Carbon dioxide, emitted mainly by combustion of fossil fuels, is harmful to the climate and the main reason for increased global warming. Diverting carbon dioxide into hydrogen carriers or chemicals such as methanol, a valuable raw material and energy carrier, is thus highly desired. Supported metal nanoparticle heterogeneous catalysts such as copper on zinc oxide is used for the catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol. Researchers have now discovered that it is possible to avoid by-products and at the same time make the process more sustainable by adding a small amount of gold to the catalyst.
Targeting weaknesses in quick clays with X-ray data
Recent landslides in Scandinavia linked to quick clays in the underlying soil have caused major damage to societal infrastructure and even loss of life. In urban areas in particular, quick clays can pose a significant hazard when disturbed. Research on the clay material structure holds promise to understand why quick clay soils can collapse without warning, and in connection, provide valuable insight for improved planning of buildings, roads, and bridges as well as public safety measures. New techniques for the study of quick clays include small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) available at MAX IV’s CoSAXS beamline, and full-field tomographic imaging and small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SWAXS) at ForMAX beamline.
To glue and be glued – unusual electron pairing gives clue to high-temperature superconductivity
A team of researchers have studied the high-temperature superconducting cuprate-material Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4 with a small amount of electron-rich atoms added, a practice called electron-doping. The material turns out to have unusual electronic properties underpinning its superconductivity. The result has important implications for a larger group of similar superconducting materials.
Lantmännen investigating wheat bran for better-tasting fibre
Swedish agricultural cooperative Lantmännen is using the ForMAX beamline together with researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University and Lund University for investigating the structure of wheat bran. The team hope to get clues on how to extract more fiber from the bran to use in tasty food products with health benefits.
Kilohertz serial crystallography to film nature’s choreography
A collaborative work between MAX IV and Paul Scherrer Institute researchers investigated a setup to conduct serial and time-resolved macromolecular crystallography at MAX IV. The experiment shows that the setup, based on JUNGFRAU detector and Jungfraujoch data-acquisition system, can provide a molecular moving picture of up to 500 microseconds in resolution of protein dynamics – providing ten times finer details than the previously available method. The setup is in the works to be made available at MicroMAX beamline.
One step towards prevention of diabetes linked substance produced by the human gut microbiota – first user experiment at MicroMAX
The team at the Novo Nordisk Foundation funded life science beamline MicroMAX welcomed the first users in December 2023. In the experiment the users investigated an enzyme that may be found in some bacteria of human gut microbiota and may have a role in the development of diabetes and other diseases.
Insights into soot emissions with a newly developed Aerosol Sample Delivery System at MAX IV
A newly developed sample delivery system at MAX IV lets researchers study the properties of aerosol particles. With this knowledge, they can further understand the health and climate effects of soot from burning fuels for transportation or natural emissions.
A cloudy route for shipping in the Arctic
The melting of polar ice due to climate change will open global shipping routes through the Arctic in summer by mid-century, according to experts. More ships in the remote area means greater pollution impacts on the marine ecosystem. What will these impacts look like? In a first commissioning experiment at MAX IV’s SoftiMAX beamline, Swedish researchers analysed the cloud-forming abilities of particle exhaust from ships using low-sulphate fuels as well as high-sulphate fuels conditioned with wet scrubbers. Their findings indicate the fuel types produce different, but unintended effects on particle emissions and therefore, our atmosphere.
Combination of techniques for effective pharmaceutical formulation
The environment in your gastrointestinal tract affects the properties and effectiveness of medicines. Researchers have used MAX IV to investigate a technique for studying these changes. They found that the structural properties of the anti-inflammatory drug Indomethacin changed in the presence of common biomolecules.
ForMAX beamline celebrates 1 year in operations
November 1 marks one year since ForMAX beamline officially opened for user experiments. Congratulations to ForMAX and everyone involved in making ForMAX possible! It has been one exciting first year.