Solar absorbers based on electrophoretically deposited carbon nanotubes using pyrocatechol violet as a charging agent

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), deposited by electrophoretic deposition (EPD), are investigated as selective solar absorbers. First, various kinds of CNTs with different aspect ratios, are dispersed by ultrasound in an aqueous solution of pyrocatechol violet (PV). PV couples to the CNT's outer walls via π-π stacking interactions and acts as a dispersing agent as well as a charging agent. PV adsorption isotherms on CNT combined with N2 physisorption isotherms are performed to optimize the CNT/PV ratio. In this way, Zeta potentials up to -40 mV are obtained for the dispersed CNTs, which are deposited on platinized silicon wafers by EPD, forming a film. The EPD kinetics are then investigated as a function of the applied electric field (in the 8–20 V cm−1 range) and are explained through a Sarkar & Nicholson model type. X-ray reflectivity is performed to characterize the density around 1.3 g cm−3, and film cohesion is probed by nanoindentation coupled to atomic force microscopy images. The hemispherical reflectance of the samples is measured by spectrophotometers equipped with an integrating sphere, and following from spectra, the absorptance (α) and emittance (ԑ) are calculated. The selectivity of the deposits, based on α and ԑ values, is then discussed as a function of the applied electric field and the coating thickness. Single-walled CNT deposits, at best, are found to have a solar absorptance of 0.91 and thermal emission of 0.05. Thermal annealing experiments reveal that the coatings could withstand up to 300 °C while sustaining selective properties and losing only 21% of the initial yield.