Carbon Dot-Modulated Phase-Change Composites for Wide Temperature Range and High-Density Heat Storage and Release

Jingya Liang, Ning Li, Jie Wu, Qing Chang, Jinlong Yang and Shengliang Hu ()
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Jingya Liang: Research Group of New Energy Materials and Devices, State Key Laboratory of Coal and CBM Co-Mining, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
Ning Li: Research Group of New Energy Materials and Devices, State Key Laboratory of Coal and CBM Co-Mining, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
Jie Wu: School of Applied Science, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Qing Chang: Research Group of New Energy Materials and Devices, State Key Laboratory of Coal and CBM Co-Mining, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
Jinlong Yang: Research Group of New Energy Materials and Devices, State Key Laboratory of Coal and CBM Co-Mining, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China
Shengliang Hu: Research Group of New Energy Materials and Devices, State Key Laboratory of Coal and CBM Co-Mining, North University of China, Taiyuan 030051, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 10, 1-15

Abstract: Organic phase-change materials (PCMs) offer great promise in addressing challenges in thermal energy storage and heat management, but their applications are greatly limited by low energy density and a rigid phase transition temperature. Herein, by introducing carbon dots (CDs) with abundant oxygen-related groups, we develop a novel kind of erythritol (ET)-based composite PCMs (CD-ETs) featuring an enhanced latent heat storage capacity and a reduced degree of supercooling compared to pure ETs. The optimally formulated CD-ETs increase the latent heat storage capacity from 377.3 to 410.2 J·g −1 and the heat release capacity from 209.0 to 240.2 J·g −1 compared to the pristine ETs. Moreover, the subcooled degree of CD-ETs is more than 30 °C lower than that of pristine ETs. By successively encapsulating CD-ETs and CD-containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) with a low melting point in a reduced graphene oxide-modified melamine sponge, the resultant shape-stabilized system not only prevents leakage of molten PCMs but also allows for a wide response temperature window and promotes the heat transfer ability of melted PEG in close contact with solid CD-ETs. Stepped melting and crystallization guarantee phase changes in high-melting-point ETs via solar heating, Joule heating or a combination thereof. Specifically, the melting enthalpy of this system is as high as 306.5 J·g −1 , and its cold crystallization enthalpy reaches 196.5 J·g −1 , surpassing numerous organic PCMs. This work provides a facile and efficient strategy for the design of ideal thermal energy storage materials to meet the needs of application scenarios in a cost-effective manner.

Keywords: phase-change materials; carbon dots; erythritol; degree of supercooling; solar heat storage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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