Merck Photonics Solarpur^® sol-gel materials provide high performance anti-reflective coatings (AR-coatings) on glass surfaces. These single layer optical thin films enable an exceptionally high solar transmission (AM1.5) of 98 % under usual terms. They can be applied with different wet coating methods and increase the energy yield of solar panels significantly.

Solarpur^® Wideband anti-reflective coatings are extremely thin and very cost effective. They consist of only one single layer and reduce the typical reflection losses of uncoated glass surfaces. Without an appropriate anti-reflective coating photovoltaic cover glasses reflect more than 4 % of the solar radiation at each glass/ air changeover.

Due to the low refraction index Solarpur^® reduces the reflection respectively and increases the energy gain, largely independent from the wide range of daily and seasonal incidence angles. Solarpur^® AR coatings boost the energy output of your solar panels even under unfavourable conditions and you will profit by explicitly lower costs per watt.

In comparison to multi layer AR coatings, single layer anti-reflective coatings, like our Solarpur^® enhance the transmission at each glass/ air interface over the full solar wavelength range. Therefore single layer anti-reflective coatings are best suitable for residential solar panels. The Solarpur^® AR transmission improvement is robust against heat treatment for toughening purposes. Solarpur^® AR coatings can be used in many different fields of solar applications, like photovoltaics, solar modules and solar concentrators.

The special properties of Solarpur^® single layer AR coatings are achieved by growing two kinds of exactly defined SiO₂-nanoparticles (silicon dioxide) in one hybrid formulation. This material of nanoparticles builds up porous SiO₂ films with an exceptionally high heat resistance. The resulting layer has a very low refractive index of approximately 1.23 to 1.30 which enables a very effective suppression of the glass/air interface reflection, which will be eliminated at each glass/ air interace almost completely.

Solarpur^® Anti-reflective coatings can be deposited very fast, easy and cost effective by various wet coating methods (like dip and spray coating) and various other methods depending on your needs.

Solarpur^® AR coatings for solar panels are part of Merck Photonics wide product range.

You can rely on our state-of-the art solutions for your solar technology of tomorrow. Merck offers you with Solarpur^® AR coatings a clear competitive advantage in the solar market.

Thanks to our worldwide presence you can rest assured, that we`ll support you with our expertise no matter where you are.