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Atomically Defined Templates for Epitaxial Growth of Complex Oxide Thin Films
Published on: December 4, 2014
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Solar energy storage at an atomically defined organic-oxide hybrid interface
Christian Schuschke1, Chantal Hohner1, Martyn Jevric2
1Lehrstuhl für Physikalische Chemie II, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Egerlandstr. 3, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.
Nature Communications
|June 5, 2019
Summary
Researchers developed a novel organic-oxide hybrid interface for solar energy storage. This system utilizes a molecular photoswitch anchored to a semiconducting oxide, enabling efficient energy conversion and reversible storage.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Photochemistry
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Molecular photoswitches offer a simple method for solar energy conversion and storage.
- Coupling photoswitches to semiconducting electrodes is crucial for converting stored energy to electricity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assemble an operational solar-energy-storing organic-oxide hybrid interface.
- To investigate the photo-conversion and energy release characteristics of an anchored molecular photoswitch.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized 2-cyano-3-(4-carboxyphenyl)norbornadiene (CNBD) molecular photoswitch.
- Anchored CNBD to a well-ordered Co3O4(111) surface using physical vapor deposition in ultrahigh vacuum.
- Utilized photochemical infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy to study the interface.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that the anchored CNBD monolayer remains operational for photo-conversion to its energy-rich counterpart.
- Showed that the activation barrier for energy release is unaffected by the anchoring process.
- Confirmed high reversibility in charging and discharging the anchored photoswitch.
Conclusions:
- An atomically-defined solar-energy-storing model interface was successfully assembled.
- The interface enables detailed studies of energy conversion at organic/oxide hybrid interfaces.
- This work paves the way for advanced molecular solar energy storage systems.
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