Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Multi-functional phase change materials with anti-liquid leakage, shape memory, switchable optical transparency and thermal energy storage

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Multi-functional polymer gel materials based on thermal phase change materials (PCMs) are rapidly advancing the application of thermal energy storage (TES) in energy-saving buildings. In this work, we report multi-functional PCM composites with anti-liquid leakage, shape memory, switchable optical transparency, and thermal energy storage. Due to the excellent encapsulation performance of the in situ polymerized polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) porous matrix, polyethylene glycol (PEG2000) PCM is unlikely to leak liquid even if the composites are stretched or sheared at 65 °C. The PCM composites reversibly transform from white rigid materials at 35 °C to super-elastic materials with a light transmittance of 88.5% at 65 °C (fracture strain of 450% and fracture stress of 2600 kPa). The PCM composites for thermal energy storage combine large latent heat (79.9 J g−1) with reliable one-way shape memory function. As-prepared composite provides a novel research direction for the design of thermal phase change materials, which is expected to be widely used in the fields of energy-saving buildings, medical equipment, high temperature warning, thermal energy storage, and temperature control in the future.

Graphical abstract

20-word summary:

PCM composites display excellent comprehensive performances, including anti-liquid leakage, shape memory, switchable optical transparency and thermal energy storage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wei G, Gang W, Chao X (2018) Selection principles and thermophysical properties of high temperature phase change materials for thermal energy storage: a review. Renew Sust Energ Rev 81:1771–1786

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Zhang H, Zhong J, Liu Z (2021) Dyed bamboo composite materials with excellent anti-microbial corrosion. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 4:294–305

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Aqeel SM, Huang Z, Walton J (2018) Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/carbon nanotube nanocomposites for energy storage and conversion. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 1:185–192

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Shchukina EM, Graham M, Zheng Z (2018) Nanoencapsulation of phase change materials for advanced thermal energy storage systems. Chem Soc Rev 47:4156–4175

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Xie Y, Yang Y, Liu Y (2021) Paraffin/polyethylene/graphite composite phase change materials with enhanced thermal conductivity and leakage-proof. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 4:543–551

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Alshehri H, Ni Q, Taylor S (2020) High-temperature solar thermal energy conversion enhanced by spectrally-selective metafilm absorber under concentrated solar irradiation. ES Energy Environ 10:34–44

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wang H, Zheng B, Xu T (2021) Thermal performance of natural gas hydrate wellbore with different insulation materials. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-021-00288-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Huang J, Luo Y, Weng M (2021) Advances and applications of phase change materials (PCMs) and PCMs-based technologies. ES Mater Manuf 13:23–39

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Mai X, Mai J, Liu H (2021) Advanced bamboo composite materials with high-efficiency and long-term anti-microbial fouling performance. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-021-00380-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Zhao Y, Zhang X, Xu X (2020) Development of composite phase change cold storage material and its application in vaccine cold storage equipment. J Energy Storage 30:101455

    Google Scholar 

  11. Tariq SL, Ali HM, Akram MA (2020) Experimental investigation on graphene based nanoparticles enhanced phase change materials (GbNePCMs) for thermal management of electronic equipment. J Energy Storage 30:101497

    Google Scholar 

  12. Song X, Zhu T, Liu L (2018) Study on optimal ice storage capacity of ice thermal storage system and its influence factors. Energy Convers Manage 164:288–300

    Google Scholar 

  13. Zhang C, Sun Q, Chen Y (2020) Solidification behaviors and parametric optimization of finned shell-tube ice storage units. Int J Heat Mass Tran 146:118836

    Google Scholar 

  14. Zhou Y, Wu S, Ma Y (2020) Recent advances in organic/composite phase change materials for energy storage. ES Energy Environ 9:28–40

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Yan SR, Fazilati MA, Samani N (2020) Energy efficiency optimization of the waste heat recovery system with embedded phase change materials in greenhouses: a thermo-economic-environmental study. J Energy Storage 30:101445

    Google Scholar 

  16. Wu W, Huang X, Li K (2017) A functional form-stable phase change composite with high efficiency electro-to-thermal energy conversion. Appl Energy 190:474–480

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang H, Sun Q, Yuan Y (2017) A novel form-stable phase change composite with excellent thermal and electrical conductivitie. Chem Eng J 336:342–351

