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The year 2009 at Empa - in retrospect
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Empa
CH-8600 DübendorfÜberlandstrasse 129
Phone +41 44 823 55 11Fax +41 44 821 62 44
CH-9014 St.GallenLerchenfeldstrasse 5
Phone +41 71 274 74 74Fax +41 71 274 74 99
CH-3602 ThunFeuerwerkerstrasse 39
Phone +41 33 228 46 26Fax +41 33 228 44 90
www.empa.ch
Annual Report2009
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4ForewordTop notch research and innovative applications create added value
6Research programs
8 Nanotechnology10Adaptive Material Systems12Natural Resources and Pollutants14Materials for Energy Technologies16Materials for Health and Performance
The technical-scientific report
“Empa Activities 2009/2010”,
previous Annual Reports
and further documentation are
available directly from:
Empa
Communication
Überlandstrasse 129
CH-8600 Dübendorf
Content
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18Selected Projects
20Nanoelectronics thanks to “exotic” carbon forms 22The future of Solar power24Diamond-like coatings for long-lasting artificial joints26“Intelligent” beds help fight bedsores28Self – a prototype for future living30Bromine and chlorine free flame retardants 32The placenta: “filter” for nanoparticles?34Artificial tendons made of biopolymers36Precise microstructuring of glass fibers38Unwanted legacy from glaciers 40A first step to the hydrogen society 42Direct conversion of waste heat into electricity44sonRAIL: a computer model for quiet trains
58Facts and figures
60Scientific Output60Dissemination of Knowledgeand Technology Transfer61Personnel63Finances64Construction &Operations65Organs of Empa66Organizational Chart
46Empa Inside
48Technology Transfer 50Technology Centers52Empa Academy54Science in Dialog56Marketing57International PhD ProgramSwitzerland – Poland
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Foreword
Top notch researchand innovative applications
create added valueEmpa is on track. Together with its academic part-
ners, the institution continues to generate innova-
tive ideas and pass them on to industry and society.
As a first class address for materials science and tech-
nology development, Empa has further extended its
range of activities in 2009, despite a change of leadership
and a five month interim period. The handover proceed-
ed so smoothly that it went practically unnoticed. Empa
is better positioned than ever and is excellently equipped
to meet future challenges thanks to an efficient science
and technology transfer process, innovative applications
and a level of scientific output which has yet again in-
creased.
This is underpinned by a look at the statistics. The num-
ber of scientific publications emanating from Empa’s lab-
oratories in 2009 rose by over 16 per cent in comparison
to the previous year. Over the same period the Swiss Na-
tional Science Foundation, SNSF, approved funding for
more Empa projects than ever before. Moreover, the Fed-
eral Council only recently granted a project drafted by
Empa for an initiative in the area of wood usage, at the
suggestion of the SNSF the status of a new National Re-
search Program entitled “Strategies and Technologies for
the Value-Optimized Utilization of Wood Resources”. The
five year program aims to create a comprehensive under-
standing of wood as a resource – across the board from
its fundamental bio-physical properties to its sustainable
exploitation. In the area of the physical properties of wood,
a joint professorship with the ETH Zurich is being planned,
in addition to other activities.
Just as important for the success of the past year as the
creation of new knowledge were the numerous know-how
transfer projects with partners from industry. Above all
the number of cooperative industrial projects financially
supported by the Innovation Promotion Agency (CTI) in-
creased significantly. However, technologies developed at
Empa also find their way to the market via spin-offs. One
notable example in this context is the young company
“compliant concept”, which is on the verge of launching
an “intelligent” bed onto the market which can prevent
the formation of bedsores in bedridden patients. As a re-
sult of its impressive technical basis and solid business
plan the Empa spin-off was last year awarded a well known
prize for young entrepreneurs.
Apart from this, technology transfer also takes place via
personal interactions, such as through the 160 or so doc-
toral students currently doing research work at the insti-
tution. Countless other Empa alumni have also, of course,
moved on to take up positions in other research organiza-
tions and in industry. So it is not a big surprise that Empa
is named as one of the top ten research institutions of high-
Director
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:04 Seite 3
est repute in Europe in a recently published survey con-
ducted by the University of St.Gall.
None of this would have been possible without the pro-
found specialist knowledge, experience and full-blooded
commitment of every single member of the Empa staff.
And whilst on the topic of personnel, the number of fe-
male staff at the institution has once again increased
slightly in 2009. This does not mask the fact that yet more
effort is needed to encourage and support women to fol-
low careers in science and engineering. A recently complet-
ed master’s thesis by a female member of the Empa staff
on equal opportunities has enhanced awareness on this
topic and offered new approaches to tackling the situa-
tion. Ultimately Empa’s industrial partners will also ben-
efit from improvements in this regard, as will society as
a whole.
And finally, a vote of thanks. To all fellow employees of
our institution for their tireless efforts and impressive
work. To my predecessor, Louis Schlapbach, for forging
Empa into the high performance, highly respected mate-
rials science and technology institute it is today. And to
Peter Hofer, who headed Empa on an interim basis in
2009. The culture and atmosphere I have encountered since
joining makes Empa “a great place to be” and gives me
solid grounds to look to the future with great optimism.
Prof. Dr Gian-Luca Bona
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Research Programs
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Nanotechnology
Better Materials – better products
In 2009, the research program co-ordinated numerous Empa activities in nanoscience and technology and particularly encouragedapplication orientated projects. As a result, the Empa is a competent,reliable partner in nano-research for both industry and society.
The plasma of the Reactive Magnetron Sputter process used to deposit optically transparent hard coatings
of Al-Si-N emits light between the aluminum and the silicon source. The coatings can be prepared in a verywide temperature range.Characterization of materials on the nanoscaleThe Empa has highly specialized analytical
equipment and well-qualified personnel at
its disposal and is, therefore, in the position
to carry out research projects efficiently and
to offer complex or demanding services. Ad-
ditionally, innovative instruments are devel-
oped at the Empa. For example, the confocal
X-ray adsorption and scanning force micro-
scope (Nano-XAS), developed in collabora-
tion with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI),
has been in operation at the PSI synchrotron
light source since November 2009. This in-
ternationally unique instrument would not
have come to fruition without the combined
competencies of both institutions.
A further instrument for chemical analysis
is the 3D-Nanochemiscope, which is being
developed in collaboration with a German
high-tech company, a Swiss small-medium
company and partners from foreign univer-
sities as part of an EU project. In contrast to
the Nano-XAS project, the 3D-Nanochemis-
cope uses an ion beam instead of an X-ray
beam, thus allowing the analysis of the mo-
lecular structure at the surface.
Better materials through nanoscale effectsHard and tough coatings for machining tools
are of great importance in the metalworking
industry. These coatings allow faster produc-
tion with continually increasing precision.
The implemented coatings achieve their ex-
cellent hardness and toughness through
nanometer-sized crystals embedded in an
amorphous matrix.
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Empa-researchers apply their extensive ex-
perience in the field of hard coatings to the
development of optically transparent coat-
ings that are significantly harder than sap-
phire. Experimentalists are working in close
collaboration with theoreticians at the Empa
in order to understand and improve the
hardness resulting from nanoscale effects.
Theoretical calculations of defects formed in
the nanocrystals are carried out on high-per-
formance computers. Variations in the film
thickness and combinations of different ma-
terials allow the production of colored coat-
ings that can be used in, for example, archi-
use on artificial joints has been less success-tecture glass, decorative coatings and color-
coding for surgical instrument
Optically transparent hard coatings of Al-Si-N can be used to generate colored
Assembly of the co(Nano-XAS) at the
wear resistant coatings whenapplied to reflecting surfaces.
From materials to components and equipmentThe Empa not only produces new materials
but also develops new products based on
these materials, for example, to maintain
health and productivity. While some re-
searchers in the research program study the
interactions between cells and implant sur-
faces, others work on projects concerned
with predicting the lifetime of hard coatings
on artificial joint implants in the human
body. Coatings of diamond-like carbon
(DLC) are already widely used in the auto-
mobile industry for wear protection. Their
ful, as explained by Empa researchers (sees.
nfocal X-ray adsorption and scanning force microscopePaul Scherrer Institute (PSI).
08 | 09
Contact
page 24/25). A layer of a few atoms thick-
ness, formed between the DLC coating and
the metal implant, corrodes under physio-
logical conditions leading to delamination
of the DLC. A stabile adhesion layer and a
measurement procedure to estimate the life
expectancy of the DLC coated implant have
been developed. As a result of collaboration
between the Empa and the med-tech com-
pany Synthes, these innovations are in the
process of being put into practice.
Evaluation of Risks and opportunitiesThe assessment of the opportunities and
risks associated with new technologies, in-
cluding nanotechnology, is an important
task of the Empa. In order to motivate discus-
sions between academia, industry and soci-
ety, the Empa brought together the impor-
tant protagonists at the 3rd NanoConvention
in 2009. National and international contrib-
utors presented developments from various
sides at workshops, lectures and discus-
sions, giving an insight into opportunities
and risks, and venturing to forecast future
prospects.
Prof. Dr Hans Josef [email protected]
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Adaptive Material Systems
Intelligent materials for smart solutions
In 2009, the Adaptive Materials research landscape in Switzerland was marked by the launch of the National Research Program 62 “Smart Materials”. Next to offering an additional source of funding, this program confirms the
dorf.
The Blimp takes off: “Artificial muscles” made of electroactive polymers cause its body to change shape
Empa researchers participated heavily in the
call for projects – and were very successful
in the acquisition of funding: 6 out of 21 ap-
proved projects had been submitted by
Empa, thus showing that Empa’s research in
the field of adaptive materials is extremely
well placed in the Swiss R&D landscape.
CTI Innovation Briefing@Empa In August 2009, a national dissemination
event took place at the Empa Academy,
sponsored by the the Innovation Promotion
Agency (CTI). The goal was to increase the
awareness of the Swiss industry for the tools
made available by CTI to finance mixed ac-
ademic/industrial R&D projects. Additional-
ly, the focus of the event was put on adaptive
materials systems, which also CTI considers
an important vehicle for Swiss Industry to
maintain its competitive edge through inno-
vation. The event was organized and hosted
by Empa and was attended by about 200 per-
sons. The presentations gave Empa a perfect
opportunity to show its contributions in the
field of adaptive materials systems to a pub-
strategic importance of this field of scienc
lic of interested decision makers.
Compliant ConceptThe Empa/ETH Zurich spin-off “compliant
concept GmbH” is developing a dynamic bed
retrofit system for care facilities that pre-
vents pressure ulcers and helps optimize the
care process for bedridden patients (see
page 26/27). The system has received great
interest in the healthcare sector. The spin-
off “compliant concept”, founded only in
May 2009, already won several important
start-up awards such as venture kick stage I
and II, the Heuberger Winterthur Jungunter-
nehmerpreis and venture 2010. It is support-
ed by the CTI start-up program, Genilem and
glaTec, Empa’s technology center in Duben-
e and technology.
and the tail fin to move, lending it a fishlike motion which propels it through the air.
Doctoral student Marcel Birchmeier (right) shows a participant at the CTI Information Event the building condition monitoring system.
10 | 11
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Completion of the Blimp Project2009 also saw the completion of the EAP
blimp project. The goal of this demonstrator
project was to develop the world’s first bion-
ic airship propelled by electroactive polymers
(EAP). The airship was constructed at Empa
in collaboration with aeroix GmbH and the
Technical University of Berlin. This lighter-
than-air vehicle with a length of eight me-
ters consists of a slightly pressurized Heli-
um-filled body with a biologically inspired
form; dielectric elastomer (DE) actuators act
as “artificial muscles” deforming the body
and tail fin in a fish-like manner. While the
airship itself was the tangible result of this
research project, a great deal of knowledge
about manufacturing, reliability and control
of large DE actuators could be acquired
along the way and will be the most valuable
benefit for the researchers involved.
Prof. Dr Paolo [email protected]
A bed frame developedby the Empa spin-off“compliant concept” actively changes the position of a bedriddenpatient, so preventingthe onset of bedsores –the scourge of clinicsand hospitals.
Contact
Prof. Dr Edoardo [email protected]
NFP 62 “Smart Materials”
The innovation potential for intelligent materials
is huge. Mastering of such new materials is a
guarantee of competitiveness for Swiss industry,
especially in the watch, machine, med-tech,
pharmaceutical, energy and building technology
sectors. As a cooperation program between the
Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and
the Innovation Promotion Agency (CTI), the
National Research Program “Smart Materials”
(NRP 62) is committed to the development of
new intelligent materials and advancing
promising projects to the R&D stage. NRP 62
will operate with CHF 11million for five years.
(www.nfp62.ch)
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Natural Resources and Pollutants
New technologies prevent further damage to the climate
The “Natural Resources and Pollutants” Research Program aims to find ways to reduce resource usage and pollutant emissions by our society. To achieve these goals appropriate technologies and environmental processes are being
because of the improved distribution of the
noble metals.
analyzed and technical solutions being developed. One particular focal area deals with climate-changing gases, above all carbon dioxide, CO2.
Making exhaust gas measurementswith an electro-gashybrid vehicle on
Using an absorption technique based on the quantum cascadelaser, Empa is measuringstable CO2 isotopes
Gas motors instead of petrol in hybrid vehiclesInnovative drive technologies for road vehi-
cles offer the possibility of making significant
contributions to reducing CO2 emissions. To-
day’s hybrid vehicles are driven by a combi-
nation of a petrol engine and an electric mo-
tor, and the available driving performance
depends of the state of charge of the battery.
Empa and the ETH Zurich have developed a
new hybrid concept which is based on a tur-
bocharged, low CO2 emission natural gas en-
gine which provides the greater part of the
driving power. The electric motor is used pri-
marily to compensate for the weaknesses of
the low-volume turbocharged engine such as
the poor starting torque and turbo lag effect.
A smaller and lighter battery can be used com-
pared with conventional hybrids vehicles. In
addition the developers have succeeded in
linking both drive sources to the mechanical
gearbox using one single clutch. This feature
considerably reduces the technical complex-
ity, and therefore the cost of the hybrid vehi-
cle, which, compared with a petrol engine
driven car of the same size and weight, emits
the dynamometertest bed of the Empa.
one third less CO2 and yet maintains the same
level of driving comfort.
Better catalytic converters – made more easilyIn addition to CO2 emissions, the release of
other conventional pollutants must also, of
course, be further reduced. One way of
achieving this is by means of catalytic ex-
haust gas treatment. Empa has developed
new processes, based on thermal spray tech-
niques, for creating nanostructured catalytic
surfaces. The catalytically active layer – the
so-called “washcoat” – is created in a single
step, saving a great deal of time in compari-
son to the conventional wet chemical, multi-
step process. Measurements show that cat-
alytic converters made with the new process
show the same or better catalytic capability,
continuously, for the firsttime worldwide.
Piopipüi
12 | 13
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Determining the origin of greenhouse gasesUsing a spectral absorption measurement
technique based on the quantum cascade
laser, Empa researchers have, for the first
time, been able to continuously measure
concentrations of the stable CO2 isotopes in
the atmosphere at the High Altitude Re-
search Station Jungfraujoch. The isotope
patterns allow the scientists to differentiate
between CO2 of biological origin, and CO2which is created by burning fossil fuels. The
combination of this measurement data with
atmospheric transport models uncovers new
methods of determining the origin of such
greenhouse gases and allows emissions from
various geographical regions to be identified.
Polished micro section of an alkali-activated fly ash binder imaged under a scanning electronmicroscope. The round particlesare fly ash, and the matrix between them is formed by the
50 μm
Fly ash mamore envirOne signifi
dioxide is c
dition to th
hydration products which lend the material its strength.
Contact
Dr Peter Hofer
kes cement production onmentally friendlycant industrial source of carbon
ement production, because in ad-
e CO2 generated by the combus-
tion of fuel for heating, during the firing of
the cement clinker the chemically bound CO2in the raw limestone is also set free. New
types of cement are therefore required where
other mineral products at least replace par-
tially the cement clinker. One such possibility
is fly ash, which is produced in large quanti-
ties in coal-burning power stations. Fly ash
consists primarily of glassy aluminosilicates,
and it helps to bind and improve the strength
of concrete during setting, although signifi-
cantly more slowly than cement does. Empa
scientists are investigating ways to accelerate
this process so as to be able to increase the
proportion of fly ash used to make the ce-
ment. This would not only reduce CO2 emis-
sions but also usefully recycle a waste prod-
uct from another industry.
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Materials for Energy Technologies
Building the scientific basis for future energy technologies
Mining raw materials to manufacture products that are simply thrown away after use is no longer an option – our raw material resources are limited and willnot last for ever. Burning fossil fuels leads to climate change, and the disposal of radioactive waste is a global, unsolved problem. In this research program theresearchers of Empa investigate the properties of materials and create the
to burn hydrogen for cooking and heating in the “Self”living module.
fundamental science for a sustainable, efftechnology of the future.
Empa’s research activities in the energy field
cover areas ranging from photovoltaic pow-
er generation using renewable energy from
the sun via energy storage materials and sys-
tems to the conversion of stored energy into
work and heat. Fundamental research is an
important part of this activity just as applied
projects with industry, demonstration proj-
ects and product development in start-up
enterprises.
Thin, flexible photovoltaic cellsThin film solar cells made of inorganic semi-
conductor materials can be manufactured
for less than US$ 500 per kilowatt nominal
because of the small quantity of raw mate-
rials they use. The semiconductors involved
are cadmium telluride (CdTe) and copper in-
dium gallium (di)selenide (CIGS), and their
ability to absorb light so well means that
they can be used to make flexible solar cells
which are only two to ten microns thick. Sil-
icon solar cells, in contrast, are usually up
to 400 microns thick and are, in addition,
rigid. In terms of conversion efficiency, CIGS
cells already reach values of 16 per cent, a
world record figure.
Flexible photovoltaic cells based on polymers
with dye layers which strongly absorb light
can also be produced cheaply. Using these
cells Empa scientists have already achieved
photoefficiency levels of three per cent, which
again is a record for this type of material (see
page 22/23).
Autonomous living module with hydrogen cycleModern dwelling concepts demand innova-
tive ideas for efficient energy usage. In the
“Self” project (see page 28/29) Empa scien-
tists are using a two-person living module
which is independent of external supplies of
water and energy to put though their paces
systems for the synthesis, storage and use of
hydrogen. The module is heated with hydro-
gen (H2), which is also used as fuel for cook-
ing. Hydrogen is ideal for this purpose be-
cause it generates temperatures of between
200 and 700 degrees Celsius and is easily reg-
ulated. A burner containing ceramic fibers
coated with platinum is used to generate
heat. No source of ignition is necessary for
icient and resource-miserly energy
the catalytic burning process and no envi-
ronmentally damaging waste products such
A stove made of platinum coated ceramic fibers is used
Prof. Dr Andreas Zü[email protected]
fuel cells and is being tested for 18 months
5
Thin film solar cells have reached a record
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in every-day operational use. Fuel cells usebreaking 16 per cent efficiency.
The first street cleaning vehicle worldwide powered by fuel ceto day operational use.
as CO2 or NOx are created – just water vapor.
In summer the excess “solar current” gener-
ated will be used to create hydrogen by the
electrolysis of water. The hydrogen will then
be stored in tanks containing metal hydrides.
A hydrogen powered municipal vehicleEmpa and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
have, together with Bucher Schoerling, Hydro-
genics, BRUSA Elektronik AG und Messer
Schweiz AG developed a hydrogen powered
municipal street cleaning vehicle which was
first seen in public in Basel in May 2009. The
“Bucher CityCat H2”, as it is called, is the first
such vehicle in the world to be powered by
lls is being put through its paces during 18 months of day
Contact
hydrogen to generate electric power directly,
which is then employed to propel the vehicle.
Since the CityCat’s exhaust contains only wa-
ter vapor, the polluting effect in sensitive lo-
cations such as pedestrian precincts, rail-
way station concourses or closed rooms
(such as exhibition halls) is significantly re-
duced when compared to conventionally
powered cleaning vehicles.
Biofuels – quickly tested for sustainabilityTogether with the University of Applied Sci-
ences, Berlin, (HTW) and the Agroscope
Reckenholz-Taenikon Research Station ART,
Empa has developed a rapid, web based test
for determining the sustainability of biofu-
els. After the user enters the relevant para -
meters from the production process, the test
software links these with background data
and calculates the total environmental load
which results. This is compared to predeter-
mined sustainability criteria, from which the
market chances of various biofuels in, say,
the Swiss market, can be seen. The project
was financed by the Swiss State Secretariat
for Economic Affairs (SECO).
14 | 1
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Materials for Health and Performance
Ongoing service to keep well and fit
In order to improve medical implants, advanced materials are required. New concepts benefit from comprehensive mechanical testing of the devices as well as from detailed studies of patients’ anatomical specifications. In a set of interdisciplinary projects Empa researchers develop biomaterials,
biofilm and biomolecules of high quality for use in many medical as well as technical applications.Rigid body model of the lumbar spineused to calculate the ranges of motion and the facet forces at each
Bioreactor designed for production of microbial biofilms (Pseudomonas putidaand Staphylococcus aureus ) under defined growth conditions.
vertebra level.
Research on Biomechanics to improve orthopedic implantsIn the orthopedic field successful medical in-
terventions involving implants benefit great-
ly from biomechanical as well as patient-spe-
cific considerations of the medical problem
prior to marketing of the device. For this com-
putational and experimental biomechanics
are relevant.
Computational biomechanics helps to under-
stand the kinetics and kinematics within the
musculoskeletal system and to predict defor-
mations and stresses in orthopedic implants
and in the surrounding tissues. Finite Element
Analysis allows to model trauma implants,
instruments, joint replacements, dental im-
plants, rehabilitation equipment, bones and
soft tissues. As this method gives information
on stress and strain distributions as well as
on deformations and reaction forces, it al-
lows researchers to optimize the shape of the
implants.
Experimental biomechanics deals with labo-
ratory experiments and tests in order to char-
acterize new orthopedic implants. Mechani-
cal experiments on biomedical structures
employ force, displacement and strain meas-
urement sensors. Implants are tested in solu-
tion at body temperature in order to simulate
physiological conditions. Research projects
at Empa include e.g. the development of a
proof test set-up for quality assurance of or-
thopedic components such as hip joint balls
and numerical simulations of the muscu-
loskeletal system in order to determine the
loading in the joints and segments within the
human body.
ties on surfac
novel features.
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:04 Seite 15
Bacteria with improved enzymes for biopolymer synthesis: Staining with Nile Red indicates increased
BioprocessesEmpa’s interdisciplinary research on Bio-
processes involves molecular, microbiologi-
cal, biochemical and biotechnological meth-
ods as well as process engineering and
chemical analysis. The conversion of educts
into high-value products by microorganisms
or enzymes is one of the key activities. We
develop biomaterials for therapeutic and di-
agnostic purposes, vaccines and bioactive
peptides as well as enzymes for the biosyn-
thesis, modification and degradation of bio-
materials.
polymer synthesis.
New MaterialsThe biotechnological production of new bio -
polymers and their chemical or enzymatic
modification and functionalization are of in-
terest to produce new biomaterials for med-
ical applications. Such biopolymers are bio-
compatible and can be used in numerous
ways: for the development of novel implants
or scaffolds for cell growth, as carriers for
enzymes and proteins in the chip technolo-
gy, for the controlled release of antifoulants
to prevent biofilm formation or as raw ma-
terials for the biotechnological production
of novel pharmaceuticals. Empa researchers
also produce “living biomaterials” in the
form of standardized microbial communi-
16 | 17
Biotransformation and BiocatalysisReplacing individual steps or entire process-
es in chemical synthesis by enzymatic reac-
tions often allows environmentally cleaner,
sustainable production. Enzymatic catalysis
can occur either in whole cells or with iso-
lated proteins. At Empa we search for new
enzymatic activities or improve existing en-
zymes or processes in order to achieve high-
er yields, better quality or purer products. We
clone and express genes of various organisms
in bacteria or fungi, isolate the resulting en-
zymes, characterize them and – if desired –
improve them by genetic means to obtain
Cys
His
Häm
Val-Gln-Lys-Cys-Ala-Gln-Cys-His-Thr-Val-Glu
es called biofilms.
Contact
Dr Katharina Maniura
Model of a miniaturized enzymewith peroxidase activity comprising11 amino acids plus a heme group. This system can be used forvisualization of proteins in proteinanalytics.
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Selected Projects
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Nanoelectronics thanks to “exotic” carbon forms
Carbon exists in different forms, well known examples being diamond andgraphite. More “exotic” versions of the element include so-called fullerenesand graphenes. Empa researchers have been investigating in detail the latter forms, in particular their electronic properties, and have been
attempting to modify them in specific ways in order to make them usefulof the correct size and distribution.
for nanoelectronics applications.
Fullerenes, the best known exotic form of
carbon, are spherical in shape. The sixty car-
bon atoms in C60, the most frequently-ob-
served fullerene representative, take on the
exact shape of a common football. It is pos-
sible to trap other molecules, including metal-
lic compounds, within these “buckyballs”.
The resulting metallofullerenes demonstrate
unique electronic characteristics which make
them of interest to the IT industry for, as an
example, “nano” data memories. Empa sci-
entists, together with colleagues from Zurich
University, the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI)
and the Leibniz Institute in Dresden, Ger-
many, have been studying metallofullerenes
which consist of 80 carbon atoms and a tri-
metal nitride unit. The latter is made up of a
nitrogen atom and three metal atoms, the
metal in this case being dysprosium, from
the lanthanides group.
Data storage possible in principleIn the course of their investigation the re-
searchers deposited a molecule-thin layer of
the metallofullerene on a copper surface. They
then observed how the metallofullerenes ori-
ented themselves on the substrate using a
scanning tunneling microscope and photo-
electron diffraction techniques at the “Swiss
Light Source” (SLS), the PSI’s synchrotron
radiation source. They showed that the caged
metal nitrides “sensed” the copper substrate
and adopted suitable orientations. If now the
enclosed metal nitride unit could be made to
flip from one orientation to another by means
of an external stimulus – much like a switch
– this would create a completely new mech-
anism for data storage.
Creating “porous” graphene Graphene is another form of carbon of great
interest to scientists. It consists of a two-di-
mensional sheet in which the carbon atoms
are arranged in hexagons – much like the
structure of a honeycomb. When graphene is
rolled up it forms carbon nanotubes and
when it is piled up in layers then it creates
graphite. Graphene boasts some very special
properties – it is harder than diamond, ex-
tremely resistant to tearing and is an excel-
lent conductor of both heat and electricity. It
is regarded as a potential alternative to sili-
con in the semiconductor industry. The first
graphene transistors are not only much thin-
ner than their silicon equivalents, they are
also much faster. Scientists are attempting to
modify the properties of the material in spe-
cific ways by inserting holes in the graphene
1
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:04 Seite 19
Empa researchers, together with c
at the Max Planck Institute for Po
search in Mainz, have recently suc
synthesizing for the first time a g
like polymer containing pores of a
defined size. To achieve this they
molecular building blocks of specia
tionalized” phenyl rings to grow to
form an orderly two-dimensional n
a silver substrate. The result was a
form of graphene, containing po
few atoms across in a pattern that
itself on a subnanometer scale. U
porous graphene has had to be m
lithographic techniques, in which
etched into the graphene layer af
been produced. Holes made by
nique are, however, not just sig
larger but also less evenly and les
distributed than those create
Empa scientists’ “bottom-up”
Metallofullerenes deposited on
Its special properties makegraphene a very interestingmaterial for the IT industry.The structure of “porous”graphene is reminiscent of ahoneycomb (left a structuralmodel of the polymer, right a scanning tunneling micro-scope image).
A model of the metallofullerene structureunder investigation. It consists of 80 carbon
a substrate form ordered islandsof identically oriented molecules.If they could be made to flip fromone orientation to another bymeans of an external stimulus –much like a switch – this wouldcreate a completely new mechanism for storing data.(Color coded scanning tunnelingmicroscope image)
20 | 2
Contact
Prof. Dr Roman Fasel
olleagues
lymer Re-
ceeded in
raphene-
precisely
allowed
lly “func-
gether to
etwork on
“porous”
res just a
repeated
ntil now
ade using
holes are
ter it has
this tech-
nificantly
s densely
d by the
approach.
atoms (light blue) enclosing 3 dysprosiumatoms (red) and a nitrogen atom (dark blue).
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:04 Seite 20
The sun provides us with enough energy to meet all our long term energy needs in an environmentally friendlyway. Empa scientists are developing solar cells, based on both classical, inorganic semiconductors and also on organic materials, and the necessary manufacturing techniques, so that solar power can be generated efficiently
The future of Solar power
Solar cells collect the sun’s energy and convert it directly into electric current. (istock)
coating glass. This allows the coating to be
Flexible thin film solar cells “made by Empa”. In addition toimproving the efficiency of thesolar cells, the researchers have
roll form, making the manufacturing pro cess
significantly cheaper.
and economically.
