Ultra-refractory ceramics for high-temperature solar absorbers

It is well known that the efficiency of thermodynamic solar plants increases with working temperature. At present the main limit to temperature upscaling is the capability of the absorber to withstand high temperatures. The ideal solar absorber works at high temperatures, has a low thermal emissivity and a high absorptivity in the solar spectral range. This paper reports on the high-temperature emissivity characterization of ceramic zirconium carbide samples. The investigation has been performed for samples of different chemical compositions.