Integration of efficient photothermal and flexible solid-solid PCM for personal thermoregulation in cold environments

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Energy Storage
• Thermal Engineering

Background:

• Personal thermal management (PTM) technology faces challenges with high costs and limited environmental adaptability.
• Integrating phase change materials (PCMs) with photothermal conversion offers a promising solution to PTM limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate an efficient, flexible, solid-solid phase change composite for photothermal heat storage.
• To evaluate the composite's performance in extreme cold conditions for wearable thermal management applications.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a novel photothermal and flexible solid-solid phase change composite.
• Characterization of the composite's thermal properties, including thermal conductivity and phase transition enthalpy.
• Assessment of photothermal conversion efficiency and heat storage capacity in simulated extreme cold environments.

Main Results:

• The composite demonstrated excellent processing and molding performance, with no liquid leakage at elevated temperatures.
• Achieved high thermal conductivity (2.9 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹), high phase transition enthalpy (184 kJ/kg), and >90% solar absorptivity.
• Successfully maintained a temperature above 16°C for 8 hours in extreme cold conditions, showcasing efficient photothermal phase change heat storage.

Conclusions:

• The developed composite offers a viable solution for efficient photothermal heat storage and personal thermoregulation.
• Significant potential for application in wearable thermal management garments, particularly for extreme cold environments like Antarctica.