HZB has signed the “Charta der Vielfalt” (Diversity Charter)
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HZB is an employer that comprehensively strengthens and cares for the diversity of its employees. HZB publicly acknowledges this by signing the Diversity Charter. The charter is run by an association that works to anchor diversity in the working world.
By signing, HZB commits to the following goal:
"At HZB, we promote and value the diversity of our employees. Diversity creates new opportunities for cooperation and creativity for science. Tapping into these potentials and making them sustainable elements of the work culture is our goal."
Here you get to the HZB entry of the Diversity Charter.
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) was the first non-university research institution to undergo the Stifterverband's diversity audit "Shaping Diversity." The certification attests to the HZB's opportunity-oriented concepts and measures for diverse groups of people.
Diversity Charter
4500 companies and institutions have signed the Diversity Charter to date and are committed to an appreciative and prejudice-free working environment. The association thus represents 14.6 million employees in Germany. Here you find the "Diversity Charter in wording" document.
German Diversity Day 2022
Diversity Day will be held for the 10th time in Germany on May 31. HZB will also participate and show its colours! More about this in the near future.
- Porous Radical Organic framework improves lithium-sulphur batteriesA team led by Prof. Yan Lu, HZB, and Prof. Arne Thomas, Technical University of Berlin, has developed a material that enhances the capacity and stability of lithium-sulphur batteries. The material is based on polymers that form a framework with open pores (known as radical-cationic covalent organic frameworks or COFs). Catalytically accelerated reactions take place in these pores, firmly trapping polysulphides, which would shorten the battery life. Some of the experimental analyses were conducted at the BAMline at BESSY II.
- Metallic nanocatalysts: what really happens during catalysisUsing a combination of spectromicroscopy at BESSY II and microscopic analyses at DESY's NanoLab, a team has gained new insights into the chemical behaviour of nanocatalysts during catalysis. The nanoparticles consisted of a platinum core with a rhodium shell. This configuration allows a better understanding of structural changes in, for example, rhodium-platinum catalysts for emission control. The results show that under typical catalytic conditions, some of the rhodium in the shell can diffuse into the interior of the nanoparticles. However, most of it remains on the surface and oxidises. This process is strongly dependent on the surface orientation of the nanoparticle facets.
- Key technology for a future without fossil fuelsIn June and July 2025, catalyst researcher Nico Fischer spent some time at HZB. It was his sabbatical, he was relieved of his duties as Director of the Catalysis Institute in Cape Town for several months and was able to focus on research only. His institute is collaborating with HZB on two projects that aim to develop environmentally friendly alternatives using innovative catalyst technologies. The questions were asked by Antonia Rötger, HZB.