Experimental Study of Nanoparticles-Coated Solar Photovoltaic Modules: Energy and Exergy Enhancement

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Ahmed Khudhur
Hussein Jobair
Department of Energy Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
10.22059/jser.2026.416510.1762
Abstract
This study experimentally investigates the effect of TiO₂ and SiO₂ nanocoatings on the photovoltaic (PV) modules performance under Baghdad, Iraq, climatic conditions. Three identical monocrystalline PV modules; an uncoated reference module and two nanocoated modules, were tested under real outdoor conditions during three separate experimental days. The effects of solar irradiance, ambient temperatures, and dust accumulation on the electrical, thermal, energy, and exergy performances of the investigated modules were evaluated. The results showed that the nanocoated PV modules performed better than the reference module and the difference in performance increased with the dust accumulation. The maximum power output of the reference module decreased to 29.50 W, whereas the TiO2- and SiO2-coated modules generated 35.90 W and 37.90 W, respectively, on the third day of testing. The electrical efficiency of the reference module decreased to around 10%, while the TiO2- and SiO2-coated modules kept efficiencies around 13% and 14%, respectively. The exergy efficiency remained higher for the coated modules throughout the experimental period. These results demonstrate that SiO2 nanocoating is a practical, low-cost, and effective way to reduce the dust-induced performance degradation and improve the operation of the PV systems in the dusty environments.
Keywords
Solar energy
PV module
Nanocoatings
Energy efficiency
Exergy efficiency
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Journal of Solar Energy Research
Volume 11, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 3996-4010