A new study confirms that structural defects and jagged surfaces at the edges of platinum and gold nanoparticles are key hot spots for chemical reactivity. The experiments should help researchers customize the structural properties of catalysts to make them more effective in fostering chemical reactions. Read more »
ALSNews Vol. 381
MARCH 29, 2017
ARPES Overturns V2O3 Metal-to-Insulator Theory
Researchers report on angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements performed on the transition-metal oxide V2O3. The results overturn a decade-old theory about metal-to-insulator transitions in this material and provide a spectroscopic benchmark test for future models. Read more »
Ptychography of a Bacterium’s Inner Compass
Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) synthesize chains of magnetic nanocrystals (magnetosomes) that interact with the Earth’s magnetic field like an inner compass needle, simplifying their search for optimum environments. Ptychographic spectra of magnetosomes from a marine MTB provides insight into how these inner compasses form. Read more »
Ancient Ocean Temperatures Recorded in Mother-of-Pearl
Researchers have shown that the thickness of the nacre, or mother-of-pearl, that lines the insides of mollusk shells can be used to estimate ocean temperatures as far back as the early Jurassic period. X-ray studies of modern and ancient shells help establish the method’s feasibility. Read more »
NCAA Drives Formation of Designed Proteins
A noncanonical amino-acid (NCAA) complex has been found to drive the self-assembly of a computationally designed protein. Bpy-ala, which is “noncanonical” because it’s not among the 20 amino acids that occur naturally, has useful properties that could be used to generate novel photoactive proteins. Read more »
2017 ALS Shutdown Recap
The last few months were quieter than usual for ALS users but not for staff tasked with maintaining and improving the ALS. The recent ALS shutdown was one of the longest on record, spanning almost three months. Those involved say it was also one of the most successful, with everything on the to-do list crossed off. The work accomplished paves the way for new beamlines, better water-cooling capacity, and ALS-U. Read more »
Chuck Swenson, Magnetic and Vacuum Systems Group Leader
Chuck Swenson came to Berkeley Lab five years ago from Los Alamos National Laboratory. He joined the the magnetic and vacuum systems group at the ALS, where he’s now group leader and looking forward to diving into the ALS Upgrade project, ALS-U. Read more »
UEC Update from March 2017 Meeting
The ALS Users’ Executive Committee met in mid-March. Topics of discussion included this year’s User Meeting and possible combined projects with the Molecular Foundry UEC. Users should mark their calendars for the next User Forum, to be held June 1 at 3:30 p.m. User Forums are an opportunity for users to learn about UEC activities and to bring up questions and concerns. Read more »
7th International Conferences on Hard X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy
The International Conferences on Hard X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy will be held September 11-15, 2017 in Berkeley, CA. They will bring together researchers from a wide variety of fields, from fundamental condensed matter and atomic and molecular physics to more applied surface and interface studies of catalysis, energy and IT device- and process- development, and environmental research. The abstract deadline is June 15, 2017. Read more »
Call for Abstracts: Novel Trends in Synchrotron and FEL-Based Analysis
Abstracts are requested for the AVS 64th International Symposium and Exhibition, to be held October 29 – November 3, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. The Novel Trends in Synchrotron and FEL-Based Analysis session will provide a forum for communicating the most recent achievements in surface and interface research using SR and FEL radiation from IR to hard x-rays. The abstract deadline is May 1, 2017. Read more »