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24.01.2017 Releasing stored light energy

One of the challenges in designing materials for solar-thermal energy storage based on photoswitchable molecules is the release of the light energy stored in the metastable isomer. As described in an upcoming issue of Chemical Communications, Johannes has now developed a general approach to bypass the thermal back isomerization barrier of ring-closed diarylethenes by the use of acid catalysis, allowing for their efficient ring-opening and hence release of thermal energy.