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Ihre außergewöhnlich hohen Konversionseffizienzen von über 20 % und die einfache Zellherstellung machen Hybridperowskite zu heißen Kandidaten für alternative Solarzellenmaterialien. CH3NH3PbI3 als Archetyp dieser Materialklasse besitzt außergewöhnliche Eigenschaften wie eine sehr effiziente Umwandlung von Solarenergie, wobei besonders Ferroelektrizität als mögliche Erklärung in den Fokus gerückt ist. Diese erfordert allerdings eine nicht-zentrosymmetrische Kristallstruktur als notwendige Voraussetzung. Wir stellen hier eine Erklärung des Symmetriebruchs in diesem Material auf kristallographischem, d. h. fernordnungs-basiertem, Wege vor. Während das Molekülkation CH3NH3+ intrinsisch polar ist, ist es extrem fehlgeordnet und kann deshalb nicht die einzige Erklärung darstellen. Es verzerrt allerdings das umgebende Kristallgitter und ruft dadurch eine Verschiebung der Iod-Atome von den zentrosymmetrischen Positionen hervor.
Excellent conversion efficiencies of over 20% and facile cell production have placed hybrid perovskites at the forefront of novel solar cell materials, with CH3NH3PbI3 being an archetypal compound. The question why CH3NH3PbI3 has such extraordinary characteristics, particularly a very efficient power conversion from absorbed light to electrical power, is hotly debated, with ferroelectricity being a promising candidate. This does, however, require the crystal structure to be non-centrosymmetric and we herein present crystallographic evidence as to how the symmetry breaking occurs on a crystallographic and, therefore, long-range level. Although the molecular cation CH3NH3+ is intrinsically polar, it is heavily disordered and this cannot be the sole reason for the ferroelectricity. We show that it, nonetheless, plays an important role, as it distorts the neighboring iodide positions from their centrosymmetric positions.
The impact of the orientation of zwitterionic groups, with respect to the polymer backbone, on the antifouling performance of thin hydrogel films made of polyzwitterions is explored. In an extension of the recent discussion about differences in the behavior of polymeric phosphatidylcholines and choline phosphates, a quasi-isomeric set of three poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate)s is designed for this purpose. The design is based on the established monomer 3-[N-2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl-N,N-dimethyl]ammonio-propane-1-sulfonate and two novel sulfobetaine methacrylates, in which the positions of the cationic and the ionic groups relative to the polymerizable group, and thus also to the polymer backbone, are altered. The effect of the varied segmental dipole orientation on their water solubility, wetting behavior by water, and fouling resistance is compared. As model systems, the adsorption of the model proteins bovine serum albumin (BSA), fibrinogen, and lysozyme onto films of the various polyzwitterion surfaces is studied, as well as the settlement of a diatom (Navicula perminuta) and barnacle cyprids (Balanus improvisus) as representatives of typical marine fouling communities. The results demonstrate the important role of the zwitterionic group's orientation on the polymer behavior and fouling resistance
Over the years, we developed highly selective fluorescent probes for K+ in water, which show K+-induced fluorescence intensity enhancements, lifetime changes, or a ratiometric behavior at two emission wavelengths (cf. Scheme 1, K1-K4). In this paper, we introduce selective fluorescent probes for Na+ in water, which also show Na+ induced signal changes, which are analyzed by diverse fluorescence techniques. Initially, we synthesized the fluorescent probes 2, 4, 5, 6 and 10 for a fluorescence analysis by intensity enhancements at one wavelength by varying the Na+ responsive ionophore unit and the fluorophore moiety to adjust different K-d values for an intra- or extracellular Na+ analysis. Thus, we found that 2, 4 and 5 are Na+ selective fluorescent tools, which are able to measure physiologically important Na+ levels at wavelengths higher than 500 nm. Secondly, we developed the fluorescent probes 7 and 8 to analyze precise Na+ levels by fluorescence lifetime changes. Herein, only 8 (K-d=106 mm) is a capable fluorescent tool to measure Na+ levels in blood samples by lifetime changes. Finally, the fluorescent probe 9 was designed to show a Na+ induced ratiometric fluorescence behavior at two emission wavelengths. As desired, 9 (K-d=78 mm) showed a ratiometric fluorescence response towards Na+ ions and is a suitable tool to measure physiologically relevant Na+ levels by the intensity change of two emission wavelengths at 404 nm and 492 nm.
