An Open Journal for Solar Cell Research

Solar Cell Insights

Rigorous experimental and theoretical studies across solar cell science — including mechanistic analyses, methodological advances, and well-documented negative or non-optimised results.

Dedicated to transparency, reproducibility and deep scientific understanding beyond performance metrics.

Submit a Manuscript → Read the Aims & Scope

Peer-reviewed  ·  Open access  ·  DOIs assigned via Crossref
Published by SAMTrek UG (haftungsbeschränkt), Germany

Current-voltage characteristics of two solar cells Two J-V curves. The upper solid curve is a well-performing device; the lower dashed curve is a device that underperformed. Both are described as publishable. P max 0 10 20 30 0 0.3 0.6 0.9 V J (mA cm⁻²) A B
Both of these are publishable.
A — device that worked B — device that did not
If the controls are sound and the analysis is honest, the direction of the result is not a reason for rejection.
Editorial position 1

Rigour, not records

Manuscripts are evaluated on scientific rigour and insight, not on record performance metrics or efficiency values. Proper controls and sound analysis are the acceptance criteria.

Editorial position 2

Negative results belong in the literature

We publish well-documented negative, null and non-optimised results. Papers are not rejected because a device underperformed — only because the science does not hold up.

Editorial position 3

Open, transparent, reproducible

Every article is open access. Authors are asked to describe fabrication and measurement conditions in full, and are encouraged to deposit raw data, datasets and analysis scripts.

Recently published

The record so far

Articles appear here as soon as they are published, each with a DOI and a permanent open-access record.

Published: 2026-10-20

Research Article

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Scope

What we publish

Solar cells and photovoltaic research only — but within that field, as broadly as the science requires.

Full Aims & Scope
Technologies
Silicon Perovskite Organic (OSC) Dye-sensitised CIGS / CdTe III–V Quantum-dot Tandem / multijunction Emerging photovoltaics
Research themes
Efficiency Charge transport Recombination Energetic disorder Interfaces Stability Degradation Defects Failure mechanisms Reproducibility Negative results Standardised characterisation Device physics

The reason this journal exists

A result that did not work is still a result.

Across photovoltaics, careful work disappears every year because it did not produce a record efficiency. The measurement was sound, the controls were right, the analysis was honest — and the paper was never written, because there was nowhere to send it.

Solar Cell Insights exists to be that place.

Read the Negative Results Policy
What we ask you to report
Distribution of device efficiencies Twenty-two devices scattered across a range of efficiencies, with a single champion device far to the right. champion the other 22 devices PCE →
Report the distribution, not the champion. Champion-device values submitted without the underlying spread will be queried at review.

For authors

Submit to Solar Cell Insights

Four things to read before you start. The submission form itself takes about ten minutes.

Author Guidelines

Scope, standards, ethics and manuscript requirements in one place.

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Article Types

Research articles, short communications, methods papers, technical reports and negative-result reports.

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Submission Rules

Everything your submission must include before you open the wizard.

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Charges

What publishing with us costs, and who pays nothing.

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