In terms of both high photo-thermal efficiency and high stability, multi-layer structures based on metal-dielectric composites (cermet) can be considered the most attractive selective solar absorbers for receiver tubes operating at medium-high temperatures in the field of solar thermodynamic plants. The double cermet layer approach represents a very simple fabrication method and can give high performances in terms of high solar absorptance and low hemispherical emittance. Optimised solar coatings based on cermet layers were fabricated in our laboratories by sputtering technique following the double layer approach. The joined employment of ellipsometric measurements and optical simulation is proposed as an effective method to optimise and fabricate coatings showing the best performances at a fixed operating temperature of the receiver tube. Interesting results concerning an optimised spectrally selective coating are shown. Solar absorptance higher than 0.94 and hemispherical emittance at 580 degrees C lower than 0.13 were obtained. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.