Interfacial properties of morpholine-2,5-dione-based oligodepsipeptides and multiblock copolymers
(2019)
Oligodepsipeptides (ODPs) with alternating amide and ester bonds prepared by ring-opening polymerization of morpholine-2,5-dione derivatives are promising matrices for drug delivery systems and building blocks for multifunctional biomaterials. Here, we elucidate the behavior of three telechelic ODPs and one multiblock copolymer containing ODP blocks at the air-water interface. Surprisingly, whereas the oligomers and multiblock copolymers crystallize in bulk, no crystallization is observed at the air-water interface. Furthermore, polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy is used to elucidate hydrogen bonding and secondary structures in ODP monolayers. The results will direct the development of the next ODP-based biomaterial generation with tailored properties for highly sophisticated applications.
Temperature-memory technology was utilized to generate flat substrates with a programmable stiffness pattern from cross-linked poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) substrates with cylindrical microstructures. Programmed substrates were obtained by vertical compression at temperatures in the range from 60 to 100 degrees C and subsequent cooling, whereby a flat substrate was achieved by compression at 72 degrees C, as documented by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM nanoindentation experiments revealed that all programmed substrates exhibited the targeted stiffness pattern. The presented technology for generating polymeric substrates with programmable stiffness pattern should be attractive for applications such as touchpads. optical storage, or cell instructive substrates.
Aluminum oxide is an Earth-abundant geological material, and its interaction with water is of crucial importance for geochemical and environmental processes. Some aluminum oxide surfaces are also known to be useful in heterogeneous catalysis, while the surface chemistry of aqueous oxide interfaces determines the corrosion, growth and dissolution of such materials. In this doctoral work, we looked mainly at the (0001) surface of α-Al 2 O 3 and its reactivity towards water. In particular, a great focus of this work is dedicated to simulate and address the vibrational spectra of water adsorbed on the α-alumina(0001) surface in various conditions and at different coverages. In fact, the main source of comparison and inspiration for this work comes from the collaboration with the “Interfacial Molecular Spectroscopy” group led by Dr. R. Kramer Campen at the Fritz-Haber Institute of the MPG in Berlin. The expertise of our project partners in surface-sensitive Vibrational Sum Frequency (VSF) generation spectroscopy was crucial to develop and adapt specific simulation schemes used in this work. Methodologically, the main approach employed in this thesis is Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics (AIMD) based on periodic Density Functional Theory (DFT) using the PBE functional with D2 dispersion correction. The analysis of vibrational frequencies from both a static and a dynamic, finite-temperature perspective offers the ability to investigate the water / aluminum oxide interface in close connection to experiment.
The first project presented in this work considers the characterization of dissociatively adsorbed deuterated water on the Al-terminated (0001) surface. This particular structure is known from both experiment and theory to be the thermodynamically most stable surface termination of α-alumina in Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) conditions. Based on experiments performed by our colleagues at FHI, different adsorption sites and products have been proposed and identified for D 2 O. While previous theoretical investigations only looked at vibrational frequencies of dissociated OD groups by staticNormal Modes Analysis (NMA), we rather employed a more sophisticated approach to directly assess vibrational spectra (like IR and VSF) at finite temperature from AIMD. In this work, we have employed a recent implementation which makes use of velocity-velocity autocorrelation functions to simulate such spectral responses of O-H(D) bonds. This approach allows for an efficient and qualitatively accurate estimation of Vibrational Densities of States (VDOS) as well as IR and VSF spectra, which are then tested against experimental spectra from our collaborators.
In order to extend previous work on unimolecularly dissociated water on α-Al 2 O 3 , we then considered a different system, namely, a fully hydroxylated (0001) surface, which results from the reconstruction of the UHV-stable Al-terminated surface at high water contents. This model is then further extended by considering a hydroxylated surface with additional water molecules, forming a two-dimensional layer which serves as a potential template to simulate an aqueous interface in environmental conditions. Again, employing finite-temperature AIMD trajectories at the PBE+D2 level, we investigated the behaviour of both hydroxylated surface (HS) and the water-covered structure derived from it (known as HS+2ML). A full range of spectra, from VDOS to IR and VSF, is then calculated using the same methodology, as described above. This is the main focus of the second project, reported in Chapter 5. In this case, comparison between theoretical spectra and experimental data is definitely good. In particular, we underline the nature of high-frequency resonances observed above 3700 cm −1 in VSF experiments to be associated with surface OH-groups, known as “aluminols” which are a key fingerprint of the fully hydroxylated surface.
