Efficient electron-induced removal of oxalate ions and formation of copper nanoparticles from copper(II) oxalate precursor layers

• Kai Rückriem,
• Sarah Grotheer,
• Henning Vieker,
• Paul Penner,
• André Beyer,
• Armin Gölzhäuser and
• Petra Swiderek

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 852–861, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.77

• contamination. The reduction of the material under high-vacuum conditions also offers the perspective of adding capping layers in situ via an electron-beam induced deposition process from the gas phase [1] thus addressing the problem of Cu oxidation [52]. (a) Representative RAIR spectra of surface-grown copper

Bacteriorhodopsin–ZnO hybrid as a potential sensing element for low-temperature detection of ethanol vapour

• Saurav Kumar,
• Sudeshna Bagchi,
• Senthil Prasad,
• Anupma Sharma,
• Ritesh Kumar,
• Rishemjit Kaur,
• Jagvir Singh and
• Amol P. Bhondekar

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 501–510, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.44

• solution consisting of zinc nitrate and hexamine. This inverted growth scheme was preferred in order to avoid contamination effects due to sedimentation and to achieve a uniform growth pattern [35][36]. Further, the suspension of wild-type, photoactive bR was prepared with aqueous amphipol (A8-35) in a 1:5

Length-extension resonator as a force sensor for high-resolution frequency-modulation atomic force microscopy in air

• Hannes Beyer,
• Tino Wagner and
• Andreas Stemmer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 432–438, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.38

• -high vacuum (UHV), it remains a challenge under ambient conditions. However, imaging samples in their natural environment down to the atomic level is key to understanding their properties. Several factors such as contamination of the surface, environmental changes, and water layers on the surface

• bigger contamination on the surface. Note, the frequency shift offset applied for compensation by the slow feedback, Δfoffset follows an almost mirrored trace of the dew point, reaching Δfoffset = −2.0 Hz just before the end of the scans. This value corresponds very well to the measured Δfdrift

Efficiency improvement in the cantilever photothermal excitation method using a photothermal conversion layer

• Natsumi Inada,
• Hitoshi Asakawa,
• Taiki Kobayashi and
• Takeshi Fukuma

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 409–417, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.36

• than 2 h without any indication of possible contamination from the coating. The proposed method, using a PTC layer made of colloidal graphite, greatly enhances photothermal excitation efficiency even for a relatively stiff cantilever in liquid. Keywords: atomic force microscopy; cantilever excitation

Rigid multipodal platforms for metal surfaces

• Michal Valášek,
• Marcin Lindner and
• Marcel Mayor

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2016, 7, 374–405, doi:10.3762/bjnano.7.34

• (Figure 3) and used them for the fabrication of SAMs on gold [88][105]. In this study they particularly focused to reveal the surface properties of various sulfanylmethyl- and methylsulfanylmethyl-terminated tripodal platforms in order to get fairly densely packed, contamination free and homogeneous

Chemiresistive/SERS dual sensor based on densely packed gold nanoparticles

• Sanda Boca,
• Cosmin Leordean,
• Simion Astilean and
• Cosmin Farcau

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 2498–2503, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.259

• ascendant slope nowadays and ongoing efforts are made to get them more accurate, rapid, portable, and inexpensive. This is mostly due to the promising potential they present in application fields such as health care, food contamination, environmental safety and security, among others [1]. Today, a reliable

Large area scanning probe microscope in ultra-high vacuum demonstrated for electrostatic force measurements on high-voltage devices

• Urs Gysin,
• Thilo Glatzel,
• Thomas Schmölzer,
• Adolf Schöner,
• Sergey Reshanov,
• Holger Bartolf and
• Ernst Meyer

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 2485–2497, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.258

• Figure 5b small tip changes are visible as stripes (some of them indicated by the red circle), however, the work function measurement is not influenced sustainably. After sputtering the surface with Ar+-ions twice for 10 min with a voltage of 1 kV, the contamination layer is removed and the contrast in

Sub-monolayer film growth of a volatile lanthanide complex on metallic surfaces

• Hironari Isshiki,
• Jinjie Chen,
• Kevin Edelmann and
• Wulf Wulfhekel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 2412–2416, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.248

• contamination of the surface. This new rare-earth-based class of molecules broadens the choice of molecular magnets to study with scanning tunneling microscopy. Keywords: β-diketonate; molecular films; scanning tunneling microscopy; terbium; volatile lanthanide complex; Introduction Several carefully designed

• contamination of the surface [9]. Finding a class of rare-earth SMMs that can be suitably transferred would be a significant step forward towards the application of magnetic molecular devices in which well-defined homogeneous molecular structures are required. The β-dikenonate lanthanide(III) series have been

• height of the molecules. Conclusion We showed that Tb(thd)3 complexes can be transferred onto metallic substrates by sublimation without decomposition or surface contamination. Furthermore, we showed that well-ordered monolayer films of lanthanide molecules are formed on Cu(111) and Ag(111). Due to the

