Abstract
Phase change materials (PCMs) have the potential to improve solar energy storage and absorption. However, additional developments in solar technology have been hampered by the intrinsic constraints in light absorption, thermal conductivity, and structural stability. In this work, a petaloid microspheres of MgO assembled as a nanosheet-like two-dimensional structure enables a high loading of phase change materials (PCMs) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) within the microsphere pockets. These PCM-containing materials can store up to 97 % more energy than conventional materials. Under hydrothermal reaction conditions, NH3 and pamoic acid work together to produce phase-pure Mg(OH)2. It was surprising that calcining Mg(OH)2 for two hours at 400 °C had no influence on the XRD patterns. On the other hand, MgO microspheres were produced when the (Mg(OH)2) was calcined at 500 °C for two hours in air. The developed MgO/PEG composite has outstanding mechanical properties, superior energy density (>173 J/g), and a high capacity for storing solar thermal energy. Additionally, these microsphere matrices have high thermal conductivities, as well as thermal stability, and noticeably improved supercooling characteristics. The MgO/PEG matrix also converts sunlight into thermal energy with a significantly higher efficiency (84.2–91.0 %). Robust tests involving 200 melting and freezing cycles show that the novel MgO/PEG composite is chemically and thermally stable. The findings suggest that the strategy put forth may further the creation of solar energy collecting devices, providing a strong foundation for cleaner, more flexible, and efficient energy options.
Published Version
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