Research

Positron and its bound state with an electron, positronium (Ps), have found many applications in physics and chemistry. The number of new applications is growing every year due to the unique sensitivity of positrons to investigate advanced materials with functional applications and complicated structures used in material science, nano technology, solid state physics or in medicine. In the Institute for Particle Physics at ETH, we pioneered characterization with our positron beam of novel industrially relevant functional materials such as hierarchical zeolites, metal organic frameworks, solar cells and more recently nano crystals. Nonetheless the wide-spread use of positrons in these areas is limited by the access to positron facilities. In fact, this is restricted to only few laboratories worldwide that have the capability to handle the required intense radioactive sources and to use the complicated and costly existing apparatus. In a collaboration with the group of Advanced Catalysis Engineering (ACE) of Prof. Perez-Ramirez, we aim with our recent and upcoming research and development towards more accessible positron-devices, to boost the progression of science and industry in the more and more important nanoscale world.