Silver Coatings with Protective Transparent Films for Solar Concentrators

Abstract

The use of solar energy as a renewable source is one of the most promising resources to generate electricity. The viability of concentrating solar power (CSP) systems depends on the development of highly reflective materials that are inexpensive and maintain their optical properties for extended lifetimes under outdoor environments. In this chapter, the implementation of flexible polymer substrates plated with silver by the Dynamic Chemical Plating technique (DCP) is proposed because of its low cost, and easy and rapid deposition, in addition to the high speed at which the deposit is made. However, the deposits made under this technique have certain nanoscale imperfections, which begin to exist certain permeability of substances that can stain the silver over time, so a study of this feature is performed, to help assess their durability.