Thin-Film Photovoltaics 2014

The interest toward alternative energy sources to fossil fuels (still the most convenient in terms of efficiency and cost) is current. Initiatives that seek to convert wind, geothermal energy, hydropower, marine, solar thermal energy, and photovoltaics or derived from biomass energy into other forms continue to involve several research groups. For example, the transfer from solar energy into electricity, which in turn can be used for water splitting and for the subsequent production of hydrogen, seems a major challenge to provide a sustainable contribution to the “Earth system” together with the realization of devices having high conversion efficiencies, low environmental impact, and low production costs. In our opinion the use of heterogeneous forms of available energy could definitely give a rational response to the growing global demand of energy, respecting the environment. This special issue is following a series that began in 2010. The aim is to provide a continuous update on state-of-the-art in the field of materials, nanotechnology, theoretical models, and technological aspects that belong to the science of thin film photovoltaics (TFPV). Despite this issue having a limited number of contributions, it is interesting to point out that the contribution provided by colleagues with their research have kept alive this initiative undertaken by this journal. Here is a timely synthesis of all contributions received which can stimulate the development of new ideas in the field of photovoltaic and highlight interest in this initiative in the future.