Helical Micropillar Processed by One-Step 3D Printing for Solar Thermal Conversion

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Solar thermal energy conversion is crucial for renewable energy applications.
• Maximizing photo-thermal conversion efficiency is an ongoing research challenge.
• Biomimicry, particularly plant structures, offers novel design principles for energy harvesting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate a novel solar absorber inspired by natural helical structures.
• To enhance solar thermal conversion efficiency using a graphene-based composite.
• To investigate the performance of the Helical Micropillar (HM) solar absorber.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a Helical Micropillar (HM) solar absorber using one-step projection 3D printing.
• Utilizing a graphene-based composite material for enhanced light absorption.
• Characterization of the absorber's optical properties and thermal performance.

Main Results:

• The HM solar absorber achieved an absorbance of 0.83 in the 400-2500 nm range.
• The surface temperature of the absorber increased by approximately 128.3%.
• A notable temperature rise rate of 22.4 °C min⁻¹ was recorded.

Conclusions:

• The HM solar absorber demonstrates high efficiency in converting solar energy to thermal energy.
• The biomimetic helical design enhances light trapping through multiple reflections and scattering.
• This technology shows significant potential for practical solar thermal energy collection and utilization.