Former SNI doctoral student Former SNI doctoral student Former SNI doctoral student Thomas Mortelmans won one of Alexina Ollier received a Young Thomas Karg won an SPS Award. the Swiss Nanotechnology Researcher Award. PhD Awards. Detecting coronavirus and flu Cooling matter from a distance Researchers from the University of Basel Researchers from the University of Basel have used laser light and the Paul Scherrer Institute have de- to form a control loop consisting of two quantum systems sep- veloped a rapid test for Covid-19 based on arated by a distance of one meter. Within this loop, a vibrating a novel functional principle. The test membrane is cooled by a cloud of atoms. Interfaces of this could be used to determine the status of kind will play a role in future quantum technologies. the disease or to detect other diseases Page 27 and different variants of Covid-19. Page 25 Floating thanks to sound waves Sound waves can be used to keep tiny rotating sample holders New approach to biosensor floating in mid-air — for example, for crystallographic analyses. technology Researchers from the SNI network have shown how this effect Researchers from the SNI network have is influenced by the size and shape of the rotors. developed a new coating — made of a Spin filters can Page 31 polymer and carbon nanotubes — that is be used to suitable for coating miniaturized elec- demonstrate a Dancing molecules trodes. Electrodes of this kind feature negative correla- Cycloalkanes adapt their shape if they are enclosed in tiny pores. conductive nanomaterials embedded in tion between the In response to an increasing lack of space and at low tempera- a repellent matrix and have applications two spins of an tures below 5K, the molecules start to move in a surprising way. in point-of-care laboratory diagnostics. entangled elec- Page 27 Page 25 tron pair from a superconductor. Time-saving due to early diagnosis (Image: SNI/ Nanomechanical sensors are ideally suited Scixel) to quickly and reliably detect even a few bacteria in the blood. Seite 25 SNI Annual Report 2022 5