Ultra-Black Nanoneedles That Absorb 99.5% of Light Could Power the Solar Towers of Tomorrow

Ultra-black nanoneedles for solar energy

Credit: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells (2025)

In a striking advance for renewable energy materials, researchers from the University of the Basque Country (EHU) have engineered a new class of ultra-black copper cobaltate nanoneedles capable of absorbing an extraordinary 99.5% of incoming light. The breakthrough, described in the journal Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, could pave the way for next-generation concentrated solar power (CSP) systems — a key player in the future of large-scale renewable energy.

Harnessing Every Photon: A Revolution in Solar Absorption

Unlike traditional photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight directly into electricity, CSP systems use mirrors to focus sunlight onto a receiver tower, heating a fluid to produce steam that drives turbines. The efficiency of this process depends crucially on how effectively the receiver material absorbs light and converts it to heat. That’s where the new nanoneedles shine — quite literally by absorbing nearly all incoming light, leaving almost no reflection.

Led by Dr. Iñigo González de Arrieta from EHU’s Thermophysical Properties of Materials group, the research team developed copper cobaltate nanoneedles that outperform even the blackest materials used today. While conventional carbon nanotube coatings can absorb around 99% of light, they degrade under high heat and humidity — conditions typical of solar towers operating in desert environments. The new nanoneedles, especially when coated with zinc oxide (ZnO), maintain stability and push absorption beyond 99.5%.

Why Ultra-Black Matters for Solar Power

At the heart of a CSP tower lies a deceptively simple challenge: capture as much solar radiation as possible, withstand temperatures above 700°C, and avoid performance loss under humidity or oxidation. The “ultra-black” property of these nanoneedles arises from their forest-like geometry, which traps incoming light through multiple reflections within the needle array, ensuring almost complete absorption. This microscopic texture allows solar energy to be converted into heat with record-breaking efficiency.

“The more effective our absorbing materials are, the more competitive CSP systems will become,” explained Dr. González de Arrieta. “With these copper cobaltate nanoneedles, especially those coated with ZnO, we’re opening new pathways for stable, high-performance solar absorbers that can revolutionize renewable energy generation.”

From Nanoneedles to Solar Towers

Developed in collaboration with the University of California, San Diego, and analyzed at one of the world’s few laboratories capable of high-temperature thermo-optical testing, these nanoneedles were benchmarked against state-of-the-art materials like carbon nanotubes and black silicon. The results were clear: copper cobaltate nanoneedles coated with ZnO not only outperform existing absorbers but are also more durable — a critical factor for CSP systems exposed to the harsh conditions of deserts in Spain, the U.S., and the Middle East.

Dr. Renkun Chen, a collaborator from UC San Diego, is already working with the U.S. Department of Energy to integrate these materials into experimental solar tower designs. “If successfully scaled, this could redefine the economics of CSP,” he noted. “A 0.5% improvement in light absorption at industrial scale translates into massive energy gains and reduced costs.”

Toward 100% Light Absorption and a Carbon-Free Future

While achieving a full 100% light absorption remains the “holy grail” of optical engineering, the EHU team’s innovation brings that dream remarkably close. The nanoneedles’ robustness also opens possibilities beyond solar power — such as thermal camouflage, radiative cooling, infrared detectors, and spacecraft coatings that need extreme resistance to temperature and radiation.

The researchers emphasize that further improvements may come from new coatings designed to enhance both optical and thermal conductivity. As the world transitions toward carbon neutrality, such breakthroughs will be indispensable for expanding renewable energy infrastructure that can function reliably even in the most demanding climates.

Concentrated Solar Power: The Unsung Hero of Renewable Energy

While photovoltaic (PV) panels dominate the solar energy market, concentrated solar power offers unique advantages. It allows energy to be stored as heat — typically by melting specialized salts that retain heat for hours, even after sunset. This means CSP plants can continue generating electricity at night or during cloudy periods, making them an ideal complement to intermittent PV systems. In Spain, CSP currently accounts for about 5% of renewable power, but innovations like these ultra-black nanoneedles could dramatically increase that share.

For the full article, visit Tech Xplore: https://techxplore.com/news/2025-10-ultra-black-nanoneedles-absorb-future.html.

This article was prepared with the assistance of AI technologies to enhance clarity and SEO readability for the readers of Quantum Server Networks.

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