Electrochemically Triggered Energy Release from an Azothiophene-Based Molecular Solar Thermal System.

ABSTRACT: Molecular solar thermal (MOST) systems combine solar energy conversion, storage, and release in simple one-photon one-molecule processes. Here, we address the electrochemically triggered energy release from an azothiophene-based MOST system by photoelectrochemical infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PEC-IRRAS) and density functional theory (DFT). Specifically, the electrochemically triggered back-reaction from the energy rich (Z)-3-cyanophenylazothiophene to its energy lean (E)-isomer using highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) as the working electrode was studied. Theory predicts that two reaction channels are accessible, an oxidative one (hole-catalyzed) and a reductive one (electron-catalyzed). Experimentally it was found that the photo-isomer decomposes during hole-catalyz

SUBMITTER: Franz E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9796447 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature