Phase Behavior of Light-Responsive Lyotropic Liquid Crystals for Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage.

ABSTRACT: Molecular solar thermal energy storage (MOST) materials are a promising method for renewable energy storage that captures solar energy and releases it on demand as heat. Azobenzene is attractive for MOST applications due to its photoreversible E-Z isomerization. Recently, phase-change materials have been formed using azobenzene to increase their energy-storage capacity; however, these condensed phases often lower the isomerization degree, which is only recovered on dissolution. In this work, sparing solvent addition is used to drive the self-assembly of azobenzene photosurfactants (AzoPS) into lyotropic liquid crystal (LLC) phases, which are explored for MOST applications for the first time. Using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), polarized optical microscopy, and differential sc

SUBMITTER: Jones BE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12356579 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature