Posted on 04/16/2014 10:07:14 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The next big thing in solar energy could be microscopic.
Scientists at MIT and Harvard University have devised a way to store solar energy in molecules that can then be tapped to heat homes, water or used for cooking.
The best part: The molecules can store the heat forever and be endlessly re-used while emitting absolutely no greenhouse gases. Scientists remain a way's off in building this perpetual heat machine but they have succeeded in the laboratory at demonstrating the viability of the phenomenon called photoswitching.
"Some molecules, known as photoswitches, can assume either of two different shapes, as if they had a hinge in the middle," MIT researchers said in statement about the paper published in the journal Nature Chemistry. "Exposing them to sunlight causes them to absorb energy and jump from one configuration to the other, which is then stable for long periods of time."
To liberate that energy all you have to do is expose the molecules to a small amount of light, heat or electricity and when they switch back to the other shape they emit heat. "In effect, they behave as rechargeable thermal batteries: taking in energy from the sun, storing it indefinitely, and then releasing it on demand," the scientists said.
The researchers used a photoswitching substance called an azobenzene, attaching the molecules to substrates of carbon nanotubes. The challenge: Packing the molecules closely enough together to achieve a sufficient energy density to generate usable heat.
It appeared that the researchers had failed when they were only able to pack fewer than half the number of molecules needed as indicated by an earlier computer simulation of the experiment.
(Excerpt) Read more at mashable.com ...
One step closer to proving the existence of our Creator at a time.
If this works as claimed, environmentalists will still be against it. Especially producers of bird killing windmills and solar panels.
I do believe that solar energy will be the main source of energy for our civilization... eventually.
In the meantime (the next 2-5 decades) it’s good to have plentiful oil and natural gas to bridge the gap.
Too bad we can’t also rely on nuclear power to bridge the gap, but the anti-nuke nannies killed that for us. Anyway, good that we have North Dakota and other energy-rich regions in this country.
Nature already stores solar energy in molecules called hydrocarbons. And they release no more greenhouse gasses than was used to create them.
But but but what is the depletion rate @ 0 degrees????
I can see a great new product. Solar homes for the Homeless!
Solar panels on a Fridge delivery box!
Not only bridge, but provide the power for research and production. How do Greenies think this stuff will be made? Fairy dust?
If this had any economic viability they'd be keeping their mouths shut at this point in development.
Molecules already store solar energy indefinitely.
It's called gas, oil and coal.
Density is the issue. The pigments in your eyes work on the same principle, selectively by range of frequency.
Solar = fusion?
Used for recording?
Azobenzenes are building blocks for a host of chemicals such as pigments, and are already produced in large quantities. So I hope this works.
I wonder if they’re talking about the photo-isomerization of azobenzene from cis- to trans- and vice versa. I remember learning about that in Organic Chem 40 years ago. I can’t see the phenomenon as much of a storage for photo energy, but maybe that’s where the density issue comes in.
I wonder if they’re talking about the photo-isomerization of azobenzene from cis- to trans- and vice versa. I remember learning about that in Organic Chem 40 years ago. I can’t see the phenomenon as much of a storage for photo energy, but maybe that’s where the density issue comes in.
IronJack and Lepton were close to the point. Perhaps I can clarify. The “density” that needs to be the focus is the solar flux density - how much energy can be collected and or stored on a given patch of material on a perfect sunny day at solar noon. The magic number is considerably less than 1000 watts/square meter, closer to 500 watts on a clear day, depending upon water vapor absorption in the atmosphere, and the sun’s elevation.
When looking at the numbers, especially the efficiency of photoelectric or thermal storage, solar energy conversion to electricity for base load, or even bulk generation has never made economic sense, but is certainly useful for political purposes. Next to “its for the children” and “widows and orphans”, its been worth billions of dollars to cronies of politicians, and thus billions to politicians who can never be faulted for ignorance is promoting “safe”, “clean”, “free” solar generated electricity.
This author actually once, as an assignment by one of the world’s authorities on solar conversion materials science, did a survey of government land that might be available for construction of solar farms, and learned that even if we had no alternative, we haven’t sufficient land, ignoring endangered plants and animals, to dedicate billions of square meters (a typical 1000 megawatt nuclear plant equivalent would require about 200 million square meters of surface in cloudless desert, not counting storage; remember, the sun’s useful production is during about 6 of twenty four hours).
The typical photovoltaic array one sees on a roof in the West, where the people are often well educated and ignorant, a 12’ x 12’ array, wouldn’t power an old-fashioned incandescent light bulb, but would charge batteries - slowly. Figure an optimistic 10% conversion efficiency on sunny days with low humidity. That suggests about 10 watts per square meter. It probably isn’t half of that, and I’m assuming perfect lossless storage, in case someone really thinks they need a lamp on at night.
Solar energy along highways, for emergency communication, to power intermittent instruments, in space where relatively large arrays can be flimsy and there is no water vapor, has applications. For low quality applications, like preheating water for homes in desert climates and for swimming pools, solar energy has economic applications. But the people who put together the Solyndra project deployed the scam always understanding how to make money from the inevitable bankruptcy.
Even people in Silicon Valley who don’t have a background in solar engineering, but know the semiconductor business spotted the scam immediately, since no one can afford to manufacture low-tech semiconductors in California, let alone in Silicon Valley. Remember, the investors in Solyndra walked away with hundreds of millions of our dollars after the bankruptcy. The two big factories employed thousands of union contractors and tens of millions of dollars of equipment was purchased and installed, never to be used. (This was about the time Toyota couldn’t be threatened into floating the NUMMI plant in Fremont any longer). Solyndra was a success to Obama/Holdren/Chiu cronies, who donated tens of millions to Obama’s campaigns. Solar energy is similar to carbon taxes, a ploy to explain stealing money from a naïve public, whose money they take by force of a now well-armed Internal Revenue Service.
Exactly. President Bush said this in his 2000 election campaign and he was right then and the idea is still valid today. Sometime in the future we will achieve true Kardashev Type I status with an energy capability equivalent to the solar insolation on Earth, between 10^16 and 10^17 watts.
But we can’t get there without unfettered use of available energy sources.
Of course, the greenies don’t want us to get there. They want us living in caves, eating turnips and riding in donkey carts (while they eat sushi in luxury, of course).
I would love to see fusion but I don’t see it going anywhere after 60+ years of effort. By all means keep up the effort but don’t count on it delivering. The only proven sustained fusion is in stars. I’m afraid it’s going to stay that way.
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