratan Sulfate in Ocular Tissue Sections by Immunofluorescence Microscopy and LA-ICP-MS
(2022)
Carbohydrate-specific antibodies can serve as valuable tools to monitor alterations in the extracellular matrix resulting from pathologies. Here, the keratan sulfate-specific monoclonal antibody MZ15 was characterized in more detail by immunofluorescence microscopy as well as laser ablation ICP-MS using tissue cryosections and paraffin-embedded samples. Pretreatment with keratanase II prevented staining of samples and therefore demonstrated efficient enzymatic keratan sulfate degradation. Random fluorescent labeling and site-directed introduction of a metal cage into MZ15 were successful and allowed for a highly sensitive detection of the keratan sulfate landscape in the corneal stroma from rats and human tissue.
The roles extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) play in mineral attachment and weathering were studied using genetically modified biofilms of the rock-inhabiting fungus Knufia petricola strain A95. Mutants deficient in melanin and/or carotenoid synthesis were grown as air-exposed biofilms. Extracted EPS were quantified and characterised using a combination of analytical techniques. The absence of melanin affected the quantity and composition of the produced EPS: mutants no longer able to form melanin synthesised more EPS containing fewer pullulan-related glycosidic linkages. Moreover, the melanin-producing strains attached more strongly to the mineral olivine and dissolved it at a higher rate. We hypothesise that the pullulan-related linkages, with their known adhesion functionality, enable fungal attachment and weathering. The released phenolic intermediates of melanin synthesis in the Δsdh1 mutant might play a role similar to Fe-chelating siderophores, driving olivine dissolution even further. These data demonstrate the need for careful compositional and quantitative analyses of biofilm-created microenvironments.
Electron microscopy (EM) is the gold standard for the characterisation of the morphology (size and shape) of nanoparticles. Visual observation of objects under examination is always a necessary first step in the characterisation process. Several questions arise when undertaking to identify and count particles to measure their size and shape distribution. In addition to challenges with the dispersion and identification of the particles, more than one protocol for counting particles is in use. This paper focuses on precise rules for the counting of particles in EM micrographs, as this influences the measurement accuracy of the number of particles, thus implicitly affecting the size values of the counted particles. We review and compare four different, commonly used methods for counting, which we then apply in case studies. The impact of the selected counting rule on the obtained final particle size distribution is highlighted. One main aim of this analysis is to support the application of a specific, well-defined counting approach in accordance with regulatory
requirements to contribute to achieving more reliable and reproducible results. It is also useful for the new harmonised measurement procedures for determining the particle size and particle size distribution of nanomaterials.
The OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) has actively worked towards understanding possible safety issues for manufactured nanomaterials and has contributed significantly to resolving these by developing Test Guidelines, Guidance Documents, Test Reports and other publications with the aim of a safe use of manufactured nanomaterials. To address the specific needs of manufactured nanomaterials, the OECD Test Guideline No. 110 “Particle Size Distribution/Fibre Length and Diameter Distributions” was identified as one of the test guidelines (TGs) to require an update. The current TG 110 (adopted in 1981) is only valid for particles and fibres with sizes above 250 nm. The WPMN prioritised to either update TG 110 to be applicable also to particles at the nanoscale or draft a new nanomaterial specific (TG).
Eventually, it was decided to develop a new TG that covers the size range from 1 nm to 1000 nm, intended for particle size and particle size distribution measurements of nanomaterials. Paragraph 11 provides further justification on the need for such measurements for nanomaterials. This TG overlaps with TG 110 in the size range from 250 nm to 1000 nm. When measuring particulate or fibrous materials, the appropriate TG should be selected depending on the size range of particles tested. In line with TG 110, the new TG for nanomaterials includes separate parts for particles and fibres.
