The availability of energy sources has a significant impact on human quality of life. Current global energy consumption has already surpassed 6000 gigawatts and the increasing energy usage in developing nations is expected to drive up global energy consumption much further. This increase will also accelerate the depletion of fossil fuels, resulting in increased environmental pollution with negative consequences for human health. The quality of life on Earth will be threatened unless renewable energy can be produced and supplied in the near future, especially considering hazards posed by the build-up of plutonium fission products from nuclear reactors.

Photovoltaics are projected to play a significant role in the search for environmentally acceptable energy alternatives. The creation of systems that replicate natural photosynthesis in the conversion of solar energy to carbon dioxide fixing show promise in addressing the need for renewable energy. The purpose of photovoltaic devices is to collect sunlight in order to generate energy or to drive an uphill chemical process, such as the cleavage of water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen generated may then be used to manufacture fuels and chemical feedstock while reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Molecular photovoltaic devices are based on the mechanisms employed by green plants for fixing solar energy and have already achieved a 10 percent total efficiency for solar energy conversion to electricity.

Photovoltaic technology is based on transition metal charge transfer sensitizers which sensitize nanocrystalline sheets. The novel chemical solar cell accomplishes the separation of light absorption and charge carrier transport in the same way as in photosynthesis. Within the wavelength range of their absorption band, extraordinary yields for the conversion of incoming photons into electric current can be attained, surpassing 90% for transition metal complexes. Traditional solid-state photovoltaic cells for solar energy conversion to electricity cannot compete effectively for base-load utility power generation. The low cost of new nanocrystalline cells and the simplicity of their manufacture could be beneficial to large-scale applications, particularly in developing nations. The availability of low-cost solar cell technology is critical to enhance quality of life and maintain natural resources in developing countries where intense sunlight is available. The process energy for manufacturing the solar cell module is the most important component contributing to environmental effects across the life cycle of the nanocrystalline dye-sensitized solar cell system.

This Special Issue aims to collate the latest solar cell system research as well as research focusing on applications of nanocrystalline materials in solar cell systems. This Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge research involving solar cell technologies. We welcome original research and review articles.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Synthesis of nanocrystalline solar cells (DSCs)
• Characterization of nanocrystalline DSCs
• Operation principle of the dye-sensitized nanocrystalline solar cells (DSCs)
• Solar fuels
• Solar desalination technologies
• Photovoltaic plants with energy storage systems
• Solar-based hybrid energy systems with enriched overall efficiency
• Hybrid energy systems and energy storage technologies
• Phase change materials for thermal management
• Organic dyes, quantum dot as sensitizers
• Photovoltaic performance stability
• Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells