Optical films for solar energy applications

Conference · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983

OSTI ID:5868735

Lampert, C M

A number of solar energy conversion materials and coatings are considered stratified media. They are generally classified as graded-index media or layered media. With index coatings, two components (such as air and SiO/sub 2/ or Cr and Cr/sub 2/O/sub 3/) are created in a non-linear fashion with depth into the coating. By simple materials admixing, a coating is formed with varying optical constants (n, k). Layered media generally consist of interference films, films with thicknesses below the wavelength of light, made of alternating dissimilar media such as a dielectric and metal combination. This paper presents details of the properties of stratified coatings. Coatings that serve as antireflection films, transparent optical insulation (silica aerogel), thermal heat mirrors, or selective absorbers are also discussed. Both interference and semiconductor types of heat mirrors are evaluated. Four types of selective absorbers are also covered: dendritic optical trapping, graded composite, metal/dielectric tandems, and optical interference techniques.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 5868735
• Report Number(s): LBL-16226; CONF-830123-3; ON: DE83016317
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501 -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
140900 -- Solar Thermal Utilization
141000* -- Solar Collectors & Concentrators
ANTIREFLECTION COATINGS
BLACK COATINGS
COATINGS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
FILMS
HEAT MIRRORS
LAYERS
MATERIALS
MICROSTRUCTURE
MIRRORS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SOLAR ABSORBERS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SPECTRALLY SELECTIVE SURFACES
STRATIFICATION
SURFACES
THERMAL INSULATION