A global goal of physics is greater knowledge of the mechanism of superconductivity. A research group from China and the United Kingdom recently reported in Nature Physics the pairing symmetry of iron-based superconductor KFe2As2, which contains only hole pockets on the fermi surface. The result, which includes measurements at BLOCH beamline, brings science closer to a unified theory of unconventional superconductivity for iron-based materials.
Ionic liquids key to sustainable energy storage
High-capacity energy storage systems are an important part of the renewable energy transition and can be realised using RTILs, room temperature ionic liquids, as electrolytes.
A research team from University of Tartu, Estonia, recently used beamline FlexPES to study the stability of RTILs for such applications.
Microgel properties in X-ray spotlight
Microgels are versatile soft colloids used for example as pharmaceutical carriers or for sensing applications. In a recent study, X-ray methods are used to uncover details about their properties to open ways for further optimisation.
Nanoscience for clean water at ForMAX supported by ReMade@ARI
Alejandro Cortés Villena and Alessandro Ciccone from Institute of Molecular Science in Valencia are using the ForMAX beamline as part of their research supported by ReMade@ARI, a collaboration project focusing on Circular Economy. They are studying carbon-based nanomaterials that are going to be used for enabling cleaning of contaminants in water with the help of sunlight through photocatalysis.
Research done at MAX IV contributes to CIGS solar cell world record
A recent publication from Uppsala University reported a world record for efficiency for a CIGS solar cell. Nano X-ray Fluorescence imaging was done at beamline NanoMAX. With this method, the researchers can detect which elements are present in the sample on the nanometre scale. By scanning the sample, they can acquire an image with a
Conversion of carbon dioxide into raw materials more effective with gold
Carbon dioxide, emitted mainly by combustion of fossil fuels, is harmful to the climate and the main reason for increased global warming. Diverting carbon dioxide into hydrogen carriers or chemicals such as methanol, a valuable raw material and energy carrier, is thus highly desired. Supported metal nanoparticle heterogeneous catalysts such as copper on zinc oxide is used for the catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol. Researchers have now discovered that it is possible to avoid by-products and at the same time make the process more sustainable by adding a small amount of gold to the catalyst.
Targeting weaknesses in quick clays with X-ray data
Recent landslides in Scandinavia linked to quick clays in the underlying soil have caused major damage to societal infrastructure and even loss of life. In urban areas in particular, quick clays can pose a significant hazard when disturbed. Research on the clay material structure holds promise to understand why quick clay soils can collapse without warning, and in connection, provide valuable insight for improved planning of buildings, roads, and bridges as well as public safety measures. New techniques for the study of quick clays include small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) available at MAX IV’s CoSAXS beamline, and full-field tomographic imaging and small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SWAXS) at ForMAX beamline.
To glue and be glued – unusual electron pairing gives clue to high-temperature superconductivity
A team of researchers have studied the high-temperature superconducting cuprate-material Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4 with a small amount of electron-rich atoms added, a practice called electron-doping. The material turns out to have unusual electronic properties underpinning its superconductivity. The result has important implications for a larger group of similar superconducting materials.
Lantmännen investigating wheat bran for better-tasting fibre
Swedish agricultural cooperative Lantmännen is using the ForMAX beamline together with researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University and Lund University for investigating the structure of wheat bran. The team hope to get clues on how to extract more fiber from the bran to use in tasty food products with health benefits.
Kilohertz serial crystallography to film nature’s choreography
A collaborative work between MAX IV and Paul Scherrer Institute researchers investigated a setup to conduct serial and time-resolved macromolecular crystallography at MAX IV. The experiment shows that the setup, based on JUNGFRAU detector and Jungfraujoch data-acquisition system, can provide a molecular moving picture of up to 500 microseconds in resolution of protein dynamics – providing ten times finer details than the previously available method. The setup is in the works to be made available at MicroMAX beamline.