Green and energy-efficient methods for the production of metallic nanoparticles

• Mitra Naghdi,
• Mehrdad Taheran,
• Satinder K. Brar,
• M. Verma,
• R. Y. Surampalli and
• J. R. Valero

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 2354–2376, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.243

• used in larger amounts than the other materials [124][125]. In addition, most of the conventional solvents have problems, such as toxicity, flammability, and corrosion. Their solubility and volatility may result in contamination of air, water and soil and also can increase the risk of exposure to

Fabrication of hybrid nanocomposite scaffolds by incorporating ligand-free hydroxyapatite nanoparticles into biodegradable polymer scaffolds and release studies

• Balazs Farkas,
• Marina Rodio,
• Ilaria Romano,
• Alberto Diaspro,
• Romuald Intartaglia and
• Szabolcs Beke

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 2217–2223, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.227

• in the release mechanism due to the hydrogel transition phase. Of note, the experiment had to be cancelled after 2 weeks due to contamination: the vials became infected by fungi, gradually digesting the nanoparticles (data not shown). Conclusion We presented the combination of two laser processing

Electrochemical coating of dental implants with anodic porous titania for enhanced osteointegration

• Amirreza Shayganpour,
• Alberto Rebaudi,
• Pierpaolo Cortella,
• Alberto Diaspro and
• Marco Salerno

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 2183–2192, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.224

• , traces of additional chemical elements are present, such as carbon, ascribed to organic contamination during packaging, and, to a lower extent, oxygen, ascribed to native metal oxide on the surface. Contamination of rhodium also appears at very low levels (estimated ≈0.8 at %), which was the same for

• both types of implants. According to the producing companies, these contaminates may be associated with the machining tools and/or the final washing, or possibly due to cross-contamination among different manufacturing processes carried out with the same equipment. In the case of Stark implants, a

• at %), given the deep penetration (≥1 µm) of the energetic, primary electrons (10 kV) with respect to the APT thickness (≈100 nm), such that the probed volume is mainly in the bulk of the Ti implant under the surface. In Figure 3b a new type of contamination, phosphorus, also appears at a

Effect of SiN_x diffusion barrier thickness on the structural properties and photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ films obtained by sol–gel dip coating and reactive magnetron sputtering

• Mohamed Nawfal Ghazzal,
• Eric Aubry,
• Nouari Chaoui and
• Didier Robert

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 2039–2045, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.207

• species on the surface under UV light exposure [1] and to become super-hydrophilic [2]. One example of an application of this technology taking advantage of these combined properties is self-cleaning glass, which has transitioned from a promising technology to a global market product. The contamination of

Distribution of Pd clusters on ultrathin, epitaxial TiO_x films on Pt₃Ti(111)

• Christian Breinlich,
• Maria Buchholz,
• Marco Moors,
• Tobias Pertram,
• Conrad Becker and
• Klaus Wandelt

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 2007–2014, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.204

• carbon or oxygen contamination in AES experiments. Palladium was evaporated from a simple Knudsen cell with a slow deposition rate of approximately 2 · 10−3 MLs−1. The amount deposited was controlled by the deposition time and monitored by the evolution of the 330 eV Pd AES signal in relation to the 505

Electrospray deposition of organic molecules on bulk insulator surfaces

• Antoine Hinaut,
• Rémy Pawlak,
• Ernst Meyer and
• Thilo Glatzel

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1927–1934, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.195

• diporphyrin having a slightly higher topographic signature. Conclusion The deposition of large functionalized molecules on surfaces with low contamination is important for fundamental studies. We show that UHV-ESI deposition, where molecules are contained in solution, fulfill theses conditions on insulating

Temperature-dependent breakdown of hydrogen peroxide-treated ZnO and TiO₂ nanoparticle agglomerates

• Sinan Sabuncu and
• Mustafa Çulha

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1897–1903, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.193

• the dispersion of MONPs in water without contamination. TEM images of pristine ZnO (a) and TiO2 (b) NPs. FTIR spectra of untreated and hydroxylated ZnO NPs. FTIR spectra of untreated and hydroxylated TiO2 NPs. TEM images of H2O2-treated ZnO NPs (a) and XRD spectra before and after H2O2 treatment (b

Thermal energy storage – overview and specific insight into nitrate salts for sensible and latent heat storage

• Nicole Pfleger,
• Thomas Bauer,
• Claudia Martin,
• Markus Eck and
• Antje Wörner

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1487–1497, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.154

• contact with the Solar Salt for 500 h and a maximum operation temperature of 500 °C. No contamination of the molten salt or interaction layers between slag and salt were observed after the thermal treatment [27]. Disadvantages of the industrial waste as filler material are the uncertain availability in

Peptide-equipped tobacco mosaic virus templates for selective and controllable biomineral deposition

• Klara Altintoprak,
• Axel Seidenstücker,
• Alexander Welle,
• Sabine Eiben,
• Petia Atanasova,
• Nina Stitz,
• Alfred Plettl,
• Joachim Bill,
• Hartmut Gliemann,
• Holger Jeske,
• Dirk Rothenstein,
• Fania Geiger and
• Christina Wege