The sun is a source of practically unlimited
energy. Within a single half-hour it delivers
to the Earth enough radiant energy to meet
our entire worldwide annual needs. What
could be more obvious than putting this en-
ergy to good use with photovoltaic devices
which can convert sunlight directly into elec-
trical current? In the past few years photo-
voltaic technology has made enormous
progress and production costs have dropped
significantly. As a result the market for solar
cells has risen on average about 30 per cent
annually over the last decade.
World record for flexible solar cellsAt Empa there are several research groups
working simultaneously on different areas of
photovoltaic technology, one of which is the
further development of thin film solar cell
based on inorganic semiconductor materials
like cadmium telluride (CdTe) and CIGS (cop-
per indium gallium (di)-selenide). The Empa
researchers are aiming to have the best of all
worlds, both in terms of materials and pro-
cessing methods. Success and records are
proving that they are on the right track! With
a conversion rate of 12.4 per cent Empa’s flex-
ible CdTe solar cells are world record hold-
ers. For flexible CIGS solar cells on polymer
foil the current value for Empa material is as
high as 16 per cent, eclipsing by a significant
margin the institute’s own previous world
record of 14.1 per cent. The latter is still the
highest independently-verified value meas-
ured worldwide to date. The secret in mak-
ing these high performance solar cells lies in
an Empa specialty, namely the low temper-
ature coating process for polymer films. The
active layers are applied to the substrate at
temperature of less than 450 degrees Celsius
instead of the 600 degrees usually used for
applied to polymer films, which are light and
flexible. Additionally they can be coated in
also focused on developing eco-nomic manufacturing processes.
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:04 Seite 21
Ready to transfer technology to industry Another direction of research led to the de-
velopment of 18 per cent CIGS thin film solar
cells on glass substrates; with application of
anti-reflection coating the efficiency will in-
crease to above 19 per cent. With a low tem-
perature processing CdTe solar cells with 15.4
per cent efficiency are also achieved on glass
substrates. CIGS and CdTe solar cells are
known for excellent intrinsic stability, long
term high performance and potentially low
production cost. The technologies developed
at Empa are ready for transfer to industry.
Rough organic heterojunctionsIn addition to classical semiconductor-based
photovoltaics, Empa scientists are also inter-
ested in developing organic materials such
as polymers which promise to be economic
to produce. This project is, however, still in
its early stages. In this type of solar cell the
active layer usually consists of two materials,
one of which acts as an electron donor and
the other as an electron receptor. Sunlight
creates molecules in “excited states” in the
active layer, which then diffuse to the junc-
tion of the donor and acceptor material lay-
ers. Here, an electron transfer takes place, cre-
ating a positive and negative charge. The
shorter the distance to this interface be-
tween the donor and acceptor layers
and the larger its surface area, the
more frequently these electron trans-
fers occur. The Empa researchers
have therefore developed a new,
two-stage process which gives them
more control over the structure of
the interface surface. In the first stage
a mixture of the active material and a
“guest” polymer is used to create a thin
two-component layer with a very convoluted
boundary surface between them. In the sec-
ond stage the “guest” polymer is removed and
replaced with the second active component.
Contact
Prof. Dr Ayodhya [email protected]
22 | 23
Dyes in solar cellsAnother alternative is offered by dyes, simi-
lar to those used in photography. These mol-
ecules allow the creation of extremely thin
layers, obviating the need for the interface
to be structured. The Empa team has already
gone a step further by synthesizing dyes
which only absorb light in the near infra-red
(NIR) range. Since NIR light is invisible to
the human eye, such substances – and the
solar cells made using them – are colorless,
which means that they could be applied to
window panes.
Organic solar cells “made by Empa”. As an alternative to the established organicpolymers, Empa scientists are also usingdyes, already familiar from photographictechniques.
Dr Frank Nü[email protected]
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Diamond-like coatings for long-lasting artificial joints
Extra hard coatings are used to extend the operating lifetime of drill bits,computer hard drives and automobile components. If they work so well with tools and mechanical parts, then why not in artificial joints for humanstoo? In theory, they could. Practical experience shows, however, that suchcoatings often fail. Empa researchers have discovered why this is so, and
developed a process which allows them to predict the usable lifetime of a coating in the body.Nowadays most drill bits found in a store
have hard coatings, and for professional tools
this feature is of course a must. The coatings,
recognizable by their shimmering gold, gray
or black surfaces, improve the frictional prop-
erties of the part and reduce wear. One par-
ticular hard coating known as Diamond-like
Carbon or DLC has proven its value in com-
puter hard drives, saw blades, embossing
tools, razor blades, fuel-injection nozzles and
various other automotive components. What
could be more logical than putting the espe-
cially wear resistant and long-lived DLC coat-
ing onto medical implants too, for example
artificial joints? This would not only extend
the operating lifetime of the implant, it would
also avoid the creation of the 50 000 nano -
meter sized particles which are rubbed off a
conventional joint with every step the pa-
tient takes, and which may cau
tion and other unwanted effec
se inflamma-
ts in the body.
Only visible with high resolution analysis instruments: bodily fluid has penetrated into acrack (light zone) about five nanometers wide in the reaction layer between the implant
CoCrMo
DLC
Open Crack
Metal Carbides
(CoCrMo) and the DLC layer. This leads to the detachment of the coating.
10 nm
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:04 Seite 23
Empa scientists discovered why the implant coatings detached, and together with industrial partners
developed a method of predicting the expected operating lifetime of an implant in the human body prior to implantation. (iStock)Top in the laboratory DLC has withstood endless tests in the man-
ufacturer’s laboratory and has shown itself to
be well tolerated by human tissue, extremely
hard wearing and resistant to the relatively
aggressive environment in the body. Despite
this, when DLC was used in the human body
serious problems arose. The coatings were
not worn away by mechanical processes, as
might have been expected. Instead, after sev-
eral years of use, and for no apparent reason,
they detached from the surfaces of the im-
plant, mostly alloys of cobalt-chromium mo -
lybdenum (CoCrMo) or titanium aluminum
niobium (TiAlNb).
At this point Empa became involved. It was
only detailed studies of the boundary layers
– the contact surfaces between the different
materials – using high resolution analysis tech-
niques such as Focused Ion Beam (FIB), X-ray
Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Auger Elec -
tron Spectroscopy (AES) and Transmission
Electron Microscopy (TEM) which led to the
answer. The boundary layer represents the de-
ciding factor, as the Empa research team dis-
covered in the course of a project financed by
the Swiss Innovation Promotion Agency (CTI)
and the medical technology company Synthes
GmbH. When two materials adhere well, the
uppermost atomic layer of one material reacts
strongly with the lowest atomic layer of the
other material. This creates a zone which is
only a few atoms thick – the reaction layer, a
new material. The scientists showed that it is
this intermediate layer, which is often over-
looked because it is so thin, that was respon-
sible for the detachment of the DLC layer
since it is not a priori corrosion resistant.
24 | 25
Contact
Dr Roland Hauert
Various damage mechanismsAs an example, in one case stress corrosion
cracking occurred in the thin reaction layer
between the two materials. The mechanical
loading of the part in conjunction with the
penetration of body fluids led to slow growth
of the cracks, which in turn caused the coat-
ing to detach from the DLC-substrate after
some years in vivo. In addition to adhesion
promoting corrosion-stable interlayer, Empa
in cooperation with Synthes and the coating
company Ionbond is developing a process
which allows the crack growth rate under
similar conditions to those met in the human
body (in vitro) to be determined. This then
permits scientists to calculate the expected
operating lifetime of the coated implant in
the human body.
In another case implants failed in vivo due
to coating delamination, crevice corrosion
was responsible for the damage. Over time an
aggressive, acidic medium develops in fine
crevices, slowly dissolving the intermediate
layer which provides adhesion between coat-
ing and substrate. After several years this
caused the unexpected failure of the implant-
ed joint. The test process developed at Empa
was also successfully used with this damage
mechanism to be able to predict the expected
operating lifetime or time to failure of these
implants.
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“Intelligent” beds help fight bedsores
Bedsores – or decubitus ulcers, as they are known in medical jargon – are a constant problem in hospitals, nursing homes and clinics because of the severe painthey cause to long-term bedridden patients and the enormous effort required totreat them. In the battle against bedsores researchers from the Empa spin-off “compliant concept” have developed a retrofit system to treat this condition with
the aim of simplifying the elaborate treatment currently necessary and bringingthe bedridden patient.
technical matters.
the costs down to reasonable levels.
A healthy person changes position several
times an hour when asleep, a subconscious
protection mechanism. Long-term bedridden
patients, on the other hand, are generally not
capable of doing this due to their poor phys-
ical condition. When a part of the body is sub-
jected to pressure as a result of the body’s
own weight over an extended period, this
can cause a decubitus ulcer, or bedsore in
common parlance. The pressure prevents the
blood from circulating properly in the affect-
ed part, which no longer receives an ade-
quate supply of oxygen and therefore gradu-
ally dies. What makes the condition so de-
bilitating is that bedsores heal very poorly
and they are extremely painful. In severe cas-
es the wound may be so deep that the suf-
ferer’s bones or inner organs are exposed,
and then bedsores can be life-threatening.
To prevent bedsores staff in a clinic or nurs-
ing home must move patients every two or
three hours to a new position. The continu-
ous necessity for this activity represents an
enormous physical burden for the nursing
staff and frequently causes them muscular
pain and back problems. To turn a patient
weighing 70 kilograms in bed requires not
just a special technique but also a good deal
of strength.
Lack of trained nursing personnel According to a study by the Swiss Health Ob-
servatory (Obsan) and the “Careum” Foun-
dation, by the year 2030 there will be a short-
fall of up to 190 000 staff in the healthcare
sector. Already today there is a lack of trained
healthcare staff. Putting this another way,
the currently available personnel are forced
to care for more patients than they should, a
situation which can have extremely grave
consequences for bedridden patients in the
form of bedsores, which can develop within
just a few hours.
While it is true that there are some aids to
the prevention and treatment of decubitus
ulcers available on the market, these all suf-
fer from significant disadvantages. Either
they require a great deal of effort by nursing
staff to use, or they have negative effects on
the perception and bodily sensations of the
sufferer, or both. The latter effect can lead to
further disorientation and demobilization of
The Empa spin-off
“compliant concept”
“compliant concept’s” novel nursing system
is the work of an interdisciplinary team that
includes Emeritus Professor of Medicine Walter
O. Seiler. The research and development work
is carried out by erstwhile Empa researchers.
The prototypes are produced by the Hochschule
für Technik Rapperswil, and the following firms:
Festo AG, Bigla Care, Wissner-Bosserhoff,
Nauer AG, Sarna Plastec AG, Produ-Plast AG,
and Qualicut AG. Practical know-how is
provided by OBA AG, a specialist for nursing
bed mattresses. In medicinal areas “compliant
concept” is advised by the Swiss Paraplegics
Center and the University Hospital, Basel.
Empa and the ETH Zurich act as consultants for
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:04 Seite 25
Joint-free, compliant ribs foran adaptive car seat concept.Relieving pressure is alsohelpful for truck drivers onlong delivery trips.
Critical locations for bedsore development are identified using a pressure sensitive mat, in order to optimize the control of mattress movement.
Contact
Dr Michael Sauter
26 | 27
With “smart” materials against decubitus The Empa spin-off “compliant concept” has
developed a novel nursing retrofit system
which imitates the movements which a
healthy person makes during sleep and
should therefore prevent patients in hospi-
tals and nursing homes from developing bed-
sores. A cleverly designed system consisting
of an active slatted frame made of “intelli-
gent” structures together with a special mat-
tress should ensure that a bedridden user
does not remain in the same position for too
long. Instead the patient is so gently shifted
around that he or she hardly notices the
movement, thereby helping to prevent the
onset of bedsores. In addition this can also
encourage the patient to use his or her re-
maining mobile capability. The novel system
was developed by researchers from “compli-
ant concept” together with the Hochschule
für Technik, Rapperswil, and private indus-
try, with financial supported from the Swiss
Innovation Promotion Agency (CTI). The de -
vice should help to significantly reduce the
level of effort necessary by nursing staff, free-
ing time for them to devote to other tasks and
allowing them to offer more intensive care to
their patients.
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:04 Seite 26
Self – a prototype for future living
The two sister research institutes Empa and Eawag are puttingnew building concepts and energy technologies to the testwith “Self”, a modern dwelling module for living and working.The module is self-sufficient in terms of water and power consumption, and comes complete with a bedroom, bathroom
and kitchen.The “Self ” living module requires no external water or electric supplies. In March it endured wintery conditions on the shores of Lake Sihl near Einsiedeln.
The “Self” dwelling unit is conceived as a
living and working module for two people. It
is the size of studio flat or small apartment
and is independent of external supplies for
water and electric power. Since “Self” is eas-
ily transported and can be located practically
anywhere, it is particularly suitable for tem-
porary use in a very wide range of applica-
tions – as a mobile research station, for exam-
ple, or as a dwelling for event organizers, or
even a live-in advertising unit. The possibil-
ities are almost endless!
Two students of the Zurich University of the
Arts have chosen the Empa concept house
for their final-year degree project. They have
been working at Empa since 2008 on the im-
plementation of their design study. As a re-
search and demonstration project, “Self” is
intended to prove that it is possible to live
without restrictions on the level of comfort
enjoyed – at least temporarily – even though
only natural sources of energy are used.
9
is, th
ogen f
cause of the fire and the operational experi-
ence gained so far will be taken into account.
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:04 Seite 27
Putting the to the testHardly any o
reflects the “s
open market
made of spec
components.
ple is made o
sandwich sh
provided by h
els. A heat ex
ing air using h
the water fil
power and th
ter per flush.
In addition t
the practical
the test – that
usage of hydr
Independent of external water and electricity supplies“Self” is 7.7 meters long, 3.45 meters wide
and 3.2 meters high. Weighing in at just about
six tons, the dwelling cube is light enough to
be transportable by truck or helicopter. The
main challenge for the designers was how to
integrate the technology, supplies and physi -
cal space efficiently and without loss of com-
fort. The technical know-how, on the other
hand, was provided by Empa and Eawag as
well as partner institutions and companies.
In order allow for two people to be able to
live in the module for extended periods with-
out external supplies of water and electric
power, rainwater falling on the roof is collect-
ed and treated to provide drinking water. At
the same time lightly contaminated waste
water (“gray water”) is also recycled.
