efficient way to store solar energy

**zak** · 01-10-2011, 11:04

a new method of storing solar heat recently from MIT by using a modified carbon nanotubes in combination with a compound called azobenzene, as i understand the subject the piece of that material can retain solar energy in its chemical bonds for a long time, you can take that piece with you in a trip to the prairie then you apply a trigger called heat catalyst then the stored solar energy released as heat, then enjoy cooking. also generating electric power from heating water can be less expensive.
from the news it is very promising, i think the oil companies are not happy ,they want to continue buying oil very cheaply (or practicaly for free ) and selling it high priced. so they may try to put obstacles for this achievement.
http://www.tgdaily.com/sustainabilit...r-heat-storage

**danbaron** · 02-10-2011, 06:31

I thought you were going to write about how to store some data structure.

It's interesting, the trigger to release the stored heat, is the addition of heat.

I agree, the oil companies (corporations) will do whatever they can to sabotage making life easier for people.

**Charles Pegge** · 02-10-2011, 07:14

AzoBenzine - sounds like an oil product to me. They should be pleased. It must be more profitable than providing lubricants for wind turbines

Charles

**danbaron** · 02-10-2011, 08:16

Benzene is C₆H₆.

Azobenzene is C₁₂H₁₀N₂.

A benzene molecule (ring) is 6 carbon atoms chemically attached to each other in a hexagon, with a hydrogen atom chemically attached to each of the carbon atoms.

An azobenzene molecule is two benzene rings, each with one of the hydrogen atoms replaced by a nitrogen atom, and the two nitrogen atoms chemically attached to each other.

They are organic molecules - carbon, hydrogen, oxygen (I think), which means oil.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azobenzene

(One semester of organic chemistry was wasted on me.)

**zak** · 02-10-2011, 08:48

what is interesting is that after releasing the heat the molecules revert to ground state, so you can use that object again and again , it is not damaged like a coal. exactly like a rechargable battery but instead of pluging the battery in the wall for charging you put the heat battery under the sun.
but what i wish to see is how much heat it produce and for how much time (some equation here) .and if the trigger can be a pressure (hammer stroke ??), . in the case of a candle the trigger is a tiny flame from a match, and so on ...

more info here:
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/...nergy-storage/

**danbaron** · 02-10-2011, 09:36

The molecules absorb the sunlight, so, it seems the material would have to be thin.

I guess you couldn't have a big block of it, because, the sunlight would not reach the interior.

So, if you have a big sheet of it, and you trigger the release, how do you capture the heat?

Maybe you could immerse many parallel sheets in a tank of water, trigger the release, boil the water, and use the steam to drive a turbine and generate electricity.