Next Generation Renewable Thermal Energy Harvesting, Conversion and Storage Technologies - Chapter 6: Design of High-performance Nanomaterials for Sustainable Solar Thermal Energy Absorption

Solar panels, referred to as photovoltaic cells, are the gadgets that harness solar radiation to produce electricity. The clean and sustainable energy sources have attained popularly because it may be used to reduce reliance on surface of the fossil fuels and have favorable environmental effects. Over the last few decades, countless initiatives have been launched to produce highly effective solar selective absorber coatings that are also thermally stable to capture more solar power. A decisive new function is played by nanomaterials bonded to the inside, and outside, that is, the back or front sides of laminated absorber coatings, which increases the performance of solar power systems. By incorporating solar coatings with excellent thermal stability, the thermal power plants of solar energy can maximize their energy conversion efficiency and ensure reliable operation, especially in challenging environmental conditions. Typically, the most useful new techniques to improve the effective performance of solar thermal units include solar absorber coatings, material improvements, and design optimizations. Nanomaterials, such as ZnO, SiO2, CuO, Al2O3, and different carbon forms, are selectively placed on substrates like copper, silicon, aluminum, and stainless steel and enhance their solar absorptance (>0.95). Recent innovations based on graphite Al2O3, ZrO2, TiO2, and Mn0.6Ni1.4CO2Oy multifunctional interface, tend to have high solar absorptivity and thermal stability. In this chapter, we target to represent the essence of emerging computational trends such as neural networks, and machine learning to endorse the nanomaterials and coating for sustaining solar energy. Moreover, the role of selective coatings in enhancing spectral absorption and minimizing thermal losses is examined. The effectiveness of these coatings is crucial for STPPs, ensuring robust energy conversion even under challenging environmental conditions. The receivers’ surface temperature must reach 600°C–700°C or more for the future generation of solar thermal systems. The research on computational nanomaterials is ready to endorse commercialization in primitive directions.