Journal of Solar Energy Research

Spectroscopic Analysis of Water-Based TiO2 and ZnO Nanofluid for Fluid-Based Beam Split Photovoltaic-thermal System

Document Type : SI:Emerging Trends in Photothermal Conversion for Solar Energy Harvesting

Authors

1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. India

2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, BVM Engineering College, Vallabh Vidhyanagar, Gujarat. India

10.22059/jser.2025.379717.1445

Abstract

Traditional photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems struggle to simultaneously maximize electrical and thermal efficiencies due to inherent heating issues and incomplete utilization of the solar spectrum. Although nanofluid-based direct absorption methods have been explored, they remain limited by insufficient spectral control and rising cell temperatures. To overcome these challenges, this research investigates the development of a fluid-based spectral beam splitting (SBS) system using water-based titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanofluids as low-cost, tuneable optical filters for beam-split PVT (BSPVT) applications. Twelve nanofluid samples with concentrations ranging from 0.01% to 0.05% were prepared and analysed using UV–Vis–NIR spectrophotometry across 200–2500 nm. The objective is to assess the optical properties of TiO₂ and ZnO nanofluids and identify a suitable nanofluid composition capable of effectively separating the solar spectrum to enhance both electrical and thermal outputs. The results show that the TiO₂ nanofluid at 0.04% concentration provides optimal spectral filtering performance, achieving up to a 74 % transmissivity. Additionally, water's inherent transparency between 751–1126 nm makes it an ideal base fluid silicon PV cell’s responsive range. This study establishes a foundation for developing high-efficiency, low-cost SBS-PVT systems with tuneable energy output profiles.

