Collaborative Research Centre “Nanoscale Metals” raises 11 million euros
Licht wird durch den Nanopartikel fokussiert und die Energie lokal in verschiedene Formen umgewandelt, die dann Chemische Transformation antreiben. © Felix Stete
Several HZB research teams are participating in the new SFB 1636 "Elementary processes of light-driven reactions on nanoscale metals".
Research on Nansoscale Metals
“We are excited and look forward to the new synergies that can arise from this,” says Prof. Matias Bargheer, who is one of the spokespersons for the new Collaborative Research Centre, led by University of Potsdam. The HZB scientists Renske van der Veen, Yan Lu and Alexander Föhlisch are also involved, in addition to the team of Bargheer, who heads a joint research group at the University of Potsdam and HZB.
The research project aims to help understand the elementary processes that trigger light-controlled chemical reactions on metals at the nanoscale. “There are still many unanswered questions at this fascinating transition between physics and chemistry and we can already apply our concepts to organic coupling reactions and polymerisations, e.g. to functionalise nanoparticles asymmetrically,” says Prof. Dr. Matias Bargheer, talking about the struggles as well as the perspectives of their collaborative research.
- New Method for Absorption Correction to Improve Dental FillingsA research team led by Dr. Ioanna Mantouvalou has developed a method to more accurately depict the elemental distributions in dental materials than previously possible. The used confocal micro-X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) analysis provides three-dimensional elemental images that contain distortions. These distortions occur when X-rays pass through materials of different densities and compositions. By utilizing micro-CT data, which provides detailed 3D images of the material structure, and chemical information from X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) experiments conducted in the laboratory (BLiX, TU Berlin) and at the synchrotron light source BESSY II, the researchers have improved the method.
- Helmholtz Institute for Polymers in Energy Applications (HIPOLE Jena) InauguratedOn June 17, 2024, the Helmholtz Institute for Polymers in Energy Applications (HIPOLE Jena) was officially inaugurated in Jena in the presence of Wolfgang Tiefensee, Minister for Economy, Science, and Digital Society of the Free State of Thuringia. The institute was founded by the Helmholtz Center Berlin for Materials and Energy (HZB) in cooperation with the Friedrich Schiller University Jena. It is dedicated to developing sustainable polymer materials for energy technologies, which are expected to play a key role in the energy transition and support Germany’s goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2045.
- “Research and development in times of war: not only possible, but crucial!”The Ukraine Recovery Conference took place in Berlin on 11 and 12 June. On a side-event representatives from Helmholtz, Fraunhofer and Leibniz discussed how research can contribute to the sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine.
In this interview, Bernd Rech, scientific director at HZB, talks about the importance of research during the war and projects such as Green Deal Ukraina.