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Public Tour Radiopharmacy
Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of radiopharmacy at the Paul Scherrer Institute. Learn how radioactive substances are used in the diagnosis and treatment of serious illnesses such as cancer.
Public Family Tour: Energy Research
Experience firsthand how the residents of ESIVille are embracing the transition to renewable energy. Join them on their journey and help keep the city's energy system in balance!
Evolution of texture and residual stresses in 2205 duplex stainless steel during laser powder bed fusion
This study uses a custom-designed laser powder bed fusion machine, capable of operating in neutron instruments, to track metallic material evolution during additive manufacturing process. More specifically, it investigates the development of residual stresses in textured 2205 duplex stainless steel during laser powder bed fusion. In situ and operando neutron diffraction experiments were conducted to study the transient and real-time evolution of stresses and strains during processing, using an AM machine designed for neutron studies. Additionally, Bragg-edge imaging was employed to investigate the crystallographic texture. The results showed that residual stress redistribution primarily occurs in the first set of added layers when further layers are added on top. The cube texture observed in the sample significantly affects residual stress determination, leading to inaccuracies up to 96 MPa if not accounted for. This highlights the need for orientation-dependent diffraction elastic constants in residual stress calculations. Furthermore, variations in texture intensity across the sample dimensions were found to be driven by changes in the local temperature history, which were deciphered from real-time strain measurements. Finally, this study demonstrates the potential of combining laser powder bed fusion with neutron diffraction to investigate the underlying mechanisms of additive manufacturing in the bulk of the sample.
Anisotropic Skyrmion and Multi-q Spin Dynamics in Centrosymmetric Gd2PdSi3
Skyrmions are particlelike vortices of magnetization with nontrivial topology, which are usually stabilized by Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions (DMI) in noncentrosymmetric bulk materials. Exceptions are centrosymmetric Gd- and Eu-based skyrmion-lattice (SL) hosts with zero DMI, where both the SL stabilization mechanisms and magnetic ground states remain controversial. We address these here by investigating both the static and dynamical spin properties ...
Texture and residual stress evolution during 3D printing
Discover how advanced neutron diffraction sheds light on the evolution of stress and texture in 3D-printed duplex stainless steel.
Vertragsunterzeichnung 2025
Ein feierliches Ereignis für unsere zukünftigen Lernenden und Praktikantinnen
Erfolgreiche Förderung von 4 Projekten im Rahmen des ersten forME Calls
In einer ersten Antragsrunde zum Förderprogramm forME wurden sehr vielfältige und qualitativ hochwertige Projektideen eingereicht. Aufgrund der in der Ausschreibung formulierten Evaluationskriterien wurden vier vielversprechende Anträge ausgewählt, die nun im Rahmen des Förderprogramms Unterstützung für ihr Forschungsprojekt in der Form geschützter Forschungszeit erhalten.
Career Profile: Michał Studniarek, Research Team Manager at ABB Corporate Research Center
Before joining ABB Corporate Research Center, I completed my PhD on multifunctional spintronic interfaces at SOLEIL synchrotron and performed research on single molecule magnets at Xtreme beamline of SLS as a PSI-fellow postdoc.
Mapping the ecosystem of Wannier Functions software
A new review article, just published in Reviews of Modern Physics and highlighted on the journal cover, provides a map to the vast landscape of software codes that allow researchers to calculate Wannier functions, and to use them for materials properties predictions. The authors, from all over Europe and the USA, include two PSI scientists. After providing readers with the theoretical foundations on Wannier functions and their calculation, together with intuitive graphical schematics to explain what Wannier functions are, the authors map the existing Wannier codes and the key applications.
Operando phase mapping in multi-material laser powder bed fusion
This study introduces a custom-designed laser powder bed fusion machine, capable of operating in neutron instruments, to track material evolution during additive manufacturing. Using neutron imaging, this study uncovers how complex thermal cycling impacts phase development in multi-material parts, offering new insights into optimizing additive manufacturing processes and enhancing material properties for more precise and high-performance components.
Concurrent Operando Neutron Imaging and Diffraction Analysis Revealing Spatial Lithiation Phase Evolution in an Ultra-Thick Graphite Electrode
Energy-efficient, safe, and reliable Li-ion batteries (LIBs) are required for a wide range of applications. The introduction of ultra-thick graphite anodes, desired for high energy densities, meets limitations in internal electrode transport properties, leading to detrimental consequences. Yet, there is a lack of experimental tools capable of providing a complete view of local processes. Here, a multi-modal operando measurement approach is introduced, enabling quantitative spatio-temporal observations of Li concentrations and intercalation phases in ultra-thick graphite electrodes.
Neutron imaging and diffraction concurrently provide ...
Understanding the Interplay between Artificial SEI and Electrolyte Additives in Enhancing Silicon Electrode Performance for Li-Ion Batteries
Maintaining a stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is crucial for Li-ion battery safety, especially with high-capacity anode containing silicon. Therefore, our study explored long-term cycling of Si electrodes with artificial alucone-based SEI, deposited by molecular layer deposition (MLD) in combination with a fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) electrolyte additive. MLD of flexible Li-ion permeable artificial SEI coatings onto electrode resulted in improved capacity, enhanced Si electrode cycle life and capacity retention.
