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All-green foam for thermal management via pickering templating
Sining Huang1, Hui Wang2, Zhaolin Yang1
1State Key Laboratory of Woody Oil Resources Utilization, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; Key Laboratory of Bio-based Material Science & Technology (Ministry of Education), Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China.
Bioresource Technology
|November 13, 2025
Summary
This study introduces a novel, fully biobased phase change material (PCM) using natural components like beeswax and nanocellulose. The innovative design prevents leakage and maintains structural integrity, offering a sustainable solution for thermal energy storage.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Sustainable Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Phase change materials (PCMs) are vital for thermal energy storage but face challenges with leakage and sustainability.
- Current PCMs often rely on synthetic components and lack robust encapsulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a fully biobased phase change material (PCM) using natural components.
- To address leakage issues and improve the sustainability of thermal energy storage solutions.
Main Methods:
- Employed a Pickering emulsion templating approach with beeswax as the core.
- Utilized TEMPO-oxidized nanocellulose (TOCNF) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) as stabilizers and structural scaffolds.
- Fabricated a surfactant-free, hierarchical core-shell PCM architecture.
Main Results:
- Achieved defect-free encapsulation membranes preventing leakage and a robust 3D matrix.
- Demonstrated high energy storage efficiency (94.7%) and encapsulation efficiency (89.2%).
- Maintained exceptional latent heat retention (97.7%) after 100 thermal cycles, showing full biodegradability.
Conclusions:
- This work presents a breakthrough in sustainable PCM design using biobased materials.
- Natural cellulose-based nanomaterials can be engineered into high-performance energy systems.
- The developed PCM offers a sustainable and high-performing alternative to synthetic counterparts.
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