DC sputtered WTi nanoparticles for solar thermal absorption : synthesis and characterization

Al-Rjoub, Abbas (author)

This study presents a method for tungsten-titanium (WTi) nanoparticles synthesis by DC-magnetron sputtering in a plasma gas condensation cluster-source at room temperature. After optimizing the conditions for nanoparticles formation, the samples were extensively characterized through Scanning-Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Transmission-Electron Microscopy (TEM). For nanoparticles produced under a partial Ar pressure of 14 SCCM, the synthesis rate for thick layer on Si is 241 nm/min. The diameters of nanoparticles deposited on CF 400-Cu grids ranged from 30 nm to 55 nm. The morphology of the nanoparticles is distinguished by a dendritic, flower-like structure, with significant agglomeration observed in particles of varying sizes. TEM and XRD analysis confirm that the nanoparticles exhibit a crystalline-structure, predominantly in the α-W phase. The embedded WTi nanoparticles in SiAlOx layer with variation in current density from 2.6 mA/cm² to 7.8 mA/cm² provide a wide range of transmittance (T) and reflectance (R) values with specific optical constants refractive index (n) and extinction coefficient (k) for tailored optical applications, capable to simulate a solar thermal absorber with absorptance (α) of 96.0 %.

• Language: English
• Keywords: WTi nanoparticles, sputtered nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles, optical properties
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 6 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 8, art. 100218
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-171053
• UDC: 620.3
• ISSN on article: 2949-8295
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nxnano.2025.100218
• COBISS.SI-ID: 244248323
• Publication date in RUL: 30.07.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Next nanotechnology
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2949-8295
• COBISS.SI-ID: 192195843

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.