Solar thermal assembly has substrate, where nano-material has structures of similar sub-wavelength range, and is arranged immediately on light absorbing layer

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This patent describes a solar thermal assembly that significantly enhances the absorption of sunlight for heat conversion. It does so by placing nano-materials, particularly zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods with sub-wavelength-sized structures, directly on or within a light-absorbing layer that sits on a substrate. These nanostructures act as an anti-reflection coating, reducing light reflection and optimizing the conversion of solar energy into heat, regardless of the angle of sunlight.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Solar water heating systems, such as solar collector tubes and panels
• Solar-powered heating for residential and commercial buildings
• Integration in solar thermal power generation plants
• Solar-based industrial process heating
• Improved absorber coatings for solar boilers and solar storage systems

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Higher efficiency in converting sunlight to heat due to enhanced light absorption and minimized reflection
• Reduced manufacturing complexity by removing the need for complex vacuum tubes with inner and outer layers
• Effective heat generation even when sunlight is not perpendicular, increasing real-world utility
• Flexible substrate material options (conductive or insulating), broadening potential applications
• Potentially lower production costs and material use compared to traditional coatings

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Patent Abstract

The solar thermal assembly has a substrate (S), where a light-absorbing layer is arranged on the substrate. A nano-material has structures of similar sub-wavelength range, and is arranged immediately on the light absorbing layer. The nano-material, together with the light-absorbing layer, forms a selective absorber layer (A). The substrate is formed by an electrically insulating material, particularly made of glass or polymer, where the nano-material structures are free-standing zinc oxide nano-rods (NR).