Nanosized patterned protective glass exhibiting high transmittance and self-cleaning effects for photovoltaic systems

Abstract

As a result of the rising concerns surrounding environmental pollution, green energy technologies are beginning to replace conventional power generation technology based on fossil fuels. In particular, photovoltaic systems which convert solar energy into electricity without generating carbon dioxide have been widely used around the world as a result of their conversion energy being exceptionally high. In this investigation, we fabricated anti-reflection and light-scattering patterns on the protective glass of solar cell modules. The path length and quantity of incident light reaching the solar cell module could be increased by incorporating anti-reflection and light-scattering patterns. These patterns were fabricated on the surface of the protective glass using nanoimprint lithography (NIL) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) processes. The amount of light reflected off the patterned protective glass decreased by up to 4% when the fabricated anti-reflection patterns were implemented. Additionally, the surface of the patterned glass was superhydrophobic as a result of the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coating employed in this study. The lithium ion battery comprised of the solar module using patterned glass as a protective layer could be charged approximately 14% higher than the lithium ion battery comprised of the solar module using conventional textured glass as a protective layer. (C) 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim