Electromagnetic resonances of wavelength-selective solar absorbers with film-coupled fishnet gratings

The purpose of this study is to clarify the optical characteristics of a Tungsten-SiO2-based film-coupled metamaterial with a fishnet-shaped grating, and we aim to show that this structure could potentially be used as a solar selective absorber for a solar thermophotovoltaic system. The proposed film-coupled metamaterial absorber combined with a fishnet-shaped grating shows significant enhancement in its absorption in the visible spectral region compared with a flat Tungsten surface, and it keeps its spectral emission low in the infrared region, thereby reducing radiative heat loss. The underlying mechanisms of the proposed absorber are discussed through a 3D full-wave electromagnetic simulation, the results of which are compared with that of theoretical equations. Furthermore, its spectral absorption under oblique incident light at the transverse magnetic and transverse electric waves is scrutinized. The underlying absorption mechanisms and relations between each optical resonance are discussed in this paper and will prove to be fundamental not only in the design of solar selective absorbers but also in other wavelength-selective thermal radiation controlling devices.