Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara have created a new molecule that can store solar energy and release it later as heat, offering a promising alternative to conventional lithium batteries with higher energy density.
How the Technology Works
The system, published in Science, is a Molecular Solar Thermal (MOST) platform using a compound called pyrimidone. Unlike traditional solar panels that generate electricity, this molecule stores sunlight in chemical form.
When exposed to sunlight, the molecule shifts into a high-energy state, remaining stable until triggered by heat or a catalyst, which releases the stored energy as usable heat. Lead author Han Nguyen described the concept as a reusable system capable of repeatedly storing and releasing energy.
Bio-Inspired Design
The pyrimidone compound is inspired by DNA structures, mimicking how certain DNA components change form under ultraviolet light. By creating a synthetic version, researchers developed a molecule that can store energy long-term while remaining stable. Modeling support was provided by Ken Houk at UCLA.
Performance Highlights
- Energy Density: >1.6 MJ/kg (higher than lithium-ion batteries at ~0.9 MJ/kg)
- Demonstrated Use: Stored energy was sufficient to boil water under ambient conditions
- Solubility: The material dissolves in water, enabling circulation through solar collectors for daytime storage
Potential Applications
This system could support off-grid heating, residential water heating, and other energy needs without requiring separate batteries. Co-author Benjamin Baker highlighted that the molecule itself functions as both energy capture and storage.
Research Support
The project was funded by the Moore Inventor Fellowship, awarded to Han Nguyen in 2025 to advance this type of solar energy storage technology.
