HZB Newsroom
- Cooperation with the Korea Institute of Energy ResearchOn Friday, 19 April 2024, the Scientific Director of Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Bernd Rech, and the President of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), Yi Chang-Keun, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Daejeon (South Korea).
- Quantsol Summer School 2024 - Call for ApplicationRegistration for Quantsol is now open!
The International Summer School on Photovoltaics and New Concepts of Quantum Solar Energy Conversion (Quantsol) will be held in September 1-8, 2024 in Hirschegg, Kleinwalsertal, Austria. The school is organised by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and the Technical University of Ilmenau. Applications can be submitted through the school’s homepage until Friday 31st of May 2024, 23.59h CET.
- A simpler way to inorganic perovskite solar cellsInorganic perovskite solar cells made of CsPbI3 are stable over the long term and achieve good efficiencies. A team led by Prof. Antonio Abate has now analysed surfaces and interfaces of CsPbI3 films, produced under different conditions, at BESSY II. The results show that annealing in ambient air does not have an adverse effect on the optoelectronic properties of the semiconductor film, but actually results in fewer defects. This could further simplify the mass production of inorganic perovskite solar cells.
- Best Innovator Award 2023 for Artem MusiienkoDr. Artem Musiienko has been awarded a special prize for his groundbreaking new method for characterising semiconductors. At the recent annual conference of the Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) in Milan, Italy, he received the MCAA Award for the best innovation. Since 2023, Musiienko has been carrying out his research project with a postdoctoral fellowship from the Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions in Antonio Abate's department, Novel Materials and Interfaces for Photovoltaic Solar Cells (SE-AMIP).
- The future of BESSYAt the end of February 2024, a team at HZB published an article in Synchrotron Radiation News (SRN). They describe the next development goals for the light source as well as the BESSY II+ upgrade programme and the successor source BESSY III.
- 14 parameters in one go: New instrument for optoelectronicsAn HZB physicist has developed a new method for the comprehensive characterisation of semiconductors in a single measurement. The "Constant Light-Induced Magneto-Transport (CLIMAT)" is based on the Hall effect and allows to record 14 different parameters of transport properties of negative and positive charge carriers. The method was tested now on twelve different semiconductor materials and will save valuable time in assessing new materials for optoelectronic applications such as solar cells.
- Steve Albrecht is one of the “Highly Cited Researchers 2023”Every year, countless articles are published in specialist journals. The information service provider Clarivate uses a recognised method to measure the influence of the published articles on the respective subject area. According to this year's evaluation, HZB researcher Steve Albrecht is one of the most "highly cited researchers" having a significant influence on his field. Albrecht and his team have been involved in several world records for tandem solar cells in recent years and have published the results in high-ranking scientific journals.
- Revolutionary material science: Helmholtz High Impact Award for Novel Tandem Solar CellsA multidisciplinary team from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) is researching and improving novel tandem solar cells in order to bring them into application. For their approach and research achievements, Steve Albrecht, Antonio Abate and Eva Unger from HZB and Michael Saliba from FZJ received the High Impact Award on 27 September 2023. With the award, which comes with 50,000 euros in prize money, the Helmholtz Association and the Donors’ Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany honour innovative approaches that have the potential to act as game-changers.
- Record-breaking tandem solar cell now with precise scientific explanationsThe world's best tandem solar cells, consisting of a silicon bottom cell and a perovskite top cell, can today convert around one-third of incident solar radiation into electrical energy. These are record values, especially for a potentially very low-cost technology. A team at HZB is now providing the scientific data for the first time and describing how this development was achieved in the renowned journal Science.
- Bauwerkintegrierte Photovoltaik: HZB bei den Berliner Energietagen am 23.05.In diesem Jahr fokussiert die Veranstaltung des Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie die Bauwerkintegrierte Photovoltaik (BIPV). Dabei betrachten wir das Material, die Technologie, den Baustoff sowie Entwurfsparameter und den Bauablauf. Begleitet wird die Veranstaltung von Materialproben und Vorträgen.
- “We are currently in a decisive phase for photovoltaics”The HZB researcher Rutger Schlatmann has been elected as the new Chair of the platform ETIP-PV, which brings together representatives of science, industry and politics from all over Europe. We interviewed him about the current boom – and about why the photovoltaics ship has not yet sailed for the EU.
- Fast and flexible solar energy from the printerLighter, more flexible and adaptable – the innovation platform Solar TAP develops innovative solutions for photovoltaic applications. The aim is to make surfaces already used in agriculture, the building sector and transport additionally usable for the expansion of solar energy with printed solar cells.
- HZB receives funding to make innovations usable more quicklyThe Helmholtz Association has selected three new innovation platforms that will now be funded. HZB is involved in two of them: The Innovation Platform on Accelerator Technologies HI-ACTS is intended to open up modern accelerators for a wide range of applications, while the Innovation Platform Solar TAP is intended to bring new ideas from the laboratories of photovoltaics research more quickly into an application. In total, HZB will receive 4.2 million euros in grants from the Pact for Research and Innovation over the next three years.
- Perovskite solar cells from the slot die coater - a step towards industrial productionSolar cells made from metal halide perovskites achieve high efficiencies and their production from liquid inks requires only a small amount of energy. A team led by Prof. Dr. Eva Unger at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin is investigating the production process. At the X-ray source BESSY II, the group has analyzed the optimal composition of precursor inks for the production of high-quality FAPbI3 perovskite thin films by slot-die coating. The solar cells produced with these inks were tested under real life conditions in the field for a year and scaled up to mini-module size.
- Maria Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship for Artem MusiienkoDr. Artem Musiienko has earned a prestigious Maria Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship for his research project HyPerGreen. In the group of Prof. Antonio Abate, HZB, Musiienko will explore and improve lead-free perovskite solar cells with the goal to increase their efficiency to more than 20 %.
- Stability of perovskite solar cells reaches next milestonePerovskite semiconductors promise highly efficient and low-cost solar cells. However, the semi-organic material is very sensitive to temperature differences, which can quickly lead to fatigue damage in normal outdoor use. Adding a dipolar polymer compound to the precursor perovskite solution helps to counteract this. This has now been shown in a study published in the journal Science by an international team led by Antonio Abate, HZB. The solar cells produced in this way achieve efficiencies of well above 24 %, which hardly drop under rapid temperature fluctuations between -60 and +80 Celsius over one hundred cycles. That corresponds to about one year of outdoor use.
- World record back at HZB: Tandem solar cell achieves 32.5 percent efficiencyThe current world record of tandem solar cells consisting of a silicon bottom cell and a perovskite top cell is once again at HZB. The new tandem solar cell converts 32.5 % of the incident solar radiation into electrical energy. The certifying institute European Solar Test Installation (ESTI) in Italy measured the tandem cell and officially confirmed this value which is also included in the NREL chart of solar cell technologies, maintained by the National Renewable Energy Lab, USA.
- On the way to mass production: perovskite silicon tandem cellsIn order to transfer tandem solar cells from laboratory scale to production, HZB is cooperating with the solar module manufacturer Meyer Burger, which has great expertise in heterojunction technology (HJT) for silicon modules. Within the framework of this cooperation, mass production-ready silicon bottom cells based on heterojunction technology are to be combined with a top cell based on perovskite technology.
- Tiburtius Prize for Eike KöhnenOn Tuesday, 6 December 2022, Dr. Eike Köhnen received the Tiburtius Prize (First Place) for outstanding dissertations. Eike Köhnen has contributed to significantly increasing the efficiency of tandem solar cells made of perovskite and silicon, to the point of setting world records.
- Nanodiamonds can be activated as photocatalysts with sunlightNanodiamond materials have potential as low-cost photocatalysts. But until now, such carbon nanoparticles required high-energy UV light to become active. The DIACAT consortium has therefore produced and analysed variations of nanodiamond materials. The work shows: If the surface of the nanoparticles is occupied by sufficient hydrogen atoms, even the weaker energy of blue sunlight is sufficient for excitation. Future photocatalysts based on nanodiamonds might be able to convert CO2 or N2 into hydrocarbons or ammonia with sunlight.
- European pilot line for innovative photovoltaic technology based on tandem solar cellsPEPPERONI, a four-year Research and Innovation project co-funded under Horizon Europe and jointly coordinated by Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and Qcells, will support Europe in reaching its renewable energy target of climate neutrality by 2050. The project will help advance perovskite/silicon tandem photovoltaics (PV) technology’s journey towards market introduction and mass manufacturing.
- How photoelectrodes change in contact with waterPhotoelectrodes based on BiVO4 are considered top candidates for solar hydrogen production. But what exactly happens when they come into contact with water molecules? A study in the Journal of the American Chemical Society has now partially answered this crucial question: Excess electrons from dopants or defects aid the dissociation of water which in turn stabilizes so-called polarons at the surface. This is shown by data from experiments conducted at the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. These insights might foster a knowledge-based design of better photoanodes for green hydrogen production.
- Photocatalysis: Processes in charge separation recorded experimentallyCertain metal oxides are considered good candidates for photocatalysts to produce green hydrogen with sunlight. A Chinese team has now published exciting results on copper(I) oxide particles in Nature, to which a method developed at HZB contributed significantly. Transient surface photovoltage spectroscopy showed that positive charge carriers on surfaces are trapped by defects in the course of microseconds. The results provide clues to increase the efficiency of photocatalysts.
- A perfect match: perovskite meets perovskiteTandem solar cells, which combine two different perovskite semiconductors, promise high efficiencies and can be produced with very little energy input. Such modules could even be bendable. Together with partners from industry and research, HZB expert Prof. Steve Albrecht is working to realise this vision. His team recently succeeded in producing an all-perovskite tandem solar cell with a certified efficiency of 27.2 %. A conversation about the opportunities and challenges of the perovskite-perovskite technology.
- Tandem solar cells with perovskite: nanostructures help in many waysBy the end of 2021, teams at HZB had presented perovskite silicon tandem solar cells with an efficiency close to 30 percent. This value was a world record for eight months, a long time for this hotly contested field of research. In the renowned journal Nature Nanotechnology, the scientists describe how they achieved this record value with nanooptical structuring and reflective coatings.
- Prof. Rutger Schlatmann is Chair of the European Platform for PhotovoltaicsRutger Schlatmann is a solar expert from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and professor at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences. At the HZB he heads the Competence Centre for Photovoltaics, which successfully brings together solar research and industry. Now the expert has been elected as chairman of the European Technology and Innovation Platform for Photovoltaics (ETIP PV). It provides independent advice on energy policy issues and the expansion of photovoltaics in Europe.
- For strong non-university research in BerlinThe non-university research institutions in Berlin will work even more closely together in the future. Their association Berlin Research 50 (BR50), founded in 2020, has joined forces to form a registered non-profit association on 4. October 2022. Together, the research institutions want to further develop and strengthen Berlin as a science location.
- Fassaden-PV und die BauweltAuf dem Programm stehen ein Rundgang durch das Reallabor des Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin gefolgt von Fachvorträgen sowie einem Austausch mit Experten*innen vor Ort.
- Podcast | Der Klimawandel und die Stadt: Mehr Grün oder mehr Photovoltaik?Wie umgehen mit begrenztem Platz? Städte und Kommunen müssen sich jetzt auf die Folgen des Klimawandels vorbereiten. Gründächer, begrünte Fassaden und großflächige Entsiegelungen könnten zu einem besseren Mikroklima beitragen. Aber wird der Platz nicht auch für Photovoltaik benötigt?
In einem kontroversen Gespräch loten die Experten Björn Rau (HZB, BAIP) und Jens Hasse (Deutsches Institut für Urbanistik) die Optionen aus und finden neue Lösungen. - Environmental impact of perovskite-on-silicon solar PV modules lower than silicon aloneSolar photovoltaics is a reliable and sustainable way to generate energy. A study has evaluated for the first time the lifecycle environmental impact of industrially produced perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar modules, provided by Oxford PV. The conclusion: these innovative tandem solar modules are even more environmentally friendly than conventional silicon heterojunction modules over their lifetimes. The study has now been published by the peer reviewed journal Sustainable Energy & Fuels.
- Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore visits HZBOn Friday, 17 June, a delegation from Singapore visited HZB. Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, was accompanied by the Ambassador to Singapore in Germany, Laurence Bay, as well as representatives from research and industry.
- Royal visit from Sweden at HZBKing Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden as well as a group of business leaders from large corporations such as Ericsson, Nordholt, Vattenfall, ABB, Schneider Electric and Swedish representatives from the public sector and academia visited the Adlershof Technology Park on 11 May 2022.
- Perovskite solar cells: Properties still remain enigmaticIn order to explain the particularly favourable properties of perovskite semiconductors for solar cells, various hypotheses are circulating. Polarons or a giant Rashba effect, for example, are thought to play a major role. A team at BESSY II has now experimentally disproved these hypotheses. In doing so, they further narrow down the possible causes for the transport properties and enable better approaches for the targeted optimisation of this class of materials.
- PhD Amran Al-Ashouri: Doubling down for the energy transitionClimate change has Amran Al-Ashouri concerned. As a physicist, he knows how urgently and quickly measures need to be taken to limit the global temperature increase to between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius. In his private life, the 29-year-old scientist is accordingly a member of the association “climactivity”, which aims to educate as many people as possible about important matters in climate protection.
- Knowledge transfer: BAIP consulting office becomes permanent at HZBThe BAIP consulting office for building-integrated photovoltaics has been launched as a knowledge transfer project in 2019, funded by the Helmholtz Association's Initiative and Networking Fund. In order to build a bridge between the world of construction and photovoltaics, the consulting office provides comprehensive knowledge for architects, planners, builder-owners, investors and urban developers. After an excellent evaluation, the BAIP consulting office will be permanently financed by HZB.
- From Lab to Fab: World Record Solar Cell Goes from Lab to IndustryQ CELLS and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin achieve a new world record efficiency for a 2-terminal tandem solar cell combining a mass-production ready silicon bottom cell based on Q.ANTUM technology and a top-cell based on perovskite technology. The efficiency is 28.7%.
- Predicting solar cell performance from terahertz and microwave spectroscopyMany semiconducting materials are possible candidates for solar cells. In recent years, perovskite semiconductors in particular have attracted attention, as they are both inexpensive and easy to process and enable high efficiencies. Now a study with 15 participating research institutions shows how terahertz (TRTS) and microwave spectroscopy (TRMC) can be used to reliably determine the mobility and lifetime of the charge carriers in new semiconducting materials. Using these measurement data it is possible to predict the potential efficiency of the solar cell in advance and to classify the losses in the finished cell.
- “Workhorse” of silicon photovoltaics combined with perovskite in tandem for the first timeSo-called PERC cells are used in mass production of silicon solar cells, they are considered the workhorses of photovoltaics, dominating the market. Now two teams from HZB and the Institute for Solar Energy Research in Hamelin (ISFH) have shown that such standard silicon cells are also suitable as a basis for tandem cells with perovskite top cells. Currently, the efficiency of the tandem cell is still below that of optimised PERC cells alone, but could be increased to up to 29.5% through targeted optimisation. The research was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics as part of a joint project.
- Dissertation Prize Adlershof 2021 goes to Amran Al-Ashouri
On February 17, 2022, the Adlershof Dissertation Prize was awarded for the 20th time. Dr. Amran Al-Ashouri (3rd from right) from the HZB young investigator research group "Perovskite tandem solar cells" received the prize endowed with 3,000 euros. The physicist is researching how new organic contact layers can be used to optimize highly efficient perovskite silicon tandem solar cells.
