Enhancing photo voltaic solar panel efficiency by using a combination of silica based and phase change material coating

Abstract

Abstract This study attempts to enhance the overall efficiency of a photo voltaic solar panel by employing a dual-coating approach. The initial coating consists of a Silica-based anti-reflective material synthesized through an acid-catalyzed sol–gel process, utilizing cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a template. Subsequently, the second coating was formulated using a phase change material, such as expanded graphite infused with paraffin jelly. The coating materials were characterized using Ultraviolet-Visual ray spectroscopy, Fourier Transform-Infrared Ray spectroscopy, Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy, x-ray Diffraction sepctroscopy, and Thermogravimetry analysis. The panels’ performance had been investigated under three conditions: uncoated, single-coated, and double-coated. These panels were subjected to both indoor and outdoor experiments. Indoor tests were conducted in a laboratory with induced irradiance levels of 350, 600, and 850 W/m2. The corresponding variations in maximum power output, maximum surface temperature and peak current were recorded. For the outdoor experiments, two sets of panels were installed on a rooftop. One set underwent daily surface cleaning, while the other was left untouched, allowing dust accumulation. Over a 45-day period, outdoor experiments were carried out (daily cleaned and unclean panels) to examine the impact of dust accumulation on power loss, current, voltage, surface temperature, energy generation and panel efficiency. Upon comparing the performance of uncoated, single-coated, and double-coated solar panels, it was observed that photovoltaic solar panels coated with both silica-based anti-reflective coating and paraffin jelly-infused expanded graphite coating exhibited superior performance when compared to other coating options.