Medienmitteilungen
Auf dem Weg zum Kohlendioxid-armen Strassenverkehr
Forschende des Paul Scherrer Instituts PSI zeigen, wie sich der Strassenverkehr durch eine geschickte Integration von erneuerbaren Energien dekarbonisieren lässt.
Die ESA kommt in die Schweiz
Eine Vertragsunterzeichnung zwischen der Europäischen Weltraumorganisation ESA und dem PSI markiert den Start des «European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre» ESDI.
Auf dem Weg zur lichtgesteuerten Medizin
Forschende des PSI haben die Struktur spezieller Fotorezeptoren aufgeklärt.
Wie Katalysatoren gefährliche Stickoxide beseitigen
In der industriellen Katalyse ist Eisen nicht gleich Eisen.
PSI Stories
IMPACT für die Schweizer Gesellschaft
Weltspitze bei den Myonen und in der Herstellung medizinischer Radionuklide: Die weitreichende Bedeutsamkeit des geplanten Upgrades.
Im fliegenden Labor
Die Nationale Alarmzentrale NAZ führt jährlich mit Unterstützung des PSI Messflüge durch, um die radiologische Lage der Schweiz zu bestimmen.
Mit nachhaltigem Kerosin abheben
Weltweit arbeiten Forschende daran, neue Produktionswege für klimaneutralen
Flugtreibstoff zu finden und zu optimieren. Am PSI verfolgen sie gemeinsam
mit der Industrie einen vielversprechenden Ansatz.
60 Jahre Hotlabor
Die am längsten in Betreib stehende kerntechnische Anlage der Schweiz befindet sich am PSI und feiert heute ihr Jubiläum.
Science Features
Together for Science with Neutrons, Muons and X-rays
Strategic partnership between research facilities in UK and Switzerland will create new capabilities to address global challenges using neutrons, muons and X-rays.
Neat, precise and brighter than ever
Researchers at SwissFEL succeed in improving the temporal coherence of XFEL pulses
New benchmark helps solve the hardest quantum problems
Quantum many-body problems involve the highly complicated process of predicting the behaviour of many interacting quantum particles. A newly developed benchmark helps to solve these problems.
Kagome breaks the rules at record breaking temperatures
Discovery of quantum phenomenon at accessible temperatures could be useful for quantum technologies.
Scientific Highlights
From scientists for scientists
Not Rocket Science, just Nuclear Rocket Science
The PSI Laboratory for Reactor Physics and Thermal-Hydraulics (LRT) conducts computational and experimental research with focus on the safety of nuclear reactors and systems. In recent years, it established the EPSILON program to coordinate and consolidate its research activities on nuclear space applications. Among other things, developments were initiated towards an open-source European platform for high-fidelity simulations and experiments dedicated to space nuclear reactors. Referred to as the openSPACE platform, its underlying concepts are a) to include not only solvers but also reference simulation models as well as experimental validation data; b) to make all of these available to the broader and combined nuclear- and space communities for usage and/or further developments. Through this, the goal is thus not only to facilitate collaborative research in this area but also to enable effective support to the European Space Agency for thorough design, safety and performance evaluations of nuclear reactor systems for in-space propulsion and/or surface power. A first development phase focused on nuclear electric propulsion was proposed and retained among the two projects selected in 2023 by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) for its MARVIS call (Multidisciplinary Advanced Research Ventures in Space) and funded by the Swiss Secretariat for Research and Innovation (SERI). This project, to be conducted via four inter-connected PhD theses, was launched in October 2024 and this marks thus a key milestone for the propulsion of PSI nuclear research towards space.
Origin of the Suppression of Magnetic Order in MnSi under Hydrostatic Pressure
We experimentally study the evolution of the magnetic moment 𝑚 and exchange interaction 𝐽 as a function of hydrostatic pressure in the zero-field helimagnetic phase of the strongly correlated electron system MnSi. The suppression of magnetic order at ≈1.5 GPa is shown to arise from the 𝐽 collapse and not from a quantum fluctuations induced reduction of 𝑚. Our work provides benchmarks ...
Preparing the Future of PSI Large Facilities in Atmospheric Research
The Multiphase Chemistry Group in the Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry (LAC) looks back to a nearly 20 years record of activities with in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and in situ scanning transmission X-ray spectromicroscopy (STXM) to address key fundamental questions in atmospheric chemistry. This is the time to consider new horizons, align with current and future needs in atmospheric sciences, and to identify novel opportunities driven by upcoming trends in methods, technologies and facilities. This has been the topic of the Workshop ‘X-ray and Neutron Spectroscopy, Scattering and Imaging in Atmospheric Chemistry’, held at PSI 13 – 15 November 2024.
Anionic Disorder and Its Impact on the Surface Electronic Structure of Oxynitride Photoactive Semiconductors
The conversion of solar energy into chemical energy, stored in the form of hydrogen, bears enormous potential as a sustainable fuel for powering emerging technologies. Photoactive oxynitrides are promising materials for splitting water into molecular oxygen and hydrogen. However, one of the issues limiting widespread commercial use of oxynitrides is degradation during operation. While recent studies have shown the loss of nitrogen, its relation to reduced efficiency has not been directly and systematically addressed with experiments. In this study, we demonstrate the impact of the anionic stoichiometry of BaTaOxNy on its electronic structure and functional properties. Through experimental ion scattering, electron microscopy, and photoelectron spectroscopy investigations, we determine the anionic composition ranging from the bulk toward the surface of BaTaOxNy thin films. This further serves as input for band structure computations modeling the substitutional disorder of the anion sites. Combining our experimental and computational approaches, we reveal the depth-dependent elemental composition of oxynitride films, resulting in downward band bending and the loss of semiconducting character toward the surface. Extending beyond idealized systems, we demonstrate the relation between the electronic properties of real oxynitride photoanodes and their performance, providing guidelines for engineering highly efficient photoelectrodes and photocatalysts for clean hydrogen production.