Supramolecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage Materials for Cooling Technologies

"Heating and cooling are needed in almost all areas of our modern society including, industry, houses, clothing, and electronic devices. This project seeks to fundamentally change how we generate heating and cooling by developing a new class of solar thermal management materials (MOST) that capture, store, and release both solar and ambient heat. These materials are a unique combination of molecular photo-switches that capture and store solar energy, that together with phase change materials (PCMs) can contribute to thermal management. The input of MOST system is photons, and the output is heat whereas PCM can absorb heat from the environment and thus facilitate cooling. By combining the two materials into one, we can harness and upgrade two of the most abundant renewable sources of energy on the planet: ambient heat and sunlight. Additionally, we will modify the materials in radically new ways to explore if they can contribute to cooling. The outcome of the project will be an emission-free energy system that can capture, store, and release energy, without being consumed in the process, as per the European Green Deal Project.""""