A review of transparent superhydrophobic materials and their research in the field of photovoltaic dust removal

Authors：Niu, Haihong^*; Luo, Suikang; Yao, Xiaoyu; Li, Tianwen; Ai, Ming; Zhou, Ru; Wang, Huan; Wan, Lei; Du, Yaoning; Hu, Liangliang; Xu, Baomin; Xu, Jingzhang

Source：Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, 2023, 166: 107741.

DOI：10.1016/j.mssp.2023.107741

• Transparent
• Superhydrophobic
• Self-cleaning
• Photovoltaic dust removal

In recent years, superhydrophobic materials have attracted widespread attention due to their material properties and application prospects, and research in related fields has progressed rapidly. In response to the needs of various applications, researchers have developed many functional superhydrophobic materials, among which transparent superhydrophobic materials meet the requirements of anti-fouling, anti-corrosion, anti-icing, selfcleaning, and other applications require. Although many research results have been achieved so far, there are still many technical problems in transparent superhydrophobic materials that hinder their wide-scale application, such as the contradiction between transparency and rough surface structure, low mechanical stability, and poor wear resistance. The material is susceptible to chemical corrosion, and the service life is not long. This article introduces the latest theory, recent research results, surface construction methods, and their application in dust removal of photovoltaic modules on transparent superhydrophobic surfaces. Proposed some reference suggestions for addressing key challenges in current research, looking forward to future research, continuing to improve and enrich the superhydrophobic theory, improving surface design and manufacturing methods, ensuring high permeability and improving functional stability will be the key directions of research.