Thermal Energy Research Articles

Editorial: Numerical and experimental analysis of conversion, storage and management of thermal energy

Editorial: Numerical and experimental analysis of conversion, storage and management of thermal energy

Photothermal-Propelled Au-CeO2 Micromotors for Synergistic Photocatalytic-Photothermal Antibacterial Systems.

Facing the great challenge for efficient utilization of solar light, the design of photothermal-propelled micromotors is significant for converting optical energy into thermal energy to achieve the in situ manipulated motion. Assisted by the photothermal-propelled function, a synergistic photocatalytic-photothermal antibacterial system is successfully constructed in this work, based on the Au-CeO2 micromotor. The selective growth of CeO2 nanoparticles on the surface of Au nanorods (NRs) is achieved with the adjustable Au exposure ratio. The strong interaction of CeO2 with Au NRs realizes the enhanced visible light harvesting and the promoted photo-induced charge separation. Especially, the self-induced thermophoretic force on asymmetric lollipop-like L-Au-CeO2 with higher Au exposure ratio is more powerful than that on symmetric core-shelled CS-Au-CeO2 and dumbbell-like D-Au-CeO2. As a result, its local temperature gradient is greater and thus realizes the in situ manipulated motion with higher velocity and stronger directionality. It further facilitates the contact with bacteria and promotes the synergistic photocatalytic-photothermal antibacterial performance for the probe bacteria of Escherichia coli. This powerful photothermal-propelled Au-CeO2 micromotor shows significant potential for the microorganism control in biomedical and environmental applications.

The global energetics of radio AGN kinetic feedback in the local Universe

AGN feedback is a crucial ingredient for understanding galaxy evolution. However, a complete quantitative time-dependent framework, including the dependence of such feedback on AGN, host galaxy, and host halo properties, is yet to be developed. Using the complete sample of 682 radio AGN from the LOFAR-eFEDS survey (z<0.4), we derive the average jet power of massive galaxies and its variation as a function of stellar mass (M_*), halo mass (M_h) and radio morphology. We compare the incidence distributions of compact and complex radio AGN as a function of specific black hole kinetic power, λ_ Jet, and synthesise, for the first time, the radio luminosity function (RLF) by M_* and radio morphology. Our RLF and derived total radio AGN kinetic luminosity density, log kin W Mpc^ align with previous work. Kinetic feedback from radio AGN dominates over any plausible inventory of radiatively driven feedback for galaxies with log M_*/M_⊙ > 10.6. More specifically, it is the compact radio AGN that dominate this global kinetic energy budget for all but the most massive galaxies ($10.6 < ⊙ < 11.5$). Subsequently, we compare the average injected jet energy (overline E_ Jet ) against the galaxy and halo binding energy (U_ bin), and against the total thermal energy of the host gas (E_ th) within halos. We find that compact radio AGN lack the energy to fully unbind galaxies, but complex AGN reach E_ Jet > U_ bin in the most massive systems (log M_*/M_⊙ > 11.5), where such energy is likely deposited beyond the typical galaxy sizes. On halo scales, neither compact nor complex radio AGN provide enough energy to fully disrupt the global gas distribution, especially not for the most massive clusters. On the other hand, overline E_ Jet greatly surpasses the global E_ th for groups, thereby providing a crucial input to the gas and thermodynamical balance in these systems. Finally, we show that AGN jets can also significantly impact the local thermodynamical balance in the cores of large groups and massive clusters. Overall, our findings provide important insights into jet powering, accretion processes and black hole-galaxy coevolution via AGN feedback.

Generalized Growth of Halide Perovskite Single Crystals Promoted by Light‐Inhibited Nucleation

AbstractSignificant advances have been achieved in thermally‐driven growth of halide perovskite single crystals (HPSCs). However, unmanageable crystal nucleation presents long‐term challenges to artificial regulation of the growth of HPSCs. Here a generalized growth strategy of HPSCs by light‐thermally synergistic modulation nucleation is reported. The light‐excited carriers of perovskite pre‐nucleation clusters form strong electrostatic layers, leading to stronger repulsion between the clusters and finally inhibiting nucleation driven by thermal energy. The crystal nuclei concentration in the precursor is greatly decreased by as much as 2 orders of magnitudes, which enables the growth of an individual single crystal in one synthesis with a 96.8% high yield. The synthesized and processed perovskites exhibited good stability underwater or long‐term light irradiation. The crystals can be both size‐, type‐ and shape‐controlled by manipulating the different crystallization parameters. This light modulated nucleation route would help optimize the solution‐based HPSCs growth and promote their applications.

