Joint Lab BeJEL receives 1.4 million EUR grant
The 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”.
Electron spins are unique probes for materials and life sciences, and can be detected through electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The functioning of molecular machines, or the electronic properties of solar cells as well as catalytic chemical reactions, for example, can be determined at BeJEL using this method. To further enhance the sensitivity and resolution of EPR, the DFG Priority Programme SPP-1601 “New Frontiers in Sensitivity for EPR Spectroscopy – from Biological Cells to Nano Materials” has now been extended for a further three years through grants totalling 7.9 million EUR. In addition, DFG will make available 500,000 EUR to further expand collaboration with EPR groups in the USA.
Berlin-based BeJEL successfully pulled in six of the total 27 project grants within the competitive SPP Priority Programme selection process. With the help of 1.4 million EUR in DFG funding, BeJEL will now be in a position to push EPR into the terahertz region, implement ultra-high vacuum sample environments, develop miniature resonators and novel spin labels for investigating proteins in biological cells and study charge transport processes in inorganic and organic solar cells.
“The new financial stimulus from the DFG SPP Priority Programme considerably strengthens Berlin as an EPR site”, says Prof. Robert Bittl, official spokesperson for BeJEL. “In addition, we will be able to undertake new collaborative projects with our partners in Germany and the USA to achieve our ambitious goal of detecting even very small spin ensembles in the systems we are investigating”, adds Prof. Klaus Lips from HZB.
The six individual projects will be undertaken by the following BeJEL project leaders: Prof. Jan Behrends (Freie Universität Berlin/HZB), Prof. Robert Bittl (Freie Universität Berlin), Prof. Enrica Bordignon (Freie Universität Berlin), Prof. Klaus Lips (HZB), Prof. Thomas Risse (Freie Universität Berlin), and Dr. Alexander Schnegg (HZB).
More information on BeJEL
More Information on the research project: www.spp1601.de
- Protons against cancer: New research beamline for innovative radiotherapiesTogether with the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, the HZB has set up a new beamline for preclinical research. It will enable experiments on biological samples on innovative radiation therapies with protons.
- Battery research with the HZB X-ray microscopeNew cathode materials are being developed to further increase the capacity of lithium batteries. Multilayer lithium-rich transition metal oxides (LRTMOs) offer particularly high energy density. However, their capacity decreases with each charging cycle due to structural and chemical changes. Using X-ray methods at BESSY II, teams from several Chinese research institutions have now investigated these changes for the first time with highest precision: at the unique X-ray microscope, they were able to observe morphological and structural developments on the nanometre scale and also clarify chemical changes.
- Hydrogen: Breakthrough in alkaline membrane electrolysersA team from the Technical University of Berlin, HZB, IMTEK (University of Freiburg) and Siemens Energy has developed a highly efficient alkaline membrane electrolyser that approaches the performance of established PEM electrolysers. What makes this achievement remarkable is the use of inexpensive nickel compounds for the anode catalyst, replacing costly and rare iridium. At BESSY II, the team was able to elucidate the catalytic processes in detail using operando measurements, and a theory team (USA, Singapore) provided a consistent molecular description. In Freiburg, prototype cells were built using a new coating process and tested in operation. The results have been published in the prestigious journal Nature Catalysis.