This symposium follows up on the 2017 symposium on surfaces, coatings and interfaces for concentrating solar power (CSP) applications. The success of the previous symposium encouraged the organizers to broaden the scope to other challenging solar thermal applications. Next-generation CSP is expected to operate at temperatures at or exceeding 600 ºC, exacerbating existing challenges for solar thermal components and applications. This symposium will focus on research and development activities in coating design, surface treatment and processes to improve the performance of key CSP components, e.g., reflectors, receivers, and thermal storage at high temperatures. In addition, the symposium will address challenges in heat transfer media and solar-thermochemical processes such as water- and CO₂-splitting and chemical syntheses.
Many of these applications face complementary challenges, including oxidation, corrosion, environmental and mechanical stability, materials incompatibilities, and thermal stresses. Approaches to overcoming such challenges include new materials development, surface modifications and coatings, new methods of materials characterization at high temperatures, and computational advances. Consequently, this symposium aims at stimulating an effective transfer of expertise between different technological fields.

coating energy generation energy storage nanostructure optical properties physical vapor deposition (PVD) simulation surface chemistry thermal conductivity thin film