ABSTRACT

The wide use of sunlight for energy generation still faces challenges related to high cost and low efficiency. The successful expansion of the capacity for solar energy production depends on technological advances in several fields, particularly materials science and engineering. The key mechanisms of solar energy conversion are dominated by the intrinsic properties of the active materials that constitute the photovoltaic or solar thermal collector systems. An intensive research on the synthesis and properties of materials for solar energy conversion, especially nanomaterials, has been carried out in order to build solar systems with lower cost and higher efficiency. Carbon-based nanomaterials have been recognized as promising candidates due to their outstanding physicochemical properties. Among them, Metal-containing Diamond-Like Carbon (Me-DLC) coatings have been investigated to enhance absorption of solar radiation and also enhance heat transfer to working fluid in solar collectors. In this chapter, the focus is on the synthesis, properties and solar absorber coating applications of Me-DLC films. The fundamental mechanisms related to selective solar absorbers are described. The main synthesis methods of Me-DLC films are reviewed. Furthermore, the material properties of Me-DLC films are discussed as a function of types of transition metals, such as Cr, W, Ti, Pt, etc. which are incorporated into the DLC film. The 179promising results reported in literature using Me-DLC films as selective solar absorber coatings are also discussed.