DESIGN OF SOL-GEL COPPER OXIDE BASED COATING FOR SOLAR ENERGY APPLICATIONS

Solar energy harvesting is of a great interest lately as it’s a clean and environmentally friendlyenergy source. Therefore, Solar selective coatings development became one of the pioneeringresearch routes nowadays. Copper oxide based films were prepared by a sol-gel route anddeposited on a stainless steel substrate via dip coating. The solution was prepared with severalconcentrations of polyethylene glycol as a surfactant and agglomeration controlling agent. Theeffect of several concentrations on the optical properties was studied. The microstructure of thecoats was discussed in details reflecting on the optical properties as well. In general, the copperoxide based coats have shown uniform and dark visual appearance with acceptable adherence.The coats have been successfully prepared and analysed with a promising absorptivity up to96.3% with an optical band gap that varies between 2.5eV and 3.03eV.