Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin appoints Eva Unger to professorship
Eva Unger is a scientist at HZB and now a professor at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin as well. © K. Kolatzki / HZB
Eva Unger was now appointed as W2 professor at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Prof. Dr. Eva Unger leads a research group at HZB. She develops scalable technologies for the production of perovskite semiconductors for low-cost and highly efficient solar cells.
Prof. Dr Eva Unger works since 2016 as a scientist at HZB, with affiliation at Lund University in Sweden. After building up her research team as part of a BMBF-funded junior research group, she is now head of the department "Solution Processing for Hybrid Materials and Devices" at HZB.
The Unger team is developing manufacturing processes to deposit semiconductor layers of perovskite on larger surfaces. They are working on functional inks for the deposition of perovskite semiconductors and are very active in the analysis of film growth processes and the combinatorial synthesis methods.
In addition to large-area perovskite solar cell prototypes, Unger's team is working with other research groups at Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin on large-area tandem solar modules that combine perovskite with silicon layers.
Eva Unger is also involved in Open Science and Open Data projects and is building a database for perovskite solar cells together with many international partners.
Eva Unger was appointed to a W2 S professorship at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin at the end of January, made possible by the Helmholtz Association's funding programme for the initial appointment of excellent female scientists. In the summer semester, she will offer a specialisation course on "The Chemistry of Solar cells".
- 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.
- Helmholtz Investigator Group on magnonsDr Hebatalla Elnaggar is setting up a new Helmholtz Investigator Group at HZB. At BESSY II, the materials scientist will investigate so-called magnons in magnetic perovskite thin films. The aim is to lay the foundations for future terahertz magnon technology: magnonic devices operating in the terahertz range could process data using a fraction of the energy required by the most advanced semiconductor devices, and at speeds up to a thousand times faster.