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Advances in Polymer-Based Materials for Organic and Perovskite Solar Cells

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 1570

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
Interests: perovskite solar cells; photovoltaics; polymer solar cells; high-speed printing; large-area coating

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid development of polymer-based materials continues to drive significant progress in next-generation photovoltaic technologies. Organic solar cells (OSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as leading candidates for low-cost, flexible, and scalable solar energy harvesting due to their tunable optoelectronic properties, compatibility with solution processing, and potential for lightweight device architectures. As both fields mature, polymeric materials—ranging from photoactive semiconducting polymers to innovative interlayers, encapsulants, and additives—play an increasingly essential role in enhancing efficiency, stability, and manufacturability.

This Special Issue, “Advances in Polymer-Based Materials for Organic and Perovskite Solar Cells”, brings together cutting-edge research and critical perspectives from across materials science, chemistry, and device engineering. Topics include the design and synthesis of novel conjugated polymers, polymer acceptors, and polymer–inorganic hybrid systems; interface engineering using polymeric interlayers; polymer-based passivation strategies for perovskite films; and breakthroughs in processing, morphology control, and device stability. Contributions can also explore emerging approaches such as all-polymer solar cells, polymer-assisted perovskite crystallization, eco-friendly fabrication methods, and scalable printing techniques aimed at bridging the gap between laboratory performance and commercial viability.

By highlighting innovative polymer materials and their integration into high-performance photovoltaic devices, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current challenges, opportunities, and future research directions. It will serve as a platform for advancing sustainable, efficient, and durable solar energy technologies that will help shape the next generation of renewable energy solutions.

Prof. Dr. Dawen Li
Guest Editor

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. Polymers 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

  • polymers
  • perovskite solar cells
  • organic solar cells
  • thin-film solar cells
  • photovoltaics
  • efficiency
  • stability
  • printing
  • coating
  • manufacturing

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

29 pages, 5660 KB  
Review
Survey of Polymer Self-Healing Mechanisms in Perovskite Solar Cells
by Hayeon Lee, Zachary Lewis, Lars Christensen, Jianbo Gao and Dawen Li
Polymers 2026, 18(1), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18010069 - 26 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1347
Abstract
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a rising next-generational photovoltaic technology due to low fabrication costs through solution processing as compared to traditional silicon solar cells and high-power conversion efficiency. However, the poor long-term operational stability due to environmental and mechanical degradation [...] Read more.
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a rising next-generational photovoltaic technology due to low fabrication costs through solution processing as compared to traditional silicon solar cells and high-power conversion efficiency. However, the poor long-term operational stability due to environmental and mechanical degradation remains a hindrance to commercialization. Herein, self-healing polymer additives are utilized by researchers to enhance the photovoltaic performance of PSCs by enabling self-restorative behavior from physical damage or chemical degradation. This review explores the design and application of self-healing polymers in both flexible and rigid PSCs, contrasting the two main reversible bonding mechanisms: physical bonds, such as hydrogen bonds, and chemical bonds, such as dynamic covalent disulfide bonds. Physical bonds provide passive healing at ambient conditions; meanwhile, chemical bonds offer a stronger restoration under external stimuli such as heat or light. These polymers are exceptionally effective at mitigating mechanical stress and cracks in flexible PSCs and combating moisture-induced degradation in rigid PSCs. The applications of self-healing polymers are categorized based on substrate type, healing mechanism, and perovskite composition, with the benefits and limitations of each approach highlighted. Additionally, the review explores the potential of multifunctional self-healing polymers to passivate defects at the grain boundaries and on surface of perovskite films, thereby enhancing the overall photovoltaic performance. Full article
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