Award-winning doctoral thesis explores materials – from pharmaceuticals to batteries

Pharmaceutical formulations and batteries may appear to be very different things, but they share one feature: they are composed of heterogeneous materials, that is, several different substances distributed across different phases. The structure and distribution of these phases can be crucial to the properties of a material. To truly understand how an active pharmaceutical ingredient is released in the body or how a battery changes during use, methods are required that provide a deeper level of insight. When we understand the mechanisms at play in these materials, we can also improve them.

The method Martina Olsson explored in her thesis concerns how X-ray techniques can be used to image materials. When the Department of Physics selects the best doctoral thesis at the department in 2025, she stands as the winner.

“What first drew me to X-ray imaging is that it makes it possible to look inside materials, understand their structure, and directly see how material choices influence an application in practice,” says Martina Olsson. “For example, we can see how the materials in a tablet affect how quickly a drug is released, or which energy storage mechanisms dominate in a battery under different conditions. This type of knowledge is important for both research and industry, as it contributes to the development of more efficient and sustainable materials and products.”

Synchrotron experiments challenge the boundaries

For Martina Olsson, the opportunity to work with synchrotron experiments was also something that drew her to the research area. Using the method of synchrotrons, she was able to measure and image materials using 3D images that reproduce structures with a resolution below one hundred nanometres.

“With synchrotron experiments, we can truly challenge the boundaries of what is currently possible to see and measure with X-rays. Having the opportunity to work with such advanced equipment together with the outstanding researchers at synchrotron facilities such as MAX IV in Lund is inspiring, and a resource I hope will be used more and more by Swedish universities and industry.”

Aimed for a coherent narrative in the thesis

Martina Olsson began her doctoral studies at Chalmers University of Technology in 2020 within the framework of a so-called Excellence PhD Student programme in Chalmers’ Area of Advance Nano. The position includes, among other things, the opportunity for the doctoral students to choose the topic of their research themselves, provided that it is connected to the nano field, as well as the research group they wish to join. Martina Olsson chose Aleksandar Matic’s and Marianne Liebi’s research groups at the Department of Physics. She defended her thesis in June last year.

“When I started writing my thesis, I reflected a great deal on the structure and on what I actually wanted to contribute with the ‘kappa’, the introductory summary of the dissertation. What I found most important, and also most difficult, was to create a clear overall structure and a coherent narrative, since my projects differ in terms of application. At first glance, it is perhaps not obvious how studies of medicines and batteries are connected. Therefore, I wanted to focus on and highlight what unites them: the techniques, the experimental design, and the methodological challenges I worked with, in addition to the direct results. During the writing process itself, I like to work iteratively and not be afraid to remove or revise sections, as one often comes up with good ideas while writing.”

“Write something that adds value to the articles”

To other doctoral students who have just begun writing their theses, she passes on advice she herself received during the process: to write something that adds value to the scientific articles on which the thesis is based.

“The results are already presented in the articles, so the thesis does not need to simply repeat them. Instead, consider what your specific angle is and what constitutes the overall coherence of the project. How are the different projects connected, and what similarities or parallels can be drawn? Can the ‘kappa’ serve as a good starting point for a future doctoral student in the field? That idea phase is also the most enjoyable part of writing, as it is when you can be most creative and shape the broader narrative.”

Today, Martina Olsson works as a physicist at RTI Group, where she develops measurement instruments for quality assurance of X-ray equipment.

“Here, I work both with hardware development, where I directly benefit from my knowledge of materials science and the physics behind X-ray detectors, and with algorithm development and data analysis. In that sense, much of the work is closely related to what I have done previously. In addition, my time at Chalmers has given me a strong foundation in how to approach complex problems effectively, work across disciplines, and drive projects from idea to finished solution, which is of great benefit to me.”