Material for use in photothermal applications, photothermal device, and method and apparatus for making a selective absorber for converting solar energy to heat

摘要

There is disclosed a new and improved material and device (10) for improved selective absorption of light energy for use in photothermal applications and a method and apparatus for manufacturing same.;The device (10) includes a layer of thermal infrared radiation reflecting material (14) containing a transition metal or stainless steel. A solar radiation absorbing layer (16) is deposited over the infrared reflecting layer (14). This layer (16) comprises either amorphous boron or an amorphous alloy of boron and silicon, boron and germanium or boron and molybdenum.;Finally, a solar radiation antireflecting material layer (18) is deposited over the solar radiation absorbing layer (16). This layer (18) comprises an amorphous alloy of nitrogen and either silicon or boron.