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Phase Change Materials for Electro-Thermal Conversion and Storage: From Fundamental Understanding to Engineering
Xiao Chen1, Zhaodi Tang2, Hongyi Gao2
1Institute of Advanced Materials, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China.
Advanced phase change materials (PCMs) efficiently convert electrical to thermal energy for sustainability. This review covers carbon-based and MXene-based composites, exploring their mechanisms and structure-property relationships for high-performance applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Energy Storage
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Phase change materials (PCMs) are crucial for thermal energy management.
- Their insulating nature necessitates conductive supports for electro-thermal applications.
- Composite PCMs enhance electrical-to-thermal energy conversion efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in electro-thermal conversion PCMs.
- To elucidate electrothermal conversion mechanisms.
- To explore structure-property relationships for optimizing PCM performance.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of carbon-based and MXene-based PCMs.
- Analysis of electrothermal conversion mechanisms.
- Evaluation of structural designs (e.g., random vs. array-oriented, single vs. hybrid supports).
Main Results:
- Identified carbon-based PCMs (CNTs, graphene, biomass-derived carbon, graphite, MOFs-derived carbon) and MXene-based PCMs as key materials.
- Detailed the influence of supporting material structure on electrothermal properties.
- Established links between material design and enhanced energy conversion.
Conclusions:
- High-performance electro-thermal conversion PCMs require careful consideration of supporting material type and structure.
- Further research is needed to address current challenges and unlock future potential.
- This review provides a theoretical and experimental foundation for developing advanced PCMs.
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