Thermally responsive flexible self-luminous binary fatty alcohol eutectic-based reversible thermochromic passive energy-saving eucalyptus wood aerogel composites

Abstract

The development of flexible self-luminous reversible thermochromic passive energy-saving composites (TPCMs) is self-challenge due to the defects of easy leakage, non-visibility, solid phase rigidity, and weak light absorption. So, the emerging TPCMs were cleverly constructed using wood aerogel as support skeleton and different mass ratios of natural latex/long afterglow components as flexible and self-luminescent matrix based on optimal binary fatty alcohol eutectic (C14C20). Among them, C14C20R-TEW-1R and C14C20G-TEW-0.35 P stand out with suitable phase transition temperatures (28.8 °C and 29.7 °C), high latent heat values (100.5 J g−1 and 119.4 J g−1), and low supercooling (0.7 °C and 0 °C). Induced by phase change, they change from rigid to flexible, from red/green to milky white, and can absorb light to achieve self-luminescence in the dark (orange red and blue-green) and enhanced photothermal efficiency. Beyond the traditional thermal/light stability and excellent anti-leakage performance, TPCMs realizes the combination of temperature sensitivity/control and self-luminous, providing broad application prospects in home automation, passive energy-saving in buildings, luminescent response switches, and other fields.