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Azobenzene Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes and Other Templated Photoswitch Molecules for High Energy Density Solar Thermal Fuels

Technology Benefits

-No emissions-Easily transportable in liquid or powder form-Easy to recharge-Can cycle through energy conversion and release numerous times without degradation-CNT substrate imposes close-packed, highly ordered array of adsorbed photomolecules, which leads to increased volumetric energy density-Enables systematic manipulation of the inter- and intra-molecular interactions, creating a highly effective set of tuning parameters for maximizing both energy storage capacity and storage lifetime of the solar thermal fuel

Technology Application

Clean, renewable, and transportable energy conversion/storage

Detailed Technology Description

None

Supplementary Information

Patent Number: US20120325200A1
Application Number: US13457448A
Inventor: Kolpak, Alexie M. | Grossman, Jeffrey C.
Priority Date: 24 Jun 2011
Priority Number: US20120325200A1
Application Date: 26 Apr 2012
Publication Date: 27 Dec 2012
IPC Current: C07C024508 | C07D040112 | F24J000234
US Class: 126619 | 534657 | 534676 | 534767
Title: Nano-Templated Energy Storage Materials
Usefulness: Nano-Templated Energy Storage Materials
Summary: As energy storage device for storing energy (claimed).
Novelty: Energy storage device for storing energy comprises a solar thermal fuel including photoswitchable moieties associated with a nanomaterial

Industry

Chemical/Material

Sub Category

Nano Materials

*Abstract

Problem:Large-scale adoption of solar thermal fuels requires enhanced energy storage capacity and thermal stability. Previous solar thermal fuels degraded after only a few cycles of energy conversion and release and/or were composed of expensive, non-abundant elements.Technology:The invention suggests a new approach to the design of high-energy density solar thermal fuels based on combining well-studied photoswitch molecules with carbon nanotubes to increase energy storage capacity and thermal stability of the photoswitch molecules. The novel solar thermal fuel is composed of azobenzene-functionalized carbon nanotubes and can have both volumetric and gravimetric energy densities comparable to that of Li-ion batteries.

Country/Region

USA