Emerging Functional Materials for Next-Generation Optoelectronic Devices
A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 221
Special Issue Editors
2. Organic Materials Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore 575025, India
Interests: energy materials; photovoltaics; optoelectronics; synthetic organic chemistry; sensors; solar cells; material science
Interests: thermoelectric; solar-thermal; thermoelectric nanomaterials synthesis/characterization; thermoelectric module design and fabrication for power generation applications
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Optoelectronic materials form the backbone of modern technology, enabling devices that drive today’s information and communication systems. They underpin innovations ranging from displays and sensors to energy-harvesting and quantum technologies. The rapid progress in optoelectronic technologies encompassing light-emitting diodes (LEDs), solar cells, photodetectors, lasers, sensors, and energy storage systems has been largely driven by the discovery and engineering of new functional materials. Advances in hybrid, organic, and low-dimensional materials have enabled unprecedented control over charge transport, light–matter interaction, and device scalability. The continuous evolution of material synthesis, interface design, and computational modeling is redefining how optoelectronic devices are conceived, optimized, and integrated into flexible, wearable, and sustainable platforms. Recent progress in materials synthesis, interface engineering, and computational design has accelerated the development of multifunctional optoelectronic platforms capable of addressing global challenges in energy, healthcare, and data technologies. Moreover, the convergence of artificial intelligence with materials discovery and device optimization is opening new pathways toward intelligent, adaptive, and energy-efficient systems. Given their pivotal role in next-generation applications, the exploration of emerging functional materials in optoelectronics represents one of the most dynamic and impactful areas of modern materials science.
We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, “Emerging Functional Materials for Next-Generation Optoelectronic Devices.”
This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research and review articles focused on the design, synthesis, and application of advanced functional materials with tailored optical and electronic properties for optoelectronic devices. This scope aligns with the journal’s emphasis on functional materials and applied physics, covering the interplay between material properties and device performance. The goal is to highlight new concepts, synthesis strategies, and device architectures that push the boundaries of energy efficiency, flexibility, and multifunctionality. Contributions are encouraged that address experimental, theoretical, and computational aspects of material innovation for next-generation optoelectronic technologies.
Topics span from quantum dots, perovskites, and two-dimensional materials to hybrid organic–inorganic semiconductors and bio-integrated systems. These innovations enable high-performance, flexible, and sustainable device architectures for applications in energy harvesting, sensing, communications, and biophotonics. The issue also highlights emerging trends such as AI-guided material design, nanogenerators for self-powered systems, and bioresorbable optoelectronics that merge functionality with environmental responsibility. Collectively, these developments represent the forefront of material-driven progress in optoelectronics, bridging physics, chemistry, and data science to shape the intelligent technologies of the future.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Design and synthesis of emerging optoelectronic materials (organic, hybrid, and 2D systems);
- Perovskite- and quantum-dot-based light-emitting and photovoltaic devices;
- Interface and surface engineering for enhanced charge transport and stability;
- Computational and machine learning-driven materials discovery;
- Plasmonic and photonic nanostructures for light management;
- Biocompatible and bio-integrated optoelectronic materials;
- Sustainable and energy-efficient optoelectronic materials for device fabrication and energy storage.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Kavya Keremane
Dr. Bed R. Poudel
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
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. Molecules 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 2700 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.
Keywords
- functional materials
- perovskites
- quantum materials
- two-dimensional (2D) materials
- organic/inorganic semiconductors
- interface engineering
- light–matter interaction
- computational and machine learning-driven materials design
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
