Development and Performance Evaluation of GO–ZnO/PU Hybrid Nanocomposite Coatings for Improved Optical Transmission, Cooling, and Self-Cleaning in PV Systems

Notice

This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.

Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | 02 | Page :
    By

    Sandeep Sharma,

  • K Sudha,

  • Nidhi Gupta,

  • Bharat Singh,

  • G. Sivagurunathan,

  1. Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering, New Delhi, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering, New Delhi, India
  3. Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Maharaja Surajmal Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India
  4. Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering, New Delhi, India
  5. Associate Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The performance of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules with time is affected by thermal heating, dust buildup, and exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light; as a result, the power loss increases rapidly during the use condition. In this study, a polyurethane (PU) nanocomposite, fabricated with graphene oxide and zinc oxide (GO–ZnO), is invented and examined. Improvements in heat management, light transmission, and dirt resistance are planned for PV glass surfaces. The nanocomposite is invented using an ultrasonication-assisted dispersion procedure and is then applied to solar-grade glass substrates by spraying. In light tests, 92.6% better visible light transmission than previously achieved was demonstrated by the material. In contact angle tests, surface hydrophobicity (92.6%°) was shown, which enhanced cleaning ease. When thermal imaging was performed at peak irradiance, the modules’ temperatures decreased by 4–6 °C compared to uncoated modules. When dust fell on modules outside, simulations indicated that coated modules preserved 96% of their initial output, but uncoated modules only kept 82%. Under normal test settings, the coated modules were 5.2–7.1% more efficient. The efficiency of photovoltaic systems is largely affected by environmental conditions such as dust deposition, high operating temperatures, and optical losses. The current study is focused on the development of a novel graphene oxide (GO)/ZnO-reinforced polyurethane (PU) hybrid nanocomposite coating with the objective of improving the optical transmission, passive cooling effect, and self-cleaning capabilities of the photovoltaic panels. The nanocomposite coatings were synthesized using the solution blending method. The synthesized coatings were applied to the glass substrates. The characterization of the coatings showed improved thermal conductivity with the addition of GO, while the addition of ZnO improved the UV stability and photocatalytic activity of the coatings. The performance of the samples showed improved transmittance in the visible range, reduced surface temperature, and improved hydrophobicity compared to the uncoated samples. The performance evaluation under real operating conditions showed improved efficiency compared to the uncoated samples. The proposed coating can be used as an alternative method to enhance the performance of the photovoltaic system. This was because the surface lost less heat and was less likely to get dirty. These results suggest that the GO–ZnO/PU hybrid coating is a cost-effective, long-lasting, and scalable solution to help keep PV systems from deteriorating in terms of their environmental performance. This will enhance the amount of energy they produce over time.

Keywords: Graphene oxide, zinc oxide nanoparticles, polyurethane nanocomposite coatings, thermal management, anti-soiling performance nanomaterials for renewable energy.

How to cite this article:
Sandeep Sharma, K Sudha, Nidhi Gupta, Bharat Singh, G. Sivagurunathan. Development and Performance Evaluation of GO–ZnO/PU Hybrid Nanocomposite Coatings for Improved Optical Transmission, Cooling, and Self-Cleaning in PV Systems. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):-.
How to cite this URL:
Sandeep Sharma, K Sudha, Nidhi Gupta, Bharat Singh, G. Sivagurunathan. Development and Performance Evaluation of GO–ZnO/PU Hybrid Nanocomposite Coatings for Improved Optical Transmission, Cooling, and Self-Cleaning in PV Systems. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(02):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=239663


References

[1] M. I. Hossain, S. K. Sarker, and M. H. Ali, “Anti-soiling surface coatings for photovoltaic modules: A comprehensive review,” Energies, vol. 15, no. 24, pp. 1–28, Dec. 2022.

[2] P. Jain, A. K. Singh, and R. S. Kumar, “Graphene-enabled nanocomposites for solar energy conversion applications,” ACS Omega, vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 4213–4226, Feb. 2024.

