Abstract The quest for more efficient solar absorbers has resulted in the development of numerous coating techniques for the absorption panel itself. The Chrome-Black coating is an electroplated black-chrome coating on a copper substrate which combines the properties of high visible absorption (α), low infra-red emission (ϵ) and excellent temperature stability in both air and vacuum environments. Results obtained show that surfaces may be produced both with high α ϵ ratios, for example α = 87 per cent, ϵ = 3 per cent and α ϵ = 28 and with high absorption, for example α = 92 per cent, ϵ = 8 per cent and α ϵ = 11 . These results were obtained assuming an air-mass-2 spectral distribution and a 50°C black body weighting for absorption and emission respectively. All samples are known to be stable to at least 300°C. This type of coating would be expected to have good anticorrosion properties and this has been confirmed by electro-chemical oxidation and reduction testing. A comparison is made between the topography of this coating and of sputtered metal surfaces.