TY - JOUR A1 - Haubitz, Toni A1 - Drobot, Björn A1 - Tsushima, Satoru A1 - Steudtner, Robin A1 - Stumpf, Thorsten A1 - Kumke, Michael Uwe T1 - Quenching mechanism of uranyl(VI) by chloride and bromide in aqueous and non-aqueous solutions JF - The journal of physical chemistry : A, Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment & general theory N2 - A major hindrance in utilizing uranyl(VI) luminescence as a standard analytical tool, for example, in environmental monitoring or nuclear industries, is quenching by other ions such as halide ions, which are present in many relevant matrices of uranyl(VI) speciation. Here, we demonstrate through a combination of time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy, transient absorption spectroscopy, and quantum chemistry that coordinating solvent molecules play a crucial role in U(VI) halide luminescence quenching. We show that our previously suggested quenching mechanism based on an internal redox reaction of the 1:2-uranyl-halide-complex holds also true for bromide-induced quenching of uranyl(VI). By adopting specific organic solvents, we were able to suppress the separation of the oxidized halide ligand X-2(center dot-) and the formed uranyl(V) into fully solvated ions, thereby "reigniting" U(VI) luminescence. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations show that quenching occurs through the outer-sphere complex of U(VI) and halide in water, while the ligand-to-metal charge transfer is strongly reduced in acetonitrile. Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.1c02487 SN - 1089-5639 SN - 1520-5215 VL - 125 IS - 20 SP - 4380 EP - 4389 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bastian, Philipp U. A1 - Nacak, Selma A1 - Roddatis, Vladimir A1 - Kumke, Michael Uwe T1 - Tracking the motion of lanthanide ions within core-shell-shell NaYF4 nanocrystals via resonance energy transfer JF - The journal of physical chemistry : C N2 - Lanthanide resonance energy transfer (LRET) was used to investigate the motion of dopant ions during the synthesis of core-shell-shell-nanocrystals (NCs) that are frequently used as frequency upconversion materials. Reaction conditions (temperature, solvent) as well as lattice composition and precursors were adapted from a typical hydrothermal synthesis approach used to obtain upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). Instead of adding the lanthanide ions Yb3+/Er3+ as the sensitizer/activator couple, Eu3+/Nd3+ as the donor/acceptor were added as the LRET pair to the outer shell (Eu-3) and the core (Nd-3). By tailoring the thickness of the insulation shell ("middle shell"), the expected distance between the donor and the acceptor was increased beyond 2 R-0, a distance for which no LRET is expected. The successful synthesis of core- shell-shell NCs with different thicknesses of the insulation layer was demonstrated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy measurement. The incorporation of the Eu3+ ions into the NaYF4 lattice was investigated by high-resolution time-resolved luminescence measurements. Two major Eu3+ species (bulk and surface) were found. This was supported by steady-state as well as time-resolved luminescence data. Based on the luminescence decay kinetics, the intermixing of lanthanides during synthesis of core- shell UCNPs was evaluated. The energy transfer between Eu3+ (donor) and Nd3+ (acceptor) ions was exploited to quantify the motion of the dopant ions. This investigation reveals the migration of Ln(3+) ions between different compatiments in core-shell NCs and affects the concept of using core-shell architectures to increase the efficiency of UCNPs. In order to obtain well-separated core and shell structures with different dopants, alternative concepts are needed. Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.0c02588 SN - 1932-7447 SN - 1932-7455 VL - 124 IS - 20 SP - 11229 EP - 11238 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC ER - TY - JOUR A1 - López de Guereñu Kurganova, Anna A1 - Klier, Dennis Tobias A1 - Haubitz, Toni A1 - Kumke, Michael Uwe T1 - Influence of Gd3+ doping concentration on the properties of Na(Y,Gd)F-4 BT - Yb3+, Tm3+ upconverting nanoparticles and their long-term aging behavior JF - Photochemical & photobiological sciences / European Society for Photobiology N2 - We present a systematic study on the properties of Na(Y,Gd)F-4-based upconverting nanoparticles (UCNP) doped with 18% Yb3+, 2% Tm3+, and the influence of Gd3+ (10-50 mol% Gd3+). UCNP were synthesized via the solvothermal method and had a range of diameters within 13 and 50 nm. Structural and photophysical changes were monitored for the UCNP samples after a 24-month incubation period in dry