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin appoints Eva Unger to professorshipEva Unger was now appointed as W2 professor at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Prof. Dr. Eva Unger leads a research group at HZB. She develops scalable technologies for the production of perovskite semiconductors for low-cost and highly efficient solar cells.
- A sundial of a different kindTurning a scientific question into a product is the requirement that the winners of the HZB Technology Transfer Prize should fulfil. The team led by Tobias Henschel, Bernd Stannowski and Sebastian Neubert won more than just a prize.
- An electronic rainbow – perovskite spectrometer by inkjet printingResearchers from Innovation Lab HySPRINT at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (HU) have used an advanced inkjet printing technique to produce a large range of photodetector devices based on a hybrid perovskite semiconductor. By mixing of only three inks, the researchers were able to precisely tune the semiconductor properties during the printing process. Inkjet printing is already an established fabrication method in industry, allowing fast and cheap solution processing. Extending the inkjet capabilities from large area coating towards combinatorial material synthesis opens the door for new possibilities for the fabrication of different kind of electronic components in a single printing step.
- A Wiki for Perovskite Solar Cell ResearchAn international team of experts has collected data on metal halide perovskite solar cells from more than 15,000 publications and developed a database with visualisation options and analysis tools. The database is open source and provides an overview of the rapidly growing knowledge as well as the open questions in this exciting class of materials. The study was initiated by HZB scientist Dr. Eva Unger and implemented and coordinated by her postdoc Jesper Jacobsson.
- World record again at HZB: Almost 30 % efficiency for next-generation tandem solar cellsThree HZB teams led by Prof. Christiane Becker, Prof. Bernd Stannowski and Prof. Steve Albrecht have jointly managed to increase the efficiency of perovskite silicon tandem solar cells fabricated completely at HZB to a new record value of 29.80 %. The value has now been officially certified and is documented in the NREL-charts. This brings the 30 percent mark within reach.
- Germany on the road to net zero: a new Web Atlas shows the optionsWhich technical and nature-based options as well as political decisions can support Germany in being CO2-neutral? These questions are answered by the new web atlas of the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon. The new tool is aimed at politicians, experts and the public. The HZB has also contributed to the web atlas.
- Professorship for Antonio Abate at Bielefeld UniversityDr. Antonio Abate investigates perovskite semiconductors for low-cost and highly efficient solar cells and heads a large research group at the Helmholtz Centre Berlin. Now he has accepted a W2 professorship in the Department of Chemistry at Bielefeld University.
- Perovskite solar cells: Defects trap charge carriers - and release them againAn international team at HZB and Charles University Prague has investigated how charge carriers in so called MAPI-perovskite semiconductors interact with different defects. They show that a large proportion of defects quickly releases trapped charge carriers. These results could help to further improve the properties of perovskite solar cells.
- Solar energy for a sport watch: HZB Technology Transfer Prize 2021 awardedAt first glance, it looks like an ordinary wristwatch. But its glass taps the energy of the sun. A research group at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin has made this possible. Their transparent photovoltaics have now even made it into mass production, securing the team this year's HZB Technology Transfer Award.
- Royal Society of Chemistry praises HZB team’s paper on hybrid perovskite structuresFor the 10th anniversary collection of its journal, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) selected a paper published by a team from HZB. The paper from HZB is described as one of the most important contributions in the field of solar energy in recent years. The journal praised 23 selected papers that had been often cited or downloaded, and which offered a valuable advantage for further research.
- HZB uses electricity-producing facade wall as real laboratoryIn the presence of the State Secretary for Economic Affairs, Energy and Operations of the State of Berlin, Christian Rickerts, the HZB officially commissioned the solar façade of a new research building on 6 September 2021. What makes it so special is that the elegant façade not only generates up to 50 kilowatts of electricity (peak power). It also provides important insights into the behaviour of the solar modules under different weather conditions.
- Perovskite solar cells: Interfacial loss mechanisms revealed
Metal-organic perovskite materials promise low-cost and high-performance solar cells. Now a group at HZB managed to de-couple the different effects of self-assembled monolayers of organic molecules (SAMs) that reduce losses at the interfaces. Their results help to optimise such functional interlayers.
- Mehr als nur "Fassade": Nachhaltige Energieversorgung durch SolarfassadenEin Beitrag über die nachhaltige Energieversorgung durch Solarfassaden
- Lead-free perovskite solar cells - How fluoride additives improve qualityTin halide perovskites are currently considered the best alternative to their lead-containing counterparts, which are, however, still significantly less efficient and stable. Now, a team led by Prof. Antonio Abate from HZB has analysed the chemical processes in the perovskite precursor solution and the fluoride compounds in detail. Using a clever combination of measurement methods at BESSY II and with NMR at the Humboldt-University Berlin, they were able to show that fluoride prevents the oxidation of tin and leads to a more homogeneous film formation with fewer defects, increasing the quality of the semiconductor layer.
- VIPERLAB: EU project aims to boost perovskite solar industry in EuropeThe HZB is coordinating a major European collaborative project to open up new opportunities for the European solar industry. The VIPERLAB project involves 15 renowned research institutions from Europe, as well as Switzerland and Great Britain. It will be funded within the framework of the EU's Horizon 2020 programme for the next three and a half years with a total of 5.5 million euros, from which the HZB will receive just under 840,000 euros.
- Perovskite Solar Cells: Insights into early stages of structure formationUsing small-angle scattering at the PTB X-ray beamline of BESSY II, an HZB team was able to experimentally investigate the colloidal chemistry of perovskite precursor solutions used for solar cell production. The results contribute to the targeted and systematic optimization of the manufacturing process and quality of these exciting semiconductor materials.
- How quantum dots can "talk" to each other
A group at HZB has worked out theoretically how the communication between two quantum dots can be influenced with light. The team led by Annika Bande also shows ways to control the transfer of information or energy from one quantum dot to another. To this end, the researchers calculated the electronic structure of two nanocrystals, which act as quantum dots. With the results, the movement of electrons in quantum dots can be simulated in real time.
- Perovskite solar cells: Hydrogen bonds measuredThe evaluation of X-ray measurements on methylammonium perovskite semiconductors now shows what role hydrogen bonds play in these materials. In addition, the HZB team showed that radiation damage by soft X-rays to this sensitive class of materials occurs even faster than often expected. Both results provide important information for perovskites materials research for solar cells.
- Green hydrogen: "Rust" as a photoanode and its limitsMetal oxides such as rust are intriguing photoelectrode materials for the production of green hydrogen with sunlight. They are cheap and abundant, but in spite of decades of research, progress has been limited. A team at HZB, together with partners from Ben Gurion University and the Technion, Israel, has now analysed the optoelectronic properties of rust (haematite) and other metal oxides in unprecedented detail. Their results show that the maximum achievable efficiency of haematite electrodes is significantly lower than previously assumed. The study demonstrates ways to assess new photoelectrode materials more realistically.
- New insights into the structure of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskitesIn photovoltaics, organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites have made a rapid career. But many questions about the crystalline structure of this surprisingly complex class of materials remain unanswered. Now, a team at HZB has used four-dimensional modelling to interpret structural data of methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr3), identifying incommensurable superstructures and modulations of the predominant structure. The study is published in the ACS Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters and was selected by the editors as an Editor's Choice.
- Solar cells: Losses made visible on the nanoscaleSolar cells made of crystalline silicon achieve peak efficiencies, especially in combination with selective contacts made of amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). However, their efficiency is limited by losses in these contact layers. Now, for the first time, a team at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the University of Utah, USA, has experimentally shown how such contact layers generate loss currents on the nanometre scale and what their physical origin is. Using a conductive atomic force microscope, they scanned the solar cell surfaces in ultra-high vacuum and detected tiny, nanometre-sized channels for the detrimental dark currents, which are due to disorder in the a-Si:H layer.
- The perfect recipe for efficient perovskite solar cellsA long-cherished dream of materials researchers is a solar cell that converts sunlight into electrical energy as efficiently as silicon, but that can be easily and inexpensively fabricated from abundant materials. Scientists at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have now come a step closer to achieving this. They have improved a process for vertically depositing a solution made from an inexpensive perovskite solute onto a moving substrate below. Not only have they discovered the crucial role played by one of the solvents used, but they have also taken a closer look at the aging and storage properties of the solution.
- Perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells on the threshold of 30% efficiencyAn HZB team has published a report in the journal Science on the development of its current world record of 29.15% efficiency for a tandem solar cell made of perovskite and silicon. The tandem cell provided stable performance for 300 hours – even without encapsulation. To accomplish this, the group headed by Prof. Steve Albrecht investigated physical processes at the interfaces to improve the transport of the charge carriers.
- Perovskite Solar Cells: paving the way for rational ink design for industrial-scale manufacturingFor the production of high-quality metal-halide perovskite thin-films for large area photovoltaic modules often optimized inks are used which contain a mixture of solvents. An HZB team at BESSY II has now analysed the crystallisation processes within such mixtures. A model has also been developed to assess the kinetics of the crystallisation processes for different solvent mixtures. The results are of high importance for the further development of perovskite inks for industrial-scale deposition processes of these semiconductors.
- Solar cells: Mapping the landscape of Caesium based inorganic halide perovskitesScientists at HZB have printed and explored different compositions of caesium based halide perovskites (CsPb(BrxI1−x)3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)). In a temperature range between room temperature and 300 Celsius, they observe structural phase transitions influencing the electronic properties. The study provides a quick and easy method to assess new compositions of perovskite materials in order to identify candidates for applications in thin film solar cells and optoelectronic devices.
- Order in the disorder: density fluctuations in amorphous silicon discoveredFor the first time, a team at HZB has identified the atomic substructure of amorphous silicon with a resolution of 0.8 nanometres using X-ray and neutron scattering at BESSY II and BER II. Such a-Si:H thin films have been used for decades in solar cells, TFT displays, and detectors. The results show that three different phases form within the amorphous matrix, which dramatically influences the quality and lifetime of the semiconductor layer. The study was selected for the cover of the actual issue of Physical Review Letters.
- Perovskite materials: Neutrons show twinning in halide perovskitesSolar cells based on hybrid halide perovskites achieve high efficiencies. These mixed organic-inorganic semiconductors are usually produced as thin films of microcrystals. An investigation with the Laue camera at the neutron source BER II could now clarify that twinning occurs during crystallisation even at room temperature. This insight is helpful for optimising production processes of halide perovskites.
- Solar-cell façade at HZB undergoes real-life testingSolar-modules shimmer bright blue on the cladding of a new building at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB). They are special CIGS thin-film modules custom-developed and produced in Germany for integration into the building’s envelope. The solar cladding not only meets part of the power requirement, but is also a realistic laboratory in and of itself: an HZB team is monitoring the long-term behaviour of the modules under varying environmental conditions and evaluating the data.
- Silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells: New facilities pave the way for industrial-scale production
Perovskites are regarded as promising materials for solar cells, able to be manufactured at low cost while at the same time being extremely efficient. They are particularly suitable for tandem solar cells that combine a cell made of silicon and one of perovskite. As a result, sunlight is more completely used when generating electrical energy. So far, the advantages of such cells have only been available for use at small laboratory scale. With two new, highly innovative production facilities, researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) are now creating the basis for future production on an industrial scale.
- Upconversion of photons at low light intensities – the key to new applications in energy and bioengineeringThe region of the spectrum that can be utilised for producing electrical energy can be considerably extended by converting low-energy (longer wavelength) photons into high-energy (shorter wavelength) photons. But so far, this has only been possible at high intensities of light. Now for the first time, scientists from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) have been able to produce a usable effect from relatively weak light by combining certain nanoparticles with what is known as a meta-surface. This paves the way for future applications in photovoltaics, for the detection of biological substances, and for electrical-field sensors.
- Research team provides concrete approach to improve the performance of CIGS solar cells
A team of researchers used electron microscopes and computer simulations to investigate where losses occur in thin-film solar cells. The researchers from the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) provide specific information on how the already high efficiency of CIGS solar cells can be improved. The results were published in the journal Nature Communication.
- Best electrolyser/photovoltaics combinations demonstrated in test fieldsOne of the most promising ways to increase the availability of solar energy is to convert excess production into hydrogen. The PECSYS project has investigated the best possible material and technology combinations to facilitate such an operation.
- Seminar für Architekt*innen Bauwerkintegrierte Photovoltaik: Architektur – Gestaltung und AusführungIm September veranstaltet die Beratungsstelle für bauwerkintegrierte Photovoltaik (BIPV) „BAIP“ zusammen mit der Architektenkammer Niedersachsen ein Seminar für Architekt*innen zum Thema Bauwerkintegrierte Photovoltaik: Architektur-Gestaltung und Ausführung
- Optimize opto-electronic devices with new compact measuring system
In order to develop efficient opto-electronic devices such as solar cells or LEDs, it is crucial to improve the quality of the semiconductors. To achieve this, it is necessary to determine the luminescence yield of the semiconductor material. For this characterization, a research team at HZB has developed a new measuring device that precisely determines the luminescence and is also very compact. In order to evaluate the potential for commercial applications, the team now receives a Field Study Fellowship from the Helmholtz Association.
- Printed perovskite LEDs – an innovative technique towards a new standard process of electronics manufacturing
A team of researchers from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin has succeeded for the first time in producing light-emitting diodes (LEDs) from a hybrid perovskite semiconductor material using inkjet printing.This opens the door to broad application of these materials in manufacturing many different kinds of electronic components.The scientists achieved the breakthrough with the help of a trick: "inoculating" (or seeding) the surface with specific crystals.
- On the road to non-toxic and stable perovskite solar cellsThe promising halide perovskite materials for solar energy conversion show high efficiencies, but this comes at a cost: The best perovskite materials incorporate toxic lead which poses a hazard to the environment. To replace lead by less toxic elements is not easy since lead-free perovskites show lower stability and poor efficiencies. Now, an international collaboration has engineered a new hybrid perovskite material with promising efficiency and stability.
- Portrait: The athlete in the lab coatSteve Albrecht is researching on perovskite solar cells and holds several efficiency world records with his team. Back in his schooldays, he was going to become either a competitive gymnast or a scientist. He chose science, but the same athletic ambition still drives his research forward.
- Tandem solar cell world record: New branch in the NREL chartA special branch in the famous NREL-chart for solar cell world records refers to a newly developed tandem solar cell by HZB teams. The world-record cell combines the semiconductors perovskite and CIGS to a monolithic "two-terminal" tandem cell. Due to the thin-film technologies used, such tandem cells survive much longer in space and can even be produced on flexible films. The new tandem cell achieves a certified efficiency of 24.16 percent.
- Doctoral student receives Erhard Höpfner Thesis AwardOn 11 February 2020, Max Grischek received the Erhard Höpfner Thesis Prize, worth 2000 euros, which is awarded by a jury of the Berlin Scientific Society for outstanding theses. Grischek studied at the Technische Universität Berlin and wrote his master thesis in the young investigator research group "Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells" at HZB.
