Pt-Al2O3 nanocoatings for high temperature concentrated solar thermal power applications

Nano-phased structures based on metal-dielectric composites, also called cermets (ceramic-metal), are considered among the most effective spectral selective solar absorbers. For high temperature applications (stable up to 650 °C) noble metal nanoparticles and refractory oxide host matrices are ideal as per their high temperature chemical inertness and stability: Pt/Al2O3 cermet nano-composites are a representative family. This contribution reports on the optical properties of Pt/Al2O3 cermet nano-composites deposited in a multilayered tandem structure. The radio-frequency sputtering optimized Pt/Al2O3 solar absorbers consist of stainless steel substrate/ Mo coating layer/ Pt-Al2O3/ protective Al2O3 layer and stainless steel substrate/ Mo coating layer /Pt-Al2O3 for different composition and thickness of the Pt-Al2O3 cermet coatings. The microstructure, morphology, theoretical modeling and optical properties of the coatings were analyzed by the x-ray diffraction, atomic force, microscopy, effective medium approximation and UV-vis specular and diffuse reflectance.