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

The efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) systems is significantly influenced by surface contamination, which can reduce light transmission and energy conversion performance. In this study, self-cleaning nanostructured coatings based on titanium dioxide (TiO₂ ), zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂ ), and their doped and composite variants (with Y₂ O₃ and Eu₂ O₃ ) were synthesized using the sol-gel method and applied to photovoltaic glass substrates. The coatings were characterized in terms of their optical transmittance, surface morphology (AFM), wettability (contact angle), and crystallographic properties (XRD). Results indicate that TiO₂ coatings offer superior superhydrophilic behavior, while stabilized ZrO₂ -based composites show excellent transparency, surface homogeneity, and long-term durability. Eu₂ O₃ -doped coatings exhibit additional luminescent functionalities, potentially useful for photonic enhancement. These findings highlight the potential of sol-gel coatings in improving PV panel performance via integrated passive cleaning mechanisms and multifunctional surface engineering.

The present publication is aimed at obtaining a stable sol from ZrO2 stabilized with Y2O3. The substrate on which the layers are deposited was developed by a team from Russia and is intermetalite with a layered structure Nb30Ti/Al. Deposition was performed by spinning with a Spin Coater Ossila L2001A3. The deposition sequence of the layers lasts 30 seconds. The finished carrier is dried at 120°C in an oven. It is heated in a laboratory furnace at 350oC. The results were characterized by XRD and SEM analyzes.