Increasing Excellence in Utilizing X-ray Research and Neutron Scattering Techniques at the University of Tartu

University of Tartu (UTARTU) is the top research university in Estonia and the Baltic States. The twinning project EXANST, “Increasing Excellence in Utilizing X-ray Research and Neutron Scattering Techniques at the University of Tartu”, is concerned with further raising the research profile of UTARTU in the field of materials science, by enabling researchers from UTARTU to take full advantage of the best European facilities for materials’ characterization.In particular, the aim of this twinning project is to develop local expertise at UTARTU in the X-ray research techniques and neutron scattering techniques that are available at leading European synchrotrons and neutron facilities. Another aim of the project is to enhance expertise at UTARTU in the complementary computational methods that are used for materials’ modelling, and analyzing the data generated in X-ray and neutron experiments.In order to achieve these aims, UTARTU will team up with three advanced partners: MAX IV (Sweden), an advanced partner in synchrotron science, Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ, Germany), an advanced partner in neutron science, and Imperial College London (ICL, UK), an advanced partner in materials’ modelling. Besides the research-orientated endeavours, the advanced partners will also provide guidance to UTARTU on research management, strengthening co-operation between different institutes within UTARTU, and tackling gender and diversity issues.As part of the twinning project, UTARTU and the advanced partners will jointly carry out three pilot research projects concerned with (i) solid-electrolyte-interphases formed in energy storage devices based on ionic liquids, (ii) photoactive proteins that can serve as optical switches or tuneable fluorescence markers, and (iii) scintillator materials for radiation detection devices. The pilot projects will give researchers from UTARTU an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in specific X-ray and neutron methods and modelling techniques.