Kelvin probe force microscopy work function characterization of transition metal oxide crystals under ongoing reduction and oxidation

• Dominik Wrana,
• Karol Cieślik,
• Wojciech Belza,
• Christian Rodenbücher,
• Krzysztof Szot and
• Franciszek Krok

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 1596–1607, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.155

• the high-angle annular dark-field imaging scanning transmission electron microscope (HAADF-STEM) mode as we have recently shown in [12]. A closer look at TiO reveals the γ-TiO structure in a Fm-3m space group and 2.1 Å unit cell, which stands in perfect agreement with subject literature values [27

• the trend of a decreasing work function upon reduction and an increasing one due to reoxidation [30]. It is worth mentioning that substantial discrepancies between the measured WF for transition metal oxides, besides the different quality of the samples, could stem from the suboptimal conditions

Materials nanoarchitectonics at two-dimensional liquid interfaces

• Katsuhiko Ariga,
• Michio Matsumoto,
• Taizo Mori and
• Lok Kumar Shrestha

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 1559–1587, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.153

• , various materials such as molecular machines, molecular receptors, block-copolymer, DNA origami, nanocarbon, phages, and stem cells were assembled at liquid interfaces by using various useful techniques. This review overviews techniques such as conventional Langmuir–Blodgett method, vortex Langmuir

Highly ordered mesoporous silica film nanocomposites containing gold nanoparticles for the catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol

• Mohamad Azani Jalani,
• Leny Yuliati,
• Siew Ling Lee and
• Hendrik O. Lintang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 1368–1379, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.135

• other reports, the AuNP–film catalyst in this work showed higher catalytic activity for the reduction of 4-NP to 4-AP which was 10 times (0.199 × 10−2 min−1) and 4 times (0.45 × 10−2 min−1) higher than for AuNPs prepared from Gnida glauca leaf and stem extracts [45]. Another report by Shende et al. [46

Fabrication of phase masks from amorphous carbon thin films for electron-beam shaping

• Lukas Grünewald,
• Dagmar Gerthsen and
• Simon Hettler

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 1290–1302, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.128

• kρ with constant D also increases the number of side maxima, which could lead to unwanted signal from other sample areas contributing to the main signal in a STEM experiment. Furthermore, each ring of a BB contains roughly the same intensity, which means that additional rings reduce the intensity in

• of generated Bessel beams For applications of a BB as a STEM probe the non-diffracting beam shape must be obtained in the object plane where the sample is located. This is achieved by placing a PM in the condenser system of a TEM. We used a Philips CM200 FEG/ST operated at 200 kV and positioned a PM

Alloyed Pt₃M (M = Co, Ni) nanoparticles supported on S- and N-doped carbon nanotubes for the oxygen reduction reaction

• Stéphane Louisia,
• Yohann R. J. Thomas,
• Pierre Lecante,
• Marie Heitzmann,
• M. Rosa Axet,
• Pierre-André Jacques and
• Philippe Serp

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 1251–1269, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.125

• Co islands (Supporting Information File 1, Figure S7a,b) were identified using the scanning transmission electron microscopy/high-angle annular dark-field imaging (STEM-HAADF) technique. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis on the N-CNT surface or in the Co aggregates confirmed the

• presence of Co. The same analysis was made on the sample Ni/N-CNTHT. There also, despite the high Ni loading (48% w/w), no Ni NPs were observed (Figure 6c,d). STEM-HAADF analysis shed light into the presence of non-crystallized Ni at the surface of the carbon support. EDX analysis confirmed the presence of

• also evidenced by STEM-HAADF images of Pt3Co/N-CNT (Figure 7b, 001 selected area). In the same way, the Pt3Ni composition was determine by EDX analysis for the sample Pt3Ni/N-CNTHT (Supporting Information File 1, Figure S9). This sample also displays some residual nickel atoms or clusters

Green fabrication of lanthanide-doped hydroxide-based phosphors: Y(OH)₃:Eu³⁺ nanoparticles for white light generation

• Tugrul Guner,
• Anilcan Kus,
• Mehmet Ozcan,
• Aziz Genc,
• Hasan Sahin and
• Mustafa M. Demir

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 1200–1210, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.119

• structure indicates two yttrium atoms located at one face of the hexagonal phase and shared oxygen saturated with hydrogens. To investigate the crystal formation of the samples fabricated at 5 min, several low-magnification high-angle annular dark field (HAADF) STEM micrographs were taken and are presented

• in Figure 1c. These micrographs reveal that the sample consists of agglomerated nanoparticles. The clusters formed by the sub-10 nm nanoparticles have sizes between 50 nm to a few micrometers. It is possible to visualize the individual nanoparticles in the lower left HAADF STEM micrograph where the

• about the morphology of Y(OH)3:7.5% Eu3+ crystals, general TEM and HAADF-STEM micrographs of the sample prepared at 60 min are presented in Figure 2d–f. A multipod-like structure (Figure 2d) together with the rice-like structures (Figure 2e,f) were obtained. Higher magnification images, as presented in

Photoactive nanoarchitectures based on clays incorporating TiO₂ and ZnO nanoparticles

• Eduardo Ruiz-Hitzky,
• Pilar Aranda,
• Marwa Akkari,
• Nithima Khaorapapong and
• Makoto Ogawa

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 1140–1156, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.114

• isopropoxide; reprinted with permission from [109], copyright 2008 American Chemical Society. ZnO-Fe3O4@sepiolite nanoarchitecture prepared in two steps: First, the fiber clay is modified by assembly of magnetite NPs. After that, the ZnO NPs are added yielding a magnetic photocatalyst. The STEM images on the

Synthesis and characterization of quaternary La(Sr)S–TaS₂ misfit-layered nanotubes

• Marco Serra,
• Erumpukuthickal Ashokkumar Anumol,
• Dalit Stolovas,
• Iddo Pinkas,
• Ernesto Joselevich,
• Reshef Tenne,
• Andrey Enyashin and
• Francis Leonard Deepak

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 1112–1124, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.111

• spectroscopy. Density functional theory calculations were carried out to support the experimental observations. Keywords: aberration-corrected STEM; DFT; misfit-layered compounds; nanotubes; Raman spectroscopy; Introduction Since their discovery in 1992 [1], inorganic nanotubes (INTs) have attracted the

• electron microscopy (SEM) was done by LEO model Supra 55VP SEM. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) were performed on a Titan Themis 80-300 microscope with probe and image spherical aberration (Cs) correctors, at 200 kV. Energy-dispersive X-ray

• plausible explanation and more careful study of this tendency is undertaken by means of DFT calculations vide infra. The tubular morphology of the SrxLa1−xS–TaS2 sample with 10 atom % Sr in the precursor was further confirmed by high-angle annular dark field (HAADF)-STEM analysis as shown in Figure 3 (top

CuInSe₂ quantum dots grown by molecular beam epitaxy on amorphous SiO₂ surfaces

• Henrique Limborço,
• Pedro M.P. Salomé,
• Rodrigo Ribeiro-Andrade,
• Jennifer P. Teixeira,
• Nicoleta Nicoara,
• Kamal Abderrafi,
• Joaquim P. Leitão,
• Juan C. Gonzalez and
• Sascha Sadewasser

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 1103–1111, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.110

• electron microscopy (STEM) images were taken with a FEI Titan ChemiSTEM 80-200 kV Cs-probe corrected transmission electron microscope, operating at 200 kV accelerating potential and equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) SuperX-Bruker silicon drift detector. In this method a coherent

• present one line for each element. The STEM lamellae were prepared in a focused ion beam (FIB) FEI Dual-Beam Helios 450S with FIB Mo-grids using a technique known as “lift-out” [35]. To improve FIB preparation and visualization of the nanodots in the STEM, the samples were coated with an amorphous carbon

• layer prior to the protective Pt bi-layer deposition assisted by electron and ion beams. The final polishing of the lamella was done using 1 keV in energy to reduce the lateral damage and the Ga implantation effects in the lamellae. EDS was performed in the same STEM microscope in order to check the [Cu

Synthesis of MnO₂–CuO–Fe₂O₃/CNTs catalysts: low-temperature SCR activity and formation mechanism

• Yanbing Zhang,
• Lihua Liu,
• Yingzan Chen,
• Xianglong Cheng,
• Chengjian Song,
• Mingjie Ding and
• Haipeng Zhao

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 848–855, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.85

