By adjusting the heating process when making lithium-ion cathodes, the team created batteries that retained nearly 93% of their energy after 500 cycles.
Editor’s note: The following news brief was originally published by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The research team used transmission X-ray microscopy at the Full Field X-ray Imaging (FXI) beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), a DOE Office of Science user facility at DOE’s Brookhaven National Laboratory, to visualize 3D changes in nickel oxidation states within individual particles of nickel-rich layered cathodes as they were heated. Understanding this process could help pave the way for longer-lasting battery structures.
To make batteries that last longer, scientists are creating internal battery structures that don’t degrade as quickly as current designs do. In fact, the reason many lithium-ion batteries ultimately fail is that their cathodes, or negative electrodes, crack after repeated charging and discharging.
Researchers at the SLAC-Stanford Battery Center, a partnership between Stanford University’s Precourt Institute for Energy and the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, have found a simple way to solve this problem in nickel-rich layered-oxide cathodes, the type of cathode used in powerful, long-lasting lithium-ion batteries for data centers and grid-scale energy storage.
By adjusting the heating process when making these cathodes – starting slowly, then ramping up the heat quickly – they found they could create more uniform cathode structures at the nanoscale level. These structures don’t crack and degrade as quickly as current batteries.
The resulting material was more resistant to strain and cracking, retaining nearly 93% of the battery’s energy after 500 cycles.
“Molecular glue” could be used to control activity of harmful proteins
Proteins do most of the work in our body’s cells. But when a protein is too active or does not function properly, it can lead to disease or other health problems.
Researchers from the University of Toronto have discovered a molecule, CLEO4-88, that acts as a ‘molecular glue,’ binding together two proteins to inactivate one of them. The finding – enabled by the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan – points to the possibility of one day treating disease by controlling the activity of harmful proteins.Video: Hijacking cell’s natural machinery to help treat diseases
Molecular glues typically stick together two proteins that would not normally interact, marking one of them for destruction. In this study, researcher Chetan Chana and colleagues discovered that instead marking a protein for destruction, CLEO4-88 inactivated it. The team’s findings are published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.
The high-powered X-rays at the CLS enabled the researchers to see that CLEO4-88 stuck two proteins together and slowed down the activity of one of them (ACAA1). While ACAA1 – which is involved in breaking down fats inside cells – was not destroyed, its activity was reduced. This mechanism could potentially be leveraged to control some triple negative breast cancers, where ACAA1 activity has been shown to be elevated.
Many biological and bio-active molecules, like pharmaceuticals, fragrances exist in two distinct mirrored forms, the enantiomers of a so-called chiral species. While identical in chemical and physical properties, two enantiomers of the same molecules differ in their interaction with a given chiral environment, making the challenging analytical distinction of enantiomers a crucial task in industry. Research conducted on the DESIRS beamline has now revealed a pathway to a simple table-top experimental approach to identify enantiomers of a molecule and quantify their relative content in condensed sample particles.
Enantiomers of chiral molecules, like our hands, are mirror images one of the other but cannot be superimposed. Such chiral molecules are omnipresent in biology, biochemistry, and pharmacology, where analytical enantio-sensitive measurements are crucial. A tragically famous example of the importance of this enantio-sensitivity is the drug known as Thalidomide: the left-hand form of Thalidomide molecule is a sedative, while the right-hand form has teratogenic effects; a mixture of the two forms was prescribed as a drug for pregnant women in the 1960s, resulting in the birth of thousands of children with birth defects. However, most traditional chiroptical techniques provide only weak chiral signatures, making precise measurements difficult.
Scientists from ISMO, ICP and ISM used the CERISES instrument at the DESIRS beamline at SOLEIL to investigate how cyclopentadiene (C₅H₆)—a key building block of complex carbon and aromatic molecules—forms in cold interstellar clouds. By combining laboratory experiments and modeling, they identified new ion–molecule reactions and measured their rates, significantly improving predictions of its abundance.
Cold molecular clouds such as TMC-1 (Taurus Molecular Cloud-1) are key laboratories for understanding the build-up of molecular complexity in space. Over the past decade, radioastronomical surveys have revealed an unexpectedly rich inventory of cyclic and aromatic species, including cyclopentadiene (C₅H₆), indene (figure 1), and several cyano derivatives. However, despite these detections, astrochemical models have consistently underestimated the abundance of C₅H₆ by factors of several, highlighting a lack of reliable data about formation pathways from simple acyclic precursors toward the first five-membered aromatic ring.