For the part of this TG which addresses particles, several methods applicable to nanomaterials were reviewed and included to take into account developments since 1981 when the TG 110 was adopted. This TG includes the following methods: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Centrifugal Liquid Sedimentation (CLS)/Analytical Ultracentrifugation (AUC), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Differential Mobility Analysis System (DMAS), (Nano)Particle Tracking Analysis (PTA/NTA), Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The method Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (sp-ICP-MS) could not be sufficiently validated within the interlaboratory comparison (ILC) carried out for the different methods in this TG (see also paragraph 6 for further details on the ILC). Applicability of sp-ICP-MS is strongly limited to nanomaterials with high mass values in combination with a sufficiently high particle size. However, the general method ICP-MS is widely used and the sp-mode for the size measurement of specific nanomaterials was successfully performed in ILCs elsewhere. The method is therefore included in the Appendix Part C of this TG, which further details the limitations of sp-ICP-MS.
For measuring the diameter and length of fibres, analysing images captured with electron microscopy is currently the only method available. This TG includes Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).
To test the validity of this TG, an ILC was performed. Test materials were chosen to reflect a broad range of nanomaterial classes, e.g. metals, metal oxides, polymers and carbon materials. Where possible, well-characterised test materials were used.
Additionally, the test materials were chosen to reflect a broad range of sizes representing the size range 1 nm to 1000 nm. Specifically for fibres, a broad range of aspect ratios was included (length/diameter of 3 to > 50). Some of the test materials used are commercially available and further references are given in the validation report of the ILC. Sample preparation for physical chemical characterisation is critical for all listed methods. Due to the differences between individual nanomaterials and due to the wide range of individual material properties it is impossible to have a generic protocol to obtain the best possible sample preparation for every nanomaterial. Therefore, a generic protocol on sample preparation is not part of this TG. Information on sample preparation is given in the paragraphs 25-29, 33, 34 and 39 for particles and in paragraphs 159) for fibres. Further information on sample preparation of nanomaterials for physical chemical characterisation can be found in the OECD Guidance on Sample Preparation and Dosimetry for the Safety Testing of Manufactured Nanomaterials and elsewhere.
This study combines three different approaches to lower the sintering temperature of Sm-doped CaMnO3 to save energy in production and facilitate co-firing with other low-firing oxides or metallization. The surface energy of the powder was increased by fine milling, sintering kinetics were enhanced by additives, and uniaxial pressure during sintering was applied. The shrinkage, density, microstructure, and thermoelectric properties were evaluated. Compared to micro-sized powder, the use of finely ground powder allows us to lower the sintering temperature by 150 K without reduction of the power factor. By screening the effect of various common additives on linear shrinkage of CaMnO3 after sintering at 1100 ○C for 2 h, CuO is identified as the most effective additive. Densification at sintering temperatures below 1000 ○C can be significantly increased by pressure-assisted sintering. The power factor at room temperature of CaMnO3 nano-powder sintered at 1250 ○C was 445 μW/(m K2). Sintering at 1100 ○C reduced the power factor to 130 μW/(m K2) for CaMnO3 nano-powder, while addition of 4 wt.% CuO to the same powder led to ∼290 μW/(m K2). The combination of fine milling, CuO addition, and pressureassisted sintering at 950 ○C resulted in a power factor of ∼130 μW/(m K2). These results show that nano-sized powder and CuO addition are successful and recommendable strategies to produce CaMnO3 with competitive properties at significantly reduced temperatures and dwell times.
One of the challenges of high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells is the poisoning of the Pt catalyst with H3PO4. H3PO4 is imbibed into the routinely used polybenzimidazole-based membranes, which facilitate proton conductivity in the temperature range of 120−200 °C. However, when leached out of the membrane by water produced during operation, H3PO4 adsorbs on the Pt catalyst surface, blocking the active sites and hindering the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).
The reduction of H3PO4 to H3PO3, which occurs at the anode due to a combination of a low potential and the presence of gaseous H2, has been investigated as an additional important contributing factor to the observed poisoning effect. H3PO3 has an affinity toward adsorption on Pt surfaces even greater than that of H2PO4 −. In this work, we investigated the poisoning effect of both H3PO3 and H3PO4 using a half-cell setup with a gas diffusion electrode under ambient conditions. By means of in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, it was possible to follow the signature of different species adsorbed on the Pt nanoparticle catalyst (H, O, H2PO4 −, and H3PO3) at different potentials under ORR conditions in various electrolytes (HClO4, H3PO4, and H3PO3). It was found that H3PO3 adsorbs in a pyramidal configuration P(OH)3 through a Pt−P bond. The competition between H3PO4 and H3PO3 adsorption was studied, which should allow for a better understanding of the catalyst poisoning mechanism and thus assist in the development of strategies to mitigate this phenomenon in the future by minimizing H3PO3 generation by, for example, improved catalyst design or adapted operation conditions or changes in the electrolyte composition.
Ultrasonic measurement technology has become indispensable in NDT-CE. Air-coupled ultrasonic (ACU) measurement techniques promise to reduce measurement time. However, the signal quality suffers from large specific impedance mismatch at the transducer-air and air-specimen interface. Additionally, large pressure amplitudes are necessary for the penetration depth required in NDT-CE applications. To address the specific requirements of ultrasonic testing in NDT-CE, a robust ACU transducer was developed, that generates ultrasound by quickly switching a pressurized air flow. The simple design of the fluidic transducer makes the device maintenance free and resilient against harsh environmental conditions. Since the signal is generated by aeroacoustics, there is no specific impedance mismatch between the transducer and the surrounding air. The ultrasonic signal exhibits frequencies in the 30-60 kHz range and is therefore well suited to penetrate heterogenous materials such as concrete. This contribution gives an introduction in the working principle and signal characteristics of the fluidic transducer. Its applicability to measurements in concrete is verified. A detailed outlook is given to discuss the future potential of fluidic ultrasonic actuators.
The development of earth-abundant catalysts for selective electrochemical CO2 conversion is a central challenge. Cu-Sn bimetallic catalysts can yield selective CO2 reduction toward either CO or formate. This study presents oxide-derived Cu-Sn catalysts tunable for either product and seeks to understand the synergetic effects between Cu and Sn causing these selectivity trends. The materials undergo significant transformations under CO2 reduction conditions, and their dynamic bulk and surface structures are revealed by correlating observations from multiple methods—X-ray absorption spectroscopy for in situ study, and quasi in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for surface sensitivity. For both types of catalysts, Cu transforms to metallic Cu0 under reaction conditions. However, the Sn speciation and content differ significantly between the catalyst types: the CO-selective catalysts exhibit a surface Sn content of 13 at. % predominantly present as oxidized Sn, while the formate-selective catalysts display an Sn content of ≈70 at. % consisting of both metallic Sn0 and Sn oxide species. Density functional theory simulations suggest that Snδ+ sites weaken CO adsorption, thereby enhancing CO selectivity, while Sn0 sites hinder H adsorption and promote formate production. This study reveals the complex dependence of catalyst structure, composition, and speciation with electrochemical bias in bimetallic Cu catalysts.
The concept behind this Research Topic (RT) was to collect works, in which Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) techniques are employed to study tribological phenomena and to push the resolution of measurements towards single asperity contact. Thanks to the direct determination of sample height with sub-nanometer resolution and the possibility of measuring local friction, AFM can be employed after a tribotest to detect topography and friction changes at the nanometer scale. Recently, efforts are being expended to use AFM cantilevers as tribometers, i.e., as probes altering the volume of suitable samples, thereby measuring tip and/or sample wear and friction at the nano/microscale. Thus, single asperity contact, friction, and wear can be investigated. Since friction and wear at the macroscale are the result of asperities interactions, such experiments are of great importance for better understanding of tribological processes.
