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Published on: August 23, 2012
Cr/AlCrNbSiTiN/AlCrNbSiTiO Gradient Nano-Multilayer Coatings with Excellent Solar Absorption and Photothermal
Qingyu Wang1, Sheng Liu1, Shikun Liu1
1School of Physics Science and Technology, Lingnan Normal University, Zhanjiang 524048, China.
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
|June 25, 2026
Summary
High-entropy alloy coatings demonstrate superior light absorption across the UV-visible spectrum. Optimized AlCrNbSiTiN layer thickness yields nearly perfect solar selective absorption rates, crucial for efficient photothermal conversion.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Photovoltaics
Background:
- High-entropy alloys offer broad light absorption and high coefficients compared to traditional oxides.
- Developing efficient solar selective absorbers is key for advanced photothermal applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of AlCrNbSiTiN absorption layer thickness on solar selective absorption properties.
- To analyze the structural and optical characteristics of gradient nano-multilayer coatings.
- To evaluate the photothermal conversion performance of these advanced coatings.
Main Methods:
- Ion source enhanced magnetron sputtering for fabricating gradient nano-multilayer coatings.
- Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for structural analysis.
- X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) for elemental and chemical state analysis.
Main Results:
- Nano-multilayer coatings achieved nearly perfect absorption rates (up to 0.9888).
- Gradient structure with increasing nanocrystalline phases and coarsening grain size observed from substrate to surface.
- High-valent oxides (Nb5+, Cr6+) confirmed for thermal stability; mixed Cr valence states enhance visible light absorption.
Conclusions:
- Coating thickness and high-temperature annealing significantly influence optical properties and photothermal performance.
- AlCrNbSiTiN-based high-entropy coatings show promise as high-performance selective absorbers.
- The study provides insights for designing next-generation photothermal conversion materials.
