Sonia Rani is a researcher whose academic work is associated with thin-film photovoltaics and perovskite solar-cell technologies. Her research profile includes studies of perovskite photovoltaic architectures, transparent electrodes, optical engineering, colored photovoltaic devices, and semi-transparent or bifacial solar-cell concepts. Her work has been reported in peer-reviewed journals, including Solar RRL and Energy Technology, with publications addressing materials, optical structures, and device configurations for emerging photovoltaic applications. [1][2]
Abstract
Sonia Rani’s research is situated in the field of perovskite photovoltaics, an emerging area of solar-energy research concerned with improving photovoltaic conversion, optical management, device architecture, transparency, color control, and materials integration. Her documented research includes work on oxide–metal–oxide transparent electrodes for semi-transparent perovskite solar cells, thermally oxidized ultrathin copper films for photovoltaic applications, optical structures for colored perovskite devices, and material-driven designs for bifacial and semi-transparent photovoltaic systems. [1][2]
The research profile combines materials considerations with optical and device-level engineering. This interdisciplinary orientation is relevant to the development of photovoltaic technologies that seek to balance electrical performance with optical transparency, color selectivity, bifacial operation, and alternative electrode configurations. [1][2]
Keywords
- Women Researcher Award
- Sonia Rani
- Perovskite Solar Cells
- Perovskite Photovoltaics
- Thin-Film Photovoltaics
- Transparent Electrodes
- Semi-Transparent Solar Cells
- Bifacial Photovoltaics
Introduction
Perovskite solar cells have become an important research topic in photovoltaic science because their optoelectronic properties can be engineered through composition, interfaces, device architecture, and optical design. Research in this area extends beyond conventional efficiency optimization to include semi-transparent, bifacial, flexible, and visually selective photovoltaic devices. Such approaches may be relevant to building-integrated photovoltaics and other applications where light transmission, appearance, or two-sided illumination is an important design consideration. [1][2]
Within this research landscape, Sonia Rani’s published work addresses several aspects of perovskite photovoltaic design. Her research includes the study of transparent conducting structures, ultrathin metal-derived layers, optical engineering, photonic-crystal structures, and oxide–metal–oxide configurations. [5]
Research Profile
The supplied academic profile associates Sonia Rani with the Indian Institute of Technology Dharwad and identifies Perovskite Solar Cells as her principal subject area. The institutional record of IIT Dharwad identifies Sonia Rani as a doctoral researcher in Perovskite Photovoltaics and records her doctoral graduation in 2024 under the supervision of Prof. Dhriti Sundar Ghosh. [6]
Her ORCID record lists Scopus Author ID 57424464900 and records 22 works on the profile. It also records doctoral study at the Indian Institute of Technology Dharwad during 2022–2024. The same record documents subsequent research employment, illustrating that researcher affiliations can change over time even when earlier institutional research remains part of an academic publication record. [3]
The research profile can broadly be organized around the following themes:
- Perovskite photovoltaic device architecture.
- Transparent and semi-transparent photovoltaic electrodes.
- Bifacial solar-cell configurations.
- Optical engineering and light-management structures.
- Colored and visually selective perovskite solar cells.
- Materials and interfaces for photovoltaic device optimization.
Research Contributions
A notable aspect of the research is the investigation of transparent electrode systems for semi-transparent perovskite solar cells. In a 2023 Solar RRL article, Rani, Arun Kumar, and Dhriti Sundar Ghosh examined oxide–metal–oxide based transparent electrodes and their potential application in semi-transparent perovskite photovoltaic devices. [4]
Another contribution concerns ultrathin copper-based layers. A 2022 study in Solar Energy investigated a thermally oxidized ultrathin copper film as a low-cost hole-transport layer for planar perovskite solar cells. The publication reported experimental device characteristics and stability measurements associated with the proposed layer configuration. [5]
Research published in Energy Technology in 2025 examined one-dimensional photonic crystals for selective chromaticity in colored perovskite solar cells. The work demonstrates an optical-engineering approach in which photonic structures are considered as part of photovoltaic device design rather than treating color solely as an incidental optical property. [1]
More recent work has addressed material-driven design of oxide–metal–oxide–perovskite–oxide–metal–oxide structures for bifacial and semi-transparent photovoltaic applications. Published in Solar RRL in 2026, this research considered the relationship between material selection, optical transparency, and photovoltaic performance. [2]
Publications
Selected publications associated with the researcher and relevant to the present profile include:
- Rani, S., Kumar, A., and Ghosh, D. S. “1D-Photonic Crystals Enabling Selective Chromaticity for Colored Perovskite Solar Cells.” Energy Technology, 2025. DOI:
- Rani, S., Malik, A., Guruprasad, S., and Ghosh, D. S. “Material-Driven Design of OMO-Perovskite-OMO Solar Cells for Bifacial and Semi-Transparent Photovoltaic Applications.” Solar RRL, 2026. DOI:
