{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T21:12:59Z","timestamp":1790802779912,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,24]],"date-time":"2025-11-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1763942400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,24]],"date-time":"2025-11-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1763942400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000266","name":"RCUK | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["EP\/Z534109\/1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["EP\/Z534109\/1"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000266","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000287","name":"Royal Academy of Engineering","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["N\/A"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["N\/A"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000287","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Commun Chem"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    Despite being the most abundant sustainable energy resource, solar energy still faces major challenges in efficient capture and long-term storage. Molecular Solar Thermal Energy Storage (MOST) systems address this issue by employing photoswitchable molecules that absorb sunlight and store energy through reversible isomerization, cyclization or other intramolecular rearrangements. Azobenzenes are attractive due to their well-characterized photoresponsive behavior; however, conventional systems are hindered by low energy density, limited energy storage duration, and a reliance on organic solvents. Here, we present the Micellar Solar Thermal Energy Storage system (MIST) approach based on micellar aggregates that operate effectively across aqueous dispersions and gel states. These systems exhibit progressively enhanced energy storage lifetimes with increasing degrees of self-assembly, while delivering competitive energy densities. The thermal stability arises from restricted molecular mobility within the self-assembled structures and is enhanced on gelation, extending the calculated thermal half-life of the\n                    <jats:italic>cis<\/jats:italic>\n                    isomer from 148 days in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), to 233 days in water, and to 12.8 years in the gel state. Compared to previous azobenzene-based MOST systems, our MIST approach offers significantly extended energy storage durations and improved material processability, including water-compatible formulations and, macroscopic heat release in the gel state (up to 5.7 \u00b0C).\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s42004-025-01750-5","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,24]],"date-time":"2025-11-24T14:07:53Z","timestamp":1763993273000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Functionalized azobenzenes for micellar solar thermal energy storage as a next-generation MOST system"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"8","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6604-4987","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rui","family":"Huang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alex S.","family":"Loch","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alice","family":"Pincham","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3745-7082","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrew J.","family":"Smith","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Annela","family":"Seddon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhihang","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3176-1350","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dave J.","family":"Adams","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"1750_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/0047-2670(79)80034-9","volume":"10","author":"G Jones","year":"1979","unstructured":"Jones, G., Chiang, S.-H. & Xuan, P. T. Energy storage in organic photoisomers. J. Photochem. 10, 1\u201318 (1979).","journal-title":"J. Photochem."},{"key":"1750_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"268","DOI":"10.1002\/cptc.201900030","volume":"3","author":"C-L Sun","year":"2019","unstructured":"Sun, C.-L., Wang, C. & Boulatov, R. Applications of photoswitches in the storage of solar energy. ChemPhotoChem 3, 268\u2013283 (2019).","journal-title":"ChemPhotoChem"},{"key":"1750_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3116","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joule.2021.11.001","volume":"5","author":"Z Wang","year":"2021","unstructured":"Wang, Z. et al. Storing energy with molecular photoisomers. Joule 5, 3116\u20133136 (2021).","journal-title":"Joule"},{"key":"1750_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"627","DOI":"10.1021\/i300012a021","volume":"22","author":"C Philippopoulos","year":"1983","unstructured":"Philippopoulos, C., Economou, D., Economou, C. & Marangozis, J. Norbornadiene-quadricyclane system in the photochemical conversion and storage of solar energy. Ind. Eng. Chem. Prod. Res. Dev. 22, 627\u2013633 (1983).","journal-title":"Ind. Eng. Chem. Prod. Res. Dev."