In the third and last project, which is presented in Chapter 6, the extension of VSF spectroscopy experiments to the time-resolved regime offered us the opportunity to investigate vibrational energy relaxation at the α-alumina / water interface. Specifically, using again DFT-based AIMD simulations, we simulated vibrational lifetimes for surface aluminols as experimentally detected via pump-probe VSF. We considered the water-covered HS model as a potential candidate to address this problem. The vibrational (IR) excitation and subsequent relaxation is performed by means of a non-equilibrium molecular dynamics scheme. In such a scheme, we specifically looked at the O-H stretching mode of surface aluminols. Afterwards, the analysis of non-equilibrium trajectories allows for an estimation of relaxation times in the order of 2-4 ps which are in overall agreement with measured ones.
The aim of this work has been to provide, within a consistent theoretical framework, a better understanding of vibrational spectroscopy and dynamics for water on the α-alumina(0001) surface,ranging from very low water coverage (similar to the UHV case) up to medium-high coverages, resembling the hydroxylated oxide in environmental moist conditions.
Hepcidin-25 (Hep-25) plays a crucial role in the control of iron homeostasis. Since the dysfunction of the hepcidin pathway leads to multiple diseases as a result of iron imbalance, hepcidin represents a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of iron metabolism. Despite intense research in the last decade targeted at developing a selective immunoassay for iron disorder diagnosis and treatment and better understanding the ferroportin-hepcidin interaction, questions remain. The key to resolving these underlying questions is acquiring exact knowledge of the 3D structure of native Hep-25. Since it was determined that the N-terminus, which is responsible for the bioactivity of Hep-25, contains a small Cu(II)-binding site known as the ATCUN motif, it was assumed that the Hep-25-Cu(II) complex is the native, bioactive form of the hepcidin. This structure has thus far not been elucidated in detail. Owing to the lack of structural information on metal-bound Hep-25, little is known about its possible biological role in iron metabolism. Therefore, this work is focused on structurally characterizing the metal-bound Hep-25 by NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations. For the present work, a protocol was developed to prepare and purify properly folded Hep-25 in high quantities. In order to overcome the low solubility of Hep-25 at neutral pH, we introduced the C-terminal DEDEDE solubility tag. The metal binding was investigated through a series of NMR spectroscopic experiments to identify the most affected amino acids that mediate metal coordination. Based on the obtained NMR data, a structural calculation was performed in order to generate a model structure of the Hep-25-Ni(II) complex. The DEDEDE tag was excluded from the structural calculation due to a lack of NMR restraints. The dynamic nature and fast exchange of some of the amide protons with solvent reduced the overall number of NMR restraints needed for a high-quality structure. The NMR data revealed that the 20 Cterminal Hep-25 amino acids experienced no significant conformational changes, compared to published results, as a result of a pH change from pH 3 to pH 7 and metal binding. A 3D model of the Hep-25-Ni(II) complex was constructed from NMR data recorded for the hexapeptideNi(II) complex and Hep-25-DEDEDE-Ni(II) complex in combination with the fixed conformation of 19 C-terminal amino acids. The NMR data of the Hep-25-DEDEDE-Ni(II) complex indicates that the ATCUN motif moves independently from the rest of the structure. The 3D model structure of the metal-bound Hep-25 allows for future works to elucidate hepcidin’s interaction with its receptor ferroportin and should serve as a starting point for the development of antibodies with improved selectivity.
Precision agriculture (PA) strongly relies on spatially differentiated sensor information. Handheld instruments based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) are a promising sensor technique for the in-field determination of various soil parameters. In this work, the potential of handheld LIBS for the determination of the total mass fractions of the major nutrients Ca, K, Mg, N, P and the trace nutrients Mn, Fe was evaluated. Additionally, other soil parameters, such as humus content, soil pH value and plant available P content, were determined. Since the quantification of nutrients by LIBS depends strongly on the soil matrix, various multivariate regression methods were used for calibration and prediction. These include partial least squares regression (PLSR), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression (Lasso), and Gaussian process regression (GPR). The best prediction results were obtained for Ca, K, Mg and Fe. The coefficients of determination obtained for other nutrients were smaller. This is due to much lower concentrations in the case of Mn, while the low number of lines and very weak intensities are the reason for the deviation of N and P. Soil parameters that are not directly related to one element, such as pH, could also be predicted. Lasso and GPR yielded slightly better results than PLSR. Additionally, several methods of data pretreatment were investigated.
