Efficiency Limit of Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Collecting Devices

• As a larger fraction of energy is based on solar energy an other renewable energy sources, technologies for energy storage and conversion is becoming, increasingly important Molecular solar thermal (MOST) is a concept for long-term storage of solar energy in molecules and release of the energy as heat with full regeneration of the initial materials The process is inherently closed cycle and emission free. No assessment of the fundamental efficiency limits of the technology has been made. In this report, I efficiency limits and fundamental factors for molecular design of molecular solar thermal systems are discussed. Maximum efficiencies and potential temperature gradients are estimated using a number of basic assumptions on desired storage lifetimes and energy losses. The predicted maximum solar energy conversion efficiency is 10.6% at a S-1-S-0 gap of 1.89 eV. At this S-1-S-0 gap, the stored energy is able to create temperature differences of similar to 300 degrees C. Several existing systems have an energy storage density in line with the predicted maximum one but do so at larger than optimal S-1-S-0 gaps.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

trifluoromethyl-substituted norbornadiene

Maximum solar

photoresponsive

detailed balance limit

(fulvalene)tetracarbonyldiruthenium

thermal

Energy conversion

Solar energy

moieties

storage

energy-conversion efficiency

system

polymers

Molecular solar thermal

photochemical up-conversion

Energy efficiency

Energy storage

cells

donor-acceptor norbornadiene

Solar

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