- CIGSe thin-film solar cells: EU Sharc25 project increases efficiencyThin-film solar cells made of copper, indium, gallium, and selenium (CIGSe) are cost-effective to produce and now achieve efficiencies of significantly more than 20 percent. This level of performance was achieved through post-processing with alkali elements, and the procedures are suitable for industrial-scale production. Insights into the beneficial effect of these alkali treatments from the EU Sharc25 project have now been collected in an article published in Advanced Energy Materials.
- Perovskite solar cells: International consensus on ageing measurement protocolsExperts from 51 research institutions have now agreed on the procedures for measuring the stability of perovskite solar cells and assessing their quality. The consensus statement was published in Nature Energy and is considered a milestone for the further development of this new type of solar cell on its way to industrial application.
- World Record: Efficiency of perovskite silicon tandem solar cell jumps to 29.15 per centIn the race for ever higher efficiency levels, an HZB development team has once again pulled ahead. The groups of Steve Albrecht and Bernd Stannowski have developed a tandem solar cell made of the semiconductors perovskite and silicon, that converts 29.15 per cent of the incident light into electrical energy. This value has been officially certified by the CalLab of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) and means that surpassing the 30 per cent efficiency mark is now within reach.
- Plants absorb lead from perovskite solar cells more than expectedLead from metal-organic perovskite compounds can be absorbed particularly easily by plants. The bioavailability is significantly higher than that of lead from inorganic compounds as found in batteries. This is shown in a study by HZB researcher Antonio Abate with partners in China and Italy, published in Nature communications.
- Invitation: Climate change - from knowledge to action
Climate change and its causes are undisputed. But how do we get from knowledge to action? What can science contribute to this? On Thursday, 5.12.2019 at 17:00 Clara Mayer (Fridays for Future), Volker Quaschning (HTW Berlin and Scientists for Future), Bernd Rech (scientific director of the HZB) and Kira Vinke (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research) will discuss these questions. The event takes place in the Bunsen lecture hall of WISTA in Adlershof and is open to the public. Admission is free.
- Perovskite solar cells: Possible aspects of high efficiency uncoveredUsing crystallographic analyses at the Diamond Light Source (DLS) synchrotron in the United Kingdom, an HZB team has demonstrated that hybrid halide perovskites crystallise without inversion centre. Interactions between the organic molecules and adjacent iodine atoms can lead to the formation of ferroelectric domains, which, indirectly, can result in higher solar-cell efficiencies. The formation of these ferroelectric domains cannot occur in purely inorganic perovskites.
- Berlin Science Award: Young Talent Award for Steve AlbrechtOn November 7, 2019, Michael Müller, Governing Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Science and Research, honoured outstanding research achievements for the twelfth time. Prof. Dr. Steve Albrecht was honoured this year with the "Nachwuchspreis" (Young Talent Award) for his research on novel tandem solar cells. Albrecht teaches as a junior professor at the Institute for High Frequency and Semiconductor System Technologies at the Technical University of Berlin and heads the research group "Perovskite Tandem Cells" at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin. The Young Talent Award is given to scientists who are not older than 35 years and is endowed with 10,000 euros.
- Jahrestagung FVEE zu aktuellen Herausforderungen der Energiewende„Energy Research for Future – Forschung für die Herausforderungen der Energiewende“ ist das Motto für die Jahrestagung des ForschungsVerbunds Erneuerbare Energien am 22. und 23. Oktober 2019 im Umweltforum Berlin. Auf der Tagung zeigen die Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler u.a. auch aus dem HZB den dringenden Handlungsbedarf auf. Sie analysieren, wo Hemmnisse für eine schnelle Energiewende liegen und wie sie überwunden werden können. Leitplanke für alle Maßnahmen der Politik sollten die Klimaziele von Paris sein.
- Poster award for Götz SchuckAt the 5th International Conference on Perovskite Solar Cells and Optoelectronics (PSCO-19) Dr. Götz Schuck received a prize for his poster contribution. The international conference took place from 30.09.2019 to 02.10.2019 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Helmholtz Association promotes HZB cooperation with Slovenia on perovskite silicon tandem solar cellsA HZB team has successfully raised funds from the “Helmholtz European Partnering Program” of the Helmholtz Association to expand cooperation with partners of the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The topics of the cooperation are tandem solar cells made of perovskite and silicon and, in particular, their precise characterisation.
- World record for tandem perovskite-CIGS solar cellA team headed by Prof. Steve Albrecht from the HZB will present a new world-record tandem solar cell at EU PVSEC, the world's largest international photovoltaic and solar energy conference and exhibition, in Marseille, France on September 11, 2019. This tandem solar cell combines the semiconducting materials perovskite and CIGS and achieves a certified efficiency of 23.26 per cent. One reason for this success lies in the cell’s intermediate layer of organic molecules: they self-organise to cover even rough semiconductor surfaces. Two patents have been filed for these layers.
- Stellungnahme des FVEE: Ausbaudeckel für Photovoltaik behindert erfolgreiche KlimapolitikDer im EEG von 2012 festgelegte Stopp der Einspeisevergütung durch den 52 GW-Deckel läuft dem erforderlichen massiven Ausbau der Photovoltaik und damit auch den deutschen Klimaschutzzielen diametral entgegen. Stattdessen sollte PV-Strom, der nicht lokal verbraucht werden kann, auch nach Erreichen von 52 GW installierter Leistung ins Netz eingespeist und vergütet werden. Der Forschungsverbund Erneuerbare Energien (FVEE) empfiehlt daher, so schnell wie möglich eine Anschlussregelung zu finden, die den für die Klimaschutzziele erforderlichen Solarausbau sichert.
- FOCUS TOPIC: Catching more light in solar cellsChristiane Becker uses microscopic structures to increase the amount of light captured in solar cells and is currently scaling up the technology for industrial application. “On top of everything else, there’s this spirit at HZB that we are working on the renewable energies of the future, and that is incredibly inspiring,” she relates in portrait.
- Charge transfer within transition-metal dyes analysedTransition-metal complexes in dye-based solar cells are responsible for converting light into electrical energy. A model of spatial charge separation within the molecule has been used to describe this conversion. However, an analysis at BESSY II shows that this description of the process is too simple. For the first time, a team there has investigated the fundamental photochemical processes around the metal atom and its ligands. The study has now been published in “Angewandte Chemie, international Edition” and is displayed on the cover.
- Steve Albrecht wins the 2019 Karl Scheel PrizeThis year's Karl Scheel Prize from the Physikalische Gesellschaft zu Berlin honours Steve Albrecht of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie for his work in the field of highly efficient tandem solar cell absorbers made of metal-halide perovskites.
- Photovoltaics are growing faster than expected in the global energy systemDramatic cost reductions and the rapid expansion of production capacities make photovoltaics one of the most attractive technologies for a global energy turnaround. Not only the electricity sector, but also transport, heating, industry and chemical processes will in future be supplied primarily by solar power, because it is already the cheapest form of electricity generation in large parts of the world. This is where opportunities and challenges lie - at the level of the energy system as well as for research and industry. Leading international photovoltaic researchers from the Global Alliance for Solar Energy Research Institutes describe the cornerstones of future developments in an article published in the journal "Science" on 31 May.
- Development of a miniaturised EPR spectrometerSeveral research institutions are developing a miniaturized electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) device with industrial partner Bruker to investigate semiconductor materials, solar cells, catalysts and electrodes for fuel cells and batteries. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is funding the "EPR-on-a-Chip" or EPRoC project with 6.7 million euros. On June 3, 2019, the kick-off meeting took place at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin.
- HZB-Doktorand receives poster awardAt the spring meeting of the Materials Research Society, Jakob Bombsch received an award for his poster on CIGSe absorbers for thin-film photovoltaics. Bombsch is a researcher in the department for Interface Design headed by Prof. Marcus Bär.
- Energy for Antarctica: solar hydrogen as an alternative to crude oil?Volkswagen Foundation funds feasibility study by HZB experts in artificial photosynthesis
The sun shines at the South Pole as well – and in summer almost around the clock. Instead of supplying research stations in the Antarctic with crude oil for producing the electricity and heating they need, solar hydrogen could be produced from sunlight in summer as an alternative. Hydrogen has a high energy density, is easy to store, and can be used as fuel when needed later without polluting the environment. An intriguingly simple idea - but one that raises many questions. Matthias May (HZB) and Kira Rehfeld (Heidelberg University) now want to examine how feasible this kind of solar fuel generation might be in Antarctica. The project is receiving financial support from the Volkswagen Foundation.
- Bernd Stannowski is Professor at the Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin
Prof. Dr. Bernd Stannowski has received and accepted a call for a joint S-Professorship for "Photovoltaics" at the Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin. The physicist heads the working group "Silicon Photovoltaics" at the Competence Center Thin Film and Nanotechnology for Photovoltaics Berlin (PVcomB) of the HZB.
- Copper oxide photocathodes: laser experiment reveals location of efficiency lossSolar cells and photocathodes made of copper oxide might in theory attain high efficiencies for solar energy conversion. In practice, however, large losses occur. Now a team at the HZB has been able to use a sophisticated femtosecond laser experiment to determine where these losses take place: not so much at the interfaces, but instead far more in the interior of the crystalline material. These results provide indications on how to improve copper oxide and other metal oxides for applications as energy materials.
- Inorganic perovskite absorbers for use in thin-film solar cellsA team at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin has succeeded in producing inorganic perovskite thin films at moderate temperatures using co-evaporation – making post-tempering at high temperatures unnecessary. The process makes it much easier to produce thin-film solar cells from this material. In comparison to metal-organic hybrid perovskites, inorganic perovskites are more thermally stable. The work has been published in Advanced Energy Materials.
- PhD student of HZB earns Best Presentation Award of the Young CrystallographersFrederike Lehmann received a prize for her presentation at the annual conference of the German Society of Crystallography in Leipzig on 28 March 2019. She is doing her doctorate in the Department of Structure and Dynamics of Energy Materials at the HZB under Prof. Dr. Susan Schorr at the Graduate School HyPerCell.
- Poster award for Johannes SutterJohannes Sutter, PhD student at HZB, was awarded a poster prize at the "International Conference on Perovskite Solar Cells, Photonics and Optoelectronics (NIPHO19)". The conference took place from 25-27 February 2019 in Jerusalem.
- Marcel Risch to form research group at the HZB with an ERC Starting GrantThe Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) will be further strengthened in its research on solar fuels. Dr. Marcel Risch, who recently obtained an ERC Starting Grants, is moving from Georg August Universität, Göttingen to the HZB. Starting in March 2019, the materials physicist will set up his own research group to analyse and improve catalytic materials for water splitting.
- Thin-film PV is key technology to drive global energy transitionThe German research institutes ZSW and HZB see huge potential in CIGS for both climate and business. CIGS thin-film PV is set to become a key pillar of the global transition towards renewable energy sources. With its high performance, low costs, small carbon footprint, and visual appearance, CIGS has some considerable advantages against other technologies, especially when it comes to highly demanding applications like buildings and vehicles. A new whitepaper compiled by ZSW and HZB describes in detail the benefits of CIGS and the huge business opportunities arising from it.
- HZB to participate in two Clusters of ExcellenceScientists at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) are researching novel systems of materials that can convert or store energy. The HZB will now also be contributing this expertise to the "MATH+" and "UniSysCat" Excellence Clusters being coordinated by Berlin universities. Over the next three years, the Helmholtz Association will fund HZB's participation under the Helmholtz Excellence Network with a total of 1.8 million euros.
- Towards the Climate Neutral City: Independent consulting office for integrating photovoltaics into buildingsThe Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin is opening a national consulting office for integrating photovoltaics into buildings (BAIP) this spring. The consulting office will support building owners, architects, and municipal planners in activating building envelopes for power generation. The project is being funded by the Helmholtz Association over a period of four years as part of its knowledge transfer programme.
- Ultra-thin and extremely efficient: Thin-film tandem cells made of perovskite and CIGSe semiconductorsAn HZB team has fabricated and characterised a thin-film tandem solar cell made of perovskite and CIGSe. They relied on a simple, robust fabrication process that is also suitable for scaling up to large surface areas. The tandem solar cell is a fully thin film device with an impressive efficiency of 21.6 %. With further improvements it might reach efficiencies above 30 %.
- Marcus Bär accepts W2 professorship for X-ray spectroscopy in Erlangen-NurembergProf. Marcus Bär has accepted a professorship for X-ray spectroscopy at the Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). Bär heads the Department of Interface Design at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB). The new W2 professorship was established in cooperation with HZB and Forschungszentrum Jülich in order to strengthen the Helmholtz-Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg für Renewable Energy (HI ERN). In the future, Bär will also be working on HI ERN research topics at HZB, thereby contributing to the intensification of cooperation.
- Slovenian president awards HZB scientist with "Apple of Inspiration"Marko Jošt, Steve Albrecht and Bernd Rech, researchers at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the Technische Universität Berlin (TUB) receive a rare award today, 19 December 2018. In the slovenian Grand Hall of Presidential Palace, the Slovenian President, Borut Pahor, presents them with the "Apple of Inspiration". It honours achievements in culture, science, sport and society. The Berlin scientists are the first foreigners who receive the prize together with colleagues from the University of Ljubljana.
- Steve Albrecht is Junior Professor at the Technical University of BerlinThe Technische Universität Berlin (TU) and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) have appointed Prof. Dr. Steve Albrecht to the joint junior professorship "perovskite solar cells" as of December 15, 2018. Since 2016, Albrecht has headed the junior investigator group "Perovskit Tandem Solar Cells" at the HZB, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
- Molecules that self-assemble into monolayers for efficient perovskite solar cellsA team at the HZB has discovered a new method for producing efficient contact layers in perovskite solar cells. It is based on molecules that organise themselves into a monolayer. The study was published in Advanced Energy Materials and appeared on the front cover of the journal.
- "Make our Planet great again": New Research Group at the HZB institute of Silicon PhotovoltaicsThe physicist Dr. Yutsung Tsai is setting up his own research group on at the Institute of Silicon Photovoltaics at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin. His goal is to develop two-dimensional transparent solar cells. Tsai receives research funding from the Franco-German programme "Make Our Planet Great Again – German Research Initiative“ (MOPGA-GRI), which is funded by the German Ministry or Education and Research.
- Transition metal complexes: mixed works betterA team at BESSY II has investigated how various iron-complex compounds process energy from incident light. They were able to show why certain compounds have the potential to convert light into electrical energy. The results are important for the development of organic solar cells. The study has now been published in the journal PCCP, and its illustration selected for the cover.
- New records in perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells through improved light managementUsing microstructured layers, an HZB team has been able to increase the efficiency of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells, achieving 25.5 %, which is the highest published value to date. At the same time, computational simulations were utilized to investigate light conversion in various device designs with different nanostructured surfaces. This enabled optimization of light management and detailed energy yield analyses. The study has now been published in Energy & Environmental Science.
- Poster award to HZB doctoral studentFrederike Lehmann from the HZB Department Structure and Dynamics of Energy Materials received a poster award at an international conference, the ICTMC-21 in Boulder, Colorado, USA. She presented her results on the synthesis and characterization of hybrid perovskite materials, which are considered interesting candidates for novel solar cells.
- Poster award for HZB PhD studentEike Köhnen received an award for his poster on perovskite silicon tandem cells at the 4th International Conference on Perovskite Solar Cells and Optoelectronics (PSCO) in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is a PhD student in the Junior Research Group on Perovskite Tandem Cells led by Dr. Steve Albrecht.
