Abstract Various devices are available to improve the efficiency of solar panel. Solar parabolic collector is one of the most popular solar enrichment technologies aim to augment the thermal efficiency of solar panels. Current paper presents a brief introduction for different types of solar panels. In addition, the impacts of using different nanofluids on various parameters such as thermal efficiency, heat transfer factor, pressure drop and Nusselt number were investigated. Finally, the impacts of utilizing nanomaterial on the thermal efficiency of solar panel have been investigated. Obtained results expressed that using nanomaterial can increase the thermal efficiency of PTSC (Parabolic trough solar collector). Carbon nanotubes had the most impact on heat transfer rate due to their high energy content.