Solar thermal fuels: azobenzene as a cyclic photon–heat transduction platform

TL;DR

This paper reviews azobenzene-based solar thermal fuels, analyzing their development and challenges to guide future advancements in converting light to heat.

Contribution

The paper provides a systematic comparative analysis of four azobenzene-based fuel systems to identify limitations and future directions.

Findings

Azobenzene-based solar thermal fuels show promise but face practical implementation challenges.

Comparative analysis reveals developmental trajectories and key limitations of four fuel systems.

Strategic pathways for future advancements in the field are proposed based on the analysis.

Abstract

Azobenzene-based solar thermal fuels have undergone significant advancements over the past four decades, emerging as a promising technology for light-to-thermal energy conversion. While these materials exhibit considerable development potential, critical challenges remain that hinder their practical implementation. In this perspective, we systematically analyze four representative azobenzene-based solar thermal fuel systems including nanocarbon-hybrid, conjugated polymer, linear polymer, and small-molecule derivative formulations to trace their developmental trajectories and identify key limitations. Through this comparative analysis, we aim to clarify the current state of azobenzene-based solar thermal fuels, while mapping strategic pathways for future technological advancements in this rapidly evolving research field.

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