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(CONNECT) Researchers from four laboratories at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) are working on the investigation and production of two-dimensional materials. The findings are expected to have applications ranging from storing energy and eliminating carbon dioxide to medical therapies, according to a press release.

These so-called MXenes have structures similar to those of graphene. In contrast to these, however, they consist not only of carbon atoms, but of one or more transition metals in combination with nitrogen or carbon. They are produced in layered ceramic crystals, so-called MAX phases. Intermediate layers are dissolved using strong acid. The remaining structures are then separated from each other in an ultrasonic bath. The result is MXenes, which are predestined for numerous applications in various masses.

The four laboratories Functional Polymers, High-Performance Ceramics, Building Energy Materials and Components and nanotech@surfaces are involved in the research. "We cover the entire spectrum, from basic research and modeling to the production of MAX phases and MXenes through to applications," research manager Jakob Heier from the Laboratory for Functional Polymers is quoted as saying in the press release. "It is a great strength of Empa that all these competencies come together at one institute."

The researchers envisage the absorption and conversion of carbon dioxide, catalysis, energy storage and sensor technology as areas of application. In medicine, certain MXenes promise antimicrobial effects or targeted cancer therapy. "With their flexibility and adaptability, MXenes offer such great advantages that applications will not be long in coming," Jakob Heier is convinced. ce/ww

(CONNECT) The climate protection programme of zirkulit Beton AG from Kloten is now officially registered as a project to increase sink performance, according to a press release. This makes it the first project for CO2 storage in circular concrete to be approved by the FOEN in Switzerland. The programme includes several CO2 storage facilities that are operated in zirkulit partnerships with concrete manufacturers at various locations in Switzerland.

As part of the programme, biogenic CO2 is captured from Swiss biogas plants, transported to recycled concrete plants and brought into contact with granulate from demolished concrete in the storage layers developed by zirkulit. The CO2 reacts with the cement paste contained in the concrete granulate to form calcium carbonate and is thus permanently mineral-bound. This granulate is then used to produce circular concrete.

"This creates a permanent carbon sink in a durable building material", says zirkulit Beton AG, "a key lever on the way to net zero in the building sector". This underlines its claim to actively contribute to the transformation towards a circular and climate-friendly construction industry.

The programme is financially supported by the Climate Cent Foundation. Together with the partners of zirkulit Beton AG, it is promoting the project as one of five national pilot projects for negative emission technologies and carbon capture and storage. Climate Cent is providing a total of CHF 50 million for this purpose. Financing is provided as part of a multi-year supply contract for the CO₂ reductions achieved through the programme. ce/mm

(CONNECT) Hyperscale Power has successfully completed a seed financing round. According to its press release, the deep-tech start-up from Egg near Zurich, which was founded in 2025, raised 5 million euros. The round was led by the German venture capital firms World Fund from Berlin and Vsquared from Munich.

Hyperscale Power is working on a prototype solid-state transformer (SST) for efficient, compact and reliable next-generation power conversion. It is intended to open up an infrastructure bottleneck by replacing the conventional copper and iron transformer-rectifier systems, which have remained virtually unchanged since the end of the 19th century and require an enormous amount of space, with compact AC-AC converters using semiconductors. 

"Our mission is to rethink the power supply of the systems that will drive the next industrial revolution," co-founder Dr. Daniel Rothmund is quoted as saying. "Data centres, charging stations for electric vehicles and large-scale renewable energy projects all face the same bottleneck: the efficient and safe conversion of huge amounts of electricity." In addition, there are long delivery times of 18 to 24 months and more.

According to Hyperscale Power, this creates a clear gap in the market for compact semiconductor transformers with high power density. "The SST from Hyperscale Power makes this quantum leap possible: It is around ten times smaller and requires around 90 percent less material," the press release states. "The result is shorter operating times, lower operating costs, lower emissions and a platform that is ideal for electric vehicle charging, solar energy conversion and the rapidly growing energy requirements of GPU-based AI infrastructures."

Jakob Lingg from investor Vsquared Ventures is convinced that Hyperscale Power has "the right team and the right technology" with the two company founders' expertise in solid-state transformers in the medium-voltage range and their "distinctive entrepreneurial approach" to "conquer this market at exactly the right time". The two founders are also building on their roots in Swiss precision engineering and their proximity to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. Both secure them "long-term access to Europe's leading technical talent". ce/mm