The pore geometry of bone scaffolds has a major impact on their cellular response; for this reason, 3D printing is an attractive technology for bone tissue engineering, as it allows for the full control and design of the porosity. Calcium phosphate materials synthesized from natural sources have recently attracted a certain interest because of their similarity to natural bone, and they were found to show better bioactivity than synthetic compounds. Nevertheless, these materials are very challenging to be processed by 3D printing due to technological issues related to their nanometric size. In this work, bone scaffolds with different pore geometries, with a uniform size or with a size gradient, were fabricated by binder jetting 3D printing using a biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) nanopowder derived from cuttlebones. To do so, the nanopowder was mixed with a glass-ceramic powder with a larger particle size (45–100 µm) in 1:10 weight proportions. Pure AP40mod scaffolds were also printed. The sintered scaffolds were shown to be composed mainly by hydroxyapatite (HA) and wollastonite, with the amount of HA being larger when the nanopowder was added because BCP transforms into HA during sintering at 1150 ◦C. The addition of bio-derived powder increases the porosity from 60% to 70%, with this indicating that the nanoparticles slow down the glass-ceramic densification. Human mesenchymal stem cells were seeded on the scaffolds to test the bioactivity in vitro. The cells’ number and metabolic activity were analyzed after 3, 5 and 10 days of culturing.
The cellular behavior was found to be very similar for samples with different pore geometries and compositions. However, while the cell number was constantly increasing, the metabolic activity on the scaffolds with gradient pores and cuttlebone-derived powder decreased over time, which might be a sign of cell differentiation. Generally, all scaffolds promoted fast cell adhesion and proliferation, which were found to penetrate and colonize the 3D porous structure.
Iron nitride (Fe3N) and iron carbide (Fe3C) nanoparticles can be prepared via sol−gel synthesis. While sol−gel methods are simple, it can be difficult to control the crystalline composition, i.e., to achieve a Rietveld-pure product. In a previous in situ synchrotron study of the sol−gel synthesis of Fe3N/Fe3C, we showed that the reaction proceeds as follows:
Fe3O4 → FeOx → Fe3N → Fe3C. There was considerable overlap between the different phases, but we were unable to ascertain whether this was due to the experimental setup (side-on heating of a quartz capillary which could lead to thermal gradients) or whether individual particle reactions proceed at different rates. In this paper, we use in situ wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering (wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS)) to demonstrate that the overlapping phases are indeed due to variable reaction rates. While the initial oxide nanoparticles have a small range of diameters, the size range expands considerably and very rapidly during the oxide−nitride transition. This has implications for the isolation of Rietveld-pure Fe3N, and in an extensive laboratory study, we were indeed unable to isolate phasepure Fe3N. However, we made the surprising discovery that Rietveld-pure Fe3C nanoparticles can be produced at 500 °C with a sufficient furnace dwell time. This is considerably lower than the previous reports of the sol−gel synthesis of Fe3C nanoparticles.
Flexible organic crystals (elastic and plastic) are important materials for optical waveguides, tunable optoelectronic devices, and photonic integrated circuits. Here, we present highly elastic organic crystals of a Schiff base, 1-((E)-(2,5-dichlorophenylimino)methyl)naphthalen-2-ol (1), and an azine molecule, 2,4-dibromo-6-((E)-((E)-(2,6-dichlorobenzylidene)hydrazono)methyl)phenol (2). These microcrystals are highly flexible under external mechanical force, both in the macroscopic and the microscopic regimes. The mechanical flexibility of these crystals arises as a result of weak and dispersive C−H⋅⋅⋅Cl, Cl⋅⋅⋅Cl, Br⋅⋅⋅Br, and π⋅⋅⋅π stacking interactions. Singly and doubly-bent geometries were achieved from their straight shape by a micromechanical approach using the AFM cantilever tip. Crystals of molecules 1 and 2 display a bright-green and red fluorescence (FL), respectively, and selective reabsorption of a part of their FL band. Crystals 1 and 2 exhibit optical-path-dependent low loss emissions at the termini of crystal in their straight and even in extremely bent geometries. Interestingly, the excitation position-dependent optical modes appear in both linear and bent waveguides of crystals 1 and 2, confirming their light-trapping ability.
