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Nanocomposite phase change materials based on NaCl–CaCl2 and mesoporous silica

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Abstract

The synthesis of phase change materials based on NaCl–CaCl2 molten salt mixture and mesoporous silica was investigated. The influence of mesoporous silica porosity and salt concentration on the thermal energy storage properties of the resulting materials is discussed. The nanocomposite samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The mesoporous silica was found to act as a reactive matrix for the molten salts. Composite samples with up 95% wt. salt can be obtained and used as shape-stabilized phase change materials. The materials have heat of fusion values of up to 60.8 J g−1 and specific heat capacity between 1.0 and 1.1 J g−1 K−1. The samples exhibit thermal stability up to 700 °C and can be used for high-temperature thermal energy storage through both latent and sensible heat storage mechanisms.

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Acknowledgements

The financial support of the Romanian project PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2016-0520, No. 95/2018 is greatly appreciated. The authors are grateful to Dr. Cornel Munteanu for performing the TEM measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. “Ilie Murgulescu” Institute of Physical Chemistry, Romanian Academy, 202 Splaiul Indepedentei, 060021, Bucharest, Romania

    Raul-Augustin Mitran, Simona Petrescu, Simona Şomǎcescu & Oana Cǎtǎlina Mocioiu

  2. SARA Pharm Solutions, 266-268 Calea Rahovei, 050912, Bucharest, Romania

    Lucian Buhǎlţeanu

  3. Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Material Science, University “Politehnica” of Bucharest, 1-7 Polizu Street, 011061, Bucharest, Romania

    Daniela Berger & Cristian Matei

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  1. Raul-Augustin Mitran
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Mitran, RA., Petrescu, S., Şomǎcescu, S. et al. Nanocomposite phase change materials based on NaCl–CaCl2 and mesoporous silica. J Therm Anal Calorim 138, 2555–2563 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-019-08489-x

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