    Google Scholar 

  18. Min L, Wu Z, Kao H (2011) Study on preparation and thermal properties of binary fatty acid/diatomite shape-stabilized phase change materials. Sol Energy Mater Sol C 95:2412–2416

    Google Scholar 

  19. Huang X, Guo J, Gong Y (2017) In-situ preparation of a shape stable phase change material. Renew Energy 108:244–249

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Tan Y, Xiao Y, Chen R (2020) High latent heat and recyclable form-stable phase change materials prepared via a facile self-template method. Chem Eng J 396:125265

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Atinafu DG, Dong W, Berardi U (2020) Phase change materials stabilized by porous metal supramolecular gels: Gelation effect on loading capacity and thermal performance. Chem Eng J 394:124806

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Yang L, Yang J, Tang LS (2020) Hierarchically porous PVA aerogel for leakage-proof phase change materials with superior energy storage capacity. Energy Fuels 34:2471–2479

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Li Y, Li J, Feng W (2017) Design and preparation of paraffin/porous Al2O3@graphite foams phase change materials with enhanced heat storage capacity and high thermal conductivity, ACS Sustain. Chem Eng 5:7594–7603

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Atinafu DG, Chang SJ, Kim K-H (2020) A novel enhancement of shape/thermal stability and energy-storage capacity of phase change materials through the formation of composites with 3D porous (3,6)-connected metal-organic framework. Chem Eng J 389:124430

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sarı A, Biçer A, Alkan C (2017) Thermal energy storage characteristics of poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)-graft-PEG as polymeric solid-solid phase change materials. Sol Energy Mater Sol C 161:219–225

    Google Scholar 

  26. Nejad AM (2021) A new drying approach deploying solid-solid phase change material: A numerical study. Energy 232:120990

    Google Scholar 

  27. Liu Y, Xu E, Xie M (2018) Use of calcium silicate-coated paraffin/expanded perlite materials to improve the thermal performance of cement mortar. Constr Build Mater 189:218–226

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. He L (2021) Improve thermal conductivity of polymer composites via conductive network. ES Mater Manuf 13:1–2

    Google Scholar 

  29. Chen G, Su Y, Jiang D (2020) An experimental and numerical investigation on a paraffin wax/graphene oxide/carbon nanotubes composite material for solar thermal storage applications. Appl Energy 264:114786

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Yang X, Liang C, Ma T (2018) A review on thermally conductive polymeric composites: classification, measurement, model and equations, mechanism and fabrication methods. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 1:207–230

    Google Scholar 

  31. Huang X, Lin Y, Alva G (2017) Thermal properties and thermal conductivity enhancement of composite phase change materials using myristyl alcohol/metal foam for solar thermal storage. Sol Energy Mater Sol C 170:68–76

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Hu X, Wu H, Lu X (2021) Improving thermal conductivity of ethylene propylene diene monomer/paraffin/expanded graphite shape-stabilized phase change materials with great thermal management potential via green steam explosion. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 4:478–491

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Sar A, Alkan C, Biçer A (2014) Latent heat energy storage characteristics of building composites of bentonite clay and pumice sand with different organic PCMs. Int J Energy Res 38:1478–1491

    Google Scholar 

  34. Zhang X, Du Z, Zhu Y (2020) A novel volumetric absorber integrated with low-cost D-Mannitol and acetylene-black nanoparticles for solar-thermal-electricity generation. Sol Energy Mater Sol C 207:110366

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Sun J, Zhang X, Du Q (2021) The contribution of conductive network conversion in thermal conductivity enhancement of polymer composite: a theoretical and experimental study. ES Mater Manuf 13:53–65

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Tu J, Li H, Zhang J (2019) Latent heat and thermal conductivity enhancements in polyethylene glycol/polyethylene glycol-grafted graphene oxide composites. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 2:471–480

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Clausi M, Zahid M, Shayganpour A (2022) Polyimide foam composites with nano-boron nitride (BN) and silicon carbide (SiC) for latent heat storage. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-022-00426-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Sun Q, Zhang H, Xue J (2018) Flexible phase change materials for thermal storage and temperature control. Chem Eng J 353:920

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Zhang H, Liu Z, Mai J (2021) Super-elastic smart phase change material (SPCM) for thermal energy storage. Chem Eng J 411:128482

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Montanari C, Li Y, Chen H (2019) Transparent wood for thermal energy storage and reversible optical transmittance. Acs Appl Mater Inter 11:20465–20472

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Wu H, Zhong Y, Tang Y (2022) Precise regulation of weakly negative permittivity in CaCu3Ti4O12 metacomposites by synergistic effects of carbon nanotubes and grapheme. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 5:419–430

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Qi G, Liu Y, Chen L (2021) Lightweight Fe3C@Fe/C nanocomposites derived from wasted cornstalks with high-efficiency microwave absorption and ultrathin thickness. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 4:1226–1238

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Xie P, Liu Y, Feng M (2021) Hierarchically porous Co/C nanocomposites for ultralight high-performance microwave absorption. Compos Hybrid Mater 4:173–185

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Xie P, Zhang Z, Wang Z (2019) Targeted double negative properties in silver/silica random metamaterials by precise control of microstructures. Research 2019:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  45. Wu H, Sun H, Han F (2022) Negative permittivity behavior in flexible carbon nanofibers- polydimethylsiloxane films. Eng Sci 7:113–120

    Google Scholar 

  46. Gosti T, Klemenc S (2007) Evidence on unusual way of cocaine smuggling: Cocaine-polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) solid solution-study of clandestine laboratory samples. Forensic Sci Int 169:210–219

    Google Scholar 

  47. Bai X, Yang Q, Fang Y (2020) Anisotropic, adhesion-switchable, and thermal-responsive superhydrophobicity on the femtosecond laser-structured shape-memory polymer for droplet manipulation. Chem Eng J 400:125930

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Yuan Y, Zhang H, Zhang N (2016) Effect of water content on the phase transition temperature, latent heat and water uptake of PEG polymers acting as endothermal-hydroscopic materials. J Therm Anal Calorim 126:699–708

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Zhang H, Sun Q, Yuan Y (2018) A novel form-stable phase change composite with excellent thermal and electrical conductivities. Chem Eng J 336:342–351

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Zhang W, Zhuang S, Xu X (2013) Transparent and UV-shielding ZnO@PMMA nanocomposite films. Opt Mater 36:169–172

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Tumirah K, Hussein MZ, Zulkarnain Z (2014) Nano-encapsulated organic phase change material based on copolymer nanocomposites for thermal energy storage. Energy 66: 881–890.

Download references

Funding

This work was supported by the Finance Science and Technology Project of Hainan Province (No. ZDYF2021SHFZ102 and ZDYF2020205), National Youth Talent Support Program, Hainan Science and Technology Major Project (No. ZDKJ2019013), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51775152, 61761016, 22065012, and U1967213), National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2018YFE0103500), Start-up Research Foundation of Hainan University (No. KYQD(ZR)1911), and Project Supported by Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea (Hainan University) (No. MRUKF2021025). H.Q. Zhang, N. Wang, and X.M. Mai also thank the Deanship of Scientific Research at Umm Al-Qura University for supporting this work (No. 22UQU4281758DSR02).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Haiquan Zhang and Junping Mai contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, People’s Republic of China

    Haiquan Zhang, Junping Mai, Houji Liu, Xin Li, Xin Wu, Renjuan Wang & Ning Wang

  2. School of Architecture, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, 610041, People’s Republic of China

    Shuliang Li & Xianmin Mai

  3. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

    Jalal T. Althakafy

  4. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia

    Abdullah K. Alanazi

  5. Department of Chemistry, Turabah University College, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia

    Salah M. El-Bahy

Authors
  1. Haiquan Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Junping Mai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shuliang Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jalal T. Althakafy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Houji Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Abdullah K. Alanazi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Salah M. El-Bahy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Xin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Xin Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Renjuan Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Ning Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Xianmin Mai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

H.Q. Zhang and J.P. Mai contributed equally to this work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xianmin Mai.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 1283 kb)

Supplementary file2 (MP4 2807 kb)

Supplementary file3 (MP4 4583 kb)

Supplementary file4 (MP4 2337 kb)

Supplementary file5 (MP4 6917 kb)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, H., Mai, J., Li, S. et al. Multi-functional phase change materials with anti-liquid leakage, shape memory, switchable optical transparency and thermal energy storage. Adv Compos Hybrid Mater 5, 2042–2050 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-022-00540-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42114-022-00540-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation