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The Quasi-Affine Transformation Evolutionary (QUATRE) algorithm is a swarm-based collaborative optimization algorithm, which has drawn attention from researchers due to its simple structure, easy implementation, and powerful performance. However, it needs to be improved regarding the exploration, especially in the late stage of evolution, and the problem of easy falling into a local optimal solution. This paper proposes an improved algorithm named Quasi-Affine Transformation Evolutionary with double excellent guidance (QUATRE-DEG). The algorithm uses not only the global optimal solution but also the global suboptimal solution to guide the individual evolution. We establish a model to determine the guiding force by the distance between the global optimal position and the suboptimal position and propose a new mutation strategy through the double population structure. The optimization of population structure and the improvement of operation mechanisms bring more exploration for the algorithm. To optimize the algorithm, the experiments on parameter settings were made to determine the size of the subpopulation and to achieve a balance between exploration and development. The performance of QUATRE-DEG algorithm is evaluated under CEC2013 and CEC2014 test suites. Through comparison and analysis with some ABC variants known for their strong exploration ability and advanced QUATRE variants, the competitiveness of the proposed QUATRE-DEG algorithm is validated.

Enabling a highly enhanced optical performance and high-temperature thermal robustness, acting as a primary absorption layer material, remains a challenge in photothermal conversion systems, which is why the newly emerging high-entropy alloy (HEA) is introduced. Herein, we develop a high-entropy nitride TiVCrAlZrN-based spectrally selective absorber, providing the potential to strengthen structural and optical advancement through component selection and structure design. The combination of computer simulation and a magnetron sputtering method pioneers a double-layer structured coating with a sound solar absorptance (α = 92.4%) and an ultra-low thermal emittance (ε = 5.3%), leading to a high spectral selectivity (α/ε = 17.4). Investigating the structural and optical robustness demonstrates that the coating could endure heat-treatment at 800 °C for 2 h in a vacuum environment. At the same time, the research on long-term thermal stability indicates that the TiVCrAlZrN-based absorber could retain good optical properties after annealing at 550 °C for 168 h. Overall, the synergistic advantages of the convenient technology process, low-cost preparation, easily scalable production, and repeatability in this work promise potentially valuable applications for photothermal conversion techniques. The conceptual and practical breakthroughs promote practical applications of the HEA in photothermal fields and significantly extend the paradigm to devise a photothermal absorber.

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