Lithium and Sodium-ion batteries are under investigation in the framework of the in-house research at the CLÆSS beamline of the ALBA Synchrotron, in collaboration with international partners since 2014, to contribute to the worldwide research of new materials allowing the global economy change toward net zero CO2 emission. Recently, the research team reported the effect of nickel for iron substitution in the battery cathode on their electrochemical properties, applying a new experimental approach.
Scientists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and the ALBA Synchrotron published a new paper in the journal Scientific Reports about mercury speciation in selenium biofortified wheat plants exposed to mercury pollution. X-rays absorption spectroscopy measurements were performed at CLÆSS beamline of ALBA to investigate the chemical state of mercury in the cultivated wheat plants.
A research led by ITQ (UPV-CSIC) has demonstrated the possibility to replace molecular catalysts in solution for all-solid catalysts based on isolated metal atoms for selective gas-phase ethylene hydroformylation, an important industrial chemical reaction. The discovery paves the way for greener chemical processes, with greater energy efficiency and lower carbon footprint, for the valorization of unconventional raw materials, alternative to crude oil. To test the designed catalyst, synchrotron light techniques have been used, among others, at the ALBA Synchrotron.
A research led by the ITQ-CSIC-UPV has discovered a new catalyst enabling hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to methane with advantages not seen until now. This new catalyst, whose structure and mechanism have been understood by synergistically exploiting different ALBA Synchrotron techniques, can be used for methane (natural syngas) production, that is considered as a promising energy carrier for hydrogen storage.
Having reached the operation status in 2016, CLEAR spectrometer at CLÆSS beamline has now proved its potential to push forward the research in different fields such as spintronics, the development of better batteries and deeper understanding on highly correlated systems such as superconductive materials.
