New HZB magazine "Lichtblick" has been published
In the new issue, we introduce our new commercial managing director. We also show how important exchange is to us: science thrives on fruitful exchange with others. But dialogue with the public is also very important to us. Art can also create enriching access to science and build bridges. All these topics are covered in the new issue of Lichtblick.
Click here for the online edition
Topics at a glance
A portrait of our Administrative director
The new Administrative Director, Saskia Vormfelde, took up her work in September – and brings more than just a knack for balance sheets to the table. You can read about what she has done so far and why she is looking forward to working at HZB in the cover story. > Portrait on the internet
What remains of the Helmholtz reviews in May?
Many colleagues were busy preparing for the programme-oriented research (PoF) reviews in the first half of 2025. In an interview, the two coordinators, Olaf Schwarzkopf and Tobias Sontheimer, talk about how the presentation was received by the reviewers. > Interview to read
The neuron accelerator brings art and research together
A place that invites brainstorming: artist Peter Sandhaus' neuron accelerator is designed to strengthen exchange and stimulate new ideas. The artwork has recently been installed in front of the entrance to the BESSY II building. > More about the artwork
Further topics
Good advice in the service of science: Sebastian Fiechter is a long-standing ombudsperson for good scientific practice and talks about the problems that can arise.
Why we are becoming more public: Dialogue and exchange on an equal footing help to build trust in science. That's why we approach people at many festivals.
The internationality of our employees: How international are we really?
- Perovskite triple-junction solar cells: Even more efficient with GO/SAM bilayersPerovskite semiconductors efficiently convert sunlight into electrical energy; they are also inexpensive and extremely lightweight. A team at HZB has developed a triple-junction solar cell comprising different perovskite semiconductors, with a novel bilayer of graphene oxide (GO) and a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) as the hole conductor. This bilayer significantly increases both efficiency and long-term stability. The efficiency of the novel perovskite triple-junction solar cell is 27.3% and shows hardly any decline even after more than 770 hours of operation. The study has been published in the renowned journal Joule.
- Green Deal Ukraїna at the Ukraine Recovery ConferenceEnd of June, the Ukraine Recovery Conference (UCR2026) took place in Gdańsk, Poland. Unlike previous editions, URC2026 introduced a dedicated Energy Platform, jointly organised by the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine and the Ministry of Climate and Environment of Poland, which brought together energy-related discussions, announcements, and side events in one place, increasing the visibility and coordination of key energy topics. Green Deal Ukraїna, an initiative coordinated by HZB, organised three events on the sidelines of URC on research and energy topics as part of the conference.
- Perovskites: the future of PV? - The smarter-E PodcastPerovskites: The Race for the Future of PV?