SOLUTION-PROCESSED SELECTIVE SOLAR ABSORPTION COATINGS AND METHODS OF PREPARATION THEREOF

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a solution-processed selective solar absorption coating and a process for the preparation thereof.

Claims

1. A selective solar absorption coating comprising: an infrared reflecting coating; an absorptive coating comprising ceramic nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of transition metal nitrides, transition metal borides, transition metal carbides, and mixtures thereof disposed on a surface of the infrared reflecting coating; and an SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating disposed on the surface of the absorptive coating, wherein the absorptive coating is prepared from solution-processable ceramic nanoparticles.

2. The selective solar absorption coating of claim 1, wherein the ceramic nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of TiN.sub.x, Al.sub.wTi.sub.zN, ZrN.sub.x, Al.sub.wZr.sub.zN, TiC, ZrC, TiN.sub.xC.sub.y, ZrN.sub.xC.sub.y, TiN.sub.xO.sub.y, ZrN.sub.xO.sub.y, TiN, ZrN, TiB.sub.2, and ZrB.sub.2, wherein 0<w<1, 0.5x1.5, 0y1, and 0<z<1.

3. The selective solar absorption coating of claim 1, wherein the ceramic nanoparticles have an average diameter of 10-500 nm and the thickness of the absorptive coating is 10-500 nm.

4. The selective solar absorption coating of claim 1, wherein the infrared reflecting coating comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of a metallic material and a ceramic material; and the infrared reflecting coating has a thickness greater than 50 nm.

5. The selective solar absorption coating of claim 1, wherein the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating has a thickness of 10-500 nm.

6. The selective solar absorption coating of claim 1 further comprising a substrate, wherein the infrared reflecting coating is disposed on the surface of the substrate.

7. The selective solar absorption coating of claim 1, wherein the selective solar absorption coating comprises: an infrared reflecting coating comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of a metallic material and a ceramic material, wherein the infrared reflecting coating has a thickness greater than 50 nm; an absorptive coating disposed on a surface of the infrared reflecting coating, wherein the absorptive coating comprises ceramic nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of TiN.sub.x, Al.sub.wTi.sub.zN, ZrN.sub.x, Al.sub.wZr.sub.zN, TiC, ZrC, TiN.sub.xC.sub.y, ZrN.sub.xC.sub.y, TiN.sub.xO.sub.y, ZrN.sub.xO.sub.y, TiB.sub.2, and ZrB.sub.2, wherein 0<w<1, 0.5x1.5, 0y1, and 0<z<1; the ceramic nanoparticles have an average diameter of 10-500 nm; and the absorptive coating has a thickness of 10-500 nm; and an SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating disposed on the surface of the absorptive coating, wherein the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating has a thickness of 10-500 nm, wherein the absorptive coating and the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating are each independently prepared using solution-processable starting materials.

8. A solar thermal energy conversion system comprising the selective solar absorption coating of claim 1.

9. A method for preparing the selective solar absorption coating of claim 1, the method comprising: providing the infrared reflecting coating; applying a first solvent comprising the ceramic nanoparticles onto an exposed surface of the infrared reflecting coating thereby forming the absorptive coating disposed on the infrared reflecting coating; and depositing SiO.sub.2 onto an exposed surface of the absorptive coating thereby forming a SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating, wherein each of the first solvent applied using a solution-based method.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the solution-based method comprises at least one method selected from the group consisting of spin coating, spray coating, and painting.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first solvent comprises a colloidal dispersion of the ceramic nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of TiN.sub.x, Al.sub.wTi.sub.zN, ZrN.sub.x, Al.sub.wZr.sub.zN.sub.y, TiC, ZrC, TiN.sub.xCy, ZrN.sub.xC.sub.y, TiN.sub.xO.sub.y, ZrN.sub.xO.sub.y, TiB.sub.2, and ZrB.sub.2, wherein 0<w<1, 0.5x1.5, 0y1, and 0<z<1.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the ceramic nanoparticles have an average diameter of 10-500 nm and the thickness of the absorptive coating is 10-500 nm.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the infrared reflecting coating comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of metals and ceramics; and the infrared reflecting coating has a thickness greater than 50 nm.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating has a thickness of 10-500 nm.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of depositing SiO.sub.2 on the surface of the absorptive coating comprises applying a second solvent comprising a SiO.sub.2 precursor onto an exposed surface of the absorptive coating thereby forming a SiO.sub.2 precursor coating disposed on the absorptive coating; and curing the SiO.sub.2 precursor coating thereby forming an SiO.sub.2 anti-reflection coating disposed on the absorptive coating

