Sol-Gel Protective Films for Metal Solar Mirrors

1988 ◽  
Vol 121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Reed ◽  
Carol Ashley

ABSTRACTFront-surface metal mirrors were coated with a variety of sol-gel derived glass films for preliminary evaluation as protective coatings for silver. Optical measurements (hemispherical, diffuse and specular reflectance) were used to characterize changes in the mirror resulting from the application of the sol, subsequent processing, or environmental testing. The abrasion resistance of the films was determined on sol-gel coated silicon wafers per ASTM procedures. The mirrors were exposed to outdoor environments in Albuquerque, N.M., as well as accelerated testing in H2SO4, with periodic monitoring of optical properties. A two layer coating scheme, consisting of a thin primary protective layer of sputter deposited SiO2 followed by a thicker sol-gel overcoat, was also evaluated.

2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 262-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Kennedy ◽  
K. Terwilliger

Concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies use large mirrors to collect sunlight to convert thermal energy to electricity. The viability of CSP systems requires the development of advanced reflector materials that are low in cost and maintain high specular reflectance for extended lifetimes under severe outdoor environments. The long-standing goals for a solar reflector are specular reflectance above 90% into a 4 mrad half-cone angle for at least 10 years outdoors with a cost of less than $13.8/m2 (the 1992 $10.8/m2 goal corrected for inflation to 2002 dollars) when manufactured in large volumes. Durability testing of a variety of candidate solar reflector materials at outdoor test sites and in laboratory accelerated weathering chambers is the main activity within the Advanced Materials task of the CSP Program at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. Test results to date for several candidate solar reflector materials will be presented. These include the optical durability of thin glass, thick glass, aluminized reflectors, front-surface mirrors, and silvered polymer mirrors. The development, performance, and durability of these materials will be discussed. Based on accelerated exposure testing the glass, silvered polymer, and front-surface mirrors may meet the 10 year lifetime goals, but at this time because of significant process changes none of the commercially available solar reflectors and advanced solar reflectors have demonstrated the 10 year or more aggressive 20 year lifetime goal.


Author(s):  
C. E. Kennedy ◽  
K. Terwilliger

Concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies use large mirrors to collect sunlight to convert thermal energy to electricity. The viability of CSP systems requires the development of advanced reflector materials that are low in cost and maintain high specular reflectance for extended lifetimes under severe outdoor environments. The long-standing goals for a solar reflector are specular reflectance above 90% into a 4-mrad half-cone angle for at least 10 years outdoors with a cost of less than $13.8/m2 (the 1992 $10.8/m2 goal corrected for inflation to 2002 dollars) when manufactured in large volumes. Durability testing of a variety of candidate solar reflector materials at outdoor test sites and in laboratory accelerated weathering chambers is the main activity within the Advanced Materials task of the CSP Program at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. Test results to date for several candidate solar reflector materials will be presented. These include the optical durability of thin glass, thick glass, aluminized reflectors, frontsurface mirrors, and silvered polymer mirrors. The development, performance, and durability of these materials will be discussed. Based on accelerated exposure testing the glass, silvered polymer, and front-surface mirrors may meet the 10-year lifetime goals, but at this time because of significant process changes none of the commercially available solar reflectors and advanced solar reflectors have demonstrated the 10-year or more aggressive 20-year lifetime goal.


Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 379
Author(s):  
Domagoj Mudronja ◽  
Frederik Vanmeert ◽  
Stjepko Fazinic ◽  
Koen Janssens ◽  
Darko Tibljas ◽  
...  

Stone monuments and buildings are susceptible to weathering. Carbonate-based stones are especially vulnerable in acidic environments, whereas magmatic acidic stones are more susceptible to chemical weathering in basic environments. To slow down surface corrosion of limestone and marble artworks/buildings, protective coatings which inhibit calcite dissolution have been proposed. In this work, samples from two stone types with different porosity were treated with ammonium oxalate (AmOx) to create a protective layer of calcium oxalate (CaOx) using the previously developed brushing method. Two different synchrotron microscopy experiments were performed to determine its protective capability. X-ray powder diffraction (SR-μ-XRPD) in transmission geometry allowed visualization of the distributions of calcium carbonate and oxalates along the sample depths. In a second step, X-ray fluorescence (SR-μ-XRF) was used to check the efficiency/integrity of the protective surface coating layer. This was done by measuring the sulfur distribution on the stone surface after exposing the protected stones to sulfuric acid. XRPD showed the formation of a protective oxalate layer with a thickness of 5–15 µm on the less porous stone, while a 20–30 µm thick layer formed on the more porous stone. The XRF study showed that the optimal treatment time depends on the stone porosity. Increasing the treatment time from 1 to 3 h resulted in a decreased efficiency of the protective layer for the low porosity stone. We assume that this is due to the formation of vertical channels (cracks) in the protective layer.


