Phase change materials (PCMs) have gained significant attention as
thermal energy storage materials for reducing dependence on fossil
fuels. However, the leakage caused by long-term molecular motion has
become a bottleneck for the further advances of energy storage density
and application value. Herein, a novel PCM composite with good shape
stability, thermal conductivity and photothermal conversion capability
was designed. Given the synergistic or hybridization effect between
metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and expanded graphite (EG) components
offered the composite unique capabilities, even with the merits of both.
The combination of ZIF-67 and EG in a hybrid structure can effectively
prevent particle agglomeration, while simultaneously providing a high
specific surface area and pore volume for the adsorption of paraffin
wax. Compared to pristine unsupported PCMs, the as-obtained PCM
composite possesses a 3-fold enhancement in thermal conductivity,
95.56% photothermal conversion efficiency and excellent shape
stability. It demonstrates the potential of MOFs-enhanced PCM composites
for thermal energy storage and highlight the importance of synergistic
or hybridization strategies in the development of advanced materials for
sustainable energy applications.
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