Process and composition dependence of optical properties of zirconium, hafnium and tantalum borides for solar receiver applications

Year: 2016

Authors: Sani E., Mercatelli L., Meucci M., Silvestroni L., Balbo A., Sciti D.

Autors Affiliation: CNR INO Natl Inst Opt, Largo E Fermi 6, I-50125 Florence, Italy; CNR ISTEC, Inst Sci & Technol Ceram, Via Granarolo 64, I-48018 Faenza, Italy.

Abstract: Ultra-high temperature boride ceramics have proved to show promising properties for novel solar receivers. The present work shows a further step towards their actual application, investigating how sintering technique and starting powders composition affect the properties of final materials. Thus we report on the comparative characterization of ZrB2, HIB2 and TaB2 produced by high pressure and pressureless techniques and with different aniounts of MoSi2 sintering aid. We investigate micro structural, mechanical and optical properties, in the perspective to assess the material potential for novel solar absorbers operating at higher temperatures than those currently available. Moreover, a systematic study has been carried out on ZrB2, producing with fixed high pressure sintering technique, a series of samples with MoSi2 compositions in the range 5-50 vol%. We show that the content of silicide and silicide-related secondary phases in the final pellets affects either the mechanical performance and the optical behavior. Thus, as far as the optical properties are concerned, the MoSi2 amount should be the lowest as possible to ensure a proper material consolidation whilst enhancing the absorbance/spectral selectivity. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Journal/Review: SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS

Volume: 155      Pages from: 368  to: 377

More Information: Part of this activity has been carried out in the framework of the FIRB2012-SUPERSOLAR project funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (Programma “Futuro in Ricerca”, prot. RBFR12TIT1). E.S. gratefully acknowledges the Italian bank foundation “Fondazione Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze” for providing the grant for M.M. within the framework of the “SOLE” and “SOLE-2” projects (pratiche n. 2013.0726 and 2014.0711). Thanks are due to Mr. M. D´Uva and Mr. M. Pucci (CNR-INO) for technical assistance.
KeyWords: Borides; Ceramic materials; Characterization; Hafnium; Hafnium compounds; Molybdenum compounds; Optical properties; Silicides; Sintering; Solar energy; Solar equipment; Tantalum; Tantalum compounds; Zirconium; Zirconium compounds, Comparative characterizations; Composition dependence; Concentrating solar power; High pressure sintering; Mechanical performance; Solar plant; Ultra-high-temperature ceramics; Ultrahigh temperature, Solar absorbers
DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2016.06.028

ImpactFactor: 4.784
Citations: 33
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