Efficient solar thermal energy utilization and storage based on phase change materials stabilized by MOF@CuO composites

Abstract

Solar thermal conversion technology employing phase change composites is an available strategy for solar thermal energy utilization and storage. In this work, a novel metal-organic framework (MOF)-based phase change composites were successfully constructed through vacuum impregnation method. The stearic acid (SA) was served as phase change materials, and the SA-modified MOF (HS) with CuO derived from MOF (HS@CuO composites) was assembled to be support materials, which composed the SA/HS@CuO phase change composites. HS@CuO composites could well prevent the SA leakage over phase change point and endowed the phase change composites outstanding form stability (SA loading rate: 71.8 %) and thermal storage ability (ΔHm: 158.24 J/g). Furthermore, the SA/HS@CuO possessed greatly strengthened thermal conductivity (improved by 3.8 times over SA) and extraordinary solar thermal conversion performance (η: 95.9 %). These results powerfully suggest that the innovative phase change composites own promising potentials in not only solar energy utilization and development but also thermal storage and management fields.