Christiane Becker receives a professorship at HTW Berlin University of Applied Sciences
Prof. Dr. Christiane Becker has accepted the call to a W2 professorship for the field of “Experimental physics focusing on material sciences and photonics” at HTW Berlin University of Applied Sciences. Since October 2012, she has headed a Young Investigator Group funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, BMBF.
Together with her team, Christiane Becker is developing nano- and micro-structured silicon components for applications in photovoltaics and photonics. She is intentionally employing simple, low-cost manufacturing processes that will later be suitable for up-scaling to industrial production. “Our focus is on highly scalable fabrication methods, among others the development of nanoimprint lithography and silicon vapour deposition,” says the head of the Young Investigator Group Nano-SIPPE. The name of her group stands for “Nanostructured SIlicon for Photonic and Photovoltaic ImplEmentations”. Christiane Becker’s team is collaborating closely with industrial companies and holds several patents.
“I am very happy about the professorship, because it provides long-term prospects for my research, and I thank HZB for its support. HTW Berlin offers a stimulating environment, and I am looking forward to still being a part of the education and training of students,” the physicist says. With this joint appointment by HTW Berlin and HZB, Christiane Becker will also continue researching at HZB with her Young Investigator Group.
Christiane Becker received her doctorate in 2006 at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) with a thesis on nonlinear optics of photonic crystals. She then moved to the Institute for Silicon Photovoltaics of HZB and, in 2012, successfully applied for funding for her BMBF Young Investigator Group. In 2014, Christiane Becker was called to a limited W2 professorship at HTW Berlin, which was extended into a permanent professorship in March 2017.
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- Solar cells on moon glass for a future base on the moonFuture settlements on the moon will need energy, which could be supplied by photovoltaics. However, launching material into space is expensive – transporting one kilogram to the moon costs one million euros. But there are also resources on the moon that can be used. A research team led by Dr. Felix Lang of the University of Potsdam and Dr. Stefan Linke of the Technical University of Berlin have now produced the required glass from ‘moon dust’ (regolith) and coated it with perovskite. This could save up to 99 percent of the weight needed to produce PV modules on the moon. The team tested the radiation tolerance of the solar cells at the proton accelerator of the HZB.
- Optical innovations for solar modules - which are the most promising?In 2023, photovoltaic systems generated more than 5% of the world’s electrical energy and the installed capacity doubles every two to three years. Optical technologies can further increase the efficiency of solar modules and open up new applications, such as coloured solar modules for facades. Now, 27 experts provide a comprehensive overview of the state of research and assess the most promising innovations. The report, which is also of interest to stakeholders in funding and science management, was coordinated by HZB scientists Prof. Christiane Becker and Dr. Klaus Jäger.