29 Oct 2024
Save the date – WISE Welcome Meeting 2025
Mark your calendar for August 20-21, 2025!
3 Oct 2024
WISE is very proud to have outstanding professors participating in the program. In this occasion we are happy to introduce Professor Anders Nilsson.
Anders Nilsson received a PhD in physics at Uppsala University, Sweden (1989) in the laboratory created by the Nobel Laureate Kai Siegbahn. Before returning to Sweden in 2014 he was 15 years as a professor in Photon Science at Stanford University. Anders has received the Plyler Prize at the American Physical Society, Lindbomska Award at the Swedish Royal Academy of Science, the Royal Oscar Award at Uppsala University, the Shirley Award in Berkeley, the Humboldt Award for senior scientist in Germany and was awarded Honorary Doctorate at Denmark’s Technical University.
The research on water was selected in 2004 by Science Magazine as one of the top ten breakthrough of the year, illustrated in 2014 as cover of Nature, selected as one of the 100 most essential discoveries in 2017 by Discovery Magazine and illustrated with cover in New Scientist in 2018.
Why did you choose to join WISE?
I think the goal of WISE is very important and exciting. It is so urgent to address the challenges of our time with respect to climate change. The topics of WISE is well aligned with my own research interests.
What is your WISE project about?
In our WISE research topic, we aim to understand the reaction mechanisms that enable novel methanol catalysts to operate at significantly lower pressures and temperatures. Current methanol production (110 Mton per year) relies on fossil feedstocks. Lower reaction pressures and temperatures could allow the use of hydrogen from water splitting and captured CO2.
Using our unique X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy system, which can simulate industrial conditions, we measure surface species and chemical changes on catalyst surfaces—previously limited to theoretical studies. Initially, we focused on the NiGa surface in methanol catalysis, similar to our prior work on the conventional CuZn catalyst (Science 376, 603 (2022)). Collaborating with DTU in Denmark, we found the NiGa catalyst converts CO2 to methanol at ≈150°C and atmospheric pressure, while higher temperatures produce methane. We are currently investigating the catalyst surface’s role in changing selectivity and are extending these studies to other materials.
How did you choose your research area, did you have an interest in this when you were younger?
I have been involved in studying chemical processes on surfaces for over 30 years. During my years at Stanford University, I was part of creating a center for catalysis research.
Could you share your thoughts on the challenges materials science faces regarding sustainability?
Transforming the chemical industry to move away from fossil fuels and become sustainable is a major challenge, as it emits 8 % of global CO2 (excluding fuel burning). Materials science must develop new catalysts for cost-effective chemical production using abundant materials. Our goal is global sustainability, not just for Sweden. For example, India faces challenges with electric car adoption due to limited battery materials and high costs. We need affordable, carbon-neutral chemicals, including for air and sea transport.
What are the benefits of your research for society in the future?
I hope that my research can provide the fundamental knowledge to inspire new unique materials for catalyst in chemical processes, fuel cells, water splitting and artificial photosynthesis devices. During my year at Stanford, I was part of the president hydrogen initiative, and we developed a new way to make platinum more active and that principle is now used by Toyota in their fuel cell Mirai car. I hope that WISE research can lead to similar developments for the chemical industry, hydrogen production and CO2 reduction devices.
29 Oct 2024
Mark your calendar for August 20-21, 2025!
24 Oct 2024
On November 15, 2024, from 13:00 to 14:00, Umeå University will host a digital event titled Green and Bright Technologies and Materials, featuring two leading experts.
22 Oct 2024
We are pleased to introduce Professor Ludvig Edman from Umeå University and Professor Minna Hakkarainen from KTH Royal Institute of Technology. They are leading two WISE projects, connected by a shared focus on circularity.
16 Oct 2024
-As WISE grows, my activities are shifting a bit and, now I focus more on the program’s societal impact, and how to ensure that WISE research achieves its full potential in making a positive difference, says Peter Värbrand, Emeritus Professor at Linköping University and WISE’s senior adviser.
16 Oct 2024
We’re excited to announce that we’ve recently updated and improved our website’s navigation menu!
14 Oct 2024
Insights from Danial Mazhar, Poster Winner at Welcome Meeting 2024
3 Oct 2024
A recent study led by WISE researcher, Prof. Saroj Dash from Chalmers, published in Nature Communications identifies TaIrTe4 as a promising material for energy-efficient devices such as spintronic memories, logic circuits, high-frequency magnetic devices, and neuromorphic computing.