- HZB researchers boost the efficiency of silicon solar cellsThe efficiency of a solar cell is one of its most important parameters. It indicates what percentage of the solar energy radiated into the cell is converted into electrical energy. The theoretical limit for silicon solar cells is 29.3 percent due to physical material properties. In the journal Materials Horizons, researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and international colleagues describe how this limit can be abolished. The trick: they incorporate layers of organic molecules into the solar cell. These layers utilise a quantum mechanical process known as singlet exciton fission to split certain energetic light (green and blue photons) in such a way that the electrical current of the solar cell can double in that energy range.
- Machine learning helps improving photonic applicationsPhotonic nanostructures can be used for many applications, not just in solar cells, but also in optical sensors for cancer markers or other biomolecules, for example. A team at HZB using computer simulations and machine learning has now shown how the design of such nanostructures can be selectively optimised. The results are published in Communications Physics.
- Patented nanostructure for solar cells: Rough optics, smooth surfaceThin-film solar cells made of crystalline silicon are inexpensive and achieve efficiencies of a good 14 percent. However, they could do even better if their shiny surfaces reflected less light. A team led by Prof. Christiane Becker from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) has now patented a sophisticated new solution to this problem.
- Hanwha Q-Cells Quantsol Awards 2018Six young researchers received a Hanwha Q-Cells Quantsol Award for their self-developed Photovoltaics. This award is presented by the organizers of the international summer school Quantsol together with the industry.
- 2.8 Mio Euro Funding for preparing perovskite solar cells for high volume manufacturingHZB participates in a new consortium for Perovskite solar technology that is led by Oxford PV Germany GmbH. The consortium is funded by the German Ministry of Economics and Energy with 2.8 Million Euros and aims to further demonstrate the manufacturability of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells.
- Printing solar cells and organic LEDsHumboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin form a joint lab and research group “Generative production processes for hybrid components”.
- Insight into loss processes in perovskite solar cells enables efficiency improvementsIn perovskite solar cells, charge carriers are mainly lost through recombination occurring at interface defect sites. In contrast, recombination at defect sites within the perovskite layer does not limit the performance of the solar cells at present. Teams from the University of Potsdam and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) were able to reach this interesting conclusion through extremely accurate quantitative measurements on 1 cm2 perovskite cells using photoluminescence. Their results contribute to improving perovskite solar cells and have now been published in Nature Energy.
- ERC Starting Grant awarded to Antonio AbateHZB scientist Dr. Antonio Abate has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant for his research project on perovskite solar cells. The ERC Starting Grant supports outstanding researchers in an early phase of their scientific careers with up to 1.5 million euros over five years and is considered one of the most important European awards.
- Wissenstransfer: Neues Standardwerk zu Energietechnologien in DeutschlandVertreter des Wuppertal Instituts haben dem Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie (BMWi) einen mehrbändigen Bericht zu Energietechnologien übergeben. Dabei haben Experten aus dem HZB-Institut PVcomB am Themenfeld Photovoltaik mitgewirkt. Im Herbst verabschiedet die Bundesregierung das neue 7. Energieforschungsprogramm (EFP). Der Bericht liefert eine wissenschaftliche Basis für die Entwicklung des Programms.
- GRECO kick-off in Madrid: advancing photovoltaics through “open science”The Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) is one of ten international partners in the GRECO pilot project funded under the European Union framework programme Horizon 2020. They intend to jointly test OpenScience approaches for exchanging knowledge and research data in order to accelerate the development of innovative PV products worldwide. GRECO will receive three million euros in funding through 2021.
- New world record for direct solar water-splitting efficiencyHydrogen will play a central role as a storage medium in sustainable energy systems. An international team of researchers has now succeeded in raising the efficiency of producing hydrogen from direct solar water-splitting to a record 19 per cent. They did so by combining a tandem solar cell of III-V semiconductors with a catalyst of rhodium nanoparticles and a crystalline titanium dioxide coating. Teams from the California Institute of Technology, the University of Cambridge, Technische Universität Ilmenau, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE participated in the development work. One part of the experiments took place at the Institute for Solar Fuels in the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin.
- Kostenloser Download: HZB-Forschung in Spektrum KompaktNoch bis zum 9. Juli steht das Spektrum Kompakt "Energiewende", herausgegeben vom Spektrum-Verlag, zum kostenlosen Download zur Verfügung. Darin enthalten ist eine 13-seitige Sonderveröffentlichung des HZB, aufgeteilt in drei Beiträge. Nach Ablauf des kostenlosen Zugangs wird der Download des Hefts auf den Spektrum-Seiten 4,99 € kosten.
- E-MRS: Prizes for two PhD students at HZBAt the spring meeting of the European Materials Research Society from 18-22 June 2018 in Strasbourg, Hannes Hempel received the prize for the best talk and Sara Niedenzu was awarded for her poster. Both are PhD students at the MatSEC graduate school at HZB. The E-MRS spring conference is the largest materials research conference in Europe with 2,500 participants.
- Silicon heterojunction solar cell with a certified 23.1 % energy conversion efficiencyAfter further optimization of the baseline process for industrial silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells, the accredited metrology lab ISFH CalTeC now certified an efficiency of 23.1 % for a 4 cm² solar cell. This performance is among the best in the world and demonstrates the leading role of HZB in this technology in Germany and Europe.
- Perovskite-silicon solar cell research collaboration hits 25.2% efficiencyA 1 cm2 perovskite silicon tandem solar cell achieves an independently certified efficiency of 25.2 %. This was presented this week at an international conference in Hawaii, USA. The cell was developed jointly by HZB, Oxford University and Oxford PV - The Perovskite CompanyTM.
- Alliance Building Integrated Photovoltaics: Björn Rau joins Management BoardThe General Meeting of Alliance for Builiding Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) has unanimously elected physicist and photovoltaic expert Dr. Björn Rau, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, to the BIPV Management Board.
- HZB experts present cooperation opportunities at Intersolar Europe in MunichThe international exhibition “Intersolar” brings photovoltaic research and the solar industry together. It is a perfect opportunity for researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin to present thin-film photovoltaic technologies and projects, including for example perovskite solar cells and tandem solar cells.
- "Tandemtechnologie" - Wie die Produktion von Solarzellen nach Europa zurückkehren könnteDer Direktor des PVcomB am HZB im pv-magazine Interview
"Das Potenzial der Photovoltaik ist nicht mal annähernd ausgereizt", sagt Rutger Schlatmann im Interview. So liege der Wirkungsgrade bei kommerziellen Modulen aktuell bei zirka 20 Prozent. Mit Tandem-Solarmodulen wären bis zu 40 Prozent möglich - und sie ließen sich wahrscheinlich auch wirtschaftlich produzieren. Schlatmann zeigt die Vorteile der Dünnschicht- und der Wafer-Technologie auf und wagt eine Prognose: Welche Technologie wird das Rennen machen? Und unter welchen Bedingungen könnte die Photovoltaik-Produktion nach Deutschland zurückkehren? Lesen Sie mehr im Interview des pv magazine.
- Helmholtz Virtual Institute MiCo: Article selected as journal highlight for 2017The Helmholtz Virtual Institute MiCo offers a platform through which the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin conducts joint research with universities and other partners on the topic of microstructures for thin-film solar cells. The journal Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering recently selected an article produced through MiCo as the highlight of those published by the journal during 2017.
- Appointment to University of FloridaDr. Charles Hages has received an appointment as Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Florida. Hages has been a postdoctoral researcher at HZB in the Department of Structure and Dynamics of Energy Materials for two years. At University of Florida, Hages will advance his work in developing energy materials and looks forward to continued collaborations with his HZB colleagues.
- Registration for Summer School Quantsol is now open!It is already the eleventh time that the International Summer School on Photovoltaics and New Concepts of Quantum Solar Energy Conversion (Quantsol) will be held from 2. to 9. September 2018 in Hirschegg, Kleinwalsertal, Austria. The school is organized by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and the Technical University of Ilmenau. Applications can be submitted through the school’s homepage until May 18th , 2018.
- HI-SCORE international research school: Kick Off Meeting in BerlinThe international research school on solar energy promotes exchange between Germany and Israel and excellent conditions for PhD students.
- Kesterite solar cells: germanium promises better opto-electronic properties than tinSpecific changes in the composition of kesterite-type semiconductors make it possible to improve their suitability as absorber layers in solar cells. As a team at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin showed, this is particularly true for kesterites in which tin was replaced by germanium. The scientists examined the samples using neutron diffraction at BER II and other methods. The work was selected for the cover of the journal CrystEngComm.
- New solar solutions for sustainable buildings and citiesAt the Interdisciplinary conference on „INNOVATION IN SOLAR BUILDING SKINS & ENERGY EFFICIENCY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE CITIES”, 19th to 20th march in Berlin, experts from the building sector, politics, finance and photovoltaics have discussed the implementation of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). In a very lively and active workshop, drivers and barriers were identified.
- Register now: Smart City - Interdisciplinary conference on solar energy and architecture"INNOVATION IN SOLAR BUILDING SKINS & ENERGY EFFICIENCY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE CITIES" will take place in Berlin March 19th-20th.
Experts from the construction industry, photovoltaic research field, and the financial sector will discuss innovative solutions for solar facades in combination with energy efficiency in buildings and cities in Berlin, March 19th-20th, 2018. Photovoltaics integrated into buildings represent an important component for energy-efficient cities of the future.
Online registration is open until wednesday 14th March. Students are admitted for a reduced fee.
- Guest researcher at HZB: Bessel Prize Winner Benjamin RotenbergProf. Benjamin Rotenberg has received a Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Prize from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for 2018 and will be spending time regularly as a guest researcher at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin. Rotenberg is a researcher of the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and heads a research group in Sorbonne Université in Paris. He works in an interdisciplinary area spanning physics and chemistry for modelling transport processes in materials, at interfaces, and in electrolytes.
- HZB launches Helmholtz International Research School in collaboration with IsraelOn 1st February 2018, the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) has established the Helmholtz International Research School HI-SCORE, which will be oriented towards solar energy research. To accomplish this, HZB is collaborating with the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, the Israeli Institute of Technology (Technion) in Haifa, and three Israeli universities as well as universities in Berlin and Potsdam.
- Perovskite solar cells: mesoporous interface mitigates the impact of defectsThe nominal cell operating life of perovskite solar cells is strongly influenced by their inner architecture.This was shown by two scientists at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and the Technical University of Munich. They combined experiments with numerical simulations in order to explain this observation.
- Perovskite solar cells: perfection not required!Experiments at BESSY II reveal why even inhomogeneous perovskite films are highly functional
- Oxford PV collaborates with HZB to move perovskite solar cells closer to commercialisationPerovskite solar technology leader Oxford PV collaborates with leading German research centre to support the accelerated transfer of its technology into silicon cell manufacturing lines.
- Progress in solar technologies – from research to applicationEU group project presents its results: high efficiencies with less material
- Solar energy: Defects in Kesterite semiconductors studied using neutronsA research team at the HZB has precisely characterised for the first time the various types of defects in kesterite semiconductors. They achieved this with the help of neutron scattering at the BER II research reactor and at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the USA. The findings point to a means of guided optimisation for kesterite solar cells.
- PVcomB and AVANCIS launch joint MyCIGS research project in order to improve outdoor performance of thin film CIGS solar modulesThe Competence Centre Thin-Film- and Nanotechnology for Photovoltaics Berlin (PVcomB) is contributing its expertise to improving copper-indium-gallium-sulphide (CIGS) thin-film production in the MyCIGS collaborative research project. CIGS-module manufacturer AVANCIS in Munich is coordinating this project funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). The Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (Oldenburg University) and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) are also partners in the project.
- New magazine “lichtblick” is out: Select articles can be read in English on the websiteSome artikels from our magazine lichtblick are available in English: You can find these articles here: http://hz-b.de/lichtblick-en
- Approved! The EU INFINITE-CELL projectA large EU-sponsored research project on tandem solar cells in which HZB is participating begins in November 2017. The goal is to combine thin-film semiconductors made of silicon and kesterites into especially cost-effective tandem cells having efficiencies of over 20 per cent. Several large research institutions from Europe, Morocco, the Republic of South Africa, and Belarus will be working on the project, as well as two partners from industry.
- Great Interest in the HySPRINT Industry Day: Joining forces to advance perovskite solar cellsNo fewer than 70 participants attended the first Industry Day of the Helmholtz Innovation Lab HySPRINT devoted to the topic of perovskite solar cells at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) on 13 October 2017. This far exceeded the expectations of the event hosts. The knowledge shared on Industry Day will serve as the basis for deepening the collaboration even further with strategically important companies in the scope of HySPRINT.
- Invitation to HySPRINT – Industry Day “New Frontiers in PV Research: Emerging Perovskite Semiconductors”On 13 October, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin will be hosting its first Industry Day on the topic of Perovskite Solar Cells. Following a recap of the current state of research and development and the future potential of perovskite solar cells, participants from industry will be able to give a brief presentation to show their company’s interest in the field. Intensive discussions during the Industry Day will be the starting point for future cooperation.
- Solar hydrogen production by artificial leafs:Scientists analysed how a special treatment improves cheap metal oxide photoelectrodes
- Record- efficiency solar cells realised by the HyPerCells Graduate SchoolThe University of Potsdam and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin founded the HyPerCells Graduate School just two years ago with focus on metal halide perovskites for solar applications. Now, groups involved in the graduate school have demonstrated perovskite solar cells with record-efficiencies of over 20 percent. This confirms the graduate school is at the forefront of this research in Germany and internationally highly competitive.
- Intersolar Europe in Munich: HZB research meets solar industryAt the major international photovoltaics exhibition from 31 May to 2 June 2017, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) will be exhibiting solar energy research projects and presenting opportunities for industrial cooperation in the field of photovoltaics (PV).
- Trends and pathways to high-efficiency perovskite solar cellsPerovskite solar cells have been the big surprise over the last while: inside of only a few years, their efficiency level has been increased from just under 10 % to fully 22 %. There has never been such rapid progress in a new material for solar cells. Scientists around the world are therefore working on this new class of materials. Eva Unger and Steve Albrecht from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) have evaluated trends in the advancement of perovskite materials in an invited review article in Journal of Materials Chemistry A. They point out what opportunities exist for advancing this class of materials, combining them with other semiconductors, and where limitations lie.
- Registration open for Quantsol Summer SchoolNewcomers and young scientists in solar energy research can register now for the 10. International Summer School on Photovoltaics and New Concepts of Quantum Solar Energy Conversion (Quantsol). The school is organized by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and the Technical University of Ilmenau and will be held from 3. to 10. September 2017 in Hirschegg, Kleinwalsertal, Austria. Applications can be submitted through the school’s homepage until May 21st, 2017.
- CIGS Thin-film Solar Modules: HZB invites for workshopGlobal demand for photovoltaic systems is rising sharply. CIGS thin-film modules have become a hot topic for the solar industry. International experts will convene in Stuttgart on May 30, 2017, at the annual IW-CIGSTech workshop to discuss past and potential future technical and industrial advances in this solar technology. The Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) are hosting the eighth installment of this workshop, which caters to scientists, engineers and industry specialists.
