Researchers have created a new liquid crystal compound with ultra-short helix pitch and spiral ordering, making it ideal for fast-switching devices. The material's thermally and chemically stable structure allows for easy customization of pitch lengths.
Researchers have created a material system exhibiting unusually long-range Josephson effect, enabling macroscopic quantum coherence and potential for spintronic applications. The discovery of 'triplet' superconductivity, where electrons with the same spin circulate, expands possibilities for low-power consumption devices.
Researchers from Germany and Spain successfully create a uniform two-dimensional material with exotic ferromagnetic behavior known as easy-plane magnetism. This discovery opens up new possibilities for spintronics, a technology that uses magnetic moments instead of electrical charges.
The study reveals that the interaction between phonons and electrons is crucial for ultrafast demagnetization. The data show a temperature threshold below which this mechanism does not occur, indicating another microscopic mechanism at lower temperatures.
Researchers have characterized five different defect types in perovskite solar cells, revealing that a large proportion of defects release trapped charge carriers. This finding may explain the high efficiencies of MAPI perovskites and paves the way for optimizing these materials with improved stability.
Scientists have developed a method to precisely map the polarization pattern in thin ferroelectric layers, revealing new insights into the physics of these objects. The technique, combined with machine learning, allows for the spatial resolution of ferroelectric domains below 10 nanometers.
A team at HZB and PTB developed a method to measure the lateral expansion of the electron beam in laser plasma accelerators, achieving resolutions in the micrometre range. This technique uses coherent radiation of electron pulses via interference patterns to determine the beam cross-section.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have achieved a new world record in materials research by using X-ray microscopy to create 1000 three-dimensional images per second. This allows for the non-destructive study of fast processes in materials, enabling researchers to gain insights into material properties and behavior.
Researchers at HZB developed a method to quantify charge extraction at buried interfaces in perovskite solar cells. Time-resolved surface photovoltage technique facilitates design of ideal charge-selective contacts and improves efficiency.
Researchers discovered that certain catalyst materials, such as erythrite, improve in performance over time due to restructuring. This process increases the surface area of the material, allowing for more reactions to occur, resulting in higher oxygen yields and doubled electrical current generation.
Researchers have observed a unique phenomenon where vibrations in a nickel oxide material increase with cooling, leading to the formation of faster fluctuations and ordered regions. This behavior is unusual and differs from the expected trend, which is that less thermal energy leads to more fluctuations freezing and order growing.
Researchers produce aqueous solution with metallic properties for the first time by dropping a tiny droplet of liquid alkali metal alloy into water. The resulting 'metallic water' exhibits characteristic spectroscopic properties, including a golden glow and conduction band.
Researchers found that tin fluoride additive traps oxidized tin in solution, reducing instability. Fluoride also improves colloid stability, leading to more homogeneous crystal growth.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have found that thermally coupled systems produce more hydrogen than traditional setups when split by sunlight in sub-zero temperatures. This method could supply remote regions with clean energy, replacing fossil fuels and reducing pollution.
A German-Japanese research team has deciphered the 3D structure of a metalloprotein that catalyzes RNA editing in all plant cells. The DYW domain's activation is triggered by a zinc atom and a gating domain, providing a sophisticated regulation mechanism for chloroplasts and mitochondria.
Researchers have successfully simulated the interaction of two quantum dots, exchanging energy controlled by light. The study's results are promising for experimental research and development in various fields, including qubit development and photocatalysis.
Researchers studied DUT-8, a switchable MOF structure that changes shape in response to guest molecules. The findings improve understanding of switching processes and gas exchange reactions in MOFs, paving the way for targeted development of functional materials.
Scientists have developed a new method to directly observe the filling and emptying of tiny pores in materials, revealing complex mechanisms behind guest-atom interactions. This breakthrough uses combined X-ray methods to provide empirical insights into confined matter in battery electrodes, catalysts, and hydrogen storage materials.
Research on haematite, a widely known rust material, has been hindered by low photocurrent conversion efficiency compared to theoretical maximum values. A recent study reveals that the wavelength of absorbed light in hematite thin films affects its photoelectrochemical properties.
Researchers have discovered fossilized samples of bony armor from ancient fish species, revealing a complex network of cavities and channels in the bones. The findings suggest that early vertebrates had internal structures similar to those found in modern vertebrates, with bone cells capable of dissolving and restoring bone minerals.
Researchers used conductive atomic force microscopy to detect tiny channels for dark currents in solar cell surfaces, revealing the loss mechanism at the interface of silicon heterojunction solar cells. The study showed that these channels are caused by disorder in the a-Si:H layer and lead to trap-assisted quantum mechanical tunnelling.
Researchers at BESSY II discover that low-intensity blue light can alter the properties of MoS2 layers, making them metallic and catalytically active. This finding could enable the production of hydrogen as an energy carrier with no CO2 emissions.
Researchers at HZB have developed a method to control lattice vibrations in graphene, enabling the creation of phononic crystals with tunable properties. This breakthrough paves the way for applications in ultrasensitive sensors and quantum technologies.
An international team has shown that a pattern of pulses can be generated in a synchrotron radiation source that combines the advantages of both systems, producing laser-like radiation with high repetition rates. This novel approach could facilitate advances in fields such as materials research and quantum physics.
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin team has developed a scalable method for coating larger surfaces using slot-die coating. They found that the optimal amount of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in the material ink is critical for crystal growth, with too little or too much reducing performance.
