Visible light‐responsive azo‐based smart materials: Design, performance, and applications in energy storage

Abstract Azobenzene and its derivatives are the most extensively investigated and applied molecular photoswitches, which can undergo reversible transformation between trans and cis isomers upon irradiation with light at specific wavelengths. Through structural geometry transformation, the property a...

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Main Authors: Shurui Lv, Yuang Zhang, Wentao Wang, Shufen Zhang, Bingtao Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-12-01
Series:Smart Molecules
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/smo.20240058
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author Shurui Lv
Yuang Zhang
Wentao Wang
Shufen Zhang
Bingtao Tang
author_facet Shurui Lv
Yuang Zhang
Wentao Wang
Shufen Zhang
Bingtao Tang
author_sort Shurui Lv
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Azobenzene and its derivatives are the most extensively investigated and applied molecular photoswitches, which can undergo reversible transformation between trans and cis isomers upon irradiation with light at specific wavelengths. Through structural geometry transformation, the property alterations can be integrated into smart materials to meet diverse application requirements. Most azo‐based photoswitches require UV light for activation. However, complete activation within the visible or even near‐infrared light range could offer several benefits for photoswitch applications, including improved biocompatibility, better light penetration, and enhanced solar light utilization efficiency. This review presents an overview of the development of visible‐light responsive azo‐based materials, covering molecular design strategies and their applications in energy storage. Recent efforts aimed at enhancing the performance of azo‐based energy storage materials are highlighted. According to the different strategies for improving energy storage properties, these materials are categorized as those that directly increase isomerization energy and those that introduce phase transition energy. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and opportunities in this field with a view to inspire further exploration.
format Article
id doaj-art-6cee017901154e6f84f9d4809f3f2c25
institution Kabale University
issn 2751-4587
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language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Wiley
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series Smart Molecules
spelling doaj-art-6cee017901154e6f84f9d4809f3f2c252024-12-20T12:25:07ZengWileySmart Molecules2751-45872751-45952024-12-0124n/an/a10.1002/smo.20240058Visible light‐responsive azo‐based smart materials: Design, performance, and applications in energy storageShurui Lv0Yuang Zhang1Wentao Wang2Shufen Zhang3Bingtao Tang4State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals Frontier Science Center for Smart Materials Dalian University of Technology Dalian ChinaState Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals Frontier Science Center for Smart Materials Dalian University of Technology Dalian ChinaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering Zhejiang Sci‐Tech University Hangzhou ChinaState Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals Frontier Science Center for Smart Materials Dalian University of Technology Dalian ChinaState Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals Frontier Science Center for Smart Materials Dalian University of Technology Dalian ChinaAbstract Azobenzene and its derivatives are the most extensively investigated and applied molecular photoswitches, which can undergo reversible transformation between trans and cis isomers upon irradiation with light at specific wavelengths. Through structural geometry transformation, the property alterations can be integrated into smart materials to meet diverse application requirements. Most azo‐based photoswitches require UV light for activation. However, complete activation within the visible or even near‐infrared light range could offer several benefits for photoswitch applications, including improved biocompatibility, better light penetration, and enhanced solar light utilization efficiency. This review presents an overview of the development of visible‐light responsive azo‐based materials, covering molecular design strategies and their applications in energy storage. Recent efforts aimed at enhancing the performance of azo‐based energy storage materials are highlighted. According to the different strategies for improving energy storage properties, these materials are categorized as those that directly increase isomerization energy and those that introduce phase transition energy. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and opportunities in this field with a view to inspire further exploration.https://doi.org/10.1002/smo.20240058energy storage materialsphotochemistry
spellingShingle Shurui Lv
Yuang Zhang
Wentao Wang
Shufen Zhang
Bingtao Tang
Visible light‐responsive azo‐based smart materials: Design, performance, and applications in energy storage
Smart Molecules
energy storage materials
photochemistry
title Visible light‐responsive azo‐based smart materials: Design, performance, and applications in energy storage
title_full Visible light‐responsive azo‐based smart materials: Design, performance, and applications in energy storage
title_fullStr Visible light‐responsive azo‐based smart materials: Design, performance, and applications in energy storage
title_full_unstemmed Visible light‐responsive azo‐based smart materials: Design, performance, and applications in energy storage
title_short Visible light‐responsive azo‐based smart materials: Design, performance, and applications in energy storage
title_sort visible light responsive azo based smart materials design performance and applications in energy storage
topic energy storage materials
photochemistry
url https://doi.org/10.1002/smo.20240058
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AT yuangzhang visiblelightresponsiveazobasedsmartmaterialsdesignperformanceandapplicationsinenergystorage
AT wentaowang visiblelightresponsiveazobasedsmartmaterialsdesignperformanceandapplicationsinenergystorage
AT shufenzhang visiblelightresponsiveazobasedsmartmaterialsdesignperformanceandapplicationsinenergystorage
AT bingtaotang visiblelightresponsiveazobasedsmartmaterialsdesignperformanceandapplicationsinenergystorage