@article{BurekKrauseSchwotzeretal.2018, author = {Burek, Katja and Krause, Felix and Schwotzer, Matthias and Nefedov, Alexei and S{\"u}ssmuth, Julia and Haubitz, Toni and Kumke, Michael Uwe and Thissen, Peter}, title = {Hydrophobic Properties of Calcium-Silicate Hydrates Doped with Rare-Earth Elements}, series = {ACS sustainable chemistry \& engineering}, volume = {6}, journal = {ACS sustainable chemistry \& engineering}, number = {11}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, address = {Washington}, issn = {2168-0485}, doi = {10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b03244}, pages = {14669 -- 14678}, year = {2018}, abstract = {In this study, the apparent relationship between the transport process and the surface chemistry of the Calcium-Silicate Hydrate (CSH) phases was investigated. For this purpose, a method was developed to synthesize ultrathin CSH phases to be used as a model substrate with the specific modification of their structure by introducing europium (Eu(III)). The structural and chemical changes during this Eu(III)-doping were observed by means of infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS). These alterations of the CSH phases led to significant changes in the surface chemistry and consequently to considerable variations in the interaction with water, as evidenced by measurements of the contact angles on the modified model substrates. Our results provide the basis for a more profound molecular understanding of reactive transport processes in cement-based systems. Furthermore, these results broaden the perspective of improving the stability of cement-based materials, which are subjected to the impact of aggressive aqueous environments through targeted modifications of the CSH phases.}, language = {en} } @article{KroenerEhlertSaalfranketal.2011, author = {Kr{\"o}ner, Dominik and Ehlert, Christopher and Saalfrank, Peter and Holl{\"a}nder, Andreas}, title = {Ab initio calculations for XPS chemical shifts of poly(vinyl-trifluoroacetate) using trimer models}, series = {Surface science}, volume = {605}, journal = {Surface science}, number = {15-16}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0039-6028}, doi = {10.1016/j.susc.2011.05.021}, pages = {1516 -- 1524}, year = {2011}, abstract = {X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) of the polymer poly(vinyl-trifluoroacetate) show C(1s) binding energy shifts which are unusual because they are influenced by atoms which are several bonds away from the probed atom. In this work, the influence of the trifluoroacetate substituent on the 1s ionization potential of the carbon atoms of the polyethylene chain is investigated theoretically using mono-substituted, diad and triad models of trimers representing the polymer. Carbon 1s ionization energies are calculated by the Hartree-Fock theory employing Koopmans' theorem. The influence of the configuration and conformation of the functional groups as well as the degree of substitution are found to be important determinants of XPS spectra. It is further found that the 1s binding energy correlates in a linear fashion, with the total electrostatic potential at the position of the probe atom, and depends not only on nearest neighbor effects. This may have implications for the interpretation of high-resolution XP spectra.}, language = {en} }