Graphene Aerogel-Directed Fabrication of Phase Change Composites

Abstract

Although phase change materials have been extensively used for thermal energy storage, various shortcomings such as low thermal conductivity, leakage during work, and shortage of multiple driving ways greatly hinder their practical applications. Among the new materials that can overcome these problems, graphene aerogel has attracted special interest owing to its 3D conductive network and extraordinary capillary force. In this chapter, we review recent progress of graphene-aerogel-based phase change composites (PCCs) and provide a brief introduction on the following topics: 1) why graphene aerogels can be used for PCCs, 2) the sol-gel transition synthesis of graphene aerogels, 3) the fabrication of graphene-aerogel-based PCCs, and 4) their applications in thermal energy storage, electric-thermal conversion and storage, solar-thermal conversion and storage, and thermal buffer. Finally, we also discuss the limitation and future development of these graphene-based materials.

Recent advances in phase change materials for thermal energy storage-a review

“…Moreover, the graphene-aerogel-based phase change composites due to their graphene porous network also exhibit the good performance as electric conductors allowing them to be used in electrical-thermal conversion and storage. However, there are certain drawbacks such as easily reopening of porous network under the external strike can cause PCM leakage [84]. Recent study by Mitran et.al [85].…”