The team from the NI Lab used an ion beam to cut The NI Lab’s analyses led to the identification of the crystal struc- the new coating (left: top view) into sections, ture of the two key phases (alpha-Al O and m-ZrO ). Further anal- which they analyzed using a transmission electron 2 3 2 microscope (right: cross section of coating). Re- yses by Professor Michael de Wild at the FHNW School of Life searchers were then able to identify the different Sciences then demonstrated that the 400-micrometer-thick coat- components using energy-dispersive X-ray analy- ing was highly resistant and remained intact even when sub- sis (EDX). (Image: Nano Imaging Lab, SNI, Univer- jected to scratch testing. The coating is therefore of particular sity of Basel) interest for use in high-wear applications — such as medical devices. In collaboration with Professor Martin Kuentz from the FHNW School of Life Sciences, the Nano Imaging Lab made a key contribution to drug development in a project centering around pharmaceutical formulations that were difÏcult to keep stable in the amorphous (glass-like) state. The aim was to design a com- putational strategy that could be used to select suitable additives for stabilization before the drug is actually developed. With a view to analyzing these predictions experimentally, the researchers tested two active ingredients, which were pressed into an elongated shape together with a polymer and two addi- tives (dl-malic acid and l-acetic acid) using a technique known as hot-melt extrusion before being placed in storage. The team from the NI Lab used laser and atomic force microscopes to examine the surfaces of the various products, allowing researchers to make an informed evaluation of the best active ingredient-poly- mer mixtures in terms of stability and durability. For years, the NI Lab has been engaged in trinational projects relating to sustainable viticulture. In 2024, as part of the WiVitis project launched in 2023, researchers in Basel analyzed the sur- face properties and structure of waxes found on the berries of certain fungi-resistant vine varieties. These analyses aimed to further the development of concepts that help wineries tackle the challenges of climate change. The instruments used at the NI Lab must be continuously renewed and expanded with a view to not only constantly im- proving the lab’s services and its own research but also adapting the infrastructure in line with demand. In 2024, the NI Lab team installed and commissioned a new scanning electron microscope (Zeiss FIB-SEM Crossbeam 540), which is equipped with a focused 52 SNI Annual Report 2024