2D MXene based nanocomposites for solar driven renewable energy storage utilizing binary eutectic phase change material

Abstract

In this study, we incorporated eutectic phase change materials (EUPCM) into MXene nanopowder to strengthen the thermal properties of EUPCM. Here, Ti3C2 MXene was synthesized from Ti3AlC2 MAX phases via mild chemical etching using microwave and doped at concentrations ranging from 0.2 % to 1 % into binary eutectic of PEG 6000 and PEG10000. The FESEM validated the existence of adequate pores in the MXene structure and DLS revealed that approximately 66 % of the measured nanoparticles had a size of 218 nm. The FTIR and XRD investigations affirmed that the interaction between EUPCM and MXene was predominantly physical in nature. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis revealed fusion enthalpies ranging from 163.5 J/g to 159.3 J/g and freezing enthalpies varying from 155.1 J/g to 146.2 J/g for the nanocomposites, keeping melting and freezing temperature. The incorporation of MXene resulted in a consistent decrease in time required for heating and cooling of EUPCM. Furthermore, the nanocomposites exhibited durability as demonstrated by thermal cycling tests, with no significant variation in the chemical structure and only slight fluctuations in the enthalpies after 500 melt/freeze cycles. Consequently, MXene-based nanocomposites display relatively high heat transfer rates compared to EUPCM for the same amount of solar radiation and present promising prospects for integration into solar energy storage systems.