“Self ” combines technology, utility supplyand space usage efficiently and yet withoutloss of comfort, as illustrated by the images.Clockwise: living room, kitchen, sleepingquarter, washroom/shower. (Boris Adolf)
latest building technology
f the “Self” module’s features
tate of the art” available on the
. In fact nearly everything is
ially designed and tailor made
The building shell, for exam -
f fiberglass reinforced polymer
eets, and thermal insulation is
igh performance vacuum pan-
changer warms up fresh incom-
eat from the exhaust air stream,
ter uses practically no electric
e toilet uses only one liter of wa-
he project is being used to put
uses of hydrogen technology to
28 | 2
ing and heating. The hydrogen is produced
by electrolysis using environmentally friend-
ly electrical power generated by solar cells
on the roof of the module. Until it is needed
the hydrogen is stored in containers filled
with metal hydrides, also an Empa-devel-
oped novelty.
“Self 1” destroyed by fireOn Good Friday 2010 a technical fault led to
the complete destruction of the “Self 1” living
module. Despite this serious setback, Empa
is determined to continue with the project and
plans for a “Self 2” are already being drawn
up. The results of the investigation into the
e production, storage and
or such purposes as cook-
Contact
Mark [email protected]
Dr Adriano Joss
Housing technology in limited space. (Boris Adolf)
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:04 Seite 28
Bromine and chlorine free flame retardants
Application of flame retardant to textile materials makes themresistant to heat and flame. Empa scientists have developed
organo-phosphorous compounds which offer an alternative to the conventional, controversial, halogenaA small fire can very quickly turn into a dis-
aster. If it breaks out in a closed room, people
inside have just few minutes to get to safety.
After this time the chances of survival drop
dramatically because fire can easily spread in-
credibly fast. Even large rooms such as cine-
ma halls, theatres and discotheques can rap-
idly become death traps in the event of fire.
To help prevent fire accidents, stringent reg-
ulations are enforced to ensure that only ap-
propriate materials are used, i.e for textiles
used for theatre curtains and upholstery for
aircraft seats. Flame retardant additives for
textiles are intended to increase their resist-
ance to heat and flame exposure, thereby in-
creasing the chance of people to escape fire
accidents.
In addition to fire safety considerations, tex-
tiles must also meet other requirements, some
of which demand very high performance.
They must be resistant to various mechanical
and chemical actions during various manu-
facturing processes. Textiles which are in-
applied, such as those governing the choice of textilematerials. (iStock)
ted flame retardants.
tended to be worn or sat upon must also feel
comfortable to the skin. Textiles are regularly
washed and thus should retain all original
flame retardant properties and confer to flame
retardant regulations even after repeated
washings. Additionally, flame retardant tex-
tiles must be economical.
An alternative to halogenated flame retardantsHalogenated compounds containing bromine
and chlorine were for a long time the flame
retardants of choice. Over the past few years
they have raised environmental concerns.
Some of them decompose very slowly and
accumulate in the environment, and uncon-
trolled incineration may release highly toxic
substances such as halogenated furanes and
dioxins into the atmosphere. Thus, their usage
is regulated and some of them are banned.
Formaldehyde is used as an active ingredient
in some textile flame retardants to help co-
valent linkage to substrates. Formaldehyde is
considered as a carcinogen, and thus form -
alde hyde-free textile flame retardants are
needed. Existing formaldehyde-free cross -
linking agents cannot be used with all types
of flame retardants and hence search for
newer formaldehyde-free crosslinkers is also
gaining importance.
When fire breaks out, closed rooms can rapidly becomedeath-traps. For this reason stringent regulations are
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 29
In addition to fire safety considerations, textiles must also meet other requirements, some of which demand high performance. They should, for example, as far as possible be comfortable to wear.
250
200
150
100
100 200 300 400 500
T [°C]
Untreatedcotton
TEP
PAHEDE
HR
R, W
/g [
1% P
]
DEPA
50
0
Heat release measured with untreated cotton textile compared to those treated with various flame retardants (TEP, PAHEDE, DEPA). Treated cotton begins to thermally decompose at lower temperatures and releases less heat – in the case of PAHEDE onlyabout 50 per cent of that released by untreated cotton.HRR: Heat Release Rate in Watt/gram, measured with a pyrolysis combustion
flow calorimeter. 1% P: Flame retardant content: the total phosphorous content is maintained at 1 per cent by weight of the cotton.30 | 31
Contact
Hansruedi Schmid
Alternative flame retardants containing phosphorousPossible alternatives are phosphorous based
flame retardants. Empa researchers have been
investigating a class of organic phosphorous
compounds known as a phosphoramidates.
The core of these molecules is a phosphorous
atom linked to three oxygen atoms and a ni-
trogen atom. Scientists are able to link differ-
ent functional groups to the oxygen and ni-
trogen atoms to create potentially new flame
retardants. The newly synthesized compounds
are then applied to cotton textile materials and
their flame resistance and thermal decompo-
sition property for the treated material is fur-
ther analyzed. The tests show that cotton treat-
ed with phosphoramidates carbonizes cotton
at a lower temperature than the untreated ma-
terial, and also releases less heat during the
decomposition process.
The flame retarding characteristics can be
improved by using more suitable functional
groups on the phosphoramidate molecule. In
general these phosphoramidates possess
properties which are similar to or even better
than conventional flame retarding agents. In
future studies researchers intend to modify
the phosphoramidate molecules to contain
functional groups which can crosslink to
substrates on their own.
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 30
The placenta: “filter” for nanoparticles?
The question of whether nanoparticles have an effect on the human body – and if so, then how – touches on an area about which not much isknown. There is little information, for instance, on whether pregnant women exposed to these minute particles pass them on to their unborn babies. Scientists from Empa and the University Hospital Zurich have been
studying this question with the help of a human placenta perfusion model.placenta also ensures that the circulatory sys-
tems of the mother and fetus do not mix.
The unborn child is supplied with nutrients and oxygen via the placenta, which also ensures that the two blood circulation systems do not mix. (iStock)
Nanotechnology is not only expected to help
overcome existing challenges in the worlds of
medicine, energy supply and environmental
protection, it is also regarded as the mo-
tor of innovation for the Swiss econo-
my. However, this new technology
will only be able to establish it-
self over the long term if the po-
tential risks associated with it
– such as those posed by free
nanoparticles – are fully inves-
tigated and understood.
Over several years, Empa re-
searchers have been studying
the effects which various nano -
particles have on human cells and
tissue. This investigation will help
scientists to understand what problems –
if any at all – these tiny things might cause
when released into the human body (and in
the environment). As part of this effort, two
years ago scientists from Empa and Zurich’s
University Hospital began research on the NP
transport across the placenta, an organ which
acts as a filter between the mother and her
unborn child. Responsible for supplying the
fetus with sufficient nutrients and oxygen, the
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 31
During the investigation polystyrene nanoparticles wereinjected into the mother’s bloodsupply. Scientists then observed
1 μm
whether these were able to pass into the baby’s blood supply.
Is it a barrier for nanoparticles?The researchers wanted to know if nanopar-
ticles were able to cross the placental barrier.
Established animal models, such as those for
mice and rats, cannot be used for this pur-
pose as the placenta in these creatures is fun-
damentally different from that of the human
being. Normally it is not easy to carry out sci-
entific investigations on placental tissue, but
several mothers who gave birth to their ba-
bies in the hospital agreed to allow the re-
searchers to use their placentas for this study.
In the laboratory it is possible to maintain
both the mother’s and the baby’s circulatory
systems (which are closely linked) for sever-
al hours in these donated organs. The inves-
tigation required the researchers to add flu-
orescent polystyrene nanoparticles to the
mother’s blood circulation and then observe
if they were able to pass into the fetal circu-
lation. Polystyrene particles are particularly
suitable for this kind of test as they do not
cause stress in the surrounding tissue and
are easily detected.
Both the mother’s circulatory system and thatof the fetus can be main-
tained for several hours inthe laboratory.32 | 33
Learning to understand the transportmechanismThe particles injected into the placenta were
of different sizes, ranging from 50 nanome-
ters up to half a micron (500 nanometers).
The first result of the study was that the cut-
off size of the beads was between 200 and
300 nanometers. Particles smaller than this
range, crossed the placental barrier and en-
tered the fetal circulation while larger parti-
cles were held back. The fact that particles
below a certain cutoff size are able to pass
through to the placental tissue to the fetal
circuit is not really unexpected, but the phe-
nomenon must certainly be subject to fur-
ther study. The investigators from Empa and
the University Hospital Zurich are therefore
keen to understand the mechanism by which
the particles are transported across the bar-
rier – in both directions. They are not doing
this purely for the love of research, though.
They would like to determine how, in future,
nanoparticles might be used for therapeutic
purposes. The tiny particles could feasibly be
employed as a vehicle to transport medicines
in a targeted fashion to the circulatory system
of an unborn child, without this affecting the
mother’s health.
Contact
Dr Peter Wick
[email protected]jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 32
Surgeons are using synthetic materials to treat torn tendons ever morefrequently. An interdisciplinary team of Empa scientists has developed a synthetic tendon made of bicomponent fibers which degrades in
Artificial tendons made of biopolymers
of polyhydroxyalkanoate and a sheath of
polylactate.
the body after completing its job of providing support to the damagedtissues.
can snap when subject to extreme loading such as whenplaying tennis or snowboarding.
Tendons do an incredible job – an Achilles’
tendon, for example, can carry about ten
times the body’s weight. In order to under-
stand what material properties make ten-
dons so amazingly strong and tear-resistant,
and to apply this knowledge to help develop
novel synthetic tendons, Empa engineers, bi-
ologists and textile scientists began work on
the “PHATendon” project. They carried out a
literature search, questioned medical experts
and tested sheep tendons in the laboratory
to study such things as their properties un-
der tension. At the end of this phase of the
project, the scientists knew all the mechani-
cal parameters necessary to make an “ideal”
tendon.
The idea behind the research was to develop
an artificial tendon which was biocompati-
ble, elastic and could withstand heavy loads.
The synthetic tendon would provide support
to a torn human tendon and allow it to repair
itself, but only remain in the body for as long
as necessary for the healing process to com-
plete. The body’s own cells would attach them-
selves to the temporary substitute and multi-
ply, gradually replacing the damaged tissue.
After a suitable period of time, the synthetic
material would degrade and disappear.
Calcaneous
Achilles‘ tendon
Vastusmedialis
Vastuslateralis
Even the thickest tendon in the body, the Achilles’ tendon,
Polymers harvested from bacteria and spun into fibersBacteria provide the required material. Re-
searchers from Empa’s Biomaterials Labora-
tory cultured micro-organisms in a bioreac-
tor which produce polyhydroxyalkanoates or
PHAs, a family of natural biopolyesters. These
biopolymers have different characteristics de-
pending on which bacteria are used to pro-
duce them and what fatty-acids they are fed
on. To be useful for making artificial tendons
the material must not only be well tolerated
by the body, strong and elastic but also easy to
purify and capable of being spun into fibers.
The purified biopolymer material was then
made into fibers in Empa’s Melt Spinning
Plant. Specialists from the institution’s Ad-
vanced Fibers Laboratory used a method with
which they can spin filaments made of sev-
eral components, allowing different biopoly-
mers to be married together. In this manner
it is possible to exactly configure the required
characteristics of the final product, for exam-
ple how long it takes to decompose in the
body. The biopolymer which the project team
believes has the greatest potential has a core
P
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 33
iopipüi
The biopolymer fibers, which are produced in Empa’s Melt Spinning Plant, are woven into fabric and used as implants for in vivo experiments on rats.
100 µm
Connective tissue cells (fibroblasts, see yellow circles) growing on a textile surface made from biosynthetic material.
Woven material of multicomponent fibers (see arrow) is surrounded by denser connective tissue cells.
10 mm
200 µm
34 | 35
Contact
Dr Manfred Zinn
Biocompatibility and mechanical tests successful Researchers from the Materials-Biology Inter -
actions Laboratory have studied the biocom-
patibility of the raw material in cell cultures
with human cells known as fibroblasts. The
fibroblasts attached to the bicomponent fibers
and grew along them, completely surround-
ing them after a few days.
The spun filaments were then woven to tex-
tiles and then tested for elasticity, stretchabil -
ity and tear resistance in the Mechanical Sys-
tems Engineering Laboratory. Scientists used
the same test bed with which they had meas-
ured the ovine Achilles’ tendons at the start
of the project. The result: The data on the new
Empa tendons were similar to that measured
with sheep tendons.
To ensure that the synthetic material did not
cause any negative effects in animals, medical
experts from project partner AO Davos im-
planted artificial tendons made of the woven
polymers into rats and observed them for four
months. Initial results of investigations made
by the Ludwig Maximilian University in Mu-
nich showed that the muscle tissue surround-
ing the artificial tendon was not inflamed
and that the animals did not react to the im-
plant as a foreign body. Thanks to these en-
couraging results Empa can now begin fur-
ther development of the synthetic tendons in
cooperation with a partner from the medical
technology branch.
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 34
Precise microstructuring of glass fibers
To develop a lens which is smaller in diameter than a human hair and yet focuses light very accurately calls for the use of special methods. Empa researchers have managed to optimize the “Focused Ion Beam” technique to allow them to fabricate curved structures with high precision.
This process is of interest, for example, in the manufacture of prototypeso
it and make it more robust. In order to shape
the end of a fiber into a microlens a Focused
The electron microscope image shows a section through a microlens created using the FIB.
in the fields of photonics and microelectr
Nowadays the use of glass fibers is no longer
reserved solely for special applications – they
are also used in private households. Glass
fibers are probably the best known form of
fiber optic waveguides, transmitting signals
optically in the form of light pulses, rather
than electrically as in conventional copper
wires. Optical transmission techniques offer
much higher data rates, that is, the quantity
of information transmitted in time – up to
levels of Terabits per second. Data-intensive
computing applications profit most from this
high transmission rate, including for instance
the exchange of information between com-
puter centers and banks or universities, but
also internet downloads and telephony or on-
line gaming.
Glass fibers are not only used for long dis-
tance data transmission though. They are be-
ing used ever more frequently to interconnect
microelectronic components such as proces-
sors within a rack or on a circuit board. Pho-
tonics deals with both optical transmission as
well as optical processing and data storage
techniques. In order to ensure that the data
transmission between individual components
functions correctly it is necessary to control
the shape of the light beam as it enters or
leaves the glass fiber. One way of doing this
nics.
is to integrate a microlens to the end of the
fiber. Scientists involved in research and, in
particular, prototype manufacturing are par-
ticularly interested in this method, which al-
lows them to create three-dimensional struc-
tures on the nanometer scale in an extremely
precise and reproducible manner.
As thin as a human hairGlass fibers are very fine structures. The fiber
consists of a core which has a diameter of just
five to ten micrometers and a cladding with
a diameter of 125 micrometers, which is about
the thickness of a human hair. The light beam
is transmitted through the core. Layers of syn-
thetic material surround the fiber to protect
The “Focused Ion Beam” instrument is ideal for preciselyshaping fiber optic devices, for example glass fibers.
1 µm
7
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 35
1.0
0.8
Nor
mal
ized
inte
nsit
y
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0-2 210
Transversal direction [µm]-1
Ion Beam or FIB system
strument works in the
ning electron microscop
instead of electrons. No
to image surfaces, it can
them, with ions knockin
surface in a controlled
difficult to precisely sh
al structure in this way
effects arise in deep s
slopes required to form
this problem a team of E
succeeded in optimizin
fabricate the required
precision.
Glass fibers are becoming ever more popularfor telecommunication applications. With diameters about that of a human hair, precise methods must be use to shapetheir ends. (iStock)
Empa researchers test the quality of a microlens by comparing the optical properties calculated by computer
simulation (red line) with the mthe SNOM (blue circles).can be used. This in-
same way as a scan-
e, though it uses ions
t only can it be used
also be used to shape
g out atoms from the
way. However, it is
ape three-dimension-
because non-linear
tructures with steep
microlenses. Despite
mpa researchers has
g the FIB process to
structures with high
easurements made with
36 | 3
Optimized method produces the required structuresAfter shaping the microlens the researchers
measured its dimensions in order to check its
quality. Because the focal length was only
about five micrometers and the light is focused
to a point less than a micrometer across they
had to use a special measurement system
known as Scanning Near-field Optical Micro-
scope or SNOM. While optical microscopes
are not suitable for viewing such small objects
due to the diffraction limit, the SNOM side-
steps this problem by only using light which
is exchanged between the microscope probe
tip and the object itself, which is scanned very
close to the surface. This gives a resolution
well below the diffraction limit.
The test results demonstrated that the meas-
urements with the SNOM and computer sim-
ulation data were in satisfactory agreement.
The FIB is therefore an ideal instrument to
shape locally various kinds of optical struc-
tures such as photonic crystals, crystal fibers
and planar waveguides, as well as glass fibers
themselves with high precision.
Contact
Dr Rolf Brönnimann
[email protected]jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 36
Unwanted legacy from glaciers
Everything that a glacier collects and conceals in its ice mass over aperiod of many years eventually comes to light when it finally melts.This is also true for so-called POPs (persistent organic pollutants),man-made organic substances which break down very slowly undernatural conditions. Empa researchers have analyzed sediment layers taken from a glacial lake and have been able to identify the
melting glacier astances.s a secondary source of these long-banned sub-
Taking samples from Lake Stein. In order to adequately stabilize the drill usedto extract the sample cores the lake must be frozen.
When glaciers shrink as a consequence of
global warming, the receding tongue expos-
es items that have been concealed in the ice
mass for decades or even centuries. This in-
cludes chemical substances which were
banned years ago such as POPs, persistent
organic pollutants which degrade very slow-
ly. Belonging to this category of chemicals
are compounds used for example as plasti-
cizers (softening agents) and pesticides, as
well as dioxins. Many of these POPs are en-
docrine disrupters, carcinogenic and are sus-
pected of interfering with the development
of humans and animals. In addition they are
extraordinarily long-lived and can be trans-
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
Scientists can read the sediment layers in a drillcore like the rings in a tree trunk. (Eawag)
to be increasing. The levels of these chlorine
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 37
ported huge distances through the atmos-
phere, which explains why they are found
practically everywhere across the globe –
even in glaciers, in the middle of high alpine
ecosystems, some of which are extremely
fragile.
Drill cores extracted from a glacial lakeWhen glaciers melt, the runoff washes the
POPs out into glacial lakes, where they sink
to the bottom and accumulate in sediment.
This has happened – and is still happening –
in the Lake Oberaar, which has been inves-
tigated by a combined research group from
Empa, ETH Zurich and Eawag. This lake, an
artificial reservoir formed upstream of a dam
built in 1953, lies in the Bernese Oberland
close to the Grimsel Pass at an altitude of 2300
meters above sea level and collects melt wa-
ter from the Oberaar Glacier. In the winter of
2006 scientists extracted drill cores from the
sediment of the frozen lake, cut them into
slices and freeze-dried the samples. Empa
chemists analyzed the different layers of sed -
iment and were able to confirm that from
1960 to 1970 large quantities of POPs were
produced and emitted into the atmosphere,
with some accumulating in the bottom of
alpine lakes. It was also clear that the ban-
ning of these substances at the beginning of
the 1970’s resulted in a massive reduction in
their concentrations in sediment layers dat-
ing from that period.
Renewed increase of POP levels in most recent sediment layersAt least as impressive, and just as surprising,
was the fact that the concentrations of POPs
in the most recent sediment layers were found
In Empa’s laboratories thedifferent sediment layerswere analyzed for variouschemicals, including POPs.
38 | 39
Contact
Dr Peter [email protected]
Dr Christian [email protected]
Prof. Dr Flavio Anselmetti
containing substances at the end of the 1990’s
was actually higher in some cases than in the
1960’s and 70’s. One possible explanation for
this phenomenon lies in the fact that the lake
is primarily fed by melt water runoff from
the Oberaar Glacier, whose tongue has re-
treated by about 1.6 kilometers since 1930.
In the past decade alone it has shrunk by 120
meters and has therefore recently released a
relatively large quantity of stored pollutants.
This proves for the first time what environ-
mental researchers have long suspected,
namely that glaciers represent a secondary
source for the renewed emission of POPs and
similar pollutants into our ecosystems which
must be taken seriously.
Scientists from Empa, ETH Zurich, PSI and
Eawag – including chemists, glaciologists and
sedimentologists – are now planning to study
the pathways which pollutants take in the
“eternal ice” in more detail. The aim is to
find out how glaciers store POPs, what paths
they take within the glacier, what chemical
changes, if any, they undergo when subject
to strong UV light and whether we can ex-
pect to see even higher levels of these pollu-
tants in the future.
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 38
A first step to the hydrogen society
Using hydrogen as a fuel could free us from our dependency on oil, gas and coal. However, in contrast to the naturally occuring fossil fuels, hydrogen must first be produced – by usingrenewable energy, of course. Empa has developed a conceptualdesign for such a system, based on the sustainable hydrogen cycle,for its site in Duebendorf.
Photovoltaic cells could be installed on the roofs of the buildings on Empa’sDuebendorf site, an area of some 5500 square meters. They would provide
th
Empa’s hydrogen specialists have set them-
selves an ambitious target – together with an
interdisciplinary team of scientists, they aim
to make the dream of setting up an environ-
mentally friendly hydrogen based energy
supply at the institution’s Duebendorf prem-
ises come true. In a few years the roofs of the
buildings on the site could all be a shimmer-
ing blue color, for up to 5500 square meters
of roofing could be used to support a large
photovoltaic system, about as large as a soc-
cer field in fact. The electric current generat-
ed by the solar cells would be used to power
a new, appropriately sized electrolysis system
which splits water into its constituent ele-
ments hydrogen and oxygen.
The hydrogen so produced should be enough
to fuel around a score of motor cars, which
is about the entire fleet of Empa and Eawag
vehicles. Instead of obnoxious gases, only
harmless water vapor would emerge from
their exhaust pipes. In addition, several Empa
laboratories would be able to make use of the
hydrogen as a raw material.
One controversial point, however, is whether
photovoltaic systems make sense in Central
Europe’s rather cloudy climate. On the sub-
ject of energy supplies in the post fossil fuel
age, one automatically tends to think of enor-
mous solar farms in the Sahara or other desert
power for
areas of the world. Despite this, Empa’s ex-
perts point out that the amount of solar en-
ergy which falls on the Duebendorf site is still
half that in the desert regions of the Earth.
Bearing this in mind, they are convinced that
photovoltaic power generation will pay off in
Central Europe too.
Implementing the project despite alack of fundingThe cost of the planned hydrogen project is
estimated at CHF 1.5 million. To Empa’s dis-
appointment, no public funding organization
is willing to support the idea of installing a
hydrogen cycle plant on its premises. Despite
this blow, the researchers plan to implement
e electrolysis plant, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen.
the system one step at a time. The pilot proj-
ect involves several of Empa’s core research
40 | 41
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 39
areas, above all photovoltaics and combus-
tion engine research.
The institution’s own on-site refueling sta-
tion will shortly be converted to supply nat-
ural gas, giving scientists the opportunity to
gain experience in handling gaseous fuels
and laying the groundwork for developing a
safe and simple hydrogen fuelling system.
The other components necessary to complete
the installation, such as the electrolysis plant
and the hydrogen storage system, should also
be constructed during 2010 in
research activities.
ContactProf. Dr Andreas Züttel
H2
H2O H2O
H
OH-
OH-e-
AnodePhotovoltaics
Storage
Conversion into work
Electricity Oxygen (O2)
Production(Electrolysis)
ElectrolyteKOH/H2O
e-
Cathode
O2
O2
H2O
O2H2
Water (H
2 O)
Hyd
rog
en (
H2)
Hyd
ro
gen (H2)
Oxy
gen
(O
2)
Materials Science & Technology
the course of
The theory behind the hydrogen cycle: the environmentally friendlyproduction of hydrogen is made possible by usingsolar energy.
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 40
Direct conversion of waste heat into electricity
Empa scientists want to be able to generate environmentally friendly electricity from heat (in particular from solar and waste heat) with the helpof ceramics known as perovskites. Thanks to their suitable structure these metal oxides are able to convert heat directly into electric current. The conversion process is neither based on mechanical nor on chemical
processes, and is solely a function of the materials properties.They are known as thermoelectrics – mate-
rials which produce electric current when a
difference in temperature is applied within
them. The process involves no noise, no wear,
no emissions and very low climate changing
effects. Empa researchers are engaged in de-
veloping suitable materials which can be used
to make this phenomenon practically useful.
Thermoelectrics are not new, but the mate-
rials used to date contain the rare and there-
fore expensive metal tellurium, which is also
poisonous. Not only that, they are stable
only to about 300 degrees Celsius and have
a conversion efficiency of merely eight per
cent, factors which have so far limited their
usage to niche applications in e.g. space
crafts. The aim of Empa’s scientific team is to
develop non-toxic, stable, efficient and – not
least – economic thermoelectric materials.
The most internationally renown scientists
met at the second “Thermopower Sympo-
sium” held at Empa in July 2009 and pre-
sented their latest results along with the
Empa researchers reporting on ceramic ther-
moelectrics with perovskite-type structures.
Crystalline converters for a sustainable energy technologyNaturally occurring and artificial perovskites
consist of positively charged metal ions (such
as calcium and titanium) and oxygen. Crys-
tals of the mineral perovskite are frequently
black or reddish-brown in color, and have a
very stable structure which allows accom-
modating various elements from the periodic
table. Depending on the chosen composition
the very attractive properties of memers from
this family of compounds can be modified in
a desired way to obtain novel functional ma-
terials for future energy applications. In air
they are exceptionally stable, and can there-
fore be used in high temperature applications,
e.g. to convert concentrated solar energy at
up to 2000 degrees Celsius or to convert
waste heat from exhaust gases of combus-
tion processes.
What is special about perovskites lies in their
flexible crystal structure, which allows signif-
icant changes in their chemical composition
And depending on their particular formula
they demonstrate different conductivities;
they can be insulating, semiconducting, met -
al like conducting or even superconducting.
Good thermoelectrics are showing a high See-
beck coefficient (or thermopower), excellent
electrical conductivity and very low thermal
conductivity. The Empa team aims to reach
this goal by nanostructuring the material. Fur-
ther optimization of the thermoelectric mate-
rial was achieved in the laboratory when the
researchers substituted certain atoms in the
perovskite-type structures. In other words,
they synthesized new materials whose abil-
ity to convert heat into electrical energy will
be improved by understanding the influence
of the structure and composition on the ther-
moelectric properties to systematically tailor
improved materials.
Perovskite crystal structure.
In contrast to conventional thermoelectric
materials, the charge carriers in perovskites
Piopipüi
42 | 43
odule) energy converter developed by Empa scientists.
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 41
move by “hopping”. This process is very de-
pendent on the neighboring atoms in the crys-
tal lattice and can therefore be modified in
specific ways by suitable material design
techniques. The Empa scientists have suc-
ceeded in significantly raising the energy per
charge carrier (the “spin-entropy”), and there-
fore in improving the thermoelectric power
of the new material. A special form of calci-
um manganate has so far proven to be the
best n-conducting perovskite thermoelectric
in the world. As a next step, the research
team plans to demonstrate the suitability of
the new energy conversion system for real
life applications such as using the waste heat
from an internal combustion engine or con-
The TOM (thermoelectric oxid m
centrated solar radiation to generate power.
The Seebeck effect
A difference in temperature across an electrical
conductor causes a difference in electrical
potential and therefore a voltage across it. This
phenomenon, known as the thermoelectric
effect, is named after Thomas Johann Seebeck
who discovered it in 1821. On the warmer side
of the conductor the free electrons have greater
kinetic energy and move increasingly to the
colder side, where the electron density increases,
thereby creating a potential difference.
Contact
Heat distribution along a thermoelectric energy converter.
Prof. Dr Anke [email protected]
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 42
sonRAIL: a computer model for quiet trains
Empa’s acoustics specialists have developed a computer model which allows them to calculate noise levels along the entire Swiss rail network.The simulation software models the ways in which noise is created andpropagated, and how it is dampened. The results show where residents
near to railway lines are exposed to particularly high levels of noisegenerated by trains at night not only seems
to be
During a three year period Empa scientists carried out noise emissionmeasurements on some 15 000 passing trains at 18 locations inSwitzerland (in the foreground to theright the measuring equipment).
and how this can be reduced.
The free movement of goods in Europe has
led to an increase in the quantities of cargo
transported – and therefore to more rail traf-
fic. In Switzerland, the rail network is filled
to capacity during the day with passenger
services; freight is moved mainly at night.
The problem is that goods trains are partic-
ularly noisy, and they operate when most
people are asleep.
If the policy of diverting freight traffic from
road to rail is to be a success, then freight
trains must be made significantly quieter.
The Swiss Federal Office for the Environ-
ment (FOEN) has therefore given Empa to-
gether with other partners the task of devel-
oping a computer model to calculate noise
levels along the railway lines of the national
network. The ultimate aim is that sonRAIL,
the name given to the model, should show
where and which noise reducing measures
should be applied for maximum effect.
While it is true that a two meter high acoustic
barrier efficiently reduces the rolling noise
generated by train wheels, the drone of the
ventilation system on the roof of a low-floor
coach remains a nuisance. In order to correct-
ly evaluate how railway noise affects nearby
residents and to indicate how this might be
minimized, Empa’s acoustic scientists had to
collect an enormous quantity of data. They
had to identify and measure every source of
noise, and then determine sound propaga-
tion, as well as amplification and damping
effects.
