A method for forming a nanostructured performance enhancement thin film coating on at least a portion of an array of sloped outdoor panel surfaces consisting of:
- A. depositing a performance enhancement coating solution onto at least a portion of an array of sloped outdoor panel surfaces using a meniscus drag coating applicator, wherein the meniscus drag coating applicator comprises:
- i. at least one or more meniscus drag deposition mechanisms for depositing a performance enhancement coating solution onto the sloped outdoor panel surfaces comprising:
- a. at least two materials of different capillary attraction for the performance enhancement coating solution, wherein one material has a lower capillary attraction for the performance enhancement coating solution than the other material;
- b. at least one fluid manifold for distributing the performance enhancement solution to the at least one material of lower capillary attraction, wherein the solution transfers from the manifold to the lower capillary attraction material and then the solution transfers from the lower capillary attraction material to the higher capillary attraction material, wherein the solution transfers from the higher capillary attraction material to the sloped outdoor panel surfaces as the one or more meniscus drag deposition mechanisms are moved across the sloped outdoor panel surfaces;
- ii. at least one pump connected to tubing that transfers the solution from at least one fluid reservoir to the at least one manifold;
- iii. a means of moving the one or more meniscus drag deposition mechanisms across at least a portion of the sloped outdoor panel surfaces during one or more coating passes of the one or more meniscus drag deposition mechanisms across at least a portion of the sloped outdoor panel surfaces;
- iv. one or more rolling mechanisms to move the applicator across the sloped outdoor panel surfaces;
- wherein at least one or more of the roller mechanisms is oriented in such a way as to ensure the applicator remains engaged with the sloped outdoor panel surfaces and does not slide off;
- B. using a mechanical extension device to enable the at least one or more meniscus drag deposition mechanisms to run off at least one end of at one of the surfaces of the sloped panels, wherein the mechanical extension device may or may not be integrated with the coating applicator;
- C. using a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the sloped outdoor panel surfaces;
- D. using a sensor for sensing reflected light from the nanostructured performance enhancement thin film coating after it is deposited on the sloped outdoor panel surfaces;
- E. and changing the speed of the one or more meniscus drag deposition mechanisms to optimize optical characteristics of the nanostructured performance enhancement thin film if at least one of the following occurs:
- i. if the temperature of the sloped outdoor panel surfaces changes;
- ii. if the spectrum of the reflected light from the nanostructured performance enhancement thin film shifts relative to the red or infrared side of the light spectrum or relative to an expected spectrum.