Hanwha Q-Cells Quantsol Awards 2018
Alejandra Villanueva Tovar, Pavlo Perkhun, Erin Looney, Tom Veeken, Gizem Birant, Harald Reinhold (from left) have been awarded with an HQCQ 2018. © HZB
Six young researchers received a Hanwha Q-Cells Quantsol Award for their self-developed Photovoltaics. This award is presented by the organizers of the international summer school Quantsol together with the industry.
The International Summer School on Photovoltaics and New Concepts of Quantum Solar Energy Conversion (Quantsol) took place from 2 to 9 September 2018 in Hirschegg / Kleinwalsertal, Austria, for the eleventh time in a row. More than 50 prospective solar researchers from 20 countries attended the event. The participants received a comprehensive introduction into photovoltaics and solar fuel generation. Experts from leading research institutes all over the world presented the basic processes for converting solar energy into chemical and electrical energy and showed ways to their technical application. Newer materials, such as the promising perovskites or oxides for water splitting, as well as special analytical methods were also discussed in detail.
As last year, the Hanwha Q-Cells Quantsol Prize (QHQC Award 2018, see photo), was awarded in four categories. The winners in the team categories were Gizem Birant (University of Hasselt, Belgium) and Alejandra Villanueva Tovar (HZB) for the best self-built solar cell and Pavlo Perkhun (CINaM - Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, France) and Harald Reinhold (Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg) for the best optical simulation of a perovskite silicon tandem solar cell. In the individual category, the prize went to the most active participant Erin Looney (MIT, USA) and Tom Veeken (AMOLF, Netherlands) for the best single crystal produced with the Epi-Simulator.
“We would like to thank all the helpers from the HZB and the TU Ilmenau as well as both research institutions, without whom it would not have been possible to organize and carry out such a high-quality school," said Prof. Klaus Lips, who – together with Prof. Thomas Hannappel, TU Ilmenau, is organizing this summerschool since eleven years. Due to the great demand, the next Quantsol Summer Schools are planned for September 2019 and 2020.
- More time for discussionsThe South African chemist Denzil Moodley is the first Industrial Research Fellow at HZB. He is playing a leading role in the CARE-O-SENE project. The Fellowship program aims to further accelerate the development of an efficient catalyst for a sustainable aviation fuel. An interview about the CARE-O-SENE project and why it is so important for scientists from industry and public research to work together.
- Perovskites: Hybrid materials as highly sensitive X-ray detectorsNew bismuth-based organic-inorganic hybrid materials show exceptional sensitivity and long-term stability as X-ray detectors, significantly more sensitive than commercial X-ray detectors. In addition, these materials can be produced without solvents by ball milling, a mechanochemical synthesis process that is environmentally friendly and scalable. More sensitive detectors would allow for a reduction in the radiation exposure during X-ray examinations.
- Electrical energy storage: BAM, HZB, and HU Berlin plan joint Berlin Battery LabThe Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), and Humboldt University of Berlin (HU Berlin) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the Berlin Battery Lab. The lab will pool the expertise of the three institutions to advance the development of sustainable battery technologies. The joint research infrastructure will also be open to industry for pioneering projects in this field.