# Ultra-Thin Solar Panel Coatings Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics Develop a Coating By Amy Duong | Published 2023-02-02 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-panel-2 References: [designtaxi](https://designtaxi.com/news/422062/Ultra-Thin-Coating-For-Solar-Panels-Makes-Them-Self-Cleaning-Low-On-Maintenance/) & [inceptivemind](https://www.inceptivemind.com/new-ultra-thin-coating-solar-panels-make-self-cleaning/29423/?utm_source=DesignTAXI&utm_medium=DesignTAXI&utm_term=DesignTAXI&utm_content=DesignTAXI&utm_campaign=DesignTAXI)  Many solar panels often accumulate layers of soft as it is naturally placed outdoors to maximize their exposure to sunlight and produce energy. Researchers at the [Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/linumtube) noticed this as it works together with Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP to come up with a [unique coating](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/microban-international-1) that is ultra-thin and applied to solar panels. This allows it to be self-cleaning and repel dirt with the basis of a substance known as crystalline titanium oxide. It is placed on the glass through a roll-to-roll process to allow the solar panels to turn into a super-hydrophilic surface from hydrophobic after it is exposed to ultraviolet light. Essentially, the surface repels water when it is not exposed to UV radiation. Image Credit: Believeinme, Dreamstime.com ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.1/10 - Popularity: 68% | Activity: 72% | Freshness: 14% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Ultra-thin Solar Panel Coating Technology:** The development of ultra-thin and self-cleaning solar panel coatings is a disruptive innovation opportunity for the solar energy industry. - **Crystalline Titanium Oxide:** The use of crystalline titanium oxide as a self-cleaning agent has the potential to revolutionize the coatings industry and its applications. - **Roll-to-roll Process:** The roll-to-roll process of applying the ultra-thin coating can be a disruptive innovation for the energy and manufacturing industries to increase efficiency and reduce costs. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Solar Energy:** The development of ultra-thin and self-cleaning solar panel coatings can revolutionize the efficiency and maintenance costs of the solar energy industry. - **Coatings:** The use of crystalline titanium oxide as a self-cleaning agent can disrupt the coatings industry and its applications in various industries. - **Manufacturing:** The roll-to-roll process of applying the ultra-thin coating can be a disruptive innovation for the manufacturing industry to increase efficiency and reduce costs of coating applications. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Flexible Solar Film Energy](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heliafilm.md) - [Non-Fogging Nano-Thin Gold Layers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eth-zurich.md) - [Heritage Building-Blending Solar Panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/invisible-solar.md) - [Solar Panel Cleaning Drones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-panel-cleaning-system.md) - [Efficient Scalable Solar Panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/perovskia-solar.md) - [Origami-Inspired Solar Panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/levante-origami-solar-panel.md) - [Exceptionally Efficient Solar Cells](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/efficient-solar-cell.md) - [Solar Panel Artworks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-tapestry.md) - [Lunar Material-Based Solar Cells](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lunar-dust.md)