Hanwha Q-Cells Quantsol Awards 2018
Alejandra Villanueva Tovar, Pavlo Perkhun, Erin Looney, Tom Veeken, Gizem Birant, Harald Reinhold (from left) have been awarded with an HQCQ 2018. © HZB
Six 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.
The International Summer School on Photovoltaics and New Concepts of Quantum Solar Energy Conversion (Quantsol) took place from 2 to 9 September 2018 in Hirschegg / Kleinwalsertal, Austria, for the eleventh time in a row. More than 50 prospective solar researchers from 20 countries attended the event. The participants received a comprehensive introduction into photovoltaics and solar fuel generation. Experts from leading research institutes all over the world presented the basic processes for converting solar energy into chemical and electrical energy and showed ways to their technical application. Newer materials, such as the promising perovskites or oxides for water splitting, as well as special analytical methods were also discussed in detail.
As last year, the Hanwha Q-Cells Quantsol Prize (QHQC Award 2018, see photo), was awarded in four categories. The winners in the team categories were Gizem Birant (University of Hasselt, Belgium) and Alejandra Villanueva Tovar (HZB) for the best self-built solar cell and Pavlo Perkhun (CINaM - Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, France) and Harald Reinhold (Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg) for the best optical simulation of a perovskite silicon tandem solar cell. In the individual category, the prize went to the most active participant Erin Looney (MIT, USA) and Tom Veeken (AMOLF, Netherlands) for the best single crystal produced with the Epi-Simulator.
“We would like to thank all the helpers from the HZB and the TU Ilmenau as well as both research institutions, without whom it would not have been possible to organize and carry out such a high-quality school," said Prof. Klaus Lips, who – together with Prof. Thomas Hannappel, TU Ilmenau, is organizing this summerschool since eleven years. Due to the great demand, the next Quantsol Summer Schools are planned for September 2019 and 2020.
- New Helmholtz Young Investigator Group at HZB on perovskite solar cellsSilvia Mariotti is returning to HZB as head of the new Helmholtz Young Investigator Group ‘Perovskite-based multi-junction solar cells’. The perovskite expert, who was previously based at Okinawa University in Japan, aims to advance the development of multi-junction solar cells made from different perovskite layers.
- Hydrogen storage in MXene: It all depends on diffusion processesTwo-dimensional (2D) materials such as MXene are of great interest for hydrogen storage. An expert from HZB has investigated the diffusion of hydrogen in MXene using density functional theory. This modelling provides valuable insights into the key diffusion mechanisms and hydrogen's interaction with Ti₃C₂ MXene, offering a solid foundation for further experimental research.
- Excellent work-life balance continuesOn 17 June 2025, the certificates for the ‘berufundfamilie’ audit were awarded in Berlin. HZB received an award with distinction for its long-standing efforts to promote a work environment that supports work-life balance. The audit is regarded as a seal of quality for the systematic design of family- and life-phase-conscious HR policies.