{"database":"biostudies-literature","file_versions":[],"scores":null,"additional":{"submitter":["Salthouse RJ"],"funding":["European Innovation Council","European Research Council","European Commission's Horizon 2020 Framework Program"],"pagination":["e16629"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12759240"],"repository":["biostudies-literature"],"omics_type":["Unknown"],"volume":["65(1)"],"pubmed_abstract":["The norbornadiene/quadricyclane (NBD/QC) photoswitch pair is a promising system for molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage. Multichromophoric systems with two or more photoswitches can offer red-shifted absorption, higher energy densities, and additional functionality. Here, a series of ortho- and para-substituted NBD dimers bearing methoxy, hexoxy (for solubility), and cyano groups were synthesised and evaluated for their MOST properties. Compared to monomers, the dimers display red-shifted absorption and improved solar spectrum match, with onsets between 448-488 nm, owing to their donor-acceptor design and extended conjugation. A key finding is the tunable relationship between molecular structure, photoluminescence and photoisomerisation: para-dimers exhibit efficient fluorescence, whilst ortho-dimers are superior photoswitches with quantum yields of isomerisation, Φ<sub>i</sub>, up to 63%. Solvent choice further modulates behaviour; Φ<sub>i</sub> is higher in acetonitrile, whereas fluorescence is more efficient in toluene. This interplay allows tailoring for specific functions. The best-performing photoswitches were studied in a liquid-chip device, achieving a record solar conversion efficiency of 2.9%. Catalytic back-conversion using cobalt phthalocyanine on carbon and macroscopic heat release experiments at 0.1 M yielded a 5.78 °C temperature increase. This first experimental macroscopic heat release of a dimeric system provides important insights into design challenges and opportunities for advancing multichromophoric systems towards MOST applications."],"journal":["Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)"],"pubmed_title":["Modulation of Photoluminescence and Solar Thermal Energy Storage in Norbornadiene-Quadricyclane Dimers."],"pmcid":["PMC12759240"],"funding_grant_id":["101046364","951801","101002131"],"pubmed_authors":["Fernandez L","Etherington MK","Elholm JL","Ferreira P","Salthouse RJ","Moth-Poulsen K","Cortellazzi I","Holzel H"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"Modulation of Photoluminescence and Solar Thermal Energy Storage in Norbornadiene-Quadricyclane Dimers.","description":"The norbornadiene/quadricyclane (NBD/QC) photoswitch pair is a promising system for molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage. Multichromophoric systems with two or more photoswitches can offer red-shifted absorption, higher energy densities, and additional functionality. Here, a series of ortho- and para-substituted NBD dimers bearing methoxy, hexoxy (for solubility), and cyano groups were synthesised and evaluated for their MOST properties. Compared to monomers, the dimers display red-shifted absorption and improved solar spectrum match, with onsets between 448-488 nm, owing to their donor-acceptor design and extended conjugation. A key finding is the tunable relationship between molecular structure, photoluminescence and photoisomerisation: para-dimers exhibit efficient fluorescence, whilst ortho-dimers are superior photoswitches with quantum yields of isomerisation, Φ<sub>i</sub>, up to 63%. Solvent choice further modulates behaviour; Φ<sub>i</sub> is higher in acetonitrile, whereas fluorescence is more efficient in toluene. This interplay allows tailoring for specific functions. The best-performing photoswitches were studied in a liquid-chip device, achieving a record solar conversion efficiency of 2.9%. Catalytic back-conversion using cobalt phthalocyanine on carbon and macroscopic heat release experiments at 0.1 M yielded a 5.78 °C temperature increase. This first experimental macroscopic heat release of a dimeric system provides important insights into design challenges and opportunities for advancing multichromophoric systems towards MOST applications.","dates":{"release":"2026-01-01T00:00:00Z","publication":"2026 Jan","modification":"2026-06-06T09:44:29.247Z","creation":"2026-05-28T03:12:15.668Z"},"accession":"S-EPMC12759240","cross_references":{"pubmed":["41189397"],"doi":["10.1002/anie.202516629"]}}