IoT-Connected Transparent Conductive Polymer–Silver Nano-wire Electrodes for Real-Time Performance Monitoring of Flexible Solar Panels

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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 | 05 | Page :
By

N.Hemalatha,

K. Nithya,

D.Padmapriya,

Sam Stanley SG,

Sultanuddin SJ,

Neeraj Chandnani,

M. Sivakumar Karthikeyan,

A.Thilagavathy,

B.Karthik,

  1. Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Bharath Institute of Science and Technology BIHER, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  3. Associate Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Panimalar Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  4. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Park college of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
  5. Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Veltech Rangarajan Dr.Sagunthala Rangarajan R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  6. Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah (KL) College of Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF), Deemed to be University,Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
  7. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Academy Of Maritime Education And Training (AMET University)Kanathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  8. Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, R.M.K Engineering College, Kavaraipettai, Tamil Nadu, India
  9. Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Sona college of technology (autonomous), Salem, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Flexible photovoltaic technologies have emerged as promising energy harvesting solutions for wearable electronics, portable power systems, and Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled smart devices. However, the limited mechanical durability of conventional transparent conductive electrodes and the lack of integrated real-time monitoring restrict their long-term reliability. This study presents an IoT-connected transparent conductive polymer–silver nanowire (PEDOT:PSS–AgNW) hybrid electrode for flexible solar panels, combining high optoelectronic performance with continuous wireless performance monitoring. The hybrid electrode was fabricated on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate through a solution-based deposition process, followed by integration with an ESP32-based IoT platform incorporating voltage, current, temperature, and irradiance sensors. Comprehensive optical, electrical, mechanical, and photovoltaic characterization demonstrated an average optical transmittance of 91.8%, a low sheet resistance of 13.4 Ω/sq, and excellent electrical stability with less than 6% resistance variation after 5000 bending cycles. The fabricated flexible solar panel exhibited an open-circuit voltage of 0.91 V, a short-circuit current density of 21.8 mA cm⁻², a fill factor of 0.80, and a maximum power conversion efficiency of 15.9%. Furthermore, the integrated IoT monitoring system enabled continuous cloud-based visualization of photovoltaic parameters, supporting remote diagnostics and predictive maintenance. Comparative analysis confirmed that the proposed polymer composite electrode provides an excellent balance between optical transparency, electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and operational stability compared with existing transparent conductive electrodes. These findings demonstrate the potential of PEDOT:PSS–AgNW hybrid electrodes as multifunctional materials for next-generation intelligent flexible photovoltaic systems and sustainable IoT-enabled energy applications.

 

Keywords: polyethylene terephthalate, photovoltaic system, optoelectronic performance, polymer–silver nanowire, cloud-based visualization.

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How to cite this article: N.Hemalatha, K. Nithya, D.Padmapriya, Sam Stanley SG, Sultanuddin SJ, Neeraj Chandnani, M. Sivakumar Karthikeyan, A.Thilagavathy, B.Karthik. IoT-Connected Transparent Conductive Polymer–Silver Nano-wire Electrodes for Real-Time Performance Monitoring of Flexible Solar Panels. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(05):-.
How to cite this URL: N.Hemalatha, K. Nithya, D.Padmapriya, Sam Stanley SG, Sultanuddin SJ, Neeraj Chandnani, M. Sivakumar Karthikeyan, A.Thilagavathy, B.Karthik. IoT-Connected Transparent Conductive Polymer–Silver Nano-wire Electrodes for Real-Time Performance Monitoring of Flexible Solar Panels. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(05):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=250541

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Ahead of Print Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
05
Received 17/07/2026
Accepted 20/07/2026
Published 23/07/2026
Publication Time 6 Days


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