Modularly Integrated System for Spatiotemporally Separated Solar Energy Storage and Release

The sun is regarded as an endless source of clean energy. However, the intermittent supply and dynamically changeable demand of solar energy, as well as its uneven regional distribution, have been continually motivating the technological research of practical strategies to realize the spatiotemporally separated solar energy harvest and utilization. Accordingly, we here developed an integrated system for efficient solar energy capture, stable storage, and on-demand release, which corresponds to the intricate design of three distinct modules, namely, a photothermal conversion module, a latent heat storage module, and a mechanical trigger module. Moreover, efficient heat transfer and long-term supercooled stability necessitate interfacial passivation to coordinate the physical coupling of different modules. In addition to providing an integrated prototype that demonstrates a closed energy cycle in practice, this study may further inspire a new paradigm for advanced solar utilization in both theory and methodology.