A deeper view of catalysis

Catalytic materials are found across industry and in most production of household chemicals, fuels, and in the cleaning of vehicle exhaust. When trying to understand and optimise a process, all the attention is usually put towards the surface of the catalytic material. A recent study shows, however, that what happens in the layers under the surface may be even more essential.

The long view: High impact science at MAX IV

The external review committee appointed by the Swedish Research Council (VR) has recently published its report from the second operations review of MAX IV. The committee is deeply impressed by the continued progress at the facility and is confident that MAX IV, with the appropriate strategic support and financial foundation, is positioned for continued excellence and both local and global impact.

Unique biomaterial found in a lizard

Researchers have found a biomaterial with surprising features in the skin of a lizard. The material is hard like enamel but is structured differently. Understanding the material on the nanoscale opens up new routes in designing for hard-wearing applications.

Tribute to Alexei Zakharov

It is with great sadness that we inform that Alexei Zakharov, beamline scientist at the MAXPEEM beamline, passed away on 10 July 2025. Alex was an excellent scientist, enthusiastic researcher, great colleague and friend. Internationally renowned, Alex personified PEEM at the MAX IV Laboratory, both for the staff and for our users.  After studying physics

Essential closer look at nanosized drug carriers 

Researchers have developed a protocol for studying how drug carrying nanoparticles called cubosomes behave in the body. The results show nanoparticle stability and confirm localisation in the cell. The study represents a significant step forward in the development of novel pharmaceuticals.

MAX IV and BESSY II initiate new collaboration to advance materials science

Swedish national synchrotron laboratory MAX IV and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) BESSY II light source announce the signing of a 5-year cooperation agreement. The new agreement establishes a framework to strengthen cooperation for operational and technological development in the highlighted fields of accelerator research and development, beamlines and optics, endstations and sample environments as well as digitalisation and data science.

WISE beamline TomoWISE—a bright future with full-field tomography at MAX IV

MAX IV, Sweden’s national synchrotron laboratory welcomes TomoWISE, a full-field tomography beamline as the new chosen WISE beamline for the facility. The rigorous selection process was made possible thanks to relentless contributions by many actors. Selection of the new WISE beamline follows a three-year cooperation aimed at enabling new materials science for sustainability by the MAX IV organisation and the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE) programme.

Research grants for structural biology at MicroMAX

User opportunities for studies of structural biology at the new X-ray crystallography beamline MicroMAX just got an upgrade. The Novo Nordisk Foundation is now offering funding for researchers affiliated with a Danish research institution to apply for grants for academic use of the beamline. The programme is called ‘MicroMAX Collaborative Research Grants.’