News
Bright prospects for tin perovskite solar cells
Tin-based perovskites promise enormous potential for the production of environmentally friendly, stable solar cells:
Perovskite solar cells are widely regarded as the next generation photovoltaic technology. However, they are not yet stable enough in the long term for widespread commercial use. One reason for this is migrating ions,…
Observing nanoscale dynamics with soft X-rays
At MBI, a new soft-X-ray instrument has been developed:
Scientists at the Max Born Institute have developed a new soft-X-ray instrument that can reveal dynamics of magnetic domains on nanometer length and picosecond time scales. By bringing capabilities once exclusive to…
Ernst Eckhard Koch Prize and Innovation Award on Synchrotron Radiation 2025
Awards presented at the Helmholtz-Zentrum's User Meeting:
At the 27th BESSY@HZB User Meeting, the Friends of HZB honoured the dissertation of Dr Enggar Pramanto Wibowo (Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg). The Innovation Award on Synchrotron Radiation 2025…
Synchrotron radiation sources: toolboxes for quantum technologies
Directory of key research methods and applications for the further development of quantum technologies published:
Synchrotron radiation sources generate highly brilliant light pulses, ranging from infrared to hard X-rays, which can be used to gain deep insights into complex materials. An international team has now published an…
Joint Kyiv Energy and Climate Lab goes live
Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy establish joint centre for research and education:
The Academic Council of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy approved the establishment of KECLab - the Kyiv Energy and Climate Lab. KECLab is designed to become a modern, internationally connected energy…
Peat as a sustainable precursor for fuel cell catalyst materials
Research at BESSY II for more economical and sustainable energy production:
Iron-nitrogen-carbon catalysts have the potential to replace the more expensive platinum catalysts currently used in fuel cells. This is shown by a study conducted by researchers from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin…
Helmholtz Investigator Group on magnons
Dr Hebatalla Elnaggar wants to create the foundations for a new extremely efficient information technology:
Dr Hebatalla Elnaggar is setting up a new Helmholtz Investigator Group at HZB. At BESSY II, the materials scientist will investigate so-called magnons in magnetic perovskite thin films. The aim is to lay the…
The future of corals – what X-rays can tell us
Researchers want to find out how marine organisms respond to changes in their environment:
This summer, it was all over the media. Driven by the climate crisis, the oceans have now also passed a critical point, the absorption of CO2 is making the oceans increasingly acidic. The shells of certain sea snails…
ALISE: New application lab for in situ electron microscopy strengthens research and SMEs in Berlin-Adlershof
A new generation of state-of-the-art instruments has been put into operation by IKZ and HU:
A major milestone has been reached at the Joint Lab for Electron Microscopy (JEMA) of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ): under the ERDF-funded project ALISE…
Exploring the Hidden Secrets of Inorganic Particles and Formulations through X-ray Insights
LUM GmbH offers new solutions with the Gravity Separation & Particle Analyser LUMiReader® X-Ray 440:
The new Gravity Separation & Particle Analyzer LUMiReader® X-Ray 440 now complements the product range of LUM GmbH. Based on the patented and decades-proven STEP-Technology® (Space and Time resolved Extinction…
Long-term stability for perovskite solar cells: a big step forward
A Teflon-like layer ensures exceptional stability and consistent efficiency:
Perovskite solar cells are inexpensive to produce and generate a high amount of electric power per surface area. However, they are not yet stable enough, losing efficiency more rapidly than the silicon market…
BAM and University of Birmingham extend strategic research partnership
Thematische Schwerpunkte sind Energie, Additive Fertigung, Umwelt- und Lebenswissenschaften sowie Chemie und Materialien:
The Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) and the University of Birmingham (UoB) are continuing their successful strategic research partnership. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), originally…
Two precision mechanics from HZB are Berlin's best trainees
Edgar Lunk and Fiete Buchin completed their training with top results:
Two former apprentices from the HZB workshop have achieved something remarkable: Fiete Buchin and Edgar Lunk completed their training as precision mechanics, taking first and second place in all of Berlin. In this…
Crystals and careers
How research is turned into business:
New technologies require one thing above all else. They take time. It takes years for a good idea to grow into a viable spin-off,” says Thomas Schröder, director of the Leibniz Institute for Crystal Growth (IKZ) in…
Energy of charge carrier pairs in cuprate compounds
Measurements at BESSY II contribute to a better understanding of high-temperature superconductivity:
High-temperature superconductivity is still not fully understood. Now, an international research team at BESSY II has measured the energy of charge carrier pairs in undoped La₂CuO₄. Their findings revealed that the…
Electrocatalysis with dual functionality – an overview
Synchrotron sources provide insights into complex reactions and can thus help in the development of hybrid electrolysers:
Hybrid electrocatalysts can produce green hydrogen, for example, and valuable organic compounds simultaneously. This promises economically viable applications. However, the complex catalytic reactions involved in…
YSGAG: A Breakthrough Substrate for Quantum Magnonics from IKZ
New material allows quantum experiments at low temperatures:
Dr. Christo Guguschev and his team from the Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ), in collaboration with international partners, has developed and demonstrated a new diamagnetic substrate material, nearly…
Phosphorous chains – a 1D material with 1D electronic properties
One-dimensional electronic properties of a material were experimentally demonstrated for the first time at BESSY II:
For the first time, a team at BESSY II has succeeded in demonstrating the one-dimensional electronic properties of a material through a highly refined experimental process. The samples consisted of short chains of…
Perovskite solar cells from Germany are competing with China’s PV technology
Kevin J. Prince and Siddhartha Garud receive HZB 2025 Technology Transfer Award:
Photovoltaics is the leading technology in the transition to clean energy. However, traditional silicon-based solar technology has reached its efficiency limit. Therefore, a HZB-team has developed a perovskite-based…
HZB researcher awarded prestigious VAIBHAV Fellowship by Government of India
Dr. Prashanth Menezes honoured for his pioneering contributions to materials chemistry and catalysis:
The Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, has announced the recipients of the Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Fellowship, a flagship initiative aimed at fostering collaboration between the…