The central motivation of the thesis was to provide possible solutions and concepts to improve the performance (e.g. activity and selectivity) of electrochemical N2 reduction reaction (NRR). Given that porous carbon-based materials usually exhibit a broad range of structural properties, they could be promising NRR catalysts. Therefore, the advanced design of novel porous carbon-based materials and the investigation of their application in electrocatalytic NRR including the particular reaction mechanisms are the most crucial points to be addressed. In this regard, three main topics were investigated. All of them are related to the functionalization of porous carbon for electrochemical NRR or other electrocatalytic reactions.
In chapter 3, a novel C-TixOy/C nanocomposite has been described that has been obtained via simple pyrolysis of MIL-125(Ti). A novel mode for N2 activation is achieved by doping carbon atoms from nearby porous carbon into the anion lattice of TixOy. By comparing the NRR performance of M-Ts and by carrying out DFT calculations, it is found that the existence of (O-)Ti-C bonds in C-doped TixOy can largely improve the ability to activate and reduce N2 as compared to unoccupied OVs in TiO2. The strategy of rationally doping heteroatoms into the anion lattice of transition metal oxides to create active centers may open many new opportunities beyond the use of noble metal-based catalysts also for other reactions that require the activation of small molecules as well.
In chapter 4, a novel catalyst construction composed of Au single atoms decorated on the surface of NDPCs was reported. The introduction of Au single atoms leads to active reaction sites, which are stabilized by the N species present in NDPCs. Thus, the interaction within as-prepared AuSAs-NDPCs catalysts enabled promising performance for electrochemical NRR. For the reaction mechanism, Au single sites and N or C species can act as Frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) to enhance the electron donation and back-donation process to activate N2 molecules. This work provides new opportunities for catalyst design in order to achieve efficient N2 fixation at ambient conditions by utilizing recycled electric energy.
The last topic described in chapter 5 mainly focused on the synthesis of dual heteroatom-doped porous carbon from simple precursors. The introduction of N and B heteroatoms leads to the construction of N-B motives and Frustrated Lewis pairs in a microporous architecture which is also rich in point defects. This can improve the strength of adsorption of different reactants (N2 and HMF) and thus their activation. As a result, BNC-2 exhibits a desirable electrochemical NRR and HMF oxidation performance. Gas adsorption experiments have been used as a simple tool to elucidate the relationship between the structure and catalytic activity. This work provides novel and deep insights into the rational design and the origin of activity in metal-free electrocatalysts and enables a physically viable discussion of the active motives, as well as the search for their further applications.
Throughout this thesis, the ubiquitous problems of low selectivity and activity of electrochemical NRR are tackled by designing porous carbon-based catalysts with high efficiency and exploring their catalytic mechanisms. The structure-performance relationships and mechanisms of activation of the relatively inert N2 molecules are revealed by either experimental results or DFT calculations. These fundamental understandings pave way for a future optimal design and targeted promotion of NRR catalysts with porous carbon-based structure, as well as study of new N2 activation modes.
The hydration process of Portland cement in a cementitious system is crucial for development of the high‐quality cement‐based construction material. Complementary experiments of X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and time‐resolved laser fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) using europium (Eu(III)) as an optical probe are used to analyse the hydration process of two cement systems in the absence and presence of different organic admixtures. We show that different analysed admixtures and the used sulphate carriers in each cement system have a significant influence on the hydration process, namely on the time‐dependence in the formation of different hydrate phases of cement. Moreover, the effect of a particular admixture is related to the type of sulphate carrier used. The quantitative information on the amounts of the crystalline cement paste components is accessible via XRD analysis. Distinctly different morphologies of ettringite and calcium−silicate−hydrates (C−S−H) determined by SEM allow visual conclusions about formation of these phases at particular ageing times. The TRLFS data provides information about the admixture influence on the course of the silicate reaction. The dip in the dependence of the luminescence decay times on the hydration time indicates the change in the structure of C−S−H in the early hydration period. Complementary information from XRD, SEM and TRLFS provides detailed information on distinct periods of the cement hydration process.
Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation konnten neue Kalium- und Natrium-Ionen Fluoreszenzfarbstoffe von der Klasse der Fluoroionophore synthetisiert und charakterisiert werden. Sie bestehen aus einem N Phenylazakronenether als Ionophor und unterschiedlichen Fluorophoren und sind über einen π-konjugierten 1,2,3-Triazol-1,4-diyl Spacer verbunden. Dabei lag der Fokus während ihrer Entwicklung darauf, diese in ihrer Sensitivität, Selektivität und in ihren photophysikalischen Eigenschaften so zu funktionalisieren, dass sie für intra- bzw. extrazelluläre Konzentrationsbestimmungen geeignet sind.
