Suitability of ultra-refractory diboride ceramics as absorbers for solar energy applications

Year: 2013

Authors: Sciti D., Silvestroni L., Mercatelli L., Sans J.-L., Sani E.

Autors Affiliation: CNR – ISTEC, Institute of Science andT echnology for Ceramics, Via Granarolo 64, I-48018 Faenza, Italy; CNR – INO National Institute of Optics, Largo E. Fermi, 6, I-50125 Firenze,Italy; PROMES – CNRS Processes, Materials and Solar Energy Laboratory, 7 rue du Four Solaire ,66120 Font Romeu, France

Abstract: Ultra-refractory diborides are currently studied mainly as thermal protection materials for aerospace and military applications. However, their favorable properties (very high melting points and good thermo-mechanical properties at high temperatures) can be advantageously exploited to increase the operating temperature of thermodynamic solar plants in concentrating solar power systems. This paper reports on the spectral reflectance characterization of hafnium and zirconium diborides containing MoSi2 as secondary phase to evaluate their potential as novel solar absorbers. To assess the spectral selectivity properties, room-temperature hemispherical reflectance spectra were measured from the UV wavelength region to the mid-infrared, considering different levels of porosity for each system. Moreover, for zirconium diboride and hafnium diboride composites containing 10 vol% of MoSi2 sintering aid, the thermal emittance was measured in the 1100-1400 K temperature range. Room temperature spectral characteristics and high temperature emittance were compared to that of a monolithic silicon carbide. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Journal/Review: SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS

Volume: 109      Pages from: 8  to: 16

More Information: Financial support by the Access to Research Infrastructures activity in the 7th Framework Program of the EU (SFERA Grant Agreement no. 228296) is gratefully acknowledged, as well as the PROMES Director and PROMES Researchers for the use of facilities. Authors thank Dr. Franco Francini for useful discussions about optical properties of UHTCs, C. Melandri for roughness measurements, R. Renis for materials preparation, Mauro Pucci and Massimo D\’Uva for technical assistance.
KeyWords: Concentrating solar power; Diborides; Emittances; Hafnium diboride; Hemispherical reflectance; High melting point; High temperature; Midinfrared; Operating temperature; Room temperature; Secondary phase; Sintering Aid; Solar energy applications; Solar plant; Spectral characteristics; Spectral reflectances; Spectral selectivity; Temperature range; Thermal emittance; Thermal protection material; Thermomechanical properties; UV wavelength; Zirconium diboride, Hafnium; Mechanical properties; Military applications; Optical properties; Reflection; Refractory materials; Silicon carbide; Sintering; Solar absorbers; Solar energy; Solar power generation; Zirconium; Zirconium compounds, Borides
DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2012.10.004

Citations: 79
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