HZB

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie (HZB) is a German research center located in Berlin, operated within the Helmholtz Association. It focuses on materials science and energy research, using large-scale facilities to study materials properties, discover new materials, and develop sustainable energy technologies.

HZB was established in 2009 through the merger of the Hahn-Meitner-Institut (HMI) and BESSY GmbH. Its mission is to advance fundamental and applied knowledge in materials and energy, supporting innovation through interdisciplinary research programs and access to state-of-the-art instruments.

The center’s flagship facility is the BESSY II synchrotron light source, a third-generation storage ring that provides high-brilliance X-ray and ultraviolet light for spectroscopy, diffraction, and imaging experiments. In addition, HZB previously operated the BER II research reactor, which supported neutron and photon-based materials research; its operations have been phased out in line with decommissioning plans.

Research at HZB spans photovoltaics and solar fuels, catalysis, magnetic and electronic materials, energy storage technologies, nanomaterials, and spintronics. The center emphasizes collaboration with universities, industry, and international partners, and it provides training and user access to its facilities for the broader scientific community.

As a Helmholtz center, HZB aims to contribute to the energy transition and to deepen understanding of material behavior under extreme conditions. It participates in national and European research programs and disseminates results through publications and open access to its facilities and data.