Recent Advances in Nanoparticles for Perovskite Solar Cells

Dear Colleagues,

Solar energy is abundant, and its use will contribute to sustainable development, whereby perovskites are promising materials for the development of next-generation solar cells with the power conversion efficiency by exceeding 25%. On the other hand, perovskite quantum dots (QDs, also known as nanocrystals (NCs) when they are in crystal phase) with quantum confinement effects are becoming increasingly attractive and offer great prospects for future photovoltaics development. In particular, the solvents commonly used for the fabrication of perovskite NC devices are more environmentally friendly (e.g., octane and hexane), whereas bulk thin-film perovskites are processed from toxic polar aprotic solvents (e.g., N,N-dimethylformamide). Perovskite NCs are more stable because their high surface energy and quantum confinement effect can effectively inhibit the phase transition, and as a result prolong the lifetime of the solar cell. Furthermore, the absorption and energy levels of NCs can be easily tuned by size variation, which at the same time allows better energy level and absorption matching in perovskite solar cells or serve as an additive in perovskite layers. Nonetheless, at the same time nanocrystals play a decisive role in the development of hole/electron transport layers (e.g., SnO-QDs, NiO-QDs) in perovskite solar cells. Despite the extraordinary properties of NCs, as confirmed through exhaustive research, NC perovskite solar cells are far from reaching their full potential.

We look forward to receiving your outstanding contributions to accelerate the generation of new knowledge in nanocrystals for perovskite solar cells and to help make substantial advances in the use of perovskite solar cells. This Special Issue welcomes novel contributions on the characterization, synthesis, and application of nanocrystals for single-junction and/or tandem perovskite solar cells. Full papers, short communications, and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: synthesis, characterization and integration of perovskite quantum dots; nanocrystal–perovskite hybrids for solar cells; nanoparticles for electron/hole transport layers; perovskite tandem solar cells etc.

Dr. Vladimir Svrcek
Dr. Faiazul Haque
Guest Editors

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• nanocrystals
• quantum dots perovskites hybrids solar cells
• atmospheric pressure plasmas
• fs laser
• photoluminescence