Tuning the photochemical properties of the fulvalene-tetracarbonyl-diruthenium system.

Anders Lennartson,Karl Börjesson,Kasper Moth-Poulsen,Angelica Lundin,Victor Gray

doi:10.1039/c6dt01343k

Abstract

In a Molecular Solar-Thermal Energy Storage (MOST) system, solar energy is converted to chemical energy using a compound that undergoes reversible endothermic photoisomerization. The high-energy photoisomer can later be converted back to the parent compound and the excess energy is released as heat. One of the most studied MOST systems is based on fulvalene-tetracarbonyl-diruthenium, and this paper demonstrates, for the first time, the possibility to tune the photochemical properties of this system by positive steric hindrance working on the fulvalene unit.

Highlights

The energy received by planet Earth in the form of sunlight exceeds our energy consumption by orders of magnitude, yet techniques to harvest and store this energy are still at a rather rudimentary stage, when considering the fact that only a very small fraction of the world’s energy demand is covered by solar energy
In a Molecular Solar–Thermal Energy Storage (MOST) system, solar energy is converted to chemical energy using a compound that undergoes reversible endothermic photoisomerization
One of the most studied MOST systems is based on fulvalene-tetracarbonyl-diruthenium, and this paper demonstrates, for the first time, the possibility to tune the photochemical properties of this system by positive steric hindrance working on the fulvalene unit

Summary

Introduction

The energy received by planet Earth in the form of sunlight exceeds our energy consumption by orders of magnitude, yet techniques to harvest and store this energy are still at a rather rudimentary stage, when considering the fact that only a very small fraction of the world’s energy demand is covered by solar energy. A possible method to store solar energy is by using compounds undergoing reversible, endothermic photoinduced isomerization.[1,2] Important parameters to design in such a system are the extended absorption range within the solar spectrum as well as a high energy storage capacity.

Results

Conclusion