A large capacity storing solar energy as latent heat in a close-cycle is essentially important for solar thermal fuels. This paper presents a solar thermal molecule model of a photo-isomerizable azobenzene(Azo) molecule covalently bound to graphene. The storage capacity of the Azo depending on isomerization enthalpy(ΔH) is calculated based on density functional theory. The result indicates that the ΔH of Azo molecules on the graphene can be tuned by electronic interaction, steric hindrance and molecular hydrogen bonds(H-bonds). Azo with the withdrawing group on the ortho-position of the free benzene shows a relatively high ΔH due to resonance effect. Moreover, the H-bonds on the trans-isomer largely increase ΔH because they stabilize the trans-isomer at a low energy. 2-hydroxy-4-carboxyl-2′,6′,-dimethylamino-Azo/graphene shows the maximum ΔH up to 1.871 e V(107.14 Wh kg^(-1)), which is 125.4% higher than Azo without functional groups. The Azo/graphene model can be used for developing high-density solar thermal storage materials by controlling molecular interaction.
Transparent conductive graphene films are fabricated by the transfer printing of graphene aqueous dispersion followed by hydrohalic acids and thermal reduction. Results indicate that the graphene film reduced by hydroiodic acid （HI） reduction combined with thermal treatment shows a higher electrical conductivity than that reduced only by thermal treatment at the same transparency. A film with a sheet resistance of - 2400 D./sq at a transparency over 72% is obtained at a typical wavelength of 550 nm.
