HZB-Highlights 2022 published
© HZB/M.Setzpfand
The Highlights 2022 report on a selection of the most important research results and events at HZB.
This year, the cyber attack made it much more difficult to compile the highlights 2022. But now it's done! One focus in this report is energy research, in which HZB is extraordinarily successful, from basic research to technology transfer. In 2022, HZB teams developed tandem solar cells with record efficiencies, and there was great progress in research on batteries and "green" hydrogen as well. In addition, HZB further expanded its collaborations with industrial partners fostering innovation in the solar industry in Europe. Selected research results from the fields of information and matter provide insights into the diversity of research at HZB and at our X-ray source BESSY II. The report ends with facts, figures, personalia, a short report on the Diversity Charter and a review of special events such as the visit of the swedish King.
- Environmental Chemistry at BESSY II: Radicals in waterwaysHow do radicals form in aqueous solutions when exposed to UV light? This question is important for health research and environmental protection, for example with regard to the overfertilisation of water bodies by intensive agriculture. A team at BESSY II has now developed a new method of investigating hydroxyl radicals in solution. By using a clever trick, the scientists gained surprising insights into the reaction pathway.
- Theory meets practice – We’re heading back to HTW Berlin!The HZB’s BIPV consultancy office (BAIP) is once again coordinating and delivering the lecture series “Building-Integrated Photovoltaics”.
- AI-driven Catalyst Discovery: €30 million funding for German consortiumSix partners from research and industry, including Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), the Fritz-Haber-Institute of the Max Planck Society (FHI), BASF, Dunia Innovations, Siemens Energy, and the Technical University Berlin are launching a joint project to accelerate the catalyst discovery. The German Federal Ministry for Science, Technology and Space (BMFTR) is providing €30 million in funding for ASCEND (Accelerated Solutions for Catalysis using Emerging Nanotechnology and Digital Innovation). The research initiative targets the defossilisation of energy-intensive industries while safeguarding industrial competitiveness, with a focus on the chemical sector. The five-year project will start on 1st April 2026.