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U.S. Department of Energy
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Determination of the energy storage efficiency of the photoisomerization of norbornadiene to quadricyclane as a potential means for the trapping of solar energy

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5803097

The energy storage efficiency of the photoisomerization of norbornadiene to quadricyclane has been estimated under the sensitizing action of the organic compounds acetophenone and benzophenone. This reaction has been widely pointed out as a potential means for the conversion of solar energy to useful heat. The results indicate that about 8.8% of the incident light contained in the region from 300 nm (lower end of the solar spectrum that impinges upon the earth's surface) to 425 nm (approximate upper limit of wavelength for the promotion of the reaction by the indicated sensitizers) can be stored in the chemical bonds of quadricyclane in the acetophenone-sensitized isomerization. Similarly, an energy storage efficiency of 14.5% has been determined if benzophenone is used. Based on the entire solar spectrum from 300 nm to about 23 ..mu..m, the figures reduce to 0.9% and 1.5%, respectively. It has also been established that the quantum yield of the isomerization depends strongly on the wavelength of the incident light. The corresponding function appears to identify with a quadratic or third-degree polynomial and to follow the same pattern as the absorption spectra of the sensitizers.

OSTI ID:
5803097
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English