Researchers from Sweden's Chalmers University of Technology designed an energy system that stores solar energy in liquid form for up to 18 years, a press statement reveals.
With the help of scientists from China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Chalmers team has tested its device, called the Molecular Solar Thermal system (MOST), by connecting it to a thermoelectric generator, proving that it can produce electricity on-demand.
The Chalmers team has been working on its technology for more than a decade, and it believes it may soon be a viable option for charging low-power electronics devices.
The system was designed using specially-developed molecules of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. When these are hit by sunlight, the atoms within the molecules are rearranged, turning them into an energy-rich isomer that's stored in liquid form. Impressively, the researchers say their system stores energy in this liquid form for up to 18 years. It is then released using a special catalyst that returns the molecules to their original shape, releasing the stored energy as heat.
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