Sprecher
Beschreibung
Solar panels are becoming an increasingly efficient and economical source of green energy. However, they rarely operate at optimum efficiency due to the accumulation of dust, pollen and dirt, which reduces the amount of sunlight that can be absorbed. In addition, harsh outdoor conditions can cause irreversible degradation of solar panels. We want to improve the ease of cleaning while maintaining good coating durability. To address these challenges, we are developing silica-based sol-gel coatings. To improve our fundamental understanding of dirt removal, we monitor and quantify particle removal using laser scanning confocal microscopy and friction force measurements. Particle removal is sensitive to the number and size of particles. The confocal data are complemented by measurements of the frictional force as droplets roll off contaminated surfaces.