• the results of NO conversion and of previous studies [6][16][17]. Scanning transmission electron microscopy STEM and element mapping were adopted to further investigate the morphology of the catalyst. As shown in Figure 5a, bright dots associated to the metal elements can be found, indicating the

• formation of metal oxide catalysts on CNTs. The STEM-EDX mappings (Figure 5b–g) exhibit a series of columnar element-distribution images, further proving that the metal oxide catalysts have been successfully loaded on the CNTs. Hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction analysis In SCR reaction, the redox

• -prepared catalysts: (A) XPS full-scan spectrum, (B) Mn 2p, (C) Cu 2p, and (D) Cu Auger spectra of 4% MnO2–CuO–Fe2O3/CNTs; (E) Fe 2p and (F) O 1s spectra for (a) 4% MnO2–CuO–Fe2O3/CNTs and (b) Mn–Cu–FeOx/CNTs-IWIM. (a) STEM images and (b–g) element mappings of 4% MnO2–CuO–Fe2O3/CNTs. H2-TPR curves of two

Study of silica-based intrinsically emitting nanoparticles produced by an excimer laser

• Imène Reghioua,
• Mattia Fanetti,
• Sylvain Girard,
• Diego Di Francesca,
• Simonpietro Agnello,
• Layla Martin-Samos,
• Marco Cannas,
• Matjaz Valant,
• Melanie Raine,
• Marc Gaillardin,
• Nicolas Richard,
• Philippe Paillet,
• Aziz Boukenter,
• Youcef Ouerdane and
• Antonino Alessi

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 211–221, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.19

• nanoparticles tend to be slightly more spherical in shape for a higher energy per pulse. Scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) data have shown that, regardless of size and applied energy per pulse, in each nanoparticle, some inhomogeneity is present in the form of brighter (i.e., more dense) features

• produced nanoparticles, we recorded transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) images of the samples. Figure 3a illustrates the TEM image recorded for the same nanoparticles previously studied by EDX and SEM (red square named 1 in Figure 1a. Figure 3b

• , indicating that the produced particles are amorphous. Figure 3e and 3f show the dark-field STEM images recorded for large nanoparticles and for a group of small ones detected in sample A. In both images we note the presence of several brilliant spots. Such spots are present independent from the particle size

Scanning probe microscopy for energy-related materials

• Rüdiger Berger,
• Benjamin Grévin,
• Philippe Leclère and
• Yi Zhang

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 132–134, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.12

• significant role for the in-operando characterization. SPM methods offer a plethora of operation modes beyond topography imaging, which is well reflected in the articles of this thematic issue. The majority of contributions stem from research on photovoltaic materials. Here, electrical conductive atomic force

Graphene–graphite hybrid epoxy composites with controllable workability for thermal management

• Idan Levy,
• Eyal Merary Wormser,
• Maxim Varenik,
• Matat Buzaglo,
• Roey Nadiv and
• Oren Regev

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 95–104, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.9

• liquid or paste-like TIMs, differences in thermal expansion between the hot and cold surfaces could result in the TIM leaking out of the interface, thus increasing the contact resistance. These malfunctions in the performance of TIMs could stem from their high viscosity values during application on

Pull-off and friction forces of micropatterned elastomers on soft substrates: the effects of pattern length scale and stiffness

• Peter van Assenbergh,
• Marike Fokker,
• Julian Langowski,
• Jan van Esch,
• Marleen Kamperman and
• Dimitra Dodou

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 79–94, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.8

• micropillars of 100 μm height and a stem diameter of 60 μm, terminated with a thin (2 μm) disc of 40 μm in diameter [11]. These so-called mushroom-shaped micropillars generated higher pull-off forces than flat-punch micropillars, a phenomenon attributed to a higher adaptability to substrate roughness due to

Amorphous Ni_xCo_yP-supported TiO₂ nanotube arrays as an efficient hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalyst in acidic solution

• Yong Li,
• Peng Yang,
• Bin Wang and
• Zhongqing Liu

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2019, 10, 62–70, doi:10.3762/bjnano.10.6

• TiO2 (101) phase, as shown in the upper left and square areas. The STEM-HAADF and corresponding EDS maps of single tube NixCoyP/TNAs are revealed in Figure 4. From the figure, the diameter of the TiO2 nanotube was determined to be about 150 nm with a chemical composition of Ti, O, Ni, Co, and P evenly

