Design of Improved Molecular Solar-Thermal Systems by Mechanochemistry: The Case of Azobenzene

Abstract

Molecular solar-thermal systems (MOST) have emerged in these last years as a novel concept to store solar light. They rely on two state molecular switches that can absorb a photon to convert the initial state A to a higher-in-energy state B. The chemical energy stored by B can be then released to reconstitute A. Although simple in its principle, an optimal MOST needs to satisfy several requirements: incoming photon energy in the solar spectrum range, high photoreaction quantum yield, high storage density, no degradation. The first challenge is therefore the search for molecular switches that accomplish all such properties. Until now, trial-and-error experiments have been performed, led by physicochemical intuition. The result is that most of the initially proposed switches have been abandoned in favor of the preferred norbornadiene/quadricyclane system, together with its derivatives. Nevertheless, most of the solar spectrum is still out of the MOST absorption region, hence requiring novel approaches. Here, it is shown how mechanochemistry can be applied to improve the principally desired characteristics of a MOST: photon absorption energy, storage energy, and thermal B-to-A energy barrier. It is especially shown how azobenzene—a paradigmatic photoswitch still attracting much attention—can be proposed, within certain limits, as a MOST when applying external forces.