l'Actualité du Solaire

In brief R&D: anti-reflective coating, liquid crystal perovskite, wastewater disinfection, cooling panels

International researchers have studied the use of silicon dioxide (_SiO2) and zirconium dioxide (_zrO2) as anti-reflective coatings.

for polycrystalline silicon solar cells.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/02/01/new-anti-reflective-coating-for-silicon-solar-cells/

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Scientists claim that the perovskite solar module built with liquid crystal additives achieved an efficiency of 21.1%.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/02/01/scientists-claim-21-1-efficiency-for-perovskite-solar-module-built-with-liquid-crystals-additives/

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Researchers at Spain's University of Jaen have developed a new technology for disinfecting waste water and producing PV energy. They have used different wavelengths of solar radiation for different purposes. They used ultraviolet (UV) and far infrared (FIR) radiation to disinfect the water, significantly reducing the presence of harmful micro-organisms. In addition, visible (VIS) and near infrared (NIR) radiation are used to generate electricity through the photovoltaic module.

Water flows over the panel to reduce its temperature, then collects in a reservoir. "This tank is exposed to solar radiation and acts as a solar water disinfection reactor. "

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/01/31/photovoltaics-for-wastewater-disinfection/

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Malaysian scientists have been looking for a way to cool solar panels using graphene. This material can be used as a selective absorber coating or embedded in a working fluid as a nanofluid. Graphene nanoparticles can also be added to thermal interface materials (TIMs) or phase change materials (PCMs) used for cooling solar modules.

The first category has been divided into pre-lighting and post-lighting techniques. The latter involves all methods that use a heat sink to dissipate the heat generated from solar cells, while the former includes all approaches that break down the solar spectrum before reaching the PV cells.

The pre-light category is represented by all types of graphene-coated neutral density (GCND) filters used as a selective absorber coating.

"This pre-light cooling technique attenuates solar radiation before it reaches the PV panel, reducing the amount of heat generated at the PV panel. "

As with the post-illumination category, the list includes the use of graphene as a thermally conductive filler in ITMs and PCMs.

The active cooling category includes all techniques based on graphene nanofluids configured as working fluids. These techniques, like all active cooling methods, require the construction of pumps and pipes to circulate the nanofluid around the modules, which scientists say adds significant production costs.

"The challenge of using graphene nanofluid is the expensive and complex manufacturing process, which prevents the adoption of graphene nanofluid into standard industry practice," the researchers explain.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/01/31/reducing-pv-module-temperature-with-graphene/