[3] S. Roshan, A. Mohan, and K. Subramaniam, “Polyurethane nanocomposite coatings reinforced with functional nanoparticles for outdoor performance enhancement,” Molecules, vol. 29, no. 16, pp. 3891–3908, Aug. 2024.

[4] C. T. Altaf, F. Naz, and M. Iqbal, “Zinc oxide nanoflake/reduced graphene oxide hybrid films for photovoltaic and optoelectronic device applications,” RSC Advances, vol. 14, no. 12, pp. 7812–7823, Mar. 2024.

[5] A. K. Padhan, V. V. Sahu, and R. Nayak, “High-performance multifunctional coatings for solar panels: Design, synthesis, and field evaluation,” Journal of Materials Chemistry A, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 1150–1168, Jan. 2025.

[6] F. Selimefendigil and A. Özel, “Photovoltaic thermal management using hybrid passive–active cooling strategies: Recent advances and challenges,” Sustainability, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 2980–2994, Mar. 2023.

[7] K. Necolau, I. C. Roșu, and N. Cioateră, “Recent progress in graphene oxide-based anticorrosive and protective coatings,” Coatings, vol. 10, no. 9, pp. 1–22, Sep. 2020.

[8] S. Kumar and A. Patel, “Hydrophilic and photocatalytic ZnO thin films for self-cleaning solar applications,” Applied Surface Science, vol. 512, pp. 145–152, Jan. 2021.

[9] S. Tyagi and R. Sharma, “Electrical and optical optimization of graphene oxide/zinc oxide hybrid materials for solar photovoltaic applications,” International Journal of Renewable Energy Research, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 512–520, Jun. 2022.

[10] M. Durrani, A. H. Jaffar, and B. Al-Khateeb, “Graphene and nano-ZnO reinforced EVA encapsulants for durability enhancement in photovoltaic modules,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 262, pp. 112–126, Feb. 2025.

[11] G. Karuppiah, K. C. Kuttalam, M. Palaniappan, C. Santulli, and S. Palanisamy, “Multiobjective optimization of fabrication parameters of jute fiber/polyester composites with egg shell powder and nanoclay filler,” Molecules, vol. 25, no. 23, p. 5579, Nov. 2020.

[12] C. Santulli, S. Palanisamy, and K. Mayandi, “Pineapple fibers, their composites and applications,” in Sustainable Composites for Aerospace Applications, Elsevier, pp. 323-346, 2022.

[13] E. R. S. Goutham, S. S. Hussain, C. Muthukumar, S. Krishnasamy, T. S. M. Kumar, C. Santulli, S. Palanisamy, J. Parameswaranpillai, and N. Jesuarockiam, “Drilling parameters and post-drilling residual tensile properties of natural-fiber-reinforced composites: A review,” J. Compos. Sci., vol. 7, no. 4, p. 136, 2023.

[14] N. Ayrilmis, G. Kanat, E. Yildiz Avsar, S. Palanisamy, and A. Ashori, “Utilizing waste manhole covers and fibreboard as reinforcing fillers for thermoplastic composites,” J. Reinforced Plastics and Composites, vol. 44, nos. 17–18, pp. 1108–1118, 2024

[15] K. Aruchamy, M. Karuppusamy, S. Krishnakumar, S. Palanisamy, M. Jayamani, K. Sureshkumar, S. K. Ali, and S. A. Al-Farraj, “Enhancement of mechanical properties of hybrid polymer composites using palmyra palm and coconut sheath fibers: The role of tamarind shell powder,” BioResources, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 698–724, 2025.

[16] S. Palanisamy, K. Mayandi, S. Dharmalingam, N. Rajini, C. Santulli, F. Mohammad, and H. A. Al-Lohedan, “Tensile properties and fracture morphology of Acacia Caesia bark fibers treated with different alkali concentrations,” J. Natural Fibers, vol. 19, no. 15, pp. 11258–11269, 2022.

Ahead of Print Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
02
Received 23/01/2026
Accepted 11/02/2026
Published 03/04/2026
Publication Time 70 Days
31

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics