Storage Materials Research Articles

Integrating a phase change material based thermal energy storage system with a solar vacuum timber dryer

ABSTRACT This study focused on the development of a solar-heated vacuum dryer with a thermal-energy storage system. The timbers layers were stacked between specially fabricated aluminum platens, integrated with sealed tubes filled with phase-change material (PCM) for thermal storage. Each platen had openings in both the ends to allow hot water enter from one end and exit through another end. An evacuated tube collector (ETC)-based solar hot-water system was used to heat the water, and the hot water was flown through the platens for melting and charging of the PCM inside the tubes. The platens, along with the wood layers, were placed in a vacuum tank. During the day, the heating of wood and the melting of PCM were done simultaneously, while in night time, wood layers got heated through conduction using stored heat in the platens. Two 38 mm thick hardwoods (Populus deltoides and Mangifera indica) were dried in January, the coldest month in India. Moisture content of Populus deltoides (initial moisture content of 110%) and Mangifera indica (initial moisture content of 95%) dropped to the final moisture content of 14% in nine days of the drying with an average moisture content drop of of 10.7%/day and 8.9% perday, respectively.

Performance of Biodegradable Active Packaging in the Preservation of Fresh-Cut Fruits: A Systematic Review

Fresh-cutting fruits is a common practice in markets and households, but their short shelf life is a challenge. Active packaging is a prominent strategy for extending food shelf life. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines to explore the performance and materials used in biodegradable active packaging for fresh-cut fruits. Sixteen studies were included from a search performed in July 2024 on Scopus and Web of Science databases. Only research articles in English on biodegradable active films tested on cut fruits were selected. Polysaccharides were the most employed polymer in film matrices (87.5%). Antioxidant and anti-browning activities were the active film properties that were most developed (62.5%), while plant extracts and essential oils were the most employed active agents (56.3%), and fresh-cut apples were the most commonly tested fruit (56.3%). Appropriate antioxidant, antibacterial, and barrier properties for fresh-cut fruit packaging were determined. Furthermore, there is a wide range of experimental designs to evaluate shelf-life improvements. In each case, shelf life was successfully extended. The findings show that different storage conditions, fruits, and material configurations can lead to different shelf-life extension performances. Thus, biodegradable active packaging for fresh-cut fruits has a strong potential for growth in innovative, sustainable, and functional ways.

Production of Starch-Based Flexible Food Packaging in Developing Countries: Analysis of the Processes, Challenges, and Requirements

Biodegradable packaging offers an affordable and sustainable solution to global pollution, particularly in developing countries with limited recycling infrastructure. Starch is well suited to develop biodegradable packages for foods due to its wide availability and simple, low-tech production process. Although the development of starch-based packaging is well documented, most studies focus on the laboratory stages of formulation and plasticization, leaving gaps in understanding key phases such as raw material conditioning, industrial-scale molding, post-production processes, and storage. This work evaluates the value chain of starch-based packaging in developing countries. It addresses the challenges, equipment, and process conditions at each stage, highlighting the critical role of moisture resistance in the final product’s functionality. A particular focus is placed on replacing single-use plastic packaging, which dominates food industries in regions with agricultural economies and rich biodiversity. A comprehensive analysis of starch-based packaging production, with a detailed understanding of each stage and the overall process, should contribute to the development of more sustainable and scalable solutions, particularly for the replacement of single-use packages, helping to protect vulnerable biodiverse regions from the growing impact of plastic waste.

Intermetallic Materials for High-Capacity Hydrogen Storage Systems.

In this article, we provide an overview of hydrogen storage materials, taking our previous results as examples. Towards the end of the paper, we present a case study in order to highlight the effects of substitutional alloying, compositional additives, and nanostructuring on the hydrogen sorption properties of magnesium-based intermetallics. Specifically, partial substitution of Mg by Li and d-elements by p-elements leads to structural changes, inducing disorder and the formation of high-entropy alloys. Our approach showcases the methodology to enhance the H2-capacity and to provide a positive boost to the H2-storage performance, including lower temperatures of H2 desorption, better thermodynamics and kinetics, lower temperatures of hydrogen uptake/ release for Metal-Hydride Hydrogen Storage (MHHS) systems and higher capacity of anodes for Metal-Hydride batteries (MHB) together with lower prices of raw materials.

