High-Efficiency Thermal Battery Regulated by Ultralow Magnetic Fields.
Lingli Li1, Haoyu Wang1, Zhiyu Wang1
1Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science Institute of Metal Research Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMR, CAS) Shenyang 110016 P. R. China.
Small Science
|January 15, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a novel magneto-responsive composite for controllable thermal storage. This material uses low magnetic fields to trigger heat release, enhancing energy management systems.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Energy Storage
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Controllable thermal storage is crucial for advanced energy management.
- Current methods face challenges in noncontact actuation and heat transfer efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a magneto-responsive phase-change composite for efficient, noncontact thermal energy release.
- To overcome limitations of existing thermal storage technologies.
Main Methods:
- Integration of a supercooled plastic crystal, 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (AMP), with NdFeB magnetic particles.
- Utilizing ultralow magnetic fields (≈0.04 T) for noncontact triggering of phase transitions.
Main Results:
- Achieved colossal entropy change (507.6 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹) and enthalpy change (181.1 J g⁻¹).
- Demonstrated rapid temperature rise (47.6 K) due to enhanced thermal conduction and synchronous crystallization.
- Outperformed existing magnetocaloric systems under milder magnetic field conditions.
Conclusions:
- The developed AMP/NdFeB composite offers a transformative route to high-efficiency, controllable thermal batteries.
- This technology paves the way for practical deployment in advanced energy systems.
- Noncontact actuation via magnetic fields presents a significant advancement.
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