Molecular Solar Thermal Fuels with High Energy Density Based on Azobenzene Derivatives

Yan Jiang, Rui Liu, Yupeng Guo, Hai Wang (), Wen Luo () and Jin Huang
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Yan Jiang: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing 526061, China
Rui Liu: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing 526061, China
Yupeng Guo: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing 526061, China
Hai Wang: School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing 526061, China
Wen Luo: School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Jin Huang: School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Molecular solar thermal fuels (MOSTs) based on azobenzene derivatives have become one of the research hotspots for solar thermal conversion and storage due to their excellent cycling stability, resistance to photodegradation, and the capability to precisely adjust their absorption wavelengths, and other merits. Here, a novel MOST with connecting two azobenzene molecules by a short linkage (bis-AZO) has been proposed; the photoisomerization regulation and energy storage performance are studied experimentally in detail. The photoisomerization rate of the resultant MOST could be controlled by diverse irradiation intensities. The energy density for bis-AZO was 275.03 J g −1 at 100% isomerization degree, with excellent thermal and photochemical cycling stability. The macroscale heat release of bis-AZO loaded on fabric reached a temperature increase of about 4.3 °C. This research offers a new design strategy for increasing the energy density in azobenzene-based molecular solar thermal fuels.

Keywords: azobenzene; molecular solar thermal fuels; photoisomerization; irradiation intensities; energy density (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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