- Young investigator group at HZB: Scaling perovskite cellsThe new Young Investigator Group Hy-Per-FORME led by Dr. Eva Unger is working on scaling all processing steps to enable manufacturing of perovskite solar cells on larger areas, thus brigding he gap between lab and industry.
- How to increase efficiencies of ultrathin CIGSe solar cellsNanoparticles at the back help harvesting the light.
- Dr. Alex Redinger receives assistant professorship at the University of LuxembourgAlex Redinger will be receiving two million euros in funding from the Luxembourg National Research Fund for expanding his research into solar cells materials. This is combined with an assistant professorship at the University of Luxembourg with the possibility of tenure. Redinger works as a postdoc in the “Structure and Dynamics of Energy Materials” department.
- Solar based hydrogen generation: EU-project PECSYS aiming for technological breakthroughDevelopment of demonstrators measuring up to ten square meters in area planned
- PVcomB will help mass-produce the raw photovoltaic materials used in Wysips® technologySunpartner Technologies and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin sign license agreement
- Prof. Dr. Martina Schmid assumes the professorship of experimental physics at the University of Duisburg-EssenOn 1 January 2017, Martina Schmid assumed the W2 professorship of “experimental physics” in the Physics department of the University of Duisburg Essen. From 2012 to the end of 2016, Martina Schmid headed the Helmholtz Young Investigator Group “Nano-Optical Concepts for Photovoltaics” at HZB.
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin has gained a new Helmholtz Young Investigator Group to boost its energy materials research.The new group is working to prolong the life span of perovskite solar cells to 25 years and longer.
- Speeding up CIGS solar cell manufactureSpeeding up CIGS solar cell manufacture
- EMIL, a 2000-square-metre laboratory complex, has opened for research into new energy materialsAfter three years of construction, the Energy Materials In-Situ Laboratory (EMIL) is now open. The new laboratory complex for researching energy materials, annexed to BESSY II in Berlin-Adlershof, was ceremonially inaugurated with the involvement of the Federal Minister of Research, Johanna Wanka, on 31 October 2016. At the new laboratory, which offers direct access to the brilliant light of the electron storage ring BESSY II, researchers are looking to synthesise and analyse materials for future renewable energy generation. Around 20 million euros were invested in the construction of the laboratory.
- Nanotechnology for energy materials: Electrodes like leaf veinsNano-sized metallic wires are attracting increasing attention as conductive elements for manufacturing transparent electrodes, which are employed in solar cells and touch screen panels. In addition to high electric conductivity, excellent optical transmittance is one of the important parameters for an electrode in photovoltaic applications. An international team headed by HZB scientist Prof. Michael Giersig has recently demonstrated for these applications that networks of metallic mesh possessing fractal-like nano-features surpass other metallic networks in utility. These findings have now been published in the most recent edition of the renowned journal Nature Communications.
- Manual of characterisation techniques for thin-film solar cells published with the involvement of HZB researchersIn August 2016, the second, enlarged edition of the reference book "Advanced Characterization Techniques for Thin-Film Solar Cells" appeared from renowned publisher WILEY-VCH. Co-editor is HZB researcher Dr. Daniel Abou-Ras. A total of eleven authors from HZB wrote chapters for this reference. It provides a comprehensive overview of many characterisation and modelling techniques that can be employed for solar cell materials and components.
- European project for thin film Kesterite Solar cells has reached its goalsEleven partners from different countries have joined forces in the EU-research project KESTCELLS from September 2012 until 31. August 2016. The mission was to train a new generation of experts and to increase the efficiencies of Kesterite solar cells. Now, at the end of the project, these goals have been perfectly reached.
- Monash University awards three HZB-scientist with adjunct professorshipsCooperation between Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, is thriving. Now, Monash University has awarded three HZB-scientists with adjunct professorships: Prof. Klaus Lips, Dr. Alexander Schnegg and Prof. Emad Aziz have been working several years already with Prof. Leone Spiccia, an internationally renowned chemist at Monash University, on energy materials science.
- Helmholtz Innovation Labs: HySPRINT at HZBHZB will be setting up the new Helmholtz HySPRINT Innovation Lab for jointly developing new combinations of materials and processes in energy applications with commercial partners. Silicon and metal-organic perovskite crystals will be the centre point of the Lab’s work. The Helmholtz Association is supporting the project for the next five years with 1.9 million Euros from its Initiative and Networking Fund, with additional contributions from HZB itself as well as from industry.
- Intersolar Europe / EU PVSEC / 7th IW-CIGSTech Workshop 2016 – Munich, 20-24 June 2016We cordially invite you to visit the HZB booth during Intersolar Europe - The world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry and its partners from 22 to 24 June 2016 in Munich, Germany. Also the online registration is open for the EU-PVSEC and we invite you to join the 7th IW-CIGSTech Workshop and Dinner on 23 June 2016, a joint meeting from HZB and ZSW organised as a parallel event of the EU-PVSEC.
- Thin-film solar cells: how defects appear and disappear in CIGSe-cellsConcentration of copper plays a crucial role
An international collaboration of German, Israeli, and British teams has investigated the deposition of thin chalcopyrite layers. They were able to observe specific defects as these formed during deposition and under what conditions they self-healed using the BESSY II X-ray source at the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin. The results of their research provide clues to optimising fabrication processes and have now been published in Energy & Environmental Science.
- Riddle of missing efficiency in zinc oxide-based dye-sensitised solar cells solved.To convert solar energy into electricity or solar fuels, you need specialised systems of materials such as those consisting of organic and inorganic thin films. Processes at the junction of these films play a decisive role in converting the solar energy. Now a team at HZB headed by Prof. Emad Aziz has used ultra-short laser pulses and observed for the first time directly how boundary states form between the organic dye molecules and a zinc-oxide semiconductor layer, temporarily trapping the charge carriers. This explains why zinc-oxide (ZnO) dye-sensitised solar cells have not yet met expectations. The results evolved from collaboration between Monash University (Australia) and Joint Lab partners Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin). They have now been published online by Nature in the open access magazine Scientific Reports.
- The solar technologies race: thin-film photovoltaics are catching upZSW and HZB present current data – with new opportunities for Europe’s solar industry
- Optimum band gap for hybrid silicon/perovskite tandem solar cellTandem solar cells based on silicon and perovskites have raised high hopes for future high efficiency solar modules. A team led by perovskite solar cell pioneer Henry Snaith at the University of Oxford has now shown, with contributions by Bernd Rech and Lars Korte of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, that an ultimate efficiency of 30% should be attainable with such tandem cells. They discovered a structurally stable perovskite composition with its band gap tuned to an optimum value of 1.75 eV. The results have been published in "Science".
- Alternative method for the representation of microstructures in polycrystalline materialsAlso Raman microspectroscopy in an optical microscope provides the means to determine local crystal orientations of polycrystalline materials over large sample areas. This method can be used alternatively to electron backscatter diffraction in a scanning electron microscope. It was shown by a team from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) that both characterization techniques result in similar orientation distribution maps on areas of several hundreds of square micrometers.
- Doped organic semiconductors exploredOrganic semiconductor materials are already being employed today in solar cells and organic LEDs (OLEDs) amongst others. Until now, however, little was known about how the doping molecules are integrated into the chemical structure of organic semiconductors. The Molecular Systems Joint Research Team of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin at BESSY II have now analysed this with surprising results. The molecules are not necessarily uniformly dispersed in the host lattice, as it is usual with inorganic semiconductors, but instead form what are known as co-crystallites. The doped organic semiconductor consists of a matrix of undoped crystallites in which such “mixed crystallites” are embedded. It is this very species that takes over the role as the actually doping molecule. The results were published in Nature Communications.
- European Workshop on Nanophotonics for Solar EnergyOn 25 and 26 November 2015, about 40 researchers from seven European countries visited Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin to attend the “European Workshop on Nanophotonics for Solar Energy”.
- PVcomB-25 paper awards for two HZB-ContributionsAt the 25th International Photovoltaic Science & Engineering Conference (PVSEC) two papers from the HZB-Institute PVcomB have been awarded: Jan-Peter Bäcker and Marc Daniel Heinemann received the PVSEC-25 Paper Award for their research on chalcogenide solar cells (CIGS). The PVSEC was held from 15. to 20. November in Busan, Korea.
- Distinguished Lectures at HZB: Prof. T. Krauss will talk about Photovoltaics and Photonic nanostructuresSolar power has the highest potential among all renewable energy sources, it is clean and practically inexhaustible. Despite the already very high performance of silicon solar cells with 25% efficiency and low costs, a lot of research is yet required in order to realise the vision of a solar-powered society. Can we reduce module cost by integrating solar cells into buildings? Can we improve efficiency without increasing cost, by adding low-cost materials such as perovskites? What role can photonic nanostructures play to help control the flow of light?
- Uppsala Berlin Joint Laboratory “Our willingness to cooperate is our strength”Great political interest for the new Uppsala Berlin Joint Laboratory (UBjL): On the 4th of November, Sweden’s ambassador in Germany, Dr. Lars Danielsson, came personally to the HZB where the UBjL is established for the inauguration of the joint project.
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin auf der Jahrestagung des Forschungsverbunds Erneuerbare Energie (FVEE)Vom 3. Bis 4. November 2015 findet die Jahrestagung des Forschungsverbunds Erneuerbare Energie (FVEE) im Umweltforum Berlin in Berlin statt. Schwerpunktthema ist in diesem Jahr die Wärmewende. Das Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin ist mit einem Infostand und Vorträgen präsent.
- Monolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell achieves record efficiencyTeams from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, have been the first to successfully combine a silicon heterojunction solar cell with a perovskite solar cell monolithically into a tandem device. The hybrid tandem cell showed an efficiency of 18 per cent. That is the highest currently reported value for this type of device architecture. There are even prospects for the efficiency to reach as much as 30 per cent.
- Simone Raoux becomes a Professor at Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinProf. Dr. Simone Raoux has accepted the call to the W3-S professorship “Nanospectroscopy for Design and Optimisation of Energy-Related Materials” in the Department of Physics at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. The professorship is associated with heading the institute of the same name at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie. Prof. Raoux accepted the call in September 2015.
- Scientists demonstrate how to improve ultrathin CIGSe solar cells by nanoparticlesCIGSe solar cells are made of a thin chalcopyrite layer consisting of Copper, Indium, Gallium and Selenium and can reach high efficiencies. Since Indium is becoming scarce and expensive, it is interesting to reduce the active CIGSe layer, which however decreases the efficiency quite strongly. Now, scientists at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have produced high quality ultrathin CIGSe layers and increased their efficiency by an array of tiny nanoparticles between the back contact and the active layer.
- German Solar Prize for scientist for Martha Lux-SteinerRenowned physicist Prof. Martha Lux-Steiner, a scientist at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and Freie Universität Berlin, has received the German Solar Prize for 2015. The European Association for Renewable Energy (EUROSOLAR) recognised her lifetime of work and involvement in research and education with the award.
- Graphene as a front contact for silicon-perovskite tandem solar cellsHZB team develops elegant process for coating fragile perovskite layers with graphene for the first time. Subsequent measurements show that the graphene layer is an ideal front contact in several respects.
- Quantsol Sommerschule 2015 – erfolgreich im 8. JahrDie International Summer School on Photovoltaics and New Concepts of Quantum Solar Energy Conversion (Quantsol) fand vom 6. bis 13. September 2015 zum achten Mal in Folge im österreichischen Hirschegg/Kleinwalsertal statt. Über 50 angehende Solarforscherinnen und -forschern aus 19 Ländern besuchten die Veranstaltung.
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin successfully at international Photovoltaic Conference in HamburgFrom 14. to 18. September more than 2.500 experts on photovoltaics from all over the world met at the 31th EU PVSEC in Hamburg to discuss the latest developments and innovations. HZB was present at the conference with oral and poster presentations and in addition with an booth at the exibition. A joint publication by the Competence Centre for Photovoltaics (PVcomB) and Institute for Silicon Photovoltaics was chosen from 1,300 contributions under the best TOP 20 of the conference.
- Hydrogen from sunlight: new efficiency record for artificial photosynthesisAn international team has now succeeded in considerably increasing the efficiency for direct solar water splitting. They are using a tandem solar cell whose surfaces have been selectively modified. The new record value is 14 % and thus considerably above the previous record of 12.4 % held by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the USA, broken now for the first time in 17 years. Researchers from the Institute for Solar Fuels at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, TU Ilmenau, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE in Freiburg and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) participated in the collaboration. The results have been published in Nature Communications.
- ISUenergy 2015 – the 7th successful year!Local energy education & training for a global learning community – The International Summer University for Renewable Energy, the ISUenergy 2015, took place already for the seventh time from August to the beginning of September in Falera, Graubünden, with students from all around the world.
- Charge transport in hybrid silicon solar cellsAn HZB team headed by Prof. Silke Christiansen has made a surprising discovery about hybrid organic/inorganic solar cells. Contrary to expectations, a diode composed of the conductive organic PEDOT:PSS and an n-type silicon absorber material behaves more like a pn junction between two semiconductors than like a metal-semiconductor contact (Schottky diode). Their results have now been published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports and could point the way toward improvements in hybrid solar cells.
- Transparent, electrically conductive network of encapsulated silver nanowires – a novel electrode for optoelectronicsA team headed by Prof. Silke Christiansen has developed a transparent electrode with high electrical conductivity for solar cells and other optoelectronic components – that uses minimal amounts of material. It consists of a random network of silver nanowires that is coated with aluminium-doped zinc oxide. The novel electrode requires about 70 times less silver than conventional silver grid electrodes, but possesses comparable electrical conductivity.
- Depletion and enrichment of chlorine in perovskites observedX-ray spectroscopy at BESSY II reveals inhomogenous distribution of chlorine in a special class of perovskite materials. The discovery could help to enhance efficiencies of perovskite thin film solar cells by controlled processing to optimize the chlorine distribution.
- Green solutions with diamond materials:Horizon 2020 invests 3.9 million Euro in research project to convert CO2 into fuels using sunlight and diamond materials
- Eine lange Nacht geballtes Wissen tankenFührungen an der Neutronenquelle, Experimente zur Energie für Groß und Klein, Licht-Show und vieles mehr
- Poster award for MatSEC PhD student at the MRS Spring MeetingThe poster contribution of Kai Neldner (HZB-Department Crystallography) was awarded a poster price of the Symposium "Thin-Film Compound Semiconductors" at the MRS Spring Meeting in San Francisco. Kai Neldner, a PhD student in the HZB Graduate School "Materials for Solar Energy Conversion" (MatSEC) has presented results on structural properties of Kesterites (Cu2ZnSnS4 - CZTS) in relation to its stoichiometry deviations.
- Poster Award for HZB-Postdoc at EMRS Spring MeetingDuring the spring meeting 2015 of the European Materials Research Society the Poster contribution of Dr. Ah Reum Jeong (HZB-Institute for Heterogeneous Material Systems) was selected for an award. The young scientist has presented results on electronic and structural properties in relation to chemical composition of molybdenum oxide layers, which are widely applied in photovoltaic as well as optoelectronic devices.
- Joint Lab BeJEL receives 1.4 million EUR grantThe Berlin Joint EPR Laboratory (BeJEL) operated by HZB and Freie Universität Berlin has pulled in six of 27 subprojects within a DFG priority program to address“New Frontiers in Sensitivity for EPR Spectroscopy – from Biological Cells to Nano Materials”.
