2026-02-12 カリフォルニア大学サンタバーバラ校（UCSB）
Photo Credit NASA
＜関連情報＞
- https://news.ucsb.edu/2026/022384/ucsb-scientists-bottle-sun-liquid-battery
- https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aec6413
デュワーピリミドンにおける1.6 MJ/kgを超える分子太陽熱エネルギー貯蔵 Molecular solar thermal energy storage in Dewar pyrimidone beyond 1.6 MJ/kg
Han P. Q. Nguyen, Alexander J. Maertens, Benjamin A. Baker, Nathan M.-W. Wu, […] , and Grace G. D. Han
Science Published:12 Feb 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aec6413
Abstract
Storing sunlight in a compact and rechargeable form remains a central challenge for solar energy utilization. Molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage systems, which harness photon energy and release it as heat on demand, provide a direct approach, but have long failed to meet practical benchmarks. Inspired by the architecture of DNA, we report a pyrimidone-based MOST system that stores energy in the strained Dewar photoisomer upon excitation at 300 nm. Designed with sustainability in mind, the system operates solvent-free and remains compatible with aqueous environments while overcoming one of the field’s greatest hurdles: the controlled extraction and transfer of stored heat. When catalyzed by acid, the Dewar isomer releases enough heat to boil water (~0.5 mL). These advances help point the way toward decentralized solar heat storage and off-grid energy solutions.
