Probing the spectrally selective property of NbB2-based tandem absorber coating for concentrated solar power application

Solar selective coating with good thermal stability is the primary requirement for a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant to function with better photothermal efficiency. In recent years, ultra-high-temperature ceramic-based coatings have been explored as potential materials for solar selective coatings. In this context, NbB₂/Nb(BN)/Al₂O₃ tandem absorber coating was designed to be fabricated on a stainless-steel substrate by the radio frequency magnetron sputtering of spark plasma sintered ceramic target. In the bulk form, the NbB₂ ceramic exhibits high solar absorptance (α = 0.756) and thermal emissivity (ε = 0.43), whereas the amorphous single NbB₂ coating exhibits α/ε = 0.716/0.13. Reactive sputtering of NbB₂ in nitrogen produced a semi-transparent coating with an optical bandgap of ∼2.80 eV and was used as the secondary absorber layer. Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses reveal mild oxygen incorporation in the absorber layers. The developed SS/NbB₂/Nb(BNO)/Al₂O₃ tandem absorber exhibits a good solar absorptance of 0.950 and a moderate thermal emissivity of 0.15 at room temperature. The coatings exhibited good thermal stability when heated in vacuum for 5 h up to 700°C, and the selectivity (α/ε) remains above 6. The present work shows the possibility of exploring NbB₂-based tandem absorber coatings for CSP applications.     

Optical properties and radiation stability of SiO2/ZnO composite pigment prepared by co-sintering method

Thermal control coatings (TCCs) are an essential part of the thermal control systems in the spacecraft. Solar absorptance and emittance are the key performance parameters of TCCs. To develop an ultra-low solar absorption and stable inorganic TCCs for surface radiator, different TCCs were prepared by co-sintering ZnO and SiO₂ nanoparticles to form Zn₂SiO₄/SiO₂ pigment in this work, and the optical properties and radiation stability were systematically studied. It is found that the coating based on composite pigment has high reflectivity in the ultraviolet band and excellent optical performance possessing the low solar absorption of 0.06. In addition, the Zn₂SiO₄/SiO₂ coating demonstrates the highest proton and electron radiation stability because that SiO₂ between Zn₂SiO₄ particles acts as the relaxation center of the defects caused by radiation.     

Designing of corrosion resistant epoxy coatings embedded with polypyrrole/SiO2 composite

Polypyrrole/SiO₂ composite was synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole using FeCl₃. The synthesized polymer composite was loaded in epoxy resin to develop coatings for mild steel substrates using powder coating technique. SEM and TEM images reveal homogenous dispersion of SiO₂ particles in polypyrrole matrix. TGA analysis confirms good thermal stability of the polymer composite. Tafel polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results exhibit remarkably high corrosion protection efficiency of epoxy coatings with polymer composite in 3.5% NaCl solution. Corrosion studies of coatings with an artificial defect reveal the passivation of defect by the polymer composite present in the epoxy coatings. Salt spray test results revealed superior corrosion resistance offered by the polymer composite.     

Assessment of the performance of Y2SiO5-YSZ/YSZ double-layered thermal barrier coatings

Y₂SiO₅ is a promising material for the thermal barrier coatings due to its low thermal conductivity, high temperature stability and exceptional resistance for molten silicate attack. However, it suffers low fracture toughness and low coefficient of thermal expansion compared with yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ). In this study, a composite coating approach, i.e., incorporating YSZ into Y₂SiO₅ coating, was employed to overcome those limitations. The double-layered Y₂SiO₅-YSZ/YSZ coatings were fabricated using atomospheric plasma spraying and tested under thermal cycling at 1150 °C. The phase compositions, microstructure, mechanical properties and the failure behavior were evaluated. It was found that the amorphous phase during spraying would crystallize at high temperature accompanied by volume shrinkage, leading to cracks and spallation in the coating. With YSZ addition, the composite coatings exhibited a much longer lifetime than the single phase Y₂SiO₅ coating due to a lower volume shrinkage and enhanced toughness.     

FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy of Carbon Nanoparticles in SiO2, ZnO and NiO Matrices

Coatings of carbon nanoparticles dispersed in SiO₂, ZnO and NiO matrices on aluminium substrates have been fabricated by a sol–gel technique. Spectrophotometry was used to determine the solar absorptance and the thermal emittance of the composite coatings with a view to apply these as selective solar absorber surfaces in solar thermal collectors. Cross-sectional high resolution transmission electron microscopy (X-HRTEM) was used to study the fine structure of the samples. Raman spectroscopy was used to estimate the grain size and crystallite size of the carbon clusters of the composite coatings. X-HRTEM studies revealed a nanometric grain size for all types of samples. The C–SiO₂, C–ZnO and C–NiO coatings contained amorphous carbon nanoparticles embedded in nanocrystalline SiO₂, ZnO and NiO matrices, respectively. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) showed that a small amount of Ni grains of 30 nm diameter also existed in the NiO matrix. The thermal emittances of the samples were 10% for C–SiO₂, 6% for the C–ZnO and 4% for the C–NiO samples. The solar absorptances were 95%, 71% and 84% for the C–SiO₂, C–ZnO and C–NiO samples, respectively. Based on these results, C–NiO samples proved to have the best solar selectivity behaviour followed by the C–ZnO, and last were the C–SiO₂ samples. Raman spectroscopy studies revealed that both the C–ZnO and C–NiO samples have grain sizes for the carbon clusters in the range 55–62 nm and a crystallite size of 6 nm.     

Mechanochemical synthesis of Ti1−xZrxB2 and Ti1−xHfxB2 solid solutions

Solid solutions of TiB₂-ZrB₂ and TiB₂-HfB₂ were obtained under an inert atmosphere by high-energy ball-milling mixtures of Ti/Zr/B and Ti/Hf/B, respectively. Milling promoted mechanically induced self-sustaining reactions (MSR), and the ignition time was dependent on the initial composition of the mixture. The stoichiometry of Ti_1−xZr_xB₂ and Ti_1−xHf_xB₂ solid solutions was controlled by adjusting the atomic ratio of the reactants. The solid solutions were characterised by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results revealed that TiB₂-ZrB₂ possessed a nanometric microstructure and good chemical homogeneity. However, in the TiB₂-HfB₂ system, an inhomogeneous solid solution was obtained when a Ti-rich mixture was employed. The solid solutions showed good thermal stability; thus, can be used as raw materials for the development of technological materials for structural applications.     

Effect of MoSi2 addition on ablation behavior of ZrC coating fabricated by vacuum plasma spray

To improve the ablation resistance of ZrC coating, MoSi₂ incorporated ZrC composite coatings were fabricated by vacuum plasma spray. The ablation resistance of the composite coatings was evaluated using a plasma jet with a heat flux of 1.94?MW/m². The phase compositions and microstructures of the coatings before and after ablation were investigated, and the ablation mechanisms and effect of MoSi₂ were analyzed based on thermal dynamics and microstructure changes. Results showed that MoSi₂ addition could improve the ablation resistance of ZrC coating by means of decreasing the surface temperature and changing the microstructure of the oxidation layer. Si derived from the decomposition of MoSi₂, which occurred within coating, was beneficial to maintain the thickness and integrity of the SiO₂ layer and reduce the oxygen pressure beneath. The thickness of the SiO₂ layer was related to the formation rate (V_f) and the consumption rate (V_c) of SiO₂. The diffusion of Si was in favor of increasing the value of V_f. MoSi₂ could be one choice to improve the ablation resistance of the ZrC coating.     

Cathodic deposition of refractory intermetallic compounds from FLINAK melts Part II: Preparative cathodic deposition of TiB2 and ZrB2 and coatings thereof

At 700°C the production of TiB₂ was performed by cathodic deposition of this refractory intermetallic compound on carbon cathodes from FLINAK melts containing Ti(IV) and B(III) in concentration ratios ranging from 1:3 to 1:2 and total concentrations from 2 to 10 mol% at current densities from 0.2 to 3 A cm^–2. Current efficiencies were always lower than 100% but the purity of the deposited TiB₂ was in almost all cases better than 98%. Generating augmented mass transfer by the anode effect, which develops at high current densities, improved cathodic current efficiencies and enhanced the purity of the coarse deposit. Current efficiencies decreased with decreasing temperature. Smooth and dense coatings on carbon substrate were only obtained if the thickness of the coating was kept below a critical value of 0.5 mm. It was impossible to produce dense, well adhering coatings on copper rod electrodes since, due to the mismatch of the thermal expansion coefficients of copper and TiB₂ the coatings detached from the substrate on cooling. To produce pure ZrB₂ material or ZrB₂-coatings necessitates low current densities (i<0.04 A cm^–2). From the impure cathodically deposited mixtures of dendritic ZrB₂, which were obtained at higher current densities, solidified electrolyte and lower valent zirconium compounds could not be separated.     

