Optical and structural properties of pulsed laser deposited Ti:Al2O3 thin films

Spectrally selective solar absorber coatings using metal–dielectric composites offer a high degree of flexibility since their solar selectivity can be optimized by the proper choices of constituents, coating thickness, metal particle concentration, size, shape, and orientation. In this article, Ti:Al2O3 composite films of various Ti contents were prepared by the pulsed laser deposition technique, and their structural and optical properties were investigated by scanning electron microscope, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope, and X-ray diffraction methods. The results demonstrate promising solar spectrally selective behavior indicating Ti:Al2O3 composite as an excellent choice for solar thermal applications.