Closing the Loop in Agrivoltaics: A Radiative Cooling Coating for Synergistic Self‐Cleaning and Water Harvesting
The integration of photovoltaic (PV) panels into agricultural landscapes (i.e., agrivoltaics) offers a promising path for sustainable land use, yet its potential is limited by dust soiling and water scarcity. Current cleaning methods are often water‐intensive, costly, or ecologically detrimental. Here, we introduce a multifunctional coating that synergistically couples PV panels with the microclimate to address these intertwined challenges. Fabricated via a simple, solvent‐free process from a food‐grade silicone, the coating is highly transparent (~91.3%, 350–1100 nm) and superhydrophobic (contact angle: 167°, sliding angle: 3°). Crucially, its high emissivity (0.90) in the atmospheric window (8–13 μm) enhances radiative cooling, passively inducing nighttime condensation. This condensation triggers a self‐cleaning mechanism, where shedding droplets autonomously remove dust, and simultaneously enables atmospheric water harvesting. In 6‐month outdoor tests in Saudi Arabia, coated panels maintained performance with only ~1.5% power loss, compared to ~28% for uncoated panels. Furthermore, the system achieved a dew yield of 128 g m −2 per night—over twice that of untreated surfaces—providing a water source sufficient for irrigating co‐located crops (demonstrated with Brassica rapa chinensis ). This work transformed the PV panel from a passive energy harvester into an active hub that ensures its own performance while supporting on‐site agriculture, establishing a resilient and self‐sustaining nexus for energy, water, and food security.
Authors
- Hussam Qasem (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3376-5600)
- Dan Daniel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5859-170X)
- Saichao Dang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5466-8412)
- Murali Gedda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1247-6623)
- Jehad K. El‐Demellawi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6731-8967)
- Stefaan De Wolf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1619-9061)
- Abdul Rahim Siddiqui (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1864-8254)
- Yuxuan Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4877-8711)
- Shakeel Ahmad
- Osman M. Bakr
- Qiaoqiang Gan
- Husam N. Alshareef
Institutions
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (SA)
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (SA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Energy & environment materials
- Published
- 2026-06-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/eem2.70350
- Primary Topic
- Solar-Powered Water Purification Methods
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology