Specialists from the Institute of Catalysis SB RAS Federal Research Center jointly with their colleagues from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Hangzhou City University are developing a combined technology that simultaneously cools solar panels, extracts water from the air and enables hydrogen production. The technology is based on new composite adsorbents designed for use in real conditions.
Demand for solar energy is growing at a record pace: in 2024, global solar generation reached 2,000 TWh, which is already at roughly 7% of all electricity generated worldwide. In the first half of 2025, the installed capacity of solar systems rose by more than 60%. However, as the industry grows, the problem of panel overheating deepens. Elevated temperatures make the panels less efficient and accelerate material wear. Conventional cooling methods (air blasting, water loops, gel and thermoelectric systems) require additional energy or complex infrastructure.
The Russian researchers have proposed a different approach. They apply a composite adsorbent to the back of the solar panel, which provides cooling through the natural processes of moisture absorption and evaporation. The material is a porous matrix, such as carbon fiber, hydrogel or metal-organic framework/polymer, impregnated with a solution of an inorganic salt, namely, lithium nitrate, and dried at approximately 160°C. At night, this material absorbs moisture from the air. This treatment forms a stable composite which can accumulate and release moisture repeatedly.
At night, the adsorbent absorbs water from the atmospheric air. During the day, it heats up thanks to the panel and begins to release moisture, with the resulting evaporation process cooling the solar cells. The vapor then condenses and turns into pure water, which can be used for household purposes or sent to electrolysis to produce hydrogen.
“Adsorption/desorption cooling of photovoltaic panels makes it possible not only to remove heat efficiently but also to achieve efficient use of electrical and thermal energy: water gets absorbed from the air at night, after which it evaporates, cools the panels and condenses, allowing us to produce hydrogen from it,” says Anastasia Cherpakova, junior researcher at the Institute. She adds that the Russian team is developing the materials while their Chinese colleagues are designing the device and working to produce hydrogen from the accumulated water.
The new material operates within a narrow temperature range of 25–50°C, ensuring an optimal cycle of moisture absorption and release. As a result, the system effectively cools the panels during peak solar hours and regenerates the adsorbent at night.
During the next stage of their research, the scientists plan to create a line of adsorbents adapted to different climatic zones ranging from hot and arid to cool and humid.
