Enhanced Heat Transfer of 1-Octadecanol Phase-Change Materials Using Carbon Nanotubes

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Energy Storage
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Solid-liquid phase-change materials (PCMs) are crucial for heat energy storage but suffer from leakage, low thermal conductivity, and poor energy conversion.
• Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offer high thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and chemical stability, making them promising additives for PCMs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the thermal properties of 1-octadecanol (OD) modified with different diameters and amounts of CNTs.
• To enhance the thermal conductivity of OD/CNTs composite PCMs (CPCMs) while minimizing latent heat loss.
• To establish the relationship between composition, structure, and performance of the CPCMs.

Main Methods:

• Melt blending and ultrasonic dispersion methods were used to prepare OD/CNTs CPCMs.
• Characterization techniques included XRD, FTIR, SEM, DSC, and Hot Disk for physical phase, microstructure, thermal properties, and thermal conductivity.
• Heat charging and releasing experiments were conducted to evaluate performance.

Main Results:

• The study systematically analyzed the physical phase, microstructure, phase-change temperature, phase-transition enthalpy, thermal stability, and thermal conductivity of OD/CNTs CPCMs.
• The heat charging and releasing performance of the OD/CNTs CPCMs was investigated.
• A correlation between composition, structure, and performance was established for the developed CPCMs.

Conclusions:

• The modification of 1-octadecanol with carbon nanotubes effectively enhances thermal conductivity.
• The developed OD/CNTs CPCMs demonstrate improved thermal properties and stable heat storage performance.
• This research provides insights into optimizing CPCMs for efficient heat energy storage applications.