Chip-scale solar thermal electrical power generation
Journal article, 2022
There is an urgent need for alternative compact technologies that can derive and store energy from the sun, especially the large amount of solar heat that is not effectively used for power generation. Here, we report a combination of solution- and neat-film-based molecular solar thermal (MOST) systems, where solar energy can be stored as chemical energy and released as heat, with microfabricated thermoelectric generators to produce electricity when solar radiation is not available. The photophysical properties of two MOST couples are characterized both in liquid with a catalytical cycling setup and in a phase-interconvertible neat film. Their suitable photophysical properties let us combine them individually with a microelectromechanical ultrathin thermoelectric chip to use the stored solar energy for electrical power generation. The generator can produce, as a proof of concept, a power output of up to 0.1 nW (power output per unit volume up to 1.3 W m−3). Our results demonstrate that such a molecular thermal power generation system has a high potential to store and transfer solar power into electricity and is thus potentially independent of geographical restrictions.
Author
Zhihang Wang
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
Zhenhua Wu
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Zhiyu Hu
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Jessica Orrego Hernandez
Applied Surface Chemistry
Erzhen Mu
Henan Polytechnic University
Zhao Yang Zhang
Shanghai Key Lab of Electrical Insulation & Thermal Aging
Martyn Jevric
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
Yang Liu
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Xuecheng Fu
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Fengdan Wang
Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Tao Li
Shanghai Key Lab of Electrical Insulation & Thermal Aging
Kasper Moth-Poulsen
Institute of Material Science of Barcelona (ICMAB)
Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
Cell Reports Physical Science
26663864 (eISSN)
Vol. 3 3 100789Molecular Solar Thermal energy storage systems (MOST)
European Commission (EC) (EC/H2020/951801), 2020-09-01 -- 2024-02-29.
Swedish Energy Agency (2019-010724), 2019-05-07 -- 2019-09-03.
Subject Categories
Energy Engineering
Energy Systems
Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering
DOI
10.1016/j.xcrp.2022.100789