Anisotropic Black Phosphorene Structural Modulation for Thermal Storage and Solar-Thermal Conversion

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Solar energy harvesting and thermal energy storage are crucial for transitioning away from fossil fuels.
• Black phosphorene-based phase-change composites offer a promising route for efficient solar thermal energy applications.
• Challenges exist in producing high-quality black phosphorene and creating aligned structures for enhanced thermal properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an optimized strategy for exfoliating high-quality black phosphorene nanosheets.
• To fabricate aligned black phosphorene frameworks within a phase-change material matrix.
• To enhance the photothermal conversion efficiency and thermal energy storage capacity of the composite material.

Main Methods:

• Optimized exfoliation technique for producing high-quality black phosphorene nanosheets.
• Controlled freeze-casting with a regulated temperature gradient to create aligned black phosphorene frameworks.
• Characterization of the composite's thermal conductivity, phase-change properties, and structural integrity.

Main Results:

• Achieved a thermal conductivity of 1.81 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹ in a poly(ethylene glycol) matrix with 20 vol% black phosphorene loading.
• Fabricated shipshape, long-range aligned black phosphorene frameworks.
• The composite exhibited a high latent heat of 103.91 J g⁻¹ and excellent phase-change material encapsulation capacity.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully demonstrates a method for creating aligned black phosphorene frameworks for enhanced thermal conductivity in composites.
• The developed black phosphorene-based phase-change material shows significant potential for efficient solar energy harvesting and storage.
• This work advances controllable structural enhancement strategies for advanced composite materials.