Zirconia Ceramics Doped with Ferrite for Solar Thermal Systems

This paper investigates a ceramic material based on ferrite-doped zirconia intended for use as a solar absorber in systems designed for the conversion of solar energy into thermal energy. The experimental study details the synthesis procedure of the ferrite-doped zirconia ceramic and its structural, morphological, optical, and magnetic characterization using X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and optical band gap energy determination. XRD analysis confirms the presence of the crystalline ferrite phase, which is responsible for the enhanced solar absorption properties. UV-Vis investigations reveal intense absorption bands across the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions, indicating high solar radiation absorptivity. These properties recommend the investigated ceramic as a promising solar receiver material for solar thermal power plants comparable to conventional materials such as carbides and nitrides.