2026-04-17T01:08:55Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:2117/4465572026-01-15T04:01:27Zcom_2072_1033col_2072_452950

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Aslam, Adil S. author Shamsabadi, Monika author Salthouse, Rebeca Jane author Andréasson, Joakim author Moth-Poulsen, Kasper author 2025-01-01 Two low molecular weight acceptor–acceptor norbornadiene (NBD) photoswitches functionalized with meta- and ortho-substituted pyridine and cyano groups are presented. These molecular systems can be converted between four states in response to light, acid, base, and heat. Quantitative conversion to higher energy metastable quadricyclane (QC) photoisomers is achieved upon UV irradiation, with photoisomerization quantum yields of 37% and 24% for NBD 1 and 2. The thermal half-lives, t1/2, of 70 and 205¿days greatly surpass those of previously reported pyridine-functionalized norbornadiene switches, as well as other acceptor–acceptor systems. In particular, the ortho-positioning of the pyridine has a profound effect on the half-life; QC 2 in its unprotonated form has the longest t1/2 of 205¿days, while protonation to QCH+ 2 completely hinders the thermal back conversion, allowing energy to be stored in this state indefinitely. The stored energy can then be released as required upon the addition of a base, followed by thermal reversion to NBD 2. The energy storage densities are 162 and 393¿kJ¿kg-1 for NBD 1 and NBD 2, respectively. This approach of multimodal photoswitches can be applied to molecular solar thermal energy storage devices to enable long-term energy storage and on-demand controlled release. Peer Reviewed Postprint (published version) Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia solar tèrmica Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Tecnologia energètica::Emmagatzematge i transport de l'energia Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria química::Química orgànica::Compostos orgànics Molecular photoswitches Norbornadienes Protonation Pyridine Solar energy storage Norbornadiene quadricyclane as multimode photoswitches: synergistic light and protonation-controlled heat release