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the SiO.sub.2 precursor is perhydropolysilazane (PHPS) and the step of curing the SiO.sub.2 precursor comprises reaction of PHPS with water and oxygen.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the method comprises: providing the infrared reflecting coating; applying a first solvent comprising TiN ceramic nanoparticles onto an exposed surface of the infrared reflecting coating thereby forming the absorptive coating disposed on the infrared reflecting coating, wherein the TiN ceramic nanoparticles have an average diameter of 10-500 nm and thickness of the infrared reflecting coating is 10-500 nm; applying a second solvent comprising PHPS onto an exposed surface of the absorptive coating thereby forming a PHPS coating disposed on the absorptive coating; and contacting the PHPS coating with oxygen and water thereby forming an SiO.sub.2 anti-reflection coating having a thickness of 50-500 nm disposed on the absorptive coating, wherein each of the first solvent and the second solvent is independently applied using a solution-based method.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the first solvent and the second solvent is independently an organic solvent.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of: removing the first solvent at a temperature between 20-200 C. after the step of applying the first solvent comprising TiN ceramic nanoparticles onto an exposed surface of the infrared reflecting coating; and removing the second solvent at a temperature between 20-400 C. after the step of applying a second solvent comprising PHPS onto an exposed surface of the absorptive coating.

20. A selective solar absorption coating prepared according to the method of claim 9.

21. A selective solar absorption coating prepared according to the method of claim 17.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional schematic of a solution-processed selective solar absorber in accordance with certain embodiments described herein.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a preparation process for a solution-processed selective solar absorption coating in accordance to certain embodiments described herein.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows absorption spectra of a solution-processed selective solar absorption coating before and after thermal annealing at 1,000 K for 150 hours in vacuum in accordance with certain embodiments described herein.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows absorption spectra of a solution-processed selective solar absorption coating on stainless steel substrate.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional schematic of a solution-processed selective solar absorber further comprising an adhesion layer in accordance with certain embodiments described herein.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional schematic of a solution-processed selective solar absorber further comprising a protective layer in accordance with certain embodiments described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The present disclosure provides a selective solar absorption coating comprising: an infrared reflecting coating; an absorptive coating comprising ceramic nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of transition metal nitrides, transition metal borides, transition metal carbides, and mixtures thereof disposed on a surface of the infrared reflecting coating; and a SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating disposed on the surface of the absorptive coating. Advantageously, the absorptive coating and the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating can be prepared from solution-processable starting materials, which provide an economic means for producing selective solar absorption described herein as compared with conventionally used deposition methods for preparing existing selective solar absorption coatings.

[0045] As used herein, solution-processable refers to materials or compositions that can be used in various solution-phase processes including spin coating, printing (e.g., inkjet printing, gravure printing, offset printing and the like), spray coating, electrospray coating, drop casting, dip coating, blade coating, and the like.

[0046] An exemplary cross-sectional schematic of the selective solar absorption coating described herein is shown in FIG. 1. From bottom to top, the selective solar absorber 1 can comprise an optional substrate 10, an infrared reflecting coating 20, an absorptive coating 30 comprising ceramic nanoparticles 31, and a SiO.sub.2 anti-reflection coating 40.

