Collaborative Research Centre “Nanoscale Metals” raises 11 million euros

Licht wird durch den Nanopartikel fokussiert und die Energie lokal in verschiedene Formen umgewandelt, die dann Chemische Transformation antreiben.

Licht wird durch den Nanopartikel fokussiert und die Energie lokal in verschiedene Formen umgewandelt, die dann Chemische Transformation antreiben. © Felix Stete

Several HZB research teams are participating in the new SFB 1636 "Elementary processes of light-driven reactions on nanoscale metals".

Research on Nansoscale Metals

“We are excited and look forward to the new synergies that can arise from this,” says Prof. Matias Bargheer, who is one of the spokespersons for the new Collaborative Research Centre, led by University of Potsdam. The HZB scientists Renske van der Veen, Yan Lu and Alexander Föhlisch are also involved, in addition to the team of Bargheer, who heads a joint research group at the University of Potsdam and HZB.

The research project aims to help understand the elementary processes that trigger light-controlled chemical reactions on metals at the nanoscale. “There are still many unanswered questions at this fascinating transition between physics and chemistry and we can already apply our concepts to organic coupling reactions and polymerisations, e.g. to functionalise nanoparticles asymmetrically,” says Prof. Dr. Matias Bargheer, talking about the struggles as well as the perspectives of their collaborative research.

Antonia Rötger

  • Copy link

You might also be interested in

  • A New Era in Catalysis: ASCEND Launch in Berlin, €30 Million in Funding
    News
    12.06.2026
    A New Era in Catalysis: ASCEND Launch in Berlin, €30 Million in Funding
    On 11 June 2026, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) in Adlershof hosted the launch of ASCEND (Accelerated Solutions for Catalysis using Emerging Nanotechnology and Digital Innovation). The event took place in the presence of the Minister of Research, Dorothee Bär, President of the Helmholtz Association, Prof. Dr. Martin Keller, and President of the Max Planck Society, Prof. Dr. Patrick Cramer. Bringing together leading partners from industry and research, ASCEND is supported by BMFTR with €30 million in funding and officially started on 1 April 2026. The initiative aims to accelerate the discovery of next-generation catalysts and enable more sustainable chemical processes.
  • X-ray analysis reveals overpainted fascist symbols
    Science Highlight
    08.06.2026
    X-ray analysis reveals overpainted fascist symbols
    Erich Mercker was a successful painter during the Nazi era and in the years that followed. After 1945, he covered up Nazi symbols in at least one of his paintings. With an interdisciplinary team, physicist Dr Ioanna Mantouvalou reports on this study in the Nature Journal Heritage Science.
  • Magnon momentum microscopy: A new window into nanoscale spin-waves
    Science Highlight
    08.06.2026
    Magnon momentum microscopy: A new window into nanoscale spin-waves
    An international team lead by the Max Born Institute has developed a new type of momentum microscopy to image magnons — the quanta of collectively excited spins — directly in two-dimensional reciprocal space using soft X-rays. Measurements have taken place at BESSY II and PETRA III, first author ist the HZB physicist Steffen Wittrock. Owing to its remarkable sensitivity, simplicity, and access to nanometer-scale wavelengths, this novel technique establishes a powerful and versatile platform for exploring nonlinear magnon interactions, which are promising for future computing schemes.