Ge Wang
University of Science and Technology, China
Title: Porous support for phase change materials with superior thermal performance
Biography
Biography: Ge Wang
Abstract
Phase change materials (PCMs) have been widely developed in thermophysical storage technologies. However, issues with leakage in the liquid phase and low thermal conductivity of pure PCMs block their real-world applications. Typically, porous support can stabilize the PCMs through surface tension action and capillary forces. However, support with high porosity usually leads to amorphous structures and low thermal conductivity, which is inadequate for meeting most power conversion targets. Therefore, designing advanced support with excellent thermal performance still remains highly desired. Recently, our group developed a one-design many-functions strategy to create metal organic frameworks (MOFs) derived porous carbons and 3D porous carbon support for PCMs. For example, a highly porous carbon from MOFs have been fabricated by using a control carbonization method. The large mesopores of the support guarantees a high loading percentage of PEG molecules, and the micropores induced the surface tension and capillary force to ensure the high thermal stability of the shape stabilized PCMs. The phase change enthalpy of shape stabilized PCMs is close to pure PEG and the thermal conductivity of PEG can be further improved through porous carbon. 3D conductive network carbons have been synthesized by employing a direct-calcined CQDs-derived porous carbon from the aldol reaction. 3D porous carbon offered large loading space for PCMs, meanwhile, the graphitized sp2-hybrid carbon nanosheets provides thermally conductive network and improves thermal conductivity. These shape stabilized PCMs exhibit excellent thermal performance which show great potential in energy storage and conversion applications