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A research team in China has developed a bilayer transparent conductive film intended for non-contact electrostatic dust removal from solar panels, according to pv magazine. The work, reported by the publication, combines single-walled carbon nanotubes with magnesium fluoride to address dust accumulation on photovoltaic glass.
The nanotubes supply electrical conductivity while preserving high optical transparency, but their comparatively rough surface can encourage dust to adhere. The researchers indicated that introducing a magnesium fluoride layer smooths that surface and supports dust removal.
The group examined how the thickness of the magnesium fluoride layer affects the optical, electrical, surface and electrostatic dust-removal properties of the bilayer films deposited on photovoltaic glass. Fabrication began with a conductive nanotube network formed by bar coating, followed by magnesium fluoride layers of controlled thickness deposited through electron-beam deposition.
The films were produced on glass substrates measuring 50 mm by 50 mm by 0.7 mm. The nanotubes were dispersed in water together with a dispersant and a film-forming aid, applied to the glass by bar coating, and then annealed and rinsed. Magnesium fluoride was subsequently deposited by electron-beam evaporation at thicknesses of 40 nm, 80 nm, 120 nm and 160 nm. A nanotube film without a magnesium fluoride layer served as the control.
After characterizing the surface, optical and electrical properties, the scientists placed the coated glass over a photovoltaic cell for cleaning tests. Natural sand was collected from the Kubuqi and Tengger deserts in Inner Mongolia and the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang. An external direct-current power supply and a metal plate positioned 1 cm above the grounded coating generated an electric field. The team measured the share of sand removed and the power output of the photovoltaic cells after cleaning.
The results indicated that a magnesium fluoride thickness of 80 nm to 120 nm delivered an effective balance among optical, surface and electrostatic cleaning performance. According to the researchers, moderate deposition preserved the continuous nanotube network while improving surface uniformity, lowering root-mean-square roughness from 5.316 nm to 3.747 nm.
The group reported that as magnesium fluoride coverage increased, the water contact angle rose to 111 degrees while total surface energy fell to 19.68 mN/m. The self-cleaning rate consequently increased from 65.01% to 78.68%, which the researchers said showed that magnesium fluoride helped reduce dust-particle adhesion and promoted dust removal under water rinsing.
Magnesium fluoride deposition also improved the optical properties of the films, though thicker layers produced greater losses in electrical conductivity. The researchers reported a highest transmittance of 91.4% and a minimum haze of 0.12%. The electrostatic dust-removal rate rose from approximately 84.08% for the uncoated nanotube film to 96.36% after magnesium fluoride deposition, and the normalized photovoltaic power-generation efficiency measured after cleaning reached 91.97%.
The researchers concluded that the 80 nm coating offered the best compromise between optoelectronic properties and dust-removal performance. They added that the 120 nm coating was preferable when higher transmittance and recovery of photovoltaic power output were prioritized.
The research, titled Thickness-engineered SWCNT/MgF2 bilayer transparent conductive films for coupled antireflection and electrostatic dust removal on photovoltaic panels, was published in Materials & Design. The team included scientists from North China Electric Power University, State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Research Institute, Yingli Energy Development and Hebei University.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Carbon Nanotubes market in China, covering market size, growth trajectory, demand structure, supply capability, trade flows, pricing, competitive landscape, and forecast to 2035.
The study is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, exporters, investors, procurement teams, advisors, and strategy teams that need a consistent, data-driven view of market dynamics and a transparent analytical definition of the product scope.
This report covers the global market for carbon nanotubes (CNTs), a class of advanced nanomaterials characterized by cylindrical nanostructures of carbon atoms. Coverage encompasses the full commercial value chain, from synthesis and purification to formulation and integration into intermediate and final products across key industrial sectors.
The report combines the standard market-statistics backbone with strategic chapters that are useful for commercial planning, sourcing decisions, market entry, competitor monitoring, and portfolio prioritization.
The market is segmented into decision-relevant buckets so that demand drivers, pricing logic, supply constraints, and competitive positions can be compared across the same analytical frame.
Carbon nanotubes are classified under multiple Harmonized System (HS) codes due to their varied chemical forms and compositions, including as chemical products, prepared additives, and inorganic compounds. The market analysis aligns with these official trade classifications to track production, import, and export flows.
Coverage focuses on China and includes demand, supply capability where present, trade flows, pricing, competition, and outlook.
The report combines official statistics, trade records, company disclosures, product-level evidence, and analyst validation. Data are standardized, reconciled, and cross-checked to keep market sizing, trade flows, pricing, and forecasts comparable across countries and time periods.
All indicators are mapped to a consistent product definition and reviewed against the segmentation framework used in the Table of Contents.
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Concise View of Market Direction
Market Size, Growth and Scenario Framing
Commercial and Technical Scope
How the Market Splits Into Decision-Relevant Buckets
Where Demand Comes From and How It Behaves
Supply Footprint and Value Capture
Trade Flows and External Dependence
Price Formation and Revenue Logic
Who Wins and Why
How the Domestic Market Works
Commercial Entry and Scaling Priorities
Where the Best Expansion Logic Sits
Leading Players and Strategic Archetypes
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