View article

Solar energy is the most abundant source of renewable energy. The direct method of harnessing solar energy is the solar thermal conversion method using solar absorbers. The absorbers are coated with solar selective coatings with high absorptance and low thermal emittance. Spectrally selective coatings which are stable up to temperatures ≤300°C (in air and vacuum) have been developed in the past. These coatings are mainly deposited from wet chemical routes (e.g., electrodeposition) and have been reviewed widely in the literature. Because of the environmental issues as well as low thermal stability of these wet chemical deposited coatings, researchers all over the world started looking for other alternative routes such as physical vapor deposited (PVD) coatings. A great deal of research has been carried out since 1990s to develop PVD coatings for both mid- and high-temperature applications. The mid …