Mesoporous Materials and Nanoscale Phenomena in Hybrid Photovoltaics

Dear Colleagues, 

Hybrid photovoltaics (H-PV), initiated as dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) and further extended as perovskite solar cells (PSCs), have been revolutionizing perspectives with their high efficiency that is approaching that of silicon-based counterparts. The technological breakthrough resides, on one hand, in a cost-efficiency convenience and, on the other hand, in the perspective of overcoming the Shockley–Queisser limit for single solar cells if PSCs are combined in tandem architectures. Together with outdoor PV, dedicated hybrid solar cell technologies for indoor powering and aerospace are under the spotlight.

In this highly encouraging framework, materials science has been playing a major role with the pivotal involvement of mesoporous materials and nanoscale phenomena that take place in the layers and many interfaces established through the layered architecture of DSCs and PSCs.

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials welcomes contributions concerning the challenges facing the H-PV field in the growth/synthesis, functionalization, interfacing, light absorption, carrier generation and injection, stabilization, and integration of materials in DSCs and PSCs architectures, with a special focus on mesoscale behavior and nanoscale phenomena. The list of materials includes metal oxides and molecular layers for carrier extraction, transparent and conductive oxides, photoactive molecules, and additives, encapsulating hydrophobic materials and photoactive perovskites. Mesostructured layers, engineered molecules, 2D and 3D perovskites, as well as blended materials with their functionalities, active interfaces, defects, structures, and operational behavior are of particular relevance for this Special Issue. The aim of the issue is to increase our knowledge of the properties and behavior of single and combined materials for hybrid photovoltaics that can help improve their structural, optical, and electrical performances considering their implementation in devices.

Dr. Alessandra Alberti
Guest Editor

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