Trimodal thermal energy storage material for renewable energy applications.

The global aim to move away from fossil fuels requires efficient, inexpensive and sustainable energy storage to fully use renewable energy sources. Thermal energy storage materials1,2 in combination with a Carnot battery3-5 could revolutionize the energy storage sector. However, a lack of stable, inexpensive and energy-dense thermal energy storage materials impedes the advancement of this technology. Here we report the first, to our knowledge, 'trimodal' material that synergistically stores large amounts of thermal energy by integrating three distinct energy storage modes-latent, thermochemical and sensible. The eutectic mixture of boric and succinic acids undergoes a transition at around 150 °C, with a record high reversible thermal energy uptake of 394 ± 5% J g-1. We show that the transition involves melting of the boric acid component, which simultaneously undergoes dehydration into metaboric acid and water that dissolve into the liquid. Being retained in the liquid state allows the metaboric acid to readily rehydrate to re-form boric acid on cooling. Thermal stability is demonstrated over 1,000 heating-cooling cycles. The material is very low cost, environmentally friendly and sustainable. This combination of a solid-liquid phase transition and a chemical reaction demonstrated here opens new pathways in the development of high energy capacity materials.

Numerical simulation of heat transfer processes in shell and tube phase change heat exchangers for recovering industrial waste heat

Abstract This article combines phase change energy storage technology with shell and tube heat storage and exchange devices to establish a three-dimensional numerical model of the shell and tube phase change heat storage and exchange device. The hexahedral structured grid division is used to make the simulation results more accurate. Combined with the computational fluid dynamics software Fluent and the related principles of phase change heat transfer, the effects of different heat transfer fluid temperatures and flow rates on the phase change process of phase change materials and the fluid outlet temperature in the phase change heat exchanger were numerically simulated. The results show that under the set parameters, when the inlet water temperature increases from 70℃ to 90℃, the time required for the outlet temperature to increase from 20℃ to 60℃ is shortened by 23%, while when the temperature is constant, the inlet temperature of heat transfer fluid is shortened by 69%. Analysis shows that the influence of the inlet temperature of the heat transfer fluid on the heat storage and release of phase change materials is significantly greater than the inlet flow rate.

Concurrently Boosting Activity and Stability of Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysts via Judiciously Crafting Fe–Mn Dual Atoms for Fuel Cells

The ability to unlock the interplay between the activity and stability of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) represents an important endeavor toward creating robust ORR catalysts for efficient fuel cells. Herein, we report an effective strategy to concurrent enhance the activity and stability of ORR catalysts via constructing atomically dispersed Fe-Mn dual-metal sites on N-doped carbon (denoted (FeMn-DA)-N-C) for both anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFC) and proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The (FeMn-DA)-N-C catalysts possess ample dual-metal atoms consisting of adjacent Fe-N4 and Mn-N4 sites on the carbon surface, yielded via a facile doping-adsorption-pyrolysis route. The introduction of Mn carries several advantageous attributes: increasing the number of active sites, effectively anchoring Fe due to effective electron transfer to Mn (revealed by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and density-functional theory (DFT), thus preventing the aggregation of Fe), and effectively circumventing the occurrence of Fenton reaction, thus reducing the consumption of Fe. The (FeMn-DA)-N-C catalysts showcase half-wave potentials of 0.92 and 0.82V in 0.1M KOH and 0.1M HClO4, respectively, as well as outstanding stability. As manifested by DFT calculations, the introduction of Mn affects the electronic structure of Fe, down-shifts the d-band Fe active center, accelerates the desorption of OH groups, and creates higher limiting potentials. The AEMFC and PEMFC with (FeMn-DA)-N-C as the cathode catalyst display high power densities of 1060 and 746mWcm-2, respectively, underscoring their promising potential for practical applications. Our study highlights the robustness of designing Fe-containing dual-atom ORR catalysts to promote both activity and stability for energy conversion and storage materials and devices.