2003 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 357-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary M. Sandstrom ◽  
Paul Fuierer

Control over crystallographic orientation in thin films is important, particularly with highly anisotropic structures. Because of its ferroelectric nature, the layered perovskite La2Ti2O7 has interesting piezoelectric and electrooptic properties that may be exploited when films are highly textured. Sol-gel films with an orientation factor of greater than 95% were fabricated without relying on epitaxial (lattice-matching) growth from the substrate. Film orientation and crystallization were confirmed by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and optical measurements. The particle sizes in all precursor solutions were measured by dynamic light scattering experiments. Experimental results indicate that film orientation is a function of precursor solution concentration, size of the molecular clusters in the solution, and film thickness.


2004 ◽  
Vol 820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena A. Guliants ◽  
Barbara A. Haruff ◽  
James R. Gord ◽  
Christopher E. Bunker

AbstractIn recent years, II-VI compound semiconductor nanoparticles synthesized in a liquid solution have been shown to possess unique optoelectronic properties which are highly attractive for the fabrication of various sensors based on the optical signal readout scheme. The challenge has been to immobilize these nanoparticles into films on solid surfaces, i.e. on a chip, so that they do not suffer any property deterioration as a sensing medium. In the presented work, synthesis of CdS nanoparticles in reverse micelle solution using AOT surfactant as a stabilizer has led to particles with relatively bright photoemission identified as originating from both shallow and deep traps inside the bandgap. Moreover, slightly altering the preparation procedure has produced samples with two distinctive crystal structures. Both types of CdS nanoparticles suspended in commonly utilized solvents such as chloroform and hexane were subject to chemical quenching when various organic compounds were introduced into the solution, demonstrating the sensitivity of trap states to their chemical environment. However, the two structures have shown very different optical properties. While post-synthesis treatment had no effect on one type of particle, the other type was able to undergo a photochemical reaction via prolonged UV irradiation, which resulted in an increased luminescence quantum yield ÖL from 2% to 14%. The same particle type was also responsive to thermal treatment, showing even higher values of ÖL (∼40%). The CdS/AOT particles have been cast into thin films by spin-coating on a Si wafer. Coating parameters have been investigated in order to achieve optimal control over the film thickness, uniformity, overall film durability, etc. These nanostructured films capped with various porous polymeric and sol-gel protective coatings were exposed to a series of organic compounds. Photoluminescence data collected for these samples served for identification of the compounds and their concentrations. This paper offers the discussion of photophysical response in CdS nanoparticle-based thin films with respect to development of novel nanostructured opto-chemical sensors.


1996 ◽  
Vol 433 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. B. Wu ◽  
J. M. Wu ◽  
C. M. Wu ◽  
M. J. Shyu ◽  
M. S. Chen ◽  
...  

AbstractHighly (100)-textured thin film of metallic LaNiO3 (LNO) was grown on the Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates by rf magnetron sputtering at ˜300°C, which was used as a bottom electrode to prepare highly (100)-textured ferroelectric films. Examples on the deposition of PbTiO3, (Pbl−xLax)TiO3, Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3, Pb[(Mg1/3Nb2/3)1−xTix]O3, and (Ba1−xSrx)TiO3 thin films by rf magnetron sputtering or sol-gel method are shown. A reduction of temperature for perovskite phase formation can be achieved, especially for those difficult to crystallize. The surface roughness of the ferroelectric films is also improved as compared to that of films deposited on conventional Pt electrode. Although the electrical properties of the ferroelectric films are affected by the out-diffusion of LNO when a higher temperature was used in the preparation of the films, under an appropriate processing condition, the highly (100)-textured films can have satisfactory electrical characteristics for application. Moreover, the polarization-fatigue property can be also improved by the use of LNO electrode.


1990 ◽  
Vol 180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauri J. Devore ◽  
Nora R. Osborne

ABSTRACTTwo multi-component sol-gel compositions were developed and compared to several commercially available high-temperature glasses. All were then used and characterized as protective coatings for intermetallic titanium aluminide.The sol-gels were studied as thin film coatings and the commercial glasses were studied as enameled coatings. Attention was given to (1) the effect of the application temperature on the original microstructure of the metal, and (2) the role of interfacial conditions between the glass and metal in cyclic and isothermal thermal cycles between ambient temperature and 760°C (1400°F).


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