Zirconia Ceramics Doped with Ferrite for Solar Thermal Systems

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy Engineering

Background:

• Solar thermal energy conversion requires efficient solar absorber materials.
• Zirconia-based ceramics offer potential due to their thermal stability.
• Ferrite doping can enhance optical properties for solar absorption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a ferrite-doped zirconia ceramic for solar thermal applications.
• To evaluate its structural, morphological, optical, and magnetic properties.
• To assess its potential as a solar receiver material.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of ferrite-doped zirconia ceramic.
• Structural analysis using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD).
• Morphological, optical, and magnetic characterization via SEM, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and EPR.

Main Results:

• The crystalline ferrite phase was confirmed by XRD, contributing to enhanced absorption.
• UV-Vis spectroscopy showed intense absorption across UV, visible, and near-infrared spectra.
• High solar radiation absorptivity was observed.

Conclusions:

• Ferrite-doped zirconia exhibits excellent solar absorption properties.
• The material is a promising candidate for solar receiver applications in solar thermal power plants.
• Its performance is comparable to conventional materials like carbides and nitrides.