Determining the PM10 Pollution Sources near the Copper Smelter in Bor, Serbia

The EPA Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) 5.0 model was applied to determine the sources and characteristics of PM10 collected near the copper smelter in Bor, Serbia, from September 2009 to July 2010. For a better understanding of the industrial sources of PM10 pollution, the dataset was divided into four observation periods: heating season (HS), non-heating season (NHS), copper smelter in work (SW), and copper smelter out of work (SOW). The daily limit for the PM10 fraction of 50 μg/m3 was exceeded on one-sixth of days in the NHS, about half the days in the HS, and about one-third of days during the SOW and SW period. The nine different sources of PM10 were identified: fuel combustion, industrial dust, dust from tailings, storage and preparation of raw materials, secondary nitrate, Cu smelter, traffic, cadmium, and plant for the production of precious metals. The contribution of factors related to the activities in the copper smelter complex to the total mass of PM10 was 83.1%. When the copper smelter was out of work the contribution of all the factors related to PM10 pollution from the copper smelter to the total mass of the PM10 was 2.3-fold lower, 35.8%, compared with the period when the copper smelter was in work. This study is the first attempt to use PMF receptor modeling to determine the air pollution sources and their contribution to ambient air pollution in the city of Bor, Serbia.

RECEIVING AND ADSORPTION CHARACTERISTICS OF BIOCARBON MATERIALS FROM HOUSEHOLD WASTE

The aim of this research is the development of new carbon materials based on agricultural waste and a detailed study of their physicochemical properties, which allows to evaluate the potential directions of use of these materials in industry and environmental technologies. Within the framework of the work, four types of waste were chosen, in particular, wood sawdust, apple cake, as well as wheat and corn husks, which are widely available and rarely used as raw materials for creating adsorbents. The selected materials were subjected to the process of pyrolysis at a temperature of 500°C for one hour, which effectively preserves the porous structure of the material and improves its adsorption properties. The obtained samples of biocarbon materials were analyzed using nitrogen porosimetry, which made it possible to determine their adsorption potential, porosity, and total surface area. The results of the study showed a significant difference in the adsorption capacity of the samples, depending on the type of raw material. The sample based on corn husk demonstrated the highest adsorption activity, which indicates its potential for water purification from various types of pollution, including organic and inorganic compounds, heavy metals and other toxic substances. In addition, an additional analysis of the samples was carried out in order to assess their potential in other industries. In particular, the revealed porosity and surface area of ​​the materials allow us to consider them as promising components for filtration systems, catalysts in chemical reactions, materials for energy storage, as well as means for environmental protection and environmental restoration. The results of the study confirm that the use of agricultural waste for the creation of functional carbon materials is not only economically beneficial, but also an ecologically appropriate approach, which contributes to reducing the amount of waste and creating new opportunities for sustainable development.

Performance augmentation of triangular solar still using sensible energy storage materials: thermo-exergo-economic and sustainability analyses

Performance augmentation of triangular solar still using sensible energy storage materials: thermo-exergo-economic and sustainability analyses

Implementation of an Improved 100 CMM Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer to Reduce VOCs Gas

