Wasserstoffeffekt und -analyse in der GDS - Anwendungen in der Werkstoffforschung

Im Rahmen der Dissertation wurden mit der Glimmentladungs-Spektrometrie Materialproben untersucht, die Wasserstoff enthalten. Auch sehr geringe Gehalte, z.B. im µg/g-Bereich, können nachgewiesen werden. GD-OES ist oft die einzige Methode, die für diese analytische Aufgabenstellung zur Verfügung steht. Die Anwesenheit von Wasserstoff im Glimmentladungsplasma bewirkt verschiedene Effekte: (i) die Signalintensitäten der meisten analytischen Emissionslinien und der des Trägergases werden beeinflußt, (ii) aus dem Wasserstoffkontinuum resultiert ein erhöhter spektraler Untergrund, (iii) der elektrische Widerstand des Plasmas steigt und (iv) die Abtragsraten sinken. Zum Verständnis dieser Effekte werden grundlegende Untersuchungen zu den Anregungs- und Ionisationsmechanismen im Glimmentladungsplasma durchgeführt. Da es keine geeigneten Materialien gibt, für die der Gehalt an Wasserstoff stabil sind, wurden die Wasserstoffeffekte und die Möglichkeit des Nachweises von Wasserstoff durch Zugabe wohl definierter Mengen gasförmigen Wasserstoffs in das GD-Plasma simuliert. Für die Änderungen (i) de Analyt- und Trägergassignale, (ii) des Entladungsstroms als abhängigen GD-Pa-rameter sowie (iii) des Wasserstofflinien- und Kontinuumspektrums wurde experimentell festgestellt, dass sie sehr ähnlich sind, unabhängig davon, ob der Wasserstoff aus der Probe kommt oder als Gas ins Plasma eingeleitet wird. Die Anwesenheit von Wasserstoff im GD Plasma beeinflußt die Form des Abtragskraters, durch den die Tiefenauflösung bestimmt wird. Dieser Effekt kann gezielt bei nichtleitenden Schichtmaterialien genutzt werden, um die Tiefenauflösung zu verbessern. Weiterhin können Empfindlichkeit und Nachweisgrenze von bestimmten Emissionslinien eines Analyten verbessert werden. Der Was-serstoff im elektrolytischen (Cd- oder Zn-)Schichtsystem kann die Materialeigenschaften ver-schlechtern. Beispielhaft sei die Versprödung genannt. Mit der GD-OES Tiefen-profilanalyse kann die Wirkung thermischer Nachbehandlungen, die in der Technik üblich sind, verfolgt werden. Es konnte an praktischen Beispielen gezeigt werden, dass für erfolgreiche Anwendungen der GD-OES für Dünnschichtanalytik die Reinheit (d.h. minimale H-Effekte) der GD-Quelle von entscheidender Bedeutung ist

Determination of the effective detector area of an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer at the scanning electron microscope using experimental and theoretical X-ray emission yields

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.A method is proposed to determine the effective detector area for energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometers (EDS). Nowadays, detectors are available for a wide range of nominal areas ranging from 10 up to 150 mm2. However, it remains in most cases unknown whether this nominal area coincides with the “net active sensor area” that should be given according to the related standard ISO 15632, or with any other area of the detector device. Moreover, the specific geometry of EDS installation may further reduce a given detector area. The proposed method can be applied to most scanning electron microscope/EDS configurations. The basic idea consists in a comparison of the measured count rate with the count rate resulting from known X-ray yields of copper, titanium, or silicon. The method was successfully tested on three detectors with known effective area and applied further to seven spectrometers from different manufacturers. In most cases the method gave an effective area smaller than the area given in the detector description

The effect of boehmite nanoparticles (γ‐AlOOH) on nanomechanical and thermomechanical properties correlated to crosslinking density of epoxy

We show that complex physical and chemical interactions between boehmite nanoparticles and epoxy drastically affect matrix properties, which in the future will provide tuning of material properties for further optimization in applications from automotive to aerospace. We utilize intermodulation atomic force microscopy (ImAFM) for probing local stiffness of both particles and polymer matrix. Stiff particles are expected to increase total stiffness of nanocomposites and the stiffness of polymer should remain unchanged. However, ImAFM revealed that stiffness of matrix in epoxy/boehmite nanocomposite is significantly higher than unfilled epoxy. The stiffening effect of the boehmite on epoxy also depends on the particle concentration. To understand the mechanism behind property alteration induced by boehmite nanoparticles, network architecture is investigated using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). It was revealed that although with 15 wt% boehmite nanoparticles the modulus at glassy state increases, crosslinking density of epoxy for this composition is drastically low.DFG, 232311024, FOR 2021: Wirkprinzipien nanoskaliger Matrixadditive für den Faserverbundleichtba

Short- and Long-Range Mechanical and Chemical Interphases Caused by Interaction of Boehmite (γ-AlOOH) with Anhydride-Cured Epoxy Resins

Understanding the interaction between boehmite and epoxy and the formation of their interphases with different mechanical and chemical structures is crucial to predict and optimize the properties of epoxy-boehmite nanocomposites. Probing the interfacial properties with atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based methods, especially particle-matrix long-range interactions, is challenging. This is due to size limitations of various analytical methods in resolving nanoparticles and their interphases, the overlap of interphases, and the effect of buried particles that prevent the accurate interphase property measurement. Here, we develop a layered model system in which the epoxy is cured in contact with a thin layer of hydrothermally synthesized boehmite. Different microscopy methods are employed to evaluate the interfacial properties. With intermodulation atomic force microscopy (ImAFM) and amplitude dependence force spectroscopy (ADFS), which contain information about stiffness, electrostatic, and van der Waals forces, a soft interphase was detected between the epoxy and boehmite. Surface potential maps obtained by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) revealed another interphase about one order of magnitude larger than the mechanical interphase. The AFM-infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) technique reveals that the soft interphase consists of unreacted curing agent. The long-range electrical interphase is attributed to the chemical alteration of the bulk epoxy and the formation of new absorption bands.DFG, 232311024, FOR 2021: Wirkprinzipien nanoskaliger Matrixadditive für den Faserverbundleichtba

Efficient Luminescent Solar Concentrators Based on Environmentally Friendly Cd‐Free Ternary AIS/ZnS Quantum Dots

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSC) allow to obtain renewable energy from building integrated photovoltaic systems. As promising efficient and long-term stable LSC fluorophores semiconductor nanocrystals like quantum dots (QDs) with size and composition tunable optoelectronic properties have recently emerged. The most popular II/VI or IV/VI semiconductor QDs contain, however, potentially hazardous cadmium or lead ions, which is a bottleneck for commercial applications. A simple aqueous based, microwave-assisted synthesis for environmentally friendly and highly emissive AgInS2/ZnS QDs is developed using 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) and glutathione (GSH) and their incorporation into polylaurylmethacrylate (PLMA) polymer slabs integrable in LSC devices (10.4 × 10.4 × 0.2 cm3, G = 12.98). With this simple approach, optical power efficiencies (OPE) of 3.8% and 3.6% and optical quantum efficiencies (OQE) of 24.1% and 27.4% are obtained, which are among the highest values yet reported.German Research CouncilEuropean Union's Horizon 2020Marie Sklodowska‐CurieDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659Peer Reviewe

Organic Surface Modification and Analysis of Titania Nanoparticles for Self-Assembly in Multiple Layers

The characteristics of TiO2 coatings can greatly influence their final performance in large‐scale applications. In the present study, self‐assembly of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) in multiple layers was selected as a deposition procedure on various substrates. For this, the main prerequisite constitutes the surface modification of both NPs and substrate with, for example, silane coupling agents. A set of functionalized TiO2 NPs has been produced by reaction with either (3‐aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) or (3‐aminopropyl)phosphonic acid (APPA) to functionalize the NP surface with free amino‐groups. Then, the complementary functionalized NP set can be obtained from an aliquot of the first one, through the conversion of free surface amino groups to aldehydes by reaction with glutaraldehyde (GA). Several types of TiO2 NPs differing in size, shape, and specific surface area have been functionalized. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), SEM/ energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), XPS, Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and Time‐of‐Flight (ToF)‐SIMS analyses have been carried out to evaluate the degree of functionalization, all the analytical methods employed demonstrating successful functionalization of TiO2 NP surface with APTES or APPA and GA

Luminescence Lifetime-Based Sensing Platform Based on Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complexes for the Detection of Perfluorooctanoic Acid in Aqueous Samples

Luminescence lifetimes are an attractive analytical method for detection due to its high sensitivity and stability. Iridium probes exhibit luminescence with long excited-state lifetimes, which are sensitive to the local environment. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is listed as a chemical of high concern regarding its toxicity and is classified as a "forever chemical". In addition to strict limits on the presence of PFOA in drinking water, environmental contamination from industrial effluent or chemical spills requires rapid, simple, accurate, and cost-effective analysis in order to aid containment. Herein, we report the fabrication and function of a novel and facile luminescence sensor for PFOA based on iridium modified on gold surfaces. These surfaces were modified with lipophilic iridium complexes bearing alkyl chains, namely, IrC6 and IrC12, and Zonyl-FSA surfactant. Upon addition of PFOA, the modified surfaces IrC6-FSA@Au and IrC12-FSA @Au show the largest change in the red luminescence signal with changes in the luminescence lifetime that allow monitoring of PFOA concentrations in aqueous solutions. The platform was tested for the measurement of PFOA in aqueous samples spiked with known concentrations of PFOA and demonstrated the capacity to determine PFOA at concentrations &gt;100 μg/L (240 nM).</p