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Preparation and characterization of smart (solid–gel) shape-stable phase change materials with photoluminescent and thermochromic properties

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Abstract

A novel smart solid-gel phase change materials (PCMs) with the photoluminescence and thermochromic properties were designed and fabricated in a simple way. In this work, luminescent mesoporous alumina (LMAa) was firstly prepared through pomelo peel bio-template method, which showed a better photoluminescence performance under the condition of 254 nm light. Next, LMAa and thermochromic pigment (TP) were evenly dispersed in the gelled capric–myristic–stearic fatty eutectic (CA-MA-SA) using magnetic stirring method, in which hydroxypropyl cellulose served as gelling agent, CA-MA-SA as good thermal storage PCM, LMAa as excellent fluorescent material, and TP as visible temperature change indicator. Some advanced techniques were introduced to characterize physical, chemical, and thermal properties of composite PCMs. Results showed that the CA-MA-SA/LMAa1.0 displays obvious luminescence under 254 nm UV light, excellent thermochromic ability from off-white to red as rising the ambient temperature from 35 to 45 °C, limited fluidity at 60 °C, suitable phase change temperature around 19.11 °C, high latent heat about 114.3 J g−1, and so on. The ideal shape stability, thermal, photoluminescent, and reversible thermochromic properties of composite PCMs had not only great application prospect in the field of thermal energy storage, but also brought convenience in practical application.

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Abbreviations

CA:

Capric acid

CA-MA-SA:

Capric–myristic–stearic fatty eutectic

LMA:

Luminescent mesoporous alumina

Eu(NO3)3 :

Europium nitrate hexahydrate solution

LMAa:

LMA obtained using PP as template

LMAb:

LMA obtained using P123 as template

DSC:

Differential scanning calorimeter

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

MA:

Myristic acid

SA:

Stearic acid

HPC:

Hydroxypropyl cellulose

PP:

Pomelo peel

TP:

Thermochromic pigment

PCM:

Phase change material

TG:

Thermogravimeter

EDS:

Energy-dispersive spectrometer

FT-IR:

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy

ΔH :

Latent heat (kJ kg−1)

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by Research and Development Program in Key Areas of Guangdong Province (2020B0202010008), Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2020A1515011411), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31570572 and 32071694), Key Research special Projects in Universities in Guangdong Province (2019KZDZX2002), and Guangzhou Science and Technology Project (201905010005) and the Project of Key Disciplines of Forestry Engineering of Bureau of Guangzhou Municipality.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory for Biobased Materials and Energy of Ministry of Education, College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Zhenfen Lin, Yun Gan & Liping Li

  2. Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agricultural Science and Technology, 483 Wushan Road, Guangzhou, 510642, China

    Zhenfen Lin, Yun Gan & Liping Li

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  1. Zhenfen Lin
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Correspondence to Liping Li.

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Lin, Z., Gan, Y. & Li, L. Preparation and characterization of smart (solid–gel) shape-stable phase change materials with photoluminescent and thermochromic properties. J Therm Anal Calorim 147, 7171–7181 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-021-11013-9

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