International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

Obtained experimental self-cleaning coatings (based on compositions with the participation of Eu2O3), applied by the solgel method on glass slides. This study attempts to improve the overall efficiency of a photovoltaic solar panel by using a ZrO2-based coating, with Y2O3 and addition of Eu2O3. The optical characterization and phase composition of the obtained experimental samples were investigated using UV-VIS-NIR, XRD and XRF methods. The coatings are nanocrystalline according to XRD and XRF analyzes and show transmittance close to that of pure glass when tested with a UV–VIS–NIR spectrophotometer The experimental results represent a prerequisite for the development of a series of additional compositions and a detailed technological regime for obtaining various modifications of resistant, long-lasting self-cleaning coatings, potentially applicable to photovoltaic panels.

Obtained experimental self-cleaning coatings (based on compositions with the participation of Eu2O3), applied by the sol-gel method on glass slides. The luminescence of the obtained thin layers of different ratios of the compositions were investigated. A strong emission from the 5D0 level of Eu3+ ions was registered under near UV (392 nm) excitation using the 7F0 → 5L6 transition. The values of the integrated fluorescence intensity ratio R (5D0→7F2)/(5D0→7F1) was calculated to give information about the degree of asymmetry in the vicinity around the active ions, suggesting a location of Eu3+ in non-centrosymmetric sites. The highest Eu3+ luminescence is observed in sample with 3 layers coating. The experimental results represent a prerequisite for the development of a series of additional compositions and a detailed technological regime for obtaining various modifications of resistant, long-lasting self-cleaning coatings, potentially applicable to photovoltaic panels.