Scientific Highlights from Research Division Energy and Environment
(ENE)
Scientific Highlights
E-fuels and electrification as complementary approaches to achieve climate target
Sustainable, synthetic fuels, so-called e-fuels, can help reduce CO₂ emissions. For their production, electricity from renewable sources is required in order to allow for a close to CO₂-neutral balance. The availability of electricity from renewable sources, which ensures the climate benefits of e-fuels, is currently still limited. “Especially in order to produce on a larger scale, a lot of renewable electricity is needed,” explains Christian Bauer, researcher at the Laboratory for Energy Systems Analysis (LEA) at PSI.
Unravelling the catalyst aging phenomena in vehicle emission control.
PSI has collaborated with catalyst and engine manufacturers to understand the aging phenomena of emission control catalysts. To this end, a diesel oxidation catalyst with a relevant mileage was carefully analysed; the results suggest that a complex combination of poisoning and thermal sintering is the cause of deactivation during driving. A reactor setup was then developed to simulate poisoning and sintering effects for prediction of catalyst durability in time and cost effective manner.
Two PSI-Scientists nominated «highly cited researchers»
In the research field “Geosciences”, 143 highly cited researchers were appointed worldwide this year, 7 of them from Switzerland, 2 of them from the Paul Scherrer Institute.
AURORA: from Air pollUtion souRces tO moRtAlity
The Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry has initiated innovative data-science-based modelling approaches to discover the most important pollution sources for human health
PSI maintains its leading role in the CLOUD experiment at CERN
The CLOUD experiment at CERN will be recreating particle formation in key regions of the globe to understand the effects of these particles on regional climates
Discovery of new chemistry on aerosol surfaces
In a study published in Science, ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals spontaneous redox chemistry at solvating particle surfaces.
Carbon dioxide can be turned into a valuable resource
New study explores methods for using waste gas efficiently.
Take a deep breath. But how clean was the air?
The EU project, RI-URBANS, aims to improve air quality monitoring across Europe
Successful Ambizione Grant Applicant
Kaspar Dällenbach, Scientist at the Laboratory of Atmospheric Chemistry (LAC) at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) was granted the Ambizione Grant 2020 with his project “Particulate air pollution sources in low-income megacities (PRESSING)”.