SCIENTISTS DISCOVER A NEW EXTRA-LARGE PORE ZEOLITE WITH PROMISING APPLICATIONS IN THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

The new zeolite, named ZEO-1, shows a three-dimensional system of interconnected extra-large pores (around 10 Å), the highest observed in stable zeolites after 80 years of research. It could work as a catalyst in fine chemistry for the production of pharmaceutical intermediates, in controlled substance release, for pollution abatement or as a support for the encapsulation of photo- or electroactive species. Experiments at the MSPD beamline of the ALBA Synchrotron were key to determine the accurate structure of ZEO-1.

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 DISCOVERY OF NOVEL CLASS OF 2D MAGNETS: 2D-XY FERROMAGNETISM IN MONOLAYER CrCl3

Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Microstructure Physics, the ALBA Synchrotron and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have succeeded in creating a two-dimensional ferromagnetic material for the first time exhibiting an easy-plane magnetic anisotropy, i.e. an “XY class” of 2D ferromagnet. This is of fundamental relevance and was elusive so far, without discarding potential application in energy efficient information technologies. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism experiments at BOREAS beamline of ALBA first proved the ferromagnetic nature of the system, while further measurements at BESSY VEKMAG facility completed the demonstration of the XY universality class. The results have been published in the renowned journal Science.

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THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN AFRICAN, CAUCASIAN AND ASIAN HAIR ARE DETERMINED BY THEIR LIPID DISTRIBUTION

Researchers of IQAC-CSIC, in collaboration with the ALBA Synchrotron, demonstrate that African hair has more lipids that are highly disordered. This distinction with Caucasian and Asian hair might be relevant to develop new ethnic hair-care products.

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NOVEL PROTOCOL FOR MASS PRODUCTION OF NANOWIRES

Researchers from the UCM and CSIC, in collaboration with ALBA, have established a novel synthesis protocol to produce a larger number of nanowires than conventional laboratory fabrication processes with considerably reduced production time and cost. The use of recycled aluminium and the fact that the nanowires growth process is performed at room temperature allows the nanowires to be used in industry at lower costs. CIRCE beamline from ALBA has contributed to the evaluation of the magnetic properties of the nanowires for application in permanent magnets.

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TOWARDS PRODUCT CONTROL IN ARTIFICIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Researchers from the IMDEA Energy Institute in Madrid have used the CIRCE-NAPP beamline of ALBA to study the artificial photosynthesis process, that is, the chemical reaction that plants and other photosynthetic organisms use to transform the Sun's energy into chemical energy. The goal of their research is to selectively control the products of the chemical reaction to obtain those that have industrial and energetic interest. At the CIRCE-NAPP station, scientists have analyzed the different reaction products based on the catalysts used.

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