America’s solar capacity has been rising—in 2023, solar panels generated enough energy to power 22 million homes, eight times more than in 2014. While that is impressive, solar still only produces roughly 4 percent of our nation’s total electricity. However, a recent development in anti-reflective coatings could improve solar efficiency and increase that percentage.
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A new study published by the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE) examines using a recently developed anti-reflective coating on solar panels. Nearly half of the solar energy that reaches a silicon panel is lost due to reflection. Conventional anti-reflective coatings certainly help, but they have limits and typically only work within narrow ranges of sun angles and light frequencies.
Could this new anti-reflective coating solve the reflection problem better than conventional materials? The research results suggest that it might.
Some technical details will help explain the significance of the study. The anti-reflective coating in question is a very thin layer of polycrystalline silicon nanostructures, which are also known as a ‘metasurface.’ Metasurfaces are two-dimensional versions of metamaterials, which are “a kind of synthetic structural material … with strange electromagnetic, acoustic or mechanical properties.” According to a 2022 review, metasurfaces can modify the amplitude, phase, and polarization of light and may change how light and matter interact in areas where they are applied.
Researchers experimenting with this new anti-reflective coating were able to use artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance their design techniques and adjustments. The resulting outcomes are unprecedented for a single-layer coating. The study finds:
“The reflection averaged over the visible and near-infrared spectra is at the record-low level of approximately 2 percent and 4.4 percent for the normal and oblique incidence, respectively. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of machine learning–enhanced photonic nanostructures to outperform the classical antireflective coatings.”
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These findings are significant. The low reflection percentages are fantastic, but seeing a low percentage even when light is shining from a relatively steep angle (only 4.4 percent) is promising. While solar panels may receive direct sunlight each day, the sun’s movement will naturally produce angled light that does not perfectly hit the panel. Experts are always looking for ways to ensure solar panels receive the most light each day, and using a material that could boost output even with less-than-ideal sun angles would be significant.
It is improbable that America would ever rely on solar power as the dominant energy source—solar panels are ill-suited for parts of the country, and their intermittency requires firm, dispatchable generation. However, the cost of solar has declined significantly and can be an essential part of America and the world’s energy mix. Solar energy can help power homes and businesses without government subsidies. Making these panels even more efficient would be an essential step forward for our country’s reliable, clean, and affordable energy future.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.
