Ultra-broadband perfect solar energy absorber based on tungsten ring arrays

Abstract

Metamaterials play a crucial role in the research of broadband absorbers. In order to achieve broadband and efficient absorption of solar energy, a novel solar energy absorber based on tungsten ring array is proposed in this paper. The results of numerical analysis show that the absorption efficiency of the absorber is over 90% at 300∼2000 nm, the average absorption efficiency is 96.2%, and the absorption peak is 99.9%. Broadband absorption can be attributed to the excitation of plasmon and Fabry–Perot resonance effect on the surface of metal-insulator-metal. In addition, thanks to the high symmetry of the structure, it is relatively independent of incident angle and polarization angle. In the future, the absorbent will have a promising application prospect in the fields of solar energy utilization, photothermal conversion and infrared detection.