Enhancement of the performance of the <scp>PV</scp> / <scp>T</scp> collector by nano technology: A short review

Abstract The purpose of this study is to critically review advances in improving the performance of photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) collectors utilizing two innovative approaches. The first method consists of plating nanocoatings at the front face of the collector using PV/T. These coatings represent anti‐reflective, self‐cleaning layers that raise light transmittance to the photovoltaic cells to realize an overall rise in energy conversion efficiency by up to 12%, and then directly increase photovoltaic conversion efficiency. On top of that, self‐cleaning nanocoatings minimize dust accumulation and maintenance costs in the long term. The second approach investigates a nanofluid‐based cooling system developed and integrated into the backsides of PV panels. The engineered suspensions of nanoparticles in base fluids are referred to as nanofluids, and the addition thereof strengthens. By improving heat transfer rates by 15–20% and reducing solar cell operating temperatures by 10–15°C, nanofluids reduce thermal degradation by allowing for the dissipation of heat efficiently. Among the output of the reviewed literature, key findings indicate that the nanocoating raises electrical efficiency by 12%, and the nanofluid cooler effectively lowers operating temperatures by 15–20%, making PV/T collectors more sustainable and economically profitable. Integrating both methods allows the synergistic affinity for achieving higher energy yields and operational stability. The conclusion of this review is that research towards the optimization of nanoparticles, development of a hybrid nanofluid PV/T system formulation, and improvement of a PV/T system cost‐effective manufacturing are needed to further advance solar energy harvesting technologies towards next‐generation PV/T systems.