Solar absorptance of copper–cobalt oxide thin film coatings with nano-size, grain-like morphology: Optimization and synchrotron radiation XPS studies

Copper–cobalt oxides thin films had been successfully coated on reflective aluminium substrates via a facile sol–gel dip-coating method for solar absorptance study. The optimum absorptance in the range of solar radiation is needed for further optimum design of this material for selective solar absorber application. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the surface morphology of the coating whereby nano-size, grain-like morphology was observed. Synchrotron radiation X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was employed to analyze the electronic structure of the coated surface showing that the (i) oxygen consisted of lattice, surface and subsurface oxygen, (ii) copper consisted of octahedral and tetrahedral Cu+, as well as octahedral and paramagnetic Cu2+ oxidation states, and (iii) cobalt consisted of tetrahedral and paramagnetic Co(II), octahedral Co(III) as well as mixed Co(II,III) oxidation states. In order to optimize the solar absorptance of the coatings, relevant parameters such as concentrations of cobalt and copper, copper/cobalt concentration ratios and dip-speed were investigated. The optimal coating with α = 83.4% was produced using 0.25 M copper acetate and 0.25 M cobalt chloride (Cu/Co ratio = 1) with dip-speed 120 mm/min (four cycles). The operational simplicity of the dip-coating system indicated that it could be extended for coating of other mixed metal oxides as well.