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.
- Science in Berlin: collaborative, diverse, innovative, internationalScience is a key social and economic factor for Berlin. It creates jobs and adds value, attracts talent from all over the world, and enriches city life. To ensure that Berlin remains one of the world’s leading centres of science in the future, science must feature even more prominently on the political agenda. This is what BR50 stands for: over 50 non-university research institutions, including the HZB, are joining forces in this network. Following the election in Berlin, BR50 is now addressing politicians with a position paper, accompanied by the campaign “𝗪𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗳ü𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻.”
- Does African Architecture exist?The world’s first Pan-African Architecture Biennale took place this September in Nairobi, Kenya. People from the worlds of architecture, art, academia and politics from 54 African countries and the diaspora had travelled to Nairobi to exchange ideas on traditional and contemporary building methods, materials, experiences and projects. Samira Aden co-organised this biennial as lead curator. We spoke to her about it.
- Nanosilver as an electrocatalyst for CO₂ reductionVia electrolysis, CO2 can be reduced to CO, a raw material for further chemical products such as fuels. Within the GreenQuest Project, an internation team led by HZB chemist Prashanth Menezes has now systematically investigated catalyst layers made of silver nanoparticles, varying both the size of the particles and their density. The best yield was achieved with nanoparticles with diameters of around 10 nm, which were loosely distributed. Furthermore, they demonstrated how the economic efficiency of the electrochemical cell can be enhanced by integrating an additional chemical reaction at the anode, enabling the simultaneous production of a valuable formic acid, hydrogen, and CO in one device.