Emerging Materials and Technologies for Energy Applications

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

The photovoltaic sector is currently transcending the theoretical efficiency limits of conventional crystalline silicon through the engineering of next-generation semiconductor materials. A primary focus is the development of Perovskite–Silicon tandem architectures, which leverage wide-bandgap perovskite layers to capture the blue-UV spectrum while the silicon bottom cell absorbs infrared light, effectively overcoming the Shockley–Queisser limit.

Beyond tandems, research into novel thin-film absorbers—such as kesterites, organic non-fullerene acceptors, and quantum dots—is critical for achieving high-absorption coefficients and mechanical flexibility. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence is proving transformative, utilizing high-throughput screening to identify stable chemical compositions and predict the long-term durability of material interfaces under environmental stress. These breakthroughs in photoactive layers and charge-transport materials are essential for driving down the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) and achieving global decarbonization.

Topics of Interest: High-Efficiency Photovoltaics

• Advanced Absorber Synthesis: Development of stable perovskite thin films with optimized grain boundaries and reduced lead content.
• Tandem Device Engineering: Innovation in recombination layers and optical coupling for multi-junction cells (e.g., Perovskite/CIGS or All-Perovskite tandems).
• Interface and Transport Layers: Research into hole and electron transport materials (HTM/ETM) to minimize non-radiative recombination and enhance moisture resistance.
• AI-Enhanced Material Design: Application of machine learning for the rapid discovery of wide-bandgap absorbers and the optimization of thin-film deposition parameters.

Dr. Susana Fernández
Prof. Dr. Fernando B. Naranjo
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
AI Materials aimater	-	-	2026	15.0 days *	CHF 1000	Submit
Electronic Materials electronicmat	-	3.9	2020	27.2 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Energies energies	3.2	7.3	2008	16.8 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Materials materials	3.2	6.4	2008	15.5 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Nanoenergy Advances nanoenergyadv	-	9.0	2021	15.2 Days	CHF 1200	Submit
Nanomaterials nanomaterials	4.3	9.2	2010	14 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Sci sci	-	5.2	2019	26.7 Days	CHF 1400	Submit
Solar solar	-	4.3	2021	19.8 Days	CHF 1200	Submit

* Median value for all MDPI journals in the second half of 2025.

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