TY - JOUR A1 - Wolff, Christian Michael A1 - Frischmann, Peter D. A1 - Schulze, Marcus A1 - Bohn, Bernhard J. A1 - Wein, Robin A1 - Livadas, Panajotis A1 - Carlson, Michael T. A1 - Jäckel, Frank A1 - Feldmann, Jochen A1 - Würthner, Frank A1 - Stolarczyk, Jacek K. T1 - All-in-one visible-light-driven water splitting by combining nanoparticulate and molecular co-catalysts on CdS nanorods JF - Nature Energy N2 - Full water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen on semiconductor nanocrystals is a challenging task; overpotentials must be overcome for both half-reactions and different catalytic sites are needed to facilitate them. Additionally, efficient charge separation and prevention of back reactions are necessary. Here, we report simultaneous H-2 and O-2 evolution by CdS nanorods decorated with nanoparticulate reduction and molecular oxidation co-catalysts. The process proceeds entirely without sacrificial agents and relies on the nanorod morphology of CdS to spatially separate the reduction and oxidation sites. Hydrogen is generated on Pt nanoparticles grown at the nanorod tips, while Ru(tpy)(bpy)Cl-2-based oxidation catalysts are anchored through dithiocarbamate bonds onto the sides of the nanorod. O-2 generation from water was verified by O-18 isotope labelling experiments, and time-resolved spectroscopic results confirmed efficient charge separation and ultrafast electron and hole transfer to the reaction sites. The system demonstrates that combining nanoparticulate and molecular catalysts on anisotropic nanocrystals provides an effective pathway for visible-light-driven photocatalytic water splitting. Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0229-6 SN - 2058-7546 VL - 3 IS - 10 SP - 862 EP - 869 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Cherstvy, Andrey G. A1 - Nagel, Oliver A1 - Beta, Carsten A1 - Metzler, Ralf T1 - Non-Gaussianity, population heterogeneity, and transient superdiffusion in the spreading dynamics of amoeboid cells JF - Physical chemistry, chemical physics : a journal of European Chemical Societies N2 - What is the underlying diffusion process governing the spreading dynamics and search strategies employed by amoeboid cells? Based on the statistical analysis of experimental single-cell tracking data of the two-dimensional motion of the Dictyostelium discoideum amoeboid cells, we quantify their diffusive behaviour based on a number of standard and complementary statistical indicators. We compute the ensemble- and time-averaged mean-squared displacements (MSDs) of the diffusing amoebae cells and observe a pronounced spread of short-time diffusion coefficients and anomalous MSD-scaling exponents for individual cells. The distribution functions of the cell displacements, the long-tailed distribution of instantaneous speeds, and the velocity autocorrelations are also computed. In particular, we observe a systematic superdiffusive short-time behaviour for the ensemble- and time-averaged MSDs of the amoeboid cells. Also, a clear anti-correlation of scaling exponents and generalised diffusivity values for different cells is detected. Most significantly, we demonstrate that the distribution function of the cell displacements has a strongly non-Gaussian shape andusing a rescaled spatio-temporal variablethe cell-displacement data collapse onto a universal master curve. The current analysis of single-cell motions can be implemented for quantifying diffusive behaviours in other living-matter systems, in particular, when effects of active transport, non-Gaussian displacements, and heterogeneity of the population are involved in the dynamics. Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1039/c8cp04254c SN - 1463-9076 SN - 1463-9084 VL - 20 IS - 35 SP - 23034 EP - 23054 PB - Royal Society of Chemistry CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fudickar, Werner A1 - Linker, Torsten T1 - Release of Singlet Oxygen from Aromatic Endoperoxides by Chemical Triggers JF - Angewandte Chemie : a journal of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker ; International edition N2 - The generation of reactive singlet oxygen under mild conditions is of current interest in chemistry, biology, and medicine. We were able to release oxygen from dipyridylanthracene endoperoxides (EPOs) by using a simple chemical trigger at low temperature. Protonation and methylation of such EPOs strongly accelerated these reactions. Furthermore, the methyl pyridinium derivatives are water soluble and therefore serve as oxygen carriers in aqueous media. Methylation of the EPO of the ortho isomer affords the parent form directly without increasing