Durable superhydrophobic coatings enable scalable offshore photovoltaics for global energy decarbonization

Abstract

Marine floating photovoltaic (MFPV) systems face harsh challenges in high-temperature, high-humidity, and high-salinity environments, which accelerate corrosion and reduce performance. We developed a transparent, superhydrophobic, and durable coating using fluorinated silica nanoparticles embedded in a cross-linked PDMS matrix, forming a nano-scale structure. The coating exhibits a water contact angle of 164°, a transmittance of 88.8%, and an infrared emissivity of 95.03%. It retains 99.09% of initial photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) after 30 days of outdoor exposure and preserves hydrophobicity (contact angle >150°) after 720 hours of salt spray exposure. A year-long real-world test confirms its long-term stability. Global simulations show that this coating can boost annual MFPV generation from 200.94 TWh to 359.18 TWh, increasing carbon reduction from 98.06 Gt to 175.28 Gt CO₂. Deploying it over 6.45–10.95% of viable ocean areas could help bridge the emission gap needed to meet the Paris Agreement targets. This strategy provides a scalable solution for sustainable MFPV deployment.