phase and further redispersion. Structural characterization was performed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as well as dynamic light scattering (DLS), and the upconversion luminescence (UCL) studies were executed at various temperatures (from 4 to 295 K) using time-resolved and steady-state spectroscopy. An increase in the hexagonal lattice phase with the increase of Gd3+ content was found, although the cubic phase was prevalent in most samples. The Tm3+-luminescence intensity as well as the Tm3+-luminescence decay times peaked at the Gd3+ concentration of 30 mol%. Although the general upconverting luminescence properties of the nanoparticles were preserved, the 24-month incubation period lead to irreversible agglomeration of the UCNP and changes in luminescence band ratios and lifetimes. KW - Upconversion luminescence KW - Lanthanides KW - Near infra-red KW - Ultra-low KW - temperature KW - Time-resolved spectroscopy Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-021-00161-4 SN - 1474-905X SN - 1474-9092 VL - 21 IS - 2 SP - 235 EP - 245 PB - Springer CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Pilar Yeste, Maria A1 - Carlos Hernandez-Garrido, Juan A1 - Kumke, Michael Uwe A1 - Alvarado, Sarah A1 - Cauqui, Miguel Angel A1 - Juan Calvino, Jose A1 - Primus, Philipp-Alexander T1 - Low-temperature growth of reactive pyrochlore nanostructures on Zirconia-supported ceria BT - implications for improved catalytic behavior JF - ACS applied nano materials N2 - The use of a catalyst support for the design of nanoscale heterogeneous catalysts based on cerium oxide offers vast possibilities for future catalyst development, particularly with regard to an increased focus on the use of renewable biogas and an emerging hydrogen economy. In this study, zirconia-supported ceria catalysts were synthesized, activated by using different thermochemical treatments, and characterized by way of temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), oxygen storage capacity, Xray diffraction, electron microscopy, and luminescence spectroscopy using Eu3+ as a spectroscopic probe. Through reduction-oxidation pretreatment routines, reactive pyrochlore structures were created at temperatures as low as 600 degrees C and identified through TPR and electron microscopy experiments. A structural relationship and alignment of the crystal planes is revealed in high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy experiments through the digital diffraction patterns. Low-temperature pretreatment induces the formation of reactive pyrochlore domains under retention of the surface area of the catalyst system, and no further morphological changes are detected. Furthermore, the formation of pyrochlore domains achieved through severe reduction and mild reoxidation (SRMO) treatments is reversible. Over multiple alternating SRMO and severe reduction and severe reoxidation (SRSO) treatments, europium spectroscopy and TPR results indicate that pyrochlore structures are recreated over consecutive treatments, whenever the mild oxidation step at 500 degrees C is the last treatment (SRMO, SRMO-SRSO-SRMO, etc.). KW - pyrochlore KW - nanocomposite KW - ceria KW - zirconia KW - supported catalyst KW - oxygen KW - storage capacity Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acsanm.2c00416 SN - 2574-0970 VL - 5 IS - 5 SP - 6316 EP - 6326 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Chemura, Sitshengisiwe A1 - Haubitz, Toni A1 - Primus, Philipp A. A1 - Underberg, Martin A1 - Hülser, Tim A1 - Kumke, Michael Uwe T1 - Europium-doped Ceria-Gadolinium mixed oxides BT - PARAFAC analysis and high-resolution emission spectroscopy under cryogenic conditions for structural analysis JF - The journal of physical chemistry : A, Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment & general theory N2 - Gadolinium-doped ceria or gadolinium-stabilized ceria (GDC) is an important technical material due to its ability to conduct O2- ions, e.g., used in solid oxide fuel cells operated at intermediate temperature as an electrolyte, diffusion barrier, and electrode component. We have synthesized Ce1-xGdxO2-y:Eu3+ (0 <= x <= 0.4) nanoparticles (11-15 nm) using a scalable spray pyrolysis method, which allows the continuous large-scale technical production of such materials. Introducing Eu3+ ions in small amounts into ceria and GDC as spectroscopic probes can provide detailed information about the atomic structure and local environments and allows us to monitor small structural changes. This study presents a novel approach to structurally elucidate europium-doped Ce1-xGdxO2-y:Eu3+ nanoparticles by way of Eu3+ spectroscopy, processing the spectroscopic data with the