Triggering the energy release in molecular solar thermal systems: Norbornadiene-functionalized trioxatriangulen on Au(111)

Eschenbacher R, Xu T, Franz E, Löw R, Moje T, Fromm L, Görling A, Brummel O, Herges R, Libuda J (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Nano Energy Elsevier

Book Volume: 95

Article Number: 107007

DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2022.107007

Abstract

Molecular solar thermal systems (MOST) based on molecular photoswitches are a promising technology for the smart management of solar energy at small scale. In this work, we study the catalytically triggered energy release mechanism in the norbornadiene/quadricyclane (NBD/QC) couple. We scrutinize a tailor-made NBD-functionalized trioxatriangulen (TOTA-NBD) derivative, which is assembled in form of atomically defined films on an ultraclean Au(111) surface. By in-situ infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) we show that TOTA-QC in direct contact with Au is rapidly back-converted to TOTA-NBD, while there is no back-conversion of TOTA-QC molecules in the second layer or in the multilayer. Our results suggest that Au catalyzes the energy release from QC with very high efficiency through direct electronic coupling to the metal states. This mechanism provides a pathway for the energy release from NBD/QC photoswitches without activation of CH bonds and may enable the design of catalytically triggered MOST devices with very high cyclability

Authors with CRIS profile

Roman Eschenbacher Lehrstuhl für Katalytische Grenzflächenforschung Tao Xu Lehrstuhl für Katalytische Grenzflächenforschung Evanie Franz Lehrstuhl für Katalytische Grenzflächenforschung Lukas Fromm Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Chemie Andreas Görling Lehrstuhl für Theoretische Chemie Olaf Brummel Lehrstuhl für Katalytische Grenzflächenforschung Jörg Libuda Lehrstuhl für Katalytische Grenzflächenforschung

Involved external institutions

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Eschenbacher, R., Xu, T., Franz, E., Löw, R., Moje, T., Fromm, L.,... Libuda, J. (2022). Triggering the energy release in molecular solar thermal systems: Norbornadiene-functionalized trioxatriangulen on Au(111). Nano Energy, 95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nanoen.2022.107007

MLA:

Eschenbacher, Roman, et al. "Triggering the energy release in molecular solar thermal systems: Norbornadiene-functionalized trioxatriangulen on Au(111)." Nano Energy 95 (2022).

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