Advanced peptide-based nanomaterials composed of self-assembling peptides (SAPs) are of emerging interest in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. The introduction of fluorine into peptides, in fact, offers unique opportunities to tune their biophysical properties and intermolecular interactions. In particular, the degree of fluorination plays a crucial role in peptide engineering as it can be used to control the characteristics of fluorine-specific interactions and, thus, peptide conformation and self-assembly. Here, we designed and explored a series of amphipathic peptides by incorporating the fluorinated amino acids (2S)-4-monofluoroethylglycine (MfeGly), (2S)-4,4-difluoroethylglycine (DfeGly) and (2S)-4,4,4-trifluoroethylglycine (TfeGly) as hydrophobic components. This approach enabled studying the impact of fluorination on secondary structure formation and peptide self-assembly on a systematic basis. We show that the interplay between polarity and hydrophobicity, both induced differentially by varying degrees of side chain fluorination, does affect peptide folding significantly. A greater degree of fluorination promotes peptide fibrillation and subsequent formation of physical hydrogels in physiological conditions. Molecular simulations revealed the key role played by electrostatically driven intra-chain and inter-chain contact pairs that are modulated by side chain fluorination and give insights into the different self-organization behaviour of selected peptides. Our study provides a systematic report about the distinct features of fluorinated oligomeric peptides with potential applications as peptide-based biomaterials.
To obtain reliable data on micro- and nanoplastics (MPs, NPs) BAM (Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing) is organizing interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs). Main focus is detection and physico-chemical characterisation. The accuracy and precision of the results of different laboratories and comparability of the results among the participants are addressed. The ILCs will be performed in the following order: i) ILC #1: Detection and Characterisation of MPs (1-1000 µm) and ii) ILC #2: Detection and Characterisation of NPs (< 1 µm).
For the ILC #1 the parameters to be analysed are: particle size distribution, shape, mass content, particle concentration, with thermoanalytic (Py-GC/MS, TED-GC/MS) and spectroscopy (µ-Raman, µ-FTIR) methods. For the ILC #2 the parameters are: particle size distribution, shape, particle concentration, with methods such as spectroscopical (Raman), Electron Microscopies (SEM, AFM), etc. Exact measurands and methods are still under discussion. BAM will provide test materials of well-known stability and homogeneity. ILC participants will include partners of the CUSP (the European research cluster to understand the health impacts of micro- and nanoplastics), and any other institutions over the world. The ILCs will take place under the international pre-standardisation platform VAMAS, new Technical Working Area 35 “Micro and Nano Plastics in the Environment” (http://www.vamas.org/twa45/).
In this presentation we demonstrate the importance of physico-chemical properties (pc) of micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNPs). These properties determine interaction between MNPs and cells or living organisms. To perform accurate experiments for acquiring pc information it is essential to develop well-characterized and understood plastic reference materials. Such reference materials can be used in interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs). BAM is organizing under VAMAS two ILCs, on micro- and nanoplastics to obtain reliable results and methodologies for pc characterization of MNPs. By gaining profound knowledge on pc properties it becomes possible to estimate the impact of MNPs on the humans and environment and therefore to translate the knowledge to the level of regulation.
The spatial distribution and concentration of lanthanide activator and sensitizer dopant ions are of key importance for the luminescence color and efficiency of upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs). Quantifying dopant ion distributions and intermixing, and correlating them with synthesis methods require suitable analytical techniques. Here, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy depth-profiling with tender X-rays (2000–6000 eV), providing probe depths ideally matched to UCNP sizes, is used to measure the depth-dependent concentration ratios of Er3+ to Yb3+, [Er3+]/[Yb3+], in three types of UCNPs prepared using different reagents and synthesis methods. This is combined with data simulations and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) measurements of the lanthanide ion concentrations to construct models of the UCNPs’ dopant ion distributions. The UCNP sizes and architectures are chosen to demonstrate the potential of this approach. Core-only UCNPs synthesized with XCl3·6H2O precursors (β-phase) exhibit a homogeneous distribution of lanthanide ions, but a slightly surface-enhanced [Er3+]/[Yb3+] is observed for UCNPs prepared with trifluroacetate precursors (α-phase). Examination of Yb-core@Er-shell UCNPs reveals a co-doped, intermixed region between the single-doped core and shell. The impact of these different dopant ion distributions on the UCNP's optical properties is discussed to highlight their importance for UCNP functionality and the design of efficient UCNPs.
The use of macromolecules and materials immobilized in the detection zone of test strips for indicator capture and focusing in label-free lateral flow assays (LFAs) is described, with emphasis on its future use in low number multiplexing. Several materials such as polyelectrolytes, functionalized mesoporous silica micro- and nanoparticles, chemically modified cellulose or glass fibre (GF) membranes and molecularly imprinted polymer gels coated onto membranes were studied in model assays, before the most promising materials were combined with antibody-gated indicator delivering (gAID) sensor materials. Cellulose, nitrocellulose and GF membranes were used as supports and highly fluorescent dyes of different charge states as model indicators. Combination of the best performing capture materials with gAID systems made it possible to distinctly increase the sensitivity and reduce the measurement uncertainty in the LFA testing of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) in aqueous samples. In addition, dual-plexing of PETN and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was realized on a single test strip containing two dedicated capture zones.
In this work, the optimization of the immunochemical response of antibody-gated indicator delivery (gAID) systems prepared with mesoporous silica nanoparticles has been studied along various lines of system tailoring, targeting the peroxide-type explosive TATP as an exemplary analyte. The mechanism of detection of these gAID systems relies on a displacement of an antibody “cap” bound to hapten derivatives anchored to the surface of a porous hybrid material, allowing the indicator cargo stored in the mesopores to escape and massively amplify the analyte-related signal. Since our aim was to obtain gAID systems with the best possible response in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and assay time, sera obtained from different immunization boosts were screened, the influence of auxiliary reagents was assessed, structural hapten modification (hapten heterology) was investigated, and various indicator dyes and host materials were tested. Considering that highly selective and sensitive immunological responses are best obtained with high-affinity antibodies which, however, could possess rather slow dissociation constants, leading to slow responses, the main challenge was to optimize the immunochemical recognition system for a rapid response while maintaining a high sensitivity and selectivity. The best performance was observed by grafting a slightly mismatching (heterologous) hapten to the surface of the nanoparticles in combination with high-affinity antibodies as “caps”, yielding for the first time gAID nanomaterials for which the response time could be improved from hours to <5 min. The materials showed favorable detection limits in the lower ppb range and discriminated TATP well against H2O2 and other explosives. Further optimization led to straightforward integration of the materials into a lateral flow assay without further treatment or conditioning of the test strips while still guaranteeing remarkably fast overall assay times.
Through the application of scientific methods of analysis to a corpus of medieval manuscripts found in the Cairo Genizah, this work aims to gain a better understanding of the writing materials used by Jewish communities at that time, shedding new light not only on the production of manuscripts in the Middle Ages, but also on the life of those Jewish communities.
Results:
- Four types of inks were measured iron gall (vitriolic and non vitriolic), carbonic, mixed and vegetable inks.
- We need to start analyzing systematically the organic part of the inks.
- Great variety in the composition of the inks.
- No correlation between the type of ink used and any other criteria apart from a personal preference.
- Inks purchased by (some) scribes.
- Reconstruction of the chronology of writing and signing of certain legal documents.
- Comparison with documents written by the Muslim court.