the temperature under very mild conditions. This exceptional behavior is ascribed to the close contact between the nitrogen atom and the peroxo group. Singlet oxygen is released upon this reaction, and can be used to oxygenate an acceptor such as tetramethylethylene in the dark with no heating. Thus, a new chemical source of singlet oxygen has been found, which is triggered by a simple stimulus. KW - anthracenes KW - donor-acceptor systems KW - mild reaction conditions KW - selective oxidations KW - singlet oxygen Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201806881 SN - 1433-7851 SN - 1521-3773 VL - 57 IS - 39 SP - 12971 EP - 12975 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Koc, Julian A1 - Simovich, Tomer A1 - Schönemann, Eric A1 - Chilkoti, Ashutosh A1 - Gardner, Harrison A1 - Swain, Geoffrey W. A1 - Hunsucker, Kelli A1 - Laschewsky, André A1 - Rosenhahn, Axel T1 - Sediment challenge to promising ultra-low fouling hydrophilic surfaces in the marine environment JF - Biofouling : the journal of bioadhesion and biofilm research N2 - Hydrophilic coatings exhibit ultra-low fouling properties in numerous laboratory experiments. In stark contrast, the antifouling effect of such coatings in vitro failed when performing field tests in the marine environment. The fouling release performance of nonionic and zwitterionic hydrophilic polymers was substantially reduced compared to the controlled laboratory environment. Microscopy and spectroscopy revealed that a large proportion of the accumulated material in field tests contains inorganic compounds and diatomaceous soil. Diatoms adhered to the accumulated material on the coating, but not to the pristine polymer. Simulating field tests in the laboratory using sediment samples collected from the test sites showed that incorporated sand and diatomaceous earth impairs the fouling release characteristics of the coatings. When exposed to marine sediment from multiple locations, particulate matter accumulated on these coatings and served as attachment points for diatom adhesion and enhanced fouling. Future developments of hydrophilic coatings should consider accumulated sediment and its potential impact on the antifouling performance. KW - hydrogel KW - field test KW - fouling release KW - marine biofouling KW - sediment Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/08927014.2019.1611790 SN - 0892-7014 SN - 1029-2454 VL - 35 IS - 4 SP - 454 EP - 462 PB - Taylor & Francis CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schuck, Götz A1 - Lehmann, Frederike A1 - Ollivier, Jacques A1 - Mutka, Hannu A1 - Schorr, Susan T1 - Influence of chloride substitution on the rotational dynamics of methylammonium in MAPbI(3-x)Cl(x) perovskites JF - The journal of physical chemistry : C, Nanomaterials and interfaces N2 - Hybrid halide perovskites, MAPbI(3), MAPbI(2.94)Cl(0.0)6, and MAPbCl(3) (MA, methylammonium), were investigated using inelastic and quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) with the aim of elucidating the impact of chloride substitution on the rotational dynamics of MA. In this context, we discuss the influence of the inelastic neutron scattering caused by low-energy phonons on QENS, resulting from the MA rotational dynamics in MAPbI(3-x)Cl(x). Through a comparative temperature-dependent QENS investigation with different energy resolutions, which allow a wide Fourier time window, we achieved a consistent description of the influence of chlorine substitution in MAPbI(3) on the MA dynamics. Our results showed that chlorine substitution in the low-temperature orthorhombic phase leads to a weakening of the hydrogen bridge bonds, since the characteristic relaxation times of C-3 rotation at 70 K in MAPbCl(3) (135 ps) and MAPbI(2.94)Cl(0.06) (485 ps) are much shorter than that in MAPbI(3) (1635 ps). For the orthorhombic phase, we obtained the activitin energies from the temperature-dependent characteristic relaxation times tau (c3). by Arrhenius fits, indicating lower values of E-a for MAPbCl(3) and MAPbI(2.94)Cl(0.06) compared to that of MAPbI(3). We also performed QENS analyses at 190 K for all three samples. Here, we observed that MAPbCI(3) shows slower MA rotational dynamics than MAPbI(3) in the disordered structure. