COATINGS FOR ENHANCED PHOTOTHERMAL ENERGY COLLECTION .1. SELECTIVE ABSORBERS

For economical and efficient utilization of solar energy various types of absorber coatings and preparations can be used for solar collectors. In this study several varieties of commercial and research selective absorbers are reviewed and tabulated for application. For many of these coatings, detailed reflectance, emittance and thermal stability data are presented. Selective coatings can take advantage of various optical absorption methods including light trapping, particulate coatings, semiconductor-metallic layers, multilayer films, quantum size effects and intrinsic absorption. The results of this study revealed many promising low temperature (150-300° C) absorber coatings along with a few highly engineered coatings which can withstand temperatures above 500° C. © 1979.