Researchers Develop Transparent Superhydrophobic Coating for Solar Panels without PFAS

An international research team has developed a bilayer coating combining sol-gel processing and hydrophobic silica nanoparticles designed to protect solar panel surfaces against dust accumulation, light reflections, bird droppings, and water films. According to corresponding author Shanhu Liu, the coating repels water, dust, and soils without reducing the amount of light reaching the photovoltaic cells. Its formulation excludes per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are present in many existing commercial solutions.