Development and application of anti-reflective and self-cleaning films to increase solar cell efficiency.

• Grant number: 24/10185-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Condensed Matter Physics
• Principal Investigator: Elson Longo da Silva
• Grantee: Ramon Dadalto Carvalho
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Considering the magnitude of climate change, which has a direct impact on our way of life, it is crucial that scientific research seeks ways to reduce these effects in order to guarantee the population's quality of life. It is important to research methods to increase the efficiency of energy generation, especially photovoltaicenergy, which has shown recurring records in electricity generation. Therefore,thinking about and observing the problems surrounding the energy efficiency ofphotovoltaic panels, such as energy losses due to reflection of the light incident onthe solar glass and the accumulation of dust on its surface, one way of increasingthe efficiency of these devices is by presenting solutions to these problems. In thisway, this project aims to present a research alternative that can provide solutions tothese problems, through the development and application of a coating on solar glassthat is anti-reflective and self-cleaning, i.e. multifunctional. To this end, the aim is touse porous SiO2-BaF2 films, deposited by the dip coating method, which have anti-reflective properties through their gradual refractive index (GRI) and self-cleaning properties. Therefore, these coatings are expected to have a positiveinfluence on the panel's photovoltaic properties, such as an increase in short-circuitcurrent density (Jsc) and power conversion efficiency (PCE).