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Melanin pigmented solar absorbing surfaces

Conference · · Proc. Annu. Meet. - Am. Sect. Int. Sol. Energy Soc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6481604

Selectivity enhancement is shown to result for melanin, a black biopolymer pigment, for sufficiently low sample density. The effect is proposed to follow from a consideration of the evanescent waves associated with the total internal reflection phenomenon. A relationship is discussed among powder density, pH and the paramagnetic properties of melanin; this relationship is shown to be consistent with, and offer support to an amino-acid side group proposed earlier as part of the melanin structure. A brief discussion is also presented on the optical properties of melanin and the relative importance of quinhydrone, a change transfer complex believed to exist in the polymeric structure of melanin.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Houston, TX
OSTI ID:
6481604
Report Number(s):
CONF-800604-P3
Journal Information:
Proc. Annu. Meet. - Am. Sect. Int. Sol. Energy Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Annu. Meet. - Am. Sect. Int. Sol. Energy Soc.; (United States) Vol. 3.2; ISSN PMSID
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English