Durable superhydrophobic coatings enable scalable offshore photovoltaics for global energy decarbonization

Marine floating photovoltaic (MFPV) systems face harsh challenges in high-temperature, high-humidity, and high-salinity environments, which accelerate corrosion and reduce performance. We developed a transparent, superhydrophobic, and durable coating using fluorinated silica nanoparticles embedded in a cross-linked PDMS matrix, forming a nano-scale structure. The coating exhibits a water contact angle of 164°, a transmittance of 88.8%, and an infrared emissivity of 95.03%. It retains 99.09% of initial photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) after 30 days of outdoor exposure and preserves hydrophobicity (contact angle >150°) after 720 hours of salt spray exposure. A year-long real-world test confirms its long-term stability. Global simulations show that this coating can boost annual MFPV generation from 200.94 TWh to 359.18 TWh, increasing carbon reduction from 98.06 Gt to 175.28 Gt CO2. Deploying it over 6.45-10.95% of viable ocean areas could help bridge the emission gap needed to meet the Paris Agreement targets. This strategy provides a scalable solution for sustainable MFPV deployment.