New process for stable, long-lasting all-solid-state batteries

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have achieved a breakthrough on the path to practical application of lithium metal all-solid-state batteries – the next generation of batteries that can store more energy, are safer to operate, and charge faster than conventional lithium-ion batteries.

Al…

Lauren Riddiford, Aleš Hrabec und Jeffrey Brock (von links nach rechts) im Reinraum des Park Innovaare – direkt neben dem PSI. Hier entstehen die neuartigen magnetischen Strukturen, die per Laser gezielt verändert werden. © Paul Scherrer Institut PSI/Mahir Dzambegovic / Lauren Riddiford, Aleš Hrabec, and Jeffrey Brock (from left to right) in the cleanroom at Park Innovaare – located right next to PSI. This is where novel magnetic structures are created and precisely modified using laser technology. © Paul Scherrer Institute PSI / Mahir Dzambegovic

Mit Laserlicht zur Schneeflocke: Diese magnetische Struktur wurde am PSI mit einem industriellen Laser erzeugt – nicht zur Dekoration, sondern als Demonstration präziser Materialveränderung mit Potenzial für Datenspeicherung, KI und Photonik. © Paul Scherrer Institut PSI/ Aleš Hrabec, Lauren Riddiford, Jeffrey Brock / From laser light to snowflake: This magnetic structure was created at PSI using an industrial laser – not for decoration, but as a demonstration of precise material modification with potential for data storage, AI, and photonics. © Paul Scherrer Institute PSI / Aleš Hrabec, Lauren Riddiford, Jeffrey Brock

12.12.2025
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Science

Laser draws made-to-order magnetic landscapes

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, in collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder, Colorado, have for the first time succeeded in using existing laser technology to continuously vary the magnetic properties of two-dimensional materials. This s…

Volodymyr Korkhov (links) und Richard Kammerer des Zentrums für Life Sciences am PSI haben einen wichtigen Schritt gemacht, um zu verstehen, wie Botulinum Neurotoxin, kurz Botox, in unsere Nervenzellen eindringt. © Paul Scherrer Institut PSI/Mahir Dzambegovic / Volodymyr M. Korkhov (left) and Richard Kammerer of the Center for Life Sciences at PSI have made important advances towards understanding how botulinum neurotoxin, botox for short, enters our nerve cells. © Paul Scherrer Institute PSI/Mahir Dzambegovic

15.02.2025
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Science

How botox enters our cells

Researchers at the Center for Life Sciences at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have for the first time identified structural changes in the botulinum neurotoxin, botox for short, that are believed to be crucial for its uptake into nerve cells. This could mean that the paralysing effect of this poten…

Milan Radovic ist wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter an der SIS-Beamline (Spectroscopy of Interfaces and Surfaces) der Synchrotron Lichtquelle Schweiz SLS. Er hat in Serbien an der Universität Belgrad studiert, wo er auch seine Forschungslaufbahn in der Abteilung für Atomphysik begonnen hat. Promoviert hat er an der Universität in Neapel. 2009 wurde Radovic eingeladen, eine gemeinsame Stelle an der EPFL Lausanne und am PSI anzutreten. Seit 2013 ist er wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter am PSI. (Foto: Paul Scherrer Institut/Mahir Dzambegovic) / Milan Radovic is a staff scientist at the Spectroscopy of Interfaces and Surfaces (SIS) Beam Line, Swiss Light Source. He studied Applied Physics at the University of Belgrade, Serbia, where he also started his research career at the Department of Atomic Physics. In 2009 he obtained his PhD from the University of Naples, Italy. In 2003 he was invited to take up a dual appointment with EPFL Lausanne and PSI, where he has been a staff scientist since 2013. (Photo: Paul Scherrer Institute/Mahir Dzambegovic)

Milan Radovic und Eduardo Bonini Guedes (rechts) von der Forschungsgruppe Spektroskopie von Quantenmaterialien an der Strahllinie SIS der Synchrotron Lichtquelle Schweiz SLS. (Foto: Paul Scherrer Institut/Mahir Dzambegovic) / Milan Radovic and Eduardo Bonini Guedes from the Spectroscopy of Quantum Materials Group at the SIS beamline of the Swiss Light Source. (Photo: Paul Scherrer Institute/Mahir Dzambegovic)

11.02.2023
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Science

New materials for the computer of the future

Novel materials could revolutionise computer technology. Research conducted by scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI using the Swiss Light Source SLS has reached an important milestone along this path.

