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Ammonia is a chemical of fundamental importance for nature`s vital nitrogen cycle. It is crucial for the growth of living organisms as well as food and energy source. Traditionally, industrial ammonia production is predominated by Haber- Bosch process (HBP) which is based on direct conversion of N2 and H2 gas under high temperature and high pressure (~500oC, 150-300 bar). However, it is not the favorite route because of its thermodynamic and kinetic limitations, and the need for the energy intense production of hydrogen gas by reforming processes. All these disfavors of HBP open a target to search for an alternative technique to perform efficient ammonia synthesis via electrochemical catalytic processes, in particular via water electrolysis, using water as the hydrogen source to save the process from gas reforming.
In this study, the investigation of the interface effects between imidazolium-based ionic liquids and the surface of porous carbon materials with a special interest in the nitrogen absorption capability. As the further step, the possibility to establish this interface as the catalytically active area for the electrochemical N2 reduction to NH3 has been evaluated. This particular combination has been chosen because the porous carbon materials and ionic liquids (IL) have a significant importance in many scientific fields including catalysis and electrocatalysis due to their special structural and physicochemical properties. Primarily, the effects of the confinement of ionic liquid (EmimOAc, 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate) into carbon pores have been investigated. The salt-templated porous carbons, which have different porosity (microporous and mesoporous) and nitrogen species, were used as model structures for the comparison of the IL confinement at different loadings. The nitrogen uptake of EmimOAc can be increased by about 10 times by the confinement in the pores of carbon materials compared to the bulk form. In addition, the most improved nitrogen absorption was observed by IL confinement in micropores and in nitrogen-doped carbon materials as a consequence of the maximized structural changes of IL. Furthermore, the possible use of such interfaces between EmimOAc and porous carbon for the catalytic activation of dinitrogen during the kinetically challenging NRR due to the limited gas absorption in the electrolyte, was examined. An electrocatalytic NRR system based on the conversion of water and nitrogen gas to ammonia at ambient operation conditions (1 bar, 25 °C) was performed in a setup under an applied electric potential with a single chamber electrochemical cell, which consists of the combination of EmimOAc electrolyte with the porous carbon-working electrode and without a traditional electrocatalyst. Under a potential of -3 V vs. SCE for 45 minutes, a NH3 production rate of 498.37 μg h-1 cm-2 and FE of 12.14% were achieved. The experimental observations show that an electric double-layer, which serves the catalytically active area, occurs between a microporous carbon material and ions of the EmimOAc electrolyte in the presence of sufficiently high provided electric potential. Comparing with the typical NRR systems which have been reported in the literature, the presented electrochemical ammonia synthesis approach provides a significantly higher ammonia production rate with a chance to avoid the possible kinetic limitations of NRR. In terms of operating conditions, ammonia production rate and the faradic efficiency without the need for any synthetic electrocatalyst can be resulted of electrocatalytic activation of nitrogen in the double-layer formed between carbon and IL ions.
Lately, the integration of upconverting nanoparticles (UCNP) in industrial, biomedical and scientific applications has been increasingly accelerating, owing to the exceptional photophysical properties that UCNP offer. Some of the most promising applications lie in the field of medicine and bioimaging due to such advantages as, among others, deeper tissue penetration, reduced optical background, possibility for multicolor imaging, and lower toxicity, compared to many known luminophores. However, some questions regarding not only the fundamental photophysical processes, but also the interaction of the UCNP with other luminescent reporters frequently used for bioimaging and the interaction with biological media remain unanswered. These issues were the primary motivation for the presented work.
This PhD thesis investigated several aspects of various properties and possibilities for bioapplications of Yb3+,Tm3+-doped NaYF4 upconverting nanoparticles. First, the effect of Gd3+ doping on the structure and upconverting behaviour of the nanocrystals was assessed. The ageing process of the UCNP in cyclohexane was studied over 24 months on the samples with different Gd3+ doping concentrations. Structural information was gathered by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and discussed in relation to spectroscopic results, obtained through multiparameter upconversion luminescence studies at various temperatures (from 4 K to 295 K). Time-resolved and steady-state emission spectra recorded over this ample temperature range allowed for a deeper understanding of photophysical processes and their dependence on structural changes of UCNP.
A new protocol using a commercially available high boiling solvent allowed for faster and more controlled production of very small and homogeneous UCNP with better photophysical properties, and the advantages of a passivating NaYF4 shell were shown.
Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between four different species of NaYF4: Yb3+, Tm3+ UCNP (synthesized using the improved protocol) and a small organic dye was studied. The influence of UCNP composition and the proximity of Tm3+ ions (donors in the process of FRET) to acceptor dye molecules have been assessed. The brightest upconversion luminescence was observed in the UCNP with a protective inert shell. UCNP with Tm3+ ions only in the shell were the least bright, but showed the most efficient energy transfer.
In the final part, two surface modification strategies were applied to make UCNP soluble in water, which simultaneously allowed for linking them via a non-toxic copper-free click reaction to the liposomes, which served as models for further cell experiments. The results were assessed on a confocal microscope system, which was made possible by lesser known downshifting properties of Yb3+, Tm3+-doped UCNP. Preliminary antibody-staining tests using two primary and one dye-labelled secondary antibodies were performed on MDCK-II cells.
"How Wenzel and Cassie were wrong" – this was the eye-catching title of an article published by Lichao Gao and Thomas McCarthy in 2007, in which fundamental interpretations of wetting behavior were put into question. The authors initiated a discussion on a subject, which had been generally accepted a long time ago and they showed that wetting phenomena were not as fully understood as imagined. Similarly, this thesis tries to put a focus on certain aspects of liquid wetting, which so far have been widely neglected in terms of interpretation and experimental proof. While the effect of surface roughness on the macroscopically observed wetting behavior is commonly and reliably interpreted according to the well-known models of Wenzel and Cassie/Baxter, the size-scale of the structures responsible for the surface's rough texture has not been of further interest. Analogously, the limits of these models have not been described and exploited. Thus, the question arises, what will happen when the size of surface structures is reduced to the size of the contacting liquid molecules itself? Are common methods still valid or can deviations from macroscopic behavior be observed?
This thesis wants to create a starting point regarding these questions. In order to investigate the effect of smallest-scale surface structures on liquid wetting, a suitable model system is developed by means of self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formation from (fluoro)organic thiols of differing lengths of the alkyl chain. Surface topographies are created which rely on size differences of several Ångströms and exhibit surprising wetting behavior depending on the choice of the individual precursor system. Thus, contact angles are experimentally detected, which deviate considerably from theoretical calculations based on Wenzel and Cassie/Baxter models and confirm that sub-nm surface topographies affect wetting. Moreover, experimentally determined wetting properties are found to correlate well to an assumed scale-dependent surface tension of the contacting liquid. This behavior has already been described for scattering experiments taking into account capillary waves on the liquid surface induced by temperature and had been predicted earlier by theoretical calculations.
However, the investigation of model surfaces requires the provision of suitable precursor molecules, which are not commercially available and opens up a door to the exotic chemistry of fluoro-organic materials. During the course of this work, the synthesis of long-chain precursors is examined with a particular focus put on oligomerically pure semi-fluorinated n-alkyl thiols and n-alkyl trichlorosilanes. For this, general protocols for the syntheses of the desired compounds are developed and product mixtures are assayed to be separated into fractions of individual chain lengths by fluorous-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (F-HPLC).
The transition from model systems to technically more relevant surfaces and applications is initiated through the deposition of SAMs from long-chain fluorinated n-alkyl trichlorosilanes. Depositions are accomplished by a vapor-phase deposition process conducted on a pilot-scale set-up, which enables the exact control of relevant process parameters. Thus, the influence of varying deposition conditions on the properties of the final coating is examined and analyzed for the most important parameters. The strongest effect is observed for the partial pressure of reactive water vapor, which directly controls the extent of precursor hydrolysis during the deposition process. Experimental results propose that the formation of ordered monolayers rely on the amount of hydrolyzed silanol species present in the deposition system irrespective of the exact grade of hydrolysis. However, at increased amounts of species which are able to form cross-linked molecules due to condensation reactions, films deteriorate in quality. This effect is assumed to be caused by the introduction of defects within the film and the adsorption of cross linked agglomerates. Deposition conditions are also investigated for chain extended precursor species and reveal distinct differences caused by chain elongation.
