ISIS ISIS and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

ISIS and the UN Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations has laid out 17 goals for global sustainable development. These cover a variety of areas from social to economic to infrastructure, all aimed towards making a sustainable, united world.

Here at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, our researchers strive towards scientific excellence with world-changing impact. Neutron and muon techniques give us unique insights into a wider variety of materials and processes at the atomic scale. This allows us to explore inside materials, highlight organic compounds and differentiate between isotopes, all in a non-destructive way.

This makes our facility ideally suited to research in areas such as; Healthcare, modelling biological processes and exploring potential drug candidates, Clean Energy, as we can study the behaviour of light elements like hydrogen and lithium, widely used in energy storage, and Infrastructure, as we can investigate stresses and strains beneath the surface of materials. All this and more, which allows our research to closely align with UN goals.

Explore the sections below to see just a few examples of how ISIS research supports some of the sustainable development goals.

Good Health and Well Being

"Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"

AstraZeneca uses Sans2D to understand potential new mRNA production method
Biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca recently developed an automated technique to generate lipid nanoparticles for mRNA delivery and used neutrons to investigate how it compared to standard production methods.
Designing an antibiotic that looks like a virus
An international research team have used the Inter beamline to study whether adding virus-like spikes to the outside of a silica nanoparticle makes it more effective at interacting with biological membranes and delivering antimicrobial drugs.
Designing toothpastes that are kinder to gums
Key ingredients in toothpastes and mouthwashes can occasionally act as irritants to the inside of the mouth. By looking at the way these ingredients interact with thin films of spit, researchers hope to develop new, less irritant, formations.
Gaining new insights into a cancer-causing protein
Neutron reflectometry has given scientists an atomic-level insight into the behaviour of Bcl-2, a protein that promotes cancerous cell growth.
Learning from meteorites to improve bone replacements
The first full and accurate characterisation of the mineral whitlockite has been carried out using neutron diffraction at ISIS, X-ray diffraction, electron microprobe analysis, and infrared spectroscopy.
Life Sciences Vision
The UK government has published its Life Science Vision, setting out its ambitions for the sector over the next decade, and ISIS science supports many different areas of research relevant to this vision.
Molecular IgG3 structure paves the way for new applications of antibodies
A combination of scattering and analytical techniques has provided the first atomic-level structural model for the IgG3 antibody
Understanding the growth of disease-causing protein fibres
Using the unique contrast method offered by neutron scattering, researchers have been able to measure the rate of growth of amyloid fibrils in solution.
Using diffraction to understand the differences between healthy and diseased skin
In an uncommon experiment for the Larmor instrument, researchers have used neutron diffraction to study membranes like those in our skin.

Affordable and Clean Energy

"Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all."

ISIS and the 10 point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution
We undertake many activities which support the themes of the UK government’s recently announced environmental action plan.
ISIS and the UK Hydrogen Economy
With the UK government setting out its first ever hydrogen strategy, the neutron and muon user community is continuing to develop the technology needed to make the plans a reality.
Light it up – Disentangling the structure of next-generation photovoltaic materials with TOSCA
A brand-new study unveils the elusive atomic structure of a highly anticipated photovoltaic material, thanks to the use of TOSCA’s capabilities.
Photo-μSR a new method for studying photovoltaics
Researchers use a new method to separate the bulk and surface recombination of silicon photovoltaic cells.
Solving the stability issue of heat-storage materials to reduce fuel poverty
Understanding silicon photovoltaics one muon at a time
Researchers at ISIS have been investigating a new technique for characterising the charge carrier lifetime of silicon substances, such as those used in solar cells.
Using machines to search for better battery materials
Researchers have used machine learning to discover a new material that could be used in lithium-ion batteries.
Using neutrons to analyse the suitability of a carbon neutral catalyst for the sustainable production of biofuel.
Scientists from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency have used neutrons to investigate if a catalyst made from a waste product in an early stage of biofuel production can be used as a catalyst in one of the later stages.
Using neutrons to observe lattice deformation in steel weldments in wind turbines
Researchers from Cranfield University came to ISIS to use neutrons to investigate the effect that the welding process has on lattice structure in steel weldments.
Using structural knowledge to design solid-state battery electrolytes
By understanding how the chemical structure of a new series of electrolyte materials impacts their ability to transport lithium ions, researchers gain an insight into how to design better battery materials in the future.

