Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 31
  • Item
    Dumbbell gold nanoparticle dimer antennas with advanced optical properties
    (Frankfurt, M. : Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften, 2018) Herrmann, Janning F.; Höppener, Christiane
    Plasmonic nanoantennas have found broad applications in the fields of photovoltaics, electroluminescence, non-linear optics and for plasmon enhanced spectroscopy and microscopy. Of particular interest are fundamental limitations beyond the dipolar approximation limit. We introduce asymmetric gold nanoparticle antennas (AuNPs) with improved optical near-field properties based on the formation of sub-nanometer size gaps, which are suitable for studying matter with high-resolution and single molecule sensitivity. These dumbbell antennas are characterized in regard to their far-field and near-field properties and are compared to similar dimer and trimer antennas with larger gap sizes. The tailoring of the gap size down to sub-nanometer length scales is based on the integration of rigid macrocyclic cucurbituril molecules. Stable dimer antennas are formed with an improved ratio of the electromagnetic field enhancement and confinement. This ratio, taken as a measure of the performance of an antenna, can even exceed that exhibited by trimer AuNP antennas composed of comparable building blocks with larger gap sizes. Fluctuations in the far-field and near-field properties are observed, which are likely caused by distinct deviations of the gap geometry arising from the faceted structure of the applied colloidal AuNPs.
  • Item
    Tuning the spin coherence time of Cu(II)−(bis)oxamato and Cu(II)−(bis)oxamidato complexes by advanced ESR pulse protocols
    (Frankfurt, M. : Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften, 2017-4-27) Zaripov, Ruslan; Vavilova, Evgeniya; Khairuzhdinov, Iskander; Salikhov, Kev; Voronkova, Violeta; Abdulmalic, Mohammad A.; Meva, Francois E.; Weheabby, Saddam; Rüffer, Tobias; Büchner, Bernd; Kataev, Vladislav
    We have investigated with the pulsed ESR technique at X- and Q-band frequencies the coherence and relaxation of Cu spins S = 1/2 in single crystals of diamagnetically diluted mononuclear [n-Bu4N]2[Cu(opba)] (1%) in the host lattice of [n-Bu4N]2[Ni(opba)] (99%, opba = o-phenylenebis(oxamato)) and of diamagnetically diluted mononuclear [n-Bu4N]2[Cu(opbon-Pr2)] (1%) in the host lattice of [n-Bu4N]2[Ni(opbon-Pr2)] (99%, opbon-Pr2 = o-phenylenebis(N(propyl)oxamidato)). For that we have measured the electron spin dephasing time Tm at different temperatures with the two-pulse primary echo and with the special Carr–Purcell–Meiboom–Gill (CPMG) multiple microwave pulse sequence. Application of the CPMG protocol has led to a substantial increase of the spin coherence lifetime in both complexes as compared to the primary echo results. It shows the efficiency of the suppression of the electron spin decoherence channel in the studied complexes arising due to spectral diffusion induced by a random modulation of the hyperfine interaction with the nuclear spins. We argue that this method can be used as a test for the relevance of the spectral diffusion for the electron spin decoherence. Our results have revealed a prominent role of the opba4– and opbon-Pr24– ligands for the dephasing of the Cu spins. The presence of additional 14N nuclei and protons in [Cu(opbon-Pr2)]2– as compared to [Cu(opba)]2– yields significantly shorter Tm times. Such a detrimental effect of the opbon-Pr24− ligands has to be considered when discussing a potential application of the Cu(II)−(bis)oxamato and Cu(II)−(bis)oxamidato complexes as building blocks of more complex molecular structures in prototype spintronic devices. Furthermore, in our work we propose an improved CPMG pulse protocol that enables elimination of unwanted echoes that inevitably appear in the case of inhomogeneously broadened ESR spectra due to the selective excitation of electron spins.
  • Item
    Ceria/silicon carbide core–shell materials prepared by miniemulsion technique
    (Frankfurt, M. : Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften, 2011) Borchardt, Lars; Oschatz, Martin; Frind, Robert; Kockrick, Emanuel; Lohe, Martin R.; Hauser, Christoph P.; Weiss, Clemens K.; Landfester, Katharina; Büchner, Bernd; Kaskel, Stefan
    For the first time we present the synthesis of CeO2/Si(O)C core–shell particles prepared by the miniemulsion technique. The Si(O)C core was obtained by means of a polycarbosilane precursor (SMP10), which was subsequently functionalized with ceria and pyrolyzed to the ceramic. The size of these particles could easily be adjusted by varying the surfactants and the surfactant concentration, or by the addition of comonomers. Hence particle sizes ranged from 100 to 1000 nm, tunable by the preparation conditions. All materials were characterized by photon cross correlation spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and elemental mapping investigations. Furthermore, first catalytic tests were carried out by temperature programmed oxidation (TPO) of methane, and the activity of this material in lowering the onset temperature of methane combustion by 262 K was documented.
