Sunlight-Triggered Phase Change Energy Storage Composite Materials for Human Body Thermal Management

Abstract

In order to maintain thermal comfort in the human body, photothermal conversion and energy storage microcapsules were designed, developed, and applied in a light-assisted thermoregulatory system. The octyl stearate as a phase change material (PCM) was encapsulated using a polytrimethylolpropane triacrylate (PTMPTA)/polyaniline (PANI) composite as the shell, which was synthesized by adding the intermediate half oxidation state of PANI into the polymerization system of trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA). In the PCM microcapsules, the PANI particles embedded in the shell can convert sunlight into heat energy to feed the PCM core for energy storage, further realizing the temperature regulation and solving the problem that the phase change behavior cannot be triggered in cold environments. The octyl stearate@PTMPTA/PANI microcapsules exhibit a latent heat of over 103 J/g, good thermal reliability, and 89.12% photothermal conversion efficiency (PCM microcapsules (MEPCM) suspension). Owing to the excellent photothermal performance of the PANI, the thermal energy will be generated under sunshine and simultaneously transferred to the microcapsules for energy storage. As a result, the MEPCM-PTMPTA/PANI can not only achieve a higher temperature than ambient air but also initiate the phase transition process. The obtained microcapsules were further printed on a T-shirt, and a test of self-thermoregulation was carried out in winter. The results suggest that MEPCM-PTMPTA/PANI has good photothermal conversion and temperature regulation capacity under sunshine and low temperature environments.

Preparation and properties of photothermal responsive fragrance microcapsules

“…Furthermore, the high‐resolution N 1s XPS spectra presents four major peaks, including binging energies at 399 eV and 399.75 eV belonging to the imine (N) and amine (NH) groups and at 400.37 and 402.48 eV corresponding to the positive nitrogen atom, respectively 19 . As a result, the chemical bonding states of the CC, CH, CO, and CO bonds for poly(MMA‐ co ‐TMPTA) and the CN and CN bonds for PANI are identified in the XPS spectra, which demonstrates that the PANI is actually doped the microcapsules shell 20 …”

“…19 As a result, the chemical bonding states of the C C, and the C N and C N bonds for PANI are identified in the XPS spectra, which demonstrates that the PANI is actually doped the microcapsules shell. 20…”

Eco-Friendly Flame-Retardant Phase-Change Composite Films Based on Polyphosphazene/Phosphorene Hybrid Foam and Paraffin Wax for Light/Heat-Dual-Actuated Shape Memory

“…Solid–liquid phase-change materials (PCMs) are a class of heat-energy-storage materials that can absorb/store great amounts of latent heat and then release it through reversible phase transitions . They have a series of significant features such as stable phase-change temperatures, large heat capacity, and low cost and have been regarded as a type of promising materials for energy storage, temperature regulation, and thermal management. − Solid–liquid PCMs can be classified as inorganic and organic PCMs. Compared to inorganic PCMs, organic PCMs are more stable and less corrosive, and there is almost no phase separation taking place during the solid–liquid phase-transition process .…”

Biobased Phase Change Material with Reduced Thermal Conductivity: From Preparation to Analysis of Thermal Insulation Performance

“…However, the mismatch between supply and demand as well as the low utilization of thermal energy results in a huge waste of heat . Thermal energy storage technology is an intermediate medium for energy development, which can improve the energy utilization effectively. , Based on phase transition, the latent heat storage is widely used in the thermal management of surgical treatment, textiles, − electronics, , building materials, , and so on, owing to the high energy storage density and high thermal efficiency.…”