Guest Editors
Marinela Miclau, Ph.D., Director of research, National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter (INCEMC), Timisoara, Romania
Marinela Miclau is the Director of research and Head of the Condensed Matter Physics Department at the National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter (INCEMC), Timisoara, Romania. She received her Doctor in Physics from West University Timisoara in 2007. Dr. Marinela Miclau is an expert in materials science and photovoltaics, namely new materials (nano and microcrystalline, single crystal, polymorphs) by hydrothermal method, solid state, and floating zone method coordinating many national projects. She has extensive experience and a strong publication record (research papers and patents), especially in developing the hydrothermal synthesis of metal oxides (perovskites, delafossites, and many more) and dye-sensitized solar cells.
Daniel Ursu, Ph.D., Scientist, National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter (INCEMC), Timisoara, Romania
Dr. Daniel Ursu is a Scientist at National Institute for Research and Development in Electrochemistry and Condensed Matter, Timisoara, Romania. In 2013, he obtained a Doctor Degree from the University of Politehnica Timisoara with a specialization in Material Engineering. Starting in 2014, he obtained a Postdoctoral Research, and his research focused on improving the photovoltaic properties of delafossite materials. Dr. Daniel Ursu has remarkable competence in the field of the hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of metal oxide semiconductors and in the construction and optimization of dye-sensitized solar cells, proved by strong publications and patents granted, define a competent researcher, able to perform complex research at the edge of current knowledge. He has principally responsible for XRD laboratory and DSSC laboratory. Dr. Daniel Ursu was also a project leader for one national project and was responsible for the project for two national projects.
Summary
According to the forecasted energy crisis, together with the concern about climate change nowadays, photovoltaic technology is still regarded as a part of the solution to the growing future of global energy production. The key requirements for long-range use of photovoltaics for terrestrial solar energy conversion are only resolved by a synergy between the efficiency, the cost, the diversification of the applications, and the operating lifetime of these systems. Increasing photovoltaic performance, lowering cost, and high operational stability can be best achieved by conventional material improvements, designing new materials, advanced renewable materials, and green technology innovations. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), part of third-generation photovoltaics, are based on non-toxic and very abundant materials with a wide range of design options. From the perspective of large-scale implementation, dye-sensitized solar cell technology that is still in the infant stage offers economic motivations for investigating new materials for photovoltaic modules.
The purpose of this special issue is to promote excellent research concerning all aspects of reducing or replacing expensive materials, designing new high efficient, renewable, and sustainable ecologically responsible materials, incorporating natural product-derived materials into components of the dye-sensitized solar cell, namely into the photoactive electrode, counter electrode, dye, and electrolyte. This special issue also hopes to inspire a different perspective that will, in turn, make DSSCs much more appealing for indoor or agrivoltaic applications and more.
Focusing on recent advances, research gaps and new trends, potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Green synthesis of the semiconductor materials for photoanode or photocathode;
- Carbon-based counter electrode materials;
- Natural dyes for DSSCs;
- Biopolymers for the electrolyte.
Keywords
Dye-sensitized solar cells; green material; semiconductor; natural dye; biopolymer
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