Investigation on Transparent Super Hydrophobic Solar panels with high Thermal and Mechanical stability

Solar cells lose their efficiency in energy production from 10 to 25 percent resulting from the effect of dust and dirt. This issue comes to attention because 5 MW electric power (about 6 million USD a year) missed by 25MW solar power plant. On the other hand cleaning procedure can’t be well scheduled considering cleaning costs. Bio inspired super hydrophobic surfaces which contain CA (Contact Angle) higher than 150° and CAH (Contact Angle Hysteresis) lower than 10° possess self-cleaning property. Roughness plays the main role on self-cleaning property in which air pockets make drop in spherical shape and sliding. Reducing transparency (scattering source of light) is known as one of roughness disadvantages. Since transparency is an important issue in using self-cleaning surfaces, many investigations have started to reduce the roughness scale below light wave length (400-700nm). In this paper we tried to show how super hydrophobic surfaces which are more than 85% transparent with CA above 150° can be achieved by different methods such as Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD). For achieving better durability and feasibility study, thermal and mechanical stability of surfaces have been considered in results. We will finally discuss these surfaces are reasonable choices in solar panels because of decreasing maintenance costs and increasing efficiency.