Environmental Impact of Copper Cermets Used As Selective Coatings for Flat Plate Collectors

Abstract

The utilisation of solar collectors is a pollution-free process based on renewable energy, helping to the CO2 reduction, the principal gas responsible for global heating. Flat plate collectors are the most common solar collectors due to their low cost. In order to improve their efficiency selective coatings are used. This paper presents an I.R. absorber coating, obtained via electrodeposition: Cu/CuOx cermet. The environmental impact of the substances used as precursors and deposition process is discussed.