ameliorating dust mitigation on solar panels along with drag force evaluation utilizing hybrid coating to repel dust particles from photovoltaic modules: an experimental analysis

The performance and lifespan of photovoltaic (pv) systems are significantly affected by soiling dust, and atmospheric particle accumulation which reduces light transmission and energy output, especially in arid and semi-arid climates. this study introduces a hybrid anti-soiling coating that combines passive (surface modification) and active (electrostatic repulsion) mechanisms to enhance dust resistance on pv module glass. the coating, prepared via a sol-gel process using tetraethyl orthosilicate (teos), zinc acetate, monoethanolamine (mea), and aluminum nitrate, was applied through dip coating. field emission scanning electron microscopy (fe-sem) imaging confirmed the presence of a thin, uniform layer suitable for light transmission and low resistivity. optical analysis showed an average transmittance of 85.20% across 350–1000 nm wavelengths. anti-soiling performance was assessed through repeated dust deposition and removal. under a 50 kv/m electric field, dust removal efficiency improved steadily, with the resistance coefficient increasing from 93.0% to 97.1% over six cycles. passive cleaning was also demonstrated through wind-based testing and image analysis, supported by drag force modeling showing effective detachment of larger particles. simulations indicated smaller particles were less affected by airflow and needed electrostatic removal. a wind-flow simulation (5 m/s) on 60°-tilted panels tracked dust accumulation, aligning with experimental results. the hybrid coating resisted coverage loss and maintained performance over multiple cycles. this work demonstrates how combining electrostatic and surface engineered strategies can improve pv durability and self-cleaning, offering a scalable, cost-effective solution for dusty environments the performance and lifespan of photovoltaic (pv) systems are significantly affected by soiling dust, and atmospheric particle accumulation which reduces light transmission and energy output, especially in arid and semi-arid climates. this study introduces a hybrid anti-soiling coating that combines passive (surface modification) and active (electrostatic repulsion) mechanisms to enhance dust resistance on pv module glass. the coating, prepared via a sol-gel process using tetraethyl orthosilicate (teos), zinc acetate, monoethanolamine (mea), and aluminum nitrate, was applied through dip coating. field emission scanning electron microscopy (fe-sem) imaging confirmed the presence of a thin, uniform layer suitable for light transmission and low resistivity. optical analysis showed an average transmittance of 85.20% across 350–1000 nm wavelengths. anti-soiling performance was assessed through repeated dust deposition and removal. under a 50 kv/m electric field, dust removal efficiency improved steadily, with the resistance coefficient increasing from 93.0% to 97.1% over six cycles. passive cleaning was also demonstrated through wind-based testing and image analysis, supported by drag force modeling showing effective detachment of larger particles. simulations indicated smaller particles were less affected by airflow and needed electrostatic removal. a wind-flow simulation (5 m/s) on 60°-tilted panels tracked dust accumulation, aligning with experimental results. the hybrid coating resisted coverage loss and maintained performance over multiple cycles. this work demonstrates how combining electrostatic and surface engineered strategies can improve pv durability and self-cleaning, offering a scalable, cost-effective solution for dusty environments