Illustration: Swinburne University Researchers at the Center for Translational Atomaterials (CTAM) at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, have developed a new graphene-based film that can absorb sunlight with an efficiency of over 90 percent, while simultaneously eliminating most IR thermal emission loss—the first time such a feat has been reported. The result is an efficient solar heating metamaterial that can heat up rapidly to 83 degrees C (181 degrees F) in an open environment with minimal heat loss. Proposed applications for the film include thermal energy harvesting and storage, thermoelectricity generation, and seawater desalination. Suppressing thermal emission loss—also known as blackbody radiation—while simultaneously absorbing solar light is critical for an efficient solar thermal absorber but is extremely challenging to achieve, says Baohua Jia , founding director of CTAM. “That’s because, depending on the absorbed heat and properties of the absorber, the emission temperature differs, which leads to significant differences in its wavelength,” she explains. “But we’ve developed a three-dimensional structured graphene metamaterial (SGM) that is highly absorbent and selectively filters out blackbody radiation.” The 3D SGM is composed of a 30-nanometer-thick film of alternating graphene and dielectric layers deposited on a trench-like nanostructure that does double duty […]
Latest Articles
Caltech Tests Space-Based Solar Power
Caltech tests space-based solar power Solar power is clean, renewable, and can provide abundant energy when harvested correctly—particularly...
This Groundbreaking Motionless Wind Turbine is 50% More Efficient Than Regular Turbines
Takeaways: Aeromine Technologies have created a motionless wind harvesting system that can generate up to 50 percent more energy than rooftop solar.
The technology...
Save the Environment and your Electricity Bill with DIY Solar Cookers.
Save the Environment and your Electricity Bill with DIY Solar Cookers. Save the Environment and your Electricity...
How Electronic Signatures Improve Your Business’s Sustainability Efforts
How Electronic Signatures Improve Your Business's Sustainability Efforts
Electronic signatures, or e-signatures, are digital versions of handwritten signatures used to replace the latter and authenticate...
Clean Energy Has a Tipping Point, and 87 Countries Have Reached It
Takeaways: According to Bloomberg Green, 87 countries have passed the 5% tipping point into widespread adoption 12-month moving average.
As more countries tipped into...
Zero Waste Community Cafe Built With Recycled Bottles and Milk Cartons
Takeaways: The Early BKK cafe in Bangkok, Thailand, has been constructed using recycled or diverted materials from the landfill.
The building is covered with...