Title :
Enhanced broadband optical absorption from nanostructured nickel thin-films for solar energy applications
Author :
Ahmad, N. ; Stokes, J. ; Fox, N.A. ; Teng, M. ; Cryan, M.J.
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Phys., Dept. of Electr. & Electron. Eng., Univ. of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Abstract :
This paper presents results obtained from Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) and Transfer Matrix Method (TMM) modelling of nickel thin-films. It is shown that by adding a periodic grating to the surface of the nickel we can dramatically increase its optical absorption over the 300 nm-1000 nm spectral range at normal incidence. The main aim of this work is to maximise the optical absorption of a thin nickel film as part of a solar-thermal energy conversion device.
Keywords :
diffraction gratings; finite difference time-domain analysis; light absorption; nanostructured materials; nickel; photothermal conversion; solar energy conversion; thin films; Ni; enhanced broadband optical absorption; finite difference time domain; nanostructured nickel thin-films; periodic grating; solar energy applications; solar-thermal energy conversion device; transfer matrix method modelling; wavelength 300 nm to 1000 nm; Absorption; Finite difference methods; Gratings; Integrated optics; Nickel; Optical films; Time domain analysis; absorption; broadband; energy; nickel; solar; thin-film;
Conference_Titel :
Transparent Optical Networks (ICTON), 2012 14th International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Coventry
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4673-2228-7
Electronic_ISBN :
2161-2056
DOI :
10.1109/ICTON.2012.6253726