Highly Robust 3D rGO Aerogel with Tunable Thermoelectric Effect for Multifunctional Sensing Applications.

The increasing demands for all-carbon-based flexible sensors in engineering have intensified research efforts toward multifunctional integration that responds to diverse stimuli. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) reduced graphene oxide thermoelectric aerogel (rGOTEA) was created by a chemical agent-assisted bottom-up assembly with nanometer-thick rGO sheets as basic building units. Through bidirectional freeze-squeezing and reconstructing treatments, the hyperbolically patterned 3D rGOTEA exhibited lightweight density (≤5.4 mg cm-3), superelastic deformation capability (recoverable strain ≥ 90%) and remarkable fatigue resistance. By quantitative regulation of oxygen-containing groups' distribution and interfacial bonding conditions, the carrier transport and phonon scattering over the multilayered rGO sheets were decoupled to optimize rather than that of 3D graphene monoliths with intact crystal structures. Attributed to numerous graphitized domains and in-plane defects (e.g., dangling bonds and holes), the 3D rGOTEA exhibited high electrical conductivity (95.834 S m-1) yet low thermal conductivity (0.028 W m-1 K-1). 3D rGOTEA demonstrated a programmable thermoelectric performance with a tunable Seebeck coefficient ranging from 6.9 to 19.5 μV/K. This tunability endowed the material with a heightened sensitivity for detecting fluctuations in external physical signals. As a result, the flexible rGOTEA device displayed multifunctional sensing responses to changes in thermal insulation, electrical conductivity, and mechanical deformation. Moreover, an rGOTEA-based thermal energy converter was assembled to deliver a maximum output of 600 μV under a temperature gradient of 2.4 K/mm. The versatility of the 3D rGOTEA suggested its promising applications as multifunctional sensors, thermal insulator, and energy harvestor.

Instability of axisymmetric flow in thermocapillary liquid bridges: Kinetic and thermal energy budgets for two-phase flow with temperature-dependent material properties – CORRIGENDUM

Instability of axisymmetric flow in thermocapillary liquid bridges: Kinetic and thermal energy budgets for two-phase flow with temperature-dependent material properties – CORRIGENDUM

Revealing the photochemical pathways of nitrate in water through first-principles simulations.

The nitrate anion (NO3-) is abundant in environmental aqueous phases, including aerosols, surface waters, and snow, where its photolysis releases nitrogen oxides back into the atmosphere. Nitrate photolysis occurs via two channels: (1) the formation of NO2 and O- and (2) the formation of NO2- and O(3P). The occurrence of two reaction channels with very low quantum yield (∼1%) highlights the critical role of the solvation environment and spin-forbidden electronic transitions, which remain unexplained at the molecular level. We investigate the two photolysis channels in water using quantum chemical calculations and first-principles molecular dynamics simulations with hybrid density functional theory and enhanced sampling. We find that spin-forbidden absorption to the triplet state (T1) is possible but occurs at a rate ∼15 times weaker than the spin-allowed transition to the singlet state (S1). A metastable solvation cage complex requires additional thermal energy to dissociate the N-O bond, allowing for recombination or non-radiative deactivation. Our results explain the temperature dependence of photolysis, linked to hydrogen bond rearrangement in the solvation shell. This work provides new molecular insights into nitrate photolysis and its low quantum yield under environmental conditions.

Roles of Polymerization Temperature and Initiator Type on Thermal Properties of Rubitherm® 21 PCM Microcapsules

Thermal energy storage offers a viable solution for managing intermediate energy availability challenges. Phase change materials (PCMs) have been extensively studied for their capacity to store thermal energy when available and release it when needed, maintaining a narrow temperature range. However, effective utilization of PCMs requires its proper encapsulation in most applications. In this study, microcapsules containing Rubitherm®(RT) 21 PCM (Tpeak = 21 °C, ΔH = 140 kJ/kg), which is suitable for buildings, were synthesized using a suspension polymerization technique at different operating temperatures (45–75 °C). Two different water-insoluble thermal initiators were evaluated: 2,2-Azobis (2,4-dimethyl valeronitrile) (Azo-65) and benzoyl peroxide (BPO). The prepared microcapsules were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), particle size distribution (PSD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and optical microscopy (OM). Additionally, the microcapsules were subjected to multiple melting and freezing cycles to assess their thermal reliability and performance stability. DSC results revealed that the microcapsules using BPO exhibited a latent heat of melting comparable to those produced with Azo-65 at an operating temperature of 75 °C. However, the onset crystallization temperature for the BPO-encapsulated PCMs was approximately 2 °C lower than that of the Azo-65-encapsulated PCMs. The greatest latent heat of melting, 107.76 J/g, was exhibited by microcapsules produced at 45 °C, representing a PCM content of 82 wt. %. On the other hand, microcapsules synthesized at 55 °C and 75 °C showed latent heats of 96.02 J/g and 95.66 J/g, respectively. The degree of supercooling for PCM microcapsules was reduced by decreasing the polymerization temperature, with the lowest supercooling observed for microcapsules synthesized at 45 °C. All microcapsules exhibited a monodisperse and narrow PSD of ~10 µm, indicating uniformity in microcapsule size and demonstrating that temperature variations had no significant impact on the particle size distribution. Future research should focus on low-temperature polymerization with extended polymerization times.

