New endothermic material may be converted more than 90% of solar energy

US scientists recently discovered a new solar absorbing material, which they called "Light of the black hole" (blackhole of light), because it has superior heat absorption capacity can be 90% of solar energy is converted to heat energy absorbed named, but if the technology used in solar thermal power generation , will revolutionize solar thermal power generation.

University of California, SanDiego UCLA research team has developed this nano-silicon boride shell material (siliconboride-coatednanoshell) in fact can be applied to solar thermal power generation, the researchers said that the application of the material will be able to make the overall efficiency of solar thermal power generation lifting about 30%.

Solar thermal power generation is fundamental that is that with the lowest investment to absorb the maximum amount of solar energy and be efficient use, has long been a path through a variety of techniques to try to improve the conversion efficiency of solar light and heat, but the increase is not too large.

Figure: The new material structure

The researchers said the biggest advantage of this material is its durability, which can withstand temperatures above 700 degrees Celsius and in the outdoor environment instead of a long-term elements of decomposition, which allows light and heat power plants more efficient. Currently, there is a light-absorbing material used in thermal power stations easily decomposed aging defects, after running for some time, the need to maintain the endothermic material replacement, and during normal operation of the power plant will be affected in this maintenance. This new material is completely avoids this problem. The research team said that the material has a longer life.

It is understood that this new material particle molecular diameter of between 10 nm to 10 microns, its special multi-scale structures can be allowed to absorb a lot of sunlight and stable operation at temperatures over 700 degrees Celsius.

The study also received strong support from the US Department of Energy SunShot program, the research results will be in the near future in the form of two separate articles published in the "nano energy" (NanoEnergy) magazine.

The researchers believe that this material is very suitable for having a good commercial prospects tower solar thermal power generation technology, to replace the current tower heat sink material. The material research team has conducted a series of research and development in the past three years on the application of tower technology. But away from the actual application looks like there is some distance to go.