• the samples. (a) TNAs, (b) NixCoyP/TNAs. (a) TEM and (b) HR-TEM images of the NixCoyP/TNAs. HAADF STEM image and EDS elemental maps of the NixCoyP/TNAs. High-resolution XPS spectra of (a) Ti 2p, (b) O 1s, (c) Ni 2p, (d) Co 2p and (e) P 2p of the NixCoyP/TNAs. (f) UV–vis diffuse reflection absorbance

The effect of flexible joint-like elements on the adhesive performance of nature-inspired bent mushroom-like fibers

• Elliot Geikowsky,
• Serdar Gorumlu and
• Burak Aksak

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2893–2905, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.268

• time, displacements, velocities in the Y–Z plane and record the data from two load cells. The LDP experiments were performed first by attaching the load cell stem to the acrylic peg by gluing the peg to the stem when in contact with a glass slide. After the glue is allowed to cure for 30 min, the

• the microplate array and glass slide is visually checked using the inverted microscope, precision stages are used to bring the load cell stem in contact with the back of the acrylic peg. To prevent the fibers from buckling, the load cell is brought down with 1 μm steps while the load cell output is

• checked at each step. Once the contact is obtained, a small droplet of glue is applied to the area between stem and the back of the glass slide using needle-like tweezers (Figure 11b). The glue is allowed to dry for 10 min (Figure 11c). By using the custom Labview software, the stage is brought up in the

Charged particle single nanometre manufacturing

• Philip D. Prewett,
• Cornelis W. Hagen,
• Claudia Lenk,
• Steve Lenk,
• Marcus Kaestner,
• Tzvetan Ivanov,
• Ahmad Ahmad,
• Ivo W. Rangelow,
• Xiaoqing Shi,
• Stuart A. Boden,
• Alex P. G. Robinson,
• Dongxu Yang,
• Sangeetha Hari,
• Marijke Scotuzzi and
• Ejaz Huq

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2855–2882, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.266

• electron beams from a thermionic cathode in the cathode ray tube pioneered by Braun in 1897 [1], followed by the first practical scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) built in Berlin by von Ardenne in 1939 [2]. The first commercial SEM was built by Ruska’s team at Siemens in 1939 [3

Comparative biological effects of spherical noble metal nanoparticles (Rh, Pd, Ag, Pt, Au) with 4–8 nm diameter

• Alexander Rostek,
• Marina Breisch,
• Kevin Pappert,
• Kateryna Loza,
• Marc Heggen,
• Manfred Köller,
• Christina Sengstock and
• Matthias Epple

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2763–2774, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.258

• determine the effect of particle exposure on the viability of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Except for silver, no adverse effect of any of the metal nanoparticles was observed for concentrations up to 50 ppm (50 mg L−1) incubated for 24 h, indicating that noble metal nanoparticles (rhodium

• , Pd, Ag, Pt and Au that are of the same size and have the same surface functionalization (PVP) to compare their biological effect on a well-established system, i.e., on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). Materials and Methods Chemicals Poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP K 30, Povidon 30; Fluka, M

• with a sample volume of 750 µL were used. High-resolution imaging was performed using an aberration-corrected FEI Titan transmission electron microscope (TEM) equipped with a Cs-probe corrector (CEOS Company) and operating at 300 kV [53]. Cell biology Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC, 5th to 10th

Accurate control of the covalent functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes for the electro-enzymatically controlled oxidation of biomolecules

• Naoual Allali,
• Veronika Urbanova,
• Mathieu Etienne,
• Xavier Devaux,
• Martine Mallet,
• Brigitte Vigolo,
• Jean-Joseph Adjizian,
• Chris P. Ewels,
• Sven Oberg,
• Alexander V. Soldatov,
• Edward McRae,
• Yves Fort,
• Manuel Dossot and
• Victor Mamane

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2750–2762, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.257

• systematically seen at the other end of these objects. The length of this kind of object was systematically measured between 1.2 and 1.4 nm, which agrees with the presence of a FcETG2 grafted group. Figure 10 illustrates this fact by presenting typical micrographs of high-resolution STEM images recorded on the

