Photoinduced Solid–Liquid Phase Transition and Energy Storage Enabled by the Design of Linked Double Photoswitches

Abstract

We demonstrate an effective design strategy of photoswitchable phase change materials based on the bisazobenzene scaffold. These compounds display a solid phase in the E,E state and a liquid phase in the Z,Z state, in contrast to their monoazobenzene counterparts that exhibit less controlled phase transition behaviors that are largely influenced by their functional groups.

Template-Assisted Visible Light-Induced [2 + 2] Photodimerization in a Pseudopolymorphic Binary Solid: Topotactic Transformation vs Photoinduced Crystal Melting

“…Both of these phenomena carry immense importance in organic solid-state chemistry. SC–SC transformations have been relatively rare in organic solids but carry immense importance in delineating structural transformations. − Photoinduced solid-to-liquid transitions, also called as PCLT, have been studied so far in selective molecular systems. − , The occurrence of such photoinduced melting in binary solids has been discovered recently, and this study reveals subtle differences in structural criteria may dictate photoinduced solid-to-liquid transition, thus unveiling a wide arena of crystal design opportunities through crystal engineering principles. While the topological criteria provide structural insights into the requirements of topotactic transformations versus photoinduced melting in these solids, more detailed investigations will be necessary to delineate the nature of the obtained liquids.…”

Multichromophoric photoswitches for solar energy storage: from azobenzene to norbornadiene, and MOST things in between

“…Nevertheless, azobenzenes have unique properties over other photoswitches, in particular they can also show phase changes. 50–52 Incorporating two or more azobenzenes into the same molecule to form multi-state photoswitches may offer an interesting strategy to optimise the properties for solar thermal energy storage. 53…”

“…Nevertheless, azobenzenes have unique properties over other photoswitches, in particular they can also show phase changes. [50][51][52] Incorporating two or more azobenzenes into the same molecule to form multi-state photoswitches may offer an interesting strategy to optimise the properties for solar thermal energy storage. 53 Multichromophoric photoswitches featuring various azoarene derivatives have been reviewed in detail elsewhere, 20,46,54 though here we will focus specically on the potential of multistate azobenzene photoswitches for energy storage applications.…”