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8625890 
Journal Article 
Designing photoswitches for molecular solar thermal energy storage 
Lennartson, A; Roffey, A; Moth-Poulsen, K 
2015 
1 
Tetrahedron Letters
ISSN: 0040-4039
EISSN: 1873-3581 
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD 
OXFORD 
56 
12 
1457-1465 
English 
WOS:000351247600001 
Solar energy conversion and solar energy storage are key challenges for a future society with limited access to fossil fuels. Certain compounds that undergo light-induced isomerisation to a metastable isomer can be used for storage of solar energy, so-called molecular solar thermal systems. Exposing the compound to sun light will generate a high energy photoisomer that can be stored. When energy is needed, the photoisomer can be catalytically converted back to the parent compound, releasing the excess energy as heat. This Letter gives examples of selected molecular solar thermal systems found in the literature. The focus of the Letter is on examples where molecular design has been used to improve the performance of the molecules, and as such it may serve as an inspiration for future design. The selected examples cover five widely studied systems, notably: anthracenes, stilbenes, azobenzenes, tetracarbonyl-fulvalene-diruthenium compounds and norbornadienes. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. 
Isomers; Molecular design; Molecular solar thermal; Molecular switches; Photochemistry; Solar energy