Thin Films for Third Generation of Solar Cells and Other Applications: Development and Challenges

Dear Colleagues,

The fabrication of oxide materials in the form of thin films and nanoparticles is a key step in enabling the scientific study of oxides at the nanoscale and their advanced applications in various fields, such as first, second and third generation solar cells, energy storage, optical devices, thin-film transistors, light-emitting diodes, piezoelectric transducers, and photodetectors. With the development of new oxide materials, as well as with new processing techniques, the range of applications for thin films and coatings has expanded, making them an integral part of modern technology.

It is our pleasure to invite the researchers to submit a manuscript in this Special Issue that proposes a worldwide review of current challenges in science and technology to development of thin film for the third generation of solar cells, as well as the integration of thin films in other applications such as optical devices and thin-film transistors.

The specific research areas of interest include, but are not limited to: (i) advances in the synthesis and characterization of nanostructured metal oxides for thin films; (ii) new methods for deposition of thin film nanostructured metal oxides; (iii) study of electro-chemical properties of thin film deposition based on metal oxides interfaces in nanostructure materials; (iv) design and implementation of thin films for emerging applications.

Dr. Daniel Horatiu Ursu
Dr. Marinela Miclau
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. Materials 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 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.

• dye sensitized solar cell
• perovskite solar cell
• quantum dot sensitized solar cells
• metal oxide thin films
• nanostructured solar cells
• synthesis and characterization of thin films
• new methods for deposition of thin film
• electro-chemical properties of thin film deposition