Efficiency of Absorption of Solar Radiation By Liquids Containing Metallic Nanoparticles

Abstract

We present the results of a comparative analysis of the optical properties of metallic nanoparticles that allows us to select their parameters for effective applications. The optical properties of several metallic (Ni, Ti, Pt, Zn, Mo, and Pd) monodisperse nanoparticles of radii 25 nm, 50 nm, and 75 nm were theoretically studied and analyzed in the spectral range 200–2500 nm. We studied the influence of the nanoparticle parameters (type of metal, radius and concentration of the nanoparticles, etc.) and the surrounding liquid (water) on the optical absorption cross section, scattering cross section, and extinction cross section for absorption, scattering, and extinction of radiation by the nanoparticles. We have established that titanium, nickel, and to a lesser extent molybdenum nanoparticles of radii ~75 nm can be used for efficient absorption and extinction of solar radiation by heterogeneous liquids.