Can a transparent polymer film store solar energy?

MIT engineers have developed a new material that can store solar energy during the day and release it later as heat, whenever it’s needed. The transparent polymer film could be applied to many different surfaces, such as window glass or clothing.

How do molecular and composite characteristics affect film energy storage?

The parametric study showed the impact of each molecular and composite characteristic on the MOST film energy storage, losses, and optical behavior. The developed model is detailed and can be used to investigate pathways for the future development of MOST molecules for specific applications.

Can solar heat be stored in a chemical change?

The finding, by MIT professor Jeffrey Grossman, postdoc David Zhitomirsky, and graduate student Eugene Cho, is described in a paper in the journal Advanced Energy Materials. The key to enabling long-term, stable storage of solar heat, the team says, is to store it in the form of a chemical change rather than storing the heat itself.

Can solar energy be stored in a chemical reaction?

Most such efforts have focused on storing and recovering solar energy in the form of electricity, but the new finding could provide a highly efficient method for storing the sun’s energy through a chemical reaction and releasing it later as heat.

What is the ambient temperature of a solar film?

To keep the focus on thermal processes resulting solely from the interaction between the solar radiation and the film, the ambient temperature T amb is the same on both sides of the film and constant (20 °C); for the same reason, the initial temperature of the film is set to 20 °C.

Are thin film solar panels sustainable?

From a sustainability perspective, thin film technologies are a crucial step toward reducing the environmental impacts of light-to-chemical conversion. These panel designs offer several general advantages for solar fuel production.