Durch Variation der in ortho Position der N-Phenylazakronenether befindlichen Alkoxy-Gruppen und der fluorophoren Gruppe der Fluoroionophore konnte festgestellt werden, dass die Sensitivität und Selektivität für Kalium- bzw. Natrium-Ionen jeweils durch eine bestimmte Isomerie der 1,2,3-Triazol-1,4-diyl-Einheit erhöht wird. Des Weiteren wurde gezeigt, dass durch eine erhöhte Einschränkung der N,N-Diethylamino-Gruppe des Fluorophors eine Steigerung der Fluoreszenzquantenausbeute und eine Verschiebung des Emissionsmaximums auf über 500 nm erreicht werden konnte. Die Einführung einer Isopropoxy-Gruppe an einem N-Phenylaza-[18]krone-6-ethers resultierte dabei in einem hoch selektiven Kalium-Ionen Fluoroionophor und ermöglichte eine in vitro Überwachung von 10 – 80 mM Kalium-Ionen. Die Substitution einer Methoxy-Gruppe an einem N-Phenylaza-[15]krone-5-ether kombiniert mit unterschiedlich N,N-Diethylamino-Coumarinen lieferte hingegen zwei Natrium-Ionen Fluoroionophore, die für die Überwachung von intra- bzw. extrazellulären Natrium-Ionen Konzentrationen geeignet sind.
In einem weiteren Schritt wurden N-Phenylaza-[18]krone-6-ether mit einem Fluorophor, basierend auf einem [1,3]-Dioxolo[4,5-f][1,3]benzodioxol-(DBD)-Grundgerüst, funktionalisiert. Die im Anschluss durchgeführten spektroskopischen Untersuchungen ergaben, dass die Isopropoxy-Gruppe in ortho Position des N-Phenylaza-[18]krone-6-ether in einen für extrazelluläre Kalium-Ionen Konzentrationen selektiven Fluoroionophor resultierte, der die Konzentrationsbestimmungen über die Fluoreszenzintensität und -lebensdauer ermöglicht.
In einem abschließenden Schritt konnte unter Verwendung eines Pyrens als fluorophore Gruppe ein weiterer für extrazelluläre Kalium-Ionen Konzentrationen geeigneter Fluoroionophor entwickelt werden. Die Bestimmung der Kalium-Ionen Konzentration erfolgte hierbei anhand der Fluoreszenzintensitätsverhältnisse bei zwei Emissionswellenlängen.
Insgesamt konnten 17 verschiedene neue Fluoroionophore für die Bestimmung von Kalium- bzw. Natrium-Ionen synthetisiert und charakterisiert werden. Sechs dieser neuen Moleküle ermöglichen in vitro Messungen der intra- oder extrazellulären Kalium- und Natrium-Ionen Konzentrationen und könnten zukünftig für in vivo Konzentrationsmessungen verwendet werden.
Cellulose derived polymers
(2019)
Plastics, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate are part of our everyday lives in the form of packaging, household goods, electrical insulation, etc. These polymers are non-degradable and create many environmental problems and public health concerns. Additionally, these polymers are produced from finite fossils resources. With the continuous utilization of these limited resources, it is important to look towards renewable sources along with biodegradation of the produced polymers, ideally. Although many bio-based polymers are known, such as polylactic acid, polybutylene succinate adipate or polybutylene succinate, none have yet shown the promise of replacing conventional polymers like polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate. Cellulose is one of the most abundant renewable resources produced in nature. It can be transformed into various small molecules, such as sugars, furans, and levoglucosenone. The aim of this research is to use the cellulose derived molecules for the synthesis of polymers.
Acid-treated cellulose was subjected to thermal pyrolysis to obtain levoglucosenone, which was reduced to levoglucosenol. Levoglucosenol was polymerized, for the first time, by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) yielding high molar mass polymers of up to ~150 kg/mol. The poly(levoglucosenol) is thermally stable up to ~220 ℃, amorphous, and is exhibiting a relatively high glass transition temperature of ~100 ℃. The poly(levoglucosenol) can be converted to a transparent film, resembling common plastic, and was found to degrade in a moist acidic environment. This means that poly(levoglucosenol) may find its use as an alternative to conventional plastic, for instance, polystyrene.