[0047] The substrate 10 can be used to support the selective solar absorption coating 1. The substrate 10 can comprise any conventional substrate material, such as stainless steel (e.g., 304, 310, 316 and 321), glass, copper, aluminum, silicon, and mixtures thereof. The substrate 10 can be tubular, planar, curved, or any other shape. It should be pointed out here that the nature of the substrate 10 is not critical in the overall structure and that the selective solar absorber 1 and any conventional substrate used in the field of solar thermal energy conversion systems can be used to support the selective solar absorption coating 1.

[0048] The infrared reflecting coating 20 can be used to reflect the infrared light to the free space for minimizing the heat losses from infrared re-emission. Besides, the infrared reflecting coating 20 can also absorb some solar photons in the visible-near infrared (NIR) range due to its intrinsic absorption, while reflecting other visible-NIR-range photons to the top coatings for increasing the optical path length of photons. The infrared reflecting coating 20 can comprise a reflective material selected from the group consisting of metallic materials, ceramic materials, and combinations thereof that exhibit strong reflection in the infrared region. In certain embodiments, the infrared reflecting coating comprises a metallic material selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, aluminum, chrome, molybdenum, copper, nickel, titanium, niobium, tantalum, tungsten, palladium, a mixture of two or more thereof and an alloy thereof. For instance, Au, Ag, Cu, Al, stainless steel, and combinations thereof are suitable for low temperature applications. For higher temperature application, the infrared reflecting coating 20 can comprise refractory metals such as W, Mo, Ta, Zr, Ni, and Ti, or refractory ceramics such as nitrides, carbides, and borides of transition metals (Ti, Zr, Ta, Nb, W, and Hf), and combinations thereof. In addition, the infrared reflecting coating 20 can be non-flexible or flexible. The thickness of the infrared reflecting coating 20 is typically larger than 50 nm. In certain embodiments, the thickness of the infrared reflecting coating 20 is 50 to 300 nm or 100 to 200 nm.

[0049] In certain embodiments, the infrared reflecting coating has a high reflectance for infrared with a wavelength longer than 2.5 microns. In certain embodiments, the infrared reflecting coating reflects 85% to 100% of light with a wavelength of 2.5 microns to 20 microns.

[0050] In instances in which the mechanical/physical properties of the infrared reflecting coating 20 allow, it can also function as a substrate. In such embodiments, the substrate 10 is optional.

[0051] The present disclosure also provides a solution-processed absorptive coating 30 comprising the ceramic nanoparticles 31, which can strongly absorb solar radiation and convert it into thermal energy and show no infrared light absorption (or emission) to avoid heat losses from thermal re-radiation. The ceramic nanoparticles can comprise a group IVB, VB, or VIB transition metal. In certain embodiments, the ceramic nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of TiN.sub.x, ZrN.sub.x, HfN.sub.x, VN.sub.x, NbN.sub.x, TaN.sub.x, CrN.sub.x, MoN.sub.x, WN.sub.x, TiN.sub.xO.sub.y, ZrN.sub.xO.sub.y, HfN.sub.xO.sub.y, VN.sub.xO.sub.y, NbN.sub.xO.sub.y, TaN.sub.xO.sub.y, CrN.sub.xO.sub.y, MoN.sub.xO.sub.y, WN.sub.xO.sub.y, TiC.sub.x, ZrC.sub.x, HfC.sub.x, VC.sub.x, NbC.sub.x, TaC.sub.x, CrC.sub.x, MoC.sub.x, WC.sub.x, TiN.sub.xC.sub.y, ZrN.sub.xC.sub.y, HfN.sub.xC.sub.y, VN.sub.xC.sub.y, NbN.sub.xC.sub.y, TaN.sub.xC.sub.y, CrN.sub.xC.sub.y, MoN.sub.xC.sub.y, WN.sub.xC.sub.y, Al.sub.wZr.sub.zN, Al.sub.wTi.sub.zN, TiN, ZrN, TiB.sub.2, ZrB.sub.2, HfB.sub.2, VB.sub.2, NbB.sub.2, TaB.sub.2, CrB.sub.2, MoB.sub.2, WB.sub.2, and mixtures thereof, wherein 0<w<1, 0.5x1.5, 0y1, and 0<z<1. In certain embodiments, the absorptive coating does not comprise a cermet. In certain embodiments, the absorptive coating or the ceramic nanoparticles do not comprise aluminum. In certain embodiments, the absorptive coating or the ceramic nanoparticles do not comprise ZrNAl, ZrAlNO, TiNAl or TiAlNO. The size of the ceramic nanoparticles 31 can be in the range of 10-500 nm. In certain embodiments, the size range of the ceramic nanoparticles is around 10-100 nm. The ceramic nanoparticles 31 can be any shape, such as sphere, rod, star, irregular, and combinations thereof.