Although solid-state batteries (SSBs) demonstrate high performance and are intrinsically safe, their capacity currently declines rapidly. A team from the TU Wien, Humboldt-University Berlin and HZB has now analysed a TiS₂|Li₃YCl₆ solid-state half-cell in operando at BESSY II using a special sample environment that allows for non-destructive investigation under real operating conditions. Data obtained by combination of soft and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS and HAXPES) revealed a new degradation mechanism that had not previously been identified in solid-state batteries. They have gained some surprising insights, particularly regarding the harmful role played by intrinsic oxygen. This study provides valuable information for improving design and handling of such batteries.
Solid-state batteries (SSBs) offer several advantages over conventional batteries, including higher energy and power densities, as well as greater safety, as they do not contain flammable liquid electrolytes. However, since lithium ions migrate between the working electrode and the counter-electrode during operation, the solid material can suffer by volume changes, which can lead to cracks. In order to maintain contact between electrodes and electrolyte, SSBs must be operated under high pressure. Volume changes, as well as degradation processes at the interfaces, often limit the lifespan of these batteries. Until now, it has been virtually impossible to observe these processes experimentally, particularly due to the high stacking pressure required during operation. However, Dr Elmar Kataev, a scientist at HZB, has now developed a sample environment that enables operando analysis of SSBs under high pressure using two-colour – soft and hard – X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS and HAXPES) at the SISSY endstation at BESSY II. These conditions of combining two different energies of X-rays (hard for bulk sensitivity and soft – for surface) hitting the same spot is exclusively available at EMIL beamline.
The UK‑led OpenBind initiative has reached a major milestone with the announcement of the release of its first publicly available dataset and predictive AI model, a groundbreaking step toward accelerating the discovery of new medicines using artificial intelligence. The release showcases how engineering the production of AI-ready data is not only feasible but essential to evolving AI tools for scientific fields, which all suffer from a lack of data. With this OpenBind release, both high‑quality, standardised experimental data, and a newly trained predictive model, OpenBind v1, will become freely accessible to researchers worldwide, for immediate use in therapeutic discovery and to drive the next generation of AI models.
While AI has introduced a step‑change in predictive accuracy for protein structures, its impact on drug discovery has remained muted, limited above all by the global shortage of reliable experimental data measuring in atomic detail how molecules of drug discovery bind to disease‑related proteins. OpenBind aims to fill this critical gap. Led by Diamond Light Source, the collaboration of structural biologists and AI specialists – supported in its foundation phase by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) – is the first initiative to generate these essential datasets at industrial scale, openly and continuously, and designed specifically for AI.
This first release demonstrates that OpenBind’s pipeline is now operational, having generated 800 high-quality measurements in only seven months – in the past, such large datasets took years to be produced and released. This integrated operation combines automated chemistry, robust binding measurements and high throughput crystallography at Diamond’s XChem Fragment Screening facility with an engineered data release process and AI model training using UK’s Isambard-AI compute cluster. It lays the groundwork for transformative progress in drug discovery, with future data tranches planned to address global‑health challenges such as COVID‑19, malaria, dengue, Zika, and cancer, where rapid development of new treatments remains vital.
An international team including scientists from the IPANEMA Institute and the PUMA beamline has revealed that a 300-million-year-old fossil, previously thought to be the oldest known octopus, is in fact a very different animal: a nautiloid. This study, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, resolves a major evolutionary paradox by confirming a much more recent origin for modern octopuses, while providing unique insights into the poorly-known soft tissues of nautiloids.
While the fossil record and molecular clocks* place the origin of modern octopuses in the Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago, a 300-million-year-old fossil named Pohlsepia mazonensis, discovered in the famous Mazon Creek concretions (Illinois), suggests an origin twice as old. This 150-million-year gap, with no intermediate fossils to bridge it, remained one of the greatest mysteries of cephalopod evolution.
Since its description in 2000, however, the identity of Pohlsepia has remained highly debated, as the soft tissues preserved in the Mazon Creek fossils are often limited to colored spots, which experts consider misleading when examined visually. Taking advantage of new imaging methods that have emerged since the 2010s, which allow for an unprecedented description of fossil anatomy, including internal structures and invisible details, scientists were able to reexamine this fossil in the manner of a true forensic investigation. While the 3D X-ray scanner proved largely uninformative because the fossil is almost entirely flat, another approach using X-rays at the PUMA beamline revealed Pohlsepia’s true identity.
A battery research collaboration focusing on lithium-ion alternatives is starting at MAX IV. The collaboration involving Swedish and Danish universities is a pilot for the new HUB user access mode.
Battery technology is an important Swedish and Nordic research area, something that has been underscored, not least by recent initiatives by the Swedish Government. The challenge of finding new, effective and sustainable lithium-ion battery alternatives is a complex and multifaceted task that requires collaboration between experts in different areas. This need motivated the new Battery pilot HUB, including Chalmers University of Technology, Uppsala University, Lund University, Aarhus University and MAX IV.
We spoke to Aleksandar Matic from Chalmers University of Technology, one of the partners in the newly formed Battery HUB collaboration named BatMAX and Joachim Schnadt, MAX IV Science Director.
“We’re going to study sodium-ion batteries, a promising battery technology for the future. Sodium-ion batteries can store about the same amount of energy as a conventional lithium-ion battery, but have several important advantages. Sodium is more abundant and evenly spread globally as a raw material since it can be extracted from seawater. Sodium-ion batteries are also more sustainable because the cathode materials do not contain cobalt, which is often used in lithium-ion battery cathodes,” says Matic.
Researchers have engineered a series of additively manufactured triply-twinned Body‐Centred Cubic (BCCT) lattices that distribute stress more efficiently, enabling lighter structures with significantly improved stiffness, strength, and damage-tolerance. This lattice achieves up to three-fold improved performance compared to conventional lattice architecture. They have studied its structure and how to remove defects using the ESRF’s extremely brilliant source. The results are out in Advanced Materials.
Triply-twinned architected lattices are engineered materials made of repeating 3D structures arranged in a precise pattern. ‘Triply-twinned’ refers to three reflection planes in each unit about which sub-structures are mirrored, giving the structure extra strength under compression. In general, they are made from polymers or metals, depending on the application.
Currently, scientists are exploring them for potential applications where low weight is critical, such as in aerospace, energy and advanced engineering. However, they are not yet common in commercial products, with the main limitation being the manufacturing process.
“We are excited to translate the concept of twinning, normally observed at the atomic scale, into centimetre‑scale architected materials using additive manufacturing. This approach allows us to precisely tailor stiffness, strength, and damage tolerance, opening new opportunities for applications ranging from biomedical implants and heat exchangers to energy‑absorbing components,” says Chu Lun Alex Leung, professor at University College London (UCL) and corresponding author of the publication.
Through the EPSRC International Centre to Centre collaboration: Manufacturing by Design, Leung (work package lead) and his team from UCL, together with scientists at the University of Sheffield and the ESRF have designed, engineered, characterised, and analysed a series of additively manufactured lattices that have shown a successful increase in the stiffness (+380%) and strength (+279%) of materials.
The X-ray Pump Probe instrument is returning to normal operations this spring and will see a major capability boost when the high-energy beam comes online near the end of 2027.
Key takeaways:
XPP, an instrument at SLAC’s X-ray laser that has enabled groundbreaking science, is returning to normal operations this spring after a year-long rebuild.
The overhaul is a key milestone for the ongoing high-energy upgrade to the Linac Coherent Light Source.
It will see a major capability boost when the high-energy beam comes online toward the end of 2027.
XPP, the X-ray Pump Probe instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), is back online and welcoming researchers after a complete rebuild. The overhaul has readied XPP for the significant increase in X-ray output expected from the ongoing high-energy upgrade to LCLS at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. LCLS is a pioneering X-ray free-electron laser facility used by scientists around the world to capture ultrafast snapshots of natural processes.
“Completing the XPP rebuild on-time and on-budget is a key milestone for the high-energy upgrade effort, and we’re thrilled that the instrument is back to supporting researchers from around the world,” said John Hogan, project director for the LCLS high-energy upgrade. “This was a huge team effort, involving partners across SLAC’s engineering, science and project teams.”
Since its 2010 debut, XPP has enabled groundbreaking research across materials science – from quantum information storage to material dynamics across timescales – as well as studies in chemistry, physics and bioscience. Researchers have leveraged XPP to pioneer X-ray optics technologies, including cavity-based X-ray oscillators that are shaping future X-ray free-electron laser facilities.
The recent, year-long rebuild prepared XPP for the upcoming high-energy upgrade to LCLS, which began in 2025 and will take about two years to complete. After the upgrade, LCLS will produce high-energy X-rays at repetition rates up to a million pulses per second, enabling XPP to gather more data, achieve higher spatial resolution and support a wider range of experiments.
“In 2010, XPP became the first instrument in the world to use hard X-rays from an X-ray free-electron laser,” said Takahiro Sato, XPP instrument lead. “It’s been an instrument we’ve used to develop new experimental tools and techniques and to showcase ultrafast science. With this upgrade, we’re enabling it to remain at the forefront of this field.”
To ready XPP for the major increase in photons, higher energies and associated heat loads, teams stripped out the entire instrument, removing legacy components and rebuilding the instrument with new and refurbished parts.
A key addition is a Large Offset Double Crystal Monochromator, which will be cryo-cooled using liquid nitrogen to approximately minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit to handle increased heat loads and minimize temperature fluctuations during experiments.
The team also upgraded the multiplexing system, which can split the LCLS X-ray beam in two – directing one stream to XPP while sending another downstream to other instruments – so multiple experiments can run at once. The new multiplexing system replaces the old one and is more reliable and stable.
Image: Juan Perez (front) and Aaron Butcher (back) install a Large Offset Double Crystal Monochromator (LODCM) in LCLS’s XPP hutch, which filters the incoming X-ray beam to a precise energy before it reaches the experiment.
Credit: Olivier Bonin/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Researchers engineered protein-like polymers that replicate complex enzyme functions.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT
This work, which was verified using X-ray characterization techniques at the Advanced Light Source (ALS), offers a cost-effective, scalable approach that paves the way for functional materials in biomedicine, energy, and manufacturing
Schematic comparing the global folding patterns, chemical structures, and active sites of a) natural protein behavior demonstrating a rigid secondary structure of regular, local folding patterns in the chain of amino acids, stabilized by intramolecular bonding; and b) the protein-like polymers created in this study, which do not form secondary structures but instead adopt varying conformations based on the hydrophobic (water-repelling) properties of segments in the chain. Red, grey, blue and yellow correspond to very hydrophobic, hydrophobic, hydrophilic (water-loving) and very hydrophilic amino acid residues, respectively. The chemical structures of key functional residues are shown in the inset boxes. (Credit: Ting Xu/UC Berkeley/LBNL)
Protein-like functions, without the protein
Many industries already use enzymes, which are specialized protein molecules that accelerate chemical reactions without being consumed. Incorporating these catalytically active molecules into materials could unleash impactful applications biomedicine, energy generation, and chemical synthesis—including masks that eliminate airborne toxicants or environmental filters that degrade pollutants. Their practicality, however, is limited: naturally occurring enzymes tend to be fragile, costly, and unstable.
While these constraints have driven interest in synthetic polymers that mimic enzymatic activity, designing durable protein-like alternatives has been difficult. Natural enzymes rely on rigid secondary structures—local folding patterns along the amino acid chain—that determine whether a target molecule can bind at the active site and trigger a reaction. As a result, past efforts have generally assumed that precise sequence control was necessary to reproduce protein function. This has hindered industrial applications, as specifying the exact order of building blocks in a polymer chain requires costly, high-purity chemical reactions.
In this study, researchers reinterpreted proteins’ sequence-structure-function relationship to engineer polymers with bio-inspired functions and practical adjustments to their molecular chemistry. Using X-ray techniques at the ALS, the team connected how the polymers pack globally with how the local chemical microenvironments near the catalytic region shift upon target binding, a key factor governing function.
The study was conducted by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre, AGH University of Krakow, the Institute of Physics of the Jagiellonian University, and an industrial partner, Inglot Sp. z o.o. The aim of this work was to develop a rapid and sensitive method for the determination of trace amounts of lead in raw materials with potential cosmetic applications. The feasibility of using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence excited by monochromatic synchrotron radiation (SR-XRF) for the quantitative analysis of samples with complex and unknown matrices was evaluated. The use of synchrotron radiation enabled the achievement of very low detection limits with minimal sample preparation and short measurement times, and the results were validated using the ICP-OES method.
Cosmetic products play a significant role in human life, and their importance continues to increase alongside economic development and improved accessibility for various social groups. However, the growing number of consumers is accompanied by increasing concerns regarding cosmetic safety, particularly with respect to the presence of heavy metals. In the European Union, cosmetic products are regulated under Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009, according to which lead and its compounds are listed as prohibited substances. Due to natural processes and the ubiquitous presence of ultra-low concentrations of elements in the environment, achieving their complete absence is not feasible, which necessitates the use of reliable and sensitive analytical methods enabling their control at trace levels.
Despite the existence of national recommendations concerning permissible heavy metal contents in cosmetics, harmonised international standards are still lacking. For example, in the United States and Canada a limit of 10 μg/g of lead is recommended, while in Germany the recommended limit is 5 μg/g. Heavy metals, including lead, may enter the human body via oral, inhalation or dermal routes, leading to bioaccumulation and serious adverse health effects, such as DNA damage, disruption of enzymatic activity, or abnormalities in calcium metabolism. Particular attention is given to products applied in the vicinity of the mouth and eyes, due to the risk of ingestion and the increased permeability of the thin skin in these areas.
A new publication presents a comprehensive analysis that strengthens the foundations of single particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo EM), one of the most powerful techniques currently available for visualizing biological structures at near atomic resolution. The research was conducted by a team of scientists from the SOLARIS National Synchrotron Radiation Centre, in collaboration with a representative of the Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology at the Jagiellonian University.
The research team systematically examined how key data‑collection parameters—such as electron dose, onset of radiation damage, pre‑exposure effects, and dose‑weighting strategies—impact the final quality of cryo‑EM reconstructions. Using ribosome particles from E. coli and human cells, the authors established practical recommendations that help researchers optimize imaging conditions and achieve higher‑resolution results, while also saving time and reducing the volume/size of data collected.
These findings offer an important reference point for the cryo‑EM community and support more efficient, reproducible, and reliable experimental workflows.
MAX IV’s first artist in residence, Jennifer Rainsford has revealed her plans for a science-inspired artwork crafted with X-rays and experiences from the experimental halls of MAX IV. With insights from ForMAX, NanoMAX and other beamlines and the laser lab, her new exhibit and film will offer the public a fresh perspective and closer look at research conducted at Sweden’s large-scale research infrastructure, MAX IV.
The Artist in Residence programme is designed to highlight activities at MAX IV, while also spotlighting Lund University as Sweden’s leading cultural university by offering new contexts for artistic exploration and exposition. Thanks to generous funding by the Gyllenstiernska Krapperup Foundation, a chosen artist is offered an onsite residency to learn about the science and the 4th generation synchrotron in order to develop an artistic project which reflects current research or techniques in X-ray science.
“This programme offers a rare chance for talented professionals in vastly different fields to collaborate. Artists and scientists are both curious and creative, and it is those qualities that lead to new ways of thinking and new discoveries,” said Heidi LaGrasta, MAX IV Outreach Officer and co-coordinator for the Artist in Residence programme. “I am eager to see what happens when we dissolve the boundaries between these two fields and allow for a more expansive understanding and investigation of research here at MAX IV.”
Researchers from the Food Science Research Institute (CIAL, CSIC-UAM), in collaboration with the ALBA Synchrotron, have characterized the composition and nanoscale architecture of the cell walls of two edible seaweeds: Ulva lacinulata (sea lettuce) and Porphyra dioica (nori). By combining different techniques, including Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS) at the ALBA synchrotron, they revealed how their molecular organization dictates how nutrients are stored and released.
Seaweeds are gaining attention as a sustainable food source, especially as demand grows for alternatives to animal protein. They are rich in nutrients such as essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. However, accessing these nutrients remains a challenge, as they are trapped inside complex cell walls, making them harder for our bodies to absorb.
Understanding the nanostructure of these barriers and how it influences their mechanical properties is essential for designing food processing strategies that facilitate the release of these compounds for human nutrition.
A group of early career scientists participating in two established training schools have received Lightsources.org awards recognising the work they presented during the 2026 editions of the schools.
Ana Belén Martínez, Head of Communications and Outreach at ALBA and Chair of Lightsources.org, comments, “An important goal for Lightsources.org is to support early career STEM professionals and highlight both the career opportunities and experimental capabilities of the facilities within our global membership. Partnering with HERCULES 2026 and the FASEM school has enabled us to recognise outstanding contributions during these two schools, both of which provide incredible experiences for those looking to build their knowledge and experience within a range of world class European facilities. Our congratulations go to all the winners and everyone who took part in these training schools.”
The HERCULES EUROPEAN SCHOOL, which celebrates its 35th Anniversary this year, runs over five weeks and provides training for students, postdoctoral and senior scientists from European and non-European universities and laboratories, in the field of Neutrons, X-ray Synchrotron Radiation, and Free Electron Laser for condensed matter studies.
It’s coordinated by the Université Grenoble Alpes in collaboration with the ESRF, ILL and counts with the support of other European facilities (ALBA, DESY, Elettra, KIT, MAX IV, SLS, SOLEIL, European XFEL, ESS and FERMI). Each year, four of these partner large scale facilities give participants the opportunity to gain practical experience.
For HERCULES 2026, they were ALBA in Spain, KIT in Germany, MAX IV and the ESS in Sweden and SOLEIL in France. The students who spent time at the ALBA synchrotron near Barcelona could learn from the scientists about different techniques, sample preparation and data collection process, combining talks and practical sessions at the beamlines. They worked in teams and presented their experimental reports in groups of four on the last day of the school. Lightsources.org awards were presented to the group who the local jury selected as having given the best presentation.
The winning group at ALBA with members of the local jury
As a complementary educative initiative, the French-Swedish Academy for Scattering Experiments and Modeling (FASEM) is a one-week, biennial advanced-school, that rotate across three key thematic areas: Scattering Techniques for Environment & Materials, Life Sciences, and Energy Applications. The third version was coordinated by ESS, ILL and the French Embassy with support from ESRF. “Its goals are to prepare the future generation of users of large-scale facilities for synchrotron and neutron scattering; to develop and strengthen sustainable scientific exchanges driven by the French and Swedish communities on the use of large-scale facilities, in connection with the forthcoming ESS operation; to reinforce links between research infrastructures, academia and industry; and to strengthen collaboration between institutes in France (ILL, ESRF, SOLEIL) and in Sweden (ESS, MAX-IV),” explains Christine Darve FASEM coordinator. “The 3rd edition organized at ILL, was held in a hybrid format, bringing 30 in-person participants and more than 55 online students to learn scattering techniques (small-angle, diffraction, spectroscopy, etc) applied to energy materials ,” adds Peter Fouquet, ILL local organizer.
During FASEM 2026, students participated in a Student Clips challenge where they were invited to present their research to camera. Lightsources.org sponsored this challenge and prizes were awarded to the students who produced the top three clips.
Maimunah Fa Izun Haji Abdul Rahman, a PhD student at the ESRF in Grenoble, won 1st prize in the FASEM 2026 Lightsources.org Student Clips challenge. 2nd and 3rd prizes went to Sagar Jathar, Uppsala University, and Marcus Liljenberg, Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, respectively.
Maimunah Fa Izun Haji Abdul Rahman receiving 1st prize certificate at FASEM 2026
Reflecting on the week at FASEM, Maimunah comments, “What I valued most was the exchange with people working on very different fields but facing similar questions involving X-ray and neutron-based analyses. It really broadened how I think about my own work. At the same time, the school filled in a lot of gaps, from new characterization approaches to practical things like writing beamtime proposals. It also made concepts I’d seen before feel much more concrete and usable.”
Sagar adds, “I gained deeper insight into advanced scattering techniques such as XANES and EXAFS, particularly for probing the local atomic structure in complex or amorphous materials. In my own research, I now plan to apply synchrotron-based X-ray and neutron scattering techniques to better understand local structure and bonding in my Cr–Nb–N coatings, helping to establish stronger structure–property relationships for nuclear applications.”
Read full interviews with Maimunah, Sagar and Marcus here
