Call For Papers: Photovoltaics: From Halide Perovskites to Emerging Materials

The global transition toward sustainable energy has placed photovoltaics (PV) at the forefront of research and innovation. Over the past decade, halide perovskites have revolutionized the PV landscape, offering high power conversion efficiencies, tunable optoelectronic properties, and compatibility with low-cost fabrication techniques. Beyond halide perovskite photovoltaics, which remain an active and dynamic area of research in this field, other materials such as chalcogenides, organic- and polymer-based materials, and organic-inorganic hybrid materials continue to be evaluated as candidates for photovoltaic applications.

This Special Issue from ACS Materials Au will explore the evolving landscape of photovoltaic materials, and materials used in photovoltaics, encompassing the state-of-the-art in halide perovskites as well as a diverse range of emerging systems.

Topics of Interest

Submissions may include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

Halide Perovskite Solar Cells

• Materials science of established and novel photovoltaic materials
• Other materials used in photovoltaics (such as in luminescent solar concentrators)
• Structural and composition engineering
• Stability enhancement strategies under thermal, moisture, and UV stress
• Scalable fabrication techniques (roll-to-roll, inkjet printing, vapor deposition)
• Interface and defect passivation for improved efficiency and durability
• Lead-free and environmentally benign perovskite alternatives

Emerging Photovoltaic Materials

• Chalcogenide thin films
• Organic–inorganic hybrid materials beyond perovskites
• Low-dimensional semiconductors (2D materials, quantum dots)
• Novel oxide and nitride-based absorbers for next-generation PV
• Organic- and polymer-based photovoltaics
• Luminescent materials for solar concentrators

Applications Beyond Conventional Solar Cells

• Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV)
• Semi-transparent and aesthetic photovoltaics for windows and facades
• Photovoltaics for wearable and portable electronics
• Photovoltaics for high-radiation detection and energy conversion

Submit your manuscript by December 1, 2026.

Organizing Editors

Prof. Stephanie Brock, Deputy Editor, ACS Materials Au
Wayne State University, United States

Prof. Maksym Kovalenko, Associate Editor, ACS Materials Au
ETH Zürich, Switzerland

Prof. Giulia Grancini, Guest Editor
University of Pavia, Italy

Prof. Angshuman Nag, Guest Editor
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, India

Prof. Zhiguo Xia, Guest Editor & Editorial Advisory Board Member
South China University of Technology, China

Submission Information

We welcome submissions for this Special Issue through December 1^st, 2026. For more information on submission requirements, please visit the journal’s Author Guidelines page.

Accepted manuscripts for consideration in this Special Issue will include research Articles, Letters, Perspectives, Reviews, and Tutorials. Papers accepted for publication for this Special Issue will be available ASAP (as soon as publishable) online as soon as they are accepted. After all submissions have been published, they will then be compiled online on a dedicated landing page to form the Special Issue. Manuscripts submitted for consideration will undergo the full rigorous peer review process expected from ACS journals.

How to Submit

• Log in to the ACS Publishing Center.
• Select your manuscript type and upload your manuscript and related files.
• Review the title and abstract fields to ensure any pre-populated information has uploaded correctly.
• Under "Special Issue Selection," select Photovoltaics: From Halide Perovskites to Emerging Materials.
• Confirm all other information has uploaded correctly.
• Submit your article.

If you have any general questions regarding submission to this Special Issue, please contact Prof. Maksym Kovalenko (kovalenko-office@materialsau.acs.org).