Multiferroics, photovoltaics and plasmonics: Call for papers

Materials Science and Engineering B: Advanced Functional Solid State Materials is pleased to announce a call for papers in the following emerging areas:

1. Multi-ferroic Materials
2. Photovoltaic Systems
3. Plasmonic Materials

Multiferroics or ferroelectromagnets or magneto-electrics are a class of materials displaying simultaneous existence of magnetic and electric orderings. These emerging classes of materials have garnered considerable attention in recent years because of the potential applications and rich fundamental physics. The interactions of synthesis parameters on the microstructure and their combined effects on the magneto-electric properties richly deserve much attention. Nanoscale interactions play an important role in controlling and achieving switchable non- volatile magnetoelectric devices with multiferroics.

In particular, stabilization of the switched domains and nanoscale effects controlling ferroelastic states and their effects on the domains play a vital role. Understanding these key aspects will be extremely important for the design and fabrication of next generation devices. Similarly, increasing energy demands and the concomitant shortage of fossil fuels has driven much research in the area of development of clean and sustainable energy. Energy storage devices have therefore been at the helm of intense research activity. However, photovoltaic (PV) and solar energy has continued to remain as one of the most attractive clean energy sources exploiting natural sunlight.  Polycrystalline Si or poly Si has been the quintessential material that has witnessed the most research over the years and is the most ubiquitous forms of PV devices whose power conversion efficiencies are in the range of 25% while commercial products achieve module efficiencies of ~15-18%. There is still a continuous interest in exploring novel types of cost effective solar cells to replace poly Si. In particular, there is considerable interest in exploring novel organic architectures and configurations for photovoltaic applications. Understanding the synthesis, structure, microstructure and photovoltaic response of these elegant systems will play a key role in the design of improved next generation photovoltaic systems. Another area that has witnessed considerable interest is in plasmonics and tunability of light frequency in advanced materials.

The robust and strong light confinement and optical field enhancement have triggered numerous applications in optical sensing, cancer therapy, and catalysis. Conventional plasmonic materials such as gold and silver tend to undergo mild tuning via colossal charging. In this regard graphene has emerged as an outstanding material for applications in optoelectronics due to the high electronic mobility of graphene and the unique doping capability. Tunability and hybridization of plasmons in graphene and the combined interactions seem to affect the plasmon energy, sustainability of the plasmons when electrically charged, and the strength, including lifetimes.  This call for papers is geared towards soliciting regular as well as review papers focused on all materials aspects covering these three burgeoning areas that are rich in all aspects of materials sciences and engineering. Papers are hence sought focused on the synthesis, structure and microstructural relations of multi-ferroics; photovoltaic and the ensuing electron-photon interactions of various materials; as well as novel doped forms of graphene and the plasmonic interactions of various graphene forms and device architectures.

Deadline for submission of manuscripts: August 31, 2014.

Manuscripts should be submitted online at http://www.journals.elsevier.com/materials-science-and-engineering-b/. Manuscript submission guidelines can also be found here. All papers will be reviewed in accordance with MSEB’s normal peer review processes. Authors submitting a review paper should also include a cover letter addressed to the Editor in Chief. The Editor in Chief and all the board members look forward to receiving papers in these emerging areas.