Ultra-thin metal films for enhanced solar absorption

This paper presents modelled results for optical absorption in ultra-thin films of nickel, gold and silver across the solar spectrum. It is found that in the case of nickel there is an optimum thickness for maximum solar absorption around 10-13 nm. This is a result of the real and imaginary parts of its refractive index being of similar magnitude across the solar spectrum which gives rise to very strong thin film absorption. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.