Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy studies of Si coated heat-treated stainless steel with improved optical absorption for solar thermal applications

Abstract

Heat-treatment of stainless steel substrate is reported to improve absorptance due to an increase in roughness along with the formation of surface oxides. Depositing a thin Si layer on stainless steel prior to the heat-treatment results in the formation of islands of nano-micrometer sizes with gaps between them which helps in improving absorptance. Cross-sectional Transmission Electron Microscopy studies are required to understand the development of the surface structures and improved optical properties. The cross-sectional bright- and dark-field Transmission Electron Microscopy images showed the presence of a bright Si-rich region where small nanocrystalline islands were embedded. On top of this layer, larger nanocrystalline protrusions were observed. Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis and Selected Area Diffraction data showed that the substrate elements diffuse out through the Si layer forming smaller islands of various Fe-Cr-Mn-based silicides in the Si layer and islands of Fe, Cr, and Mn-based silicides and oxides at the surface. The High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy images showed that the islands are nanocrystalline in nature and are embedded in a Si-rich amorphous region. The absence of O in the Si-rich layer in SAD data was observed. Also, from the top layer EDX data, Fe peak intensity was found to be higher than Cr peak intensity. These observations indicate that the presence of the Si layer helps in reducing the inward diffusion of O into the substrate, thus preventing internal oxidation. Also, this Si layer prevents the Cr from forming a continuous Cr oxide layer and instead forms mixed oxide/silicide islands which enhance optical properties. Similar studies in the heat-treated substrate without a Si layer showed the presence of sharp-angled nanocrystalline structures of Fe-Cr-based oxides and smooth-angled nanocrystalline structures of Fe-Mn-based oxides on the surface.