[Picture: Experimental set up utilized in this investigation. Courtesy of Dr. Bainsla.]
1 Oct 2024
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has elected two new Swedish members to the Class for humanities and for outstanding services to science, Marika Hedin and Sara Mazur.
30 Sep 2024
WISE Networking Day 2025 is now open for registration.
20 Sep 2024
In a recent publication in Advanced Materials WISE researcher, Prof. Leif Asp and his team explored structural batteries that store energy while also supporting mechanical loads, promoting sustainability by reducing weight in products like cars. This breakthrough could significantly enhance the efficiency of electric vehicles, drones, and electronics.
[Picture: Richa Chaudhary, Zhenyuan Xia, and Leif Asp from Chalmers. Credit: Chalmers | Henrik Sandsjö]
19 Sep 2024
In this series of interviews, you will meet the WISE Fellows. This time you will meet Sadia Ilyas, who has joined Luleå University of Technology as a WISE Fellow.
19 Sep 2024
The third seminar in the series: Machine Learning meets Materials Science is coming up on September 26. Don’t miss out on this chance to connect with leading minds in these two fields and explore how these powerful disciplines intersect to shape the future of science and technology.
11 Sep 2024
Cooperation between academia and industry is an important part of WISE. We have talked to Christer Svanberg, CTO at Nexam Chemical, who together with Professor Christian Müller at Chalmers University of Technology runs a WISE research project.
11 Sep 2024
The Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) has awarded Professor Xiaodong Zou from Stockholm University and member of WISE URG, the prestigious IVA Gold Medal for her pioneering work in the development of electron crystallographic methods.
9 Sep 2024
131 applications were submitted in the second academic PhD and postdoc project call (“ap2”) from which 54 projects have been granted funding.
9 Sep 2024
Two new joint calls between the WASP and the WISE programs opened on Monday September 9, 2024.
6 Sep 2024
We are thrilled to announce the 1st WIRA-SET Webinar for Swedish Industry, an exclusive online event dedicated to advancing the electrochemistry sector.
6 Sep 2024
WIRA-SuPRA organized their first large event in Södertälje on September 4-5. With over 80 participants from industry and academia, the event provided a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and networking.
From the left: Anders Sjögren (Polymerinstitute), Magnus Svensson (WISE), Oscar Engbom (Husqvarna), Lars Jerpdal (SCANIA), Joakim Wiedesheim ( polymerinstitute) and Thor Gardarsson (Thule Group).
3 Sep 2024
This year’s Welcome Meeting 2024 is now all wrapped up. Over the course of two days newcomers to the WISE community got to learn more about WISE which is the largest research initiative ever in material science.
2 Sep 2024
Between 1 and 4 million SEK will be granted for innovation-targeting research projects, financed by Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
21 Aug 2024
With the intention to make this an annual event we now introduce the meeting place for Swedish industry and the WISE community. So save the date, January 28, 2025 and keep your eyes open for more information which will be published soon.
20 Aug 2024
A fantastic opportunity to gain insights and knowledge for the future.
19 Aug 2024
We are happy to introduce Lars Jerpdal, one of our great speakers at WISE Welcome Meeting, taking place in Norrköping on August 26 -27.
12 Aug 2024
Up to 16 projects will be financed by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg foundation and conducted starting in 2025.
9 Aug 2024
Interested in innovations in high-strength steel engineering and critical raw material recycling and how this is driving the green transition? Then this webinar is for you!
24 Jun 2024
The call for KAW Proof of Concept Grants in Materials Science for Sustainability will open soon! Are you financed through Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and have ideas for commercialization of your materials science results? This webinar is for you!
24 Jun 2024
In this series of interviews, you will meet the WISE Fellows. This time you will meet Matias Kagias, who has joined Lund University as an associate senior lecturer and WISE Fellow.
19 Jun 2024
WISE takes pride in showcasing our distinguished researchers, and this time, we are delighted to introduce Maria Messing, Professor at Lund University and Deputy Director of NanoLund: Center for Nanoscience.
12 Jun 2024
WASP and WISE opens two joint calls on September 9, 2024, offering the opportunity to apply for both large and small joint projects.
3 Jun 2024
Professor Ludvig Edman and his team at Umeå University have introduced a novel method to quantify efficiency losses in light-emitting electrochemical cells, detailed in their article “Efficiency Roll-Off in Light-Emitting Electrochemical Cells” in the journal Advanced Materials.