IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

International Journal of Engineering and Modern Technology (IJEMT )

E-ISSN 2504-8848
P-ISSN 2695-2149
VOL. 11 NO. 4 2025
DOI: 10.56201/ijemt.vol.11.no4.2025.pg11.22

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Performance Improvement of Concentrated Solar Thermal Collectors using Ti and AlN Composite Coatings for Photothermal Conversion Applications

Mutawalli Bello, Abdulrasheed Nuhu

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Abstract

Despite numerous attempts and achievements recorded so far towards photothermal conversion of radiant energy from the sun for power generation, the attention on improving the existing systems towards achieving high efficiency has given less attention. In this perspective, we have synthesized Ti and AlN thin film multilayer solar absorber coatings used in improving concentrated solar collectors for power generation. The coatings was deposited onto a modified stainless steel substrate using Direct Current (DC)/Radio Frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering at room temperature. The coating exhibited high solar absorptance of 0.91 and low thermal emittance of 0.15 in the solar and infrared regions respectively. The coatings was found to be structurally, optically and thermally stable up to a temperature of about 450 oC in ambient air. The adhesion test analysis revealed that the coated layers are well adhered to one another and on to the substrate. These results indicate the present coatings has the potentials in improving high temperature concentrated collectors for photothermal conversion application.

keywords:

Photothermal conversion, Radiant energy, Thin film, Imagin camera,

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