Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

High Energy Density In Azobenzene-Based Materials For Photo-Thermal Batteries Via Controlled Polymer Architecture And Polymer-Solvent Interactions, Seung Pyo Jeong, Lawrence A. Renna, Connor J. Boyle, Hyunwook S. Kwak, Edward Harder, Wolfgang Damm, Dhandapani Venkataraman

Chemistry Department Faculty Publication Series

Energy densities of ~510 J/g (max: 698 J/g) have been achieved in azobenzene-based syndiotactic-rich poly(methacrylate) polymers. The processing solvent and polymer-solvent interactions are important to achieve morphologically optimal structures for high-energy density materials. This work shows that morphological changes of solid-state syndiotactic polymers, driven by different solvent processings play an important role in controlling the activation energy of Z-E isomerization as well as the shape of the DSC exotherm. Thus, this study shows the crucial role of processing solvents and thin film structure in achieving higher energy densities.