The importance of water and fuel cells in society

When he was in secondary school, he was mostly interested in chemistry and physics. He continued with this focus during the 4-year technical program and during studies abroad. Since then, Professor Anders Nilsson has worked in several countries and his list of publications and awards is long.

Professor Anders Nilsson. Photo: Gunilla Häggström
Professor Anders Nilsson. Photo: Gunilla Häggström

"At Imperial College in London, the reading list contained about twenty books and articles that you could choose yourself. There you had more responsibility, which suited me. I was fascinated by the research and the teachers made the studies interesting."

 

Chemical and physical phenomena at the interface between different phases

Kai Siegbahn worked at Uppsala University where Anders obtained his PhD in electron spectroscopy. During his Uppsala time he supervised doctoral students and collaborated with Nils Mårtensson when they worked on research at the first MAX laboratory in Lund. MAX stands for "Microtron Accelerator for X-rays" and is a Swedish national laboratory for accelerator physics and research using synchrotron light.

"In 1993 I was a visiting scientist at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory. After that I did research at the Advanced Light Source for three years at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory."

He then returned to Uppsala where he was first a senior lecturer and then appointed professor of physics. Anders then moved to the US and Stanford University in 2000.

 

Dividing the time between Stockholm and the US

In 2001, he was offered a visiting professorship in chemical physics at Stockholm University. Since then, he has divided his time between Stockholm University and Stanford, where he works as a professor of chemical physics and photon science.

"Since the Millennium, I have studied molecules on surfaces and water from many perspectives. Using ultrafast electron diffraction, I have studied with colleagues at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California how water structure changes after a rapid change in the quantum distribution of distances in the internal bond. In the US, I find that the exchange of ideas between scientists is more open-minded and that there is no law of Jante."

 

Water and energy are critical areas for humanity

Anders and his research team are investigating the innermost mystery of water and the fundamental chemical processes on surfaces in catalysis. The latter is an area that could be of great importance for future energy supply. A future energy society may include artificial photosynthesis and advanced fuel cells. This is a great advantage for many people who will have access to clean water.

"We already have more drought in eastern Sweden than before. Southern Gotland is home to northern Europe's largest seawater desalination plant, which can produce 7,500 cubic metres of drinking water per day.
The energy needs of our industries require a major transition on how to produce materials and chemicals. We need to develop processes that are resilient, i.e. able to cope with major changes. This became more apparent than ever during the pandemic."

 

Research, writing and swimming with dolphins

"I will write more books after retirement and produce more films. The research continues with collaborations in different countries. My hobbies are diving and snorkelling. It is a great feeling to swim with wild dolphins."

In the future, he will continue as Professor Emeritus at Stanford and will retire in a year at the Department of Physics.

 

Advice for physics students

"As a student, you can solve problems through basic research and find out what the important issues are in society. Follow your passion and do what excites you. Don't plan too much, most things work out and failure is learning. The societal need for scientific research will increase due to climate change and biodiversity challenges that require major changes in society and industry."

 

Further information

Read more about Fysikum's programmes in physics at bachelor's and master's level and freestanding courses.

Contact Professor Anders Nilsson

The importance of quantum effects in water

Water - the strangest liquid - See the film where Anders Nilsson and others explain the experimental work where they test water under extreme conditions to carry out an experiment no one considered feasible.