News
Launch of European Perovskite Initiative EPKI
HZB is participating in the initiative for the development of Perovskite based solar technology:
Perovskite based solar cells have made tremendous progress over the last decade achieving lab-scale efficiencies of 24.2% early 2019 in single-junction architecture and up to 28% in tandem (perovskite associated with…
Fruitful networking at HZB Industry Day
Shaping the future of optoelectronics and photovoltaics with industrial partners:
On 28th March, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin invited industry key players in the fields of optoelectronics and photovoltaics to an industry day in Berlin-Adlershof to discuss around the key topics material and components…
Towards the Climate Neutral City
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin is opening an independent consulting office for integrating photovoltaics into buildings in Berlin Adlershof:
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin is opening a national consulting office for integrating photovoltaics into buildings (BAIP) this spring. The consulting office will support building owners, architects, and municipal…
Thin-film tandem cells made of perovskite and CIGSe semiconductors
Ultra-thin and extremely efficient solar cell due to new material combination:
An HZB team has fabricated and characterised a thin-film tandem solar cell made of perovskite and CIGSe. They relied on a simple, robust fabrication process that is also suitable for scaling up to large surface areas.…
How could artificial photosynthesis contribute to limiting global warming?
Researchers publish calculations to remove CO2 from the atmosphere:
If CO2 emissions do not fall fast enough, then CO2 will have to be removed from the atmosphere in the future to limit global warming. Not only could planting new forests and biomass contribute to this, but new…
Slovenian president awards HZB scientist with "Apple of Inspiration"
The Berlin scientists as the first foreigners receive the prize together with colleagues from the University of Ljubljana:
Marko Jošt, Steve Albrecht and Bernd Rech, researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the Technische Universität Berlin (TUB) receive a rare award today, 19 December 2018 in the slovenian Grand Hall of…
Delegation from Jordan visited the HZB
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) will intensify its cooperation with Jordanian large-scale research facilities :
This was agreed between the HZB management and representatives of a high-ranking Jordanian research delegation, which visited the HZB at the end of November 2018. On 27 November 2018, H.E. Dr. Khaled Toukan, Chairman…
Two new Helmholtz Young Investigator Groups approved at HZB
Competencies in catalysis research are strengthened:
Starting in 2019, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) will be establishing two new Helmholtz Young Investigator Groups and thereby strengthening its competencies in catalysis research. The Helmholtz Association will be…
“Make our Planet great again”
New Research Group on Photovoltaics at HZB:
The physicist Dr. Yutsung Tsai is setting up his own research group on photovoltaics at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin. His goal is to develop two-dimensional transparent solar cells. Tsai receives research funding from the…
New records in perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells
An HZB team has been able to increase the efficiency achieving 25.5 %, which is the highest published value to date:
Using microstructured layers, an HZB team has been able to increase the efficiency of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, achieving 25.5 %, which is the highest published value to date. At the same time,…
Sprinting towards the tandem cell
How the Helmholtz Innovation Lab HySPRINT brings together business and research:
Researchers at the Helmholtz Innovation Lab HySPRINT conduct application-based research on promising solar cells. The development of their refined ideas depends on bringing working together with the industry. A…
Blue phosphorus - mapped and measured for the first time
HZB team was able to examine samples of blue phosphorus at BESSY II for the first time:
Until recently, the existence of "blue" phosphorus was pure theory: Now an HZB team was able to examine samples of blue phosphorus at BESSY II for the first time and confirm via mapping of their electronic band…
Nanodiamonds as photocatalysts
Research team is testing materials for the production of solar fuels at HZB:
Diamond nanomaterials are considered hot candidates for low-cost photocatalysts. They can be activated by light and can then accelerate certain reactions between water and CO2 and produce carbon-neutral "solar fuels".…
Graforce produces environmentally friendly fuel from wastewater
Plasmalysis converts pollutants into energy and reduces emissions by up to 60 %:
The Berlin-based tech company Graforce has introduced a unique technology: Plasmalysis saves resources in its highly efficient generation of hydrogen from industrial waste water. Mixing in biogas produces…
HZB researchers are used to boost the efficiency of silicon solar cells
In the journal Materials Horizons, researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and international colleagues describe how this limit can be abolished:
The efficiency of a solar cell is one of its most important parameters. It indicates what percentage of the solar energy radiated into the cell is converted into electrical energy. The theoretical limit for silicon…
HZB Young Investigator Group “Nano-SIPPE” discovers:
Machine learning helps improving photonic applications:
Photonic nanostructures can be used for many applications, not just in solar cells, but also in optical sensors for cancer markers or other biomolecules, for example. A team at HZB using computer simulations and…
Patented nanostructure for solar cells
Rough optics, smooth surface:
Thin-film solar cells made of crystalline silicon are inexpensive and achieve efficiencies of a good 14 percent. However, they could do even better if their shiny surfaces reflected less light. A team led by Prof.…
Adlershof’s accelerator programme A² supports the development of start-ups
A Bavarian start-up teamed up with a Berlin-based energy provider on a project towards the digitisation of district heating data:
The “A² Adlershof Accelerator-Programm Berlin” made it possible for a Bavarian start-up and a Berlin-based energy provider to come together to work on a project towards the digitisation of district heating data. A²…
2.8 Mio Euro Funding for preparing perovskite solar cells for high volume manufacturing
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and partners want to further improve the manufacturing process:
HZB participates in a new consortium for Perovskite solar technology that is led by Oxford PV Germany GmbH. The consortium is funded by the German Ministry of Economics and Energy with 2.8 Million Euros and aims to…
Printing solar cells and organic LEDs
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin form a joint lab and research group “Generative production processes for hybrid components”:
Solar cells, LEDs and detectors made of organic and hybrid semiconductors can nowadays be simply printed out, even together with teensy nanostructures that make them function better. The development of low-cost…