Mechanism of Thermal Reversal of the (Fulvalene)tetracarbonyl-diruthenium Photoisomerization: Toward Molecular Solar-Thermal Energy Storage

摘要

In the quest to harness solar energy for power generation. most efforts are centered around photoinduced generic charge separation, such as in photovoltaics, water splitting, other small-molecule activation, and biologically inspired photosynthetic systems. In contrast, the direct collection of heat from sunlight has received much less diversified attention, the bulk devoted to the development of concentrating solar thermal power plants. An attractive alternative would be to trap solar energy in the form of chemical bonds, ideally through the photoconversion of a suitable molecule to a higher energy isomer, which, in turn, would release the stored energy by thermal reversal. Such a system would encompass the essential elements of a rechargeable heat battery, with its inherent advantages of storage, transportability, and use on demand.