Thuwal: Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have developed a coating that enables solar panels to clean themselves while simultaneously capturing moisture from the air. This innovation could significantly address the challenge of dust accumulation on solar panels, particularly in hot and arid regions, where regular cleaning consumes substantial amounts of water and increases operating costs.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the KAUST researchers tested the coating outdoors on the university's campus for six months. The coated solar panels displayed only a slight decline in performance, whereas uncoated panels exposed to the same conditions experienced a significant drop in efficiency. Additionally, the coated surface successfully captured moisture from the air at night, which was subsequently used to irrigate plants in a controlled field experiment.
The coating is made from a transparent nanostructured material consisting of a special type of silicon that is safe for use in food-related applications. It combines three functions in a single layer: allowing sunlight to pass through, repelling water and dust, and lowering the surface temperature to slightly below the surrounding air temperature at night. This temperature drop causes moisture in the air to condense into water droplets that slide off the surface, carrying away accumulated dust.
Field tests indicated that coated panels produced more than twice the amount of condensed water compared to uncoated surfaces under the same conditions. While the volumes collected were modest, they were sufficient to support small-scale irrigation within the study, highlighting the technology's promising potential for use in local agricultural environments.
Qiaoqiang Gan, a Professor of Material Science and Engineering at KAUST and the lead author of the study, stated that the research team focused on a practical challenge faced by all solar energy systems: maintaining efficiency in environments where dust and heat are difficult to avoid. He noted, "By using naturally occurring temperature changes between day and night, we can enable passive cleaning without additional water or energy input."
The coating is produced through a simple thermal process and can be applied to standard glass surfaces, supporting its potential for scalability in future applications. The research team is currently assessing the coating's durability and performance over longer time periods and under a range of environmental conditions.
The study was published in the scientific journal Energy and Environmental Materials. It also explored the potential application of this technology in 'agrivoltaic systems,' which integrate solar panels with agricultural activities on the same site. By maintaining clean panels and providing an additional water source, the coating could help improve land and resource efficiency in environments where energy security and water management are closely linked.