Rail vehicle noise depends on many factorsHow intense the noise of a rail vehicle is, and
how badly it affects local residents depends
on a host of factors such as the type of train
involved, the track bed characteristics and
the topography of the surrounding area,
whether buildings reflect or dampen the
acoustic energy, and the current state of the
weather. Only when all these parameters are
factored into the calculation is it possible to
exactly quantify the noise level. Even the time
of day plays a part in the model – the noise
louder, it actually is.
Noise is emitted by different parts of rail vehicles: not just the wheels at track levelbut also the pantograph and cooling system on the roof.
Piopipüi
eel noise most ef-
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 43
source.
Rolling noise could also
materials used for the track
the rails, sleepers and ball
chosen. The Empa team in
successor project to invest
terial combinations and ra
tion techniques reduce wh
fectively.
Noise emissions due to rail traffic along the track can be
Enormous quantities of data requiredfor the computer simulationDuring the development and validation of
the sonRAIL noise simulation model Empa
researchers and their project partners carried
out acoustic measurements on about 15 000
trains as they passed 18 different locations
between 2007 and 2008. At each data collec-
tion point they also measured how rough the
rail surface was and how strongly the track
vibrated. It could be shown that with smooth
rails the noise level could be reduced by up
to ten decibels, which is a quite respectable
halving of the sound intensity, right at its
be reduced if the
superstructure –
ast – are carefully
tends to devote a
igating which ma-
il track construc-
precisely analyzed and predictedusing computer models.
44 | 45
Contact
Dr Jean-Marc Wunderli
Usage in practicesonRAIL can be used by federal government
and local authorities as well as other inter-
ested parties to evaluate noise levels and
abatement measures for existing and planned
railway routes. The model not only predicts
the noise levels at individual buildings, it can
also be used to create large scale noise level
maps. As the first practical use of the model,
the Empa team calculated noise levels along
a part of the primary north-south corridor
through Switzerland. This 50 kilometer length
of track passes 30 000 buildings and is lined
with 17 noise barriers. The calculation has
been running day and night since the begin-
ning of 2010 on 40 processors of Empa’s
“Ipazia” computing cluster. In the first six
weeks of the simulation an area of some 340
square kilometers was analyzed and the
noise levels at 172 000 locations along the
rail track determined.
Research and industrial partners
– Technische Universität Berlin, Rail Vehicle Dept.
– Prose AG
– LCC Consulting
– SISE
– Railway Research Organization, Berlin
– Sulzer Innotec
– PSIA Austria
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 44
Empa Inside
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Technology Transfer
Transforming research results into marketable products
Working with Empa pays off! The institution offers private companies and public organizations access to high-tech infrastructure and governmental support. In addition, everyone involved benefits from the exchange of ideas
and experience which take place. In 2009 the number of cooperative researchprojects rose significantly with over seventto power espresso machines on the mobile minibars onSwiss trains with electricity generated by fuel cells. (SBB)
y agreements being concluded.
The aim of the Technology Transfer team at
Empa is to take the results of applied re-
search and transform them into marketable
innovations. The team assists and advises
research groups, for instance, in negotiating
agreements with industry to commercialize
the results of their work.
To protect its intellectual property rights,
Empa filed 20 patent applications in 2009.
The institution’s patent portfolio currently
encompasses 48 “patent families”. In addi-
tion, twelve new licensing agreements were
signed with industrial partners, thus secur-
ing income which Empa uses to finance new
research projects and to intensify its technol-
ogy transfer efforts.
Espresso machine uses power from fuel cellEmpa is participating in a project partly fi-
nanced by the Swiss Innovation Promotion
Agency (CTI) in which an innovative system
for electrical power supply of the espresso
Empa is taking part in a CTI project to develop a system
machines on minibars in Swiss trains is
brought to market readiness. Novel is that
the power is generated by fuel cells. The oth-
er partners involved are Elvetino and Swiss
Federal Railways, Serto, Bern University of
Applied Sciences, Engineering and Informa-
tion Technology (Biel) and the Paul Scherrer
Institute (PSI). Empa’s contribution lies in the
development of a metal hydride storage sys-
tem which makes optimal use of the waste
heat from the fuel cell to aid the release of
the stored hydrogen.
Soft magnetic components – optimized for electric motorsAt the focus of another CTI financed project
is a soft magnetic material for use in brush-
less electric motors. The new material is in-
tended for magnetic cores or flux-guiding ap-
plications, making possible the production
of powerful, low-loss motors. The project de -
mands interdisciplinary know-how on motors
and process design, as well as on soft magnet-
ic materials, and therefore involves the par-
ticipation of as many as four Empa laborato-
ries and three industrial partners from the
metal and motor branches.
High-tech tuning for force microscopesEmpa researchers have succeeded in combin -
ing an atomic force microscope (AFM) with
another instrument designed to measure the
macroscopic physical properties of materials,
known as the Physical Properties Measure-
ment System or PPMS. The new, high-perfor-
mance combined device can be used, for ex-
ample, in developing tomorrow’s magnetic
hard-drive storage systems. This technology
Piopipüi
al partner is under negotiation.
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The PPMS-AFM combines the atomic force microscope with an instrument for measuring macroscopic physical
properties. (r-to-l) Raphaëlle Dianoux, Managing Director of Nanoscan AG, and HanNanoscale Materials ScienBicomponent fibers used to reinfois simply added to the cement mixthe fibers which then are distribu
was licensed to NanoScan AG in 2009 and the
Empa spin-off company has already begun to
market the instrument. In addition, last year
NanoScan AG signed a cooperative agree-
ment with the German firm IONTOF, already
an Empa partner in a current EU project.
New cladding material with ideal properties for interior use Materials used within living areas can have
a significant influence on the well being of
the inhabitants of buildings. Empa has de-
veloped a material for use in wall and ceiling
cladding elements which absorbs humidity,
dampens noise and is both fire resistant and
environmentally harmless. As if that were not
enough, it also cleans the air in a room while
being resistant to mildew and biological de-
composition. Prototype sheets of this new
multifunctional material are as strong and
cost the same as conventional cladding ele-
ments. A licensing contract with an industri-
s Josef Hug, Head of Empa’sce Laboratory.
rce concrete are delivered as a “Powerpacket” which ture. The packaging dissolves during mixing, releasing ted evenly throughout the mass.
48 | 49
Innovation Prize 2009 for the development of a bicomponent fiberConcrete is frequently strengthened with
steel fibers when reinforcement with heavy-
duty steel mesh is not necessary, for example
in the construction of thin cellar walls, indus-
trial flooring, cement plates, tunnel cladding
or for sprayed concrete applications. Steel
fibers have disadvantages, however–they can
rust, they are stiff (and so can injure workers)
and they are heavy. An Empa team, working
in cooperation with an industrial partner and
supported by CTI, has developed an econom-
ic polymer fiber which can withstand high
levels of mechanical loading. A new manu-
facturing technique is used to produce these
bicomponent fibers, which have a core of
cheap polypropylene (PP) surrounded by a
thin sheath of tailor-made polymer material
suitable in chemical and mechanical terms
for use with cement-based building materi-
als. The project was honored with the Empa
Innovation Award 2009 as being an excellent
example of the transformation of research re-
sults from the science laboratory into practi-
cal industrial applications.
Contact
Marlen Müller
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Technology Centers
glaTec and tebo – fertile grounds for start-up companies
Empa’s two technology centers, glaTec and tebo, act as a bridge between science and industry by bringing young firms nearer to the institution in both physical and thematic terms. Despite the difficult economic situation, some of the enterprises in the two “business incubators” are enjoying a
good deal of succe ss.A winner from glaTec DuebendorfThe 4th Heuberger Winterthur Young Entre-
preneur’s Award 2009 represents a success
story for the glaTec technology center locat-
ed on Empa’s Duebendorf site. One of the
winners, and recipient of CHF 150 000 prize
money, is the Empa spin-off company com-
pliant concept GmbH. This young firm, which
is supported by glaTec, has developed an in-
telligent bed system which is designed to
prevent bedsores in long term bedridden pa-
tients (see page 26/27). The heart of the bed
consists of a set of compliant systems re-
searched and developed by Empa, the ETH
Zurich, and the University of Applied Sci-
ences in Rapperswil. In contrast to conven-
tional mechanisms the flexibility of compli-
ant systems is based on elastic deformation
of the material itself, and not on the sliding
and rolling of rigid components. compliant
concept GmbH is the second glaTec start-up
company to receive this renowned award, the
first being Optotune AG in the year before.
The team from compliant concept GmbH (l-to-r): Adrian Baerlocher, Michael Sauter, Jonathan Wehren and Gisbert Doerr.
Piopipüi
61
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bluesign® conference draws textile decision makers to the teboThe economic crisis has also left its mark on
the companies in the tebo technology center
located on Empa’s St.Gallen site, although
with varying effects. While one young start-
up had to temporarily reduce the working
hours of its employees, other firms “merely”
suffered drops in turnover at the beginning
of the year. One good example of significant
development under difficult circumstances
is the young firm bluesign technologies ag. A
stream of new partners, primarily from Asia,
and numerous commissions to carry out on-
site evaluation work based on the principles
defined by the bluesign® standards show how
successful the company’s business activities
were in 2009. The large number of decision
makers from the textile industry attending
the bluesign® conference in July 2009 bears
witness to the importance of this standard.
Under the motto “Gain Trust – Take Respon-
sibility”, over a hundred bluesign technolo-
gies ag partners, from all stages of the textile
manufacturing and value chain, discussed
the topic of sustainability in the production
and marketing of textile materials. In a reso -
lution following the UN decade of “Education
for Sustainable Development”, participants
pledged to support the voluntary education
of school children in regard to the environ-
ment, behavior and attitudes, and sustainable
consumption.
01 | 050 | 5
There were other changes in tebo too. Three
companies moved out and three new ones
moved in, as did a group from the University
of St.Gallen’s “Center for Entrepreneurial
Excellence” (CEE). This is the visible result
of increased cooperation between the tebo,
the University of St.Gallen, and also the Uni-
versity of Applied Sciences St.Gallen in en-
couraging young entrepreneurs in Eastern
Switzerland.
Contact
glaTecMario [email protected]
tebo
Podium discussion with (l-to-r) Greg Scott (Mountain Equipment Co-op), Jeff Nash (The North Face), Jill Dumain (Patagonia) and Richard Collier (Helly Hansen) during the bluesign® conference.
Peter [email protected]
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Innovation “Made in Switzerland” – topics for discussion
Over 2500 specialists drawn from the worlds of the economy, the professional associations and governmental administration took part in the various events held at the Empa Academy in 2009. Almost as many scientists discussed the verylatest research results at conferences, courses and expert lectures held over the same period. In addition, the Science Apéros organized by the Academy
Empa Academy
attracted around 400 interested visitors.
Experts from the textile industry catching up on the latest developmentsin their field at the Innovation Day in September.
Symposia for specialistsFor the fourth time the “Innovation Day” for
the textile industry took place at the Empa
Academy. About 200 participants from busi-
ness, research and educational fields were
offered insights into “Adaptive Systems – the
future is flexible”. Among the items present-
ed was a multi-component fiber with a spe-
cial liquid in its core which acts as a flexible
shock absorber. The fiber can be used to make
comfortable protective vests which only be-
come rigid when subject to a rapid shock.
Intelligent materials and systems face a prom-
ising future – science and politics are in agree-
ment on this point. Many Swiss companies
are, however, investing only cautiously in re-
search and development in these times of
economic crisis. To change this state of affairs
the Swiss Innovation Promotion Agency (CTI)
and Empa invited some 200 guests from in-
dustry and science to the national Innova-
tions Briefing on “Smart Materials” at the
Empa Academy. Participants were informed
of the Federal Governments steps to encour-
age investment and the new NFP 62 “Smart
Materials” National Research Program. Ex-
perts from Empa and other research institutes
presented their latest projects and illustrated
the ways in which science and industry could
successfully cooperate. The event enabled the
CTI and Empa to get over the message that
they were willing, able and ready to support
industry and SMEs to exploit the advantages
offered by the revolutionary market of the fu-
ture which “intelligent materials” represents.
Piopipüi
01 | 0652 | 53
bring in its wake, such as that from free
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Science apéros – sources of information on current topicsWhether in the steel construction industry,
information technology field, the textile sec-
tor or cosmetics – nanotechnology has some-
thing to offer to everyone. The 40th Science
Apéro in Duebendorf was therefore devoted
to the numerous opportunities made possible
by this innovative technology. The 200-odd
guests listened attentively to the speakers and
discovered that “Nano makes a difference!”
“What next after Oil?” was the subject dis-
cussed by some 140 people at the 41st Sci-
ence Apéro. Held at the Empa’s St.Gall site,
the theme of the 42nd event in the series was
Electro-mobility, an alternative method of
providing the freedom of movement so dear
to us all.
NanoConvention 2009 – overcoming challenges with “Nano”Whether in the field of medicine, in the sus-
tainable energy supply sector or in the world
of environmental protection, the challenges
which the future holds are hardly to be mas-
tered without the help of nanotechnology.
The 150 or so visitors with an interest in nano -
technology, drawn from research, industry,
the administration and the financial world,
who attended the 3rd “NanoConvention” in
Zurich on July 6th were all convinced of this.
At the same time, the event also concluded
that it was essential to take a close look at
the potential risks the new technology might
nanoparticles.
At the Science Apéro on Electro-mobility heldat Empa in St.Gall, interested visitors hadthe opportunity to
take both e-bikes and e-scooters for a test spin.Contact
Dr Anne Satir
A gifted communicator at the NanoConvention 2009:Bertrand Piccard – researcher, visionary, pioneer of solarflight. He enthralled the public with his “Solar Impulse”project.
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Research also means taking responsibility
Innovations and new technologies have a huge impact on our everyday lives. It is, therefore, essential that society conduct an open discussion on beneficialand “not-quite-so-beneficial” developments. For as long as anyone can remember Empa’s activities have dealt with the interface between science and society, and the institution is intensively engaged in encouraging dialog
Science in Dialog
between the two by virtue of, for example, special events and guided visitsthough its laboratories.
”The Limits to Growth”, thanks Xaver Edelmann, President of the WRF and member ofEmpa’s Board of Directors.
his interest in the latest Empaprojects in the area of resourceefficiency and life-cycle analysis.
