Organic and Hybrid Solar Cells for Efficient Solar Power Conversion

Dear Colleagues,

I am excited to invite you to contribute to an upcoming Special Issue on perovskite materials in photovoltaic applications. Perovskite materials, renowned for adopting the ABX3 crystal structure akin to calcium titanate (CaTiO₃), have evolved into a vast and diverse family of compounds, each offering unique properties and potential applications.

This Special Issue aims to gather a collection of papers that delve into the preparation and characterization of perovskite materials specifically tailored to photovoltaic applications. At the heart of this lies a profound interest in perovskite solar cells (PSCs), where hybrid organic–inorganic perovskite compounds serve as the absorbing materials.

We warmly welcome submissions that explore various facets of PSCs, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Investigations into the formation, crystal structure, and morphology of perovskite layers.
• Studies focusing on enhancing the bandgap, efficiency, and overall performance of PSCs.
• Research addressing the toxicity and long-term stability of perovskite-based solar cells.
• Analysis of the hysteresis in current–voltage characteristics and strategies to mitigate it.

Furthermore, we encourage contributions on materials possessing perovskite structures, moving beyond conventional organic–inorganic hybrids to include inorganic perovskites. These materials hold promise as functional layers within solar cells, and we are eager to explore their potential.

Innovative research on perovskite materials intended for photovoltaic applications is also of great interest. Manuscripts examining the structural, optical, electrical, or other critical properties of these materials, along with their chemical composition, micro- and nanostructure, morphology, and preparation methods, are highly encouraged. Additionally, theoretical studies that aim to predict and elucidate the preferred properties of perovskite materials for photovoltaic applications are within the scope of this Special Issue.

Your expertise and contributions are essential to furthering our understanding of perovskite materials in the realm of photovoltaics. We welcome a wide range of contributions, including full research papers, communications, and reviews, to foster valuable insights and advancements in the field.

Dr. Hengkai Zhang
Dr. Zhiliang Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites
• photovoltaic efficiency
• bandgap optimization
• stability and degradation
• hysteresis in PSCs
• perovskite absorber layers
• charge carrier dynamics
• perovskite solar panel
• tandem solar cells
• toxicity of perovskite materials
• perovskite-based photovoltaics

Title: Revolutionizing Perovskite Solar Cells: A Comprehensive Strategy to Enhance Performance, Stability, and Mitigate Lead Contamination
Authors: Benjamin Liu; Zihan Jia; Zhiliang Chen
Affiliation: Anhui University
Abstract: Current guidelines indicate that the lead levels in perovskite solar cells are sufficiently low, putting them on par with the safety of other lead-containing electronics. Yet, there remains ambiguity regarding the exact environmental impact of lead derived from perovskite. When this lead enters the soil, it has the potential to permeate plants and, subsequently, our food supply, at a rate that's a staggering ten times more than other lead contaminants from human-induced activities. Given this, it becomes vital to ensure that lead doesn't pollute our environment as we further adopt these technologies. In this study, we propose a novel method using polymer net bones to anchor the lead, which effectively reduces the risk of lead leaching due to rainfall. Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs) integrated with this polymer net bone show improved operational efficiency and hold significant promise in curtailing lead leakage, reinforcing the ecological integrity of perovskite solutions. When enhanced with Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), these PSCs register a notable increase in Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE), scoring 24.7% as opposed to the 22.3% in PSCs devoid of PVA. Additionally, PVA-augmented PSCs outperform in stability when compared to their traditional counterparts.