CHEMICALLY DEPOSITED SNS-CUXS THIN-FILMS WITH HIGH SOLAR ABSORPTANCE - NEW APPROACH TO ALL-GLASS TUBULAR SOLAR COLLECTORS

Chemical deposition of SnS-Cu(x)S films on glass substrates showing a solar absorptance > 0.9 for the substrate side incidence is reported. This combination is obtained by successive depositions of approximately 0.8-mu-m thick SnS thin films and Cu(x)S thin films of approximately 0.3-mu-m thickness. After 30 min heating in air at 200-degrees-C of the film, a typical SnS-Cu(x)S solar absorber coating shows sheet resistance congruent-to 10-OMEGA/open-square-box, solar transmittance congruent-to 2% and solar reflectance congruent-to 7% for glass side incidence. Considering a double pass of sunlight through the film in a tubular geometry, this indicates a solar absorptance of congruent-to 0.93. The possible applications of the films in all-glass tubular collectors are discussed.