As was the case for the 3rd “edition” of Empa’s
NanoConvention in 2009 (see page 52/53),
nanotechnology also played the primary role
in the public lecture series entitled “Opportu-
nities and Risks of Nanotechnology”, held at
the University of St.Gall and organized for the
first time by Empa researchers. Around 300
interested persons attended the six events, in
which topics such as nanomaterials for med-
icine, innovative nanotextiles and the effects
of “nano” on the environment, society and
health were illuminated from different angles
and discussed in detail.
In September Empa, together with the Swiss
Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW)
and other partners, organized the first “World
Resources Forum” (WRF) in Davos, an inde-
pendent, international discussion platform
devoted to the topic of our planet’s rapidly
A successful premiere: Dennis Meadows (right), coauthor of the ”Club of Rome” study
dwindling resources
are, through the WRF
The Peruvian Environmental Minister Antonio Brack shows
. Empa and its partners
, explicitly pursuing the
Piopipüi
meeting young researchers from Spain and South America working at Empa. Nanotechnology” at the University of St.Gall: (l-to-r) Peter Wick, Katharina Maniura,
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 53
aim of delivering realistic recommendations
to enable politicians to make informed deci-
sions for a sustainable development. At the
closing of the forum participants released a
declaration – a “Call for Action” – with sugges-
tions for tackling the shortage of resources.
International guests visiting Empa’s laboratories During a visit to the institution, the Peruvian
Environmental Minister, Antonio Brack, seized
the opportunity to learn the latest details of
Empa’s research and development projects in
the areas of resource efficiency and life-cycle
analysis. Thanks to various research projects
in China, India and South Africa (among oth-
ers) and through its technical monitoring of
Swiss e-Waste recycling operations, Empa has
many years of experience in the implemen-
tation of environmentally friendly recycling
measures. In Peru the institution is responsi-
ble for the supervision and implementation
of future e-Waste recycling projects.
Another guest was the Spanish Minister for
Science and Innovation, Cristina Garmendia.
Spain would like to strengthen its cooperation
with Swiss researchers and accelerate the
process of technology transfer to its industry
– a topic of outstanding importance also to
Empa. After being shown around the labora-
tories and taking part in a discussion with
young researchers from Spain and Latin Amer -
ica, the Minister expressed admiration for the
breadth of the institution’s research portfolio.
Science and technology transfer were also
central to visits by high ranking representatives
of the governments of several autonomous
republics and regions of the Russian Federa-
tion, the aim being to intensify economic co-
operation. Empa’s technology centers, tebo in
Bernd Nowack, Harald Krug, M
St.Gall and glaTec in Duebendorf, met with
great interest in this context.
Youngsters with enthusiasm for science and technologyOnce again in 2009 Empa researchers partic-
ipated in the “TecDays” at several cantonal
High Schools, an initiative by the SATW to fos -
ter interest for the natural sciences, engineer-
ing and technology in the young. Specialists
from the worlds of science, technology and
industry offered the youngsters an overview
of their research activities. One of the co-
found ers of the event (and member of Empa’s
Board of Directors), Pierangelo Groening, was
proud to have been awarded excellent marks
by the young audience for his lecture on
nano technology.
Contact
Dr Michael Hagmann
arcel Halbeisen, Manfred Heuberger.
54 | 55
Cristina Garmendia (middle), the Spanish Minister of Science and Innovation, Empa staff who organized the public lecture series ”Opportunities and Risks of
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 54
Marketing
The “Portal” –Facilitating access to Empa’s know-how
As a central contact point for clients and partners, the Portal facilitates their access to Empa’s vast range of experience and know-how. The Portalteam comes into its own particularly when dealing with inquiries which
require interdisciplinary solutions, arranging contact between the externalfunding for EU projects have already been
submitted.
partner and the appropriate Empa speciali
Whether searching for partners for new re-
search projects, technical and scientific con-
sultation, analyzing samples or investigating
damage claims – the Portal puts potential
clients and partners in touch with the rele-
vant experts on the Empa staff, or advises
them whom to contact elsewhere. In the lat-
ter case, the external partners recommended
are frequently spin-off companies from the
institution, and in this manner the Portal as-
sists these fledgling enterprises with their
Empa-derived technologies.
But the Portal’s activities are not just limited
to finding answers to the hundreds of en-
quiries and questions yearly. Portal staff also
proactively makes contact with industry, for
example at exhibitions and events such as the
Swiss Innovation Forum in Basel, where the
project “hy.muve” was presented. This is a
hydrogen powered road cleaning vehicle de-
veloped jointly with the Paul Scherrer Insti-
tute (PSI) and other industrial partners. At
the time it was being put through its paces
in first real-life practical tests on the streets
of the host city.
sts.
The Portal team also organizes events them-
selves, one such being the Swiss-Swedish
Nanotechnology Workshop held at the be-
ginning of 2009 for specialists from science
and industry. At this event for the first time
a Science Speed Dating was arranged. This
technique, usually used by lonely singles
to find a partner, was “adjusted” to help re-
searchers find partners to establish scientific
projects. The aim of encouraging as many
Swiss-Swedish alliances and ideas to devel-
op into cooperative projects as possible was
very successful – the first applications for
Contact
Dr Verónica Cerletti
”Speed Dating” has also proved successful as a method of forging business partnerships. The photograph shows participants at the Swiss-Swedish NanotechnologyWorkshop held at Empa.
Pio
01 | 0656 | 57
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pipüiInternational PhD Program Switzerland – Poland
The WUT – NIMS – Empa cooperation thrives
Nearly five years ago, the Empa, together with the two well-known technical universities of Krakow and Warsaw, founded a joint graduate school in the field of materials science, the International PhD School Switzerland – Poland. Two years later, the Japanese “National Institute of Materials Science” (NIMS)
joined the International PhD Program. In 2009, the 2nd WUT-NIMS-EmpaN
workshop on nanomaterials was held atIn 2009, the third call for projects within the
framework of the International PhD Program
was held and closed successfully. Out of sev-
en applications five were recommended for
acceptance by the Advisory Board and grant-
ed funding by Empa’s Directorate.
In November, the 2ndWUT-NIMS-Empa Work-
shop was held at Empa’s Japanese sister in-
stitution, NIMS, a little over one year after
the first meeting in Warsaw. The event took
place in Tsukuba and was organized by
Andreas Doenni (NIMS), Jolanta Janczak-
Rusch (Empa, Director of the PhD Program)
and Krzysztof Kurzydlowski (Warsaw Uni-
versity of Technology, WUT). The main goal
was to stimulate the international exchange
of (young) scientists between the three in-
stitutions. A total of 21 presentations on the
topics of nanomaterials, biomaterials, as well
as energy and environment were given by
experienced researchers, as well as by PhD
students.
IMS’ Tsukuba site.
First joint projects of the “Cohesion billion”In November 2006, the Swiss electorate ap-
proved of the Swiss Contribution to support
the new member states (NMS) of the Euro-
pean Union, the so-called Cohesion Billion.
Poland is one of the EU-NMS investing in
Joint Research Projects (JRPs) with Switzer-
land. To offer interested partners from Switzer -
land and Poland an opportunity to meet and
to sketch out proposals, Empa and WUT or-
ganized the “Swiss-Polish (SciTec) Days” in
Warsaw in mid-January 2010. The 2-day gath-
ering started with keynote lectures, introduc-
ing the research landscape of the respective
countries in the five call areas: nanotechnol-
ogy, energy, environment, health and ICT. In
parallel focus sessions with short presenta-
tions from Swiss and Polish researchers, fol-
lowed by a poster session, participants could
meet, discuss and sketch out project ideas
with potential partners. The call for JRPs
was published in April 2010.
Contact
The poster sessions of the ”Swiss-Polish SciTec Days” in Warsaw attracted substantial interest and allowed the participants to actively discuss joint Swiss-Polish research projects.
Prof. Dr Jolanta [email protected]
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Facts and figures
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Facts and figures
The work of Empa staff members was recog-
nized through 30 prizes and awards.
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Scientific Output
Alongside qualitative outputs which provide
an indication of the manifold and extremely
interesting results of Empa’s research activi-
ties, quantitative data delivers an important
yardstick by which the institution’s perform-
ance can be measured. The number of ISI
publications has been continually rising over
recent years, and increased markedly in 2009
from 406 to 472 (+16%). Similarly encour-
aging was the number of successful submis-
sions for new projects to organizations offer-
ing research funding. The number of CTI-
Empa Academy events (incl. longer than one day)
Prizes and awards
supported projects rose from 68 to 74 over
the past year, and SNSF funded projects from
58 to 69. At 51, EU financed project numbers
remained practically stable at a satisfactorily
high level (2008: 53).
Scientific contributions by Empa staff to na-
tional and international conferences once
again rose slightly from 1067 to 1099 (of which
456 were as “invited” or “key note speaker”).
The institution acted as organizing or co-or-
ganizing body for 90 conferences in 2009.
SCIENTIFIC OUTPUT
2008 2009
ISI publications 406 472
of which SCI publications 348 399
Conference contributions 1067 1099
Doctorates completed 31 34
Initial patent applications 11 20
License agreements 9 12
Spin-offs and start-ups 4 3
Teaching activities (in hours) 2921 3349
83 103
23 30
Dissemination of Knowledge / Technology Transfer
As ever, over the past year too the institution’s
activities in the areas of teaching, dissemina-
tion of knowledge and technology transfer
represented an important focal point. The
number of teaching appointments rose from
138 to 143, and in parallel the number of
teaching hours given by staff increased from
2921 to 3349 of which about half were at the
ETH Zurich. Holding over 100 further edu-
cation and information events (+24%) the
Empa Academy provided a lively platform for
knowledge transfer and communication with
specialists from science and the economy as
well as interested members of the public. In
addition to this the institution participated
actively in a number of external events such
as the Research Night and the Swiss Innova-
tion Forum.
Cooperative work with industry once again
proved to be very successful. Empa’s Tech-
nology Transfer office was responsible for a
total of 271 agreements with third parties (up
14% compared to last year). 20 patent appli-
cations were made (up 82%) and 12 licens-
ing, option or sale of patent contracts were
signed (an increase of 33%).
The progress of the “glaTec” technology cen-
ter, established in autumn 2008, has been
cause for great satisfaction. The combined ac-
tivities of a new spin-off and the young com-
panies already in residence generated 20 new
workplaces in 2009 and in addition during
this period two more start-ups, which enjoy
very close working relations to Empa, moved
in to the glaTec premises.
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The institution has always held the view that
an efficient way of transferring scientific and
technical know-how is by passing on to com-
petent industrial partners technically ad-
vanced and established services which have
reached an adequate level of maturity and
are therefore market ready. One such exam-
(including studentsnot employed by Empa)
Empa’s routine services in the fields of met-
allography, fractography and damage analy-
sis of metallic materials and components to
the ASIT Swiss Association for Technical In-
spections. In taking over the entire know-how
(including the Empa team responsible) the
ASIT has been able to complement its exist-
f technical
anner.
bering in total 352 (321), of which 264 (250)
ple is the transfer in November 2009 of ing services portfolio in the field o
safety monitoring in an optimal m
0
50
100
150
300
200
250
400
350
450
Completed doctoratesDoctorates in progress Publications:
16
67
30
67
120132
271 275
153
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
371
2007 2008
191
9990
162
406
154
2009
472
166
DEVELOPMENT IN NUMBERS OF
DOCTORAL STUDENTS AND SCI/E PUBLICATIONS
SCI/SSCISCIE
60 | 61
Personnel
At the end of 2009 Empa employed 943 staff
(2008: 915). Taking into account the large
number of part-time positions, this is equiv-
alent to 868 full-time workers, representing
once again an increase on the previous year’s
figure. The proportion of scientifically quali-
fied staff has once again been increased, as a
consequence of the expansion in the institu-
tion’s research activities, from 501 to 515 per-
sons. Of these 22 (20) hold professorial posts
at a technical university. Over the past year
34 (31) doctoral dissertations were completed
and at the end of this period the number of
doctoral students employed by Empa rose
slightly from 110 to 115. There was a marked
increase in the number of post-docs, from 64
to 75. Institution staff supervised 105 (106)
undergraduate students working on their fi-
nal-year projects and offered practical posi-
tions to a further 77 (86) young persons. With
the wide range of occupational learning facil-
ities it offers, Empa took responsibility for
training 37 (38) apprentices. Once again in
2009 all its apprentices passed their final ex-
aminations. The number of technical and ad-
ministrative personnel (including appren-
tices and those doing practical training) rose
to 428 from 414.
At 27.5% (2008: 27%), the proportion of fe-
male employees rose slightly. The number of
women holding managerial positions also in-
creased from 17 to 20. Non-Swiss staff repre-
sent 37% (35%) of Empa employees, num-
originate from EU countries.
contributions from private funding sources happily remained practi-
Facts and figures
which apprentices 38 37
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 60
More limited term positions were made available during the year for
post-docs, doctoral students, undergraduates and students engaged
in practical projects, primarily due to the expansion in scientific work.
As a result the number of limited term employees rose to 459 from
428. The average contract duration remains unchanged, being deter-
mined by the usual agreements governing the employment of doctoral
students and postdoctoral staff.
In addition to the wide range of training and further education courses
offered, in 2009 Empa once again placed emphasis on leadership train-
ing. This management training, which is strategy-based and structured
in a modular fashion, and includes proven leadership techniques and
tools has been resolutely continued and provided to a wide section of
staff. The annual management day event was devoted to the topic of
Finance and Controlling.
Empa is the holder of the “Family UND Profession” signet, awarded
by the “UND – Family and Profession for Men and Women” specialist
center. This signet is simultaneously an obligation and an encourage-
ment to the institution to act in a family-friendly way and foster equal
opportunities, and also to take a leading role in the future in these ar-
eas. Regardless of their gender, nationality, language, location, profes-
sion, age or position in the organizational hierarchy, all Empa employ -
ees enjoy identical esteem and appreciation, and are offered
optimal opportunities for further self-development. Diversity
– in other words variety and plurality in society – is recognized
as an important precondition for successfully overcoming
complex challenges requiring new ways of thinking. In 2009
this idea was integrated into the institution’s personnel policy
as a new foundation stone and a plan of concrete measure to
encourage diversity and equal opportunities was developed.
This includes factors such as conditions of employment, equal
opportunity measures, the integration of foreign staff and staff
training and development at all levels. Several of these meas-
ures, including the introduction of teleworking, the expansion
of child-minding facilities and various steps to raise the pro-
STAF
CATEG
Scien
of
of
of
Techn
of
portion of female staff holding responsible positions, have al-
ready been implemented.