Researchers have developed a method that connects experimental data from synchrotron sources like BESSY II to quantum chemical simulations, reducing computing times for complex molecules. This allows for faster analysis and interpretation of RIXS data, enabling scientists to simulate more complex systems.
Researchers have developed a new material, alpha-SnWO4, that could convert up to 20% of sunlight into chemical energy for hydrogen production. Thin layers of nickel oxide were found to reduce the photovoltage and degrade the material, but alternative deposition processes may improve performance.
Researchers discovered that complex oscillations in quantum systems decay over time into a simple Gaussian distribution, driven by interactions. The Vienna group created a synthetic Bose-Einstein condensate to study phonon dynamics, which eventually lost complexity and followed the Gaussian shape.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have developed a perovskite/silicon tandem solar cell achieving a record 29.15% efficiency, surpassing previous records. The new value has been certified and is at the top of the entire Emerging PV category in the NREL chart.
The team used fluorescent pH-sensor foils to visualize changes in local pH during electrolysis, observing a clockwise motion of the electrolyte and fluctuations in density due to electrochemical reactions. They developed a multiphysics model to simulate natural convection in electrochemical cells with various electrolytes.
A team at HZB explores compositions of CsPb(BrxI1?x)3 for their potential to improve the stability and efficiency of solar cells. The study reveals tunable optical band gaps between 1.73 and 2.37 eV, making these mixtures suitable for multi-junction solar cell applications.
Researchers studied Germanium telluride crystals at the nanoscale to understand its ferroelectric properties and their potential applications in non-volatile spintronic devices. The study found two distinct types of boundaries surrounding ferroelectric nanodomains with sizes between 10 to 100 nanometres.
Scientists have found nanometre-sized areas of varying local density in amorphous silicon thin films. These regions, known as densely ordered domains, contain hardly any hydrogen and can contribute to the stability of the material.
A joint research group has developed a way to simulate the quantum physical properties of complex solid state systems using real systems of atoms. The team's approach uses mathematical and numerical methods to investigate which quantum systems are suitable for simulations, paving the way for progress in robust quantum computing.
Researchers have conducted the first operando stability study of high-purity BiVO4 photoanodes during photoelectrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Using in-situ plasma mass spectrometry, they determined a useful parameter called the stability number (S), which can be used to compare and assess the stability of photoelectrodes.
Scientists have used neutrons to study the twin structure of halide perovskites, a class of materials crucial for high-efficiency solar cells. The research reveals that crystals grown at room temperature also form twins, providing new insights into their crystallization and growth process.
A new mathematical procedure minimizes the sign problem in quantum Monte Carlo method, reducing computational time for solid-state systems. This approach enables faster development of materials with special spin properties.
A new fragment library, F2X-Universal, has been designed and validated by the HZB team. The library consists of 1,103 compounds, which were successfully tested against endothiapepsin and Aar2/RnaseH protein complex targets.
A team of scientists has found that iron-platinum thin films exhibit minimal expansion when heated, making them suitable for HAMR memories. The discovery was made using ultrashort X-ray pulses to measure the crystal lattice's response to laser excitation.
Scientists at HZB have successfully produced functional light-emitting diodes using a metal halide perovskite material. The new printing process enables the creation of printed LEDs with significantly better optical and electronic characteristics compared to traditional additive manufacturing processes.
An international team developed a sophisticated experimental technique at BESSY II to observe the formation of a metallic conduction band in electrolytes. The team analyzed the process using soft X-rays and combined it with theoretical predictions, making this a significant contribution to fundamental understanding.
Researchers have developed lead-free perovskite solar cells with excellent optical properties and high stability, thanks to the use of tin and organic groups. The new material shows improved performance over traditional halide perovskites, paving the way for more efficient and stable solar energy harvesting.
Researchers at HZB have found a three-dimensional quantum spin liquid in the hyper-hyperkagome lattice of PbCuTe2O6. The discovery was made through both theoretical simulations and neutron experiments, which confirmed the predicted behavior.
Researchers found that composite membranes with nanoparticles can increase proton conductivity in direct ethanol fuel cells, leading to higher efficiency and potential industrial scalability. This breakthrough has great implications for the use of renewable ethanol as a sustainable energy source.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have developed a new tandem solar cell made of CIGS and perovskite, achieving an efficiency of 24.16 percent. This innovation has created a new branch on the NREL chart for two-terminal tandem cells.
Researchers have detected magnetic monopoles in a metal for the first time, using a two-dimensional Kagome spin-ice system consisting of holmium, silver, and germanium. The team's findings suggest that this system behaves as if magnetic monopoles were present.
Physicists have successfully isolated and characterized Bethe strings in a real solid for the first time. The team used high magnetic fields to investigate SrCo2V2O8 crystals, obtaining a phase diagram that confirms their presence.
The new method uses a combination of undulators and TRIBs to switch the helicity of X-ray pulses, enabling faster XMCD experiments with intervals as short as 1 microsecond. This breakthrough could lead to improved imaging techniques for magnetic data storage devices.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin have decoded the 3D architecture of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, providing concrete starting points for developing inhibitors. The analysis was conducted using high-intensity X-ray light from BESSY II.
Researchers have discovered a new class of 2D materials called MXenes that can store enormous amounts of charge, similar to batteries. These materials can be charged or discharged within tens of seconds, making them ideal for rapid energy storage.