Levoglucosenol was also converted into levoglucosenyl methyl ether, which was polymerized by cationic ring-opening metathesis polymerization (CROP). Polymers were obtained with molar masses up to ~36 kg/mol. These polymers are thermally stable up to ~220 ℃ and are semi-crystalline thermoplastics, having a glass transition temperature of ~35 ℃ and melting transition of 70-100 ℃. Additionally, the polymers underwent cross-linking, hydrogenation and thiol-ene click chemistry.
The fabrication of 1D nanostrands composed of stimuli responsive microgels has been shown in this work. Microgels are well known materials able to respond to various stimuli from outer environment. Since these microgels respond via a volume change to an external stimulus, a targeted mechanical response can be achieved. Through carefully choosing the right composition of the polymer matrix, microgels can be designed to react precisely to the targeted stimuli (e.g. drug delivery via pH and temperature changes, or selective contractions through changes in electrical current125).
In this work, it was aimed to create flexible nano-filaments which are capable of fast anisotropic contractions similar to muscle filaments. For the fabrication of such filaments or strands, nanostructured templates (PDMS wrinkles) were chosen due to a facile and low-cost fabrication and versatile tunability of their dimensions. Additionally, wrinkling is a well-known lithography-free method which enables the fabrication of nanostructures in a reproducible manner and with a high long-range periodicity.
In Chapter 2.1, it was shown for the first time that microgels as soft matter particles can be aligned to densely packed microgel arrays of various lateral dimensions. The alignment of microgels with different compositions (e.g. VCL/AAEM, NIPAAm, NIPAAm/VCL and charged microgels) was shown by using different assembly techniques (e.g. spin-coating, template confined molding). It was chosen to set one experimental parameter constant which was the SiOx surface composition of the templates and substrates (e.g. oxidized PDMS wrinkles, Si-wafers and glass slides). It was shown that the fabrication of nanoarrays was feasible with all tested microgel types. Although the microgels exhibited different deformability when aligned on a flat surface, they retained their thermo-responsivity and swelling behavior.
Towards the fabrication of 1D microgel strands interparticle connectivity was aspired. This was achieved via different cross-linking methods (i.e. cross-linking via UV-irradiation and host-guest complexation) discussed in Chapter 2.2. The microgel arrays created by different assembly methods and microgel types were tested for their cross-linking suitability. It was observed that NIPAAm based microgels cannot be cross-linked with UV light. Furthermore, it was found that these microgels exhibit a strong surface-particle-interaction and therefore could not be detached from the given substrates. In contrast to the latter, with VCL/AAEM based microgels it was possible to both UV cross-link them based on the keto-enol tautomerism of the AAEM copolymer, and to detach them from the substrate due to the lower adhesion energy towards SiOx surfaces. With VCL/AAEM microgels long, one-dimensional microgel strands could be re-dispersed in water for further analysis. It has also been shown that at least one lateral dimension of the free dispersed 1D microgel strands is easily controllable by adjusting the wavelength of the wrinkled template. For further work, only VCL/AAEM based microgels were used to focus on the main aim of this work, i.e. the fabrication of 1D microgel nanostrands.
As an alternative to the unspecific and harsh UV cross-linking, the host-guest complexation via diazobenzene cross-linkers and cyclodextrin hosts was explored. The idea behind this approach was to give means to a future construction kit-like approach by incorporation of cyclodextrin comonomers in a broad variety of particle systems (e.g. microgels, nanoparticles). For this purpose, VCL/AAEM microgels were copolymerized with different amounts of mono-acrylate functionalized β-cyclodextrin (CD). After successfully testing the cross-linking capability in solution, the cross-linking of aligned VCL/AAEM/CD microgels was tried. Although the cross-linking worked well, once the single arrays came into contact to each other, they agglomerated. As a reason for this behavior residual amounts of mono-complexed diazobenzene linkers were suspected. Thus, end-capping strategies were tried out (e.g. excess amounts of β-cyclodextrin and coverage with azobenzene functionalized AuNPs) but were unsuccessful. With deeper thought, entropy effects were taken into consideration which favor the release of complexed diazobenzene linker leading to agglomerations. To circumvent this entropy driven effect, a multifunctional polymer with 50% azobenzene groups (Harada polymer) was used. First experiments with this polymer showed promising results regarding a less pronounced agglomeration (Figure 77). Thus, this approach could be pursued in the future. In this chapter it was found out that in contrast to pearl necklace and ribbon like formations, particle alignment in zigzag formation provided the best compromise in terms of stability in dispersion (see Figure 44a and Figure 51) while maintaining sufficient flexibility.
