"Make our Planet great again": New Research Group at the HZB institute of Silicon Photovoltaics
New at HZB: DAAD MOPGA Fellow Dr. Yutsung Tsai. © privat
The physicist Dr. Yutsung Tsai is setting up his own research group on at the Institute of Silicon Photovoltaics at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin. His goal is to develop two-dimensional transparent solar cells. Tsai receives research funding from the Franco-German programme "Make Our Planet Great Again – German Research Initiative“ (MOPGA-GRI), which is funded by the German Ministry or Education and Research.
Following the Paris Climate Agreement, the German and French governments launched the "Make our Planet great again - German Research Initiative" (MOPGA-GRI) funding programme to promote research that develops solutions to slow climate change. Young researchers from all over the world were invited to submit proposals, and a jury of experts from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) selected 13 project leaders from around 300 applications received. Over the next four years, the MOPGA-GRI Fellows will be able to set up their own research group at a centre of their choice.
Call for new projects in Energy Transition
In the field of "Energy Transition", Yutsung Tsai has established himself with a research topic on two-dimensional, transparent solar cells based on a new class of materials.
“I answered that call immediately” Tsai recalls. He had many years of experience in semiconductor physics, optics and two dimensional materials – why not combine these experiences to develop a new class of transparent PV materials, which could be installed anywhere on a building? He then did an extensive web search in order to identify a scientific host for his research plans. Under the keywords “green energy” and “PV research” he discovered HZB among the top productive research institutes and contacted Professor Norbert Nickel who agreed to host him.
Goal: 2D transparent PV materials
Tsai will build up his research group in the Institute Silicon Photovoltaics on the Wilhelm-Conrad-Röntgen-Campus in Adlershof. Tsai, who is called "Rem" by colleagues and friends, comes from Taiwan originally. He has obtained his PhD at State University of New York at Buffalo, USA and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Austin, USA.
Funding:
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the "Make our Planet Great Again – German Research Initiative", implemented by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
- Bright prospects for tin perovskite solar cellsPerovskite solar cells are widely regarded as the next generation photovoltaic technology. However, they are not yet stable enough in the long term for widespread commercial use. One reason for this is migrating ions, which cause degradation of the semiconducting material over time. A team from HZB and the University of Potsdam has now investigated the ion density in four different, widely used perovskite compounds and discovered significant differences. Tin perovskite semiconductors produced with an alternative solvent had a particular low ion density — only one tenth that of lead perovskite semiconductors. This suggests that tin-based perovskites could be used to make solar cells that are not only really environmentally friendly but also very stable.
- Joint Kyiv Energy and Climate Lab goes liveHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy established on 27 November a Joint Energy and Climate Lab.
- 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.