Researchers in Saudi Arabia have developed a new hydrogel material that significantly boosts solar panel efficiency and longevity. According to findings published in Materials Science & Engineering R, this innovation increases solar panel performance by 12% and doubles their lifespan.
The material, created by a team at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, combines sodium polyacrylate and lithium chloride in a 2:1 ratio. Applied to the back of solar panels, it absorbs moisture from the air at night and cools the panels through evaporation during the day. This process requires no material replacement and withstands high humidity and temperatures.
Lab tests showed the system could deliver a cooling output of up to 373 W/m² in the first three hours under 1 kW/m² solar radiation, with an average of 160 W/m² in simulated real-world conditions. Field trials in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, and Buffalo, USA, confirmed stable cooling and improved energy conversion efficiency—from 13.1% to 14.7%, a roughly 12% increase, according to the published results.
Beyond efficiency gains, the technology was found to reduce electricity generation costs by 18% and is cost-effective at $37 per square meter. The hydrogel offers a practical, affordable solution for enhancing solar panel performance and durability.