  • Item
    (Metallo)porphyrins for potential materials science applications
    (Frankfurt, M. : Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften, 2017-8-29) Smykalla, Lars; Mende, Carola; Fronk, Michael; Siles, Pablo F.; Hietschold, Michael; Salvan, Georgeta; Zahn, Dietrich R.T.; Schmidt, Oliver G.; Rüffer, Tobias; Lang, Heinrich
    The bottom-up approach to replace existing devices by molecular-based systems is a subject that attracts permanently increasing interest. Molecular-based devices offer not only to miniaturize the device further, but also to benefit from advanced functionalities of deposited molecules. Furthermore, the molecules itself can be tailored to allow via their self-assembly the potential fabrication of devices with an application potential, which is still unforeseeable at this time. Herein, we review efforts to use discrete (metallo)porphyrins for the formation of (sub)monolayers by surface-confined polymerization, of monolayers formed by supramolecular recognition and of thin films formed by sublimation techniques. Selected physical properties of these systems are reported as well. The application potential of those ensembles of (metallo)porphyrins in materials science is discussed.
  • Item
    TiOx/Pt3Ti(111) surface-directed formation of electronically responsive supramolecular assemblies of tungsten oxide clusters
    (Frankfurt, M. : Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften, 2021) Moors, Marco; An, Yun; Kuc, Agnieszka; Monakhov, Kirill Yu
    Highly ordered titanium oxide films grown on a Pt3Ti(111) alloy surface were utilized for the controlled immobilization and tip-induced electric field-triggered electronic manipulation of nanoscopic W3O9 clusters. Depending on the operating conditions, two different stable oxide phases, z'-TiO x and w'-TiO x , were produced. These phases show a strong effect on the adsorption characteristics and reactivity of W3O9 clusters, which are formed as a result of thermal evaporation of WO3 powder on the complex TiO x /Pt3Ti(111) surfaces under ultra-high vacuum conditions. The physisorbed tritungsten nano-oxides were found as isolated single units located on the metallic attraction points or as supramolecular self-assemblies with a W3O9-capped hexagonal scaffold of W3O9 units. By applying scanning tunneling microscopy to the W3O9-(W3O9)6 structures, individual units underwent a tip-induced reduction to W3O8. At elevated temperatures, agglomeration and growth of large WO3 islands, which thickness is strongly limited to a maximum of two unit cells, were observed. The findings boost progress toward template-directed nucleation, growth, networking, and charge state manipulation of functional molecular nanostructures on surfaces using operando techniques.
  • Item
    Analysis of catalyst surface wetting: The early stage of epitaxial germanium nanowire growth
    (Frankfurt, M. : Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften, 2020) Ernst, Owen C.; Lange, Felix; Uebel, David; Teubner, Thomas; Boeck, Torsten
    The dewetting process is crucial for several applications in nanotechnology. Even though not all dewetting phenomena are fully understood yet, especially regarding metallic fluids, it is clear that the formation of nanometre-sized particles, droplets, and clusters as well as their movement are strongly linked to their wetting behaviour. For this reason, the thermodynamic stability of thin metal layers (0.1-100 nm) with respect to their free energy is examined here. The decisive factor for the theoretical considerations is the interfacial energy. In order to achieve a better understanding of the interfacial interactions, three different models for estimating the interfacial energy are presented here: (i) fully theoretical, (ii) empirical, and (iii) semi-empirical models. The formation of nanometre-sized gold particles on silicon and silicon oxide substrates is investigated in detail. In addition, the strengths and weaknesses of the three models are elucidated, the different substrates used are compared, and the possibility to further process the obtained particles as nanocatalysts is verified. The importance of a persistent thin communication wetting layer between the particles and its effects on particle size and number is also clarified here. In particular, the intrinsic reduction of the Laplace pressure of the system due to material re-evaporation and Ostwald ripening describes the theoretically predicted and experimentally obtained results. Thus, dewetting phenomena of thin metal layers can be used to manufacture nanostructured devices. From this point of view, the application of gold droplets as catalysts to grow germanium nanowires on different substrates is described. © 2020 Ernst et al.
  • Item
    Atomic layer deposition for efficient oxygen evolution reaction at Pt/Ir catalyst layers
    (Frankfurt, M. : Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften, 2020) Schlicht, Stefanie; Percin, Korcan; Kriescher, Stefanie; Hofer, André; Weidlich, Claudia; Wessling, Matthias; Bachmann, Julien
    We provide a direct comparison of two distinct methods of Ti felt surface treatment and Pt/Ir electrocatalyst deposition for the positive electrode of regenerative fuel cells and vanadium-air redox flow batteries. Each method is well documented in the literature, and this paper provides a direct comparison under identical experimental conditions of electrochemical measurements and in identical units. In the first method, based on classical engineering, the bimetallic catalyst is deposited by dip-coating in a precursor solution of the salts followed by their thermal decomposition. In the alternative method, more academic in nature, atomic layer deposition (ALD) is applied to the felts after anodization. ALD allows for a controlled coating with ultralow noble-metal loadings in narrow pores. In acidic electrolyte, the ALD approach yields improved mass activity (557 A·g-1 as compared to 80 A·g-1 at 0.39 V overpotential) on the basis of the noble-metal loading, as well as improved stability. © 2020 Schlicht et al.
  • Item
    Comparative study of sculptured metallic thin films deposited by oblique angle deposition at different temperatures
    (Frankfurt, M. : Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften, 2018) Liedtke, Susann; Grüner, Christoph; Gerlach, Jürgen W.; Rauschenbach, Bernd
    Metals with a wide range of melting points are deposited by electron beam evaporation under oblique deposition geometry on thermally oxidized Si substrates. During deposition the sample holder is cooled down to 77 K. It is observed that all obliquely deposited metals grow as tilted, high aspect ratio columns and hence with a similar morphology. A comparison of such columns with those deposited at room temperature (300 K) reveals that shadowing dominates the growth process for columns deposited at 77 K, while the impact of surface diffusion is significantly increased at elevated substrate temperatures. Furthermore, it is discussed how the incidence angle of the incoming particle flux and the substrate temperature affect the columnar tilt angles and the porosity of the sculptured thin films. Exemplarily for tilted Al columns deposited at 77 K and at 300 K, in-plane pole figure measurements are carried out. A tendency to form a biaxial texture as well as a change in the crystalline structure depending on the substrate temperature is found for those films.
  • Item
    Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and thermogravimetric analysis of two series of substituted (metallo)tetraphenylporphyrins
    (Frankfurt, M. : Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften, 2017-6-2) Al-Shewiki, Rasha K.; Mende, Carola; Buschbeck, Roy; Siles, Pablo F.; Schmidt, Oliver G.; Rüffer, Tobias; Lang, Heinrich
    Subsequent treatment of H2TPP(CO2H)4 (tetra(p-carboxylic acid phenyl)porphyrin, 1) with an excess of oxalyl chloride and HNR2 afforded H2TPP(C(O)NR2)4 (R = Me, 2; iPr, 3) with yields exceeding 80%. The porphyrins 2 and 3 could be converted to the corresponding metalloporphyrins MTPP(C(O)NR2)4 (R = Me/iPr for M = Zn (2a, 3a); Cu (2b, 3b); Ni (2c, 3c); Co (2d, 3d)) by the addition of 3 equiv of anhydrous MCl2 (M = Zn, Cu, Ni, Co) to dimethylformamide solutions of 2 and 3 at elevated temperatures. Metalloporphyrins 2a–d and 3a–d were obtained in yields exceeding 60% and have been, as well as 2 and 3, characterized by elemental analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS) and IR and UV–vis spectroscopy. Porphyrins 2, 2a–d and 3, 3a–d are not suitable for organic molecular beam deposition (OMBD), which is attributed to their comparatively low thermal stability as determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) of selected representatives.
  • Item
    Influence of grain size and composition, topology and excess free volume on the deformation behavior of Cu–Zr nanoglasses
    (Frankfurt, M. : Beilstein-Institut zur Förderung der Chemischen Wissenschaften, 2015) Şopu, Daniel; Albe, Karsten
    The influence of grain size and composition on the mechanical properties of Cu–Zr nanoglasses (NGs) is investigated by molecular dynamics simulations using two model glasses of different alloy composition, namely Cu64Zr36 (Cu-rich) and Cu36Zr64 (Zr-rich). When the grain size is increased, or the fraction of interfaces in these NGs is decreased, we find a transition from a homogeneous to an inhomogeneous plastic deformation, because the softer interfaces are promoting the formation shear transformation zones. In case of the Cu-rich system, shear localization at the interfaces is most pronounced, since both the topological order and free volume content of the interfaces are very different from the bulk phase. After thermal treatment the redistribution of free volume leads to a more homogenous deformation behavior. The deformation behavior of the softer Zr-rich nanoglass, in contrast, is only weakly affected by the presence of glass–glass interfaces, since the interfaces don’t show topological disorder. Our results provide clear evidence that the mechanical properties of metallic NGs can be systematically tuned by controlling the size and the chemical composition of the glassy nanograins.