Sputtered DLC-TiB2 multilayer films for tribological applications

This study focuses upon the deposition of diamond-like carbon thin films for tribological applications. Carbon consists of mainly sp² bonds, having a low Hardness and low coefficient of friction. By depositing carbon in a methane (CH₄)-rich atmosphere, the energetics of the process favours the formation of diamond-like bonds, namely sp³. To improve the tribological properties of a multilayer system, a refractory metal ceramic TiB₂, has been multilayered with carbon and deposited on titanium (Ti) substrates to a total thickness of 3 μm. A multilayer stack of 10 bi-layers has been deposited, and the volume fraction of carbon in the coating has been varied by changing the thickness of the individual layers. This study employs pulsed-dc sputtering combined with Ar 7.5% CH₄ to deposit both carbon and TiB₂.The Raman spectroscopy data shows that the carbon deposited was amorphous in nature with an I_D / I_G ratio of 1.25. TiB₂ sputtered in Ar 7.5% CH₄ formed Ti-B-C, containing both a hard TiB₂ phase and a lubricating diamond-like carbon phase.Three volume fractions of carbon have been investigated: 25%, 50% and 75%. From nanoindentation studies, the Hardness varies from 5 to 3 GPa for the 75% and 25% carbon-containing coatings, respectively, measured at a penetration depth of approximately one-third of the coating. This increase in Hardness as a function of percentage of carbon has been attributed to the coatings forming load-bearing properties.From wear studies, friction coefficients of around 0.3 have been measured. Thus, these multi-layered TiB₂/C coatings are both load bearing and lubricious.     

Thermal stability and abrasion resistance of polyacrylate/nano-silica hybrid coatings

Polyacrylate (PAE)/nano-silica (SiO₂) hybrids were prepared by an in situ sol–gel process of tetraethyl orthosilicate in the presence of PAE toluene solution. The hybrid coatings were fabricated using a PAE/SiO₂ suspension by the traditional casting. Their intermolecular interaction and morphology, as well as thermal, mechanical, and optical properties, were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscope, differential scanning calorimetry and TG/DTA thermogravimetric analysis, coating impact testing, and UV–Vis spectroscopy, respectively. At the same time, their abrasive properties were carried out by abrasion resistance and nanoindentation tests. The results indicate that silica nanoparticles, with diameter about 30 nm, can disperse homogeneously in the PAE matrix, where hydrogen bonds between the PAE and nano-silica are formed. Therefore, homogeneous dispersion of nano-silica particles provides high transparency for the PAE/SiO₂ hybrid coating as the size of nano-silica phase is much smaller than the wavelength (390–770 nm) of visible light. PAE/nano-silica hybrid coatings have increased T _g and thermal stability including the onset decomposition temperature, 10 % weight loss temperature, and char at 700 °C. Additionally, the incorporation of nano-silica particles improves the glossiness of the PAE/nano-silica hybrid coatings and enhances their abrasion resistance and surface hardness. The nano-silica content has obvious effect on the thermal, mechanical, optical, and anti-abrasion properties of PAE/SiO₂ hybrid coatings. With the consideration of all the properties of hybrid coatings, the PAE/SiO₂ hybrid containing 10 phr of nano-silica has the optimal composition. These PAE/nano-silica hybrid coatings have potential applications in high-performance hologram image recording.     

Laser ablation behavior of flake graphite and SiO2 particle-filled hyperbranched polycarbosilane matrix composite coatings

Composite coatings consisting of flake graphite and SiO₂ fillers in a hyperbranched polycarbosilane (HBPCS) matrix were designed and prepared to meet the requirements of laser protection. The laser ablation behavior of the composite coatings were investigated. Control experiments were designed to study the performance of SiO₂ during laser irradiation. The results show that the introduction of SiO₂ changes the anti-laser protective mechanism and can improve the anti-laser property of the coating. High power laser irradiation results in pyrolysis of HBPCS and the formation of SiC particles. Chemical reactions between SiO₂, graphite, and SiC play an important role in consuming energy, and provide an excellent cooling effect to the substrate, leading to decreased temperature. SiC particles formed on the surface of the laser ablation area act as a shield to prevent the laser from irradiating deeper layers of the coating. Due to the cooling effect and thermal stability of SiC, the proposed coating shows a good anti-laser property.     

