News

For the first time, neutron diffraction experiments at the ILL have tracked lithium movement in real time inside a working solid-state battery, revealing hidden structural complexity and new clues for smarter battery design

Operando neutron and X-ray tomography reveal how water transport and cracking shape carbonation in cement paste

A powerful synergy of in-situ neutron imaging and numerical models gives rise to a novel model describing water vapour condensation in porous materials

Neutron experiments reveal how a ferrotoroidic material can store information in four distinct magnetic states, paving the way for future memory technologies with increased storage capacity.

During the Spring Meeting of the Condensed Matter Section of the German Physical Society (DPG), held in Dresden in March 2026, a round table was held on the theme ‘Novel Opportunities for Cooperation between France and Germany in Neutron Science’. The discussion involved the participation of the directors of the French and German facilities, as well as representatives of the neutron user association in both countries, SFN and KFN. This is an account of the discussion by Jacques Jestin, ILL Science Director and French Associate Director and one of the participants of the round table.

Neutron scattering shows how local density shapes motion within self-assembled protein structures

Linking simple physical rules, machine learning and neutron spectroscopy to discover crystals with record-low thermal conductivity

Blood-based biomarkers are widely used to diagnose and monitor diseases through simple blood tests. However, in some cases they can be partially “hidden” and harder to detect accurately. Researchers investigated, with molecular accuracy, how biomarkers interact with lipid membranes using neutron reflectometry at the ILL.

A new study based on neutrons provides valuable insights into the thermal vulnerability of different bacterial families. It shows that organisms adapted to very low temperatures are also surprisingly fragile: even a slight rise in temperature can be lethal, long before any structural damage appears.

Bacteria can be surprisingly resistant - neutron-based techniques show why.

The ILL strengthens its research capabilities by modernising two key instruments (D11 and NeXT-MoTo) to address major challenges in health, energy transition and sustainable technologies. Supported by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and the European Union, this project represents a €1.8 million investment under the CPER EPN 2030 (State-Region Plan Contract).

Solid-state battery research has just been turbocharged by the development of the first sample cell that unlocks the unique real-time insights of operando neutron diffraction at the ILL. This major advancement is the result of a collaborative effort between the ILL and LEPMI laboratory in Grenoble within the framework of the OpInSolid project funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR).