Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the synthesis of a wide range of advanced inorganic materials using chemical solution routes. Solution-based processing is generally more flexible in terms of precursor or substrate selection and related processing procedures, and is faster and less expensive compared to vapor deposition routes. These methods provide versatile and cost-effective manufacturing routes to large-area and high-quality inorganic films, nanocomposites, and functional entities like nanorods and nanoparticles. Recent developments in synthesis and processing have opened new ways to achieve enhanced and novel functionalities for applications in electronics, photovoltaics, photoelectrochemical cells, sensors, actuators, energy-harvesting and storage devices, memory devices, magnetic sensors, etc.

This Special Issue will address the solution processing of nanostructured oxides and related hybrid materials with specific functionalities depending on processing conditions. We invite authors to contribute original research as well as review articles on the current state of research on the synthesis and processing of solution-derived oxide and nanocomposite thin films, patterned surfaces, and nanostructures, including their properties and applications.

Topics to be covered are solution synthesis, structure evolution and phase growth, fabrication, and porous or oxide nanostructures, including their assembly into functional components. The characterization by advanced analytical methods, establishment of processing–structure–property relationships, and application of solution-derived oxides in forefront technologies are addressed. Finally, integration issues in the realization of devices will also be considered.

Prof. Dr. Chien-Jung Huang
Prof. Dr. Chin-Hau Chia
Prof. Dr. Kuan-Wei Lee
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Crystals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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.

• solution
• synthesis
• oxide
• nanostructure