ABSTRACT
The development of thin-film optically selective surfaces has been widely pursued to allow the efficient conversion and control of visible, solar and thermal radiation. Such materials represent mature technologies which find many applications in solar thermal collectors, photovoltaics, windows and daylighting. This chapter presents an overview of advances made in the field of spectrally selective materials for solar thermal conversion used in the building envelope with an emphasis on transparent glazing. The desired optical properties of the spectrally selective solar absorber like high solar absorptance and low thermal emittance are commonly achieved through a tandem two-component system comprising a short-wavelength absorbing, infrared-transparent upper layer and an infrared-reflective under layer and/or metallic substrate. The chapter discusses the projects such as the WinDat Thematic Network, SWIFT, ADOPT, THERMES. The outputs from these projects facilitate the creation of direct lines between product development, performance specification, appreciation in building regulations and other national incentive schemes.