For this reason, microgel strands in zigzag formation were used for the motion analysis described in Chapter 2.3. The aim was to observe the properties of unrestrained microgel strands in solution (e.g. diffusion behavior, rotational properties and ideally, anisotropic contraction after temperature increase). Initially, 1D microgel strands were manipulated via AFM in a liquid cell setup. It could be observed that the strands required a higher load force compared to single microgels to be detached from the surface. However, with the AFM it was not possible to detach the strands in a controllable manner but resulted in a complete removal of single microgel particles and a tearing off the strands from the surface, respectively. For this reason, to observe the motion behavior of unrestrained microgel strands in solution, confocal microscopy was used. Furthermore, to hinder an adsorption of the strands, it was found out that coating the surface of the substrates with a repulsive polymer film was beneficial. Confocal and wide-field microscopy videos showed that the microgel strands exhibit translational and rotational diffusive motion in solution without perceptible bending. Unfortunately, with these methods the detection of the anisotropic stimuli responsive contraction of the free moving microgel strands was not possible. To summarize, the flexibility of microgel strands is more comparable to the mechanical behavior of a semi flexible cable than to a yarn. The strands studied here consist of dozens or even hundreds of discrete submicron units strung together by cross-linking, having few parallels in nanotechnology.
With the insights gained in this work on microgel-surface interactions, in the future, a targeted functionalization of the template and substrate surfaces can be conducted to actively prevent unwanted microgel adsorption for a given microgel system (e.g. PVCL and polystyrene coating235). This measure would make the discussed alignment methods more diverse. As shown herein, the assembly methods enable a versatile microgel alignment (e.g. microgel meshes, double and triple strands). To go further, one could use more complex templates (e.g. ceramic rhombs and star shaped wrinkles (Figure 14) to expand the possibilities of microgel alignment and to precisely control their aspect ratios (e.g. microgel rods with homogeneous size distributions).
The lack of soil data, which are relevant, reliable, affordable, immediately available, and sufficiently detailed, is still a significant challenge in precision agriculture. A promising technology for the spatial assessment of the distribution of chemical elements within fields, without sample preparation is laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Its advantages are contrasted by a strong matrix dependence of the LIBS signal which necessitates careful data evaluation. In this work, different calibration approaches for soil LIBS data are presented. The data were obtained from 139 soil samples collected on two neighboring agricultural fields in a quaternary landscape of northeast Germany with very variable soils. Reference analysis was carried out by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy after wet digestion. The major nutrients Ca and Mg and the minor nutrient Fe were investigated. Three calibration strategies were compared. The first method was based on univariate calibration by standard addition using just one soil sample and applying the derived calibration model to the LIBS data of both fields. The second univariate model derived the calibration from the reference analytics of all samples from one field. The prediction is validated by LIBS data of the second field. The third method is a multivariate calibration approach based on partial least squares regression (PLSR). The LIBS spectra of the first field are used for training. Validation was carried out by 20-fold cross-validation using the LIBS data of the first field and independently on the second field data. The second univariate method yielded better calibration and prediction results compared to the first method, since matrix effects were better accounted for. PLSR did not strongly improve the prediction in comparison to the second univariate method.
Within the framework of precision agriculture, the determination of various soil properties is moving into focus, especially the demand for sensors suitable for in-situ measurements. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) can be a powerful tool for this purpose. In this study a huge diverse soil set (n = 598) from 12 different study sites in Germany was analysed with EDXRF. First, a principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to identify possible similarities among the sample set. Clustering was observed within the four texture classes clay, loam, silt and sand, as clay samples contain high and sandy soils low iron mass fractions. Furthermore, the potential of uni- and multivariate data evaluation with partial least squares regression (PLSR) was assessed for accurate determination of nutrients in German agricultural samples using two calibration sample sets. Potassium and iron were chosen for testing the performance of both models. Prediction of these nutrients in 598 German soil samples with EDXRF was more accurate using PLSR which is confirmed by a better overall averaged deviation and PLSR should therefore be preferred.