},{"key":"1750_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1039\/C8EE01011K","volume":"12","author":"Z Wang","year":"2019","unstructured":"Wang, Z. et al. Macroscopic heat release in a molecular solar thermal energy storage system. Energy Environ. Sci. 12, 187\u2013193 (2019).","journal-title":"Energy Environ. Sci."},{"key":"1750_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15042","DOI":"10.1039\/C9TA04905C","volume":"7","author":"Z Wang","year":"2019","unstructured":"Wang, Z. et al. Demonstration of an azobenzene derivative based solar thermal energy storage system. J. Mater. Chem. A 7, 15042\u201315047 (2019).","journal-title":"J. Mater. Chem. A"},{"key":"1750_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e202200958","DOI":"10.1002\/cssc.202200958","volume":"15","author":"E Franz","year":"2022","unstructured":"Franz, E. et al. Electrochemically triggered energy release from an azothiophene-based molecular solar thermal system. ChemSusChem. 15, e202200958 (2022).","journal-title":"ChemSusChem"},{"key":"1750_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1021\/acsmaterialsau.2c00055","volume":"3","author":"X Li","year":"2023","unstructured":"Li, X., Cho, S. & Han, G. G. D. LigHt-responsive Solid\u2013solid Phase Change Materials For Photon And Thermal Energy Storage. ACS Mater. Au 3, 37\u201342 (2023).","journal-title":"ACS Mater. Au"},{"key":"1750_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1621","DOI":"10.1016\/j.joule.2020.07.011","volume":"4","author":"MA Gerkman","year":"2020","unstructured":"Gerkman, M. A. & Han, G. G. D. Toward controlled thermal energy storage and release in organic phase change materials. Joule 4, 1621\u20131625 (2020).","journal-title":"Joule"},{"key":"1750_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"100789","DOI":"10.1016\/j.xcrp.2022.100789","volume":"3","author":"Z Wang","year":"2022","unstructured":"Wang, Z. et al. Chip-scale solar thermal electrical power generation. Cell Rep. Phys. Sci. 3, 100789 (2022).","journal-title":"Cell Rep. Phys. Sci."},{"key":"1750_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12256","DOI":"10.1021\/jacs.0c03748","volume":"142","author":"Z-Y Zhang","year":"2020","unstructured":"Zhang, Z.-Y. et al. Photochemical phase transitions enable coharvesting of photon energy and ambient heat for energetic molecular solar thermal batteries that upgrade thermal energy. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 142, 12256\u201312264 (2020).","journal-title":"J. Am. Chem. Soc."},{"key":"1750_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7339","DOI":"10.1039\/C8CS00470F","volume":"47","author":"L Dong","year":"2018","unstructured":"Dong, L., Feng, Y., Wang, L. & Feng, W. Azobenzene-based solar thermal fuels: design, properties, and applications. Chem. Soc. Rev. 47, 7339\u20137368 (2018).","journal-title":"Chem. Soc. Rev."},{"key":"1750_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18668","DOI":"10.1039\/D0TA06913B","volume":"8","author":"L Dong","year":"2020","unstructured":"Dong, L. et al. Azobenzene-based solar thermal energy storage enhanced by gold nanoparticles for rapid, optically-triggered heat release at room temperature. J. Mater. Chem. A 8, 18668\u201318676 (2020).","journal-title":"J. Mater. Chem. A"},{"key":"1750_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1457","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tetlet.2015.01.187","volume":"56","author":"A Lennartson","year":"2015","unstructured":"Lennartson, A., Roffey, A. & Moth-Poulsen, K. Designing photoswitches for molecular solar thermal energy storage. Tetrahedron Lett. 56, 1457\u20131465 (2015).","journal-title":"Tetrahedron Lett."},{"key":"1750_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101782","DOI":"10.1016\/j.progpolymsci.2023.101782","volume":"149","author":"X Xu","year":"2024","unstructured":"Xu, X. et al. Azobenzene-containing polymer for solar thermal energy storage and release: advances, challenges, and opportunities. Prog. Polym. Sci. 149, 101782 (2024).","journal-title":"Prog. Polym. Sci."},{"key":"1750_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"533","DOI":"10.3390\/gels8090533","volume":"8","author":"B Pramanik","year":"2022","unstructured":"Pramanik, B. & Ahmed, S. Peptide-based low molecular weight photosensitive supramolecular gelators. Gels 8, 533 (2022).","journal-title":"Gels"},{"key":"1750_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pnsc.2011.12.011","volume":"22","author":"T Jiao","year":"2012","unstructured":"Jiao, T., Wang, Y., Gao, F., Zhou, J. & Gao, F. Photoresponsive organogel and organized nanostructures of cholesterol imide derivatives with azobenzene substituent groups. Prog. Nat. Sci. Mater. Int. 22, 64\u201370 (2012).","journal-title":"Prog. Nat. Sci. Mater. Int."},{"key":"1750_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5462","DOI":"10.1039\/C4CC01431F","volume":"50","author":"JK Sahoo","year":"2014","unstructured":"Sahoo, J. K., Nalluri, S. K. M., Javid, N., Webb, H. & Ulijn, R. V. Biocatalytic amide condensation and gelation controlled by light. Chem. Commun. 