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Eau sur mars: les révélations d’une météorite pourtant sèche
La tomographie neutronique et la tomographie à rayons X montrent où se trouve l’eau contenue dans les météorites en provenance de mars et permettent d’en savoir plus sur le passé de la planète rouge.
Multiple magnetic transitions in the trilayer nickelate Pr4Ni3O10 revealed by muon-spin rotation
A muon-spin rotation/relaxation (µSR) study of the trilayer Ruddlesden–Popper nickelate Pr4Ni3O10 was performed at ambient pressure and under hydrostatic pressure up to 2.2 GPa. Three magnetic transitions were identified ...
Unraveling spin density wave order in layered nickelates La3Ni2O7 and La2PrNi2O7 via neutron diffraction
The observation of pressure-induced superconductivity in two- and three-layer Ruddlesden-Popper nickelates has spurred ...
Polarization contrast neutron imaging enables operando visualization of iron plating in redox flow batteries
Visualizing multiphase (solid–liquid–gas) electrochemical transformations during operation is essential to advancing sustainable energy storage technologies. All-iron redox flow batteries represent a promising candidate ...
Nouveauté mondiale: une lentille permet de mieux cerner les neutrons
Depuis les échantillons épais jusqu’aux processus qui se déroulent à l’intérieur d’équipements volumineux, un nouveau type de lentille permet de se faire une imagerie neutronique haute résolution dans des systèmes en fonctionnement.
Intricacies of frustrated magnetism in the Kondo metal YbAgGe
The combination of localized magnetic moments, their frustration and interaction with itinerant electrons is a key challenge of condensed matter physics. Frustrated magnetic interactions ...
Beyond Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya: anisotropy-driven compact spin textures for low-power spintronics
Demand for denser, lower-power data storage keeps rising, yet the metallic magnets behind most memory technologies dissipate energy through electrical currents. Magneto-electric insulators on the other hand offer an alternative...
Toward Hydrogen Isotope Separations through Strong Hydrogen Adsorption at Open Copper(I) Sites in an Ultramicroporous Metal−Organic Framework
Metal−organic frameworks with coordinatively unsaturated metal sites (open metal sites) capable of engaging in orbital interactions with π-acidic gases are of interest for enabling ambient-temperature gas separations, such as hydrogen isotope separations. In view of the weakly π-acidic nature of H2, we sought...
Surface-confined spiral state with a doubled magnetic period in Cu2OSeO3
Magnetism in solid materials originates from tiny atomic “compasses” called electron spins. In many magnetically ordered compounds, these spins simply align parallel or antiparallel to each other. However, in more complex systems they can arrange into ...
De nouvelles perspectives sur les matériaux imprimés en 3D destinés aux futurs réacteurs à fusion
Les expériences avec des rayons X et des neutrons fournissent de précieuses indications.
AiiDAlab: un logiciel qui fait avancer la recherche
Le logiciel AiiDAlab a été développé pour des simulations informatiques en science des matériaux. Or, aujourd’hui, il s’avère qu’il est utile bien au-delà, par exemple dans la recherche sur l’atmosphère, le pilotage d’expériences et l’enseignement.
Alkali-Metal Interlocking of 2D V4O10 Sheets Defines Discretized Interlayer Shear Relationships
Low-dimensional materials manifest structural anisotropy, quantum confinement, and tightly bound excitonic states, which make them attractive building blocks that can be assembled within three-dimensional laterally stitched heterostructures, stacked van der Waals solids, and complex moiré superlattices ...
Cascade of Spin Moiré Superlattices with In-Plane Field in Triangular Lattice Semimetal EuAg4Sb2
EuAg4Sb2 is a rhombohedral europium triangular lattice material that exhibits a rich phase diagram of spin moiré superlattices (SMS) and single-q magnetic phases. In this paper, we characterize ...
Vanishing ordered moment in the frustrated triangular lattice antiferromagnet CuNdO2
The steady decline of neutron imaging (NI) facilities—driven in part by the shutdown of several research reactors—has increased the need to maximize the use of existing infrastructure. In this context, a collaborative effort between PSI-CNM, PSI-NES, and EPFL-LRS has led to the development ...
