In-situ magnetic field-controlled synthesis of SnO2-SnO nanoparticle films for enhanced photovoltaic self-cleaning and anti-soiling

Accumulation of soil and surface reflection significantly compromise the energy yield of photovoltaic (PV) modules. This study presents a scalable, solvent-free approach to fabricating multifunctional coatings via magnetic-field-assisted spark ablation. Comparative analysis confirms that replacing conventional Ti with Sn accelerates the deposition rate by threefold while maintaining photocatalytic efficiency comparable to benchmark TiO2. Furthermore, we demonstrate that applying an in-situ external magnetic field acts as a critical phase modulator, stabilizing a unique biphasic SnO2–SnO heterojunction and promoting dense nanoparticle aggregation. Importantly, the combined effect of material substitution (Sn instead of Ti) and magnetic-field-optimized scanning results in an overall increase in deposition speed by 5.25-fold, establishing this method as an exceptionally rapid and industrially viable solution. The optimized coating enhanced the solar panel’s power conversion efficiency (PCE) by 4.02% under clean conditions. Significantly, under simulated muddy-water exposure, the coated modules exhibited superior anti-soiling capabilities, achieving a net PCE gain of 6.00% relative to uncoated panels. The coating also demonstrated exceptional mechanical robustness, retaining structural integrity after 10,000 water-impact cycles. These findings establish the process as a rapid, industrially viable technique for producing durable, high-efficiency surfaces.