Helmholtz Virtual Institute MiCo: Article selected as journal highlight for 2017
First author is the mathematician Sibylle Bergmann, whose PhD work is funded by MiCo. © WIAS
The 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.
The paper deals with the modelling of liquid/solid interface kinetics in silicon, the most common material used for solar cells. First author is mathematician Sibylle Bergmann, a researcher at the Weierstrass Institute who is funded by the Helmholtz Virtual Institute MiCo (Microstructure Control for thin-film solar cells).
The scientific article was evaluated by the reviewers as outstanding and was retrieved over 900 times, a particularly high number for a technical article from this subject area. The publication is available through Open Access.
Published in Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering: „Anisotropic Solid–Liquid Interface Kinetics in Silicon: An Atomistically Informed Phase-Field Model“; S. Bergmann, K. Albe, E. Flegel, D. A. Barragan-Yani & B. Wagner
DOI: 10.1088/1361-651X/aa7862
More information on Helmholtz Virtuelle Institut "Microstructure Control for thin-film solar cells"
- How carbonates influence CO2-to-fuel conversionResearchers from the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society (FHI) have uncovered how carbonate molecules affect the conversion of CO2 into valuable fuels on gold electrocatalysts. Their findings reveal key molecular mechanisms in CO2 electrocatalysis and hydrogen evolution, pointing to new strategies for improving energy efficiency and reaction selectivity.
- Peat as a sustainable precursor for fuel cell catalyst materialsIron-nitrogen-carbon catalysts have the potential to replace the more expensive platinum catalysts currently used in fuel cells. This is shown by a study conducted by researchers from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and universities in Tartu and Tallinn, Estonia. At BESSY II, the team observed the formation of complex microstructures within various samples. They then analysed which structural parameters were particularly important for fostering the preferred electrochemical reactions. The raw material for such catalysts is well decomposed peat.
- Susanne Nies appointed to EU advisory group on Green DealDr. Susanne Nies heads the Green Deal Ukraina project at HZB, which aims to support the development of a sustainable energy system in Ukraine. The energy expert has now also been appointed to the European Commission's scientific advisory group to comment on regulatory burdens in connection with the net-zero target (DG GROW).