Enabling Ideal Selective Solar Absorption with 2D Metallic Dielectric Photonic Crystals

A metallic dielectric photonic crystal with solar broadband, omni-directional, and tunable selective absorption with high temperature stable (1000 degrees C, 24 hrs) properties is fabricated on a 6 '' silicon wafer. The broadband absorption is due to a high density of optical cavity modes overlapped with an anti-reflection coating. Results allow for large-scale, low cost, and efficient solar-thermal energy conversion.