From water-repellent to water-loving with ultraviolet (UV) light, surfaces are being developed that protect panels and glass facades from expensive and time-consuming cleanings.
Solar panels get dirty. Dust, sand and other matter accumulate on their surface, preventing the sun’s light energy from reaching the solar cells and causing enormous losses in a photovoltaic system’s efficiency. But what can be done when cleaning solar panels is not only very costly but also laborious?
Researchers working on the NewSkin project have found a way to deal with this problem by developing hydrophobic, or water-repelling, surfaces that become superhydrophilic when exposed to UV light.
