Recommended reading: Bunsen magazine with focus on molecular water research
Water not only has some well-known anomalies, but is still full of surprises. The first issue 2023 of the Bunsen Magazine is dedicated to molecular water research, from the ocean to processes in electrolysis. The issue presents contributions from researchers cooperating within the framework of a European research initiative in the "Centre for Molecular Water Science" (CMWS). A team at HZB presents results from the synchrotron spectroscopy of water. Modern X-ray sources can be used to study molecular and electronic processes in water in detail.
With their report on "Local and collective properties of water", Annette Pietzsch, Robert Seidel and Alexander Föhlisch from HZB describe insights on the nature of water, gained with synchrotron spectroscopy at BESSY II. For example, water, which is normally a perfect insulator, can become metallic under certain conditions.
Other contributions explain the challenges of desalinating seawater, processes in electrolysis or structures in ice on the nanoscale.
These insights help in the design of even better climate models, in environmental research, the design of drugs and vaccines, but also in the development of novel catalysts for green hydrogen or other important technologies.
- An important step towards detecting fractons in quantum spin liquidsFollowing predictions of the existence of fractons in quantum spin liquids by more general gauge field theories, researchers at HZB succeeded in detecting these quasi-particles also in a quantum solid-state model.
- Green hydrogen with PEC electrolysers: New insights into transport processesOne method of storing solar energy is to use PEC electrolysers to produce hydrogen. However, scaling up this technology remains challenging. Now, a team at the HZB Institute for Solar Fuels has used 2D fluorescence imaging and particle velocimetry to observe the movement of ions and dissolved gases within the electrolyte during electrolysis. These new insights may prove useful in the development of larger PEC electrolysers.
- New contact material boosts the efficiency of perovskite solar cellsA newly developed material for the electron contact improves the efficiency of single perovskite solar cells and perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells. The new material is based on a carborane molecule. It offers several advantages over the standard material C60, as shown by the study led by Steve Albrecht’s team. The new material has since been patented and is already commercially available.