“Graphene is the most conductive and thinnest material in the world – being a million times thinner than a human hair. In addition, its structure is two-dimensional, opening up new experimental fields of study, and it is almost transparent, allowing the passage of around 97,7% of light.”
These features were highlighted by Rudi Alencar, sales manager at ZNShine Solar, during the Canal Conecta, congress promoted by Canal Solar. At the event, he discussed the advantages and multiple applications of this innovative technology.
“The panel with this technology has an improved self-cleaning capacity thanks to the almost poreless structure of the glass. Rainwater, for example, is evenly distributed across the surface, removing accumulated dirt. This makes it easier to maintain the modules and helps maintain high performance efficiency without the need for frequent interventions,” he emphasized.
“In addition, the combination of graphene’s properties – low porosity, resistance to damage and self-cleaning – drastically reduces the need for frequent maintenance. For large solar plants, this can mean significant savings in operating costs and longer operating time at maximum efficiency,” Alencar highlighted.
According to the expert, graphene modules also provide an increase in energy generation efficiency of up to 2%. “This increase is mainly the result of maintaining a cleaner surface, which allows greater light transmission to the photovoltaic cells and, consequently, more consistent energy production over time.”
Other Advantages
Below are other advantages of photovoltaic modules that have graphene technology:
- UV radiation harvesting: Graphene is capable of absorbing light from a wide spectrum of wavelengths, including ultraviolet (UV) light. This means it can capture more of the available solar energy, increasing the efficiency of solar panels in low-light conditions, such as on cloudy days or at dawn and dusk;
- Reduced porosity: By integrating graphene into glass production, the porosity of the glass is drastically reduced. This results in the glass surface becoming extremely smooth at a microscopic level, which prevents dust, dirt and other contaminants from adhering to it. As a result, the glass stays cleaner for longer, which helps maintain more consistent and efficient light transmission;
- Durability and strength: Glass made with graphene is also more resistant to scratches, corrosion and environmental damage. This added durability means the modules can withstand severe weather conditions, such as sandstorms or prolonged exposure to sun and rain, with less degradation over time;
- Photocatalytic property: with the help of ultraviolet rays, graphene activates free radicals, which have oxidizing properties, accelerating the decomposition of organic materials
Batteries
Regarding the applications of graphene with batteries, the Operations Manager at ZNShine highlighted that this technology allows them to charge and discharge much faster than conventional batteries.
“By incorporating graphene into the electrodes (especially the cathode), the surface area increases significantly, allowing more lithium ions to be stored. This can increase the battery’s total capacity and energy density,” he commented.
“Graphene also helps to increase the durability of lithium-ion batteries, making them more resistant to repeated charge and discharge cycles. This is because it prevents degradation of the electrodes, extending the battery’s useful life,” he added.
Cases in Brazil
Brazil is one of the largest producers of graphite, the base material from which graphene is extracted. The country has large reserves of natural graphite, located mainly in Minas Gerais and Bahia.
The Universidade Caxias do Sul, for example, is the first and largest industrial-scale graphene production plant in Latin America installed by a university.
The MGgrafeno project is located in Minas Gerais – focused on the production and commercialization of graphene on an industrial scale. The initiative stands out for exploring the potential of graphene in various applications, such as batteries, conductive paints and reinforced polymers.
Finally, in Bahia, there is Biotecam – a Brazilian company that works on the production of graphene and develops applications in various sectors, such as biotechnology and nanotechnology. The company also focuses on the production of graphene from renewable materials, such as biomass.
ZNShine Portfolio
Currently, the ZNShine Solar produces solar panels with Graphene – patent from 2018. According to Rudi Alencar, the application occurs in the manufacture of glass for the module, where graphene particles are added directly during the manufacturing process, resulting in a more advanced material with improved properties.
“In the manufacture of these modules, graphene is incorporated into the structure of the glass, rather than just being applied as an external coating. This process fills almost all of the pores in the glass, offering more significant benefits compared to surface coating,” he concluded.
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