Hyperbranched polymer, montmorillonite (MMT) and phase change material (PCM) were used in the preparation of a novel energy storage clay material (H‐PCM). 1,3‐Diamino‐2‐propanol and methyl acrylate were firstly used in the synthesis of an AB2 intermediate. Then, Na‐MMT was modified by an intercalation agent, l‐glutamic acid. Third, hyperbranched polymer‐modified Na‐MMT (H‐MMT) was successfully fabricated using the amino acid‐modified Na‐MMT and AB2 intermediate. Subsequently, liquid paraffin was incorporated into H‐MMT, and non‐corrosive organic H‐PCM was prepared. This H‐PCM was systematically characterized using various methods, such as diffusion‐oozing circle test, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The diffusion‐oozing circle and DSC results revealed that H‐PCM possessed good heat storage and release capacity. In XRD analysis, expansions of the spacings in the plane were observed for all samples. TG analysis of this clay illustrated that it could be suitable for industrial applications due to its high thermal stability. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry

The cover image, by Wei Xiaofeng et al., is based on the Research Article Hyperbranched polyester‐modified montmorillonite: a novel phase change material for energy storage, DOI: .