The award recognises the best doctoral thesis with a clear connection to MAX IV over the past two years, highlighting research that combines scientific excellence with innovative and effective use of synchrotron radiation. The prize includes a monetary award of SEK 8,000.
In his doctoral thesis, “The Formation and Breakdown of Passive Films on Ni Alloys: in situ synchrotron-based studies”, Alfred employed advanced in situ techniques at MAX IV to investigate the atomic-level processes that occur when thin protective films form—and sometimes degrade—on nickel-based alloys. These passive films are crucial for determining how well materials resist corrosion and ageing, which is essential in everything from industrial processes to energy technologies.
“I am truly pleased and honoured to receive this prize. I first came into contact with MAX IV ten years ago when I worked there as a summer student. Because of that, I have a strong personal connection to the facility, and it’s quite special to have made the journey from summer student to now being recognised for my own research,” says Alfred Larsson.
Today, Alfred is an international postdoctoral researcher funded by the Swedish Research Council. He is affiliated with both Leiden University in the Netherlands and Lund University and continues to use synchrotron radiation to study materials in real time.
“Right now, I am focusing on electrocatalytic systems related to green hydrogen production and fuel cells. It’s about understanding how material surfaces behave during operation—a type of knowledge that is vital for the sustainable energy solutions of the future,” he says.
MAX IV’s award is therefore not only a recognition of an excellent thesis, but also a demonstration of how fundamental research conducted at large-scale research facilities can contribute to solutions to key societal challenges.
Alfred Larsson’s thesis and other publications can be found in Lund University’s research portal.