High performance Al–AlN solar spectrally selective coatings with a self-assembled nanostructure AlN anti-reflective layer

Abstract

The almost super-hydrophobic nanostructure AlN anti-reflective layer can effectively enhance light absorption and prevent surface contamination of Al–AlN absorber coatings.

An Ultrathin, Nanogradient, and Substrate‐Independent WOx‐Based Film as a High Performance Flexible Solar Absorber

“…Currently, solar selective absorber coatings (SSACs), which are mainly used to harvest sunlight and convert it into a heat source, are being increasingly used in solar‐thermal applications, such as concentrated solar power (CSP) systems, solar thermal collectors (STCs), solar thermophotovoltaic (STPV) systems, solar‐heated clothes and cookers, flexible electronic devices, and solar steam generators (SSGs) . To boost the light‐to‐heat conversion efficiency, a range of novel SSACs have been designed and demonstrated to date, where double‐cermet‐based SSACs are believed to be the most efficient materials for enhanced light absorption due to the interference effect of cermet layers and plasmonic resonance effect of metal nanoparticles, for instance, Mo‐SiO 2 , W‐Al 2 O 3 , Mo‐Al 2 O 3 , W‐AlN, AuAl 2 ‐AlN, AgAl‐Al 2 O 3 , WNi‐YSZ, and so forth .…”

Fast‐Growing Field of Interfacial Solar Steam Generation: Evolutional Materials, Engineered Architectures, and Synergistic Applications

“…The spectrally selective absorber as a special set of material can have both high absorption (in the band 0.2–2.5 µm) and low emissivity (in the band 0.2–2.5 µm) . However, there still has some difficulties in practical application (such as the selective absorbing coating is less resistant to seawater for a long time compared with the carbon‐based materials) . Therefore, material with high absorption and low emissivity need to be further explored.…”

Spectral properties and microstructure of sputtered WOx films for solar conversion applications

“…A desirable SSAC requires the high solar absorptance ( α ) in the wavelength range of 0.3 to 2.5 μm and the low thermal emittance ( ε ) in the Planck spectrum region. Many efforts have been demonstrated for depositing the high absorption SSACs, such as transition metal nitrides, dielectric embedded with metallic nanoparticles, interference stacks, and surface texturing . However, these coatings usually involved complicated fabrication process with high cost, such as NbMoON, WSiAlN, WTi‐Al 2 O 3 , and AuAl 2 ‐AiN, and which were not suitable for large‐scale industrial development.…”