Review of preparation technologies of organic composite phase change materials in energy storage

• Published in: Journal of molecular liquids 2021-08, Vol.336, p.115923, Article 115923
• Main Authors: Zhao, Yinxu, Zhang, Xuelai, Hua, Weisan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Composite technologies; Microcapsule methods; Organic PCMs; Porous media adsorption methods; Simple physical mixing methods
• ISSN: 0167-7322; 1873-3166
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2021.115923

In order to alleviate the contradiction between the growing energy demand and the limited fossil energy, intensifying research and development of application technologies that utilize renewable energy is necessary. Energy storage technology using PCMs is a frontier research field with great application prospect. As a kind of phase change energy storage materials, organic PCMs (OPCMs) have been widely used in solar energy, building energy conservation and other fields with the advantages of appropriate phase change temperature and large latent heat of phase change. However, low thermal conductivity and liquid leakage problem restrict the further application of OPCMs. Compounding organic materials with other materials can effectively improve this situation. This paper focuses on the compound types of organic PCMs and the principles of various composite technologies. And the development direction of organic composite PCMs in the future and the improvement of composite technology are discussed in the end of the paper. •The types of various organic composite PCMs are reviewed.•The principle of compound ratio between organic phase change materials is reviewed.•The technology and principle of preparing organic shape setting materials by porous materials are reviewed.•The principle of microencapsulation technology in the modification of organic phase change materials is reviewed.•Suggestions for wider application of organic composite PCMs are listed.