Multi-mode hybridization in the MXene tetramer metasurface for ultra-broadband solar energy utilization

MXene is promising in photothermal or photovoltaic conversion, while high-performance MXene metasurface solar absorbers based on simple and feasible structures are still lacking. This study aims to design a solar absorber with ultra-broadband absorption capability in the visible and near-infrared wavelength ranges based on the MXene nanoblock tetramer/silica film/MXene substrate structure. The average absorptivity of this proposed metasurface absorber is 96.9% in the wavelength range of 300-2500 nm covering the whole solar spectrum. The physics behind the high absorption results from multiple-mode hybridization in different resonant bands, including the coupling between the surface plasmons, cavity resonances, and guided-mode resonances. The broadband and high-absorption performance remains stable under large-angle incidence and structural parameter variations with the average absorption above 90% in the whole wavelength region of interest. The calculated energy absorption ratio of the AM1.5 solar radiation spectrum can reach up to 96.3%, indicating low solar energy loss and efficient solar energy capture. In summary, these results provide great application prospects in the fields of photothermal and photovoltaic conversion. (c) 2024 Optica Publishing Group. All rights, including for text and data mining (TDM), Artificial Intelligence (AI) training, and similar technologies, are reserved.