Collaborative Development of a New Neutron Imaging Beamline at the Zero-Power CROCUS Reactor
The steady decline of neutron imaging (NI) facilities—driven in part by the shutdown of several research reactors—has increased the need to maximize the use of existing infrastructure. In this context, a collaborative effort between PSI-CNM, PSI-NES, and EPFL-LRS has led to the development ...
Green biomass as a sustainable source of protein
The food industry is increasingly focusing on sustainable products. Proteins from green biomass are a promising option, as a research team involving the MLZ has discovered. These can be used, for example, as stabilisers in emulsions, such as in plant-based alternatives to yogurt, milk, ice cream, or cheese.
Characterization of Stable NiOx/ SrTaOxNy Bilayers Boosting the Oxygen Evolution Reaction for Solar Water Splitting
SrTaOxNy (STON) is a well-known visible light-responsive semiconductor with ideally located band edges that allow the operability of overall water splitting. Like many oxynitrides, STON shows evidence of detrimental physicochemical changes under oxygen evolution reaction (OER) conditions involving strong caustic electrolytes. ...
Resolving Complex Multiscale Structure of Magneto- and Electroactive Polymer Composites With an Ionic Liquid
A multiscale understanding of the structure of ionogels – nanoparticle-free polymer composites incorporating ionic liquids – is essential for enhancing their macroscopic functional properties and unlocking their potential in critical applications such as energy storage, sensing, and actuation. We establish ...
Pressure and oxygen-isotope substitution on density-wave transitions in La4Ni3O10
Understanding the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity in nickelate systems is a key objective in condensed matter physics. Gaining microscopic insights into magnetism—particularly as it emerges near superconductivity—requires a synergistic approach that combines complementary experimental techniques with controlled tuning of external parameters. In this paper, we present ...
Powder-level carbide modification controls HIP grain growth and enhances fatigue in reused additively manufactured superalloy
Inconel 718 dominates laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M) builds as the benchmark Ni superalloy for its γ′/γ″ hardenability, weldability, and qualification pedigree, yet its fatigue resistance remains limited by porosity, tensile residual stresses, and microstructural heterogeneity ...
Magnetic Signature of Chiral Phonons Revealed by Neutron Spectroscopy in Ferrimagnetic Fe1.75Zn0.25Mo3O8
Lattice vibrations can carry angular momentum and magnetic moments under broken inversion or time-reversal symmetry, forming so-called chiral phonons. While such excitations have been explored in nonmagnetic systems via optical probes, their direct detection in magnetic materials and coupling to spin excitations remain largely unexplored. Here, using neutron spectroscopy, ...
Topological metal-insulator transition within the ferromagnetic state
A major challenge in condensed matter physics is integrating topological phenomena with correlated electron physics to leverage both types of states for next-generation quantum devices. Metal-insulator transitions are central to bridging these two domains while simultaneously serving as on-off switches for electronic states. Here, we demonstrate ...
How hydrogen affects titanium implants
Researchers use Swiss Spallation Neutron Source SINQ to study how medical implants change inside the body.
Room-Temperature Magnetic Skyrmions and Intrinsic Anomalous Hall Effect in a Nodal-Line Kagomé Ferromagnet MnRhP
Topological magnetic semimetals with kagomé lattices have attracted significant attention due to their nontrivial electronic band structures and pronounced electromagnetic responses. The search for kagomé-lattice topological semimetals exhibiting magnetic ordering above room temperature is essential ...
Low-frequency electrochemical pulsing to manage flooding and salt precipitation in zero-gap CO2-to-ethylene electrolyzers
The electrochemical conversion of CO2 to ethylene offers a promising approach to expand manufacturing of commodity chemicals and fuels. Specifically, ethylene is a critical precursor for polyethylene a $240B industry. Expanding productivity ...
Investigating the hidden content of Tibetan bronze statues using modern neutron imaging techniques
Bronze statues hold deep significance in Buddhism and Bon, often containing relics sealed within their hollow interiors. Traditional scholarly methods, such iconographic analysis, cannot access the hidden contents of these statues without risking physical damage. This study proposes ...
Predicting component lifetimes in nuclear facilities
For 30 years, experiments have been providing unique insight into how metals and ceramics degrade under high-energy proton bombardment.
Anisotropic Band-Split Magnetism in Magnetostrictive CoFe2O4
Single crystal spinel CoFe₂O₄ exhibits the largest room-temperature saturation magnetostriction among non-rare-earth compounds and a high Curie temperature (T₍c₎ ∼ 780 K), properties that are critical to a wide range of industrial and medical applications. Neutron spectroscopy ...
