Macroscopic heat release in a molecular solar thermal energy storage system
Journal article, 2019

The development of solar energy can potentially meet the growing requirements for a global energy system beyond fossil fuels, but necessitates new scalable technologies for solar energy storage. One approach is the development of energy storage systems based on molecular photoswitches, so-called molecular solar thermal energy storage (MOST). Here we present a novel norbornadiene derivative for this purpose, with a good solar spectral match, high robustness and an energy density of 0.4 MJ kg-1. By the use of heterogeneous catalyst cobalt phthalocyanine on a carbon support, we demonstrate a record high macroscopic heat release in a flow system using a fixed bed catalytic reactor, leading to a temperature increase of up to 63.4 °C (83.2 °C measured temperature). Successful outdoor testing shows proof of concept and illustrates that future implementation is feasible. The mechanism of the catalytic back reaction is modelled using density functional theory (DFT) calculations rationalizing the experimental observations.

Author

Zhihang Wang

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Anna Roffey

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Raul Losantos

University of La Rioja

Anders Lennartsson

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Martyn Jevric

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Anne U. Petersen

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Maria Quant

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Ambra Dreos

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Xin Wen

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Diego Sampedro

University of La Rioja

Karl Börjesson

University of Gothenburg

Kasper Moth-Poulsen

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry

Energy and Environmental Sciences

1754-5692 (ISSN) 17545706 (eISSN)

Vol. 12 1 187-193

Subject Categories

Energy Engineering

Chemical Process Engineering

Energy Systems

DOI

10.1039/c8ee01011k

More information

Latest update

7/17/2019