Professor Aleksandr Matic Drove Development of Major Research Facility
Professor of Materials Physics Aleksandr Matic played a key role in initiating the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden and is also working on developing new materials.
Aleksandr Matic, professor of materials physics at Chalmers University of Technology, has been a central figure in the establishment of Europe's largest research investment, the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden.
Matic and his Nordic colleagues initiated the project over 17 years ago. Their vision was to create a "giant microscope" capable of studying materials using neutrons. ESS, which is Sweden's largest research investment, is now becoming a reality and is expected to open its doors in 2023. The facility, along with the nearby Max IV laboratory, is expected to attract thousands of researchers to the city of Lund.
Materials science ignited Matic's passion for physics. He describes the link between a material's properties and its atomic and molecular level as "mind-blowing." He aims to inspire the next generation to discover the fascination of physics, chemistry, and mathematics.
Alongside his research, Matic participates in the national research initiative Treesearch, which aims to develop new materials from forest raw materials. His current research focuses heavily on batteries, including new materials and battery concepts tested in a "Bat Lab" at Chalmers. Matic's dream is to develop an environmentally friendly battery that would enable a range of 800 km on a single charge and fully recharge in two hours.
According to Matic, success in challenging tasks requires stubbornness and hard work, and he finds his work both fun and challenging, which continuously motivates him.