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1399–1412, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.145

• 30 nm thick gold layer by physical vapor deposition (PVD; Varian NRC 836, Palo Alto, California, U.S.A.). All samples used for mineralization analysis were found to be free of Si and silicon oil contamination, which could potentially interfere with the analysis. 10 µL of a 1:250 diluted solution of

Alternative types of molecule-decorated atomic chains in Au–CO–Au single-molecule junctions

• Zoltán Balogh,
• Péter Makk and
• András Halbritter

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1369–1376, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.141

• of our experimental technique is introduced in our previous publication [27]. We have performed our measurements on one break-junctions sample that was measured for several weeks as follows. In order to exclude unwanted contamination we have a very strict protocol for this type of measurement. First

Structural transitions in electron beam deposited Co–carbonyl suspended nanowires at high electrical current densities

• Gian Carlo Gazzadi and
• Stefano Frabboni

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1298–1305, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.134

• future nanoscale devices which need scaled interconnects, and the deposition of magnetic nanostructures opens interesting perspectives in the field of magnetic nanodevices [14][15]. To keep up with such challenging tasks, FEBID has to face a deposit purity issue [16], the C and O contamination of metal

Magnetic properties of iron cluster/chromium matrix nanocomposites

• Arne Fischer,
• Robert Kruk,
• Di Wang and
• Horst Hahn

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1158–1163, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.117

• clusters are singly charged). Counting the charges in combination with the known cluster mass from the mass separation the amount of deposited cluster material can be precisely derived. In order to minimize contamination with, e.g., oxygen the pressure in the deposition chamber is maintained in the 10−9

Scanning reflection ion microscopy in a helium ion microscope

• Yuri V. Petrov and
• Oleg F. Vyvenko

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1125–1137, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.114

• both angles of the reflected beam. Another distinction of the REM setup is a high vacuum specimen chamber that is required for the observation of the surface steps. The high vacuum chamber is also required to reduce the effect of contamination as noted below. Thus, observation of atomic steps in RIM

• exists both in a case of RIM and in conventional HIM. Fortunately, IBID that is mainly stimulated by secondary electrons [21] can be eliminated in RIM by applying a positive bias to the sample and reducing the contamination growth rate, and it can be completely avoided by usage of high vacuum conditions

Closed-loop conductance scanning tunneling spectroscopy: demonstrating the equivalence to the open-loop alternative

• Chris Hellenthal,
• Kai Sotthewes,
• Martin H. Siekman,
• E. Stefan Kooij and
• Harold J. W. Zandvliet

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1116–1124, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.113

• functions below 1 eV for a tungsten–platinum system, which they ascribed to poor vacuum conditions and contamination [32]. Similarly, the presence of water layers in the tunneling junction can also lead to lower apparent barrier heights [35][38]. However, the measurements presented in this article have been

• performed under UHV conditions, making it unlikely that (water) contamination is the cause of the low apparent barrier heights extracted from them. Erroneous barrier heights can also be caused by misinterpretation of the tip–sample separation due to relaxation effects [36][39][40]. According to experimental

From lithium to sodium: cell chemistry of room temperature sodium–air and sodium–sulfur batteries

• Philipp Adelhelm,
• Pascal Hartmann,
• Conrad L. Bender,
• Martin Busche,
• Christine Eufinger and
• Juergen Janek

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 1016–1055, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.105

• cell cycling. Carbon-based materials are mostly used for this purpose. Considering the basic principle of this cell concept, some challenges are immediately obvious: (1) The implementation of special membranes is necessary to prevent contamination of the cell by unwanted gases from the atmosphere (N2

Electron-stimulated purification of platinum nanostructures grown via focused electron beam induced deposition

• Brett B. Lewis,
• Michael G. Stanford,
• Jason D. Fowlkes,
• Kevin Lester,
• Harald Plank and
• Philip D. Rack

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 907–918, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.94

• )Me3 to mitigate the precursor contamination. Thus, extending the study to room temperature, we re-examined the temperature dependence of the purification. Figure 1a,b illustrates in situ EDS spectra as a function of the purification time for the 25 and 78 °C studies, respectively. The initial deposit

Stiffness of sphere–plate contacts at MHz frequencies: dependence on normal load, oscillation amplitude, and ambient medium

• Jana Vlachová,
• Rebekka König and
• Diethelm Johannsmann

Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2015, 6, 845–856, doi:10.3762/bjnano.6.87

• forces, plastic deformation, and the effects of contamination. In particular, plastic deformation can lead to junction growth, which stiffens the contact rather than weakening it [12][13]. There is a particular shortcoming that is on the one hand widely observed, but also easily fixed on a heuristic

• zero added weight. Clearly, the numbers must be interpreted with some caution. Possible sources of artifacts are roughness, contamination, and of course the idealized assumptions of the model. The high excitation frequency may also play a role. A systematic comparison with the tangential contact