Issue 35, 2021

Solar energy conversion and storage by photoswitchable organic materials in solution, liquid, solid, and changing phases

Abstract

This review illustrates various structural design principles for molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage materials based on photoswitches that operate under different conditions, e.g. solution state, neat liquid, and solid, or result in a solid–liquid phase transition during their photo-isomerization. The structural modifications of MOST compounds enable the formation of each phase, which also influences the important performance metrics of the photoactive energy materials: the energy storage density per molecule or gravimetric energy density. Other major optical and thermal properties are also modulated by the molecular designs and affect the energy storage period, efficiency of the system, and device structures that accommodate the solar energy storage in each form of the MOST compounds. The introduction of different strategies that enable the large density heat storage under specific phase conditions will help to facilitate the further development of efficient MOST systems that will be readily integrated to device-scale applications with a transformative impact on the renewable energy markets.

Graphical abstract: Solar energy conversion and storage by photoswitchable organic materials in solution, liquid, solid, and changing phases

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
31 mrt 2021
Accepted
15 mei 2021
First published
17 mei 2021

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2021,9, 11444-11463

Author version available

Solar energy conversion and storage by photoswitchable organic materials in solution, liquid, solid, and changing phases

Q. Qiu, Y. Shi and G. G. D. Han, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2021, 9, 11444 DOI: 10.1039/D1TC01472B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements