Fondements de la nature

A l’Institut Paul Scherrer, les scientifiques cherchent des réponses à la question essentielle des structures élémentaires de la matière et des principes fondamentaux de fonctionnement dans la nature. Ils étudient la structure et les propriétés des particules élémentaires – les plus petits composants de la matière – ou se penchent sur la question de savoir comment les molécules biologiques sont structurées et remplissent leur fonction. Les connaissances qu’ils acquièrent de la sorte ouvrent de nouvelles pistes de solution en sciences, en médecine ou dans le domaine des technologies.

Pour en savoir plus, reportez-vous à Aperçu Fondements de la nature

Xie et al

Complete field-induced spectral response of the spin-1/2 triangular-lattice antiferromagnet CsYbSe2

Fifty years after Anderson’s resonating valence-bond proposal, the spin-1/2 triangular-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet (TLHAF) remains the ultimate platform to explore highly entangled quantum spin states in proximity to magnetic order. Yb-based delafossites are ideal candidate TLHAF materials, which allow experimental access to the full range of applied in-plane magnetic fields. We perform a systematic neutron scattering study of CsYbSe2, first proving the Heisenberg character of the interactions and quantifying the second-neighbor coupling.

BiFeO3 nanofish

Biffo the fish: BiFeO3 nanoplate wins the Magnetism Art Competition at JEMS 2023 in Madrid

Dr. Tim A. Butcher from the Microspectroscopy group was awarded the first prize in the "Art in Magnetism" competition of the JEMS 2023 conference with his contribution "Biffo", obtained from a ptychography image of a BiFeO3 nanoplate.

QC

Der Wettlauf um den Quantencomputer

Der Wettlauf um den Quantencomputer

Forschung online erleben

Sehen Sie hier die Aufzeichnung des Live-Video-Rundgangs vom 23. August 2023

Berufsschau 2023 in Wettingen

Berufsschau in Wettingen 2023

Die Berufsschau in Wettingen lockte viele Besucher an den PSI Stand.

acetylene hydrochlorination active sites

Evidence of bifunctionality of carbons and metal atoms in catalyzed acetylene hydrochlorination

Carbon supports are ubiquitous components of heterogeneous catalysts for acetylene hydrochlorination to vinyl chloride, from commercial mercury-based systems to more sustainable metal single-atom alternatives. Their potential co-catalytic role has long been postulated but never unequivocally demonstrated. Herein, combining operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy with other spectroscopic and kinetic analyses, we evidence the bifunctionality of carbons and metal sites (Pt, Au, Ru) in the acetylene hydrochlorination catalytic cycle.

SwissSkills 2023

SwissSkills 2023

Die Berufslernenden vom PSI haben an den Swiss Skills in Bern mit super Resultaten geglänzt! Wir freuen uns sehr!

SwissSkills Medal winners

PSI medal winners at SwissSkills Championships 2023

At the recent SwissSkills Championships 2023 for apprentices in Sindex/BE Melvin Deubelbeiss and Andrin Kästli from the electronics apprenticeship group in NUM/LTP have won two medals: Andrin became third, won a bronze medal and Melvin even won the championship and was honored by the gold medal. 

Gabriel Weber

Welcome to LXN Gabriel Weber

Herzlich Willkommen Gabriel Weberin LXN!

Figure 1: Branching during the reaction mechanisms of the catalytic pyrolysis of guaiacol. The Bronsted acid site density is responsible, which reaction route is taken.

Unveiling the reaction mechanism shines light on the selectivity increase in catalytic processes

Increasing the selectivity of a chemical process through rational catalyst design is the Holy Grail of heterogeneous catalysis. Researchers at PSI and ETH Zürich showcase how revealing hidden steps in reaction pathways can steer processes towards preferred products, as demonstrated in a study focused on biomass valorization.

Céline Hensky

Welcome to LXN Céline Hensky

Herzlich Willkommen Céline Hensky in LXN!

Lehrabschlussfeier PSI 2023

Lehrabschlussfeier 2023

Am Freitag, 18. August durften wir stolz und mit viel Freude 29 neue Berufsleute feiern. Sie schlossen ihrer Berufslehre mit einem tollen Noten-Durchschnitt von 5.1 ab. Im Kreise ihrer Eltern, den Berufsbildnerinnen und Berufsbildnern, den Fachbetreuerinnen und Fachbetreuer erlebten wir einen feierlichen, schönen und unterhaltsamen Abend.

Emanuele Moioli

Revolutionizing Renewable Processes: Ambizione Grant Winner Emanuele Moioli

Emanuele Moioli is one of the recipients of the prestigious Ambizione Grant awarded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) on a yearly basis. With the great news of his award having arrived in August 2022, Moioli embarks on the journey of his groundbreaking project titled “Moving catalyst vs. Multi-catalyst: determination of the best reactor for the processing of unconventional feedstock,” set to commence this August 2023.

Sala et al

Field-tuned quantum renormalization of spin dynamics in the honeycomb lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet YbCl3

The basis for our understanding of quantum magnetism has been the study of elegantly simple model systems. However, even for the antiferromagnetic honeycomb lattice with isotropic spin interactions – one of the simplest model systems – a detailed understanding of quantum effects is still lacking. Here, using inelastic neutron scattering measurements of the honeycomb lattice material YbCl3, we elucidate how quantum effects renormalize ...

Four treatment stages of the sample. The test assembly of Syntcrud powder + filter+ foil in a zirconium crucible vessel before, during and after the pre-fusion burning step and fully dissolved sample in acid after flux-fusion with Na2O2 + NaCO3.

Forensics: Quantitative tracing of Silicon in CRUD

Chalk River Unidentified Deposits (CRUD) are dissolved and suspended solids, product of the corrosion of structural elements in water circuits of nuclear reactors.  

The chemical composition of CRUD is variable as it depends on the composition of the reactor’s structural material, as well as the types of refueling cycles.  Recent internal investigations have found unexpected but significant Si-amount in CRUD. The chemical composition of CRUD holds key information for an improved understanding of CRUD formation and possible impact in fuel reliability and contamination prevention.

The standard analytical methods available in the hot laboratory did not allow an easy quantitative determination of the Si-amount in CRUD. A new innovative procedure has been developed and tested with synthetic CRUD name Syntcrud.

The adapted flex-fusion digestion method presented here is able to provide reliable concentrations of several elements within CRUD, including Si, which was not possible in methods used previously for ICPMS measurement.

installation ESTIA

Swiss precision optics in Sweden

PSI has finalized the precision Selene neutron optics for the ESTIA instrument. The complex state-of-the-art guide was installed at the European Spallation Source as a Swiss in-kind delivery.

Flokstra et al

Spin-orbit driven superconducting proximity effects in Pt/Nb thin films

Manipulating the spin state of thin layers of superconducting material is a promising route to generate dissipationless spin currents in spintronic devices. Approaches typically focus on using thin ferromagnetic elements to perturb the spin state of the superconducting condensate to create spin-triplet correlations. We have investigated simple structures that generate spin-triplet correlations without using ferromagnetic elements.