Authors: Ahmed Fahd Qasem Ahmed, Uthkarsh, Mahamat Cherif, Tarun Kumar Pradhan
Abstract: Solar paint is an emerging photovoltaic (PV) technology that enables buildings, vehicles, and other surfaces to generate electricity through a thin, paintable coating. Unlike conventional rigid solar panels, solar paint leverages perovskite materials, quantum dots (QDs), and semiconductor nanoparticles dispersed in a liquid medium to convert sunlight into electrical energy. This research report provides an end-to-end examination of solar paint — covering its material composition, photovoltaic working mechanism, types, efficiency metrics, environmental challenges, commercialisation barriers, comparative economics, and future development pathways. The study draws on primary laboratory data, secondary academic literature, and market analyses to present a holistic assessment of the technology's current status and potential. Current solar paint technologies demonstrate power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of 3–8%, significantly lower than commercial silicon panels (18–22%). Nevertheless, the technology offers compelling advantages: low material cost, scalable application methods (spray, roll, brush), aesthetic flexibility, and strong suitability for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). The project's analysis reveals a 20–35% performance drop under prolonged UV exposure, underscoring durability as the most critical bottleneck. Recommendations include graphene-based encapsulation layers, hybrid perovskite–polymer formulations, and investment in roll-to-roll (R2R) manufacturing. Solar paint holds significant long-term promise as a supplemental — and eventually primary — distributed energy source in the global transition to sustainable energy.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19630396
