Nonselective Coatings for Solar Thermal Applications in CSP

This chapter presents numerous nonselective coatings for solar thermal applications. It discusses the details of material composition, fabrication, absorptance, emittance, thermal stability, durability, and corrosion resistance of nonselective coatings. Nonselective coatings are fabricated by both, the wet-chemical and the gas-phase methods. The wet-chemical method consists of paint coatings, conversion coatings, and electrochemical coatings. The gas-phase method includes chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sputtering, and vacuum evaporation. Coatings for solar thermal conversion are expected to perform in an open environment; therefore, it is essential to have full knowledge regarding their performance and possible degradation in real operating environments. Solar thermal conversion has become one of the leading approaches in concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. To address thermal stability for high-temperature CSP applications, the incorporation of stable oxide and nitride materials, such as Y₂O₃, ZrO₂, HfN, and TiN, in the fabrication process should be extensively investigated.