Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde was a guest of HZB
Tour at BESSY II.
Tour through the experimental hall of BER II.
From 15 to 16 March, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde, DGM (German association of materials science), held its closed board meeting and Advisory Council meeting at HZB. The experts took the occasion to visit the synchrotron source BESSY II and the neutron source BER II, gaining an insight into important future projects of HZB.
“It was a great pleasure to be host to the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde, where we had the opportunity to present Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin’s strategies and research infrastructures, which external researchers are also very welcome to use,“ says Prof. Dr. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla, scientific director of HZB.
The board members of the DGM visited the control room and experimental hall of BESSY II on 15 March. On 16 March, the DGM Advisory Council toured the neutron guide hall at BER II and the CoreLab “Correlative Microscopy and Spectroscopy”, which is home to latest generation ZEISS electron and ion microscopes for use by external users and employees of HZB.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Materialkunde is dedicated to promoting continual advancements in topics, structures and careers in the field of materials science and engineering. Its strategies include fostering cooperation between universities, research institutions, companies, and national and international partners, and promoting new collaborative projects. The DGM organises many symposia and congresses that are also important information exchange platforms for many scientists of HZB.
- How carbonates influence CO2-to-fuel conversionResearchers from the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (FHI) have uncovered how carbonate molecules affect the conversion of CO2 into valuable fuels on gold electrocatalysts. Their findings reveal key molecular mechanisms in CO2 electrocatalysis and hydrogen evolution, pointing to new strategies for improving energy efficiency and reaction selectivity.
- Peat as a sustainable precursor for fuel cell catalyst materialsIron-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 (HZB), Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and universities in Tartu and Tallinn, Estonia. At BESSY II, the team observed the formation of complex microstructures within various samples. They then analysed which structural parameters were particularly important for fostering the preferred electrochemical reactions. The raw material for such catalysts is well decomposed peat.
- Susanne Nies appointed to EU advisory group on Green DealDr. Susanne Nies heads the Green Deal Ukraina project at HZB, which aims to support the development of a sustainable energy system in Ukraine. The energy expert has now also been appointed to the European Commission's scientific advisory group to comment on regulatory burdens in connection with the net-zero target (DG GROW).