Cooling solar cells using ZnO nanoparticles as a down-shifter

Abstract

Down-shifting material is used to enhance the overall efficiency of the photovoltaic solar cell by reducing the energy of incident photons and then cooling down the temperature of the photovoltaic solar cells. This experimental work focused on studying the effect of ZnO nanoparticles as a downshifting material on reducing the temperature of the photovoltaic cells. Readings of temperature and voltage-which were collected on different days in summer July showed a good effect of ZnO nanoparticles on solar cell temperature. Where there was a significant decrease in cell temperature of up to 4.5 °C, in addition an increase in voltage of about 1.5 V.