Article
Chemistry, Physical
Daniel Tunega, Roland Solc, Peter Grancic, Martin H. Gerzabek, Marc-Oliver Goebel, Georg Guggenberger, Joerg Bachmann, Susanne K. Woche
Summary: This study examined the impact of different organic coatings on surface wettability by using dimethyl(DMS)-, aminopropyl(APS)-, and octadecyl(ODS)-siloxane coated glass slides. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the factors determining surface wettability. The results showed that chain length, polarity of terminal group, and coating density are the main factors influencing surface wettability.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nicolas Debons, Dounia Dems, Christophe Methivier, Christophe Calers, Antoine Miche, Thibaud Coradin, Carole Aime
Summary: Functionalization of nanomaterial surfaces is crucial for improving stability, tuning reactivity, and introducing specific properties. Mapping functional groups at nanometer scale is challenging, especially for organic groups and non-planar objects like nanoparticles. A strategy using chemically-modified gold colloids to map amine groups on silica particle surfaces is presented, showing correlation between spatial distribution of gold colloids and chemical state of silica particles as revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The strategy's potential for mapping organic groups at nanomaterial interfaces and its implications for biofunctional nano-objects are discussed.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Christopher P. Liu, Prantik Saha, Ying Huang, Sirivatch Shimpalee, Pongsarun Satjaritanun, Iryna Zenyuk
Summary: A new method was developed to measure the contact angles inside GDLs, revealing a mixed wettability state in all samples and improving predictions of functionality through water transport simulations. High-resolution XPS data showed a strong correlation between oxide species concentration and measured hydrophilicity.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Katerina Polaskova, Milos Klima, Zdenka Jenikova, Lucie Blahova, Lenka Zajickova
Summary: The study demonstrates that nitrogen content and low molecular weight oxidized materials are two main parameters influencing the adhesive strength of polypropylene plasma treatment. Nitrogen functional groups promoted adhesion between epoxy adhesive DP 190 and polypropylene by participating in the curing process, while low molecular weight oxidized materials formed a weak boundary layer inhibiting adhesion.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rabia Zafar, Seon Yeong Park, Chang Gyun Kim
Summary: This study examined the effects of ozone and UV on the surface alterations of polyethylene microplastics in aquatic environments. The results showed that regardless of the ozone dosage, O-3 +UV was more effective in oxidizing the surface of the microplastic particles.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Chiyan Liu, Jian Liu, Yong Han, Zhangrui Wang, Hui Zhang, Xiaoming Xie, Bo Yang, Zhi Liu
Summary: The hydration process of a Nafion membrane was studied using ambient-pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS), which provided a quantitative analysis of water content and the transformation of sulfonic acid groups. The conductivity of the membrane was determined by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, establishing a connection between the electrical properties and the microscopic mechanism. Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations provided core-level binding energies of O- and S-containing species in the Nafion + H2O system.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Periyasamy Durainatarajan, Mallaiah Prabakaran, Subbaratnam Ramesh
Summary: This paper reports the use of APMI self-assembled monolayers on copper surfaces to enhance anticorrosion properties. Various surface analyses were conducted to study the structure, bonding, chemical compositions, wettability, and morphology of APMI SAMs on copper surfaces. The results showed that APMI SAMs effectively prevented corrosion reactions on copper surfaces.
