Advances in Functionalized Nanomaterials and Sustainable Recycling Processes for Solar Photovoltaic Technology
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2026 | Viewed by 136
Special Issue Editors
Interests: dye-sensitized solar cell; perovskite solar cell; hybrid nanomaterials; plasmonic solar cells; indoor photovoltaics; oxide semiconductor; thin-film deposition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: nanomaterial synthesis; dye-sensitized solar cells; electrolytes; thin-film deposition; electrochemical methods
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The most promising method for producing renewable energy is solar-energy collection through photovoltaic conversion. In this context, solar photovoltaics (PV) has advanced rapidly in the renewable energy sector, with a significant increase of 26 % (generating 270 TWh), accounting for 4.5 % of total worldwide electricity output in 2022. Moreover, the integration of hybrid nanomaterials opens up new opportunities to achieve higher solar energy conversion efficiencies at lower fabrication costs as they allow the use of inexpensive materials and processing technologies to harvest sunlight by efficiently capturing photon energy over a broad spectral range, followed by rapidly separating and collecting photogenerated charge carriers.
On the other hand, considering the average lifespan of photovoltaic panels (up to 25 years)—after which they may be regarded as degraded and require disposal—the projected increase in waste (estimated at about 78 million tons by 2050) poses a socio-environmental challenge as the panels will be a source of hazardous waste if not effectively handled, due to the presence of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and arsenic used in their production. In addition, recycling TCO-glass and Pt could potentially reduce the energy required for production and thus significantly improve the environmental impact of third-generation solar-cell technologies. Therefore, advancing hybrid nanomaterials alongside the sustainable end-of-life management of photovoltaic systems is essential to ensure the long-term viability and environmental sustainability of solar-energy technologies.
This research topic is primarily aimed at presenting recent developments and future challenges related to advances in hybrid and functionalized nanomaterials, followed by the demonstration of their innovative applications for solar PV (e.g., first-, second- and third-generation solar cells). Additionally, the second aim is the development of new strategies for sustainable recycling processes, contributing to ongoing efforts to establish a more circular and sustainable PV industry by bridging the gap between technological advancements and environmental responsibility.
Furthermore, this Special Issue is intended to create an open space for debate and invites the whole community of academic and industrial researchers, involved in both fundamental studies and applied solutions, to share recent findings, perspectives and expectations in this challenging field of research focused on advances in hybrid and functionalized nanomaterials for integration in solar PV technology, as well as the development of new strategies for sustainable recycling processes in this field.
More specific research areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Advances in the synthesis and characterization of new hybrid and functionalized nanomaterials for solar PV technology
- Functionalized carbon nanomaterials for high-performance of solar PV technology
- Advances in functionalized quantum dots nanomaterials for solar PV
- New concepts and device architecture for next generation of solar PV
- Large-scale production of third-generation solar cell technologies using hybrid and functionalized nanomaterials
- Photovoltaic waste recycling
- Development of new strategies for sustainable recycling processes of PV industry
Dr. Daniel Horatiu Ursu
Dr. Melinda Vajda
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- solar photovoltaics
- hybrid nanomaterials
- functionalized nanomaterials
- photovoltaic waste recycling
- recycling technologies
- circular economy
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