Compact size Zr–Fe2O3 inspired metal-dielectric angle and polarization insensitive nanostructure for efficient solar energy absorption

• Published in: International journal of thermal sciences 2023-08, Vol.190, p.108330, Article 108330
• Main Authors: Han, Bo Bo, Alsalman, Osamah, Surve, Jaymit, Parmar, Juveriya, Taya, Sofyan, Patel, Shobhit K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electric field intensity; Fabrication; Photovoltaic; Radiation; Solar absorber; Thermal
• ISSN: 1290-0729; 1778-4166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2023.108330

We exhibit the perfect solar design by using Ferric Oxide (Fe2O3) as the substrate layer, and the Zirconium (Zr) material based resonator. The overall solar absorption is 95.79% and the solar absorption are obtained for the ultraviolet (UV), visible (V), near-infrared (NIR), and mid-infrared (MIR) regions respectively between the wavelength ranges 0.2 μm and 3 μm. Subsequently, the absorption is above 95% for the 2800 nm bandwidth, and in the 1040 nm bandwidth, the absorption is above 97%, and above 99% for the bandwidth of 500 nm. Moreover, the variation of the solar absorption rates by changing the parameters of resonator thickness, substrate layer thickness, and resonator width of the developed design is explored in detail to attain the optimal structure. And then, the analysis of the absorption rates in TE and TM modes with the incidence angle degrees from 0 to 80 verified the absorber's performance attributes. In the end, the electric field intensity situation of the proposed design is demonstrated to validate the performance of the proposed absorber. The proposed solar absorber can be employed as it can convert solar radiation into heat completely and can be used for various solar thermal applications such as solar thermal photovoltaics, solar generators, and solar power plants. [Display omitted] •A Metal-dielectric inspired Zr–Fe2O3 based nanostructure for solar absorber is designed.•A broadband absorption response in UV to MIR regime is obtained.•Absorption rate >99% and 97% for 500 nm and 1040 nm bandwidth is observed.•Absorber performance for angle and polarization insensitiveness also confirms the high performance.