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From Light to Heat with Azobenzenes—Tuning Energy Storage by Structural Design

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Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage Systems (MOST 2024)

Part of the book series: Advances in Atom and Single Molecule Machines ((AASMM))

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Abstract

This chapter reviews key Molecular Solar Thermal (MOST) parameters using azobenzenes as a model. The ease of modifying azobenzene structures allows for tuning properties such as absorption wavelength, energy storage capacity, and release. Effective strategies include adding substituents, incorporating heterocycles, combining multiple MOST-active structures, or integrating into macrocycles. While many modifications influence multiple parameters, optimizing them simultaneously remains challenging. The ideal azobenzene MOST candidate is yet to be found, underscoring the need for further research and exploration of alternative structures.

Conrad Averdunk, Kai Hanke, Silke Müsse, Dominic Schatz: These authors contributed equally.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Organic Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany

    Conrad Averdunk, Kai Hanke, Silke Müsse, Dominic Schatz & Hermann A. Wegner

  2. Center of Materials Research (ZfM/LaMa), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany

    Conrad Averdunk, Kai Hanke, Silke Müsse, Dominic Schatz & Hermann A. Wegner

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  1. Conrad Averdunk
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  2. Kai Hanke
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  5. Hermann A. Wegner
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Correspondence to Hermann A. Wegner .

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  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Kasper Moth-Poulsen

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Averdunk, C., Hanke, K., Müsse, S., Schatz, D., Wegner, H.A. (2025). From Light to Heat with Azobenzenes—Tuning Energy Storage by Structural Design. In: Moth-Poulsen, K. (eds) Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage Systems. MOST 2024. Advances in Atom and Single Molecule Machines. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-01616-4_6

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