[0052] The ceramic nanoparticles 31 can be deposited onto the infrared reflecting coating 20 thereby forming a uniform absorptive coating 30 for sunlight absorption. Solution-based methods such as spin coating, spray coating and painting can be used for deposition. In certain embodiments, the ceramic nanoparticles are colloidal ceramic nanoparticles. The high dispersion of the colloidal ceramic nanoparticles 31 can ensure the uniformity of the absorptive coating 30. The absorption bandwidth or the cut-off wavelength can be adjusted by controlling the thickness of the absorptive coating 30. To achieve good spectral selectivity, the thickness of the absorptive coating 30 typically ranges between 10-500 nm. The optimal thickness depends on the operational conditions, generally 50-200 nm.

[0053] In certain embodiments, the selective solar absorption coating 1 can comprise more than one absorptive coating 30. In such instances, the selective solar absorption coating can comprise 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more coatings of the absorptive coating 30 coated on the surface on each successive surface of the absorptive coating.

[0054] The present disclosure also provides a SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40 disposed on the surface of the absorptive coating, which also serves as a surface protective coating. In certain embodiments, the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40 can be derived from solution-processable starting materials. The thickness of the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40 typically ranges between 10-500 nm. The optimal thickness of the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40 can range between 30-150 nm for different conditions.

[0055] The SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40 can further enhance the absorption in a broad band by reducing surface reflection. In addition, adding the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40 can improve the stability of the absorber especially at high temperatures, as well as its hydrophobic properties. Compared to SiO.sub.2 thin films prepared using chemical vapor deposition, the PHPS-derived SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40 exhibits many advantages, such as lower processing temperatures, higher thermal stability, greater hydrophobicity, and lower cost.

[0056] The topmost coating of the antireflective material can be textured to increase solar absorption and minimize surface reflection. Texturing can be accomplished by any suitable method, such as bombardment of the surface or etching.

[0057] In certain embodiments, the selective solar absorption coating further comprises an adhesion layer 50 between the infrared reflecting coating 20 and the absorptive coating 30, wherein the adhesion layer exhibits transparency in the near infrared and infrared improves the adhesion of the absorptive coating to the infrared reflecting coating (FIG. 5). Materials suitable for preparing the adhesion layer, include, but are not limited to PHPS. The adhesion layer can vary in thickness between 5-50 nm.

[0058] In certain embodiments, the selective solar absorption coating further comprises a protective layer 60 between the infrared reflecting coating 20 and the absorptive coating 30, wherein the protective layer exhibits transparency in the near infrared and infrared improves the resistance of the infrared coating to corrosion, oxidation and mechanical damage (FIG. 6). The protective layer can comprise Al.sub.2O.sub.3 or SiO.sub.2. The protective layer can vary in thickness between 5-50 nm.

[0059] The selective solar absorber coating exhibit excellent photothermal and physical properties.

[0060] In certain embodiments, the selective solar absorber coatings described herein exhibit an absorptance of up to 95%. In certain embodiments, the absorptance of the selective solar absorber coating described herein can be range from 85-95%; 87-95%; 89-95%; 90-95%; 91-95%; 92-95%; 93-95%; or 94-95%.

[0061] The selective solar absorber coatings described herein can exhibit a thermal emittance of between 2-20% at 300 K. In certain embodiments, the selective solar absorber coatings described herein can exhibit a thermal emittance of between 15-40% at 1,000K.

[0062] The present disclosure also provides solar thermal energy conversion systems, such as concentrating solar power, solar thermophotovoltaics, heating and solar steam generation, comprising the selective solar absorber coatings described herein.

[0063] The present disclosure also provides a method for preparing the selective solar absorption coating 1. A schematic showing the steps of an exemplary method for preparing the selective solar absorption coating 1 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Advantageously, the methods for preparing the solar selective absorption coating described herein can comprise one or more cost effective solution-based deposition steps for depositing one or more of the absorptive coating 30 and optionally the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40. In certain embodiments, the method comprises: providing the infrared reflecting coating; applying a first solvent comprising the ceramic nanoparticles onto an exposed surface of the infrared reflecting coating thereby forming the absorptive coating disposed on the infrared reflecting coating; applying a second solvent comprising a SiO.sub.2 precursor onto an exposed surface of the absorptive coating thereby forming a SiO.sub.2 precursor coating disposed on the absorptive coating; and curing the SiO.sub.2 precursor yielding SiO.sub.2 and thereby forming an SiO.sub.2 anti-reflection coating disposed on the absorptive coating, wherein each of the first solvent and the second solvent are independently applied using a solution-based method.

[0064] Methods for preparing the infrared reflecting coating are not limited to any specific method. As such, all known methods for preparing the infrared reflecting coating are contemplated by the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, the infrared reflecting coating is prepared by a physical deposition technique in vacuum in vapor phase (PVD, physical vapor deposition), such as thermal evaporation, electron gun, ionic implantation or sputtering, by chemical deposition in vapor phase (CVD, chemical vapor deposition) or through electrolytic baths.

[0065] A first solvent comprising the ceramic nanoparticles 31 can be applied to an exposed surface of the infrared reflecting coating. The first solvent is not limited to any specific solvent. In general the first solvent can comprise an organic solvent, water, or mixtures thereof. In instances in which the first solvent comprises an organic solvent, the first solvent can be selected from alkane solvents, such as pentane, hexane, cyclohexane, heptanes, octane, nonane, decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, and tetradecane; aryls, such as toluene, xylene, mesitylene, trimethylbenzene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene, nitrobenzene, cyanobenzene, and the like; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and the like; ethers, such as tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, dibutyl ether, tertbutylmethylether, tetrahydrofuran, and the like; N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF); acetonitrile; and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the first solvent comprises water, ethanol, polyethylene, polyethylene methyl ether, polypropylene, polypropylene methyl ether, a propylene glycol alkyl ether ester, such as propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA), and mixtures thereof. In certain embodiments, the first solvent has a boiling point between 60-200 C.; 60-160 C.; 100-160 C.; 80-200 C.; 100-200 C.; 120-180 C.; or 140-160 C.

[0066] The concentration of the ceramic nanoparticles 31 in the first solvent can be from 1-70% w/w. In certain embodiments, the concentration of the ceramic nanoparticles 31 in the first solvent is 1-70%; 1-60%; 1-50%; 1-40%; 10-40%; 10-30%; 10-25%; or 15-25% w/w.

[0067] The first solvent can comprise a colloidal solution of the ceramic nanoparticles 31. Colloidal solutions of the ceramic nanoparticles 31 can be prepared using any conventional method known in the art for preparing colloidal solutions of metal nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the colloidal solution is prepared by ultrasonic pre-dispersion of the ceramic nanoparticles and optionally using a method for reducing the particle size of the ceramic nanoparticles 31.

[0068] There are various known methods for reducing the particle size of substances and avoiding nanoparticle aggregation, including reduction by comminution or de-agglomeration by milling and/or sieving. Exemplary methods for particle reduction include, but are not limited to jet milling, hammer milling, compression milling and tumble milling processes (e.g., ball milling). Particle size control parameters for these processes are well understood by the person skilled in the art. For example the particle size reduction achieved in a jet milling process is controlled by adjusting a number of parameters, the primary ones being mill pressure and feed rate. In a hammer mill process, the particle size reduction is controlled by the feed rate, the hammer speed and the size of the opening in the grate/screen at the outlet. In a compression mill process, the particle size reduction is controlled by the feed rate and amount of compression imparted to the material (e.g. the amount of force applied to compression rollers).

[0069] In certain embodiments, the ceramic nanoparticles 31 are subjected to high-energy ball milling. In such instances, the ceramic nanoparticles can be pre-dispersed in any suitable solvent by ultrasonic treatment. After that, the pre-dispersed solution can be subjected to high-energy ball milling for e.g., 10 hours to obtain better dispersion. In certain embodiments, ZrO.sub.2 balls of 0.05-5 mm sizes are used as grinding medium. The weight ratio of the balls and the materials can be 100:1-10:1. The milling speed can be controlled between 200-2000 rpm. The solution can be diluted to a desired concentration by adding additional volumes of the first solvent or adding volumes of other solvents thereby forming a first solvent comprising the ceramic nanoparticles. Then, the first solvent comprising the colloidal ceramic nanoparticles 31 can be deposited on the top of the infrared reflecting coating 20 by one more solution-based methods and optionally removing the first solvent thereby forming the absorptive coating disposed on the infrared reflecting coating.

[0070] Exemplary solution-based methods include, but are not limited to spin coating, spray coating, and painting. The thickness of the absorptive coating 30 can be tuned by the concentration of the ceramic nanoparticles 31 in the first solvent, modifying the coating conditions, e.g., the speed of the coating process, and/or applying multiple coatings of the absorptive coating 30.

[0071] The first solvent can be removed using any method known to those of skill in the art. In certain embodiments, the first solvent can be removed by one or more of the application of heat and reduced pressure. In certain embodiments, the first solvent is removed by heating at 60-200 C.; 60-160 C.; 100-160 C.; 80-200 C.; 100-200 C.; 120-180 C.; or 140-160 C.

[0072] In instances in which the selective solar absorption coating 1 comprises more than one absorptive coating 30, the step of applying the absorptive coating can be repeated. In such instances, the absorptive coating can be applied 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more times with each subsequent coating of the absorptive coating coated on the surface on the previously applied absorptive coating.

[0073] The preparation of the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40 is not limited to any specific method for SiO.sub.2 deposition and any such method known to those skilled in the art may be used in connection with the methods described herein. In certain embodiments, the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40 is deposited using a CVD method, a sol-gel method, deposition of a SiO.sub.2 precursor and chemical conversion of the SiO.sub.2 precursor (e.g., by curing) to SiO.sub.2, and the like may be used in the formation of the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40.

[0074] In certain embodiments, the SiO.sub.2 precursor is a silicon-containing polymer, such as a polysilazane, a polysiloxane, a polysiloxazane or a polysilane. In certain embodiments, the polysilazane is PHPS. Additional SiO.sub.2 precursors may include, tetralkyloxysilanes (e.g., tetramethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane), orthosilicic acid, and the like.

[0075] The method for depositing the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40 can comprise applying a second solvent comprising the SiO.sub.2 precursor onto the absorptive coating 30 thereby forming a SiO.sub.2 precursor coating disposed on the absorptive coating 30; and curing the SiO.sub.2 precursor to yield SiO.sub.2 and thereby forming the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40.

[0076] The concentration of SiO.sub.2 precursor in the second solvent can be from 1-80% w/w. In certain embodiments, the concentration of the SiO.sub.2 precursor in the second solvent is 1-80%; 1-70%; 1-60%; 1-50%; 1-40%; 1-30%; 1-20%; 1-10%; 2-8%; or 4-6% w/w.

[0077] The second solvent can be an organic solvent, such as alkanes, aryls, alcohols, ethers, halogenated solvents, dialkyl ketones, esters, formamides, and mixtures thereof. Exemplary second solvents can comprise include alkane solvents, such as pentane, hexane, cyclohexane, heptanes, octane, nonane, decane, undecane, dodecane, tridecane, and tetradecane; aryls, such as toluene, xylene, mesitylene, trimethylbenzene, chlorobenzene, dichlorobenzene, trichlorobenzene, nitrobenzene, cyanobenzene, and the like; alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and the like; ethers, such as tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydropyran, dibutyl ether, tertbutylmethylether, propylene glycol methoxy ether (PGME), propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (PGMEA), tetrahydrofuran, and the like; N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF); acetonitrile; and combinations thereof.

[0078] Once the SiO.sub.2 precursor solution is deposited onto the surface of the absorptive coating 30 by a solution-processed method, such as spin coating, spray coating, and painting, it can then be cured to yield SiO.sub.2 and thereby form the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40. The step of curing the SiO.sub.2 precursor can comprise at least one of heating the SiO.sub.2 precursor, reacting the SiO.sub.2 precursor with water, and reacting the SiO.sub.2 precursor with oxygen. In certain embodiments, the step of curing the SiO.sub.2 precursor comprises heating the SiO.sub.2 precursor in air (e.g., in the presence of oxygen and water vapor).

[0079] In certain embodiments, a PHPS SiO.sub.2 precursor solution is coated on the surface of the absorptive coating 30 and heated at a temperature between 60-400 C.; 60-350 C.; 60-300 C.; 60-250 C.; 60-200 C.; 60-180 C.; 80-180 C.; 100-180 C.; 120-180 C.; 120-160 C.; or 140-160 C. in the air (e.g., in the presence of oxygen and water vapor) thereby forming the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40.

[0080] The thickness of the SiO.sub.2 antireflection coating 40 can be tuned by appropriate adjustment of the concentration of the SiO.sub.2 precursor in the second solvent, by modifying the coating conditions, e.g., the speed of the coating process, and/or successively applying more than one coating of the antireflection coating 40.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0081] In this example, a selective solar absorption coating is prepared following the procedures mentioned above. The solution-processed selective solar absorber comprises a silicon wafer substrate 10, a TiN infrared reflecting coating 20, an absorptive coating 30 comprising colloidal TiN ceramic nanoparticles 31, and a SiO.sub.2 anti-reflection coating 40. First, a 200-nm-thick highly reflective TiN thin film is deposited on a 4-inch silicon wafer by reactive direct current sputtering. The base vacuum for the deposition is 6106 torr. The DC power is 10 kW, the substrate temperature is 220 C., and the target is a high-purity (99.9%) Ti target. 150 SCCM Ar and 100 sccm N.sub.2 are used as the deposition atmosphere. Commercial TiN ceramic nanoparticles with sizes of 20-30 nm are mixed with propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA) to from a mixture, in which the weight ratio of TiN ceramic nanoparticles is 20%. The mixture is pre-dispersed by ultrasonic treatment for 1 hours. Then the pre-dispersed mixture is further treated by high-energy ball milling for more than 10 hours to obtain a homogeneous and well-dispersed colloidal TiN solution. ZrO.sub.2 balls of 5 mm diameter are used as grinding medium. The weight ratio of the balls to the materials is 20:1. The milling speed is controlled at 700 rpm. 1 mL of the obtained colloidal solution is diluted by adding 9 ml of ethanol. A drop of the diluted colloidal TiN solution is spin-coated onto the TiN infrared reflecting coating at a speed of 6,000 rpm for 60 seconds to form the absorptive coating. The coating process is repeated one more time. After that, the prepared TiN absorptive coating is baked on a hotplate at a temperature of 150 C. for 5 minutes to evaporate the solvent. A drop of a PHPS solution (5% weight ratio) in dibutyl ether is deposited on top of the absorptive coating by spin-coating at a speed of 2,000 rpm for 60 s. The coating process is repeated one more time. The prepared PHPS coating is baked on a hotplate at a temperature of 150 C. for 5 minutes to evaporate the solvent, followed by a baking process at a higher temperature of 180 C. for 2 hours to form the SiO.sub.2 anti-reflection coating. Finally, the solution-processed selective solar absorber is obtained.

