HZB and ANSTO have extended their Memorandum of Understanding
ANSTO: Adi Paterson and Simone Richter, HZB: Prof Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla and Thomas Frederking. © ANSTO
Advancing energy materials research together
The heads of the HZB and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) recently have considerably extended the Memorandum of Understanding existing between the two institutions since 2015. They intend to further enhance their cooperation particularly in the area of energy materials research.
The memorandum comprises agreements on the exchange of personnel, advanced training, and reciprocal access to instruments located at the large-scale facilities of ANSTO and the HZB. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) research hub is located near Sydney, operating a synchrotron source as well as other infrastructures including the OPAL research reactor and Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering. ANSTO will be taking over the BioRef-Reflektometer for conducting research on soft matter and solid-state/liquid interfaces from BER II, the Berlin-based neutron source that will be shut down at the end of 2019. It will be available to the user community beginning 2018 under the name “Spatz” (German for “sparrow”). ANSTO is also active in the field of accelerator research, one in which HZB has likewise attained an international reputation.
Moreover, HZB has enhanced its collaboration with other leading Australian institutions. In summer 2016, Monash University appointed three HZB scientists from the field of energy materials research as adjunct professors.
More Information on ANSTO: http://www.ansto.gov.au
- Key technology for a future without fossil fuelsIn June and July 2025, catalyst researcher Nico Fischer spent some time at HZB. It was his sabbatical, he was relieved of his duties as Director of the Catalysis Institute in Cape Town for several months and was able to focus on research only. His institute is collaborating with HZB on two projects that aim to develop environmentally friendly alternatives using innovative catalyst technologies. The questions were asked by Antonia Rötger, HZB.
- 5000th patient treated with protons for eye tumoursFor more than 25 years, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) have been jointly offering proton radiation therapy for eye tumours. The HZB operates a proton accelerator in Berlin-Wannsee for this purpose, while Charité provides medical care for the patients. The 5000th patient was treated at the beginning of August.
- Iridium-free catalysts for acid water electrolysis investigatedHydrogen will play an important role, both as a fuel and as a raw material for industry. However, in order to produce relevant quantities of hydrogen, water electrolysis must become feasible on a multi-gigawatt scale. One bottleneck is the catalysts required, with iridium in particular being an extremely rare element. An international collaboration has therefore investigated iridium-free catalysts for acidic water electrolysis based on the element cobalt. Through investigations with various methods, among them experiments at the LiXEdrom at the BESSY II X-ray source in Berlin, they were able to elucidate processes that take place during water electrolysis in a cobalt-iron-lead oxide material as the anode. The study is published in Nature Energy.