multiway decomposition method parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis. In order to perform the deconvolution of spectra, data sets of excitation wavelength, emission wavelength, and time are required. Room temperature, time-resolved emission spectra recorded at lambda(ex) = 464 nm show that Gd3+ doping results in significantly altered emission spectra compared to pure ceria. The PARAFAC analysis for the pure ceria samples reveals a high-symmetry species (which can also be probed directly via the CeO2 charge transfer band) and a low-symmetry species. The GDC samples yield two low-symmetry spectra in the same experiment. High-resolution emission spectra recorded under cryogenic conditions after probing the D-5(0)-F-7(0) transition at lambda(ex) = 575-583 nm revealed additional variation in the low-symmetry Eu3+ sites in pure ceria and GDC. The total luminescence spectra of CeO2-y:Eu3+ showed Eu3+ ions located in at least three slightly different coordination environments with the same fundamental symmetry, whereas the overall hypsochromic shift and increased broadening of the D-5(0)-F-7(0) excitation in the GDC samples, as well as the broadened spectra after deconvolution point to less homogeneous environments. The data of the Gd3+-containing samples indicates that the average charge density around the Eu3+ ions in the lattice is decreased with increasing Gd3+ and oxygen vacancy concentration. For reference, the Judd-Ofelt parameters of all spectra were calculated. PARAFAC proves to be a powerful tool to analyze lanthanide spectra in crystalline solid materials, which are characterized by numerous Stark transitions and where measurements usually yield a superposition of different contributions to any given spectrum. Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.0c03188 SN - 1089-5639 SN - 1520-5215 VL - 124 IS - 24 SP - 4972 EP - 4983 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bastian, Philipp U. A1 - Yu, Leixiao A1 - de Guereñu Kurganova, Anna Lopez A1 - Haag, Rainer A1 - Kumke, Michael Uwe T1 - Bioinspired confinement of upconversion nanoparticles for improved performance in aqueous solution JF - The journal of physical chemistry : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces N2 - The resonance energy transfer (RET) from NaYF4:Yb,Er upconverting nanoparticles (UNCPs) to a dye (5-carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA)) was investigated by photoluminescence experiments and microscale thermophoresis (MST). The dye was excited via RET from the UCNPs which was excited in the near-infrared (NIR). The change of the dye diffusion speed (free vs coupled) was investigated by MST. RET shows significant changes in the decay times of the dye as well as of the UCNPs. MST reveals significant changes in the diffusion speed. A unique amphiphilic coating polymer (customized mussel protein (CMP) polymer) for UCNP surface coating was used, which mimics blood protein adsorption and mussel food protein adhesion to transfer the UCNP into the aqueous phase and to allow surface functionalization. The CMP provides very good water dispersibility to the UCNPs and minimizes ligand exchange and subsequent UCNP aging reactions because of the interlinkage of the CMP on the UCNP surface. Moreover, CMP provides N-3-functional groups for dick chemistry-based functionalization demonstrated with the dye 5-carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA). This establishes the principle coupling scheme for suitable biomarkers such as antibodies. The CMP provides very stable aqueous UCNP dispersions that are storable up to 3 years in a fridge at 5 degrees C without dissolution or coagulation. The outstanding properties of CMP in shielding the UCNP from unwanted solvent effects is reflected in the distinct increase of the photoluminescence decay times after UCNP functionalization. The UCNP-to-TAMRA energy transfer is also spectroscopically investigated at low temperatures (4-200 K), revealing that one of the two green Er(III) emission bands contributes the major part to the energy transfer. The TAMRA fluorescence decay time increases by a factor of 9500 from 2.28 ns up to 22 mu s due to radiationless energy transfer from the UCNP after NIR excitation of the latter. This underlines the unique properties of CMP as a versatile capping ligand for distinctly improving the UCNPs' performance in aqueous solutions, for coupling of biomolecules, and for applications for in vitro and in vivo experiments using UCNPs as optical probes in life science applications. Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.0c09798 SN - 1932-7447 SN - 1932-7455 VL - 124 IS - 52 SP - 28623 EP - 28635 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington, DC ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Haubitz, Toni A1 - John, Leonard A1 - Freyse, Daniel A1 - Wessig, Pablo A1 - Kumke, Michael Uwe T1 - Investigating the Sulfur "Twist" on the Photophysics of DBD Dyes JF - The journal of physical chemistry : A, Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment & general theory N2 - The so-called DBD ([1,3]dioxolo[4,5-f][1,3]benzodioxole) dyes are a new class of fluorescent dyes, with tunable photophysical properties like absorption, fluorescence lifetime, and Stokes shift. With the development of sulfur based DBDs, this dye class is extended even further for possible applications in spectroscopy and microscopy. In this paper we are investigating the basic photophysical properties and their implications for future applications for S-4-DBD as well as O-4-DBD. On the basis of time-resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy, transient absorption spectroscopy, and UV/vis-spectroscopy, we determined the rate constants of the radiative and nonradiative deactivation processes as well as the energy of respective electronic states involved in the electronic deactivation of S-4-DBD and of O-4-DBD. For S-4-DBD we unraveled the triplet formation with intersystem crossing quantum yields of up to 80%. By TD-DFT calculations we estimated a triplet energy of around 13500-14700 cm(-1) depending on the DBD dye and solvent. Through solvent dependent measurements, we found quadrupole moments in the range of 2 B. Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.0c01880 SN - 1089-5639 SN - 1520-5215 VL - 124 IS - 22 SP - 4345 EP - 4353 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Haubitz, Toni A1 - Fudickar, Werner A1 - Linker, Torsten A1 - Kumke, Michael Uwe T1 - pH-sensitive fluorescence switching of pyridylanthracenes BT - the effect of the isomeric pattern JF - The journal of physical chemistry : A, Molecules, spectroscopy, kinetics, environment & general theory N2 - 9,10-substituted anthracenes are known for their useful optical properties like fluorescence, which makes them frequently used probes in sensing applications. In this article, we investigate the fundamental photophysical properties of three pyridyl-substituted variants. The nitrogen atoms in the pyridinium six-membered rings are located in the ortho-, meta-, and para-positions in relation to the anthracene core. Absorption, fluorescence, and transient absorption measurements were carried out and were complemented by theoretical calculations. We monitored the photophysics of the anthracene derivatives in chloroform and water investigating the protonated as well as their nonprotonated forms. We found that the optical properties of the nonprotonated forms are strongly determined by the anthracene chromophore, with only small differences to other 9,10-substituted anthracenes, for example diphenyl anthracene. In contrast, protonation leads to a strong decrease in fluorescence intensity and lifetime. Transient absorption measurements and theoretical calculations revealed the formation of a charge-transfer state in the protonated chromophores, where electron density is shifted from the anthracene moiety toward the protonated pyridyl substituents. While the para- and ortho-derivatives' charge transfer is still moderately fluorescent, the meta-derivative is affected much stronger and shows nearly no fluorescence. This nitrogen-atom-position-dependent sensitivity to hydronium activity makes a combination of these fluorophores very attractive for pH-sensing applications covering a broadened pH range. KW - Absorption KW - Aromatic compounds KW - Fluorescence KW - Hydrocarbons KW - Reaction mechanisms Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpca.0c09911 SN - 1089-5639 SN - 1520-5215 VL - 124 IS - 52 SP - 11017 EP - 11024 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Lippold, Holger A1 - Eidner, Sascha A1 - Kumke, Michael Uwe A1 - Lippmann-Pipke, Johanna T1 - Dynamics of metal-humate complexation equilibria as revealed by isotope exchange studies - a matter of concentration and time JF - Geochimica et cosmochimica acta : journal of the Geochemical Society and the Meteoritical Society N2 - Complexation with dissolved humic matter can be crucial in controlling the mobility of toxic or radioactive contaminant metals. For speciation and transport modelling, a dynamic equilibrium process is commonly assumed, where association and dissociation run permanently. This is, however, questionable in view of reported observations of a growing resistance to dissociation over time. In this study, the isotope exchange principle was employed to gain direct insight into the dynamics of the complexation