Monash University awards three HZB-scientist with adjunct professorships
Prof. Klaus Lips, Prof. Emad Aziz and Dr. Alexander Schnegg (f.l.t.r) have been awarded with adjunct professorships by Monash-University. © HZB
Cooperation between Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, is thriving. Now, Monash University has awarded three HZB-scientists with adjunct professorships: Prof. Klaus Lips, Dr. Alexander Schnegg and Prof. Emad Aziz have been working several years already with Prof. Leone Spiccia, an internationally renowned chemist at Monash University, on energy materials science.
Spiccia is investigating artificial photosynthesis in order to develop solutions to convert solar energy into easily storable hydrogen. In 2011 and 2014 he spend time as a guest scientist at HZB working with teams of Lips, Schnegg and Aziz. Numerous publications in high impact journals have been the result of this fruitful collaboration.
As adjunct professors the HZB-scientists are entitled to organise workshops and seminars at Monash University and to further common research projects. To do so, they are given access to the resources of ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science at Monash University.
.
- BESSY II shows how solid-state batteries degradeSolid-state batteries have several advantages: they can store more energy and are safer than batteries with liquid electrolytes. However, they do not last as long and their capacity decreases with each charge cycle. But it doesn't have to stay that way: Researchers are already on the trail of the causes. In the journal ACS Energy Letters, a team from HZB and Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, presents a new method for precisely monitoring electrochemical reactions during the operation of a solid-state battery using photoelectron spectroscopy at BESSY II. The results help to improve battery materials and design.
- From waste to value: The right electrolytes can enhance glycerol oxidationWhen biomass is converted into biodiesel, huge amounts of glycerol are produced as a by-product. So far, however, this by-product has been little utilised, even though it could be processed into more valuable chemicals through oxidation in photoelectrochemical reactors. The reason for this: low efficiency and selectivity. A team led by Dr Marco Favaro from the Institute for Solar Fuels at HZB has now investigated the influence of electrolytes on the efficiency of the glycerol oxidation reaction. The results can help to develop more efficient and environmentally friendly production processes.
- HySPRINT Photovoltaics Lab inauguratedAfter around four years of renovation, photovoltaics research groups moved into their offices in Kekuléstraße on 20 June 2024. With the reopening, the building has also been given a new name that makes the research more visible: it is now called HySPRINT Photovoltaics Lab.