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According to foreign media reports, for decades, scientists have been looking for an economic and efficient way to capture, store and release solar energy. Now, Swedish researchers say they have found a solution that can apply solar energy to a range of consumer applications, such as heating homes and vehicles. (photo source: Chalmers University of Technology) scientists at Chalmers University of technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, have found a way to store solar energy so that it can be released in the form of heat when needed, even if the solar energy has been captured for decades. This innovative approach includes an energy trapping molecule, an energy storage system with superior performance (at least in terms of heating performance) than the traditional one, and an energy storage laminated coating that can be applied to windows and textiles. The system has a liquid molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, which is the first part of the system. When exposed to sunlight, the molecule absorbs the sun's energy and stores it until the catalyst is triggered to release heat. Researchers spent nearly 10 years and $2.5 million to build a special energy storage device. Moth Poulsen, 40, a professor in the Department of chemistry and chemical engineering, said the device is extremely stable and has a life span of 5 to 10 years longer than a typical lithium-ion battery on the market. The most advanced and potentially commercial part of the team's development is a transparent coating that can be applied to windows at home, mobile vehicles and even clothes. The coating can collect solar energy and release heat, reduce the power needed to heat the space, and inhibit carbon emissions. Currently, researchers have applied the coating to an entire campus building to demonstrate the technology. The ideal early use of the technology was to "possibly heat an electric car or a house" in a relatively small space, the researchers said Now, it is not known whether the system can generate electricity. Although the researchers believe that the system has the potential to generate electricity, the research team is still focusing on heating / heating. The research group is one of 15 working groups to solve the problem of climate change by using molecular thermal solar energy system. One of the motivation is the Paris Agreement, which requires signatories to control the global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. Professor moth Poulsen plans to set up a derivative company to advance the technology and said he was in talks with several venture capital investors. According to his estimation, the energy storage device can be commercialized in only six years, while the coating takes three years, and an additional $50 million is expected to be needed to bring the coating to the market. In May this year, the solar project won the arnbergska prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Professor moth Poulsen did not make an accurate estimate of the cost of the technology, but said that the cost of the technology must be within people's tolerance. However, the system does not require any rare or expensive elements, so it can have a cost advantage. Jeffrey Grossman, a professor in the Department of materials science and engineering at MIT, who is also developing energy storage molecules, said that the research of Chalmers University of technology is crucial to show us the commercialization of energy conversion and storage methods.