Key steps forward in the implementation of the ILL Science Strategy: the Neutron Battery Hub and the Applied Science Instrument group

The ILL Science Strategy, providing a detailed roadmap for the next decade, was presented in 2025 and is now taking shape in reality. April is being a pivotal month, with the launch of the Neutron Battery Hub and of the Applied Science Instrument group.

At the start of the month, the ILL Neutron Battery Hub has been officially launched. The new hub is a collaborative framework at the ILL, bringing together neutron experts and battery scientists to work towards the next generation of batteries. It will address the fundamental processes to accelerate discovery in materials and technologies, develop tools and techniques, and seek to attract new partners and collaborations with industry.

A combination of neutron scattering techniques will be used to observe batteries during operation at all scales, connecting materials properties with electrochemical performances and unraveling the relationship between structure and transport mechanisms. The newly created NBHub is coordinated by Quentin Berrod (CNRS and CRG instrument scientist on SHARPER) and Sandrine Lyonnard (Research director at CEA-Irig).

The NBHub kick-off meeting will take place on 19 May at the ILL.

_{< Quentin Berrod and Sandrine Lyonnard, coordinators of the ILL Neutron Battery Hub.}

Markus Strobl, leader of the Applied Science Instrument Group.

This week, a major step was taken on the infrastructure side: the launching of the Applied Science Instrument Group. The new instrument group brings ILL neutron imaging, strain scanning and irradiation facilities within a single structure with strong links to industry. The ILL is currently expanding its installed imaging capabilities, to keep up with the high demand and potential for imaging techniques. The new group will include the imaging instruments NeXT, MoTo, PorTo and ThRILL, as well as the SALSA strain scanning instrument and the TENIS irradiation station. It will benefit from and enhance the increasingly important relationship between neutron scattering and industry as companies seek more efficient and sustainable methods to develop and manufacture materials, ensure quality control and optimise manufacturing processes.

The leader of the Applied Science Instrument Group is Markus Strobl (previously Head of the Applied Materials Group at the PSI, Switzerland, and currently vice-president of the International Society of Neutron Radiography, ISNR).

"The creation of the Applied Science group and the new Science Hubs show the twin approach we have adopted to strengthening our societal impact. The strength of ILL and the confidence in our future is very clear from the calibre of people that we have succeeded in attracting for these two key areas."
Ken Andersen, ILL Director

The new instrument group will complement the existing four instrument groups: Diffraction, Spectroscopy, Large-Scale Structures and Nuclear & Particle Physics. ILL scientific groups further includes two groups not directly related to instruments: the Biology, Deuteration, Chemistry & Soft Matter Group (BDCS), which operates user support platforms/labs that enhance neutron scattering studies of biological systems; and the Theory Group, which assists ILL scientists and users in understanding and modelling neutron interactions with matter and the properties of the studied materials.

The ILL Science Strategy is built around a clear objective: to consolidate the existing strengths while creating new structures to support emerging scientific areas of high societal impact. It means investing in people, infrastructure and innovation. At its heart, the ILL user programme remains the foundation of everything we do. The ILL's PhD programme is being enhanced and focused around the priorities of the Science Strategy. We are expanding our capacity to produce radioisotopes for cancer treatment and continuing to invest in the development of isotopes for future diagnostics and therapies. Three more hubs are being put in place, as well as an ambitious Showcase Experiments programme. Stay tuned for the next steps!