3D zirconium phosphate/polyvinyl alcohol composite aerogels for form-stable phase change materials with brilliant thermal energy storage capability

Abstract

The problem of leakage seriously limits the practical application of phase change materials. For the purpose of improving the thermal energy storage property of composite phase change materials (CPCMs), the composite aerogel of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and e-ZrP (exfoliated from α-ZrP) was formed to encapsulate polyethylene glycol (PEG). It is helpful to fabricate composite aerogel with e-ZrP . The leakage can be prevented by the prepared e-ZrP@PVA aerogel, meanwhile, the CPCMs can keep the shape stabilized during phase change process of PEG. The loading rate of PEG is increased by 5.25% and the relative enthalpy efficiency almost reaches 100% because of the incorporation of e-ZrP. Besides, the CPCMs exhibit considerable phase change enthalpy (158.34 J/g for melting enthalpy and 161.22 J/g for freezing enthalpy). From the above perspectives, the CPCMs have a promising application potential in thermal energy field. And this work also expands the practical usage of ZrP. • Zirconium phosphate was exfoliated by Tris to form composite aerogel with polyvinyl alcohol. • The shape stability and thermal energy storage capacity of composite phase materials are significantly improved. • The loading rate is increased by 5.25%, and the relative enthalpy efficiency is as high as 96.48%.