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

"Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation"

Applied Graphene Materials plc
This case study is part of a set reflecting the impact of ISIS science reported as part of the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).
Combining magnetoelectric and multiferroic properties in one material
Researchers performed low temperature cation-exchange reactions to investigate the magnetic ground state formed.
Formulating engine lubricants for modern fuels and hardware
Lubrizol has used small angle neutron scattering at ISIS to learn more about how additives neutralise a type of acid formed in engine lubricant that is more common when biofuels are used.
Inelastic neutron scattering reveals the extent of active dissolution from Lucideon’s iCRT platform technology.
Lucideon, a leader in material technologies accessed inelastic neutron scattering at ISIS Neutron and Muon Source to explore and develop its drug delivery solutions and formulation development tools benefitting a range of industry sectors.
New repair solutions and lifetime extensions for the aerospace industry
NVIDIA uses ChipIr to reduce errors in GPU systems
Researchers used ChipIr to test the effect of neutrons on GPU memories and applications
Student travel grant supports novel automotive steel study
Supported by an ISIS travel grant, PhD student Anastasia Vrettou has been able to do neutron diffraction studies of advanced steel components for automotive applications.
Testing a cheaper, quicker method of making spacecraft components
Researchers from ESA and their commercial partners have used ISIS to test a new manufacturing method that could be used to build propellant tanks for spacecraft.
Using neutrons to study self-assembling molecular water pipes
Scientists from Bangor University have used neutron diffraction and scattering to investigate the structure of self-assembling water pipes
Using neutrons to study the building blocks of aeroplane wings
Neutron diffraction has been used to understand how to prevent aircraft components being deformed during manufacturing.
Using SANS to study super duplex stainless steel
A study of phase separation in super duplex stainless steel could help to develop future alloys that are less susceptible to long-term thermal degradation.

Sustainable Consumption and Production

"Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns"

‘Real’ atmospheric samples covering pollution particles analysed using neutrons for the first time
A new approach of studying the behaviour of surface films covering particles taken directly from the atmosphere has been developed by scientists.
2021 Roadmap to sodium ion batteries
ISIS staff and users have contributed to a collection of articles discussing the use of sodium ion batteries for energy storage.
A Sustainable Fluid for Fake Falling Snow
Fundamental insights into the interfacial structure of polymers and surfactants leads to world-leading eco-friendly artificial falling snow
Designing porous materials for selective and reversible gas storage
Neutron and synchrotron X-ray studies have enabled researchers to understand the behaviour of gas molecules inside porous framework materials, informing the development of new sorbents for gas storage and separation.
Developing environmentally friendly solvents to make nanomaterials
Using small angle neutron scattering and diffraction to investigate the use of DES in the production of nanomaterials
Hydrogen Storage Research at ISIS
A video interview of three collaborators who have used ISIS for their research on hydrogen storage materials.
Johnson Matthey uses Tosca to test the viability of scaling up production of a gas storage material
The feasibility of a large-scale synthesis route for the metal organic framework material ZIF-8 that is economic and environmentally favourable has been investigated using inelastic neutron scattering.
Tea and liquorice: a recipe for sustainable detergents and toiletries?
A UK consortium including ISIS researchers have characterised the behaviour of naturally occurring surfactants, learning more about how their molecular structure influences their solution self-assembly properties.
Using IMAT to image more sustainable magnetic materials
A collaboration between European facilities has enabled polarised neutrons to be used on IMAT for the first time to study 3D-printed magnets.
Using Neutrons to observe the CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery (CO2-EOR) process in real time.
Scientists have used neutrons to help create a methodology for monitoring the CO2-EOR process in real time at the nanoscale level

Climate Action

"Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts"

Carbon Net Zero Research at ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
Research at ISIS supports the UK government's ambitious plan to reach a carbon-neutral economy by 2050, tackling climate change through reducing emissions, using cleaner sources of energy and greener transport solutions.
Neutrons, catalysis and net zero
Catalysts could have a big impact when working towards Net Zero, across a wide variety of different industrial processes.

Life Below Water

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development"

Does it matter if shellfish food is left-handed or right-handed?
Scientists from Evonik Nutrition & Care, Evonik Operations GmbH and the University of Reading have used inelastic neutron scattering alongside other techniques to study the differences between two forms of a new feed supplement for marine organisms.
Life Under Pressure
Biophysicists from the University of Leeds have been using neutrons to unravel the mechanisms behind survival under extreme pressures.
Water surprise: how two molecules can have the same, but also the opposite, effect
TMAO and magnesium perchlorate perturb water structure in an opposing manner, yet surprisingly have an additive effect in slowing water dynamics.