Recent progress on nanostructure-based broadband absorbers and their solar energy thermal utilization

Abstract

Nanostructure-based broadband absorbers are prominently attractive in various research fields such as nanomaterials, nanofabrication, nanophotonics and energy utilization. A highly efficient light absorption in wider wavelength ranges makes such absorbers useful in many solar energy harvesting applications. In this review, we present recent advances of broadband absorbers which absorb light by nanostructures. We start from the mechanism and design strategies of broadband absorbers based on different materials such as carbon-based, plasmonic or dielectric materials and then reviewed recent progress of solar energy thermal utilization dependent on the superior photo-heat conversion capacity of broadband absorbers which may significantly influence the future development of solar energy utilization, seawater purification and photoelectronic device design.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

nanostructured broadband absorbers / solar energy harvesting / thermal utilization

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China under Grant Number 2017YFA0205800, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 61875241, 11734005) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Southeast University (Grant Nos. 2242018k1G020, 2242019k1G034).

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