- Rani, S., Kumar, A., and Ghosh, D. S. “Oxide–Metal–Oxide Based Transparent Electrodes and Their Potential Application in Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells—Optical Modeling Studies.” Solar RRL, 2023. DOI:
- Kumar, A., Rani, S., Rana, N. K., Samantaray, M. R., Chander, N., and Ghosh, D. S. “Thermally oxidized ultrathin copper film as low-cost hole-transport layer in planar perovskite solar cells.” Solar Energy, 2022, vol. 244, pp. 457–464. DOI:
- Das, T., Kumar, A., Rani, S., and Guchhait, A. “Fabrication of Highly Efficient and Ambient Stable Planar MAPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells via Defect Passivation through Crosslinking Strategy.” Advanced Engineering Materials, 2024. DOI:
The publication record cited above represents selected works rather than a complete bibliography. The linked ORCID profile reports 22 works, while institutional records provide additional information about research and doctoral activity at IIT Dharwad. [3][6]
Research Impact
The research is relevant to the continuing development of perovskite photovoltaic technologies in which optical and electrical requirements must be considered simultaneously. Work on transparent electrodes, optical structures, bifacial devices, and colored photovoltaic systems addresses design challenges that become increasingly important when photovoltaic devices are intended for applications beyond conventional opaque solar modules. [1][2]
The supplied research metrics of 211 citations and an h-index of 9 provide quantitative indicators of scholarly visibility at the time the profile was prepared. These figures should not be interpreted independently of publication year, field, database coverage, or citation practices, and they may change as indexing services update their records.
Institutional information also places the research within the Thin-Film and Photovoltaics research environment at IIT Dharwad. The institution has documented Sonia Rani’s doctoral work in Perovskite Photovoltaics and associated research activity in the area of photovoltaic device development.[6]
Award Suitability
The Women Researcher Award profile is academically aligned with Sonia Rani’s documented research specialization in perovskite photovoltaics. The suitability of a nominee for an award should ultimately be determined through the award program’s published eligibility requirements, independent evaluation procedures, and review of the nominee’s complete academic record.
- Research specialization in perovskite solar-cell technology.
- Peer-reviewed publications addressing photovoltaic materials and device structures.
- Research involving transparent, semi-transparent, bifacial, and optically engineered photovoltaic systems.
- Documented scholarly output and citation-based research indicators.
- Research experience connected with academic photovoltaic and thin-film research.
These characteristics provide a scholarly basis for considering the profile in a women-researcher recognition category, while the final award decision remains subject to the applicable nomination, screening, and evaluation framework of the Indian Scientist Awards.
Conclusion
Sonia Rani’s research profile reflects a focused contribution to perovskite photovoltaic science, with published work spanning transparent electrodes, ultrathin metal-derived layers, optical engineering, colored solar cells, and bifacial or semi-transparent photovoltaic architectures. [1][2] These themes place her research within a broader effort to develop photovoltaic technologies that combine energy conversion with enhanced optical and architectural functionality.
Based on the supplied profile information and publicly documented research records, her academic work provides a relevant foundation for consideration under a Women Researcher Award category focused on scientific research and innovation in photovoltaic technology. Bibliographic metrics and institutional affiliations should be verified against current authoritative databases when the profile is used for formal award assessment.
References
- Rani, S., Kumar, A., Ghosh, D. S. “1D-Photonic Crystals Enabling Selective Chromaticity for Colored Perovskite Solar Cells.” Energy Technology, 2025.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ente.202500438
- Rani, S., Malik, A., Guruprasad, S., Ghosh, D. S. “Material-Driven Design of OMO-Perovskite-OMO Solar Cells for Bifacial and Semi-Transparent Photovoltaic Applications.” Solar RRL, 2026.
https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202500946
- ORCID. “Sonia Rani — ORCID record and works.” Scopus Author ID 57424464900.
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7768-690X
- Rani, S., Kumar, A., Ghosh, D. S. “Oxide–Metal–Oxide Based Transparent Electrodes and Their Potential Application in Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells—Optical Modeling Studies.” Solar RRL, 2023.
https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.202200863
- Kumar, A., Rani, S., Rana, N. K., Samantaray, M. R., Chander, N., Ghosh, D. S. “Thermally oxidized ultrathin copper film as low-cost hole-transport layer in planar perovskite solar cells.” Solar Energy, 2022, 244, 457–464.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2022.08.067
- Indian Institute of Technology Dharwad. Research Scholars and institutional research information relating to Sonia Rani and Perovskite Photovoltaics.
https://www.iitdh.ac.in/kn/research-scholars-department
- Das, T., Kumar, A., Rani, S., Guchhait, A. “Fabrication of Highly Efficient and Ambient Stable Planar MAPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells via Defect Passivation through Crosslinking Strategy.” Advanced Engineering Materials, 2024.
https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.202302078