Hydrogel-based thermal management for photovoltaic safe operation and power generation enhancement

With the surge in global photovoltaic (PV) installations, PVs are expected to rapidly evolve into one of the mainstream renewable power generation sources. Ensuring their safe and stable operation under increasingly extreme environmental conditions has therefore become a critical concern. However, elevated operation temperatures significantly degrade PV efficiency and lifespan, potentially leading to fire hazards, thus driving the need for effective cooling solutions. Among these, hydrogel-based evaporative cooling has emerged as a promising strategy due to its high evaporation capabilities, structural simplicity, and ease of integration into existing systems. In this review, we systematically explore hydrogel-based cooling technologies, offering a detailed analysis of their principles, configurations, potential solutions and key challenges in PV applications. Based on the working principles and fundamental configurations, we uncover the challenges related to cooling performance, operational durability, recyclability, and cost-effectiveness. Accordingly, we propose potential solutions to address these challenges and offer insights into remaining barriers to enable efficient, safe, and durable PV operation.