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A new liquid battery stores solar heat for weeks
(www.anthropocenemagazine.org)
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For anyone with an interest in chemistry, I recommend the scientific paper.
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aec6413
Trying to think of critiques:
the wavelength of light necessary to "charge up" pyrimidone is fairly short (300 nm, UVB ultraviolet light)
the quantity of UVB light on Earth's surface is limited (it is mostly absorbed by the ozone layer)
however, one can artificially produce ultraviolet light from solar electrical power, or figure out molecules that charge with UVA or even blue light, which would be perfect
Positive aspects:
Subsequently, the solution can be neutralized with an alkaline chemical, pyrimidone can be "recharged" and the cycle repeated. The summary of the article does not mention how many cycles it endures. I would be good to know that.
Yeah, the UV only excitement of pyrimidone is a bit of a bummer. But maybe it will be possible to find some analog or a companion molecule that can charge it with light from a broader spectrum.
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