Solution combustion of spinel CuMn2O4 ceramic pigments for thickness sensitive spectrally selective (TSSS) paint coatings

A series of spinel-type CuMn₂O₄ ceramic pigments were prepared by a facile and low-cost sol-gel solution combustion method and used as cost-effective materials to fabricate thickness sensitive spectrally selective (TSSS) paint coatings by a convenient spray-coating technique. The chemical component, crystalline morphology, and optical property of the copper manganese oxide ceramic pigment could be accurately controlled by altering the annealing temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed that the ceramic pigments annealed at 500 °C for 1 h coincided well with the XRD patterns of crystalline CuMn₂O₄ in the JCPDS database, and there were segregated phases of CuO and Mn₂O₃. Furthermore, the pure spinel CuMn₂O₄ phase could be achieved at 900 °C for 1 h. The copper manganese oxide ceramic pigments could serve as an effective pigment for fabricating the TSSS paint coating, and the TSSS paint coatings based on ceramic pigments calcined at 900 °C showed solar absorptance of 0.895–0.905 and thermal emittance of 0.186–0.310. In addition, the accelerated thermal stability test revealed that the TSSS paint coating exhibited good thermal stability when it was exposed to air at a temperature of 300 °C for 300 h. Hence, the fabricated TSSS paint coating could be used as a solar absorber coating in the low-to-mid temperature domain.     

In situ TiBX/TiXNiY/TiC reinforced Ni60 composites by laser cladding and its effect on the tribological properties

Ni-based composite coatings reinforced by TiB_X/Ti_XNi_Y/TiC with different Ti6Al4V contents were precipitated on a 35CrMoV substrate via laser cladding. The phase composition, elemental distribution, and precipitated phases of the coatings were characterised using X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The mechanical and tribological properties of the cladding layer were also characterised. The results showed that the coating contained TiB₂, TiC, TiB, Ni₃Ti, and NiTi₂ phases with uniform elemental distribution and grain refinement. A schematic of the growth model and precipitation sequence of the reinforced phases was generated. The microstructure, elemental segregation, hardness, and friction behaviour of the cladding layer were significantly influenced by the addition of Ti6Al4V. The optimal microstructure and best mechanical properties were obtained by the addition of 4 wt% Ti6Al4V, with that coating possessing a hardness, average friction coefficient, and wear volume of 770.8 HV₁, 0.180 and 6132 um³, respectively.     

YSZ/MoS2 self-lubricating coating fabricated by thermal spraying and hydrothermal reaction

Thermal sprayed ceramic coatings have extensively been used in components to protect them against friction and wear. However, the poor lubricating ability severely limits their application. Herein, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ)/MoS₂ composite coatings were successfully fabricated on steel substrate with the combination of thermal spraying technology and hydrothermal reaction. Results show that the synthetic MoS₂ powders are composed of numbers of ultra-thin sheets (about 7 ~ 8?nm), and the sheet has obvious lamellar structure. After vacuum impregnation and hydrothermal reaction, numbers of MoS₂ powders, look like flowers, generate inside the plasma sprayed YSZ coating. Moreover, the growing point of the MoS₂ flower is the intrinsic micro-pores of YSZ coating. The friction and wear tests under high vacuum environment indicate that the composite coating has an extremely long lifetime (>?100,000 cycles) and possesses a low friction coefficient less than 0.1, which is lower by about 0.15 times than that of YSZ coating. Meanwhile, the composite shows an extremely low wear rate (2.30?×?10^?7 mm³ N^?1 m^?1) and causes slight wear damage to the counterpart. The excellent lubricant and wear-resistant ability are attributed to the formation of MoS₂ transfer films and the ultra-smooth of the worn surfaces of hybrid coatings.     

Oxidation behaviors and mechanisms of Yb2O3-doped silicon coatings fabricated by vacuum plasma spray

Environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) have been widely studied for the protection of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). The phase transition of silica thermal growth oxide (TGO) has been proved to be an important factor for the durability of EBCs. Yb₂O₃ could react with SiO₂ TGO and form silicate which may improve the stability of TGO and prolong the service life of EBCs. In the present work, Si coatings doped with different contents of Yb₂O₃ were fabricated by vacuum plasma spray. The oxidation behaviors of the composite coatings were evaluated at 1350 °C and compared with the pure Si coating. The evolution of phase composition and microstructure of mixed thermal growth oxide (mTGO) was characterized in detail. The results showed that the newly formed oxidation product, namely Yb₂Si₂O₇, could reduce the vertical cracks in mTGO layer and the mTGO/coating interface cracks, leading to a better binding performance of the mTGO layer. The oxidation mechanisms of the Yb₂O₃-doped Si coatings were analyzed based on microstructure and phase composition observations.     

Microstructure and nanomechanical properties of plasma-sprayed nanostructured Yb2SiO5 environmental barrier coatings

In this study, nanostructured and conventional Yb₂SiO₅ coatings were prepared by atmospheric plasma. The microstructure and nanomechanical properties of these coatings were compared before and after heat treatment. The results show that the nanostructured Yb₂SiO₅ coatings have a mono-modal distribution, and the conventional Yb₂SiO₅ coatings have a bimodal distribution. Both types of coatings had improved nanomechanical properties after heat treatment. However, the increased elastic modulus and nanohardness of the nanostructured Yb₂SiO₅ coating were more apparent than those of the conventional Yb₂SiO₅ coatings. The nanostructured Yb₂SiO₅ coating had a higher elastic modulus than the conventional Yb₂SiO₅ coating, reflecting its high density. Subsequently, the microscopic morphology and micromechanical properties of the coatings were analyzed after heat treatment. Defects in the coatings, including pores, and microcracks, were significantly reduced with grain growth after thermal treatment, and the nanostructured Yb₂SiO₅ coatings had improved healing ability and micro-mechanical properties.     

High temperature oxidation resistance of Y2O3 modified ZrB2-SiC coating for carbon/carbon composites

To protect carbon/carbon (C/C) composites from oxidation at high temperature, Y₂O₃ modified ZrB₂-SiC coating was fabricated on C/C composites by atmospheric plasma spraying. The microstructure and chemical composition of the coatings were characterized by SEM, EDS, and XRD. Experiment results showed that the coating with 10 wt% Y₂O₃ presented a relatively compact surface without evident holes and cracks. No peeling off occurred on the interface between the coating and substrate. The ZSY10 coating underwent oxidation at 1450 °C for 10 h with a mass loss of 5.77%, while that of ZS coating was as high as 16.79%. The existence of Y₂O₃ played an important role in inhibiting the phase transition of ZrO₂, thus avoiding the cracks caused by the volume expansion of the coating. Meanwhile, Y₂SiO₅ and ZrSiO₄ had a similar coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), which could relieve the thermal stress inside the coating. The ceramic phases Y₂SiO₅, Y₂Si₂O₇ and ZrSiO₄ with high thermal stability and low oxygen permeability reduced the volatilization of SiO₂.     

Effect of PSO and TiB2 content on the high temperature adhesion strength of SiBCNO ceramic

In the present work, SiBCNO-based ceramic as high temperature adhesives are fabricated by polymer derived ceramic route. The effect of polysiloxane (PSO) and TiB₂ on the microstructure and high temperature strength is studied, and the toughing effect of TiB₂ is discussed. The highest adhesion strength of the joint (S12) reached up to 18.95?MPa at room temperature and 12.3?MPa at 1000?°C in vacuum after pyrolysis at 1000?°C in air for 2?h. It is interesting to find that the crystallization of nano-SiO₂ reinforces the strength and thermal stability of glass phase with the addition of PSO, besides, the TiB₂ plays the important role in improving adhesion strength by bearing load and facilitating the formation of stable SiO₂-B₂O₃-TiO₂ glass.     

Effect of microstructure on the adhesion strength of TiBx coating on Ti6Al4V substrate

TiB_x coatings were deposited on Ti6Al4V and Si (100) wafer substrates by D.C. magnetron sputtering with various target-to-substrate distances (T.S. distances) from 50 mm to 200 mm. The influence of T.S. distance on the microstructure, hardness and adhesion strength of TiB_x coatings and Ti6Al4V substrate system was investigated. Results showed that the microstructure of TiB_x coatings transformed from dense to fibre columnar grain with the increase in T.S. distance, whilst the hardness decreased from 20.9 GPa to 9.4 GPa. The Rockwell-C indentation adhesion strength grade was also improved from HF6 to HF1. An adhesion evaluation factor G, which is related to the mechanical properties and the microstructure of TiB_x coating, is proposed based on the test results. The adhesion strength increased with G, which corresponded well with the results of indentation test. The high-speed rubbing test with a sliding speed of 300 m/s was performed to check the Al-adhesion resistance of the TiB_x coating against Al–hBN seal coating.     

微滴乳液聚合制备PDMS/SiO2纳米复合材料

采用超声分散的方法,以少量八甲基环四硅氧烷(D₄)对硅溶胶粒子进行表面接枝改性。然后在改性硅溶胶存在下,以十二烷基苯磺酸(DBSA)为乳化剂兼催化剂进行D₄的微滴乳液聚合,得到聚硅氧烷(PDMS)/二氧化硅(SiO₂)纳米复合乳液。采用FTIR、TGA、纳米粒度仪、TEM和拉力机分别对样品进行了表征。结果表明:采用超声分散的方法,能够有效地实现硅溶胶粒子的表面改性。通过微滴乳液聚合得到的复合乳胶粒是聚合物包覆二氧化硅粒子的核壳结构形态。SiO₂的引入提高了有机硅复合膜力学性能,增强了热稳定性。