Summary
A chemistry professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, developed a new way to store energy using molecules inspired by how DNA in skin changes during sunburn. These molecules can store a large amount of energy and release it as heat, potentially offering a cheap and clean way to save energy for long periods.Key Facts
- Grace Han, a chemistry professor, studied how DNA in skin changes shape when damaged by sunlight.
- This shape change stores energy, which can later be released as heat on demand.
- The process is called molecular solar thermal (Most) energy storage.
- Han’s team created molecules that store more energy per weight than lithium-ion batteries.
- Their system released enough energy to rapidly boil a small amount of water in a tiny container.
- The technology uses UV light at 300 nanometers to activate the molecules.
- This is a promising but still developing technology for clean, long-term energy storage.
- Other scientists recognized the energy density achieved as a major improvement over previous systems.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original article.