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.9b01238 SN - 1932-7447 VL - 123 IS - 18 SP - 11436 EP - 11446 PB - American Chemical Society CY - Washington ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Utecht, Manuel Martin A1 - Gaebel, Tina A1 - Klamroth, Tillmann T1 - Desorption induced by low energy charge carriers on Si(111)-7 x 7 BT - first principles molecular dynamics for benzene derivates JF - Journal of computational chemistry : organic, inorganic, physical, biological N2 - We use clusters for the modeling of local ion resonances caused by low energy charge carriers in STM-induced desorption of benzene derivates from Si(111)-7 x 7. We perform Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics for the charged systems assuming vertical transitions to the charged states at zero temperature, to rationalize the low temperature activation energies, which are found in experiment for chlorobenzene. Our calculations suggest very similar low temperature activation energies for toluene and benzene. For the cationic resonance transitions to physisorption are found even at 0 K, while the anion remains chemisorbed during the propagations. Further, we also extend our previous static quantum chemical investigations to toluene and benzene. In addition, an in depth analysis of the ionization potentials and electron affinities, which are used to estimate resonance energies, is given. KW - Born-Oppenheimer MD KW - STM-induced reactions KW - cluster models KW - Si(111)-7x7 Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/jcc.25607 SN - 0192-8651 SN - 1096-987X VL - 39 IS - 30 SP - 2517 EP - 2525 PB - Wiley CY - Hoboken ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Duydu, Yalcin A1 - Basaran, Nursen A1 - Aydin, Sevtap A1 - Ustundag, Aylin A1 - Yalcin, Can Özgür A1 - Anlar, Hatice Gul A1 - Bacanli, Merve A1 - Aydos, Kaan A1 - Atabekoglu, Cem Somer A1 - Golka, Klaus A1 - Ickstadt, Katja A1 - Schwerdtle, Tanja A1 - Werner, Matthias A1 - Meyer, Sören A1 - Bolt, Hermann M. T1 - Evaluation of FSH, LH, testosterone levels and semen parameters in male boron workers under extreme exposure conditions JF - Archives of toxicology : official journal of EUROTOX N2 - Boric acid and sodium borates are currently classified in the EU-CLP regulation as "toxic to reproduction" under "Category 1B", with hazard statement of H360FD. However, so far field studies on male reproduction in China and in Turkey could not confirm such boron-associated toxic effects. As validation by another independent study is still required, the present study has investigated possible boron-associated effects on male reproduction in workers (n = 212) under different boron exposure conditions. The mean daily boron exposure (DBE) and blood boron concentration of workers in the extreme exposure group (n = 98) were 47.17 +/- 17.47 (7.95-106.8) mg B/day and 570.6 +/- 160.1 (402.6-1100) ng B/g blood, respectively. Nevertheless, boron-associated adverse effects on semen parameters, as well as on FSH, LH and total testosterone levels were not seen, even within the extreme exposure group. With this study, a total body of evidence has accumulated that allows to conclude that male reproductive effects are not relevant to humans, under any feasible and realistic conditions of exposure to inorganic boron compounds. KW - Boron exposure KW - Boric acid KW - Reproductive toxicity KW - FSH KW - LH KW - Testosterone KW - Semen parameters Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-018-2296-7 SN - 0340-5761 SN - 1432-0738 VL - 92 IS - 10 SP - 3051 EP - 3059 PB - Springer CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Yalcinkaya, Hacer A1 - Bressel, Katharina A1 - Lindner, Peter A1 - Gradzielski, Michael T1 - Controlled formation of vesicles with added styrene and their fixation by polymerization JF - Journal of colloid and interface science N2 - Hypothesis: An effective way for fixating vesicle structures is the insertion of monomers and cross-linking agents into their bilayer, and their subsequent polymerization can lead to the formation of polymeric nanocapsules. Particularly attractive here are vesicle systems that form spontaneously well-defined small vesicles, as obtaining such small nanocapsules with sizes below 100 nm is still challenging. Experiments: A spontaneously forming well-defined vesicle system composed of the surfactants TDMAO (tetradecyldimethylamine oxide), Pluronic L35, and LiPFOS (lithium perfluorooctylsulfonate) mixture was used as template for fixation by polymerization. Therefore, styrene monomer was incorporated into the vesicle bilayer and ultimately these structures were fixated by UV induced radical polymerization. Structural alteration of the vesicles upon loading with monomer and the cross-linker as well as the effect of subsequent polymerization in the membrane were investigated in detail by turbidity measurements, dynamic and static light scattering, (DLS, SLS), and small angle neutron scattering (SANS). Findings: The analysis showed the changes on vesicle structures due to the monomer loading, and that these structures can become permanently fixed by the polymerization process. The potential of this approach to produce well-defined nanocapsules starting from a self-assembled system and following polymerization is critically evaluated. