Researchers electrochemically reduced CO2 to CO with nearly perfect selectivity over other products by adding an organic compound to the surface of a silver electrode. With theoretical analyses and ALS data, the work revealed the key role of the microenvironment in promoting the conversion of CO2, a greenhouse gas, into useful products. Read more »
ALSNews Vol. 431
September 29, 2021
A Two-Dimensional Room-Temperature Magnet
Researchers have made the world’s thinnest (one atom thick) magnet that’s chemically stable under ambient conditions. The two-dimensional material, magnetically characterized at the ALS, could enable big advances in next-generation memory devices, computing, spintronics, and quantum physics. Read more »
When Timing Isn’t Everything: Spontaneous Chemical Dynamics
Researchers combined aspects of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with correlation spectroscopy—a statistical method capable of detecting patterns in microscopic fluctuations across space and time. The new technique, called time-correlation XPS, allows researchers to monitor dynamics without the need for a timed trigger. Read more »
3D View Reveals Shadow Effect after Rapid Battery Charging
Using 3D x-ray microtomography, researchers measured the lithiation levels of particles in Li-ion battery electrodes during charging. At faster charging rates, lithium metal accumulated on the electrode surface and created a “shadow effect,” a region of poor lithiation in the electrode at some distance away from the lithium plating. Read more »
Summer 2021 Shutdown
Last week the ALS returned to user operations after its summer shutdown. A lot of work was accomplished, including several large projects in the storage ring and maintenance and updates for the accelerator and beamlines. Read more »
Updates to On-Site Access Procedures and Vaccination Requirements
Berkeley Lab requires that all on-site facility users be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have an approved exception. Processing of access requests will take longer than usual, and we ask all users who plan to come on-site to provide their arrival date at LBNL via ALSHub at least 4-8 weeks before their arrival. Read more »
Fall 2021 Colloquium September 29–December 8
Join us to hear the latest updates on accelerator technology, microchips, CRISPR, quantum materials, and SARS-CoV-2 antibody therapeutics. Read more »
ALS in the News (September 2021)
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- ALS staff and partners recognized by the 2021 Berkeley Lab Director’s Awards: Howard Padmore, Monroe Thomas, Institutional Biosafety Committee, CXRO, PHENIX Software Team
- Researchers unraveling mysteries of electrosensory gel in sharks, skates
- Electrons on the edge: The story of an intrinsic magnetic topological insulator
- New discovery about meteorites informs atmospheric entry threat assessment
- A simple way to get complex semiconductors to assemble themselves
- A new approach creates an exceptional single-atom catalyst for water splitting
- DOE panel finds US falling behind in basic energy sciences
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