The experimental evaluation of a solar particle receiver is reported. Concentrated irradiation was converted into thermal energy in a gas flow by a cloud of radiation absorbing sub-micron carbon particles. Average solar concentration was 2500 on an 80 mm diameter aperture. Cloud particle mass fractions were in the range 0.2 to 0.5%. Exit gas temperatures exceeding 2100 K were measured with nitrogen, 1900 K with CO2, and 2000 K with air, which is 1000 degrees higher than previously reported using a particle receiver. The air heating tests reveal that the particle/gas heat transfer exceeded the oxygen/carbon oxidation rate up to 2000 K. A carbon particle mass fraction of less than 0.5% in the gas stream ensures that the heated air contains only a negligible amount of CO2 and NOx. The axial receiver cavity wall temperature increased with distance from the aperture, peaking at 60% of the total cavity length, and then slightly decreasing towards the exit plane. At steady conditions the wall temperatures in the gas’ exit plane were at least 100 degrees cooler than the gas’; alleviating structural constraints associated with conventional volumetric receivers. Estimated radiation to thermal energy conversion efficiencies surpassed 80% at the highest mass flow rates. The receiver accumulated over 12 net hours at temperatures above 1700 K without any major failures.