An exemplary solar selective coating can be provided to be deposited on a substrate. The exemplary solar selective coating can comprise an adhesion layer, an absorber stack comprising at least one absorber layer, and an antireflection stack which can comprise at least one antireflection layer, e.g., all provided in a sandwich configuration. The sandwich configuration can provide the adhesion layer deposited onto the substrate, the absorber stack deposited on the adhesion layer, and the antireflection stack deposited on the absorber stack. The adhesion layer can comprise a metallic layer comprising molybdenum and titanium.

An exemplary solar selective coating can be provided to be deposited on a substrate. The exemplary solar selective coating can comprise an adhesion layer, an absorber stack comprising at least one absorber layer, and an antireflection stack which can comprise at least one antireflection layer, e.g., all provided in a sandwich configuration. The sandwich configuration can provide the adhesion layer deposited onto the substrate, the absorber stack deposited on the adhesion layer, and the antireflection stack deposited on the absorber stack. The adhesion layer can comprise a metallic layer comprising molybdenum and titanium.

Light transparent fluoropolymer composition having less than 2 percent haze, comprising at least one of alkali metal (e.g., lithium, sodium, and potassium) cation, alkali metal (e.g., lithium, sodium, and potassium) and a corresponding anion (e.g., CO.sub.3,OH, OOCCH.sub.3), alkaline earth metal cation (e.g., calcium, magnesium, strontium, and barium), or alkaline earth metal cation (e.g., calcium, magnesium, strontium, and barium) and a corresponding anion (e.g., CO.sub.3,OH, OOCCH.sub.3), wherein the light transparent fluoropolymer has at least 90% visible light transmission. Exemplary uses of light transparent fluoropolymer compositions described herein include as films (e.g., solar reflective films, solar transparent frontside photovoltaic films, commercial graphic overlay film, commercial graphic film, and tubing (e.g., transparent tubing for medical)).

The radiation-selective absorber coating, in particular for an absorber tube of a parabolic trough collector, includes a reflective layer which is reflective in the infrared range, at least one barrier layer arranged below the reflective layer, at least one absorption layer arranged above the reflective layer, an antireflection layer arranged above the absorption layer and at least one adhesion-enhancing layer arranged between the barrier layer and the reflective layer. The adhesion-enhancing layer preferably is a molybdenum layer, but can also be provided by a copper, titanium, titanium oxide, or silicon layer. The adhesion-enhancing layer preferably has a thickness of 5 to 50 nm.

The radiation-selective absorber coating, in particular for an absorber tube of a parabolic trough collector, includes a reflective layer which is reflective in the infrared range, at least one barrier layer arranged below the reflective layer, at least one absorption layer arranged above the reflective layer, an antireflection layer arranged above the absorption layer and at least one adhesion-enhancing layer arranged between the barrier layer and the reflective layer. The adhesion-enhancing layer preferably is a molybdenum layer, but can also be provided by a copper, titanium, titanium oxide, or silicon layer. The adhesion-enhancing layer preferably has a thickness of 5 to 50 nm.

A coated tube can include a metallic tube and a selective coating, coated on at least a portion of the surface of the tube. The selective coating can may include an absorbing layer and an encapsulation layer having an amorphous compound at a thickness of at most 200 nm, deposited on top of the absorbing layer. The encapsulation layer is an antireflective layer and the amorphous compound can be selected such that the antireflective layer has a refractive index greater than the refractive index of air and lower than a refractive index of the absorbing layer. The encapsulation layer can be free of defects and penetrate and seal any macro and micro-defects in the absorbing layer. The encapsulation layer can be deposited on top of the absorbing layer using atomic layer deposition (ALD) method.

A coated tube can include a metallic tube and a selective coating, coated on at least a portion of the surface of the tube. The selective coating can may include an absorbing layer and an encapsulation layer having an amorphous compound at a thickness of at most 200 nm, deposited on top of the absorbing layer. The encapsulation layer is an antireflective layer and the amorphous compound can be selected such that the antireflective layer has a refractive index greater than the refractive index of air and lower than a refractive index of the absorbing layer. The encapsulation layer can be free of defects and penetrate and seal any macro and micro-defects in the absorbing layer. The encapsulation layer can be deposited on top of the absorbing layer using atomic layer deposition (ALD) method.

A coating for solar tubes has a porous absorbing layer that includes an absorbing black pigment material mixed with a porous binder having an open porosity, and a first protective layer having oxides applied on top of the porous absorbing layer. The first protective layer may penetrate to at least a portion of the open porosity. The first protective layer may include nanoparticles, to improve the filling of the pores. A second protective layer may be applied after the first layer, to improve the filling of the remaining gaps.

A coating for solar tubes has a porous absorbing layer that includes an absorbing black pigment material mixed with a porous binder having an open porosity, and a first protective layer having oxides applied on top of the porous absorbing layer. The first protective layer may penetrate to at least a portion of the open porosity. The first protective layer may include nanoparticles, to improve the filling of the pores. A second protective layer may be applied after the first layer, to improve the filling of the remaining gaps.

A thin-film coating applicator assembly is disclosed for coating substrates in outdoor applications. The innovative thin-film coating applicator assembly is adapted to apply performance enhancement coatings on installed photovoltaic panels and glass windows in outdoor environments. The coating applicator is adapted to move along a solar panel or glass pane while applicator mechanisms deposit a uniform layer of liquid coating solution to the substrate's surface. The applicator assembly comprises a conveyance means disposed on a frame. Further disclosed are innovative applicator heads that comprise a deformable sponge-like core surrounded by a microporous layer. The structure, when in contact with a substrate surface, deposits a uniform layer of coating solution over a large surface.