Polymer-Based Transparent Conductive Composites for Flexible Solar Panel Coatings

Year : 2025 | Volume : 13 | Issue : 03 | Page : 99 110
    By

    P. Suresh Kumar,

  • Krishnagandhi Pachiappan,

  • J Ananth,

  • M Pandikumar,

  • Arigela Sri Harsha,

  • Md Irshad Alam,

  • A.Vijayalakshmi,

  • Prashant Sunagar,

  • Sapthagirivasan V,

  1. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, R. V. R & J. C. College of Engineering, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Nandha Engineering College, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
  3. Professor, Department of Marine Engineering, AMET University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  4. Associate Professor, Department of Electrical Power and Energy Conversion, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  5. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Vaddeswaram, Tamil Nadu, India
  6. Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, Sitamarhi Institute of Technology, Sitamarhi, Bihar, India
  7. Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, R. M. K. Engineering College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  8. Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Sandip Institute of Technology and Research Centre, Maharashtra, India
  9. Department of mechanical Engineering, Arizona State University, United States

Abstract

This study investigates the fabrication and characterization of polymer-based transparent conductive composites (PTCCs) tailored for flexible solar panel coatings using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) matrices reinforced with silver nanowires (AgNWs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and PEDOT:PSS. The composites were synthesized through a solution blending and doctor-blade casting method followed by post-treatments to enhance interfacial bonding and conductivity. Optical transmittance values above 85% were achieved across all composite types, with the highest recorded for pristine polymers (~92%) and PEDOT:PSS-based composites (~88%) even at 2 wt% filler loading. AgNW-reinforced composites showed good transparency (~86%) with significant electrical improvement, reducing sheet resistance from ~10⁶ Ω/sq (pure polymer) to ~100 Ω/sq at just 0.5 wt% filler concentration. PEDOT:PSS composites further achieved ~300 Ω/sq after ethylene glycol doping and thermal annealing. MWCNT-filled systems offered enhanced thermal performance, increasing the decomposition onset temperature by 20–25 °C, while AgNWs and PEDOT:PSS composites showed moderate thermal gains of ~10–15 °C. Mechanical testing revealed up to a 15% increase in tensile strength and stable flexibility across all systems, with PEDOT:PSS composites maintaining integrity after over 1000 bending cycles. These results confirm that PTCCs optimized with low filler concentrations can simultaneously offer high optical clarity, superior electrical conductivity, and robust thermal and mechanical stability—making them promising alternatives to conventional ITO coatings for next-generation flexible optoelectronic and photovoltaic applications.

Keywords: Flexible solar panels, silver nanowires (AgNWs), PEDOT:PSS, Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), Transparent conductive composites.

[This article belongs to Journal of Polymer and Composites ]

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How to cite this article:
P. Suresh Kumar, Krishnagandhi Pachiappan, J Ananth, M Pandikumar, Arigela Sri Harsha, Md Irshad Alam, A.Vijayalakshmi, Prashant Sunagar, Sapthagirivasan V. Polymer-Based Transparent Conductive Composites for Flexible Solar Panel Coatings. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(03):99-110.
How to cite this URL:
P. Suresh Kumar, Krishnagandhi Pachiappan, J Ananth, M Pandikumar, Arigela Sri Harsha, Md Irshad Alam, A.Vijayalakshmi, Prashant Sunagar, Sapthagirivasan V. Polymer-Based Transparent Conductive Composites for Flexible Solar Panel Coatings. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(03):99-110. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=210694


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Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 13
Issue 03
Received 01/04/2025
Accepted 15/04/2025
Published 23/04/2025
Publication Time 22 Days
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