ICMAB Research
A new paper has been published in the journal Solar Thermal Energy Storage:
The norbornadiene/quadricyclane (NBD/QC) photoswitch pair is a promising system for molecular solar thermal(MOST) energy storage. Multichromophoric systems with two or more photoswitches can offer red-shifted absorption,higher energy densities, and additional functionality. Here, a series of ortho- and para-substituted NBD dimers bearingmethoxy, hexoxy (for solubility), and cyano groups were synthesised and evaluated for their MOST properties. Comparedto monomers, the dimers display red-shifted absorption and improved solar spectrum match, with onsets between 448–488 nm, owing to their donor–acceptor design and extended conjugation. A key finding is the tunable relationship betweenmolecular structure, photoluminescence and photoisomerisation: para-dimers exhibit efficient fluorescence, whilst ortho-dimers are superior photoswitches with quantum yields of isomerisation, i , up to 63%. Solvent choice further modulatesbehaviour; i is higher in acetonitrile, whereas fluorescence is more efficient in toluene. This interplay allows tailoringfor specific functions. The best-performing photoswitches were studied in a liquid-chip device, achieving a record solarconversion efficiency of 2.9%. Catalytic back-conversion using cobalt phthalocyanine on carbon and macroscopic heatrelease experiments at 0.1 M yielded a 5.78 °C temperature increase. This first experimental macroscopic heat release ofa dimeric system provides important insights into design challenges and opportunities for advancing multichromophoricsystems towards MOST applications.
M4NRG Clean Energy
Modulation of Photoluminescence and Solar Thermal Energy Storage in Norbornadiene-Quadricyclane Dimers
Salthouse, Rebecca J.; Elholm, Jacob L.; Cortellazzi, Irene; Holzel, Helen; Ferreira, Pedro; Fernandez, Lorette; Etherington, Marc K.; Moth-poulsen, Kasper
DOI: 10.1002/anie.202516629


