Energiewende

Abkehr von der Kernenergie, Ausbau von Solar- und Windkraft, Energiegewinnung aus Biomasse, Senkung des Energieverbrauchs. Bis 2050 soll die Schweiz klimaneutral werden. Ein ehrgeiziges Ziel, welches durch die zunehmend herausfordernde geopolitische Lage dringlicher denn je geworden ist. Wie lässt sich in den nächsten Jahren eine nachhaltige und widerstandsfähige Energieversorgung für die Schweiz aufbauen? Wie können erneuerbare Energien optimal genutzt werden? Welche neuen Technologien sind besonders vielversprechend? Am PSI suchen Forschende nach Antworten auf diese entscheidenden Fragen.

Spatially resolved likelihood for glycation of collagen

Glycation of collagen: Quantifying rates

Collagen is abundant in the connective tissue of human beings, e.g. in tendons, ligament and cornea. Glycation of collagen distorts its structure, renders the extracellular matrix stiff and brittle and at the same time lowers the degradation susceptibility thereby preventing renewal. Based on models and with parameters determined from experimental data, we describe the glycation of type 1 collagen in bovine pericardium derived bio-tissues upon incubation in glucose and ribose. We hope that this contributes to a better quantitative understanding of the effects of diabetes on collagen.

Artist's view of the functionalized endohedral fullerene on a graphite surface.

Magnetic Bistability at a Record High Temperature in a Sub-Monolayer of Endohedral Fullerenes

A team of the Leibniz Institute for Solid State Research (IFW) from Dresden, Germany, led by Dr Alexey Popov has now demonstrated a record blocking temperature of 28 Kelvin at which the magnetic bistability still survives in a submonolayer of a chemically functionalized species of endofullerenes. In this research, X-ray magnetic circular dichroism measurements at low temperatures and high magnetic field at the X-Treme beam line are crucial. The results pave the way toward using such single-molecule magnets as information carriers or magnetic bits.

Luisa mit Diplom

Presentation Prize 2021 (Doktorandentag, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich)

Luisa Deberle, PhD student in the “Nuclide Chemistry Group” received the price for the best oral presentation

viviane

EANM Marie-Curie Award 2021 went to VIVIANE TSCHAN

Viviane Tschan received this year’s Marie-Curie Award for a new concept of radioligand therapy of prostate cancer.

In situ and ex situ ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have been used to investigate the solid-liquid interface of a LSCO water splitting catalyst. Experimental results, supported by theoretical simulations of the core-electron binding energy, detect the formation of cobalt oxyhydroxide under working conditions.

Direct evidence of cobalt oxyhydroxide formation on a LSCO perovskite water splitting catalyst

In situ and ex situ ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have been used to investigate the solid-liquid interface of a LSCO water splitting catalyst. Experimental results, supported by theoretical simulations of the core-electron binding energy, detect the formation of cobalt oxyhydroxide under working conditions. 

The evolution of atomically dispersed platinum species on ceria has been investigated by means of ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy. Experimental results, supported by the theoretical simulation of the phase diagram, show that atomically dispersed species evolve towards nanoparticles during the activation of the catalysts. Such an evolution is influenced by the temperature and the reaction environment.

Temperature and Reaction Environment Influence the Nature of Platinum Species Supported on Ceria

The evolution of atomically dispersed platinum species on ceria has been investigated by means of ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy. Experimental results, supported by the theoretical simulation of the phase diagram, show that atomically dispersed species evolve towards nanoparticles during the activation of the catalysts. Such an evolution is influenced by the temperature and the reaction environment. 

Zivkivic et al

Magnetic Field Induced Quantum Spin Liquid in the Two Coupled Trillium Lattices of K2Ni2(SO4)3

Quantum spin liquids are exotic states of matter that form when strongly frustrated magnetic interactions induce a highly entangled quantum paramagnet far below the energy scale of the magnetic interactions. Three-dimensional cases are especially challenging due to the significant reduction of the influence of quantum fluctuations. Here, we report the magnetic characterization of K2Ni2(SO4)3 forming a three-dimensional network of Ni2+ spins.

 

Guizar-Sicairos ICO prize ceremony

Dr. Manuel Guizar-Sicairos is awarded ICO prize

Dr. Manuel Guizar-Sicairos, beamline scientist at the cSAXS beamline, is the 2019 recipient of the International Commission for Optics (ICO) Prize. The distinction was awarded in the EOSAM conference in Rome.

Support for UK students visiting PSI user facilities

The UK neutron and muon facility ISIS is currently offering travel and subsistence support for students from UK universities visiting other facilities for neutron or muon studies. The PSI facilities SINQ and SmuS are part of that arrangement.

Fittipaldi et al

Unveiling unconventional magnetism at the surface of Sr2RuO4

Materials with strongly correlated electrons often exhibit interesting physical properties. An example of these materials is the layered oxide perovskite Sr2RuO4, which has been intensively investigated due to its unusual properties. Whilst the debate on the symmetry of the superconducting state in Sr2RuO4 is still ongoing, a deeper understanding of the Sr2RuO4 normal state appears crucial as this is the background in which electron pairing occurs. Here, by using low-energy muon spin spectroscopy we discover the existence of surface magnetism in Sr2RuO4 in its normal state.

 

Noemi

Welcome Noemi

Welcome to our new PhD Student Noemi Cerboni. She' ll be working with us for the next four (?) years on "Development of electrochemical methods for the production of thin film Lanthanides"

Vize-Europameister 2021

Vize-Europameister 2021

Unser Elektroniker Mario Liechti konnte Graz mit einer Silbermedaille verlassen! Herzliche Gratulation, wir sind sehr stolz auf ihn!

Stelle Mario deine Fragen im Live-Video-Chat am Do. 7. Oktober 2021, 18.00 Uhr!