A New Double-Inclination Oblique Model to Simulate Drilling of GFRP/Al-Based Stacks: A Thermomechanical Approach

This paper reports an investigation of the thermomechanical behavior at the interface of GFRP/Al composite stacks when the stacking arrangement varies. A temperature-coupled damage approach was developed to simulate thermal energy transfer and damage propagation at metallic-to-composite interface. The proposed model was then implemented into ABAQUS/Explicit finite element code using user-defined subroutine VUMAT finely imbricated with VDFLUX. Unlike to previous models, oblique cutting configuration (OCC) involving double-inclination of the tool was proposed to simulate finely the material removal process owing to drill action. Drilling trials involving the cutting speed and the stacking arrangement were conducted to support the proposed approach. The predictions revealed that increasing the spindle speed significantly impacts the temperature distribution and subsurface thermal damage. An exponential temperature law was derived for predicting temperature variation with the cutting speed and identifying thermal saturation at the interface. The sensitivity of the composite behavior to the stacking arrangement (GFRP → Al vs. Al → GFRP) was well highlighted. The results indicated that attacking the structure from the GFRP side results in higher interfacial temperatures due to GFRP’s lower thermal conductivity. These findings contribute to understanding the heat-affected zone in GFRP, and, hence, provide guidance to minimize thermal damage in industrial drilling of the hybrid stacks.

Calcined clay-substituted sustainable cement binders: a holistic review.

The inclusion of clays in concrete not only reduces the production of Portland cement (PC) and the consumption of raw materials but also offers an alternative to PC that can significantly lower CO2 emissions during calcination, along with requiring relatively less thermal energy compared to PC production. This effect can considerably reduce global warming and climate change issues. This paper reviews the effect of calcined clay (CC) substitution, particularly calcined bentonite (CB) and metakaolin (MK), on the fresh (including reaction characteristics), fundamental mechanical, and durability (including permeability, and acidic and corrosion attack resistance) properties. The economic and sustainability analyses are also conducted. Finally, their practical applications in infrastructure construction to produce sustainable and green concrete are reviewed. Initially, a systematic analysis was performed on statistical data available on the Scopus database to study the detailed census of the published data and the same data was imported into VOSviewer software to draw network visualization charts.

Mechanical, Thermal, and Environmental Energy Harvesting Solutions in Fully Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: Innovative Approaches and Commercial Systems

Energy harvesting in the automotive sector is a rapidly growing field aimed at improving vehicle efficiency and sustainability by recovering wasted energy. Various technologies have been developed to convert mechanical, thermal, and environmental energy into electrical power, reducing dependency on traditional energy sources. This manuscript provides a comprehensive review of energy harvesting applications/methodologies, aiming to trace the research lines and future developments. This work identifies the main categories of harvesting solutions, namely mechanical, thermal, and hybrid/environmental solar–wind systems; each section includes a detailed review of the technical and scientific state of the art and a comparative analysis with detailed tables, allowing the state of the art to be mapped for identification of the strengths of each solution, as well as the challenges and future developments needed to enhance the technological level. These improvements focus on energy conversion efficiency, material innovation, vehicle integration, energy savings, and environmental sustainability. The mechanical harvesting section focuses on energy recovery from vehicle vibrations, with emphasis on regenerative suspensions and piezoelectric-based solutions. Specifically, solutions applied to suspensions with electric generators can achieve power outputs of around 1 kW, while piezoelectric-based suspension systems can generate up to tens of watts. The thermal harvesting section, instead, explores methods for converting waste heat from an internal combustion engine (ICE) into electrical power, including thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and organic Rankine cycle systems (ORC). Notably, ICEs with TEGs can recover above 1 kW of power, while ICE-based ORC systems can generate tens of watts. On the other hand, TEGs integrated into braking systems can harvest a few watts of power. Then, hybrid solutions are discussed, focusing on integrated mechanical and thermal energy recovery systems, as well as solar and wind energy harvesting. Hybrid solutions can achieve power outputs above 1 kW, with the main contribution from TEGs (≈1 kW), compared to piezoelectric systems (hundreds of W). Lastly, a section on commercial solutions highlights how current scientific research meets the automotive sector’s needs, providing significant insights for future development. For these reasons, the research results aim to be guidelines for a better understanding of where future studies should focus to improve the technological level and efficiency of energy harvesting solutions in the automotive sector.

Optimization of nano-finned enclosure-shaped latent heat thermal energy storage units using CFD, RSM, and enhanced hill climbing algorithm

Thermal energy storage plays a critical role in improving energy efficiency and sustainability, particularly in solar energy systems, industrial waste heat recovery, and building temperature regulation. However, traditional latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) systems face significant challenges due to the low thermal conductivity of phase change materials (PCMs), leading to prolonged charging/discharging times and reduced efficiency. To address these limitations, this study presents a framework for optimizing nano-finned enclosure-shaped LHTES units that incorporate nano-enhanced phase change materials (NePCMs) and fins. The research employs a novel hybrid approach that integrates computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, response surface methodology (RSM), and an enhanced hill climbing (EHC) optimization technique to explore the complex interplay between fin geometry and nanomaterial characteristics. The influence of key design variables—including three fin geometry parameters (number, length, volume), nanomaterial concentration, and eight nanomaterials (metal, oxide, and carbon-based)—is analyzed to optimize phase change time and total stored energy. Results demonstrate that reduced sixth-degree and reduced quartic polynomial models, developed through RSM, provide high accuracy in predicting total stored energy and melting time, respectively. While the incorporation of nanomaterials generally reduces total stored energy due to their lower latent heat, carbon-based nanomaterials (GNPs, MWCNTs) offer an optimal trade-off, achieving faster melting times with minimal energy storage loss. Among the studied parameters, fin volume fraction plays a more dominant role in determining energy storage capacity compared to nanomaterial volume fraction. The optimal design configuration varies based on the priority assigned to melting time or stored energy. In a melting-time-focused scenario, the optimized unit achieves 63.03 kJ of stored energy with a melting time of 91.76 s. When prioritizing energy storage, the stored energy increases to 66.15 kJ, but the melting time extends to 222.3 s. A balanced optimization scenario yields 64.67 kJ of stored energy and a melting time of 137.4 s. These findings provide valuable insights into the design and optimization of advanced LHTES units for enhanced thermal energy management.

Radiated energy fraction of SPI-induced disruptions at ASDEX Upgrade

Abstract Future large tokamaks will operate at high plasma currents and high stored plasma energies. To ensure machine protection in case of a sudden loss of plasma confinement (major disruption), a large fraction of the magnetic and thermal energy must be radiated to reduce thermal loads. The disruption mitigation system for ITER is based on massive material injection in the form of shattered pellet injection (SPI).
To support ITER, a versatile SPI system was installed at the tokamak ASDEX Upgrade (AUG). The AUG SPI features three independent pellet generation cells and guide tubes, and each was equipped with different shatter heads for the 2022 experimental campaign. We dedicated over 200 plasma discharges to the study of SPI plasma termination, and in this manuscript report on the results of bolometry (total radiation) analysis.
We found, that the amount of neon inside the pellets is the dominant factor determining the radiated energy fraction (frad). Large and fast fragments, produced by the 12.5° rectangular shatter head, lead to somewhat higher values of frad compared to the 25° circular or rectangular heads. This effect is strongest for neon content of ≲3×1020 neon atoms (fneon ≲ 1.25% neon) injected, where a lower normal velocity component (larger fragments) seems slightly beneficial.
While full-sized, 8 mm diameter, 100% deuterium (D2) pellets lead to a disruption, the 4 mm or shortened 8 mm pellets of 100% D2 did not. The disruption threshold for 100% D2 is found to be around 1×1022 deuterium molecules inside the pellet.
While the radiated energy fraction of non-disruptive SPI is below 20%, this is increased to 40% during the TQ and VDE phase of the disruptive injections. For deuterium–neon–mix pellets, frad-values of ≤90% are observed, and the curve saturates around 80% already for 10% neon mixed into the 8 mm pellets (2×1021 neon atoms).

