Self-cleaning study of SiO2 modified TiO2 nanofibrous thin films prepared via electrospinning for application in solar cells

• Published in: Solar energy 2024-01, Vol.268, p.112271, Article 112271
• Main Authors: Batool, Izzah, Shahzad, Nadia, Shahzad, Roha, Naseem Satti, Aamir, Liaquat, Rabia, Waqas, Adeel, Imran Shahzad, Muhammad
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electrospinning; Hydrophilic; Self-cleaning; Solar cells; TiO2-SiO2
• ISSN: 0038-092X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2023.112271

•Self-cleaning TiO2-SiO2 nanofibrous thin films prepared via Electrospinning.•The Soiling study was performed under different tilt angles of 0°, 33.4° and 60°.•>16 % increase in transmittance for coated substrate than the glass after soiling. Optically transparent, hydrophilic Silica (SiO2) modified Titania (TiO2) nanofibrous thin films have been synthesized on glass substrates via electrospinning technique for self-cleaning application in a solar cell. The coatings were prepared by varying the TiO2-SiO2 ratio as (3:1, 1:1, 1:3). TiO2-SiO2 formulated ratio (1:1) outperformed in comparison to other formulations and was found to have a crystalline nature with randomly orientated network of fibers having diameter in the range 88–95 nm. FTIR spectroscopy confirms complete evaporation of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) from temperature annealed sample. The electrospun TiO2-SiO2 (1:1) nanofibers showed hydrophilic nature with water contact angle (WCA) of 11.3°. The Soiling study was performed under different tilt angles of 0°, 33.4° and 60°. Upon soiling the coating showed > 16 % enhancement in optical transmittance than the glass substrate. Soiling density decreased up to 38.9 %, and to 64.9 % in comparison to uncoated substrate that showed 9.08 %, and 22.2 % and the photovoltaic (PV) efficiency was improved by 0.8 % and 1 % for tilt angles of 33.4° and 60° respectively.