A review of the performance and application of molten salt-based phase change materials in sustainable thermal energy storage at medium and high temperatures

Huihui Wang, Jun Liu, Ying Wang, Yuqiong Zhao and Guojie Zhang

Applied Energy, 2025, vol. 389, issue C, No S0306261925004969

Abstract: Growing energy demand and environmental pollution issues are placing greater demands on sustainable thermal energy storage. Research indicates that molten salt phase change materials (MSPCMs) represent a promising alternative for thermal energy storage (TES), effectively addressing the energy supply-demand imbalance. These salts typically have a range of excellent properties, such as high energy storage density, easy availability, and minimal environmental impact. Nevertheless, the widespread application of molten salts is considerably constrained in both industrial and commercial contexts due to their low thermal conductivity (TC) and leakage problems during phase transitions. Based on this, this paper provides a comprehensive examination of the synthesis and energy conversion characteristics of molten salt composite phase change materials (CPCMs), along with the integrated utilization of solid waste materials. Additionally, the potential applications of these phase change materials (PCMs) across various domains are thoroughly explored. The study also addresses the corrosion behavior of encapsulation materials induced by molten salt-based CPCMs. The findings indicate that the development of solid waste-derived and Shape-stabilized CPCMs (SSCPCMs) offers promising solutions to mitigate these challenges. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that conventional energy conversion materials are predominantly organic, and research into molten salt CPCMs remains in its nascent stages, with current applications mainly limited to photothermal and magnetocaloric energy conversion. Furthermore, while coatings technology significantly enhances the corrosion resistance of carbon steel in molten nitrate environments, there remains an urgent need for further investigation into more effective corrosion protection strategies and materials. In conclusion, this review provides valuable insights into the prospective advancement of MSPCMs and underscores the necessity for continued research in this domain to fulfill the requirements of sustainable TES systems.

Keywords: Phase change materials; Molten salt; Thermal energy applications; Energy storage; Porous support materials (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261925004969
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:389:y:2025:i:c:s0306261925004969

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 405891/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125766

Access Statistics for this article

Applied Energy is currently edited by J. Yan

More articles in Applied Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().