Keywords

  1. Kaluza, J., et al., Properties of an optical fluid filter: Theoretical evaluations and measurement results. Le Journal de Physique IV, 1999. 09(PR3): p. Pr3–655–Pr3–660. https://doi.org/10.1051/jp4:19993104
  2. Otanicar, T.P., P.E. Phelan, and J.S. Golden, Optical properties of liquids for direct absorption solar thermal energy systems. Solar Energy, 2009. 83(7): p. 969–977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2008.12.009
  3. Rosa-Clot, M., P. Rosa-Clot, and G.M. Tina, TESPI: Thermal Electric Solar Panel Integration. Solar Energy, 2011. 85(10): p. 2433–2442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2011.07.003
  4. Joshi, S.S. and A.S. Dhoble, Experimental investigation of solar photovoltaic thermal system using water, coconut oil and silicone oil as spectrum filters. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, 2017. 39(8): p. 3227–3236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-017-0802-0
  5. Mohaghegh, M.R., Nanofluids Applications in Solar Energy Systems: A Review. Journal of Solar Energy Research, 2018. 3(1): p. 57–65.
  6. Shojaeefard, M.H., N.B. Sakran, and M. Mazidi Sharfabadi, Long-term Evaluation and Analysis of a Residential Building Integrated with PVT/ water and PVT Al2O3/Water Systems in Basra, South of Iraq. Journal of Solar Energy Research, 2023. 8(4): p. 1691–1700. DOI: 10.22059/jser.2023.369025.1362
  7. Jackson, E.D., Areas for Improvement of the Semiconductor Solar Energy Converter, in Conference on Solar Energy: The Scientific Basis. 1955: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
  8. Joshi, S.S. and A.S. Dhoble, Use of Silicone Oil and Coconut Oil as Liquid Spectrum Filters for BSPVT: With Emphasis on Degradation of Liquids by Sunlight. Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, 2017. 140(1). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4038052
  9. Maiti, S., K. Vyas, and P.K. Ghosh, Performance of a silicon photovoltaic module under enhanced illumination and selective filtration of incoming radiation with simultaneous cooling. Solar Energy, 2010. 84(8): p. 1439–1444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2010.05.005
  10. Taylor, R.A., et al., Feasibility of nanofluid-based optical filters. Applied Optics, 2013. 52(7): p. 1413–1422. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.52.001413
  11. Huang, H., et al., Photovoltaic–thermal solar energy collectors based on optical tubes. Solar Energy, 2011. 85(3): p. 450–454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2010.12.011
  12. Joshi, S.S., A.S. Dhoble, and P.R. Jiwanapurkar, Investigations of Different Liquid Based Spectrum Beam Splitters for Combined Solar Photovoltaic Thermal Systems. Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, 2016. 138(2). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4032352
  13. Pushparaj R. Jiwanapurkar, H.A.B.a.B.R., Fluid based solar spectral beam splitters for hybrid photovoltaic thermal systems: a review. International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2023. 14(3): p. 241–258. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJRET.2023.132982
  14. Vijayaraghavan, S., S. Ganapathisubbu, and C. Santosh Kumar, Performance analysis of a spectrally selective concentrating direct absorption collector. Solar Energy, 2013. 97: p. 418–425. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2013.08.008
  15. Al-Shohani, W.A.M., R. Al-Dadah, and S. Mahmoud, Reducing the thermal load of a photovoltaic module through an optical water filter. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2016. 109: p. 475–486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.08.107
  16. Al-Shohani, W.A.M., et al., Experimental investigation of an optical water filter for Photovoltaic/Thermal conversion module. Energy Conversion and Management, 2016. 111: p. 431–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2015.12.065
  17. Ramdani, H. and C. Ould-Lahoucine, Study on the overall energy and exergy performances of a novel water-based hybrid photovoltaic-thermal solar collector. Energy Conversion and Management, 2020. 222: p. 113238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2020.113238
  18. Chemisana, D., et al., Fluid-based spectrally selective filters for direct immersed PVT solar systems in building applications. Renewable Energy, 2018. 123: p. 263–272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2018.02.018
  19. Looser, R., M. Vivar, and V. Everett, Spectral characterisation and long-term performance analysis of various commercial Heat Transfer Fluids (HTF) as Direct-Absorption Filters for CPV-T beam-splitting applications. Applied Energy, 2014. 113: p. 1496–1511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.09.001
  20. Han, X., et al., Spectral characterization of spectrally selective liquid absorption filters and exploring their effects on concentrator solar cells. Renewable Energy, 2019. 131: p. 938–945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2018.07.125
  21. Cui, Y. and Q. Zhu. Study of Photovoltaic/Thermal Systems with MgO-Water Nanofluids Flowing over Silicon Solar Cells. in 2012 Asia-Pacific Power and Energy Engineering Conference. 2012. DOI: 10.1109/APPEEC.2012.6307203
  22. Saroha, S., et al., Theoretical Analysis and Testing of Nanofluids-Based Solar Photovoltaic/Thermal Hybrid Collector. Journal of Heat Transfer, 2015. 137(9). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4030228
  23. Jing, D., et al., Preparation of highly dispersed nanofluid and CFD study of its utilization in a concentrating PV/T system. Solar Energy, 2015. 112: p. 30–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2014.11.008
  24. An, W., et al., Experimental investigation of a concentrating PV/T collector with Cu9S5 nanofluid spectral splitting filter. Applied Energy, 2016. 184: p. 197–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.10.004
  25. DeJarnette, D., et al., Nanoparticle enhanced spectral filtration of insolation from trough concentrators. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2016. 149: p. 145–153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2016.01.022
  26. Crisostomo, F., et al., A hybrid PV/T collector using spectrally selective absorbing nanofluids. Applied Energy, 2017. 193: p. 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.02.028
  27. Jin, J. and D. Jing, A novel liquid optical filter based on magnetic electrolyte nanofluids for hybrid photovoltaic/thermal solar collector application. Solar Energy, 2017. 155: p. 51–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.06.030
  28. Otanicar, T., et al., Experimental evaluation of a prototype hybrid CPV/T system utilizing a nanoparticle fluid absorber at elevated temperatures. Applied Energy, 2018. 228: p. 1531–1539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.07.055
  29. Han, X., et al., Investigation of CoSO4-based Ag nanofluids as spectral beam splitters for hybrid PV/T applications. Solar Energy, 2019. 177: p. 387–394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2018.11.037
  30. Hjerrild, N.E., et al., Hybrid PV/T enhancement using selectively absorbing Ag–SiO2/carbon nanofluids. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2016. 147: p. 281–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2015.12.010
  31. Hjerrild, N.E., et al., Experimental Results for Tailored Spectrum Splitting Metallic Nanofluids for c-Si, GaAs, and Ge Solar Cells. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, 2019. 9(2): p. 385–390. DOI: 10.1109/JPHOTOV.2018.2883626
  32. Li, H., et al., Tunable thermal and electricity generation enabled by spectrally selective absorption nanoparticles for photovoltaic/thermal applications. Applied Energy, 2019. 236: p. 117–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.11.085
  33. Huaxu, L., et al., Experimental investigation of cost-effective ZnO nanofluid based spectral splitting CPV/T system. Energy, 2020. 194: p. 116913. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.116913
  34. Huang, J., et al., Facile preparation of core-shell Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles and their application in spectrally splitting PV/T systems. Energy, 2021. 215: p. 119111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.119111
  35. Abdelrazik, A.S., R. Saidur, and F.A. Al-Sulaiman, Investigation of the performance of a hybrid PV/thermal system using water/silver nanofluid-based optical filter. Energy, 2021. 215: p. 119172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.119172
  36. Meibo Xing, Y.J., Hongbing Chen,, Tunable electrical/thermal output performance of the PV/T system with magnetic nanofluid based spectral beam filter,. Energy Conversion and Management,, 2024. Vol 319(118951). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2024.118951
  37. Taylor, R., Otanicar, Nanofluid-based optical filter optimization for PV/T systems. Light Sci Appl, 2012. 1. https://doi.org/10.1038/lsa.2012.34
  38. Lu, P.-J., et al., Analysis of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in cosmetics. Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, 2015. 23(3): p. 587–594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfda.2015.02.009
  39. Smijs, T.G. and S. Pavel, Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens: focus on their safety and effectiveness. Nanotechnol Sci Appl, 2011. 4: p. 95–112. https://doi.org/10.2147/NSA.S19419
  40. Linxi Wang, J.Y., Interface Science and Technology, ed. L.Z. Jiaguo Yu, Linxi Wang, Bicheng Zhu,. Vol. 35. 2023, Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-18786-5.00002-0
  41. Barthwal, M. and D. Rakshit, Selective transmission and absorption in oxide-based nanofluid optical filters for PVT collectors. Solar Energy Advances, 2024. 4: p. 100078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seja.2024.100078
  42. Rashid, A.R.A. and H.K. Tazri, Optical Properties of ZnO, TiO2 and ZnO:TiO2 Composite Films. Nano Hybrids and Composites, 2021. 31: p. 25–33. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/NHC.31.25
Journal of Solar Energy Research
Volume 10, Emerging Trends in Photothermal Conversion for Solar Energy Harvesting
March 2025
Pages 45-55