Use of sol-gel thin films in solar energy applications

Conference · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5583534

Pettit, R B; Brinker, C J

The sol-gel process uses metal alkoxides of network forming cations, such as Si, B, or Al, in alcohol/water solutions to form glass-like, polymeric networks in liquid solution. Thin films are formed by depositing the solution on a substrate by spinning, dipping or spraying. When the film is then heated to moderate temperatures (400 to 500/sup 0/C), dense glass films or stable porous films are obtained. The use of sol-gel thin films in four solar energy materials applications is discussed. Encapsulation of black chrome solar selective coatings improved the high temperature thermal stability by a factor of 2.7. Formation of porous, antireflection coatings on glass envelopes used in solar thermal collectors increased the solar transmittance of the glass from 0.91 to greater than 0.96. Double-layer, antireflection coatings of SiO/sub 2/ and TiO/sub 2/ on silicon solar cells reduced the solar reflectance of the cells from 0.36 to 0.04 and thereby improved cell efficiencies by 50%. Protective coatings applied to silvered stainless steel substrates were used to form structural solar mirrors. Solar averaged specular reflectance values of 0.90 to 0.91 were obtained.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5583534
• Report Number(s): SAND-85-0414C; CONF-850887-7; ON: DE85014838
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360600 -- Other Materials
ALUMINIUM
ANTIREFLECTION COATINGS
BLACK CHROME
BLACK COATINGS
BORON
COATINGS
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELEMENTS
ENCAPSULATION
EQUIPMENT
FILMS
METALS
MIRRORS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SILICON COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POLYMERS
PROTECTIVE COATINGS
SEMIMETALS
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
SILICONES
SILOXANES
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
THIN FILMS
USES