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@INPROCEEDINGS{Erkes:1050737,
      author       = {Erkes, Rebecca},
      title        = {{N}anomaterials - {S}ynthesis and {C}haracterization},
      school       = {RWTH Aachen},
      reportid     = {FZJ-2026-00480},
      year         = {2025},
      abstract     = {Nanomaterials (NMs) are defined by their characteristic
                      dimensions on the nanoscale (1 – 100 nm), a size regime
                      where unique surface and quantum effects emerge. They can be
                      catego-rized by their external dimensions into 4 categories:
                      0D-materials (nanoparticles, quantum dots), 1D-materials
                      (nanorods, nanotubes), 2D-materials (graphene, nanosheets)
                      or 3D-materials (foams, aggregates). These material classes
                      share novel size-dependent properties absent in their
                      bulk-counterparts, such as the drastically increased
                      surface-to-volume ratio. This leads to more active sites on
                      the surface, enhancing chemical reactivity and catalytic
                      activity, for exam-ple in Pt catalyst particles. Quantum
                      confinement effects induce size-dependent quantization of
                      electronic and optical properties, such as the emergence of
                      magnetism in Au, Pt or Pd nanoparti-cles, despite their bulk
                      counterparts lacking any magnetic behavior. Due to the high
                      fraction of surface atoms, the surface energy of
                      nanomaterials is reduced significantly, leading to e.g. a
                      de-crease in melting point (e.g. 5 nm Au particles melt ~400
                      °C below bulk gold). These novel properties drive the
                      intensive exploration of NMs in synthesis and
                      characterization research and fuel their application in
                      various fields, like catalysis, electronics, biomedicine,
                      and energy con-version.Countless precise synthesis
                      strategies have been developed to control the size, shape,
                      composi-tion, and surface chemistry of NMs, thereby tuning
                      their properties. These methods fall into two broad
                      categories: top-down routes that fracture or pattern bulk
                      materials, and bottom-up strate-gies, that assemble
                      nanomaterials from atoms or molecules. Most frequently,
                      top-down strategies employ mechanical milling techniques,
                      such as high-energy ball milling. Here bulk solids are
                      reduced to sizes of 10 – 200 nm, producing
                      nanocrys-talline powders. Though prolonged milling can
                      produce even smaller particle sizes, it simultane-ously
                      causes contamination from media abrasion. Additionally, size
                      and shape control are rather limited with such
                      techniques.Bottom-up methods offer more precise shape and
                      size control. In sol-gel processing, hydrolysis and
                      polycondensation transform the dissolved metal alkoxide
                      precursor (sol) into complex oxide networks (gel). With
                      subsequent aging and calcination, metal oxide particles,
                      powders, fibers, or films can be obtained. Hydro- and
                      solvothermal synthesis routes produce uniform crystals of
                      diverse shapes in the range or 10 – 500 nm by superheating
                      solutions in a sealed vessel. After this controlled crystal
                      growth, nanomaterial suspensions are yielded, that can then
                      be further processed The optimal synthesis route and
                      conditions are usually chosen with regard to the material
                      requirements posed by the individual application area.
                      Correlative characterization is crucial to link NMs
                      structure to their functional properties. Trans-mission
                      (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provide
                      high-resolution imaging of NM shape, size, size distribution
                      and lattice structure at the atomic scale. Small angle X-ray
                      or neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS) non-destructively resolve
                      size-shape and surface-area infor-mation by analyzing
                      low-angle intensity profiles. Since these techniques average
                      information over particle ensembles, they complement
                      localized microscopy methods well, confirming mor-phologies
                      and highlighting polydispersity.Engineering advanced NMs for
                      electrochemical applications demands integrated strategies.
                      By selecting appropriate top-down or bottom-up approaches
                      and applying targeted analytical tools, materials with
                      specifically optimized structural, chemical and functional
                      properties can be tai-lored to meet the requirements of
                      batteries, electrolyzers, and other electrochemical
                      systems.},
      month         = {Sep},
      date          = {2025-09-01},
      organization  = {IET-1 EC-Days 2025, Eindhoven
                       (Netherlands), 1 Sep 2025 - 2 Sep 2025},
      subtyp        = {Invited},
      cin          = {IET-1},
      cid          = {I:(DE-Juel1)IET-1-20110218},
      pnm          = {1223 - Batteries in Application (POF4-122) / HITEC -
                      Helmholtz Interdisciplinary Doctoral Training in Energy and
                      Climate Research (HITEC) (HITEC-20170406)},
      pid          = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-1223 / G:(DE-Juel1)HITEC-20170406},
      typ          = {PUB:(DE-HGF)31},
      url          = {https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1050737},
}