Thermochemical energy storage means storage of thermal energy – or heat – by using reversible chemical reactions involving rearrangements of chemical bonds. Because of this, the technology offers the potential for high energy density and, in principle, infinite storage duration. 

A classic thermochemical battery absorbs external heat to be stored thanks to an ongoing endothermic chemical reaction, for example, by removing water from a thermochemical material (TCM). When all the water molecules are removed, our thermochemical battery is charged (see the Figure below). When the heat is needed back, the water molecules are absorbed by the charged material with forming new chemical bonds, thus releasing the stored heat.

My research group at the Iberian Center for Research in Energy Storage develops novel thermochemical materials that meet the criteria of numerous applications – from solar-driven domestic heating to sorptive cooling to heat storage in nuclear reactors. We focus on fundamental properties of these materials and on the methods of their macroscopic stabilization for use in applications. For the journal publications list, click here.