科學家利用輕木打造太陽能儲能裝置
Scientists create solar-powered energy storage using balsa wood
科學家們在永續技術方面取得了具有突破性的里程碑，他們將巴爾沙木轉化為一種強大的太陽能儲存設備。
Scientists have achieved a groundbreaking milestone in sustainable technology by transforming balsa wood into a powerful solar energy storage device.
根據2026年3月發表於《先進能源材料》（Advanced Energy Materials）雜誌上的一項研究，由楊萌帶領的研究團隊創造了一種以木材為基礎的複合材料，該材料可作為高效太陽熱能採集器。
According to a study published in Advanced Energy Materials in March 2026, a research team led by Yang Meng created a wood-based composite that functions as an efficient solar thermal harvester.
與需要密集高溫處理的傳統方法不同，這種新技術保留了巴爾沙木的天然結構，使其既環保又具備可擴展性。
Unlike traditional methods that require intensive high-temperature processing, this new technique preserves the natural structure of balsa wood, making it both eco-friendly and scalable.
研究人員通過去除木質素，製造出一種含有微觀通道的高度多孔支架。
By removing lignin, researchers created a highly porous scaffold containing microscopic channels.
這些通道中注入了硬脂酸，它能夠捕獲陽光並將其以熱能形式儲存起來。
These channels are infused with stearic acid, which captures sunlight and stores it as heat.
此材料達到了驚人的91.27%光熱轉換效率，甚至可以透過附屬的熱電發電器在夜間產生電力。
This material achieves an impressive 91.27% photothermal efficiency and can even generate electricity after dark using an attached thermoelectric generator.
由於巴爾沙木天然具備適合此項任務的理想結構，這項創新比合成替代品更容易製造。
Because balsa wood naturally features an ideal architecture for this task, this innovation is easier to manufacture than synthetic alternatives.
這項發展為太陽能儲存的挑戰提供了一種有前景且具成本效益的解決方案，提供了一種永續的方式，以彌補日間電力生產與夜間能源消耗之間的差距。
This development offers a promising, cost-effective solution to the challenge of solar energy storage, providing a sustainable way to bridge the gap between daytime power production and nighttime energy consumption.
