Emerging applications of phase change materials: A concise review of recent advances

Abstract

Phase change materials (PCMs) are used as latent heat thermal energy storage materials. The fields of application for PCMs are broad and diverse. Among these areas are thermal control of electronic components and thermal building regulations. These areas are used as heat and cold storage materials. The low thermal conductivity of PCMs is one of the significant and severe technological problems of PCMs. This paper presents a review of the latest works using PCMs in the thermal management of electronic components, buildings, and heat exchangers. Besides, it provides concise pieces of information on the classification of PCMs, their advantages, disadvantages, and thermal storage systems.

Graphene Oxide-Based Mesoporous Calcium Silicate Hydrate Sandwich-like Structure: Synthesis and Application for Thermal Energy Storage

“…3 Over the past few decades, PCMs have been developed for several applications, including building thermal comfort, thermal protection, cooling, and solar heating system. 4 However, their practical employment in thermal energy storage systems has been limited because they generally have low thermal conductivity and easily leak out during the phase change process. 5 Thus, PCM-based materials with high thermal conductivity and PCM loading capacity are attractive for thermal energy storage applications.…”

“…In particular, solid–liquid PCMs have recently attracted extensive attention due to their constant phase-transition temperature, chemical stability, high latent heat storage capacity, and nominal supercooling behavior . Over the past few decades, PCMs have been developed for several applications, including building thermal comfort, thermal protection, cooling, and solar heating system . However, their practical employment in thermal energy storage systems has been limited because they generally have low thermal conductivity and easily leak out during the phase change process .…”

Natural convection of water and nano‐emulsion phase change material inside a square enclosure to cool the electronic components

“…Moreover, PCMs can be classified as organic, inorganic, and organic-inorganic hybrid materials. [57][58][59][60][61] Study 62 shows that EPCM can be produced by physical, chemical, and combined methods. It is also mentioned in the study that the chemical method is the best method to encapsulate efficiency and structure point of view.…”

Investigating the effect of single and hybrid nanoparticles on melting of phase change material in a rectangular enclosure with finite heat source

“…PCMs can be considered a better solution for the cooling of electronic devices due to their high density heat storage and isothermal process during phase transition. 6 PCMs exhibit the high heat storage density but suffer possess the low thermal conductivity intrinsically. To overcome this problem, several techniques have been reported such as extruded fins, metal foam, heat pipes and nanoparticles as thermal conductivity enhancers (TCEs) within PCMs.…”