Phase change materials (PCMs) can alleviate concerns over energy to some extent by reversibly storing a tremendous amount of renewable and sustainable thermal energy. However, the low thermal conductivity, low electrical conductivity, and weak photoabsorption of pure PCMs hinder their wider applicability and development. To overcome these deficiencies and improve the utilization efficiency of thermal energy, versatile carbon materials have been increasingly considered as supporting materials to construct shape‐stabilized composite PCMs. Despite some carbon‐based composite PCMs reviews regarding thermal conductivity enhancement, a comprehensive review of carbon‐based composite PCMs does not exist. Herein, a systematic overview of recent carbon‐based composite PCMs for thermal storage, transfer, conversion (solar‐to‐thermal, electro‐to‐thermal and magnetic‐to‐thermal), and advanced multifunctional applications, including novel metal organic framework (MOF)‐derived carbon materials are provided. The current challenges and future opportunities are also highlighted. The authors hope this review can provide in‐depth insights and serve as a useful guide for the targeted design of high‐performance carbon‐based composite PCMs.
Thermal energy harvesting technologies based on composite phase change materials (PCMs) are capable of harvesting tremendous amounts of thermal energy via isothermal phase transitions, thus showing enormous potential in the...
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development of highly efficient and low-cost bifunctional noble
metal-free electrocatalysts for both the oxygen evolution reaction
(OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is an effective strategy
for improving efficiency. Herein, novel three-dimensional (3D) bimetallic
metal–organic frameworks containing Ni and V with adjustable
stoichiometry were synthesized on nickel foam successfully. Notably,
Ni2V-MOFs@NF only require rather low overpotentials of 244 and 89
mV for the OER and HER, respectively, and expedites overall water
splitting with 1.55 V at 10 mA cm–2 with robust
durability during the 80 h test. The high efficiency of the novel
obtained electrocatalysts should be attributed to the particular morphological
design of the two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin nanosheets self-assembling
into a 3D nanoflower and the electronic structure regulation resulting
from the synergetic interaction between nickel and vanadium. Subsequent
theoretical calculations reveal the following conclusions: (I) the
exceptional electronic conductivity of Ni2V-MOFs shows enhanced optimization
as a result of electronic structure reconstruction, (II) the energy
barrier reduction of the rate-limiting step is responsible for the
enhanced dynamics of Ni2V-MOFs for the OER, and (III) the facilitation
of the adsorption of H+ and H2O plays a key
role in progressing the HER catalytic activity of Ni2V-MOFs.
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