In recent years the development of renewable energy sources attracted much attention due to the increasing environmental pollution induced by burning fossil fuels. The growing public interest in reducing greenhouse gases and the use of pollution-free energies (bio-mass-, geothermal-, solar-, water- or wind energy) paved the way for scientific research in renewable energies. [1] Solar energy provides unlimited access and offers high applicational flexibility, which is needed for energy consumption in a modern society. The scientific interest in photovoltaics (PV) nowadays focuses on discovering new materials and improving materials properties, aiming for the production of highly efficient solar cells. Lately, a new type of absorber material based on the perovskite type structure reached power conversion efficiencies of more than 24%. [2] By varying the chemical composition the electronic properties as e.g. the band gap energy can be tuned to increase the absorption range of this absorber material. This makes them in particular attractive for use in tandem solar cells, where silicon and perovskite absorber layers are combined to absorb a large range of the vible light (28.0% efficiency). [2] However, perovskite based solar cells not only suffer from fast degradation when exposed to humidity, but also from the use of toxic elements (e.g. lead), which can result in long-term environmental damage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the fundamental structural and optoelectronical properties of highly interesting hybrid perovskite materials, the MAPbX3 solid solution (MA=CH3NH3; X=I,Br,Cl) and the triple cation (FA1-xMAx)1-yCsyPbI3 solid solution (FA=HC(NH2)2). The study was performed on powder samples by using X-ray diffraction, revealing the crystal structure and solubility behavior of all solid solutions. Moreover the temperature-dependent behavior was studied using in-situ high resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction and combinatorial thermal analysis methods. The influence of compositional changes on the band gap energy variation were observed using spectroscopic methods as photoluminescence and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The obtained results have shown that for the MAPb(I1-xBrx)3 solid solution a large miscibility gap in the range of 0.29 ( ± 0.02) ≤ x ≤ 0.92 ( ± 0.02) is present. This miscibility gap limits the suitable compositional range for use in thin film solar cells of mixed halide compounds. From the temperature-dependent in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies the complete T-X-phase diagram was established. Studies on the MAPb(Cl1-xBrx)3 solid solution revealed that MAPb(Cl1-xBrx)3 forms a complete solid solution series. For the triple cation (FA1-xMAx)1-yCsyPbI3 solid solution the aim was to study the formation of the d-modification in FAPbI3, which is undesired for solar cell application. This can be overcome by stabilizing the favored high temperature cubic a-modification at ambient conditions. By partial substituting the formamidinium molecule by methylammonium and cesium the stabilization of the cubic modification was successful. The solubility limit of FA1-xCsxPbI3 solid solution was determined to be x=0.1, while a full miscibility was observed for the FA1-xMAxPbI3 solid solution. For the triple cation (FA1-xMAx)1-yCsyPbI3 solid solution a solubility limit of cesium was observed to be y=0.1. The optoelectronic properties were investigated, revealing a linear change of band gap energy with chemical composition. It is demonstrated that the stabilized triple cation compound with cubic perovskite-type crystal structure shows enhanced stability of approximately six months. Furthermore, a short insight into lead-free perovskite-type materials is given, using germanium as non-toxic alternative to lead. For germanium based perovskites a fast decomposition in air was observed, due to the preferred formation of GeI4 in oxygen atmosphere. In-situ low temperature synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements revealed a yet unknown low temperature modification of MAGeI3. [1] WESSELAK, Viktor; SCHABBACH, Thomas; LINK, Thomas; FISCHER, Joachim: Handbuch Regenerative Energietechnik. Springer, 2017 [2] NREL: Best Research-Cell Efficiencies. https://www.nrel.gov/pv/assets/pdfs/best-research-cell-efficiencies-190416.pdf. – 25.04.2019
