Solar Cells: From Sunlight into Electricity
1Department of Physics, Yildiz Technical University, Davutpasa Campus, Esenler, Istanbul, Turkey
2Linz Institute for Organic Solar Cells (LIOS), Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
3Institut für Physik, TU Ilmenau, Thuringia, Germany
4Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
Solar Cells: From Sunlight into Electricity
Description
The threat of global warming and the shortage of oil supplies led the researchers to think about alternative ways of producing energy from environmentally friendly, abundant, and cost-effective energy sources. Conversion of sunlight into electricity using solar cells (also called photovoltaic cell) is one of the most convenient and prominent ways to cover the increasing energy demand of the humanity and is of great interest. Solar cells made from inorganic semiconductors have been studied since 1950s and have found applications ranging from satellites to roof tops. Although solar cells based on bulk crystalline and polycrystalline silicon still dominate the PV market, recently, CdTe, Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS), and amorphous silicon-based solar cells improved their market shares. Organic and Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) technologies are classified as the new generation solar cells. Low cost, light weight, and easy integration to flexible substrates make this emerging technology worth to investigate further. However, their efficiencies are still low as compared to their inorganic counterparts and, therefore, they are considered to be in the development stage. There are many ways to investigate solar cells and this special issue will focus on the recent developments of organic, inorganic, and dye sensitized solar cells.
We invite researchers to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts and new results on materials science and technology related to different types of solar cells such as organic, inorganic, and dye sensitized solar cells. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Crystalline and polycrystalline Si PV technologies
- Thin film solar cells
- Hybrid solar cells
- Organic semiconductor and devices
- Dye sensitized solar cells
- Nanotubes, nanowires, quantum dot-based solar cells
Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal’s Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijp/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/ijp/sels/ according to the following timetable: