Abstract: The disclosure discloses abrasion resistant, persistently hydrophobic and oleophobic, anti-reflective and anti-soiling coatings for glass. The coatings described herein have wide application, including for example the front cover glass of solar modules. Methods of applying the coatings using various apparatus are disclosed. Methods for using the coatings in solar energy generation plants to achieve greater energy yield and reduced operations costs are disclosed. Coating materials are formed by combinations of hydrolyzed silane-base precursors through sol-gel processes. Several methods of synthesis and formulation of coating materials are disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses abrasion resistant, persistently hydrophobic and oleophobic, anti-reflective and anti-soiling coatings for glass. The coatings described herein have wide application, including for example the front cover glass of solar modules. Methods of applying the coatings using various apparatus are disclosed. Methods for using the coatings in solar energy generation plants to achieve greater energy yield and reduced operations costs are disclosed. Coating materials are formed by combinations of hydrolyzed silane-base precursors through sol-gel processes. Several methods of synthesis and formulation of coating materials are disclosed.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention are directed to coatings and their uses. More particularly, the embodiments of the invention are directed to coating compositions that include silane-based precursors that are used to form coatings through a sol-gel process. The coating comprise a dried gel formed from a sol comprising a hydrolyzed alkoxysilane, a hydrolyzed organosilane, and a hydrolyzed organofluorosilane, wherein the hydrolyzed organosilane and the hydrolyzed organofluorosilane are each separately prepared before combining with each other and with alkoxysilane or with another reagent. The coatings so formed are characterized by anti-reflective, abrasion resistant, and anti-soiling properties. The coatings also have extended weatherability to heat, humidity, and protection against ambient corrosives. The coatings formed from the compositions described herein have wide application, including, for example, use as coatings on the outer glass of solar cells.

Abstract: Coating compositions disclosed herein include silane-based precursors that are used to form coatings through a sol-gel process including a hydrolyzed organosilane-based sol and a hydrolyzed tetraalkoxysilane-based sol. The coatings are characterized by anti-reflective, abrasion resistant, and anti-soiling properties and the tunability of those properties with respect to different glass substrates, solar cells or geographic locations of the solar panels. The coatings formed from the compositions described herein have wide application, including, for example, use as abrasion resistant coatings on the outer glass of solar cells, wherein the coating adheres through siloxane linkages. In some embodiments, when applied to glass and cured at a temperature of less than 300° C., the dried sol gel has abrasion resistance sufficient to pass standard EN-1096-2 with a loss of transmission of no more than 0.5% and enables a post-test light transmission gain of greater than 1% as compared to uncoated glass.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention are directed to coatings and their uses. More particularly, the embodiments of the invention are directed to coating compositions that include silane-based precursors that are used to form coatings through a sol-gel process. The coatings so formed are characterized by anti-reflective, abrasion resistant, and anti-soiling properties. The coatings also have extended weatherability to heat, humidity, and protection against ambient corrosives. The coatings formed from the compositions described herein have wide application, including, for example, use as coatings on the outer glass of solar cells.

Abstract: The embodiments of the invention are directed to organosilane-based coating compositions having anti-reflective, anti-soiling, and self-cleaning properties; methods of forming of the coatings; and articles of manufacture that utilize the coatings. In some embodiments, the coating compositions comprise an organosilane or mixture of organosilanes, a solvent, optionally an acid catalyst, and optionally a low molecular weight polymer.