In this paper, an improved 100 CMM regenerative thermal oxidizer (RTO) is implemented for low-emission combustion. The existing RTO system is a cylindrical drum structure that cyclically introduces and discharges VOC gas into and from the rotating disk, and which achieves excellent energy efficiency with a heat recovery rate of more than 95%. However, the drive shaft designed under the RTO combustion chamber increases wear around the rotating shaft due to the load of the combustion chamber and there is a problem that the untreated gas is simultaneously released through the outlet due to the channeling phenomenon of the combustion chamber and the drive shaft. In addition, the combustion chamber, used at a high temperature of 800 °C, may cause serious problems such as rotation stop or explosion due to pollutants, dust accumulation, and thermal expansion in the chamber. Particularly when treating VOCs harmful gasses, RTO performance may be degraded due to the burner’s non-uniform temperature control and unstable combustion function. To solve this problem, first, the design of the combustion chamber rotating plate driving device is improved. Second, when treating high concentration VOC gas, the design of combustion chamber considers a temperature increase of up to 920 °C or more. For this, the diameter of the gas burner is 125 mm and the outlet dimension is set to 650 mm × 650 mm to effectively discharge high-temperature waste heat. Third, the heat storage material in the combustion chamber is composed of a ceramic block with a thickness of 250 mm, and the outer diameter and height of the combustion chamber are set to, 2530 mm and 1875 mm, respectively, to optimize gas residence time and heat insulation thickness. Fourth, we supplement safe operation by applying the trip control algorithm of the programmable logic controller (PLC) panel for failure prediction of RTO and the Edge-IoT-based intelligent algorithm for this. Finally, we evaluate the economic performance of 100 CMM RTO by conducting empirical experiments to analyze changes in VOCs removal efficiency, nitrogen oxide emission concentration, and total hydrocarbon (THC) concentration through 10 CMM design and implementation.

A Single‐Atom Interface Engineering Strategy to Promote Hydrogen Sorption Performances of Magnesium Hydride

AbstractMagnesium hydride (MgH2) is regarded as a promising hydrogen storage material owing to its high gravimetric and volumetric capacity and low cost. However, its large‐scale application is hampered by high stability leading to elevated temperature and slow kinetics for ab/desorption. To address these problems, herein, a composite having MgH2 nanoconfined in a 3D nickel single atoms doped porous carbon (MgH2@3D Ni SA‐pC) is successfully prepared. Benefitting from the nondestructive synthetic method, strong coupling between MgH2 and 3D Ni SA‐pC is achieved, and the composite exhibits superior hydrogen sorption performances as compared to blank MgH2. An onset desorption temperature down to 170 °C and the complete dehydrogenation at 250 °C within 60 min are observed. In particular, thermodynamics of MgH2 is improved (ΔHab = 67.9 kJ mol−1 H2) and the heterogenous interfaces are stable during cycling without the formation of an intermetallic Mg2Ni catalytic phase. Experimental characterizations and theoretical calculations show that the robust interfaces induce charge transfer from Mg/MgH2 to Ni SA‐pC, which contributes to the weakened Mg─H bonds and thereby improves kinetic and even thermodynamics. Such an interface engineering strategy using single‐atom Ni catalyst to simultaneously nano‐confine and catalyze MgH2 paves a way to the design of high‐performance hydrogen storage materials.

Quantitative Formation of Octa‐substituted Cyclobutanes by the [2+2] Photocycloaddition of Stiff‐stilbenes

AbstractThe creation of new molecules with specific structural motifs is a primary goal in synthetic chemistry. In this context, cyclobutanes (CBs), the highly strained ring systems, are of great interest because of their wide applications from pharmaceutical chemistry to materials science. The [2+2] photocycloaddition is the most straightforward approach for CBs; however, access to fully substituted cyclobutanes presents a significant challenge due to the steric hindrance imposed by eight substituents. Here, we report an efficient synthesis of structurally unique, octa‐substituted cyclobutanes from stiff‐stilbene precursors, which is enabled by adaptable anion coordination through hydrogen bonding networks. The synthesized spiro‐benzocyclopentyl‐substituted cyclobutanes are confirmed by single‐crystal structures. DFT calculations indicate that these cyclobutanes have high ring‐strain energies (~20.1 kcal/mol) and can be completely converted back to stiff‐stilbenes. Such a reversible cycloaddition/reversion process offers a promising platform for applications in responsive and energy storage materials.

Plasma‐assisted fabrication of multiscale materials for electrochemical energy conversion and storage

AbstractPlasma, the fourth state of matter, is characterized by the presence of charged particles, including ions and electrons. It has been shown to induce unique physical and chemical reactions. Recently, there have been increased applications of plasma technology in the field of multiscale functional materials' preparation, with a number of interesting results. This review will begin by introducing the basic knowledge of plasma, including the definition, typical parameters, and classification of plasma setups. Following this, we will provide a comprehensive review and summary of the applications (phase conversion, doping, deposition, etching, exfoliation, and surface treatment) of plasma in common energy conversion and storage systems, such as electrocatalytic conversion of small molecules, batteries, fuel cells, and supercapacitors. This article summarizes the structure–performance relationships of electrochemical energy conversion and storage materials (ECSMs) that have been prepared or modified by plasma. It also provides an overview of the challenges and perspectives of plasma technology, which could lead to a new approach for designing and modifying electrode materials in ECSMs.

Automatic ventilation and cooling of the building using the combination of wind deflector and solar chimney (state 3D with differential perspective)

Using new sources of energy and inventing new methods for energy consumption has always been the focus of researchers. The building sector is known to contribute largely in total energy consumption and CO2. Expanding the availability of energy storage technology and materials is considered as crucial as discovering new energy sources. The International Energy Outlook by the EIA (Energy Information Administration of the outlook) examines and predicts future trends in building energy usage. It anticipates a 34% growth in energy consumption within the built environment over the next two decades, with an average annual increase of 1.5%. By 2030, it is projected that approximately 67% of this consumption will be attributed to dwellings, while the non-domestic sectors will account for about 33%. This study endeavors to combine one of these ventilation techniques from ancient Persian architecture, known as the windcatcher in the form of an innovative roof radiative cooling (Windcatcher) with a solar chimney. In order to save energy consumption and reduce environmental problems by presenting the idea of using solar energy to exhaust the air inside the building through the chimney and using the latent heat of water evaporation to create cooling that is carried out in the direction of the wind by the windcatcher. Hence, fuel consumption can be created in hot and dry areas, in a comfortable environment with suitable humidity conditions. The purpose of this research is to introduce computational areas (3D) and determine the governing values and methods calculated by Ansys Fluent software, which has enabled the use of suction and the creation of moisture balance and heat reduction without fuel consumption, which plays an important role in It implements energy efficiency in the building. This system is also able to save 60% cooling energy and 80% of the ventilation energy during peak hours in a warm and arid climate. Furthermore, the effects of a wall opening on ventilation and thermal efficiency were examined.

Organization of long-term storage of raw materials: maintaining the necessary THM in warehouses (cocoa beans, flour, nuts)

The report examines the basic principles of warehouse storage. Modern technologies and approaches to solving problems of controlling the required temperature and humidity mode (THM) for longterm storage of raw materials (cocoa beans, fl our, nuts) for confectionery production are outlined. Features, advantages, and disadvantages of the presented solutions are indicated.

Enhancing the Pseudocapacitive Energy Storage of Coordination Polymers by Artificially Constructed Defective Sites Anchoring Redox-Active Species.

Coordination polymers (CPs) have emerged as potential energy storage materials for supercapacitors due to their tunable chemical composition, structural diversity, and multielectron redox-active sites. However, besides poor cycling stability, the practical application of dense CPs in supercapacitors is generally limited by low specific capacitance and high resistance, which are caused by their low specific surface area and dense frameworks, resulting in insufficient redox reactions of metal sites and poor ion diffusion, respectively. Here, we synthesize a new dense CP {CP-1: [Ce(obb)(HCOO)]∞} via self-assembly of the Ce cation and 4,4'-oxidibenzoate (obb2-). The specific capacitance of CP-1 increases by 156.7 times, and its lifetime after charge-discharge for 5000 cycles is elevated from 62 to 86.7%; meanwhile, the resistance of the positive electrode is reduced from 1.05 to 0.73 Ω through this defect engineering strategy (DES), i.e., cyclic voltammetry sweep in a sulfuric acid electrolyte to artificially construct defects for anchoring the redox-active species (ferricyanide anions). To investigate the universality of this strategy, we have applied it to the other two previously reported CPs {CP-2: [Ce4(obb)6(H2O)9·(H2O)]∞ and CP-3: [Ce2(obb)3(OH)(H2O)(DMF)]∞}, which are also obtained by self-assembly of the Ce cation and obb2- ligand. By comparing the electrochemical performances of the three pristine CPs and their corresponding defect-engineered CPs obtained through the DES, we have found that (i) this strategy is effective in enhancing the electrochemical performances for all three CP materials and (ii) the effect of this strategy on improving the electrochemical performance of CP-1 with a three-dimensional dense network is better than that of CP-3 with a layered structure, and both are better than that of CP-2 with small pores. This work demonstrates a new effective universal strategy for boosting the electrochemical performances of CPs, thus advancing their application in the energy storage field.

NiFe‐NO3 Layered Double Hydroxide as a Novel Anode for Sodium Ion Batteries

2D materials are emerging materials for energy storage and among these layered double hydroxides (LDHs) seem particularly promising due to their structure, easily adjustable composition, and cheapness. This study marks the first reported application of an LDH, specifically NiFe‐NO3, as anode material in a sodium half‐cell, to the best of our knowledge. Despite an initial loss in capacity, the material demonstrates notable stability, retains a high specific capacity even after 50 discharge/charge cycles (~ 500 mAh/g). The intricate reaction mechanism was explored using various ex‐situ techniques such as DC magnetometry and FTIR, as well as in‐operando X‐ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). The proposed Na‐storage mechanism in NiFe‐NO3 involves an initial irreversible "activation" during the first sodiation, characterized by a phase change reaction that leads to the formation of NiOx and Fe3O4, followed by a reversible mechanism involving both intercalation and conversion in subsequent cycles.

Visible light‐responsive azo‐based smart materials: Design, performance, and applications in energy storage

AbstractAzobenzene and its derivatives are the most extensively investigated and applied molecular photoswitches, which can undergo reversible transformation between trans and cis isomers upon irradiation with light at specific wavelengths. Through structural geometry transformation, the property alterations can be integrated into smart materials to meet diverse application requirements. Most azo‐based photoswitches require UV light for activation. However, complete activation within the visible or even near‐infrared light range could offer several benefits for photoswitch applications, including improved biocompatibility, better light penetration, and enhanced solar light utilization efficiency. This review presents an overview of the development of visible‐light responsive azo‐based materials, covering molecular design strategies and their applications in energy storage. Recent efforts aimed at enhancing the performance of azo‐based energy storage materials are highlighted. According to the different strategies for improving energy storage properties, these materials are categorized as those that directly increase isomerization energy and those that introduce phase transition energy. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and opportunities in this field with a view to inspire further exploration.

The Integration of Thermal Energy Storage Within Metal Hydride Systems: A Comprehensive Review

Hydrogen storage technologies are key enablers for the development of low-emission, sustainable energy supply chains, primarily due to the versatility of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier. Hydrogen can be utilized in both stationary and mobile power applications, and as a low-environmental-impact energy source for various industrial sectors, provided it is produced from renewable resources. However, efficient hydrogen storage remains a significant technical challenge. Conventional storage methods, such as compressed and liquefied hydrogen, suffer from energy losses and limited gravimetric and volumetric energy densities, highlighting the need for innovative storage solutions. One promising approach is hydrogen storage in metal hydrides, which offers advantages such as high storage capacities and flexibility in the temperature and pressure conditions required for hydrogen uptake and release, depending on the chosen material. However, these systems necessitate the careful management of the heat generated and absorbed during hydrogen absorption and desorption processes. Thermal energy storage (TES) systems provide a means to enhance the energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness of metal hydride-based storage by effectively coupling thermal management with hydrogen storage processes. This review introduces metal hydride materials for hydrogen storage, focusing on their thermophysical, thermodynamic, and kinetic properties. Additionally, it explores TES materials, including sensible, latent, and thermochemical energy storage options, with emphasis on those that operate at temperatures compatible with widely studied hydride systems. A detailed analysis of notable metal hydride–TES coupled systems from the literature is provided. Finally, the review assesses potential future developments in the field, offering guidance for researchers and engineers in advancing innovative and efficient hydrogen energy systems.