Operando Neutron Characterization During 3D Printing
A new laser powder bed fusion device enables real-time neutron diffraction and imaging, providing detailed insights into structural evolution, defect formation, and temperature mapping during metal additive manufacturing.
CSD Christmas
Our Christmas party was a truly unforgettable moment that brought us all a great deal of joy. The festively decorated room was bathed in warm light and the Christmas atmosphere was palpable from the very beginning. The scent of pine branches and mandarins was in the air and contributed to the cozy atmosphere.
“The biggest challenge is lacking public acceptance of wind turbines”
In an interview with ETH News, Russell McKenna, an expert in energy system analysis, explains where he sees the greatest need for action in order to further develop wind energy.
Die Polymechaniker im vierten Lehrjahr und ihr gemeinsames Projekt
Aus einer Idee entsteht ein Produkt für die ganze Werkstatt
YBa1−𝑥Sr𝑥CuFeO5 layered perovskites: An attempt to explore the magnetic order beyond the paramagnetic-collinear-spiral triple point
Layered perovskites of general formula AA'CuFeO5 are characterized by the presence of spiral magnetic phases whose ordering temperatures 𝑇spiral can be tuned far beyond room temperature by introducing modest amounts of Cu/Fe chemical disorder in the crystal structure. This rare property makes these materials prominent candidates to host multiferroicity and magnetoelectric coupling at temperatures suitable for applications. Moreover, it has been proposed that the highest 𝑇spiral value that can be reached in this structural family ( ∼400 K) corresponds to a paramagnetic-collinear-spiral triple point with potential to show exotic physics. Since generating high amounts of Cu/Fe disorder is experimentally difficult, the phase diagram region beyond the triple point has been barely explored. To fill this gap we investigate here eleven YBa1−𝑥Sr𝑥CuFeO5 solid solutions (0≤𝑥≤1 ), where we replace Ba with Sr with the aim of enhancing the impact of the experimentally available Cu/Fe disorder. Using a combination of bulk magnetization measurements, synchrotron x-ray and neutron powder diffraction we show that the spiral state with 𝐤𝑠=(1/2,1/2,1/2±𝑞) is destabilized beyond a critical Sr content, being replaced by a fully antiferromagnetic state with ordering temperature 𝑇coll2≥𝑇spiral and propagation vector 𝐤𝑐2=(1/2,1/2,0). Interestingly, both 𝑇spiral and 𝑇coll2 increase with 𝑥 with comparable rates. This suggests a common, disorder-driven origin for both magnetic phases, consistent with theoretical predictions.
New Process Enhances Lithium Battery Performance
A new approach from PSI to improve battery performance offers the industry new opportunities for efficient and long-lasting energy storage.
Ein Tag im Personalrestaurant Oase
…..willst Du mehr wissen, was es alles braucht, um Dich im PSI zu verpflegen?
Araris Biotech: Strategic partnership in the field of cancer therapy
With its new partnership with Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Araris takes another step forward in the development of innovative cancer therapies.
40 years of LNS
On 1st October 2024, the Laboratory for Neutron Scattering & Imaging turned 40 years old, which was celebrated during the traditional end-of-year party on 17th December.
New protective coating can improve battery performance
Increasing the energy density of lithium-ion batteries – a sustainable method for cathode surface coating developed at PSI makes it possible.
Connection between f-electron correlations and magnetic excitations in UTe2
The detailed anisotropic dispersion of the low-temperature, low-energy magnetic excitations of the candidate spin-triplet superconductor UTe2 is revealed using inelastic neutron scattering. The magnetic excitations emerge from the Brillouin zone boundary at the high symmetry Y and T points and disperse along the crystallographic b-axis. In applied magnetic fields ...
PSI year in review 2024
Highlights – PSI research in 2024
Decentralized hydrogen-based stationary energy storage systems complemented by smart control can provide increased operational flexibility in the energy system
While the electrification of the energy system implies a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions greatly beneficial to society, it can also pose technical challenges. The most notable among these are that the capacity of the local electric grid may be exceeded, along with the occurrence of imbalances between decentralized renewable energy production and final consumption. Hydrogen-based energy storage systems (HESS) are regarded as promising solutions to address these challenges. However, the feasibility has not been demonstrated and the involved processes are not well characterized on a technical relevant power level, so far.
Small-angle scattering interferometry with neutron orbital angular momentum states
Methods to prepare and characterize neutron helical waves carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) were recently demonstrated at small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) facilities. These methods enable access to the neutron orbital degree of freedom which provides new avenues of exploration in fundamental science experiments as well as in material characterization applications.
However, ....
Mitigating Cracks in Multi-Material Printing
Integrating metallic powders with thin foils in laser powder bed fusion can reduce interfacial cracks and improve microstructure quality in titanium-aluminum multi-material printing.
100 Tage als Mediamatik-Lernender am PSI
Als Mediamatiker helfe ich die Internetseite zu pflegen, auf Social Media zu posten sowie Fotos und Videos zu bearbeiten. In den ersten 100 Tagen meiner Lehre am PSI konnte ich schon viele grossartige Erfahrungen machen.
The Cables of the SLS
Building services, magnets, IT – many different parties are involved in the SLS upgrade. What connects them all is several hundred kilometres of cables.
IMPACT: Upgrade at PSI research facility approved
Financing for renovations to PSI’s proton accelerator facility has been approved by the Swiss Parliament.