Plasmon silica aerogel for improving high-temperature solar thermal conversion

Yu, Xiyu; Huang, Maoquan; Wang, Xinyu; Du, Mingliang

doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2022.119419

Cited by 20 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Besides all the applications mentioned above, they can have other applications such as gas filters, encapsulation media, absorbing media, hydrogen fuel storage, interlayer dielectric, catalyst, catalyst carrier, sensor, templates for solar cells, Cerenkov radiation detectors, clothing, blankets, and more [ 59 , 80 ]. Due to high transparency and thermal insulation, silica aerogel has been utilized in solar-related fields, namely energy-saving buildings, solar absorbers, solar desalination, or, as a film, it was used as a dye for sensitized solar cells [ 40 , 77 , 161 ]. Another interesting application consists of aerogel “blankets”, for which commercial production started in the 2000s.…”

Section: Applications Of Silica-based Aerogelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Updated Overview of Silica Aerogel-Based Nanomaterials

Niculescu,

Tudorache,

Bocioagă

et al. 2024

Nanomaterials

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Silica aerogels have gained much interest due to their unique properties, such as being the lightest solid material, having small pore sizes, high porosity, and ultralow thermal conductivity. Also, the advancements in synthesis methods have enabled the creation of silica aerogel-based composites in combination with different materials, for example, polymers, metals, and carbon-based structures. These new silica-based materials combine the properties of silica with the other materials to create a new and reinforced architecture with significantly valuable uses in different fields. Therefore, the importance of silica aerogels has been emphasized by presenting their properties, synthesis process, composites, and numerous applications, offering an updated background for further research in this interdisciplinary domain.

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Section: Applications Of Silica-based Aerogelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Updated Overview of Silica Aerogel-Based Nanomaterials

Niculescu,

Tudorache,

Bocioagă

et al. 2024

Nanomaterials

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“…(e)-(g): Cooling power of porous structures. References [2,49,50] are cited in the supplementary materials.…”

Section: Supplementary Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structure Design of Polymer-Based Films for Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling

Huang

et al. 2022

Micromachines

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Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC), a cooling method that needs no additional energy, has become increasingly popular in recent years. The combination of disordered media and polymeric photonics will hopefully lead to the large-scale fabrication of high-performance PDRC devices. This work aims to study two typical PDRC structures, the randomly distributed silica particle (RDSP) structure and the porous structure, and systematically investigates the effects of structural parameters (diameter D, volume fraction fv, and thickness t) on the radiative properties of the common plastic materials. Through the assistance of the metal-reflective layer, the daytime cooling power Pnet of the RDSP structures is slightly higher than that of the porous structures. Without the metal-reflective layer, the porous PC films can still achieve good PDRC performance with Pnet of 86 W/m2. Furthermore, the effective thermal conductivity of different structures was evaluated. The single-layer porous structure with optimally designed architecture can achieve both good optical and insulating performance, and it is the structure with the most potential in PDRC applications . The results can provide guidelines for designing high-performance radiative cooling films.

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“…For example, aerogel insulation was utilized in roofing, walls, and ice rinks during the 2022 Winter Olympics to maintain optimal indoor temperatures. Various groups have leveraged aerogel's transparency and insulation to improve solar absorption in a receiver, harnessing heat beyond 265°C for cost-effective industrial and domestic heating [2,3]. Despite aerogel's demonstrated solar applications, minimal research has explored its potential to enhance photoelectric conversion in solar cells.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesis, characterization, and application of silica aerogel thin films prepared via surface derivatization: A comprehensive study on micro-silica nanofilms for enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency in photovoltaic solar cells

Che

2024

ACE

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Silica aerogels are nanoporous materials with exceptional optical and physical properties, making them promising candidates to enhance solar cell efficiency as antireflective coatings. This study synthesized hydrophobic silica aerogel thin films under ambient conditions and characterized their porous structure, surface morphology, and optical performance. The films were deposited on monocrystalline silicon solar cells to assess their impact on photovoltaic properties. A two-step acid/base catalyzed sol-gel process was utilized, followed by solvent exchange and surface modification with trimethylchlorosilane. Structural analysis via SEM revealed successful deposition of crack-free films when aging occurred in an ethanol environment. The aerogel displayed considerable specific surface area (115 m2/g), porosity (77.92%) and surface roughness (55-78%) along with a low refractive index (1.05), benefiting light harvesting. Preliminary solar testing showed increased output voltage with a 0.2 mm aerogel coating versus a bare cell. Further IV measurements demonstrated enhanced charge transport and conversion efficiency for the treated cell. The aerogels antireflective and light-trapping effects appear to improve photon absorption. This initial research validates the potential of ambient pressure-synthesized hydrophobic silica aerogels to increase the performance of silicon photovoltaics cost-effectively. Further optimization of film thickness and morphology could realize higher efficiency gains.

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Plasmon silica aerogel for improving high-temperature solar thermal conversion

Cited by 20 publications

References 39 publications

An Updated Overview of Silica Aerogel-Based Nanomaterials

An Updated Overview of Silica Aerogel-Based Nanomaterials

Structure Design of Polymer-Based Films for Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling

Synthesis, characterization, and application of silica aerogel thin films prepared via surface derivatization: A comprehensive study on micro-silica nanofilms for enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency in photovoltaic solar cells

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