JOURNAL OF ADHESION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yogesh Kumar, S. Tripathi, Mangla Nand, R. Jangir, V. Srihari, A. Das, R. Singh, U. Deshpande, S. N. Jha, A. Arya
Summary: This study investigated the effect of Nd doping on the structural, optical, and electronic properties of lanthanum monazite structure. Pure and Nd-doped LaPO4 powders were prepared and analyzed for their composition, oxidation states, crystal structure, and bandgaps. The results confirmed the successful substitution of Nd in the LaPO4 matrix and provided insights into the local structure using extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Mauricio Lopez Luna, Janis Timoshenko, David Kordus, Clara Rettenmaier, See Wee Chee, Adam S. Hoffman, Simon R. Bare, Shamil Shaikhutdinov, Beatriz Roldan Cuenya
Summary: The study investigates the structural and chemical evolution of oxide-supported iron nanoparticles during the activation stages and the CO2 hydrogenation reaction, revealing the preferential formation of iron surface oxides under reaction conditions. The results highlight the important role played by the oxide support in the final structure and composition of nanosized catalysts.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ann Julie U. Holt, Sahar Pakdel, Jonathan Rodriguez-Fernandez, Yu Zhang, Davide Curcio, Zhaozong Sun, Paolo Lacovig, Yong-Xin Yao, Jeppe Lauritsen, Silvano Lizzit, Nicola Lanata, Philip Hofmann, Marco Bianchi, Charlotte E. Sanders
Summary: Through ARPES, direct measurements of the electronic dispersion of single-layer CoO2 were conducted, and the material was determined to be a moderately correlated metal. The study also discussed the effects of substrate and hydroxylation on the electronic structure of CoO2 SL.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Deok-Yong Cho, Ki-jeong Kim, Kug-Seung Lee, Michael Lubben, Shaochuan Chen, Ilia Valov
Summary: Thin layers inserted between a metal electrode and a solid electrolyte can modify the transport of mass and charge at interfaces and affect electrode reactions. Incorporating C films in functional materials can alter the host's chemical properties and device functionalities. Using X-ray spectroscopies, it was found that inserting graphene or ultrathin amorphous C layers in a Ta2O5/Ta system can tune its chemical and electronic structures, thereby fundamentally changing the resistive switching functionalities.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
Aida Raauf, David Graf, Yakup Gonullu, Praveen K. Sekhar, Michael Frank, Sanjay Mathur
Summary: The nanostructured thin film of Nd2Sn2O7 pyrochlore obtained through solution processing shows unprecedented selectivity towards hydrogen sensing, with the highest sensitivity towards H-2 detected at 300 degrees Celsius. The high efficiency and reproducibility of the investigated sensor devices indicate the potential of Nd2Sn2O7 based sensors for hydrogen safety applications.
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shan Yan, Chavis A. Stackhouse, Iradwikanari Waluyo, Adrian Hunt, Kim Kisslinger, Ashley R. Head, David C. Bock, Esther S. Takeuchi, Kenneth J. Takeuchi, Lei Wang, Amy C. Marschilok
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to shortages of personal protective equipment such as face masks. New sterilization procedures like dry heat and steam are being developed to address the shortage, potentially easing the increasing need for protective masks globally. Studies are using advanced techniques like synchrotron-based spectroscopy to investigate the impact of heat treatment on commercially available respirators and surgical masks.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ritesh Verma, Ankush Chauhan, Khalid Mujasam Batoo, Muhammad Hadi, Emad H. Raslan, Rajesh Kumar, Muhammad Farzik Ijaz, Abdulaziz K. Assaifan
Summary: The synthesis of vanadium-doped BCZT ceramic oxides was reported in this paper, confirming the existence of a solubility limit of V in BCZT ceramics. Analysis revealed the influence of crystal structure and formation of oxygen vacancies on the luminescence and electrical properties of the material.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Khalid Mujasam Batoo, Ritesh Verma, Ankush Chauhan, Rajesh Kumar, Muhammad Hadi, Omar M. Aldossary, Y. Al-Douri
Summary: This study reported the synthesis of Gd and Nb co-doped BT ceramic oxides and investigated their structural and electrical properties. Various analysis techniques were used to characterize the samples, revealing the influence of Gd and Nb doping on the electrical properties of the ceramic materials, which were found to improve with increasing dopant concentration.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Sebastian Semella, Christopher Hutengs, Michael Seidel, Mathias Ulrich, Birgit Schneider, Malte Ortner, Soeren Thiele-Bruhn, Bernard Ludwig, Michael Vohland
Summary: Soil spectroscopy in the VNIR and MIR range is a cost-effective method to determine soil organic carbon content, but the contribution of reference data and spectral measurement errors to prediction accuracy is rarely explored. This study evaluated the reproducibility of VNIR and MIR spectra measurements and the dry combustion SOC reference method, and found that MIR spectra were more robust to calibration sample variation. The contributions of spectral variation and reference SOC uncertainty to modeling errors were small compared to the difference between VNIR and MIR spectral ranges, with MIR showing better predictive accuracy.
Article
Agronomy
Mathilde Knott, Mina Ani, Eva Kroener, Doerte Diehl
Summary: The physical properties of maize root mucilage can vary depending on the environmental conditions, which has significant implications for hydraulic processes in the rhizosphere.
Article
Agronomy
Lena M. Werner, Matthilde Knott, Doerte Diehl, Mutez A. Ahmed, Callum Banfield, Michi Dippold, Doris Vetterlein, Monika A. Wimmer
Summary: Mucilage in maize roots plays a crucial role in root-soil interactions. The mucilage obtained from different collection methods (CSA and CSB) has distinct physico-chemical properties, which are related to plant developmental stages, root types, and growth environments.
