Division Scientific Computing, Theory and DataSCD
By July 1, 2021, the new research division "Scientific Computing, Theory and Data" has been established at PSI.
Its goals are:
- to provide modeling know-how and computing resources for the science, engineering, and accelerator program at PSI
- to provide conceptual and practical input to new science initiatives at PSI like SwissFEL
- to link new opportunities of computational materials modeling (NCCR MARVEL) and data science (SDSC) to PSI’s unique large research facilities
- to establish an international role model for the data chain at large research facilities
Highlights & News
Scientific Highlights
Cobalt-free layered perovskites RBaCuFeO5+d (R = 4f lanthanide) as electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction
Co oxides with perovskite-related structure are particularly promising, cost-effective OER catalysts. However, the increasing Co demand by the battery industry is pushing the search for Co-free alternatives. Here we investigate the potential of the Co-free layered perovskite family RBaCuFeO5+δ (R = 4f lanthanide), where we identify the critical structural and electronic variables leading to high OER catalytical performance. The employed methodology, based in the use of advanced neutron and X-ray synchrotron techniques combined with ab initio DFT calculations allowed to reveal LaBaCuFeO5+δ as new, promising Co-free electroctalyst. Moreover, we could show that this material can be industrially produced in nanocrystalline form. We believe that the reported results and methodology may contribute to the implementation of new technologies aimed to generate energy with lower carbon emissions, and can also inspire the scientific community in their search of other Co-free materials with good OER electrocatalytical properties.
MARVEL team wins inaugural PRACE HPC Excellence award
The first ever PRACE (Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe) HPC Excellence Award has been awarded to a team led by Professor Nicola Marzari, head of Theory and Simulation of Materials at EPFL's School of Engineering and Materials Simulations at PSI, and director of NCCR MARVEL. The € 20,000 award is given to “an outstanding individual or team for ground-breaking research that leads to significant advances in any research field through the usage of high-performance computing”, and recognizes the team’s effort in the discovery and characterization of novel two-dimensional materials.
Faster and smarter
PSI is pooling its expertise regarding the evaluation of research data in the new research division Scientific Computing, Theory and Data.
Deep learning to avoid weather disappointments
Saharan dust storms played havoc with weather predictions. Invertible neural networks to retrieve aerosol properties from light scattering data may help.
Superconducting qubit first success at Quantum Computing Hub
Andreas Wallraff talks about moving in, refrigerators and measuring the first superconducting qubit at the ETHZ-PSI Quantum Computing hub.