Typical approaches to capturing solar energy involve the transformation of sunlight into electricity that must be then be stored until needed. Silicon solar panels are relatively efficient and stable however, storing the energy is a major limitation. Storage can be achieved using batteries, but is limited by scalability, stability, and energy losses. A new approach to solar energy storage will be presented. Using triplet photosensitizers visible light can be be transformed directly into mechanical energy caused by a pressure change. We have demonstrated through the prototype reversible reaction of a naphthalene derivative with singlet oxygen to form an endoperoxide that solar energy can be converted to mechanical energy. Consumption of oxygen causes a pressure decrease in the system upon irradiation. Under appropriate dark conditions, the endoperoxide regenerates the naphthalene compound by controllably releasing oxygen, causing a pressure increase in the system, thus allowing us to drive a piston using light. The incorporation of these chemical constituents into a polymer matrix to facilitate this unprecedented mechanophotochemical approach to solar energy to allow for a solid/gas phase reaction will be presented.

Storing solar energy: Photochemical oxygen capture and thermal release

2019 Fall National Meeting

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