Light on – bacteria dead. Empa researchers are developing a coating against antibiotic resistent bacteria whose germicidal effect can be activated by infrared light. more
Atomic colors
These almost psychedelic colors are the product of a high-tech coating process called atomic layer deposition. Empa researchers use it to manufacture multilayer thin films of ceramics. more
Why implants fail
Why are implants sometimes rejected or even break? Empa researcher Martina Cihova is exploring this at the interface between implants and human tissues, where materials science meets medicine. more
Green hydrogen
The industrial production of green hydrogen for sustainable fuel and energy storage is expensive. Empa researchers are now developing materials for water electrolysis that are efficient, scalable and cost-effective. more
Better electronics
Empa researchers developed a process for manufacturing advanced thin films that has applications in the semiconductor industry as well as in future quantum and photonics technologies. more
Steeled steels
High-strength steels used in construction are susceptible to embrittlement caused by atomic hydrogen coming from the environment. Empa researchers investigate the complex mechanisms. more
Scalable supercaps
Supercapacitors are fast, powerful energy storage devices. They complement slow (dis-)charging batteries in electric cars, industrial machines or wind turbines. Empa researchers want to develop better supercaps based on graphene. more
All in the wall
There is a gap in the structural analysis of timber frame buildings: Walls with windows are not taken into account for horizontal bracing. A team of scientists aims to change this. more
Hello silence!
Empa researchers have developed innovative sound absorbers made of mineral foams. They have now been tested for the first time in a driveway in the city of Zurich to dampen street noise. more
Engineering the future
Matthias Sulzer is Head of Empa's Engineering Sciences Department. He is convinced that research and industry mutually benefit each other – a principle that he has lived by throughout his career in both "worlds". more
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