Highly Stable MXene-Based Phase Change Composites with Enhanced Thermal Conductivity and Photothermal Storage Capability

Abstract

To improve the solar energy storage efficiency and thermal conductivity, we developed stable 3D-Ti 3 C 2 T x frameworksupported composites as phase change materials (FCPCMs) fabricated by the spatial confining forced network assembly (SCFNA) method. The 3D-Ti 3 C 2 T x framework was constructed by decomposition of a compressed mixture of NH 4 HCO 3 and Ti 3 C 2 T x nanosheets. The controllable porous structure of the 3D-Ti 3 C 2 T x framework and hydrogen bonds between -OH groups (or -F groups) on the surface of MXene and the long chain of PEG benefited the good impregnation of PEG into the framework with good compatibility. Therefore, the developed PCM composites exhibited satisfactory phase change enthalpy in the range of 93.36− 119.11 J/g. Compared with PEG8000, the thermal conductivity of the composite with loading 40 wt % of 3D-Ti 3 C 2 T x increased from 0.166 to 1.733 W/(m•K). The improvement of the thermal conductivity is mainly derived from the thermal conduction path provided by the stable 3D-Ti 3 C 2 T x framework. Based on the spatial confining forced network assembly, FCPCMs presented good shape stabilization and thermal reliability in 200 melting−freezing cycles. Benefiting from the construction of the 3D-Ti 3 C 2 T x thermal conductivity path, the fast temperature increase rate under light irradiation is the highlight of FCPCMs. It is noted that FCPCMs exhibit both good photothermal conversion and energy storage efficiency, with the photothermal conversion and storage performance η as high as 95%. Consequently, the developed PCM composites in this work exhibited tremendous application potential in the solar energy utilization field. KEYWORDS: 3D-Ti 3 C 2 T x framework, phase change materials, photothermal conversion and energy storage, thermal conductivity, spatial confining forced network assembly

2D nanomaterial aerogels integrated with phase change materials: a comprehensive review

“…[24][25][26] These challenges are addressed in recent studies by incorporating thermally conductive micro-to-nano additives, such as carbons, metals, and metal oxides, to enhance thermal conductivity and improve the performance or to encapsulate PCMs. 11,[27][28][29][30][31][32] In this regard, nanomaterials of the carbon family have been researched extensively due to their exceptional thermal conductivity reaching up to 4000 W m À1 K À1 . 33,34 For instance, the combination of expanded graphite/cellulose nanofibers (CNFs)/boron nitride (BN) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 showcased a thermal conductivity of 0.32 W m À1 K À1 , leading to nearly 3300% enhancement of the thermal conductivity of the pristine PEG.…”

Recent Advances in MXenes Based Composites as Photocatalysts: Synthesis, Properties and Photocatalytic Removal of Organic Contaminants from Wastewater

“…[104][105][106] One significant advantage of MXene is its high photothermal conversion efficiency. [107] This efficiency can be further enhanced by modifying the surface of MXene in specific ways. Thermal stability and structural integrity are crucial for MXene, as it undergoes various heat treatment processes during synthesis and in application environments.…”

“…These optical properties find applications in various fields such as optoelectronic devices, biomedical applications, and optoelectronic catalysis [104–106] . One significant advantage of MXene is its high photothermal conversion efficiency [107] . This efficiency can be further enhanced by modifying the surface of MXene in specific ways.…”

Robust and Superhydrophobic Polydimethylsiloxane/Ni@Ti3C2Tx Nanocomposite Coatings with Assembled Eyelash-Like Microstructure Array: A New Approach for Effective Passive Anti-Icing and Active Photothermal Deicing

“…Our research group had created a variety of MXene-based frame support materials for photothermal phase-change energy storage. They achieve a photothermal conversion efficiency of more than 96%, demonstrating the excellent photothermal properties of MXene materials. − However, the presence of abundant hydroxyl functional groups on the MXene surface imparts hydrophilicity, limiting its application in the field of anti-icing. Nevertheless, through further structural design, these limitations can be overcome, expanding its applications in the field of anti-icing/deicing. , In addition to the choice of photothermal materials, the improvement of photothermal conversion efficiency also depends on the design of the light-capturing surface structure.…”