Laboratory for Sustainable Energy Carriers and Processes (LEP)

The PSI Laboratory for Sustainable Energy Carriers and Processes studies catalysts and materials for providing energy from CO₂, biomass and waste.

More about us

In particular we focus

Chemical Processes and Materials (CPM)

On the separation of valuable and/or toxic metal fractions from waste with the goal to increase the recycling rate by eco-efficient processes. Moreover, on the analytics of process gas streams and the synthesis of materials needed to reduce the carbon footprint of our society (Chemical Processes and Materials - CPM).

Chemical Process Engineering (CPE)

On the development of efficient conversion technologies for biomass to energy carriers with a focus on hydrothermal processes (Catalytic Process Engineering - CPE).

Applied Catalysis and Spectroscopy (ACS)

On heterogeneous catalysts for emission control and the production of energy carriers, with expertise in in situ/operando spectroscopy at lab scale as well as at large scale research facilities in order to understand the function of these materials under reaction conditions (Applied Catalysis and Spectroscopy - ACS).

Thermochemical Processes (TCP)

On the flexible production of renewable methane, methanol and hydrogen from biogas, gasification derived producer gas and within Power-to-Gas applications (Thermochemical Processes group - TCP).

Lab News & Scientific Highlights

06.05.2025

Advancing Biogas Quality: Tackling Siloxane Challenges for Smooth Energy Transition

Siloxanes, present in everyday items, can compromise the efficiency and durability of bioenergy systems, even at trace levels. Monitoring and quantifying these impurities are critical for improving biogas quality and expanding its role in renewable energy. However, sampling biogas and storing samples containing siloxanes for analysis remain a significant challenge.

10.10.2024

•Energie und Klima

•8 min

Wie Katalysatoren gefährliche Stickoxide beseitigen

Industry Relations Chemie Umwelt Klima

In der industriellen Katalyse ist Eisen nicht gleich Eisen.

22.08.2024

•Large research facilities

Novel Photoresist Chemistry Enables Lithography Approaching Angstrom-Scale Resolution

Photoresist materials are crucial in the manufacturing of computer chips, where the circuits are initially printed in the photoresist using photolithography. As the demand for smaller and more precise circuitry in computer chips grows, photoresists must resolve features with smaller sizes and higher density.

More News

Publications

Agarwal A, Torrent L, Indlekofer J, Madi H, Culleton LP, Biollaz SMA, et al.
From proof to practice - sampling and analysis for simplified quantification of siloxanes in biogas
Bioresource Technology. 2025; 429: 132463 (8 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132463
DORA PSI
Bisotti F, Moioli E, Manenti F
Screening kinetic models for CO₂-to-methanol over CuO–ZnO–ZrO₂–Al₂O₃ (CZZA) and CuO–ZnO–ZrO₂ (CZZ): are they consistent with the experimental evidence? A critical review of the existing kinetic models and relevant literature on experimental characterization of copper-based catalysts for CO₂-to-methanol process
Chemical Engineering Journal. 2025; 503: 158033 (12 pp.). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.158033
DORA PSI
Borgmeyer T, Kupper Y, Rossi MJ, Luterbacher JS, Ludwig C
Characterization of biobased polymers at the gas-solid interface ─ analysis of surface and bulk properties during artificial degradation
Environmental Science and Technology. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c10925
DORA PSI