Operando neutron imaging of an alkaline electrolysis cell for mapping gas distributions
Optimizing hydrogen and oxygen transport within porous electrodes is essential for improving the efficiency of industrial alkaline electrolyzers. In this study, we utilize operando dynamic neutron radiographic measurements to investigate ...
Spin-Disorder-Induced Angular Anisotropy in Polarized Magnetic Neutron Scattering
We experimentally report a hitherto unseen angular anisotropy in the polarized small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) cross section of a magnetically strongly inhomogeneous material ...
Single-chain polymer nanoparticles for oil solubilization
We report on the oil solubilization of amphiphilic single chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) based on random copolymers composed of oligo(ethyleneglycol) methacrylate (OEGMA) and anthracene methacrylate (AnMA). Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) combined with molecular dynamics simulations reveal ...
Hydrogen bonding exacerbates viscoelasticity of amino acid– and betaine surfactant self-assemblies
Many day-to-day materials rely on formulations of surfactants to control flow, texture and application. Inspired by the pairing of bases between DNA strands, we demonstrate enhanced control ...
In-situ neutron tomography study of a dehydrating and hydrating packed bed for thermochemical heat storage
To study the heat and water vapor transport and reaction kinetics in a packed bed of thermo-chemical material on both reactor and tablet level, an in-situ neutron imaging study of a dehydrating and subsequently hydrating packed bed consisting of cylindrical K2 CO3 tablets was performed at the Paul Scherrer Institute ...
Field-Induced Magnon Decay, Magnon Shadows, and Rotonlike Excitations in the Honeycomb Antiferromagnet YbBr3
The search for new quantum many-body phenomena in magnetic materials has a strong focus on highly frustrated systems and the resulting quantum spin-liquid state. However, even unfrustrated magnetic materials show a multitude of unconventional features in their spin excitation spectra. By using the synergy of ...
Generating structured foam via flowing through a wire array
Efficient manufacturing methods could unlock foams with tailored, anisotropic properties. Conventional foam production methods rely on the self-arrangement of bubbles, typically leading to isotropic materials, or involve intricate additive layering processes. This study presents a simple, passive technique to modify the foam structure. A set of thin parallel wires ...
Steering magnetic textures with electric fields
Neutrons reveal a new way to control magnetism at the nanoscale
Une minuscule serrure en or de l’époque romaine
Grâce aux neutrons, David Mannes du PSI a percé le secret d’un fascinant artefact archéologique.
Subvention prestigieuse pour trois projets de recherche au PSI
Béton, catalyse chimique et quête d’une nouvelle physique: trois chercheurs du PSI ont reçu chacun un grant du Fonds national pour ces thèmes de recherche
Texture and residual stress evolution during 3D printing
Discover how advanced neutron diffraction sheds light on the evolution of stress and texture in 3D-printed duplex stainless steel.
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.
Permettre l’utilisation quotidienne de batteries lithium-air performantes
Les faisceaux de neutrons et la lumière synchrotron révèlent les processus chimiques qui se jouent dans les batteries lithium-air.
La cause du blocage des aiguilles de seringue a été identifiée
Des scientifiques du PSI et de l’entreprise de transfert de technologie ANAXAM ont découvert ce qui cause l’obstruction de seringues préremplies.
Dichotomous Electrons: Travelling without Moving
Neutron scattering experiments give new understanding of how localized and free-flowing electrons collaborate to create material functionality.
Améliorer les batteries des voitures électriques
Des scientifiques du PSI utilisent des neutrons pour visualiser les modifications physiques et chimiques qui se produisent dans l’électrolyte des batteries.
L’énigme des microgels a été élucidée
Des chercheurs du PSI et de l’Université de Barcelone ont réussi à expliquer de manière expérimentale l’étrange rétraction des microgels.
Optimiser encore les freins de voiture
Des chercheurs du PSI et ANAXAM scrutent l’intérieur d’un frein avec des neutrons et dépistent les potentiels de réduction d’émissions de CO2.
Penser avec une autre échelle temporelle
Marc Janoschek explique l’importance de la participation du PSI à la Source européenne de spallation.
Ondes sur des orbites
Une alternative énergétiquement efficace à la transmission des informations grâce au courant électrique