- Success rate 100 percent: HZB teams get third party funding for Solar Fuel projectsConverting solar energy and storing it in form of solar fuels, is one of the great scientific and technological challenges today to enable the transition into a more sustainable future powered by renewable energies. Scientists at the HZB institute for Solar Fuels are exploring new semiconductor materials in order to develop compact, robust and economic solutions for “artificial photosynthesis”. They have submitted four research projects in collaboration with partners from universities for funding by the German Research Association (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG) in the Priority Programme „Fuels Produced Regeneratively Through Light-Driven Water Splitting” (SPP 1613). All four projects have now been approved for funding.
- Inkjet printing process for Kesterite solar cellsA research team at HZB has developed an inkjet printing technology to produce kesterite thin film absorbers (CZTSSe). Based on the inkjet-printed absorbers, solar cells with total area conversion efficiency of up to 6.4 % have been achieved. Although this is lower than the efficiency records for this material class, the inkjet printing minimizes waste and has huge advantages for industrial production.
- New opportunities for CIGS solar cellsDynamic CIGS solar cell technology workshop gives rise to optimism: experts predict higher efficiencies and lean production technologies
- EU funding strengthens solar cell research at HZBMarcus Bär and his team are participating in two international projects being funded under the EU Horizon 2020 research programme. Both research projects are concerned with development and optimisation of high-efficiency thin-film solar cells based on chalcopyrites (“Sharc 25") and kesterites (“SWInG”). These two projects will together bring in about 900,000 EUR of additional research funding for solar cell research.
- Call for Applications open: International Summer University on Energy, Falera/SwitzerlandExcellent Master, Diploma, and PhD Students from all over the world from different disciplines are invited to participate in the international summer university ISUenergy2015. The ISUenergy2015 will take place from Aug. 23rd - Sept. 4th 2015 in Falera/Switzerland.
- New Opportunities for students in energy research:HZB starts two Graduate Schools with Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Universität Potsdam
Friday, 27 March 2015, the start of two new graduate schools on solar energy research was celebrated at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB). Hybrid4Energy, the Graduate School of Hybrid Materials for Efficient Energy Generation and Information Technologies, is a joint venture of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HUB) and HZB. The Graduate School HyPerCell focuses on a new type of thin film solar cells based on hybrid perovskite absorber materials and is organised by Universität Potsdam (UP) and HZB.
- Registration now open! Summer School QuantsolThe International Summer School Quantsol will inform on basics in photovoltaics and solar energy conversion
- Susan Schorr named DGK ChairProf. Dr. Susan Schorr was elected Chair at the German Crystallographic Society’s (DGK) recent annual conference. The conference took place from March 16-19, 2015, in Göttingen, Germany. Prior to her current appointment, Susan Schorr was head of the DGK’s National Committee.
- Eine neue Schülerlabor-AG am Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin experimentiert zu Energiefragen im AlltagWie viel Strom verbraucht ein Smartphone? Wo kommt unser Strom her? Und ist er eigentlich teuer? Das Schülerlabor des Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin bietet am Standort Wannsee für Kinder der 5. bis 7. Klassen eine neue Arbeitsgruppe an. Immer donnerstags treffen sich zehn Mädchen und Jungen, um zu experimentieren und diesen Fragen auf den Grund zu gehen.
- Workshop on “Microstructure Characterization and Modeling for Solar Cells”The winter workshop was held in a beautiful location at Spitzingsee (Bayern) from 22. to 26. february 2015 and organised by Helmholtz Virtual Institute "Microstructure Control for Thin-Film Solar Cells". The next winter workshop will be planned for 2017.
- Graduiertenschule MatSEC diskutiert über Kesterite für SolarzellenAm 2. Februar 2015 trafen sich die Mitglieder der Graduiertenschule MatSEC auf dem Lise-Meitner-Campus des HZB zum wissenschaftlichen Austausch. In der Graduiertenschule MatSEC forschen die Promovierenden an neuartigen Materialsystemen für die solare Energieumwandlung, den Kesteriten. Das Forschungskolloquium findet halbjährlich statt und ist fester Bestandteil des Curriculums der Graduiertenschule.
- Universität Bielefeld und HZB kooperieren zu Nanoschichten und komplexen MaterialienIm Februar 2015 haben Uni-Rektor Professor Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Sagerer, Uni-Kanzler Dr. Stephan Becker und die Geschäftsführer des HZB, Professorin Dr.-Ing. Anke Kaysser-Pyzalla und Thomas Frederking eine Vereinbarung über die Zusammenarbeit unterschrieben. Darin heißt es: „Die Kooperation soll zur Steigerung der wissenschaftlichen Exzellenz der Partner und zur Entwicklung regionaler Kompetenznetzwerke in Forschung, Lehre und Ausbildung des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses beitragen.“
- Learning by eye: silicon micro-funnels increase the efficiency of solar cellsA biological structure in mammalian eyes has inspired a team headed by Silke Christiansen to design an inorganic counterpart for use in solar cells. With the help of conventional semiconductor processes, they etched micron-sized vertical funnels shoulder-to-shoulder in a silicon substrate. Using mathematical models and experiments, they tested how these kind of funnel arrays collect incident light and conduct it to the active layer of a silicon solar cell. Their result: this arrangement of funnels increases photo absorption by about 65% in a thin-film solar cell fitted with such an array and is reflected in considerably increased solar cell efficiency, among other improved parameters.
- BerOSE - Joint Lab für Modellierung von Nanooptischen StrukturenHZB gründet mit FU Berlin und Zuse Institut Berlin das „Berlin Joint Lab for Optical Simulations for Energy Research (BerOSE)“
- Heute schon geforscht? Bernd Rech im Podcast von Welt der PhysikIm wöchentlichen Podcast der Internetplattform "Welt der Physik" spricht Bernd Rech, Leiter des HZB-Instituts für Silizium-Photovoltaik und Sprecher des Helmholtz-Forschungsprogramms Erneuerbare Energien, in der Folge 177 über aktuelle Trends zum Thema Solarzellen. Er beschreibt die Vor- und Nachteile von anorganischen und organischen Solarmaterialien. Und er stellt eine der neuesten Entwicklungen aus seinem Institut vor, eine Kombination aus zwei Siliziumschichten und einem organischen Material.
- Maximum efficiency, minimum materials and complexitySilicon-based thin-film solar cell with a supplementary organic layer can utilise infrared light as well
- Organic layer adds light particlesSolar cells can only use photons with energies above a specific threshold to generate electricity. A German-Australian research collaboration has now combined solar cells with an organic material which can “add up” low-energy photons to yield higher-energy light, which can then be harvested by the solar cell. In an invited review paper published in the prestigious journal Energy & Environmental Science the scientists give an overview on the fascinating phenomenon of photonic upconversion and report new results: The organic layers show less photo-degradation than suspected and may also be used for other optoelectronics applications.
- Jahrestagung des ForschungsVerbund Erneuerbare EnergienUnter dem Motto „Forschung für die Energiewende – Phasenübergänge aktiv gestalten“ fand am 7. und 8. November die Jahrestagung des ForschungsVerbund Erneuerbare Energien (FVEE) im Umweltforum Berlin statt. Vertreter aus Wissenschaft und Politik referierten über den proaktiven Umgang mit den technologischen, ökonomischen sowie politisch-gesellschaftlichen Herausforderungen der Energiewende.
- Deutsch-Türkische Universität am HZB zu GastVizerektor und Dekan der Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät besuchte mehrere Institute des HZB
- HZB Freigeist Fellow Dr. Annika BandeAs of early October, the HZB is home to one of the Volkswagen Foundation's Freigeist Fellows: Dr. Annika Bande recently joined Prof. Dr. Emad Aziz' institute "Methods for Material Development". There she will build up her own junior research group with initially three PhD students.
- SAVE THE DATE: Adlershofer Science Forum on 11.11.2014 with Poster SessionPlease save the date to participate on 11. November 2014 at „Adlershof Science Forum“ (AFF) of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and IGAFA. The event is meant to encourage exchange and communication between scientists working at Adlershof.
- Tage der Forschung in AdlershofAm 25. und 26. September fanden in Adlershof die jährlichen Tage der Forschung statt. Das HZB bot rund 90 Schülerinnen und Schülern in drei unterschiedlichen Programmpunkten einen Einblick in die Welt der Forschung.
- Bernd Rech boardmember of the "work group of energy"Prof. Bernd Rech will speak on recent findings in thin film silicon photovoltaik research at the autumn meeting of the energy work group of the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. Rech had been elected into the board of the work group earlier this year.
- Australian top-chemist gains Helmholtz International Fellowship to visit HZB and HZDRProf. Dr. Leone Spiccia from the Monash University Melbourne was awarded the Helmholtz International Fellowship. In addition to the prize money of €20,000 each, he is invited to conduct research at HZB in Berlin and HZDR in Dresden. At HZB he is expected in spring 2015 in the group of Prof. Dr. Emad Aziz. The award honours excellent research and supports establishing new cooperation structures with international research institutions.
- Collecting light with artificial moth eyesScientists at EMPA in Zürich and University of Basel have developed a photoelectrochemical cell, recreating a moth’s eye to drastically increase its light collecting efficiency. The cell is made of cheap raw materials – iron and tungsten oxide. Analyses at BESSY II have revealed which chemical processes are useful to facilitate the absorption of light.
- Matthias May receives the Poster Prize at the Wilhelm und Else-Heraeus SeminarMatthias May, PhD student at the HZB Institute for Solar Fuels, was awarded a Poster Prize at the 562nd WE Heraeus Seminar “From Sunlight to Fuels” for his scientific work. From 11 to 16 May 2014, the participants of the WE Heraeus seminar concentrated intensively on the topic of “converting sunlight to hydrogen” and discussed new materials and processes for photovoltaic and (photo)catalytic applications.
Matthias May impressively demonstrated on his poster how water acts on differently prepared surfaces of III-V compound semiconductors and what interactions occur. It is highly important to study this effect in detail because the initial reaction with water is critical in the development of suitable materials and processes for solar fuels. May prepared two different surfaces of gallium and indium phosphide and then analyzed and compared the influence of water using photoelectron spectroscopy and in-situ reflection anisotropy spectroscopy. - Das ganze Spektrum der Elektrokatalyse an einem TagAm 4. April 2014 lud das Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg (HI ERN) zu seiner ersten wissenschaftlichen Veranstaltung ein. Beim internationalen Symposium „Recent Achievements and Future Trends in Electrocatalysis“ präsentierten zehn führende Wissenschaftler auf dem Gebiet der “Elektrokatalyse” von hochrangigen nationalen und internationalen Forschungsstätten den rund 90 Teilnehmern ihre Forschungsarbeiten.
- Tailored disorder for optical applicationsHZB’s Silke Christiansen coordinates new DFG priority program
- New tool for Joint Lab to investigate the chemistry of natureThe Aziz’ team at the Joint Laboratory between Freie Universität Berlin and HZB has built a laser-based tabletop setup which generates ultrashort XUV light pulses and achieves their monochromatization by implementing special reflection zone plates, developed and produced by the team of Alexei Erko.
- Even thinner solar cells through use of nanoparticlesNanostructures could enable more light to be directed into the active layer of solar cells, increasing their efficiency. Prof. Martina Schmid (HZB und Freie Univ. Berlin) has now measured how irregularly distributed silver particles influence the absorption of light. She demonstrated that nanoparticles interact with one another via their electromagnetic near-fields, so that local “hot spots” arise where light is concentrated especially strongly.
- New Thin Film Photovoltaic World Record announced on Conference in BerlinThe 5th International Workshop on CIGS Solar Cell Technology organized bei Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) started with a bang. Katsumi Kushiya by the Japanese company Solar Frontier presented the approximately 100 participants a new world record conversion efficiency for thin-film-photovoltaic technologies. Their new thin-film CIGS cells can convert 20.9 percent of the incident sunlight into electrical energy beating the previous Solar Frontier- record of 19.7 percent conversion efficiency. The previous best value for all thin-film photovoltaic technologies was 20.8 percent.
- The International Summer School Quantsol will inform on basics in photovoltaics and solar energy conversionRegistration now open! For the seventh time already young solar energy researchers are invited to attend the International Summer School on Photovoltaics and New Concepts of Quantum Solar Energy Conversion (Quantsol). The school will be held from September 7th to 14th, 2014 in Hirschegg, Kleinwalsertal, Austria. The school is organized by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin together with the Technical University of Ilmenau. Application can be submitted through the school’s homepage until June 1st, 2014.
- Autumn School on Microstructural Characterization and Modelling of Thin Film Solar CellsFrom November 2 ‐ 7, 2014, an Autumn school is organised as part of the Helmholtz Virtual Institute Microstructure Control for Thin‐Film Solar Cells
- International Summer University on Renewable Energies: Registration now openOn behalf of the ISUenergy Scientific & Organising Committee it is a great pleasure to announce the 6th International Summer University on Renewable Energies and to invite your applications for this year's ISUenergy .The ISUenergy2014 will take place from Aug. 24th - Sept. 5th in Falera.
- A new cluster tool for EMILThe Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) and Altatech, a subsidiary of Soitec, have launched a collaborative partnership to research and develop materials for the next generation of high-efficiency solar cells, including new classes of materials and innovative device structures for photovoltaic and photocatalysis applications.
- Light-induced degradation in amorphous silicon thin film solar cellsResearchers at the Helmholtz Center Berlin (HZB) have taken a leap forward towards a deeper understanding of an undesired effect in thin film solar cells based on amorphous silicon – one that has puzzled the scientific community for the last 40 years. The researchers were able to demonstrate that tiny voids within the silicon network are partly responsible for reducing solar cell efficiency by some 10 to 15 percent as soon as you start using them. Their work has now been published in Physical Review Letters (DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.066403).
- From a carpet of nanorods to a thin film solar cell absorber within a few secondsResearch teams at the HZB and at the University of Limerick, Ireland, have discovered a novel solid state reaction which lets kesterite grains grow within a few seconds and at relatively low temperatures. For this reaction they exploit a transition from a metastable wurtzite compound in the form of nanorods to the more stable kesterite compound. At the EDDI Beamline at BESSY II, the scientists could observe this process in real-time when heating the sample: in a few seconds Kesterite grains formed. The size of the grains was found to depend on the heating rate. With fast heating they succeeded in producing a Kesterite thin film with near micrometer-sized crystal grains, which could be used in thin film solar cells. These findings have now been published in the journal “Nature Communications”.
- Understanding a new type of solar cellPerovskite based solar cells are a hot topic in energy research and Science Magazine has put it on the list of Breakthroughs in 2013. In only a few years their efficiency has increased from 3 % to more than 16 %. However, a detailed explanation of the mechanisms of operation within this photovoltaic system is still lacking. Scientists from Ecole polytechnique fédérale in Lausanne (EPFL) and of HZB-Institute for Solar Fuels have now uncovered the mechanism by which these novel light-absorbing semiconductors transfer electrons along their surface. They examined perovskite based solar cells with different architectures with time resolved spectroscopy techniques. Their results, which are now published online in Nature photonics, open the way to the design of photovoltaic converters with improved efficiency.
