Science Features - January 2025
Altermagnetism among top 10 scientific breakthroughs 2024
The discovery of a new type of magnetism, termed altermagnetism at the Swiss Light Source SLS was recognised by Science Magazine as one of the top 10 scientific breakthroughs of 2024.
Altermagnetism stands as the third type of fundamental magnetism - alongside ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism, which have been known for nearly a century. In February 2024, definitive proof of its existence was published in Nature.
New protective coating can improve battery performance
A research team at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI has developed new sustainable process that can be used to improve the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries. Initial tests of high-voltage batteries modified in this way have been successful. This method could be used to make lithium-ion batteries, for example those for electric vehicles, significantly more efficient.
Mapping the nanoscale architecture of functional materials
At the Swiss Light Source SLS, researchers developed a pioneering X-ray technique to probe the 3D orientation of a material’s building blocks at the nanoscale. Applied to a polycrystalline catalyst, the technique allows the visualisation of crystal grains, grain boundaries and defects - key factors dictating catalyst performance. Beyond catalysis, the innovation unlocks previously inaccessible details about the structure of diverse functional materials, including those used in information technology, energy storage and biomedical applications. The findings are reported in Nature.
News from the PSI Facilities
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The electrons are back at the Swiss Light Source SLS
On 23 January 2025, the first stored electron beam was successfully achieved. With this, SLS is well on track to resume operation in summer 2025. “This success is a clear proof of the precision and excellence with which the new machine has been designed and constructed”, says Hans Braun, head of the SLS 2.0 project. “All this is thanks to the exceptional work by technicians, engineers and scientists at PSI.” In the coming months, SLS 2.0 will be optimised to deliver the best possible conditions for science, thereby benefitting both Swiss and international researchers.
IMPACT: Upgrade at PSI research facility approved
Green-light for IMPACT: The planned upgrade of PSI’s proton accelerator facility HIPA will be implemented. Funding was assured within the framework of the ERI (Education, Research, and Innovation) Dispatch 2025-2028.
HIPA’s protons feed three of PSI’s large research facilities and are also used to produce medical radionuclides. The IMPACT upgrade includes two key enhancements. The first, known as HIMB, concerns the production of muons, where two muon beamlines will be remodelled increasing muon availability for research by a factor of 100. In the second, a new facility called TATTOOS will be constructed to produce radionuclides, enabling the development of radiopharmaceuticals for cancer diagnostics and treatments.
New Setup for 3D Printing at SINQ
Scientists at the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source SINQ have developed a custom laser powder bed additive manufacturing machine designed for use with neutron instruments. The new setup enables users to study and control the evolution of materials during the Laser Powder Bed Fusion process.
Next proposal submission deadlines
A call for SLS proposals will be announced towards the end of the SLS 2.0 upgrade project. An overview of all proposal submission deadlines of the PSI facilities can be found here.
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