Metasurface-based solar cell covers with self-enhancing efficiency, self-cleaning and self-cooling

Metasurface-based solar cell covers with self-enhancing efficiency, self-cleaning and self-cooling | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article Metasurface-based solar cell covers with self-enhancing efficiency, self-cleaning and self-cooling Mengyu Gao, Zhen Zhang, Yunkai Zhang, Yichuan Rui, Ertao Hu, Bingsheng Li, and 7 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7183887/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This paper proposes a strategy to functionalize the cover glass of photovoltaic cells with a metasurface design. By synergistically modulating the optical field distribution and surface properties through micro-nano structures, the approach simultaneously enhances the photoelectric conversion efficiency, self-cleaning capability, and thermal management performance of photovoltaic cells. The proposed technique is independent of the photovoltaic cell type and improves power generation efficiency based on the chip perimeter. It achieves an 18.3% enhancement in the power conversion efficiency of commercial TOPCon photovoltaic cells, while also enabling passive radiative cooling (temperature reduction of 8°C) and hydrophobic self-cleaning performance (contact angle of 152.1°). This technique is lightweight and easily replicable, with the metasurface structure fabricated directly on existing photovoltaic module glass without altering the current manufacturing process, offering significant potential for industrial-scale adoption. Physical sciences/Energy science and technology/Renewable energy/Solar energy/Photovoltaics/Solar cells Physical sciences/Materials science/Nanoscale materials/Metamaterials Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files Sourcedata.xlsx Source data SupplementaryVideo2.mov Supplementary Video 2 SupplementaryVideo3.mov Supplementary Video 3 SupplementaryVideo1.avi Supplementary Video 1 SupplementaryInformation.docx Supplementary Information Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7183887","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":492996408,"identity":"f0f163fc-4938-47ca-aaa2-187d91904702","order_by":0,"name":"Mengyu 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