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Could ultrasonic vibrations propagated into the solar cells be used to dislodge dust in environments like the surface of Mars or the moon?

Obviously the waves would need to be induced in the substrate other than through the air.

As an example; on earth we use ultrasonic cleaners to clean electronics all the time.

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    $\begingroup$ I would suspect the end effect of that would be cracking the solar cells. $\endgroup$
    – Tristan
    Commented Oct 5, 2021 at 22:49
  • $\begingroup$ Different questions, but related: Brushing clean a Mars lander's solar panels and Do solar panels on satellites gather dust and need cleaning? and Dust on Ingenuity solar panel and Fast spinning solar cells to clear Martian dust possible? and Could dusters be installed on solar panels on a mars lander? $\endgroup$
    – uhoh
    Commented Oct 5, 2021 at 23:40
  • $\begingroup$ and Is InSight capable of cleaning itself? $\endgroup$
    – uhoh
    Commented Oct 5, 2021 at 23:42
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    $\begingroup$ Possibly it could be used, but a vibrating system is yet another mechanical movement system imposing mechanical force on itself and the solar panel, even if just a piezoelectrical pulser. Similar (or greater) benefits can be found from electrodynamic cleaning systems, which are completely solid-state thus much less wear. In effect, induced static charges on the surface that cause the dust to hop, eventually hopping off the panel completely. $\endgroup$
    – CuteKItty_pleaseStopBArking
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 8:16
  • $\begingroup$ Somewhere in the history of photocopy machines there were surfaces with embedded wires that were driven like a motor, to push toner along the surface before it reached the drum, for uniform coating. It was not a mechanical vibration but it was an interesting way to move particles along to the edges of the surface. But right now I can't find any links to a description. I'm sure there are many old patents but I'm not up to a patent search. $\endgroup$
    – uhoh
    Commented Oct 6, 2021 at 19:23

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Probably not.
Ultrasonic cleaners for electronics work by immersing the dirty item in a bath that both transmits vibrations to the item and collects the dirt that's been shaken off. Vibrating a solar panel directly, you'd also have to invert or greatly tilt the panel to make the dirt fall off. Even so, the dust might stay stuck on, due to static electricity. That's another problem that a bath solves.

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