50, 5462\u20135464 (2014).","journal-title":"Chem. Commun."},{"key":"1750_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2149","DOI":"10.1039\/c0ob01057j","volume":"9","author":"Y Huang","year":"2011","unstructured":"Huang, Y. et al. Supramolecular hydrogels based on short peptides linked with conformational switch. Org. Biomol. Chem. 9, 2149\u20132155 (2011).","journal-title":"Org. Biomol. Chem."},{"key":"1750_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8714","DOI":"10.1039\/c3ra40938d","volume":"3","author":"L Chen","year":"2013","unstructured":"Chen, L., McDonald, T. O. & Adams, D. J. Salt-induced hydrogels from functionalised-dipeptides. RSC Adv. 3, 8714\u20138720 (2013).","journal-title":"RSC Adv."},{"key":"1750_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"20497","DOI":"10.1021\/acsnano.2c06898","volume":"16","author":"L Thomson","year":"2022","unstructured":"Thomson, L. et al. Transferring micellar changes to bulk properties via tunable self-assembly and hierarchical ordering. ACS Nano 16, 20497\u201320509 (2022).","journal-title":"ACS Nano"},{"key":"1750_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2912","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.nanolett.0c05048","volume":"21","author":"D-Y Kim","year":"2021","unstructured":"Kim, D.-Y. et al. Morphological transitions of a photoswitchable aramid amphiphile nanostructure. Nano Lett. 21, 2912\u20132918 (2021).","journal-title":"Nano Lett."},{"key":"1750_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19532","DOI":"10.1021\/jacs.2c08583","volume":"144","author":"BE Jones","year":"2022","unstructured":"Jones, B. E., Kelly, E. A., Cowieson, N., Divitini, G. & Evans, R. C. Light-responsive molecular release from cubosomes using swell-squeeze lattice control. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 144, 19532\u201319541 (2022).","journal-title":"J. Am. Chem. Soc."},{"key":"1750_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"11444","DOI":"10.1039\/D1TC01472B","volume":"9","author":"Q Qiu","year":"2021","unstructured":"Qiu, Q., Shi, Y. & Han, G. G. D. Solar energy conversion and storage by photoswitchable organic materials in solution, liquid, solid, and changing phases. J. Mater. Chem. C 9, 11444\u201311463 (2021).","journal-title":"J. Mater. Chem. C"},{"key":"1750_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"108","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0040-1708832","volume":"02","author":"K McAulay","year":"2020","unstructured":"McAulay, K. et al. Using Rheo-small-angle neutron scattering to understand how functionalised dipeptides form gels. Org. Mater. 02, 108\u2013115 (2020).","journal-title":"Org. Mater."},{"key":"1750_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12315","DOI":"10.1021\/jacs.4c02709","volume":"146","author":"BE Jones","year":"2024","unstructured":"Jones, B. E., Greenfield, J. L., Cowieson, N., Fuchter, M. J. & Evans, R. C. Light-driven hexagonal-to-cubic phase switching in arylazopyrazole lyotropic liquid crystals. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 146, 12315\u201312319 (2024).","journal-title":"J. Am. Chem. Soc."},{"key":"1750_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"959","DOI":"10.1107\/S1600576717004708","volume":"50","author":"J Filik","year":"2017","unstructured":"Filik, J. et al. Processing two-dimensional X-ray diffraction and small-angle scattering data in DAWN 2. Appl. Crystallogr. 50, 959\u2013966 (2017).","journal-title":"Appl. Crystallogr."},{"key":"1750_CR28","first-page":"383201","volume":"25","author":"BR Pauw","year":"2013","unstructured":"Pauw, B. R. Everything SAXS: small-angle scattering pattern collection and correction. J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 25, 383201 (2013).","journal-title":"J. Phys.: Condens. Matter"},{"key":"1750_CR29","unstructured":"www.sasview.org, accessed 21st June 2025."}],"container-title":["Communications Chemistry"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s42004-025-01750-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s42004-025-01750-5","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s42004-025-01750-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,26]],"date-time":"2025-11-26T18:12:43Z","timestamp":1764180763000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s42004-025-01750-5"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,24]]},"references-count":29,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12]]}},"alternative-id":["1750"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s42004-025-01750-5","relation":{},"ISSN":["2399-3669"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2399-3669","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,24]]},"assertion":[{"value":"1 October 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"13 October 2025","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"24 November 2025","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"369"}}