Mathematical modeling study to optimize the production of molybdenum and silica absorbing thin films

•Theoretical prediction and experimental validation of spectral selectivity of absorbing thin films;•Mathematical Modeling of optical behavior of multilayer thin films;•Optimization of deposition parameters by Magnetron Sputtering;•High spectral selectivity of molybdenum and silica absorbing thin films;•SiO2 deposition on Mo films increased their absorbances and reduces their emittance. Reducing costs in renewable energy technologies, such as solar energy, can be achieved by optimizing manufacturing processes to enhance the performance of solar absorbers. This study investigates the optical characteristics of molybdenum (Mo) films deposited on AISI 304 stainless steel substrates, both with and without a silicon dioxide (SiO2) anti-reflective layer. The work involves optimizing film thickness and deposition conditions to improve solar absorption and minimize thermal emission. A mathematical model was developed to determine the optimal film thickness for achieving high optical selectivity, and this model was validated through experimental deposition and characterization. The results show that a 53 nm Mo film achieved a selectivity factor of 10.35, with an emissivity of 9.30 % and an absorptivity of 96.28 %. The addition of an 18 nm SiO2 layer further increased the spectral selectivity to 13.95, with an absorptivity of 98.00 % and an emissivity of 7.02 %. These findings confirm that the theoretical predictions align with the experimental data, validating effectiveness of the optimized deposition parameters in enhancing the performance of solar absorbers.