Die vorliegende Dissertationsschrift mit dem Titel: „Ruthenium(II)- und Rhenium(I)-Komplexe des 1,6,7,12-Tetraazaperylens und seiner Dimethyl- und Tetramethylderivate“ von Matthias Kirste wurde unter der Leitung des Herrn Prof. Dr. Hans-Jürgen Holdt am Institut für Chemie der Universität Potsdam angefertigt. Die Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit Ruthenium(II)- und Rhenium(I)-Komplexen des großflächigen Liganden 1,6,7,12-Tetraazaperylen (tape) und seiner 2,11-Dimethyl-(dmtape)- und 2,5,8,11-Tetramethyl-(tmtape)-derivate. Es wurden die bekannten Herstellungen des tape- sowie des dmtape-Liganden verbessert und die Synthese des tmtape-Liganden neu entwickelt. Zudem gelang mit einer neu entwickelten chemischen Reaktion die Synthese des dianionischen 3,10-Disulfonato-1,6,7,12-tetraazaperylens. Mit dmtape und tmtape wurde jeweils ein neuer Ruthenium(II)-Komplex hergestellt. Die Komplexe wurden photophysikalisch und elektrochemisch charakterisiert. KT-DNS-Interkalationen wurden von einkernigen Ruthenium(II)-Komplexen mit jeweils tape-, dmtape- und tmtape als interkalative Einheit vermessen. Es zeigte sich, dass diese Komplexe mit einer hohen Bindungsaffinität in die doppelsträngige KT-DNS interkalieren. Aus den mononuklearen Ruthenium(II)-Komplexen gelang die Herstellung von heterodinuklearen RuIIReI-Komplexen, die charakteristische Signale in ihren UV/Vis-Absorptionsspektren zeigen und sehr leicht jeweils ein- sowie zweifach im Bereich von 70 mV bis -80 mV und -440 mV bis -600 mV vs. GKE reduzierbar sind. Diese dmtape- sowie tmtape-verbrückten heterodinuklearen RuIIReI-Komplexe ermöglichen eine Feinjustierung ihrer photophysikalischen und elektrochemischen Eigenschaften, wobei in dieser Arbeit mithilfe einer chemischen Reaktion eine gezielte Einstellung dieser Eigenschaften gezeigt werden konnte. Metallkomplexe mit solchen charakteristischen, leicht einstellbaren photophysikalischen sowie elektrochemischen Eigenschaften sind geeignete Sensor- und Elektronen-Shuttle-Moleküle besonders für bioanalytische Einsatzgebiete. Zudem könnten die vielen Einstellmöglichkeiten der elektronischen Struktur dieser Komplexe sehr interessant für katalytische Anwendungen sein.
Die vorgelegte Arbeit besteht aus drei Teilprojekten, der Realisierung eines Multiparametersensors (Temperatur, pH-Wert und Sauerstoffkonzentration), der Konzipierung und Untersuchung eines optischen Atemgassensors und Untersuchungen zur Anwendung des Konzeptes der Sauerstofflöschung in der Immuntechnologie. Zur Realisierung des Multiparametersensors wurden die einzelnen Sensorfarbstoffe, sofern notwendig, synthetisiert und anschließend einzeln unter Laborbedingungen charakterisiert. Im weiteren Verlauf wurde ein Versuchsaufbau konzipiert mit dem es möglich ist, alle verwendeten Sensorfarbstoffe mit einer Anregungsquelle anzuregen. Dabei erfolgte die Detektion der Parameter Temperatur und Sauerstoffkonzentration mittels Phasenmodulationsspektroskopie und die pH-Wert-bestimmung mittels stationärer Fluoreszenzspektroskopie. So konnte ein Multiparametersensor konzipiert werden, mit dem es möglich ist, die drei genannten Parameter simultan, in Echtzeit und ohne externe Temperaturmessung zu detektieren. Im Rahmen der Entwicklung eines optischen Atemgassensors konnte zunächst eine neue Sensorform entwickelt werden. Durch diese neue Sensorform, welche sich durch sehr kurze Ansprechzeiten auszeichnet, ist es möglich den Sauerstoffgehalt in der Exspirationsluft sehr detailreich zu erfassen. Durch freiwillige Selbstversuche mit dem Atemgassensor konnte eine Korrelation mit einer etablierten Untersuchungsmethode hergestellt werden. Während der Untersuchungen zur Anwendung des Konzeptes der Sauerstofflöschung in der Immuntechnologie konnte zunächst ein Modell entwickelt werden, welches die Wechselwirkung zwischen Antikörper und synthetisiertem Farbstoff, welcher als Antigen fungierte, beschreibt. Nachdem weiterhin eine Wechselwirkung zwischen Antikörper und Antigen in einfachen Medien, wie PBS-Pufferlösung, gezeigt werden konnte, gelang dies auch in komplexen Medien wie bovinem Serum, Kuhmilch oder Speichelflüssigkeit. So konnte ein System entwickelt werden, mit dem es möglich ist Antikörper-Antigen-Wechselwirkungen in komplexen biologischen Medien zu verfolgen.
Seit Jahrzehnten stellen die molekularen Schalter ein wachsendes Forschungsgebiet dar. Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation stand die Verbesserung der thermischen Stabilität, der Auslesbarkeit und Schaltbarkeit dieser molekularen Schalter in komplexen Umgebungen mithilfe computergestützter Chemie im Vordergrund.
Im ersten Projekt wurde die Kinetik der thermischen E → Z-Isomerisierung und die damit verbundene thermische Stabilität eines Azobenzol-Derivats untersucht. Dafür wurde Dichtefunktionaltheorie (DFT) in Verbindung mit der Eyring-Theorie des Übergangszustandes (TST) angewendet. Das Azobenzol-Derivat diente als vereinfachtes Modell für das Schalten in einer komplexen Umgebung (hier in metallorganischen Gerüsten). Es wurden thermodynamische und kinetische Größen unter verschiedenen Einflüssen berechnet, wobei gute Übereinstimmungen mit dem Experiment gefunden wurden. Die hier verwendete Methode stellte einen geeigneten Ansatz dar, um diese Größen mit angemessener Genauigkeit vorherzusagen.
Im zweiten Projekt wurde die Auslesbarkeit der Schaltzustände in Form des nichtlinearen optischen (NLO) Kontrastes für die Molekülklasse der Fulgimide untersucht. Die dafür benötigten dynamischen Hyperpolarisierbarkeiten unter Berücksichtigung der Elektronenkorrelation wurden mittels einer etablierten Skalierungsmethode berechnet. Es wurden verschiedene Fulgimide analysiert, wobei viele experimentelle Befunde bestätigt werden konnten. Darüber hinaus legte die theoretische Vorhersage für ein weiteres System nahe, dass insbesondere die Erweiterung des π-Elektronensystems ein vielversprechender Ansatz zur Verbesserung von NLO-Kontrasten darstellt. Die Fulgimide verfügen somit über nützliche Eigenschaften, sodass diese in Zukunft als Bauelemente in photonischen und optoelektronischen Bereichen Anwendungen finden könnten.
Im dritten Projekt wurde die E → Z-Isomerisierung auf ein quantenmechanisch (QM) behandeltes Dimer mit molekularmechanischer (MM) Umgebung und zwei Fluorazobenzol-Monomeren durch Moleküldynamik simuliert. Dadurch wurde die Schaltbarkeit in komplexer Umgebung (hier selbstorgansierte Einzelschichten = SAMs) bzw. von Azobenzolderivaten analysiert. Mit dem QM/MM Modell wurden sowohl Van-der-Waals-Interaktionen mit der Umgebung als auch elektronische Kopplung (nur zwischen QM-Molekülen) berücksichtigt. Dabei wurden systematische Untersuchungen zur Packungsdichte durchgeführt. Es zeigte sich, dass bereits bei einem Molekülabstand von 4.5 Å die Quantenausbeute (prozentuale Anzahl erfolgreicher Schaltprozesse) des Monomers erreicht wird. Die größten Quantenausbeuten wurden für die beiden untersuchten Fluorazobenzole erzielt. Es wurden die Effekte des Molekülabstandes und der Einfluss von Fluorsubstituenten auf die Dynamik eingehend untersucht, sodass der Weg für darauf aufbauende Studien geebnet ist.
Abstract. Catalysis is one of the most effective tools for the highly efficient assembly of complex molecular structures. Nevertheless, it is mainly represented by transition metal-based catalysts and typically is an energy consuming process. Therefore, photocatalysis utilizing solar energy is one of the appealing approaches to overcome these problems. A great alternative to classic transition metal-based photocatalysts, carbon nitrides, a group of organic polymeric semiconductors, have already shown their efficiency in water splitting, CO2 reduction, and organic pollutants degradation. However, these materials have also a great potential for the use in functionalization of complex organic molecules for synthetic needs as it was shown in recent years.
This work addresses the challenge to develop efficient system for heterogeneous organic photocatalysis, employing cheap and environmentally benign photocatalysts – carbon nitrides. Herein, fundamental properties of semiconductors are studied from the organic chemistry standpoint; the inherent properties of carbon nitrides, such as ability to accumulate electrons, are deeply investigated and their effect on the reaction outcome is established. Thus, understanding of the electron charging processes allowed for the synthesis of otherwise hardly-achieved diazetidines-1,3 by tetramerization of benzylamines. Furthermore, the high electron capacity of Potassium Poly(heptazine imide)s (K-PHI) made possible a multi-electron reduction of aromatic nitro compounds to bare or formylated anilines. Additionally, two deep eutectic solvents (DES) were designed as a sustainable reaction media and reducing reagent for this reaction. Eventually, the high oxidation ability of carbon nitride K-PHI is employed in a challenging reaction of halide anion oxidation (Cl―, Br―) to accomplish electrophilic substitution in aromatic ring. The possibility to utilize NaCl solution (seawater mimetic) for the chlorination of electron rich arenes was shown. Eventually, light itself is used as a tool in a chromoselective photocatalytic oxidation of aromatic thiols and thioacetatas to three different compounds, using UV, blue, and red LEDs.