[0082] The absorptance spectrum of the selective solar absorber is shown in FIG. 3. The selective solar absorber is able to harvest the broad-spectrum sunlight with a high solar absorptance of 95%, while strongly reflecting the infrared light to attain a low thermal emittance of only 3% at 300 K and 22% at 1,000 K. Ultimately, a high solar-thermal energy conversion efficiency of 92% at 1,000 K under the illumination of 400 suns is achieved, which is the highest value reported so far for solution-processed selective solar absorbers. Thermal stability testing results show that the selective absorber is thermally stable after annealing at temperatures up to 1000 K in vacuum for 150 hours, as shown in FIG. 3. The water contact angle measurements show that the selective solar absorber with a SiO.sub.2 coating has a contact angle of 90. The overall performance of the selective solar absorber is comparable to that of the best-performance absorbers fabricated by high-vacuum techniques. However, the absorber by solution-based process is much simpler and cheaper than those high-vacuum nanofabrication methods conducted in cleaning rooms, which will largely reduce the cost in large-scale fabrication.

Example 2

[0083] In this example, a selective solar absorption coating is prepared following the procedures mentioned above. The solution-processed selective solar absorber comprises a polished stainless steel infrared reflecting coating 20 that also act as substrate, an absorptive coating 30 comprising colloidal TiN ceramic nanoparticles 31, and a SiO.sub.2 anti-reflection coating 40.

[0084] Commercial TiN ceramic nanoparticles with sizes of 20-30 nm are mixed with propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA) to from a mixture, in which the weight ratio of TiN ceramic nanoparticles is 20%. The mixture is pre-dispersed by ultrasonic treatment for 1 hours. Then the pre-dispersed mixture is further treated by high-energy ball milling for more than 10 hours to obtain a homogeneous and well-dispersed colloidal TiN solution. ZrO.sub.2 balls of 5 mm diameter are used as grinding medium. The weight ratio of the balls to the materials is 20:1. The milling speed is controlled at 700 rpm. 1 mL of the obtained colloidal solution is diluted by adding 9 ml of ethanol. A drop of the diluted colloidal TiN solution is spin-coated onto the TiN infrared reflecting coating at a speed of 6000 rpm for 60 seconds. The coating process is repeated one more time thereby forming the absorptive coating. After that, the prepared TiN absorptive coating is baked on a hotplate at a temperature of 150 C. for 5 minutes to evaporate the solvent. A drop of a PHPS solution (5% weight ratio) in dibutyl ether is deposited on top of the absorptive coating by spin-coating at a speed of 2,000 rpm for 60 s. The prepared PHPS coating is baked on a hotplate at a higher temperature of 200 C. for 2 hours to form the SiO.sub.2 anti-reflection coating.

[0085] The absorptance spectra of the samples before and after coating selective solar absorber are shown in FIG. 4. The selective solar absorber is able to harvest the broad-spectrum sunlight with a high solar absorptance of 95%, while strongly reflecting the infrared light to attain a low thermal emittance of only 10% at 300 K.

REFERENCES

[0086] 1. C. E. Kennedy, Review of mid-to-high-temperature solar selective absorber materials published in 2002 by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and also in the review article by L. A. Weinstein et al., Concentrating solar power published on the journal Chemical Reviews in 2015. [0087] 2. L. Kaluza et al., Solar energy materials & Solar cells, 2001, 70, 187-201 [0088] 3. J. Vince et al., Solar energy materials & Solar cells, 2003, 79, 313-330; T. Bostrom et al., Solar energy, 2003, 74, 497-503. [0089] 4. T. Bostrom et al., Solar energy materials & Solar cells, 2007, 97, 38-43; X. Wang et al., Applied physics letters, 2012, 101, 203109.