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. KW - Template reaction KW - Zwitterionic surfactant KW - Anionic surfactant KW - Styrene KW - Vesicle KW - Small angle neutron scattering KW - Polymerization Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2018.07.097 SN - 0021-9797 SN - 1095-7103 VL - 531 SP - 672 EP - 680 PB - Elsevier CY - San Diego ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Günther, Erika A1 - Klauß, André A1 - Toro-Nahuelpan, Mauricio A1 - Schüler, Dirk A1 - Hille, Carsten A1 - Faivre, Damien T1 - The in vivo mechanics of the magnetotactic backbone as revealed by correlative FLIM-FRET and STED microscopy JF - Scientific reports N2 - Protein interaction and protein imaging strongly benefit from the advancements in time-resolved and superresolution fluorescence microscopic techniques. However, the techniques were typically applied separately and ex vivo because of technical challenges and the absence of suitable fluorescent protein pairs. Here, we show correlative in vivo fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy Forster resonance energy transfer (FLIM-FRET) and stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy to unravel protein mechanics and structure in living cells. We use magnetotactic bacteria as a model system where two proteins, MamJ and MamK, are used to assemble magnetic particles called magnetosomes. The filament polymerizes out of MamK and the magnetosomes are connected via the linker MamJ. Our system reveals that bacterial filamentous structures are more fragile than the connection of biomineralized particles to this filament. More importantly, we anticipate the technique to find wide applicability for the study and quantification of biological processes in living cells and at high resolution. Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-55804-5 SN - 2045-2322 VL - 9 PB - Nature Publ. Group CY - London ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Koetz, Joachim T1 - The Effect of Surface Modification of Gold Nanotriangles for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Performance JF - Nanomaterials N2 - A surface modification of ultraflat gold nanotriangles (AuNTs) with different shaped nanoparticles is of special relevance for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and the photo-catalytic activity of plasmonic substrates. Therefore, different approaches are used to verify the flat platelet morphology of the AuNTs by oriented overgrowth with metal nanoparticles. The most important part for the morphological transformation of the AuNTs is the coating layer, containing surfactants or polymers. By using well established AuNTs stabilized by a dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT) bilayer, different strategies of surface modification with noble metal nanoparticles are possible. On the one hand undulated superstructures were synthesized by in situ growth of hemispherical gold nanoparticles in the polyethyleneimine (PEI)-coated AOT bilayer of the AuNTs. On the other hand spiked AuNTs were obtained by a direct reduction of Au³⁺ ions in the AOT double layer in presence of silver ions and ascorbic acid as reducing agent. Additionally, crumble topping of the smooth AuNTs can be realized after an exchange of the AOT bilayer by hyaluronic acid, followed by a silver-ion mediated reduction with ascorbic acid. Furthermore, a decoration with silver nanoparticles after coating the AOT bilayer with the cationic surfactant benzylhexadecyldimethylammonium chloride (BDAC) can be realized. In that case the ultraviolet (UV)-absorption of the undulated Au@Ag nanoplatelets can be tuned depending on the degree of decoration with silver nanoparticles. Comparing the Raman scattering data for the plasmon driven dimerization of 4-nitrothiophenol (4-NTP) to 4,4′-dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB) one can conclude that the most important effect of surface modification with a 75 times higher enhancement factor in SERS experiments becomes available by decoration with gold spikes. KW - undulated KW - spiked and crumble gold nanotriangles KW - SERS enhancement factor KW - dimerization of 4-nitrothiophenol KW - AOT bilayer KW - PEI coating Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10112187 SN - 2079-4991 VL - 10 IS - 11 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER -