Structurally tailored nanocomposite sorbent enabling high-energy-density thermochemical storage in e-thermal banks...

Electric vehicles (EVs) experience substantial reductions in driving range under extreme weather conditions-primarily due to the energy demands of cabin climate control (up to ∼54%) and, to a lesser extent, battery inefficiencies (∼20%). To address this issue, we propose an auxiliary energy source termed as an e-thermal bank, designed to support onboard heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and battery thermal management (BTM). The e-thermal bank is a high-energy-density, microwave-driven, fast-charging thermochemical storage (TCS) system that simultaneously manages cabin climate and battery temperature. To meet the stringent performance requirements of this innovative system, its key component-an advanced sorbent material-is developed through confinement of a TCS salt into a micro- and macro-structured porous matrix. The resulting optimized sorbent exhibits a high sorption capacity of 3.96 g g^-1, a rapid sorption rate, and a record-high material-level energy density of 10 426 kJ g^-1 at 90% relative humidity (RH), all the while ensuring leak-proof operation. Thanks to its structural stability and scalability, this performance translates effectively into a prototype system achieving an ultra-high energy density of 2135 Wh kg^-1 and power densities of 2.96 kW kg^-1 for heating and 3.016 kW kg^-1 for cooling. Theoretical evaluations based on real-world datasets indicate that incorporating the e-thermal bank could extend EV driving range by approximately 30% in winter and 20% in summer across most global regions.