Recent advances in the thermal management performance of polymer-based composite materials

Technological advancements have created an urgent demand for effective thermal regulation, including heat generation, transfer, storage and dissipation, in fields such as communication electronics, vehicles and electrochemical energy storage. This drives the development of high-performance thermal management materials. Compared to traditional materials like ceramics and metals, polymer-based materials are regarded as highly promising matrix materials due to their superior electrical insulation properties, flexibility and processability. This review summarizes the types and regulation methods of polymer-based thermal management materials. It focuses on recent research progress in efficient thermal insulation, rapid heat dissipation, radiative cooling and phase change energy storage materials. Furthermore, this review analyzes the role of research strategies such as bio-inspiration, rational engineering, simulation and machine learning in fostering innovation within this field. Finally, current challenges and potential future research directions for polymer-based thermal management materials are outlined.