Solar Selective Coatings

Solar selective coatings absorb solar radiation and convert it into thermal energy for domestic and industrial applications. The conversion efficiency of such coatings depends on the ratio of solar absorptance and infrared emittance. Black chrome plating is widely used in automobiles, photography, optical instruments and solar energy collectors because of its non glare finishes and reliable optical properties. Hexavalent chromium electrolytes are widely used to produce thin black chromium coatings. However, the use of hexavalent chromium has some disadvantages. Chromium coating is usually porous in nature and hence a under coat is used as a barrier coating. Other alternatives to black chromium are black nickel cobalt, black nickel, black brass, black nickel-cobalt etc,.Attempts are made to develop Soalr selective Black chrome and black Ni-Co coatings on Aluminum and studies conducted and reported for its Solar selectivity.