Article
Agronomy
Chinyere Blessing Okebalama, Bernd Marschner
Summary: This study assessed the responses of soil aggregates to the reapplication of biochar and organic/inorganic fertilizers. The results showed that the application of ecological sanitation manure increased soil fertility, while the combination of biochar with urea and cattle manure had a better effect on carbon and nitrogen accumulation in the soil.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mariam Karagulyan, Marc-Oliver Goebel, Dorte Diehl, Abd Alaziz Abu Quba, Matthias Kastner, Jorg Bachmann, Lukas Y. Wick, Gabriele E. Schaumann, Anja Miltner
Summary: Increased drought intensity and frequency expose soil bacteria to prolonged water stress, leading to changes in bacterial cell surface properties. The changes in cell surface hydrophobicity depend on strain and stress type, and affect different bacteria in different ways.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nils Peters, Soeren Thiele-Bruhn
Summary: Urea, the most commonly used nitrogen fertilizer worldwide, can result in high nitrogen losses due to gaseous ammonia emissions. However, the use of urease inhibitors like NBPT can reduce these losses. This study aimed to investigate the degradation pathways of NBPT and its inhibition of urease in soil.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Silvia Berkner, Julia Margaretha Anke, Rolf-Alexander Duering, Silke Fiebig, Thomas Junker, Dieter Hennecke, Monika Herrchen, Maria Meinerling, Joerg Roembke, Soren Thiele-Bruhn, Edward Topp, Wolfgang Voelkel, Susanne Walter-Rohde
Summary: This article describes the validation of a method for studying the anaerobic transformation of chemicals in pig and cattle liquid manure. The method was adopted as OECD Test Guideline (TG) 320 after undergoing validation tests and the process of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Article
Soil Science
Michael Seidel, Michael Vohland, Isabel Greenberg, Bernard Ludwig, Malte Ortner, Soren Thiele-Bruhn, Christopher Hutengs
Summary: Portable visible to near-infrared (VNIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) soil spectroscopy has the potential to support field applications in soil science and management. However, soil moisture can significantly affect the quality of reflectance measurements. This study examined the effects of soil moisture on VNIR and MIR soil spectra and found that it impacts the accuracy and robustness of predictive spectral models. The study highlights the advantages of employing both VNIR and MIR instruments for spectral data collection in field conditions.
Article
Soil Science
Jellian Jamin, Doerte Diehl, Michele Meyer, Jan David, Gabriele Ellen Schaumann, Christian Buchmann
Summary: The invasive plant species Impatiens glandulifera can potentially affect soil organic matter content and quality, as well as microstructural stability. However, basic soil parameters, soil hydraulic properties, wettability, and soil microstructural stability do not seem to be significantly affected.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bjoern Klaes, Soeren Thiele-Bruhn, Gerhard Woerner, Carmen Hoeschen, Carsten W. Mueller, Philipp Marx, Helge Wolfgang Arz, Sonja Breuer, Rolf Kilian
Summary: We conducted a study to evaluate the ecological relevance of terrestrial iron cycling in a sensitive fjord ecosystem in South Patagonian Andosols. Our findings reveal the transformation pathways of Fe-(hydr)oxides from rhyolitic tephra and their importance for the biogeochemical cycling of iron and the bioproductivity of the fjord. This study provides insights into the formation processes of Fe-(hydr)oxides and their implications for understanding iron cycling in this unique ecosystem.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Doerte Diehl, Mathilde Knott, Gabriele E. Schaumann
Summary: This study examines the relationship between mucilage from maize roots, wheat roots, chia seeds, flax seeds and their physical properties. It was found that seed mucilage has higher viscosity and water retention ability, and the polymer network of seed mucilage is more stable and specialized in protecting the seeds from unfavorable environmental conditions. On the other hand, root mucilage is more flexible and can better respond to environmental changes, facilitating nutrient and water exchange between root surfaces and the rhizosphere soil.
Article
Plant Sciences
Bernd J. Berauer, Asegidew Akale, Andreas H. Schweiger, Mathilde Knott, Doerte Diehl, Marc-Philip Wolf, Ruairidh J. H. Sawers, Mutez A. Ahmed
Summary: With climate change and extreme weather events on the rise, maintaining food security is a growing challenge. Locally adapted crop varieties could offer valuable solutions to adapt to stressful environments. This study investigates the coordination between root mucilage properties and stomatal sensitivity in drought-resistant landraces of Zea mays, finding strong influences of precipitation seasonality and potential benefits in prolonging plant functioning under edaphic drought.
Article
Soil Science
Katherine Munoz, Soren Thiele-Bruhn, Kilian G. J. Kenngott, Maximilian Meyer, Doerte Diehl, Zacharias Steinmetz, Gabriele E. Schaumann
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of different mulching methods on soil microbiome and found that wheat straw mulching increased the abundance and enzyme activity of soil microorganisms, possibly due to changes in soil pH and organic matter input.
