On April 27^th, invited by Prof. Zhu Weihong (Dean of School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering), Prof. Kasper Moth-Poulsen (Chalmers University of Technology,Sweden) visited our school and gave a lecture titled “The development of methods to address single molecules and innovative technologies for solar thermal energy storage”. Prof. Zhu Weihong hosted the lecture, Prof. Xie Yongshu, Hua Jianli, Zhao Chunchang also attended the lecture.

In the lecture, Prof. Moth-Poulsen mainly focused onimproving and extending the concept of molecular solar thermal energy storage and conversion towards future applications.  In a future society with limited access to fossil fuels, technologies for efficient on demand delivery of renewable energy are highly desirable. In this regard, methods that allow for solar energy storage and on demand solar driven power generation are particularly relevant since the sun is the most abundant energy source. The system  of storing solar energy that has received most attention, as a large amount of energy can be stored in a small ring, is probably norbornadiene, which undergoes an endothermic photoinduced [2+2] cycloaddition to its valence isomer quadricyclane. His group recently reported a series of new cyano-substituted norbornadiene derivatives with improved photochemical properties yet significantly reduced molecular weight. The molecules feature cyano acceptor and ethynyl-substituted aromatic donor groups, leading to a good match with solar irradiation, quantitative photo-thermal conversion between the norbornadiene and quadricyclane, as well as high energy storage densities.

After the lecture, Prof. Moth-Poulsen discussed with participants and exchanged opinions.

CV of Prof. Kasper Moth-Poulsen:

    Associate Prof. Kasper Moth-Poulsen (b. 1978-07-07) is a young research leader in the field of nano-chemistry, energy storage materials and synthetic chemistry. His research activities focus on the development of methods to address single molecules and innovative technologies for solar thermal energy storage. The objective is to make materials from nanoparticles, nanorods and tailor made small molecules for a broad range of applications ranging from single molecule electronics to sensors and renewable energy technologies.

    KMP studied organic chemistry at the University of Copenhagen where he obtained the Cand. Scient. (2003) and Ph.D. (2007) degrees under supervision of prof. Thomas Bjørnholm. After the Ph.D. degree, he worked as a post doc. in the Bjørnholm lab. In 2009, he continued his career abroad as a post doctoral associate at the College of Chemistry at U.C. Berkeley, where he worked with professors Rachel Segalman and Peter Vollhardt. In 2011 KMP was recruited to Chalmers University of Technology, as an assistant professor. In 2014 he was promoted to associate professor. Since 2014 KMP is scientific coordinator of Chalmers Materials Analysis Laboratory.

    KMP has received several grants and awards, including an ERC starting grant (1.5 M€), SSF future research leaders grant (10 MSEK), Wallenberg Academy Fellow Grant (12.5 MSEK), Thieme Chemistry Journal Award 2014. He has also received the prestigious stipend from HM King Carl XVI Gustaf's foundation for science, technology and the environment for his work on molecular solar thermal systems.

    KMP leads a growing research group of approximately 12 PhD students, 4 post docs and a number of bachelors, masters and visiting students.

    KMP has been assigned as reviewer for a number of journals as well as funding agencies, including, US department of Energy (DOE), European research council (ERC), Swiss National Research Council (SNF), Chilean Research Council (FONDECYT) and the Dutch Research Council (NWO).