Chip-scale solar thermal electrical power generation

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) syste...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Wang, Zhihang, Wu, Zhenhua, Hu, Zhiyu, Orrego Hernández, Jessica, Mu, Erzhen, Zhang, Zhao Yang, Jevric, Martyn, Liu, Yang, Fu, Xuecheng, Wang, Fengdan, Li, Tao, Moth-Poulsen, Kasper
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/275653
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/275653
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85130423156
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Energy-storage
Photoswitches
Descripción
Sumario: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.