- HZB team develops chalcopyrite solar cells without cadmium-based buffer layer
A single layer takes on the job of what used to be two layers, doing away with the wet chemical process. Despite a much simplified production method, efficiencies of greater than 18 percent are well within reach. - HERCULES has started: European collaboration will pave the way to the next generation of c-Si based solar cell devices with efficiencies of 25 %Sixteen leading European research institutes, universities and partners from industry have joined forces in order to collaborate closely on the development of next generation of crystalline silicon based solar cells and modules. Together they proposed a concept of “High Efficiency Rear Contact solar cells and Ultra powerful moduLES” with the acronym HERCULES and received a 7 million Euro grant from the European Commission within the 7th Research Framework Programme. The project has started the 1st of November 2013 and will finish end 2016.
- Producing high performance solar cells at lower costDr. Sebastian Brückner graduates “summa cum laude” on solar cells made from III-V semiconductors
- Anbau an BESSY II im Rekordtempo: EMIL hat jetzt ein Dach über dem KopfDas Forschungsgebäude für das neue Labor EMIL an BESSY II nimmt Form an: Am Mittwoch, 4. Dezember 2013, ab 13 Uhr feiert das „Energy Materials In-Situ Laboratory Berlin“ Richtfest. Die Zeremonie findet auf dem Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen Campus des Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, Albert-Einsteinstraße 15, 12489 Berlin, statt. Vertreter der Medien sind herzlich eingeladen.
- Honorary doctorate for Prof. Hans-Werner SchockTallinn University of Technology (TTU) has named Prof. Hans-Werner Schock recipient of an honorary doctorate in recognition of Schock’s achievements during TTU’s integration into the Western research community after the 1990 fall of the Iron Curtain.
- New Materials for Photovoltaics: HZB starting its first own Graduate SchoolWell-structured Ph.D. program
- Major leap towards graphene for solar cellsSurprising result: Graphen retains its properties even when coated with silicon
- Sommeruniversität für Erneuerbare Energien52 junge Leute aus aller Welt haben sich vom 25. August bis 6. September mit den vielseitigen Aspekten Erneuerbarer Energien beschäftigt
- World Record Solar Cell with 44.7% EfficiencyWith a solar cell efficiency of 44.7%, scientists around Dr. Frank Dimroth at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE achieved a new world record for the conversion of sunlight into electricity. They used a new solar cell structure with four solar subcells, a new procedure called wafer bonding and optical components which concentrate the sunlight (Concentrated Photovoltaics CPV). Part of the cell structure was developed at the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin in the research group of Prof. Thomas Hannappel, (now with Technical University Ilmenau). They developed methods to prepare critical interfaces and to avoid undesirable defects. SOITEC and CEA-Leti have as well contributed to this world record.
- Interview with MIT-Expert Harry TullerWhen can we hope to store solar energy in form of hydrogen with an efficient and cheap solution? What is motivating young people to get involved into science these days? And how does is come that many scientists really love to work, even after the official retirement age? Prof. Dr. Harry Tuller ist answering these questions in an interview, which you can listen here. And if you prefer to read his answers, you could download the transcript.
- Kooperationsvertrag für Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg unterzeichnetDie Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), das Forschungszentrum Jülich und das Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) gründen gemeinsam das Helmholtz-Institut Erlangen-Nürnberg für Erneuerbare Energien (HI ERN). In Anwesenheit von Bundesforschungsministerin Prof. Dr. Johanna Wanka ist heute in Nürnberg der Kooperationsvertrag zwischen den drei Partnern unterzeichnet worden. Die Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft fördert das neue Institut mit jährlich 5,5 Millionen Euro.
- Groundbreaking for EMILOn Monday, August 5, 2013, a festive groundbreaking ceremony was the official signal for the start of construction of the new BESSY II research lab EMIL. The new cutting-edge solar energy and catalysis research preparation and analysis lab "Energy Materials In-Situ Laboratory Berlin" will be a direct BESSY II add-on. The joint project by the HZB and the Max Planck Society provides a one-of-a-kind infrastructure for the interdisciplinary and industry compatible development of new materials and technologies to facilitate the energy transition. This includes new material systems for solar modules as well as storage solutions for which new kinds of catalysts are warranted.
- Die Bauarbeiten beginnen: BESSY II erhält Anbau für neuen LaborkomplexMit einem feierlichen Spatenstich beginnen am Montag, dem 5. August 2013 um 16:00 die Bauarbeiten für das neue Forschungslabor EMIL an BESSY II: Das „Energy Materials In-Situ Laboratory Berlin“, kurz EMIL, wird als hochmodernes Präparations- und Analyselabor für die Solarenergie- und Katalyseforschung aufgebaut. Das Gemeinschaftsprojekt vom HZB und der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft soll eine einzigartige Infrastruktur bieten, um interdisziplinär und industriekompatibel neue Materialien und Technologien zu entwickeln, die die Energiewende ermöglichen. Dazu zählen neue Materialsysteme für Solarmodule und Speicherlösungen, für die neuartige Katalysatoren entwickelt werden müssen.
- The best of two worlds: Solar hydrogen production breakthroughUsing a simple solar cell and a photo anode made of a metal oxide, HZB and TU Delft scientists have successfully stored nearly five percent of solar energy chemically in the form of hydrogen. This is a major feat as the design of the solar cell is much simpler than that of the high-efficiency triple-junction cells based on amorphous silicon or expensive III-V semiconductors that are traditionally used for this purpose. The photo anode, which is made from the metal oxide bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) to which a small amount of tungsten atoms was added, was sprayed onto a piece of conducting glass and coated with an inexpensive cobalt phosphate catalyst. “Basically, we combined the best of both worlds,” explains Prof. Dr. Roel van de Krol, head of the HZB Institute for Solar Fuels: “We start with a chemically stable, low cost metal oxide, add a really good but simple silicon-based thin film solar cell, and – voilà – we’ve just created a cost-effective, highly stable, and highly efficient solar fuel device.”
- Spektakulärer EinbauIndustrienahe Anlage zur Herstellung von Dünnschichtsolarmodulen aus Kupfer-Indium-Gallium-Sulfid/Selenid am PVcomB komplett
- Watching solar cells growFor the first time, a team of researchers at the HZB led by Dr. Roland Mainz and Dr. Christian Kaufmann has managed to observe growth of high-efficiency chalcopyrite thin film solar cells in real time and to study the formation and degradation of defects that compromise efficiency. To this end, the scientists set up a novel measuring chamber at the Berlin electron storage ring BESSY II, which allows them to combine several different kinds of measuring techniques. Their results show during which process stages the growth can be accelerated and when additional time is required to reduce defects. Their work has now been published online in Advanced Energy Materials.
- Polymer-coated catalyst protects "artificial leaf"Due to the fluctuating availability of solar energy, storage solutions are urgently needed. One option is to use the electrical energy generated inside solar cells to split water by means of electrolysis, in the process yielding hydrogen that can be used for a storable fuel. Researchers at the HZB Institute for Solar Fuels have modified so called superstrate solar cells with their highly efficient architecture in order to obtain hydrogen from water with the help of suitable catalysts. This type of cell works something like an "artificial leaf." But the solar cell rapidly corrodes when placed in the aqueous electrolyte solution. Now, Ph.D. student Diana Stellmach has found a way to prevent corrosion by embedding the catalysts in an electrically conducting polymer and then mounting them onto the solar cell's two contact surfaces, making her the first scientist in all of Europe to have come up with this solution. As a result, the cell's sensitive contacts are sealed to prevent corrosion with a stable yield of approx. 3.7 percent sunlight.
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin stärkt Aktivitäten zur Forschung an solaren Brennstoffen in Zusammenarbeit mit der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Gestern hat der Senat der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft seine Zustimmung gegeben für die Ansiedlung eines neuen Helmholtz-Instituts zur Erforschung Erneuerbarer Energien in Erlangen und Nürnberg, kurz HI ERN. Das Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) ist neben dem Forschungszentrum Jülich und der Universität Erlangen und Nürnberg einer der Kooperationspartner und wird seine Expertise auf dem Gebiet der Dünnschicht-Photovoltaik in das neue Institut einbringen.
- HZB-Forscher Ahmed Ennaoui in den Vorsitz von IRESEN gewähltMarokko liegt im Sonnengürtel der Erde, nutzt bislang aber noch hauptsächlich importierte fossile Brennstoffe, um den Strombedarf zu decken. Doch das Land will die Forschung zu Solarenergie verstärken. Eine wichtige Rolle dabei wird das Institut IRESEN (Institut de Recherche en Energie Solaire et Energies Nouvelles) spielen, das als staatlicher Projektträger eine Forschungslandschaft in Marokko aufbauen und Industrie- und Grundlagenforschung miteinander verknüpfen soll. Nun wurde der erfahrene HZB-Solarexperte Prof. Dr. Ahmed Ennaoui in den Vorsitz des wissenschaftlichen Rats der Forschungseinrichtung IRESEN gewählt.
- Materialforschung mit ultrahochempfindlicher Spektroskopie
Neues Labor zur Erforschung biologischer Zellen und Solarzellen des Helmholtz-Zentrums Berlin und der Freien Universität Berlin in Adlershof eröffnet
- In der Dünnschicht-Photovoltaik liegt enormes Potenzial - Experten für Dünnschichtsolarzellen treffen sich vom 16. bis 18. April auf der „Photovoltaics Thin-Film Week“ in BerlinDie Krise in der Solarbranche ist noch nicht durchgestanden. Chinesische Unternehmen dominieren mit Billigpreisen den Markt für Solarmodule, aber auch in Asien können viele Unternehmen dem Wettbewerbsdruck nicht standhalten. Einen Wettbewerbsvorteil können hiesige Solarfirmen nur durch Technologievorsprung und konsequente Innovationen erreichen. Die Dünnschicht-Photovoltaik bietet ein großes, längst noch nicht ausgeschöpftes Potenzial für kostengünstige und leistungsfähige Solarmodule. Vom 16. bis 18. April treffen sich in Berlin Experten aus aller Welt bei der „Photovotaics Thinfilm-Week“. Forscher und Fachleute aus der Industrie tauschen sich über neuste Ergebnisse aus Forschung und Entwicklung der Dünnschichtphotovoltaik aus und beraten über notwendige politische Rahmenbedingungen.
- International summer school Quantsol conveys basics of photovoltaics and solar energy conversionFor the sixth year in a row, future solar researchers are invited to attend the HZB’s International Summer School on Photovoltaics and New Concepts of Quantum Solar Energy Conversion – Quantsol. The summer school program is scheduled for September 8th through the 15th in Hirschegg, Austria, and has been organized jointly by the Helmholtz Centre Berlin and Ilmenau Technical University. All interested parties are welcome to apply before May 26, 2013.
- MIT's Prof. Tuller named new recipient of Helmholtz International Fellow Award
World-renowned expert for solid state electrochemistry to conduct research at HZB
- PD Dr. Silke Christiansen verstärkt Energieforschung
Die Werkstoffwissenschaftlerin PD Dr. Silke Christiansen leitet ab Januar 2013 am Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin das neue Institut „Nanoarchitekturen für die Energiewandlung“. Damit baut das HZB die Solarenergieforschung weiter aus. Für den Aufbau des Instituts steht Frau Christiansen eine zusätzliche Finanzierung durch die Helmholtz-Rekrutierungsinitiative von 600.000 Euro pro Jahr über fünf Jahre zur Verfügung.
- Virtuelles Institut „Mikrostrukturkontrolle für Dünnschichtsolarzellen“ offiziell gestartetKürzlich ist das Virtuelle Institut „Mikrostrukturkontrolle für Dünnschichtsolarzellen“ (MiCoTFSC) feierlich unter Beteiligung aller Partner an den Start gegangen. Das Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin koordiniert diese Forschungskooperation, die mit Mitteln aus dem Impuls- und Vernetzungsfonds der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft finanziert wird. Die Sprecherin des Virtuellen Instituts, Prof. Dr. Susan Schorr (HZB), hob während des Kick-off-Meetings die Zusammensetzung des Virtuellen Instituts mit hervorragenden Forschungsgruppen hervor, die verschiedenen Kompetenzen beim Solarzellenwachstum, mikrostruktureller und optoelektronischer Charakterisierung sowie Material- und Wachstumsmodellierung mitbringen.
- Matthias Fehr forscht ab Oktober als Humboldt-Stipendiat an der Universität von Kalifornien in Santa BarbaraDer Physiker (E-I1) erhält Feodor-Lynen-Forschungsstipendium der Alexander-von-Humboldt-Stiftung
- From sunlight to hydrogenScientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin successfully test new hybrid material for use in photoelectrochemical hydrogen production
- Henning Döscher erhält Marie-Curie-Fellowship der Europäischen Union
Seit August erforscht er solare Brennstoffe am National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in den USA
- European Union allocates 10 million Euros to thin film solar cell projectEuropean research consortium's German partners to include Berlin's Helmholtz Centre and Free University
- Rutger Schlatmann becomes professor of “solar technology” at Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin - University of Applied SciencesRutger Schlatmann has been headed the Competence Centre Thin-Film- and Nanotechnology for Photovoltaics Berlin (PVcomB) since 2008. Since its very inception, this Berlin establishment has been an instrumental link between publicly financed photovoltaic research and the solar industry. PVcomB is jointly funded by Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin and the universities and institutes of Berlin. With this felicitous collaboration, the partners have been pursuing one goal for the last four years with success: they have been taking the results of pure research and turning them into practical technologies ready for real-world use. With the joint appointment of Rutger Schlatmann, this collaboration will now be substantially expanded.
- PVcomB sets sputter system from Leybold Optics in operationBerlin competence centre for photovoltaics commences full operation with small modules
- Preis und Preis gesellt sich gern: Simon Kirner und Christiane Stephan mit Posterpreisen auf der E-MRS ausgezeichnetAuf der renommierten Frühjahrskonferenz der Europäischen Materialforschungsgesellschaft (E-MRS) wurden im Mai gleich zwei HZB-Nachwuchswissenschaftler für ihre Posterbeiträge ausgezeichnet. Beide Forscher beschäftigten sich mit verschiedenen Aspekten von Dünnschichtsolarzellen. Simon Kirner, Doktorand am PVcomB, zeigte in seinem Poster, wie man Tandemsolarzellen aus amorphen und kristallen Silizium mithilfe einer Zwischenschicht aus Silizium-Oxid optimieren kann. Dr. Christiane Stephan aus der Abteilung Kristallographie untersuchte Defekte in der Kristallstruktur von Cu(In,Ga)Se2, dem Absorbermaterial in hocheffizienten Chalkopyrit-Dünnschichtsolarzellen. An dem E-MRS Spring Meeting in Straßburg, die mit großer Industriebeteiligung organisiert wurde, nahmen etwa 2500 Teilnehmer teil; für die wissenschaftlichen Diskussionen gab es 25 Symposien zu verschiedenen Themenbereichen.
- Sommerschule zu Erneuerbaren Energien in der Schweiz: Noch können Bewerbungen eingereicht werdenDie Internationale Sommer-Universität zu Erneuerbaren Energien, ISUenergy 2012, findet vom 19.08. bis zum 31.08.2012 im Schweizerischen Falera statt. Master- und Diplomstudenten sowie Doktoranden, die teilnehmen möchten, können sich noch in den nächsten Wochen bewerben. Auf die Teilnehmer wartet ein abwechslungsreiches Programm aus Vorträgen und praktischen Übungen. Weitere Informationen zum Programm und zur Anmeldung für die Sommerschule finden Sie auf unserer Website.
- Announcement - International Summer School on Photovoltaics (Quantsol)The International Summer School on Photovoltaics and New Concepts of Quantum Solar Energy Conversion takes place from 9th to 16th September 2012 in Hirschegg, Kleinwalsertal, Austria. Young postdocs, PhD students, and master students can apply by 10th June 2012.Details of the school’s program can be found on the website.
- “Das Rennen ist noch nicht gelaufen“
Photovoltaics Thin-Film Week: Forschung als Chance für Solarwirtschaft
- Atomwanderung im Grenzgebiet: Mit bislang unerreichter Auflösung analysieren Forscher Korngrenzen in DünnschichtsolarzellenDünnschichtsolarzellen werden zukünftig einen großen Anteil am Photovoltaik-Markt haben, davon sind viele Experten überzeugt. Die Zellen aus Kupfer-Indium-Gallium-Selenid oder -Sulfid (CIGSe, CIS) unterscheiden sich in vielen Dingen von der klassischen Siliziumsolarzelle. So tragen in kristallinen Siliziumsolarzellen Korngrenzen substantiell zum Stromverlust bei. Mit CIGSe-Absorbern werden dagegen Wirkungsgrade von mehr als 20 Prozent erreicht, obwohl die polykristallinen Dünnschicht-Materialien eine hohe Dichte an Korngrenzen aufweisen. Woran das liegt, ist bislang noch ungeklärt.
- Energie-Allianz Berlin-Potsdam-Jülich: Forschung verspricht völlig neue Materialien für die PhotovoltaikDas Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin und das Forschungszentrum Jülich bilden zusammen mit der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, der Universität Potsdam und der Freien Universität Berlin eine der drei neuen Energie-Allianzen, die von der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft ins Leben gerufen wurden. Ziel dieser Energie-Allianz mit dem Namen „Anorganisch/organische Hybrid-Solarzellen und -Techniken für die Photovoltaik“ ist es, den drängenden Forschungsbedarf zum raschen Umbau der Energieversorgung gezielt zu decken. Die Vorhaben werden durch den Impuls- und Vernetzungsfonds der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft für drei Jahre gefördert, wobei die universitären Partner zusätzlich eigene Mittel einbringen. Eine Fortsetzung der Forschung auch über die drei Jahre hinaus ist geplant.
- Photochemical Turbo Power for Solar CellsHow organic molecules make yellow light from red.
- ILGAR achieved efficiency recordHZB-scientists have received simultaneous confirmation of two records in efficiency levels for CIS thin film solar-modules.
- Back-contact heterojunction solar cell by HZB and ISFH achieves record efficiencyIndependent testing lab confirms 20.2 percent
- The large-scale project EMIL (Energy Materials In-situ Laboratory Berlin) will create new opportunities for researching energy materials by the beginning of 2015Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin and the Max Planck Society are going to build a new, dedicated X-ray beamline together at the synchrotron source BESSY II, which will be used for analysing materials for renewable energy generation. The new large-scale project has been dubbed EMIL (a common name in Berlin, but which also stands for Energy Materials In-situ Laboratory Berlin) and includes, among other things, the major project already announced under the name of SISSY (Solar Energy Materials In-Situ Spectroscopy at the Synchrotron). The assessment of EMIL in September 2011, by an external committee of experts engaged by the scientific advisory board, went very well and the experts endorsed the EMIL project "enthusiastically". The supervisory board of HZB will give the go-ahead for construction of EMIL in two months.
- Messmethoden im Vergleich: Wie dünne Schichten für Solarzellen am besten untersucht werdenAlles Gute ist nie beisammen. In der Welt komplexer Geräte gilt dies in besonderem Maße. Will man beispielsweise einen neuen Fernseher oder ein Smartphone kaufen, nutzen deshalb viele Konsumenten vergleichende Bewertungen wie zum Beispiel von Stiftung Warentest. Sie helfen bei der Abwägung: worin unterscheiden sich die Geräte, was können sie, welche Funktionen sind besonders wichtig, worauf kann man möglicherweise verzichten. Bei der Analyse von dünnen Solarzellen-Schichten stehen Wissenschaft und Industrie vor einem ähnlichen Problem.
- PVcomB kooperiert im Rahmen der Innovationsallianz PhotovoltaikMehrere Projekte sollen mit Industriepartnern am PVcomB umgesetzt werden
- Thomas Hannappel erhält Stiftungsprofessur „Photovoltaik“ an der TU IlmenauTU Ilmenau und HZB unterzeichnen MoU für eine enge Kooperation in der Photovoltaik
- centrotherm photovoltaics schließt Kooperationsvertrag im Bereich Dünnschicht mit der renommierten Berliner Forschungseinrichtung PVcomBDownload der Pressemitteilung als PDF
- Bernd Rech über Solarenergie auf Deutsche Welle TVBernd Rech vom Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin spricht auf Deutsche Welle TV über Solarenergie. "Prinzipiell scheint die Sonne in einer Stunde so viel auf die Erde, wie die Weltbevölkerung derzeit das ganze Jahr braucht. Das heißt, es ist 10.000 mal mehr. Es geht nur darum, einen kleinen Teil davon zu nutzen", sagte Prof. Bernd Rech im Interview. Wie wir diese Energie nutzen können und warum die Anwendungen bisher weniger effizient sind, erfahren Sie im Video. Der Physiker arbeitet am Institut für Silizium-Photovoltaik des Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie.
- Leuchttürme der Photovoltaik in Berlin Adlershof
Das Kompetenzzentrum Dünnschicht- und Nanotechnologie für Photovoltaik Berlin (PVcomB) produziert erste Solarmodule. Zugleich Baubeginn des Zentrums für Photovoltaik (ZPV).
- Hochrangige Gäste kamen zur offiziellen Eröffnung des PVcomB am 30. MärzZur Einweihungsfeier des PVcomB am 30. März haben sich hochrangige Gäste aus Politik und Wissenschaft die Klinke in die Hand geben. Georg Schütte, Staatssekretär im Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, der Berliner Wissenschaftssenator Jürgen Zöllner und der Präsident der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft, Jürgen Mlynek, haben gemeinsam mit der HZB-Geschäftsführung das Kompetenzzentrum offiziell eröffnet.
- Henning Döscher gewinnt Essay-Wettbewerb "Welt der Zukunft"Wissenschaftler können nur trockene Texte verfassen? Von wegen! Der Solarforscher Henning Döscher hat gestern dieses Vorurteil klar widerlegt: Er erzielte den ersten Preis im Essay-Wettbewerb „Welt der Zukunft ‚Energie 2050‘ “. Im Rahmen der Abschlussveranstaltung zum Wissenschaftsjahr der Energie, welches vom HZB intensiv unterstützt wurde, erhielt er gestern von Forschungsministerin Schavan die Sieger-Urkunde – und die Aussicht auf einen spannenden Preis: Döscher wird an einer Reise eines Forschungsschiffes des Alfred-Wegener-Instituts für Polar- und Meeresforschung in der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft teilnehmen.
- PVcomB produziert erste SchichtenEin neuer Abschnitt in der Geschichte des PVcomB hat begonnen: Am 15.11. erfolgte die erste eigene Beschichtung von 30 x 30 cm2 Glasmodulen mit amorphem Silizium. Die Deposition erfolgte an einer PECVD-Clusteranlage der Firma Applied Materials, Herzstück der Forschungslinie für Dünnschicht-Silizium, die am PVcomB aufgebaut wird.
- Current loss tracked down by magnetic fingerprint
HZB researchers solve the case of lost current in organic solar cells
- Untiring dedication to solar energyHZB researcher honoured with solar award for his successful research
- Forschung für die Dünnschichtphotovoltaik - Fraunhofer IST und HZB vereinbaren enge ZusammenarbeitWie kann der Wirkungsgrad von Solarzellen weiter gesteigert werden? Wie können die Kosten gesenkt werden? Antworten auf diese und andere Fragen zur Dünnschicht-photovoltaik geben das Fraunhofer-Institut für Schicht- und Oberflächentechnik IST und das Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) künftig gemeinsam. Beide Institute wollen ihre zentralen Kompetenzen zukünftig bündeln: das Fraunhofer IST bringt sein know how zur Dünnschichttechnik ein, das HZB ist führend auf dem Gebiet der Dünnschichtphotovoltaik
- Penetrable barriers – tunnelling welcome
The boundaries between grains in certain thin-film materials are no obstacle to charge carriers. They even help prevent losses in charge transport. Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin obtain experi-mental evidence for a bold theory.
- Warum Dünnschichtsolarzellen aus Silizium altern
Pressemitteilung
Photovoltaik-Forschung des HZB als Weltspitze bewertetIm Ranking eines internationalen Wissenschafts-Verlages über Forschungsleistungen auf dem Gebiet der alternativen Energien schneidet das HZB als beste europäische Forschungseinrichtung ab und belegt weltweit den 3. Platz.
Photovoltaik-Forschung des HZB als Weltspitze bewertetIm Ranking eines internationalen Wissenschafts-Verlages über Forschungsleistungen auf dem Gebiet der alternativen Energien schneidet das HZB als beste europäische Forschungseinrichtung ab und belegt weltweit den 3. Platz.Millionen für die Solarenergie in Berlin-Adlershof - Bund fördert den Technologietransfer und Ausbildung in der Dünnschicht-PhotovoltaikEin Verbundprojekt von Forschungsinstituten und Hochschulen aus Berlin und Brandenburg hat den Zuschlag für die Förderung im Rahmen des Programms "Spitzenforschung und Innovationen in den neuen Ländern" erhalten. Das Programm wird vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) mit 12 Millionen Euro gefördert, der Senat Berlin fügt 25% der Förderungssumme hinzu. Die Partner im Verbundprojekt, das von den führenden Technologiefirmen der Dünnschicht-Photovoltaik unterstützt wird, bauen mit dem Geld ein Forschungszentrum zur Optimierung der Dünnschicht-Photovoltaik weiter aus. Lesen Sie dazu unsere Pressemitteilung
Millionen für die PhotovoltaikDas Kompetenzzentrum "Dünnschicht- und Nanotechnologie für Photovoltaik Berlin (PVcomB)", ein Verbundprojekt von Forschungsinstituten und Hochschulen aus Berlin und Brandenburg, ist eines der Gewinnerprojekte des BMBF-Förderprogramms "Spitzenforschung und Innovationen in den neuen Ländern". Im Rahmen dieses Programms erhält das PVcomB 12 Millionen Euro, der Senat Berlin fügt 25% der Fördersumme hinzu. Die Partner im Verbundprojekt, das von den führenden Technologiefirmen der Dünnschicht-Photovoltaik unterstützt wird, bauen mit dem Geld ein Forschungszentrum zur Optimierung der Dünnschicht-Photovoltaik weiter aus.Forschung, Technologie- und Marktentwicklung – die „Photovoltaics Thin-Film Week“ in Berlin Adlershof (20.–24.04.2009)Der Wissenschafts- und Technologiepark Adlershof (WISTA) entwickelt sich zu einem der weltweit führenden Standorte der Photovoltaik-Forschung und -Produktion.Vom 20. bis 24. April veranstalten hier das HZB – Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, das PVcomB – Kompetenzzentrum Dünnschicht- und Nanotechnologie für Photovoltaik Berlin sowie der solare Wissensdienstleiter Solarpraxis die „Photovoltaics Thin-Film Week“.
VortragsankündigungIm Rahmen des gemeinsamen Berufungsverfahrens der Freien Universität Berlin und des Helmholtz-Zentrums Berlin:
Marcus Bär baut Nachwuchsgruppe zur Entwicklung von Dünnschichtsolarzellen am HMI aufDas Hahn-Meitner-Institut (HMI) baut im Bereich Solarenergieforschung ab sofort eine neue Nachwuchsgruppe auf. Wie die Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft mitteilt, gehört Dr. Marcus Bär zu den 13 jungen Forschern, die in das Förderprogramm aufgenommen werden. Der 32-jährige Ingenieur ist derzeit an der University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA, beschäftigt. Er wird am HMI an der Verbesserung von Dünnschichtsolarzellen forschen und an der Brandenburgischen Technischen Universität Cottbus (BTU) seine Erfahrung an Studierende weitergeben.
Magnetische Fingerabdrücke im FotostromWissenschaftlern des Hahn-Meitner-Instituts Berlin (HMI) sowie der Freien Universität (FU) Berlin ist ein außergewöhnlicher Einblick ins Innere von organischen Materialien gelungen. Die Physiker konnten im Fotostrom erstmals eine Quantensignatur magnetisch aktiver Zentren in einer molekularen Schicht beobachten. Daraus ergeben sich neue Möglichkeiten sowohl für das Ein- und Auslesen von Quanteninformationen in molekularen Spinquantencomputern als auch für ein verbessertes Verständnis von organischer Photovoltaik.
Kompetenzzentrum Dünnschicht- und Nanotechnologie für Photovoltaik wird in Berlin aufgebautDas Hahn-Meitner-Institut (HMI), die Technische Universität Berlin (TUB) sowie acht führende Industrie-Unternehmen unterzeichnen ein Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) zur Gründung des Kompetenzzentrum Dünnschicht- und Nanotechnologie für Photovoltaik.
Steigert Unordnung die Effizienz von Solarzellen?Dünnschichtsolarzellen aus Chalkopyriten, so genannte CIS-Zellen (wie z.B. Kupfer-Indium-Sulfid und Kupfer-Indium-Selenid) weisen in der polykristallinen Form im Gegensatz zu Silizium-Zellen höhere Effizienzen auf als in der monokristallinen Form. Forscher des Hahn- Meitner-Instituts Berlin haben nun erstmals einen Nachweis geliefert, der dieses Phänomen erklären könnte.
Neue Abscheidemethode für DünnschichtsolarzellenBerliner Forscher haben ein industriell etabliertes Beschichtungsverfahren für die Herstellung von Dünnschichtsolarzellen modifiziert. Mit dem großtechnisch eingesetzten Verfahren des Magnetronsputterns können prinzipiell höhere Abscheideraten und qualitativ bessere Schichten erzielt werden.
EU-Projekt ATHLET will Dünnschichtsolarzellen an den Markt bringenDie Kostensenkung von Solarzellen ist die zentrale Herausforderung der modernen Photovoltaik. In Berlin startet am 20. Februar das europaweit größte Forschungsprojekt, das sich dieser Herausforderung stellt. Universitäten, Forschungseinrichtungen und Unternehmen aus 11 Ländern arbeiten zusammen, um den Übergang der zweiten Generation von Solarzellen, so genannten Dünnschichtzellen, aus den Laboren in den Markt zu beschleunigen.
Bundesverdienstorden für Martha Lux-SteinerDie Physikerin Prof. Dr. sc. nat. Martha Christina Lux-Steiner erhält am 5. Oktober 1999 im Berliner Schloß Bellevue aus der Hand des Bundespräsidenten Johannes Rau den Bundesverdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Damit würdigt der Bundespräsident die wissenschaftlichen Leistungen von Frau Prof. Lux-Steiner auf dem Gebiet der solaren Energiegewinnung und ihren besonderen Einsatz für die regionale Zusammenarbeit zwischen Industrie und Forschung.