Overview
- Peer‑reviewed results report up to 99.5% light absorption from AZO‑coated copper cobaltate nanoneedles, outperforming black silicon benchmarks.
- Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes absorb about 99% of light but are unsuitable for towers due to heat and humidity instability, a limitation the nanoneedles address.
- EHU’s Thermophysical Properties of Materials group conducted thermo‑optical characterization using specialized high‑temperature equipment.
- UC San Diego’s Renkun Chen is working with the U.S. Department of Energy to explore tower deployment of the coated nanoneedles, with the prospects still uncertain.
- EHU is continuing R&D on coatings, including conductivity and durability improvements, to advance concentrated solar receivers that store heat in molten salts for power after sunset.