• image presented in Figure 10b was estimated slightly over-focused by 1 or 2 nm. Numerous STEM images were analyzed for different samples, and the functionalization of the sidewalls was observed for both metallic and semiconducting tubes oxidized with either HNO3 or H2SO4 acidic conditions. Therefore

• and 11 mrad for an image resolution of 1024 × 1024 pixels with a dwell-time of 60 µs. STEM-EDS and STEM-EELS experiments were performed with an electron probe of about 0.17 nm and a convergence semi-angle of 24 mrad. The energy resolution was about 0.45 eV. The collection angle of the EELS

Friction reduction through biologically inspired scale-like laser surface textures

• Johannes Schneider,
• Vergil Djamiykov and
• Christian Greiner

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2561–2572, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.238

• have the same potential for reducing friction forces as standard surface textures, which have already been optimized for several decades [10]. The plateau in Figure 2b for sliding speeds between 40 and 70 mm/s may stem from different frictional interactions, or by run-in effects. Running-in is a

Cytotoxicity of doxorubicin-conjugated poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide]-modified γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles towards human tumor cells

• Zdeněk Plichta,
• Yulia Kozak,
• Rostyslav Panchuk,
• Viktoria Sokolova,
• Matthias Epple,
• Lesya Kobylinska,
• Pavla Jendelová and
• Daniel Horák

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2533–2545, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.236

• undifferentiated cells, mesenchymal stem cells were utilized. Cellular uptake of agents was studied by fluorescence microscopy and induction of cell death was visualized by live/dead assay. Dox-conjugated γ-Fe2O3@P(HPMA-MMAA) particles showed enhanced cytotoxicity in drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tumor cells

• Mouse melanoma cells of B16F10/wt line, human T-leukemia cells of Jurkat, K562, HL-60 lines and its drug-resistant HL-60/vinc sub-line (overexpression of P-glycoprotein) were a kind gift of Prof. Walter Berger, Institute of Cancer Research, Vienna Medical University (Austria). Human mesenchymal stem

• streptomycin at 37 °C in humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO2, while hMSCs were cultured in mesenchymal stem cell growth medium (MSCGM BulletKitTM; Lonza, Italy). All other cells were cultured in RPMI medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, streptomycin (50 µg/mL), and penicillin (50 units/mL) at 37

Adhesive contact of rough brushes

• Qiang Li and
• Valentin L. Popov

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2405–2412, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.225

• the square, one can see the pillars, whose heights are statistically distributed. The elastic half-space is represented only by its surface. At the location of the highest pillars, one can see the “spikes”, which stem from pillars which are strongly pressed into the elastic half-space. At lower pillar

• heights (see the side of the contact) one can see the “negative spikes” which stem from the not-yet-destroyed adhesive contacts of individual pillars loaded in tension. The scheme of indenting and pull-off stages of an adhesive contact of exponentially distributed pillars. An example of a pillar structure

Nanoscale characterization of the temporary adhesive of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus

• Ana S. Viana and
• Romana Santos

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2277–2286, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.212

• proximal extensible stem and a distal flattened disc [13]. The later releases an adhesive secretion that remains attached to the substrate as a footprint after detachment [14]. In sea stars, the adhesive is released through individual pores by two types of adhesive secretory cells found together in the

• determined [26] where a peak around 550 nm (after excitation at 488 nm) and emission over 505–620 nm was observed. a) Collection of Paracentrotus lividus footprints on mica. b) Detailed view of a sea urchin tube foot attached to mica, showing the adhesive disc (D) and the stem (S). c) Optical microscopy (10

The role of adatoms in chloride-activated colloidal silver nanoparticles for surface-enhanced Raman scattering enhancement

• Nicolae Leopold,
• Andrei Stefancu,
• Krisztian Herman,
• István Sz. Tódor,
• Stefania D. Iancu,
• Vlad Moisoiu and
• Loredana F. Leopold

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2236–2247, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.208

• transmission electron microscope (STEM), equipped with a cold field emission gun, working at an acceleration voltage of 200 kV. The absorption spectra were recorded with a Jasco V-630 UV–vis spectrometer at 1 nm spectral resolution. Raman and SERS spectra were obtained with a Renishaw InVia Raman microscope

Lead-free hybrid perovskites for photovoltaics

• Oleksandr Stroyuk

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 2209–2235, doi:10.3762/bjnano.9.207