Materials for Energy Harvesting

Abstract

This special issue of physica status solidi (a) contains a selection of papers with contributions related to Materials for Energy Harvesting originated from research and innovation projects as presented at the EUROMAT conference in Thessaloniki (September 17–22, 2017). The papers include results of ongoing research and recent scientific achievements within the fields of photovoltaic and thermoelectric materials. Emphasis is given on selected innovative solutions and technological initiatives related to most promising materials and associated device structures, which are under consideration in many research groups worldwide. The field of photovoltaics is briefly covered with respect to advanced silicon based material structures as well as potential “post silicon” alternatives such as kesterites and perovskites. For each type of the photovoltaic materials mentioned above, advanced characterization methods as well as selected innovative technological processing steps are presented. Various alternative thermoelectric materials and related device structures are also presented in this issue including silicides and skutterudites. Consideration of several competing materials toward cost effective options in the processing of photovoltaic and thermoelectric advanced structures reflects current trends and status in the field of this category of energy harvesting materials. Despite the remarkable progress related to PV/thermoelectric advanced structures and concepts demonstrated during last decades, further developments and comparative analysis targeting to cost reduction as well as increase of fundamental efficiency limits are still required. The Guest Editors