Energy Focus: Azobenzene-functionalized CNTs predicted to be high-energy density solar thermal fuels

MRS Bulletin ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 669-670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Trohalaki
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
High Energy Density

Efficient Co-Harvesting of Solar Energy and Low-Grade Heat by Molecular Photoswitches for High Energy Density, Long-Term Stable Solar Thermal Battery

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao-Yang Zhang ◽  
Tao LI
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
High Performance ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Thermal Battery ◽  
Low Grade Heat

Solar energy and ambient heat are two inexhaustible energy sources for addressing the global challenge of energy and sustainability. Solar thermal battery based on molecular switches that can store solar energy and release it as heat has recently attracted great interest, but its development is severely limited by both low energy density and short storage stability. On the other hand, the efficient recovery and upgrading of low-grade heat, especially that of the ambient heat, has been a great challenge. Here we report that solar energy and ambient heat can be simultaneously harvested and stored, which is enabled by room-temperature photochemical crystal-to-liquid transitions of small-molecule photoswitches. The two forms of energy are released together to produce high-temperature heat during the reverse photochemical phase change. This strategy, combined with molecular design, provides high energy density of 320-370 J/g and long-term storage stability (half-life of about 3 months). On this basis, we fabricate high-performance, flexible film devices of solar thermal battery, which can be readily recharged at room temperature with good cycling ability, show fast rate of heat release, and produce high-temperature heat that is >20<sup> o</sup>C higher than the ambient temperature. Our work opens up a new avenue to harvest ambient heat, and demonstrate a feasible strategy to develop high-performance solar thermal battery.

Efficient Co-Harvesting of Solar Energy and Low-Grade Heat by Molecular Photoswitches for High Energy Density, Long-Term Stable Solar Thermal Battery

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhao-Yang Zhang ◽  
Tao LI
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
High Performance ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Thermal Battery ◽  
Low Grade Heat

Solar energy and ambient heat are two inexhaustible energy sources for addressing the global challenge of energy and sustainability. Solar thermal battery based on molecular switches that can store solar energy and release it as heat has recently attracted great interest, but its development is severely limited by both low energy density and short storage stability. On the other hand, the efficient recovery and upgrading of low-grade heat, especially that of the ambient heat, has been a great challenge. Here we report that solar energy and ambient heat can be simultaneously harvested and stored, which is enabled by room-temperature photochemical crystal-to-liquid transitions of small-molecule photoswitches. The two forms of energy are released together to produce high-temperature heat during the reverse photochemical phase change. This strategy, combined with molecular design, provides high energy density of 320-370 J/g and long-term storage stability (half-life of about 3 months). On this basis, we fabricate high-performance, flexible film devices of solar thermal battery, which can be readily recharged at room temperature with good cycling ability, show fast rate of heat release, and produce high-temperature heat that is >20<sup> o</sup>C higher than the ambient temperature. Our work opens up a new avenue to harvest ambient heat, and demonstrate a feasible strategy to develop high-performance solar thermal battery.

scholarly journals Molecularly Engineered Azobenzene Derivatives for High Energy Density Solid-State Solar Thermal Fuels

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 8679-8687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene N. Cho ◽  
David Zhitomirsky ◽  
Grace G. D. Han ◽  
Yun Liu ◽  
Jeffrey C. Grossman
Keyword(s):  
Solid State ◽  
Energy Density ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Azobenzene Derivatives

A high energy density azobenzene/graphene hybrid: a nano-templated platform for solar thermal storage

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (22) ◽  
pp. 11787-11795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Luo ◽  
Yiyu Feng ◽  
Chen Cao ◽  
Man Li ◽  
Enzuo Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Thermal Storage ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
High Energy Density

A high functionalization density and inter-planar bundling interaction remarkably improve both the storage capacity and lifetime of solar thermal fuels using an azobenzene/graphene nano-template.

An energy-dense and thermal-stable bis-azobenzene/hybrid templated assembly for solar thermal fuel

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (21) ◽  
pp. 8020-8028 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Feng ◽  
Shipei Li ◽  
Man Li ◽  
Chengqun Qin ◽  
Yiyu Feng
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Heat Release ◽  
Power Density ◽  
High Power ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
High Power Density ◽  
Hybrid Assembly ◽  
Thermal Stable

A bis-azobenzene/hybrid assembly combining high energy density, high power density and tunable heat release was presented.

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