All in all, the work enhances understanding the mechanism of heterogeneous photocatalysis in synthetic organic reactions and therefore, is a step forward to the sustainable methods of synthesis in organic chemistry.
Magnetotactic bacteria comprise a heterogeneous group of Gram negative bacteria which share the ability to synthesise intracellular magnetic nanoparticles surrounded by a lipid bilayer, known as magnetosomes, which are arranged in linear chains. The bacteria exert a unique level of control onto the biomineralization of these nanoparticles, which is seen in the controlled size and shape they have. These characteristics have attracted great attention on understanding the process by which the bacteria synthesise the magnetosomes. Moreover, the magnetosome chain impart the bacteria with a net magnetic dipole which makes them susceptible to interact with magnetic fields and thus orient with the Earth’s magnetic field. This feature has attracted as well much interest to understand how the swimming motility of these microorganisms is affected by the presence of magnetic fields. Most of the studies performed in these bacteria so far have been conducted in the traditional manner using large populations of cells. Such studies have the disadvantage of averaging many different individuals with heterogeneous behaviours and fail to consider individual variations. In addition, in large populations each bacterium will be subjected to a different microenvironment that will influence the bacterial behaviour, but which cannot be defined using these traditional methods. In this thesis, different microfluidic platforms are proposed to overcome these limitations and to offer the possibility to study magnetotactic bacteria in defined environments and down to a single-cell resolution. First, a sediment-like microfluidic platform is presented with the purpose of mimicking the porous environment they bacteria naturally dwell in. The platform allows to observe via transmitted light microscopy that bacterial navigation in crowded environments is enhanced by the Earth’s magnetic field strengths (B = 50 μT) rather than by null (B = 0 μT) or higher magnetic fields (B = 500 μT). Second, a microfluidic system to confine single-bacterial cells in physically defined environments is presented. The system allows to study via transmitted light microscopy the interplay between wall curvature, magnetic fields and bacterial speed affect the motion of a confined bacterium, and shows how bacterial trajectories depend on those three parameters. Third, a microfluidic platform to conduct semi in vivo magnetosome nucleation with a single-cell resolution via X-ray fluorescence is fabricated. It is shown that signal arising from magnetosome full chains can be observed individually in each bacterium. Finally, the iron uptake kinetics of a single bacterium are studied via a fluorescent reporter through confocal microscopy. Two different approaches are used for this: one of the previously mentioned platforms, as well as giant lipid vesicles. It is observed how iron uptake rates vary between cells, as well as how these rates are consistent with magnetosome formation taking place within some hours. The present thesis shows therefore how microfluidic technologies can be implemented for the study of magnetotactic bacteria at different degrees, and the level of resolution that can be attained by going into the single- cell scale.
Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites have attracted attention in recent years, caused by the incomparable increase in efficiency in energy convergence, which implies the application as an absorber material for solar cells. A disadvantage of these materials is, among others, the instability to moisture and UV-radiation. One possible solution for these problems is the reduction of the size towards the nano world. With that nanosized perovskites are showing superior stability in comparison to e.g. perovskite layers. Additionally to this the nanosize even enables stable perovskite structures, which could not be achieved otherwise at
room temperature.
This thesis is separated into two major parts. The separation is done by the composition and the band gap of the material and at the same time the shape and size of the nanoparticles. Here the division is made by the methylammonium lead tribromide nanoplatelets and the caesium lead triiodide nanocubes.
The first part is focusing on the hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite (methylammonium lead tribromide) nanoplatelets with a band gap of 2.35 eV and their thermal behaviour. Due to the challenging character of this material, several analysis methods are used to investigate the sub nano and nanostructures under the influence of temperature. As a result, a shift of phase-transition temperatures towards higher temperatures is observed. This unusual behaviour can be explained by the ligand, which is incorporated in the perovskite outer structure and adds phase-stability into the system.
The second part of this thesis is focusing on the inorganic caesium lead triiodide nanocubes with a band gap of 1.83 eV. These nanocrystals are first investigated and compared by TEM, XRD and other optical methods. Within these methods, a cuboid and orthorhombic structure are revealed instead of the in literature described cubic shape and structure. Furthermore, these cuboids are investigated towards their self-assembly on a substrate. Here a high degree in self-assembly is shown. As a next step, the ligands of the nanocuboids are exchanged against other ligands to increase the charge carrier mobility. This is further investigated by the above-mentioned methods. The last section is dealing with the enhancement of the CsPbI3 structure, by incorporating potassium in the crystal structure. The results are suggesting here an increase in stability.