Researchers at IIT Bombay have developed ground-breaking material called nanostructured hard-carbon florets (NCFs) that boasts an extraordinary solar-thermal conversion efficiency of over 87%. This innovative material efficiently transforms sunlight into thermal energy, making it highly practical for applications such as heating air and water. Notably, NCFs absorb more than 97% of the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared components of sunlight, converting them into thermal energy. The resulting heat can be effectively transferred to either air or water, offering efficient solutions for various practical uses. Studies indicate that NCFs can elevate the surrounding air temperature from room level to 60 degrees Celsius, providing environmentally friendly space-heating options.

Professor C Subramaniam from IIT Bombay's Department of Chemistry highlighted the significance of this discovery, especially for heating spaces in cold climates with ample sunshine, such as Leh and Ladakh. While solar thermal converters, like those in solar water heaters, are already in use globally, their conventional counterparts are often expensive, bulky, and environmentally detrimental.

Dr Ananya Sah, the lead author of the NCF study, pointed out the limitations of existing solar-thermal conversion materials, which are typically based on chromium (Cr) or nickel (Ni) films. Anodized chromium is a heavy metal and harmful to the environment, and both Cr and Ni films exhibit solar-thermal conversion efficiencies ranging from 60 to 70%. In contrast, the best commercial options on the market achieve 70% solar-thermal conversion efficiency.

This research, supported by the Swarna Jayanti Fellowship of the Department of Science and Technology in India, offers a sustainable solution to the global energy crisis and contributes to the shift towards eco-friendly energy sources, according to an official statement by IIT Bombay. Professor Subramaniam expressed his optimism, believing that NCF has the potential to revolutionise the solar-thermal energy market in India and pave the way for decarbonisation.

Source: NDTV