Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol.602, No.1, 226-233, 2014
Formation of an Anti-Contamination Layer with Polystyrene Nanobeads over Cover Glass for Solar Cells
In this study, a colloidal solution was mixed with hydrophobic polymer nanobeads and TEOS (tetra-ethylorthersilicate) for the preparation of an anti-contamination compound, the anti-contaminative properties of which were investigated for its application as an anti-fouling agent for cover glasses used for solar cells. Polystyrene spherical beads of approximately 250nm were used as the hydrophobic polymer, and were synthesized by the suspension synthesis method. TEOS was used in order to enhance the stability of polymer nanobeads coated over the surface of a cover glass, due to the formation of SiO2 layer. The ratio of TEOS/PS was controlled to 0/50, 1.2/50, 2.4/50 and 5/50, and the water contact angle on the coated surface of the cover glasses was measured after thermal treatment at 400, 500 and 600 degrees C (Ed note: you mention other temperatures, including 650 degrees C, within the text). The contact angle of glass treated with a TEOS/PS ratio of 1.2/50 at 600 degrees C was approximately 100 degrees, which was about 2.5times that of the non-coated cover glass, and its transmittance was analyzed and determined to be the same as that of the non-coated cover glass, using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer.