A Metastructure Based on Amorphous Carbon for High Efficiency and Selective Solar Absorption
Junli Su,
Gang Chen,
Chong Ma,
Qiuyu Zhang,
Xingyu Li,
Yujia Geng,
Bojie Jia,
Haihan Luo,
Dingquan Liu
Affiliations
Junli Su
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Optical Coatings and Spectral Modulation, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, China
Gang Chen
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Optical Coatings and Spectral Modulation, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, China
Chong Ma
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Optical Coatings and Spectral Modulation, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, China
Qiuyu Zhang
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Optical Coatings and Spectral Modulation, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, China
Xingyu Li
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Optical Coatings and Spectral Modulation, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, China
Yujia Geng
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Optical Coatings and Spectral Modulation, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, China
Bojie Jia
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Optical Coatings and Spectral Modulation, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, China
Haihan Luo
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Optical Coatings and Spectral Modulation, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, China
Dingquan Liu
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Optical Coatings and Spectral Modulation, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, China
Efficient solar thermal conversion is crucial for renewable clean energy technologies such as solar thermal power generation, solar thermophotovoltaic and seawater desalination. To maximize solar energy conversion efficiency, a solar selective absorber with tailored absorption properties designed for solar applications is indispensable. In this study, we propose a broadband selective absorber based on amorphous carbon (a-C) metamaterials that achieves high absorption in the ultraviolet (UV), visible (Vis) and near-infrared (NIR) spectral ranges. Additionally, through metal doping, the optical properties of carbon matrix materials can be modulated. We introduce Ti@a-C thin film into the nanostructure to enhance light absorption across most of the solar spectrum, particularly in the NIR wavelength band, which is essential for improving energy utilization. The impressive solar absorptivity and photothermal conversion efficiency reach 97.8% and 95.6%, respectively. Notably, these superior performances are well-maintained even at large incident angles with different polarized states. These findings open new avenues for the application of a-C matrix materials, especially in fields related to solar energy harvesting.
