Field gap of phase change energy storage materials

Are phase change materials suitable for thermal energy storage?

Phase change materials (PCMs) having a large latent heat during solid-liquid phase transition are promising for thermal energy storage applications. However, the relatively low thermal conductivity of the majority of promising PCMs (<10 W/ (m ⋅ K)) limits the power density and overall storage efficiency.

What are phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage applications?

Fig. 1. Bibliometric analysis of (a) journal publications and (b) the patents, related to PCMs for thermal energy storage applications. The materials used for latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) are called Phase Change Materials (PCMs) .

Can spatiotemporal phase change materials be used for solar thermal fuels?

In a recent issue of Angewandte Chemie, Chen et al. proposed a new concept of spatiotemporal phase change materials with high super-cooling to realize long-duration storage and intelligent release of latent heat, inspiring the design of advanced solar thermal fuels.

Are solid-to-solid phase transformations good for thermal energy storage?

A numerical analysis (using an experimentally validated numerical model) has revealed that some materials with solid-to-solid phase transformations offer an excellent capacity-power trade-off for thermal energy storage applications compared to the corresponding conventional phase change materials.

Which phase change materials are used in heat and cold storage?

Combined with a double-effect quasi-two-stage heat pump, wide-temperature-range phase change materials are used in both heat and cold storage. Targeting global areas with seasonal heating and cooling demands, preferred materials are selected from 90 PCMs for 51 countries per region and 95 subnational areas.

What are the selection criteria for thermal energy storage applications?

In particular, the melting point, thermal energy storage density and thermal conductivity of the organic, inorganic and eutectic phase change materials are the major selection criteria for various thermal energy storage applications with a wider operating temperature range.