equilibrium, including kinetic inertisation phenomena. Terbium(III), an analogue of trivalent actinides, was used as a representative of higher-valent metals. Isotherms of binding to (flocculated) humic acid, determined by means of Tb-160 as a radiotracer, were found to be identical regardless of whether the radioisotope was introduced together with the bulk of stable Tb-159 or subsequently after pre-equilibration for up to 3 months. Consequently, there is a permanent exchange of free and humic-bound Tb since all available binding sites are occupied in the plateau region of the isotherm. The existence of a dynamic equilibrium was thus evidenced. There was no indication of an inertisation under these experimental conditions. If the small amount of Tb-160 was introduced prior to saturation with Tb-159, the expected partial desorption of Tb-160 occurred at much lower rates than observed for the equilibration process in the reverse procedure. In addition, the rates decreased with time of pre-equilibration. Inertisation phenomena are thus confined to the stronger sites of humic molecules (occupied at low metal concentrations). Analysing the time-dependent course of isotope exchange according to first-order kinetics indicated that up to 3 years are needed to attain equilibrium. Since, however, metal-humic interaction remains reversible, exchange of metals between humic carriers and mineral surfaces cannot be neglected on the long time scale to be considered in predictive transport models. KW - Humic substances KW - Metal complexation KW - Kinetics KW - Reversibility KW - Isotope exchange KW - Dynamic equilibrium Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2016.10.019 SN - 0016-7037 SN - 1872-9533 VL - 197 SP - 62 EP - 70 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Eisold, Ursula A1 - Sellrie, Frank A1 - Memczak, Henry A1 - Andersson, Anika A1 - Schenk, Jörg A. A1 - Kumke, Michael Uwe T1 - Dye tool box for a fluorescence enhancement immunoassay JF - Bioconjugate chemistry N2 - Immunochemical analytical methods are very successful in clinical diagnostics and are nowadays also emerging in the control of food as well as monitoring of environmental issues. Among the different immunoassays, luminescence based formats are characterized by their outstanding sensitivity making this format especially attractive for future applications. The need for multiparameter detection capabilities calls for a tool box of dye labels in order to transduce the biochemical reaction into an optically detectable signal. Here, in a multiparameter approach each analyte may be detected by a different dye with a unique emission color (covering the blue to red spectral range) or a unique luminescence decay kinetics. In the case of a competitive immunoassay format for each of the different dye labels an individual antibody would be needed. In the present paper a slightly modified approach is presented using a 7-aminocoumarin unit as the basic antigen against which highly specific antibodies were generated. Leaving the epitope region in the dyes unchanged but introducing a side group in positon 3 of the coumarin system allowed us to tune the optical properties of the coumarin dyes without the necessity of new antibody generation. Upon modification of the parent coumarin unit the full spectral range from blue to deep red was accessed. In the manuscript the photophysical characterization of the coumarin derivatives and their corresponding immunocomplexes with two highly specific antibodies is presented. The coumarin dyes and their immunocomplexes were characterized by steady-state and time-resolved absorption as well as emission spectroscopy. Moreover, fluorescence depolarization measurements were carried out to complement the data stressing the different binding modes of the two antibodies. The binding modes were evaluated using the photophysics of 7-aminocoumarins and how it was affected in the respective immunocomplexes, namely, the formation of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) as well as the twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT). In contrast to other antibody-dye pairs reported a distinct fluorescence enhancement upon formation of the antibody-dye complex up to a factor of SO was found. Because of the easy emission color tuning by tailoring the coumarin substitution for the antigen binding in nonrelevant position 3 of the parent molecule, a dye tool box is on hand which can be used in the construction of competitive multiparameter fluorescence enhancement immunoassays (FenIA). Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.7b00731 SN - 1043-1802 VL - 29 IS - 1 SP - 203 EP - 214 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER -