Abstract
Devices that can capture and convert sunlight into stored chemical energy are attractive candidates for future energy technologies. A general challenge is to combine efficient solar energy capture with high energy densities and energy storage time into a processable composite for device application. Here, norbornadiene (NBD)–quadricyclane (QC) molecular photoswitches are embedded into polymer matrices, with possible applications in energy storing coatings. The NBD–QC photoswitches that are capable of absorbing sunlight with estimated solar energy storage efficiencies of up to 3.8% combined with attractive energy storage densities of up to 0.48 MJ kg−1. The combination of donor and acceptor units leads to an improved solar spectrum match with an onset of absorption of up to 529 nm and a lifetime (t 1/2) of up to 10 months. The NBD–QC systems with properties matched to a daily energy storage cycle are further investigated in the solid state by embedding the molecules into a series of polymer matrices revealing that polystyrene is the preferred choice of matrix. These polymer devices, which can absorb sunlight and over a daily cycle release the energy as heat, are investigated for their cyclability, showing multicycle reusability with limited degradation that might allow them to be applied as window laminates.
Highlights
One of the main challenges in the world today is a sustainable or even occur under ambient conditions depending upon the storage life time (t1/2) of the high-energy isomer
While the NBD system fulfils many of the requirements stated above for molecular entity, few examples of function in the solid state can be found for this system, likely due to the challenge of balancing energy storage time with solar spectrum match.[11g,h] Here, we present the synthesis of a new series of NBD-based molecules with a good solar spectrum match, using the strong acceptor moiety trifluoroacetyl unit in conjunction with carefully selected donor units for the purpose of making NBD derivatives having QCs with half-lives in the range of 4–8 h, applicable for a daily charging/discharging cycle
With a target of MOST window laminates possessing a daily charging/discharging cycle in mind, we designed a series of NBD-based molecules which should possess a good solar spectrum match and target half-lives in the range of 4–8 h
Summary
One of the main challenges in the world today is a sustainable or even occur under ambient conditions depending upon the storage life time (t1/2) of the high-energy isomer. The coating, which could conceivably be the neat molecular photoswitch as a solid or a polymer-based composite, needs to retain the desirable molecular properties of the photoswitch, display excellent cyclability, energy density, and stability, and demonstrate ideal aesthetics in, for instance, window laminate applications. While the NBD system fulfils many of the requirements stated above for molecular entity, few examples of function in the solid state can be found for this system, likely due to the challenge of balancing energy storage time with solar spectrum match.[11g,h] Here, we present the synthesis of a new series of NBD-based molecules with a good solar spectrum match (estimated up to 3.8% solar energy storage efficiency), using the strong acceptor moiety trifluoroacetyl unit in conjunction with carefully selected donor units for the purpose of making NBD derivatives having QCs with half-lives in the range of 4–8 h, applicable for a daily charging/discharging cycle. We investigated the performance of two high-performing derivatives in film configuration for different polymer matrices demonstrating the basic function for a possible future application in MOST coated windows
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