Heat transfer based on radiative energy absorption and thermal dissipation is important in the design of energy conversion and transfer systems. We studied in the design of radiative energy absorber for efficient energy harvesting and transfer using a nanoscale interface modification technology. We presented that silver nanoclusters assisted silicon nanowires (SiNWs) forest could be feasible for radiative energy absorption in a broadband spectral region. A drastic increase of radiative energy absorption could be obtained in the near infrared wavelength region with accompanying quasi-perfect absorption (higher than 95%) of ultra-violet and visible range of the irradiation spectrum. All of surface manipulations were based on top-down metal-assisted chemical etching feasible under room-temperature conditions to synthesize SiNWs with silver nanoclusters. The spectral absorbance characteristics were elucidated for characteristic lengths of SiNWs, clustering of silver nanopartides, orientation of the substrate, and single as well as double-sided silver nanoclusters orientations dominate in spectral absorbance characteristics. The results were also presented for guaranteeing efficient solar-thermal converting components with 92.4% solar absorption performance under AM1.5D condition. Surface modification and optimization will be helpful to improve the performances of solar energy conversion systems and various heat transfer systems. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.