New coating found to help maximize solar panel yield

New coating found to help maximize solar panel yield

No or only very little dirt can stay on surfaces with this, meaning solar panel cleaning is "automatic."

Cleaning glass facades and solar installations is expensive and time-consuming, but it’s necessary, as dirt reduces the yield of solar modules. Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP say they have succeeded in making the cleaning process automatic with their European Union-funded “NewSkin project.” The project means applying crystalline titanium oxide to ultra-thin glass using a roll-to-roll process, thus achieving hydrophobic surfaces that become “superhydrophilic” under UV light.

In 2021, photovoltaics covered 8.9% of gross electricity consumption in Germany with electricity generation of 50 TWh. Of course, this should and must be increased in the interests of a sustainable energy transition. Dirt-repellent, easy-to-clean surfaces ensure transparency and cleanliness for facades and more efficient and consistent energy production for solar, with less maintenance costs.

“We are focusing on photoinduced hydrophilicity [water repellency] on surfaces here,” explains graduate student Valentin Heiser from Fraunhofer FEP. “To upscale this effect, we apply crystalline titanium oxide to ultrathin glass in a roll-to-roll process for the first time. This is very efficient. The ultrathin and lightweight glass can be applied subsequently to facades or directly incorporated into solar modules as a composite material – and even onto curved surfaces.”

Titanium dioxide changes its hydrophilicity when exposed to UV radiation (such as activation by sunlight). Unirradiated, it is hydrophobic [forms water drops]. After irradiation, it is superhydrophilic [completely moistening]. In the case of photoinduced hydrophilicity, the surface changes from hydrophobic to superhydrophilic after approx. 30 minutes of irradiation with sun-like UV light.

On surfaces with this kind of titanium dioxide coating, this effect means that no or only very little dirt can be deposited. If, for example, traffic dust, sand or other dirt deposits on glass facades or solar panels, it is washed off by the nightly hydrophobicity of the surface via beading raindrops. In addition, the cyclic alternation of hydrophobic and superhydrophilic properties means that the dirt does not adhere to the surface during the day.

Titanium oxide activated with UV light also decomposes organic molecules on the surface. This produces antibacterial and sterile surfaces.

The researchers at Fraunhofer FEP have now developed the first coatings: Specifically, a 30 cm wide and 20 m long roll of thin glass, with a glass thickness of 100 micrometers, was coated with 30 –150 nanometers of titanium oxide, in a roll-to-roll system. This pilot plant for roll-to-roll coating of thin glass (FOSA LabX 330 Glass from VON ARDENNE) is located at Fraunhofer FEP.

Challenges for this application

One challenge for this showcase project is that thin glass is a new substrate with significant handling requirements, as it breaks very easily and reacts sensitively to thermal and mechanical stresses. Secondly, titanium dioxide achieves its special properties of hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity only when it is crystalline. For this, it requires high temperatures during production. Sputter coatings with these requirements could not be implemented in roll-to-roll technology until now because common substrates, such as films, could not withstand high temperatures. This is where thin glass provides an alternative.

Thanks to this work through NewSkin, Fraunhofer FEP scientists say they are now working on combining the properties of titanium dioxide and thin glass in an optimal and cost-efficient way. Researchers from the Newskin partner Uppsala University are working on transferring the results even to polymer films.

In the future, work will also be done by Fraunhofer FEP on layer systems that can be activated not only with UV light but also with visible light. The production and embedding of nanoparticles or doping with nitrogen, for example, are also being considered.

You May Also Like

Canada invests to install 40 fast chargers across Toronto

Canada’s $5 million investment will install over 500 chargers across the country by December 2025.

Toronto-stock-charging

Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's minister of energy and natural resources, introduced a federal investment of nearly $5 million to install over 500 new EV chargers, including 40 fast chargers across Toronto. The chargers are expected to be installed by December 2025, before hitting the roads, Canadians can map out their route by consulting Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) Charging and Alternative Fuelling Station locator.

CITGO enters EV space with pilot program in Michigan

CITGO said the location offers both regular transportation fuel and EV charging stations, including CCS and NACS plugs.

Tesla-Charging-Station-NACS
Eaton partners with ChargeLab on EV load management

Eaton said its software creates a digital twin of an existing electrical system to stretch available electrical capacity.

Eaton-charging-software
Fermata Energy, BorgWarner partner on bidirectional EV charging

Together, the companies are accelerating ongoing efforts to integrate bidirectional charging capabilities with a variety of automotive OEMs.

fermata-energy_bw-v2x-1400
HeyCharge technology allows charging without the internet

HeyCharge said this technology allows users to hurdle over one of the most significant barriers to the global use of EVs.

EV-charging-generic-SAE-consortium-1400

Other Posts

Nikola to open a HYLA refueling station in Southern California

Nikola said its Ontario station will be capable of fueling up to 40 Nikola hydrogen fuel cell electric Class 8 trucks daily.

Nikola_Hyla-refueling
American Center for Mobility awarded a grant to increase EV charger testing

The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation said the project will enhance and expand the EV charger testing environment at the ACM.

EV-charging-generic-SAE-consortium-1400
USPS to install EV charging stations at Atlanta delivery center

Electrification and modernization of the Postal Service’s delivery fleet is part of the organization’s $40 billion investment strategy.

USPS-stock-fleet-charging
DTNA, Volvo launch EV infrastructure coalition

PACT’s purpose is to overcome the barriers delaying access to ZEV infrastructure and enhancing national climate policies.

PACT-Daimler-Volvo