Microchips are made from silicon and work on the physical principle of a semiconductor. Not…

Susanne Geistlich, Leiterin der klinischen Medikamentenversorgung am PSI, während der Arbeit an einer der Abfüllanlagen im neuen Pharmalabor. In einer solchen Zelle werden die Radiopharmazeutika in Injektionsflaschen gefüllt. Die aseptische Umgebung sowie ein spezielles Filtersystem sorgen für ein keimfreies Produkt. (Foto: Paul Scherrer Institut/Mahir Dzambegovic) / Susanne Geistlich, head of the Clinical Drug Supply Group at PSI, working at one of the filling systems at the new pharmaceutical laboratory. In these cells, vials are filled with the radiopharmaceuticals. The aseptic environment and a special filter system ensure a sterile product. (Photo: Paul Scherrer Institute/Mahir Dzambegovic)

Susanne Geistlich prüft eine Probe des Hygiene-Monitorings auf Sterilität. Die aseptische Herstellung von sterilen Arzneimitteln verlangt effektive Hygienemassnahmen in den Räumen und beim Personal. (Foto: Paul Scherrer Institut/Mahir Dzambegovic) / Susanne Geistlich checks a hygiene-monitoring sample for sterility. The aseptic production of sterile medicines demands effective hygienic measures in the rooms and among the staff. (Photo: Paul Scherrer Institute/Mahir Dzambegovic)

03.08.2022
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New building

The new pharmaceutical laboratory for the manufacture of radiopharmaceuticals at PSI is ready for production. With its three state-of-the-art production units, novel and innovative drugs can be brought rapidly into clinical use.

Swissmedic grants operating licence for new radiopharmaceutical production facility

At PSI, with the help of a new facility, small batches of highly specific drugs will be produced in future. These will be delivered directly to hospitals for use in treating tumour patients.

For more than 20 years, in collaboration with ETH Zurich, PSI researchers have been developing new drugs for t…

Tianlun Yu (links) und Vladimir Strocov an der ADRESS-Strahllinie der Synchrotron Lichtquelle Schweiz SLS, an der sie die Schichtstruktur aus dem Halbleiter Galliumnitrid und dem Supraleiter Niobnitrid vermessen haben. (Foto: Paul Scherrer Institut/Mahir Dzambegovic) / Tianlun Yu (left) and Vladimir Strocov at the ADRESS beamline of the Synchrotron Light Source, where they measured the layered structure made of the semiconductor gallium nitride and the superconductor niobium nitride. (Photo: Paul Scherrer Institute/Mahir Dzambegovic)

Die «Landkarte» der Elektronen: Diese mit der SX-ARPES-Methode erhaltene Grafik zeigt als helle Bänder die Zustände, die Elektronen im Energie/Impuls-Raum einnehmen können. Das Band, das im Halbleiter Galliumnitrid (GaN) zu sehen ist, ist von den supraleitenden Zuständen (in der Grafik hellblau-gestrichelt eingekreist) im Niobnitrid (NbN) klar getrennt. Das bedeutet, dass die entscheidenden Elektronen in den beiden Materialien sich nicht gegenseitig stören. (Grafik: Paul Scherrer Institut/Tianlun Yu) / The

30.01.2022
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Industry 4.0

Semiconductors reach the quantum world

Quantum effects in superconductors could give semiconductor technology a new twist. Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI and Cornell University in New York State have identified a composite material that could integrate quantum devices into semiconductor technology, making electronic compo…

Konrad Vogelsang entnimmt einen Silizium-Wafer mit geprägten Nanostrukturen aus der Heissprägemaschine. Weil der Prozess sehr anfällig für Schmutzpartikel ist, trägt der Techniker bei den Arbeiten im Reinraum einen Schutzanzug und Handschuhe. (Foto: Paul Scherrer Institut/Markus Fischer) / Konrad Vogelsang removes a silicon wafer with imprinted nanostructures from the thermal imprint machine. Because the process is highly susceptible to dirt particles, the technicians wear a protective suit and gloves while working in the cleanroom. (Photo: Paul Scherrer Institute/Markus Fischer)

Am Lichtmikroskop kontrolliert Helmut Schift, ob die Stempelstrukturen beim Heissprägen gleichmässig abgeformt wurden und ob Prozessänderungen nötig sind. (Foto: Paul Scherrer Institut/Markus Fischer) / On the light microscope, Helmut Schift checks whether the stamp structures have been moulded evenly during the thermal imprint and whether process changes are necessary. (Photo: Paul Scherrer Institute/Markus Fischer)

11.10.2013

The PSI cleanrooms boast an almost particle-free environment

The cleanest place at the Paul Scherrer Institute

Highly sensitive processes take place in the cleanrooms of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) as a single dust particle in the wrong place could have disastrous consequences. Here is a glimpse behind the scenes in rooms that are so clean even pencils are prohibited.

Anyone who attends the cleanroom co…

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