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The New Way of Capturing Energy Allows It to Be Stored for Months at Room Temperature, and Then Released When Needed in the Form of Heat.
A team from Lancaster University in the UK confirmed research done about 2 years ago by Japanese scientists who synthesized an ultraporous material they called DMOF, an ultraporous material that can directly capture energy from the Sun and store it for future use. Looking for a job? Manserv is hiring for an offshore position in Macaé
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“The material works somewhat like phase change materials, which are used to provide heat in hand warmers […]. However, while hand warmers need to be heated to recharge, the advantage of this material is that it captures free energy directly from the Sun”, says John Griffin, co-author of the study, quoted by the portal Science Alert.
Known as a metal-organic framework (MOF, in English), the material is made up of a network of metal ions linked by carbon-based molecules.
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Renewable energy sources are gaining global prominence by driving the energy transition and reducing environmental impacts in the face of advancing climate change.
The new way of capturing energy allows it to be stored for months at room temperature, and then released when needed in the form of heat.
The idea is to capture solar energy during the day and provide it at night, or even capture sunlight in the summer and use it to heat homes in the winter.
About the MOF, the New Way of Storing Solar Energy
Kieran Griffiths and his colleagues filled the pores of DMOF-1 with azobenzene, a compound that strongly absorbs light. These molecules act as photo-switches – light-activated switches – since they are a type of “molecular machine” that can change shape when an external stimulus, such as light or heat, is applied.
The results speak for themselves: this compound was able to store ultraviolet energy for at least four months at room temperature before releasing it again, the study reports. Researchers estimate that the material has a lifespan of up to four and a half years.
At the moment, more work is needed to prepare the material for widespread use. Although tests have shown that the material can retain energy for months at a time, the energy density of the material is relatively low and researchers hope to improve it.
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