“A shield” for solar panels in cold and dusty environments: A bifunctional transparent anti-icing and anti-dust coating

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology plays a vital role in achieving China's “Dual Carbon” strategy. However, the efficiency and stability of PV modules are significantly compromised by harsh environments such as sandstorms, snow, and ice, particularly in arid or high-altitude regions. Conventional protective coatings are inadequate for simultaneously mitigating persistent dust accumulation and snow cover. In this study, a multifunctional anti-reflective coating was developed via a sol-gel method, integrating high transmittance, superhydrophobicity, mechanical durability, and electrothermal de-icing capability. The coating was engineered by tailoring the hydrolysis ratio of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and incorporating polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to enhance interfacial bonding followed by surface modification with fluorosilane to achieve excellent superhydrophobicity. The resulting coating exhibits an average transmittance exceeding 83 %, a water contact angle of 158°, and excellent wear resistance—maintaining its performance after 400 cm of sandpaper abrasion. Under −20 °C conditions, the initial ice formation time on the coated surface was five times longer than that on bare glass. Moreover, the coating enabled rapid and efficient snow and ice removal through short-duration electrothermal heating. This multifunctional coating provides a robust and scalable solution for year-round protection of PV modules in dusty and cold environments, demonstrating strong potential for practical applications.