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Biomass-Based Shape-Stabilized Composite Phase-Change Materials with High Solar-Thermal Conversion Efficiency for
Ning Gao1, Jiaoli Du1, Wenbo Yang1
1College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China.
Polymers
|September 28, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed novel shape-stabilized phase-change materials using pine cone porous carbon (PCC) loaded with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and octadecane (OD). These materials enhance building energy efficiency by effectively regulating temperature and reducing energy consumption.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Sustainable Building Materials
Background:
- The global energy crisis necessitates energy-saving solutions in buildings.
- Bio-porous carbon materials offer a sustainable approach for developing advanced building materials.
- Phase-change materials (PCMs) are crucial for thermal energy storage and temperature regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prepare shape-stabilized phase-change materials (SSPCMs) using pine cone porous carbon (PCC) derived from renewable organic waste.
- To investigate the thermal properties and solar-thermal energy conversion efficiency of polyethylene glycol/PCC (PEG/PCC) and octadecane/PCC (OD/PCC) composites.
- To evaluate the temperature-controlling capabilities of these SSPCMs when incorporated into rigid polyurethane foam composites.
Main Methods:
- Pine cone biomass was converted into porous carbon (PCC) via chemical activation with potassium hydroxide (KOH).
- Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and octadecane (OD) were impregnated into PCC using a vacuum method to create PEG/PCC and OD/PCC.
- The morphology, specific surface area, and pore volume of PCC were optimized by adjusting calcination temperature and KOH concentration.
- Phase-change enthalpies, solar-thermal energy conversion efficiencies, and temperature-regulating effects in rigid polyurethane foam were measured.
Main Results:
- Optimized PCC exhibited high specific surface area and pore volume with caterpillar-like and block morphologies.
- PEG/PCC and OD/PCC composites demonstrated high phase-change enthalpies (144.3 J/g and 162.3 J/g, respectively).
- Solar-thermal energy conversion efficiencies reached 79.9% for PEG/PCC and 84.8% for OD/PCC.
- Incorporation of PEG/PCC and OD/PCC into rigid polyurethane foam enhanced temperature regulation, showing distinct energy absorption (25 °C) and release (10 °C) plateaus.
Conclusions:
- Renewable pine cone waste can be effectively transformed into porous carbon for advanced phase-change materials.
- The developed PEG/PCC and OD/PCC composites exhibit excellent thermal energy storage and solar-thermal conversion properties.
- These SSPCMs significantly improve the temperature-controlling capabilities of building materials, leading to reduced energy consumption.
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