Due to the enhanced electromagnetic field at the tips of metal nanoparticles, the spiked structure of gold nanostars (AuNSs) is promising for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Therefore, the challenge is the synthesis of well designed particles with sharp tips. The influence of different surfactants, i.e., dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (AOT), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and benzylhexadecyldimethylammonium chloride (BDAC), as well as the combination of surfactant mixtures on the formation of nanostars in the presence of Ag⁺ ions and ascorbic acid was investigated. By varying the amount of BDAC in mixed micelles the core/spike-shell morphology of the resulting AuNSs can be tuned from small cores to large ones with sharp and large spikes. The concomitant red-shift in the absorption toward the NIR region without losing the SERS enhancement enables their use for biological applications and for time-resolved spectroscopic studies of chemical reactions, which require a permanent supply with a fresh and homogeneous solution. HRTEM micrographs and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) experiments allow us to verify the mechanism of nanostar formation according to the silver underpotential deposition on the spike surface in combination with micelle adsorption.
Due to its bioavailability and (bio)degradability, poly(lactide) (PLA) is an interesting polymer that is already being used as packaging material, surgical seam, and drug delivery system. Dependent on various parameters such as polymer composition, amphiphilicity, sample preparation, and the enantiomeric purity of lactide, PLA in an amphiphilic block copolymer can affect the self-assembly behavior dramatically. However, sizes and shapes of aggregates have a critical effect on the interactions between biological and drug delivery systems, where the general understanding of these polymers and their ability to influence self-assembly is of significant interest in science.
The first part of this thesis describes the synthesis and study of a series of linear poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and poly(D-lactide) (PDLA)-based amphiphilic block copolymers with varying PLA (hydrophobic), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (hydrophilic) chain lengths and different block copolymer sequences (PEG-PLA and PLA-PEG). The PEG-PLA block copolymers were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of lactide initiated by a PEG-OH macroinitiator. In contrast, the PLA-PEG block copolymers were produced by a Steglich-esterification of modified PLA with PEG-OH.
The aqueous self-assembly at room temperature of the enantiomerically pure PLLA-based block copolymers and their stereocomplexed mixtures was investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Spherical micelles and worm-like structures were produced, whereby the obtained self-assembled morphologies were affected by the lactide weight fraction in the block copolymer and self-assembly time. The formation of worm-like structures increases with decreasing PLA-chain length and arises from spherical micelles, which become colloidally unstable and undergo an epitaxial fusion with other micelles. As shown by DSC experiments, the crystallinity of the corresponding PLA blocks increases within the self-assembly time. However, the stereocomplexed self-assembled structures behave differently from the parent polymers and result in irregular-shaped clusters of spherical micelles. Additionally, time-dependent self-assembly experiments showed a transformation, from already self-assembled morphologies of different shapes to more compact micelles upon stereocomplexation.
In the second part of this thesis, with the objective to influence the self-assembly of PLA-based block copolymers and its stereocomplexes, poly(methyl phosphonate) (PMeP) and poly(isopropyl phosphonate) (PiPrP) were produced by ring-opening polymerization to implement an alternative to the hydrophilic block PEG. Although, the 1,8 diazabicyclo[5.4.0]unde 7 ene (DBU) or 1,5,7 triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) mediated synthesis of the corresponding poly(alkyl phosphonate)s was successful, however, not so the polymerization of copolymers with PLA-based precursors (PLA-homo polymers, and PEG-PLA block copolymers). Transesterification, obtained by 1H-NMR spectroscopy, between the poly(phosphonate)- and PLA block caused a high-field shifted peak split of the methine proton in the PLA polymer chain, with split intensities depending on the used catalyst (DBU for PMeP, and TBD for PiPrP polymerization). An additional prepared block copolymer PiPrP-PLLA that wasn’t affected in its polymer sequence was finally used for self-assembly experiments with PLA-PEG and PEG-PLA mixing.
This work provides a comprehensive study of the self-assembly behavior of PLA-based block copolymers influenced by various parameters such as polymer block lengths, self-assembly time, and stereocomplexation of block copolymer mixtures.
A one-step moderate energy vibrational emulsification method was successfully employed to produce thermo-responsive olive/silicone-based Janus emulsions stabilized by poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide) carrying 0.7 mol% oleoyl side chains. Completely engulfed emulsion droplets remained stable at room temperature and could be destabilized on demand upon heating to the transition temperature of the polymeric stabilizer. Time-dependent light micrographs demonstrate the temperature-induced breakdown of the Janus droplets, which opens new aspects of application, for instance in biocatalysis.