Total
Finances
In 2009 total revenues accrued amounted to CHF 150.9 million. This
was made up as follows: CHF 91.8 million in federal funding contri-
butions (CHF 87.8 million in the previous year), additional federal
economic stabilization funds totaling CHF 7.8 million, income from
third party funding, services rendered and miscellaneous sources of
CHF 50.8 million (compared to CHF 43 million in 2008), and financial
income of CHF 0.5 million (CHF 0.3 million). Revenues from services
rendered, including miscellaneous revenues, rose by CHF 0.6 million
in 2009 to CHF 13.3 million. Included in the federal funding contri-
bution is income from project-oriented fund allocations made by the
ETH-Domain Competence Centers amounting to a total of CHF 1.7 mil-
lion (CHF 1.3 million).
Income from third party funding for R&D projects was 24.1% up on
the previous year, at CHF 36 million compared to CHF 29 million. Fi-
nancial support from the Swiss National Science Funds (including
NCCR) more than doubled in comparison to 2008, to CHF 5.2 mil-
lion. Funding from the CTI was also significantly higher, rising from
CHF 5.1 million in the previous year to CHF 7.8 million in 2009. De-
spite the difficult economic situation, commercially oriented research
cally unchanged at CHF 8.6 million (CHF 8.8 million in 2008). Fund-
F as of 31.12. 2009
ORIES 2008 2009
tific staff 501 515
which professors 20 22
which doctoral students 110 115
which scientific staff excl. professors & PhD students 371 378
ical and Administrative staff 414 428
(incl. part-time staff) 915 943
2008. The profit and loss account balance amounted to CHF 1.3 mil-
lion (CHF -4.4 million).
62 | 63
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STATEMENT OF INCOME (in millions of Swiss francs)
2008 2009Revenue
Federal funding contribution 87.8 91.8
Federal economic stabilization funds 0 7.8
Third-party funding 29 36
Income from services rendered 12.7 13.3
Miscellaneous 1.3 1.5
Financial income 0.3 0.5
Released from reserves for projects 1.0 0
Total revenues 132.1 150.9
Expenditure
Personnel costs 91.6 100.6
Holiday allowance adjustment 1.1 1.0
Materials 6.2 6.2
Operating expenses 38.2 40.1
Reserves set aside for future commitments -0.6 -0.9
Reserve increase for current projects 0 2.6
Total expenditure for current activities 136.5 149.6
Balance -4.4 1.3
Investment
Fixed assets 10 11.1
Movable assets 6.9 10.9
Information technology 0.6 0.7
Total Investment 17.5 22.7
ing contributions from European research programs at CHF 6.5 mil-
lion also remained at about last year’s level (CHF 6.3 million). In com-
parison to the previous year, allocations from the departmental re-
search budget rose by CHF 1.2 million (+15.3%) to CHF 7.8 million.
The third party funding contribution of, in total, CHF 50.8 million
covered about 33.9% of total expenditure.
Total expenditure amounted to CHF 149.6 million (CHF 136.5 in 2008),
of which the largest single item by far was personnel costs. Due to
amongst other factors the increase in project staff over the reporting
year (22 more full-time positions) and salary adjustments, this figure
increased by CHF 9 million to CHF 100.6 million. Of the remaining
expenditure a sum of CHF 40.1 million was used for running expens-
es and CHF 6.2 million was used to cover the purchase of materials.
Disbursements of CHF 0.9 million were made from reserve funds.
Investments in building, apparatus and equipment amounted to a to-
tal of CHF 22.7 million in 2009 compared to CHF 17.5 million in 2008.
Building investment costs including a credit transfer from the federal
economic stabilization funds totaled CHF 11.1 million (CHF 10 million).
Investment in moveable assets increased significantly from CHF 6.9
to 10.9 million during the year, while that in Information Technology
rose only slightly to CHF 0.7 million compared to CHF 0.6 million in
Facts and figures
–
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Construction & Operations
In addition to numerous small projects, 2009
was notable for the federal economic stabi-
lization fund contributions. These measures
are intended to help ensure that equipment
and buildings are well maintained and that
the on-site energy consumption is optimized.
For these purposes Empa received CHF 7.8
million additional funding, which will be
used on the following large projects (some of
which are planned and others already com-
pleted):
– In the Motor Building various energy con-
servation measures are planned: modifi-
cations to allow a lower supply temper-
ature for the heating system, a new ven-
tilation system with waste heat recovery
facilities which also allows use of the
waste heat from the engine test bed to
warm the building. The pressurized air
system has been refurbished using small-
er, energy saving air compressors. The
heat generated by the air pressurization
process will be used to generate warm
water and to heat the surrounding build-
ings. The plant is now connected to the
site control system “Gams” which pro-
vides permanent monitoring. Parts of the
façades of the Building Hall, the Metal
Hall and the North-East Building will be
refurbished with new windows, doors
and gateways which meet current energy
conservation regulations. Here also the
local heating plant and radiators will be
modified to use lower inlet temperatures
as far as is necessary.
The ageing central heating and cooling
plant on the Empa/Eawag site in Dueben-
dorf must be replaced within the next few
years. Last year a competition was held
for a replacement heating and cooling
plant which also included further meas-
ures to reduce energy consumption. The
target set by the management of the two
institutions was to reduce CO2 emissions
by 70% by the year 2030 following a de-
fined series of measures. In 2009 Empa
und Eawag decided on a project to gasify
waste wood to generate electrical power
and heat. In summer the waste heat will
be used to supply an absorption refriger-
ation system to supply a part of the cool-
ing requirements of the site. According to
calculations the CO2 emissions reduction
due to this project will reach over 70%
by the year 2012, a saving of 4500 tons
annually. Further measures are planned
to reduce the final overall CO2 balance by
a total of 80% by 2030. The reference
value dates from 1990 with 6735 tons of
CO2 emissions per year.
Environmental Management An integral part of every building project is
to determine how resource friendly ideas and
procedures can be optimally implemented, for
example by the use of sustainably produced
building materials manufactured with mini-
mum energy consumption, by implementing
waste energy recovery concepts in heating and
cooling systems and by the installation of en-
ergy saving equipment and plant.
Based on the electrical power usage analysis
carried out in 2007, various measures were
put into place in 2009. In Duebendorf the old
emergency power generator, the uninterrupt -
ible power supply (UPS) and the air compres-
sor have been replaced and the circulating
pump for the HVAC system renewed. These
measures will result in savings of 160000 kWh
annually. In St.Gall the site power consump-
tion has been reduced by even more, around
180000 kWh per year through improved sys-
tem regulation, optimization of air flows in
the chemistry laboratories and by the de-
commissioning of a transformer. In parallel
to these measures the aromatic consumption
monitoring system has been extended, al-
lowing the power usage of individual build-
ings to be directly viewed online via the ETH
program “Silo”.
Contact
Roland Knechtle
[email protected]64 | 65
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ETH CouncilThe ETH Council has overall responsibility
for the management of the ETH Domain,
which incorporates the two Federal Insti-
tutes of Technology (ETHZ, EPFL) and the
four federal research institutes (PSI, WSL,
Eawag and Empa).
Chairman
Fritz Schiesser
Dr iur., Haslen GL
Vice-Chairman
Paul L. Herrling
Prof. Dr, Novartis, Basel
Members
Patrick Aebischer
Prof. Dr, EPF Lausanne
Ralph Eichler
Prof. Dr, ETH Zurich
Barbara Haering
Dr, Econcept AG, Zurich
Janet Hering
Prof. Dr, Eawag, Duebendorf
Hans Hess
Dipl. Ing. ETH, Hamesco AG, Pfäffikon SZ
Beth Krasna
Dipl. Ing. ETH, EPF Lausanne
Thierry Lombard
lic. rer. pol., Lombard Odier, Geneva
Markus Stauffacher
Organs of Empa
Dr, ETH Zurich
Advisory Commission A body of leading personalities which advis-
es the Empa management on fundamental
concerns.
Chairman
Norman Blank
Dr, Sika, Zurich
Members
Kurt Baltensperger
Dr, ETH-Rat, Zurich
Crispino Bergamaschi
Prof. Dr, UAS Central Switzerland, Horw
Peter Chen
Prof. Dr, ETH Zurich
Andreas Hafner
Dr, BASF, Basel
Rita Hoffmann
Dr, Ilford, Marly
Jan-Anders Manson
Prof. Dr, EPF Lausanne
Markus Oldani
Dr, ALSTOM, Baden
Andreas Schreiner
Dr, Novartis, Basel
Eugen Voit
Dr, Leica Geosystems, Heerbrugg
Rolf Wohlgemuth
Dr, Siemens, Zug
Research CommissionThe Commission advises Empa’s Board of Di-
rectors on questions of research, the choice of
R&D spectrum and the evaluation of internal
R&D projects. In addition to selected Empa
senior staff, it consists of the following persons:
David Grainger
Dr, University of Utah, USA
Bengt Kasemo
Prof. Dr, Chalmers University of
Technology, Sweden
Erkki Leppävuori
Prof. Dr, VTT, Finland
Jaques Marchand
Prof. Dr, Laval University, Canada
Klaus Müllen
Prof. Dr, MPI, Germany
Claudia Stürmer
Prof. Dr, University of Constance, Germany
Eberhard Umbach
Prof. Dr, KIT, Germany
Sukekatsu Ushioda
Prof. Dr, NIMS, Japan
Alex Dommann
Dr, CSEM, Zurich
Thomas Egli
Prof. Dr, Eawag, Duebendorf
Karl Knop
Dr, Zurich
Dimos Poulikakos
Prof. Dr, ETH Zurich
Viola Vogel
Prof. Dr, ETH Zurich
Alexander Wokaun
Prof. Dr, PSI, Villigen
Facts and figures
International PhD ProgramSwitzerland – PolandProf. Dr Jolanta Janczak
Empa Academy Dr Anne Satir
Master’s Program in Micro- and Nanotechnology (MNT)Dr Dirk Hegemann
Programs for Education and Continuous Training
Director general Deputy Prof. Dr Gian-Luca Bona Dr Peter Hofer
Mechanical Systems Engineering Dr Giovanni Terrasi
Mechanics for Modelling and Simulation Prof. Dr Edoardo Mazza
Structural Engineering Prof. Dr Masoud Motavalli
Road Engineering/Sealing Components Prof. Dr Manfred Partl
Wood Dr Klaus Richter
Building Science and Technology Prof. Dr Jan Carmeliet
Concrete/Construction Chemistry Dr Pietro Lura
High Performance Ceramics Prof. Dr Thomas Graule
Electron Microscopy Center Dr Rolf Erni
Functional Polymers Dr Frank Nüesch
Thin Films and Photovoltaics Prof. Dr Ayodhya N. Tiwari
nanotech@surfaces Dr Pierangelo Gröning
Nanoscale Materials Science Prof. Dr Hans Josef Hug
Mechanics of Materials and Nanostructures Dr Johann Michler
Advanced Materials Processing Prof. Dr Patrik Hoffmann
Joining and Interface Technology Dr Manfred Roth
Corrosion and Materials Integrity Dr Patrik Schmutz a.i.
Advanced Materials and Surfaces Dr Pierangelo Gröning
Civil and Mechanical EngineeringDr Peter Richner
Materials meet LifeProf. Dr Harald Krug
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
DEPARTMENTS
Protection and Physiology Dr René Rossi
Advanced Fibers Dr Manfred Heuberger
Materials-Biology Interactions Prof. Dr Harald Krug
Biomaterials Dr Linda Thöny-Meyer
LABORATORIES
LABORATORIES LABORATORIES
Organizational [email protected] +41 44 823 44 44www.empa.ch/portal
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 64
66 | 67
tebo – Technology Centerin St.Gallen Peter Frischknecht
Center for Synergetic StructuresEmpa – FestoDr Rolf Luchsinger
Reliability NetworkDr Urs Sennhauser
glaTec – Technology Centerin DübendorfMario Jenni
Public-private Partnerships
Sustainable Built EnvironmentDr Peter Richner
Health and PerformanceProf. Dr Harald Krug
Natural Resources and PollutantsDr Peter Hofer
Materials for Energy TechnologiesDr Xaver Edelmann
Technology and Society Prof. Dr Lorenz Hilty
Media Technology Prof. Dr Klaus Simon
Electronics/Metrology/Reliability Dr Urs Sennhauser
Acoustics/Noise Control Kurt Eggenschwiler
Internal Combustion Engines Christian Bach
Air Pollution/Environmental Technology Dr Brigitte Buchmann
Analytical Chemistry Dr Heinz Vonmont
Communication Dr Michael Hagmann
Human Resources André Schmid
Informatics Dr Christoph Bucher
Finances/Controlling/Purchasing Heidi Leutwyler
Mechanical Engineering/Workshop Stefan Hösli
Logistics and Infrastructure Paul-André Dupuis
Construction 3 Research Institutes Daniel Beerle
Marketing, Knowledge and Technology Transfer Gabriele Dobenecker
Solid State Chemistry and Catalysis Prof. Dr Anke Weidenkaff
Hydrogen and Energy Prof. Dr Andreas Züttel
Information, Reliability andSimulation TechnologyDr Xaver Edelmann
Mobility, Energy and EnvironmentDr Peter Hofer
SupportRoland Knechtle
LABORATORIES LABORATORIES SECTIONS
Research Focal Areas
Nanostructured MaterialsDr Pierangelo Gröning
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 65
ISSN 1424-2176 Annual Report Empa© Empa 2010
IMPRINT
Publisher
Empa
CH-8600 Dübendorf
CH-9014 St.Gallen
CH-3602 Thun
Editors
Communication, Empa
Design/Layout
Graphics Group, Empa
Printing
Sonderegger Druck AG, Weinfelden
SC2010051007Printed climate neutral
jabe0910_content_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 17:05 Seite 66
4ForewordTop notch research and innovative applications create added value
6Research programs
8 Nanotechnology10Adaptive Material Systems12Natural Resources and Pollutants14Materials for Energy Technologies16Materials for Health and Performance
The technical-scientific report
“Empa Activities 2009/2010”,
previous Annual Reports
and further documentation are
available directly from:
Empa
Communication
Überlandstrasse 129
CH-8600 Dübendorf
Content
jabe0910_cover_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 15:45 Seite 2
Empa
CH-8600 DübendorfÜberlandstrasse 129
Phone +41 44 823 55 11Fax +41 44 821 62 44
CH-9014 St.GallenLerchenfeldstrasse 5
Phone +41 71 274 74 74Fax +41 71 274 74 99
CH-3602 ThunFeuerwerkerstrasse 39
Phone +41 33 228 46 26Fax +41 33 228 44 90
www.empa.ch
Annual Report2009
jabe0910_cover_e:Layout 1 10.05.10 15:45 Seite 1