Nanostructured metal-oxide materials for solar energy absorption and conversion for industrial heater applications

Abstract

As the most plentiful energy source on Earth, solar energy possesses the potential to fulfill all of humanity's energy requirements if harnessed to its full extent. Unlike finite fossil fuels, solar energy is a renewable resource that can be utilized indefinitely and does not contribute to climate change. The applicability of metal-oxides (TiO2) multi-ring resonator broad solar absorber (MOMRAB) for solar energy applications was examined in this work. A metal oxide layer and a multi-ring resonator structure combine to absorb sunlight at a variety of wavelengths (200 nm–900 nm) in the MOMRAB. While the metal oxide layer absorbs sunlight in the visible and infrared portions of the spectrum, the multi-ring resonator structure traps sunlight and lengthens its route within the MOMRAB. The MOMRAB is a promising material for a variety of applications due to its good absorptance (95.07 %) and polarization insensitivity across a wide wavelength range from 200 nm to 900 nm (700 nm). Along with examining the resonator's electric field, the research also included the polarization independence and incidence angle independence of the structure. Radiation barriers, solar induction systems, water and air warmers, and industrial heaters are a few possible uses for the MOMRAB. It is appropriate for space and satellite missions due to its zero transmittance and capacity to absorb a sizable amount of space radiation.