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION ON DOUBLE-PASS SOLAR AIR HEATER WITH INTERNAL HEAT STORAGE

Solar energy is one of the crucial energy sources for agricultural drying, industrial process heat and space heating requirements, that is renewable as well as pollution-free. In drying applications and heating of the building spaces, solar energy has an important role to play, as it provides an enormous amount of heat energy where the air is the final receiver of the heat energy. Flat plate collectors are good enough for heating air, but the technology and applications of solar air collectors have not been so developed as a liquid solar collector. As solar energy is inconsistent and nature dependent, more often there is a mismatch between the solar thermal energy availability and requirement. This drawback could be addressed to an extent with the help of thermal energy storage systems combined with solar air heaters. The solar air heaters typically have single-pass type airflow, having flow over or under or both over and under the absorber plate. Double- pass type solar collectors will have flow over the absorber plate for the first pass and returns under the absorber plate for the second pass or vice-versa. Key Words: Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), Energy-efficient techniques, Clustering algorithm, Routing protocol, Load balancing.

Generative deep learning for predicting ultrahigh lattice thermal conductivity materials

Developing materials with ultrahigh thermal conductivity is crucial for thermal management and energy conversion. The recent development of generative models and machine learning (ML) holds great promise for predicting new functional materials. However, these data-driven methods are not tailored to identifying energetically stable structures and accurately predicting their thermal properties, as they lack physical constraints and information about the complexity of atomic many-body interactions. Here, we show how combining deep generative models of crystal structures with quantum-accurate, fast ML interatomic potentials can accelerate the prediction of materials with ultrahigh lattice thermal conductivity while ensuring energy optimality. We exploit structural symmetry and similarity metrics derived from atomic coordination environments to enable fast exploration of the structural space produced by the generative model. Additionally, we propose an active-learning-based protocol for the on-the-fly training of ML potentials to achieve high-fidelity predictions of stability and lattice thermal conductivity in prospective materials. Applying this method to carbon materials, we screen 100,000 candidates and identify 34 carbon polymorphs, approximately a quarter of which had not been previously predicted, to have lattice thermal conductivity above 800 W m−1 K−1, reaching up to 2,400 W m−1 K−1 aside from diamond. These findings provide a viable pathway toward the ML-assisted prediction of periodic materials with exceptional thermal properties.

Surface-Engineered Cenospheres Encapsulating Phase Change Materials for Functional Cementitious Composites.

The escalating global energy demand underscores the critical need for advanced solutions for energy-efficient buildings. Passive thermal energy storage systems using microencapsulated phase change materials (PCMs) offer promise but face integration challenges in cementitious materials due to weakening mechanical strength, which arises from poor shell strength and weak interfacial bonding with cementitious phases. This study introduces a novel approach for synthesizing functionalized microencapsulated PCMs from fly ash-based cenospheres addressing interfacial compatibility. Cenospheres are perforated for PCM encapsulation and sealed using two different materials: 1) melamine-formaldehyde (MF), a standard polymeric shell; and 2) silica, selected for its chemical compatibility with cementitious phases. Experimental results show that the silica sealing improved mechanical strength by 50% over those of MF, corroborated by molecular dynamic simulations showing silica's binding energy with calcium silicate hydrate exceeded threefold, with more than twice the uniaxial tensile strength. Thermal analyses confirmed the preservation of PCM in both sealing approaches. This work establishes a transformative pathway for advancing PCM-based thermal energy storage in building materials.

A Numerical Study of Gold-Nanorod-Enhanced Noninvasive Laser Ablation for Central Lung Cancer Using an Optical-Thermal-Fluid Model

Abstract Central lung cancer presents significant challenges due to its proximity to vital thoracic structures, making traditional treatments often less effective and more harmful. Laser ablation (LA) has emerged as a promising minimally invasive therapy, particularly when enhanced with gold nanorods (GNRs), which possess unique optical properties that amplify the effects of LA. This study introduces a comprehensive optical-thermal-fluid model designed to simulate the spatiotemporal distributions of GNRs and temperature involved in the noninvasive GNR-enhanced LA for central lung cancer. The effects of GNR enhancement on heat transfer and tumor ablation were investigated with regard to three cases of central lung cancer in different sizes and locations. The results demonstrate that GNRs significantly improve the heating efficiency within smaller tumors by concentrating laser energy, thus reducing the time needed to reach therapeutic temperatures. However, in larger tumors, particularly where the tumor size approaches the penetration depth of the laser, the GNRs cause substantial photon absorption near the emission surface, resulting longer treatment durations attributing to heat transfer. Nevertheless, GNRs consistently confine the thermal energy, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue in tumors. This study highlights the potential of GNR-enhanced LA as a noninvasive treatment for central lung cancer. It also underscores the importance of considering tumor size in the treatment planning of GNR-enhanced LA.

Low pressure amide hydrogenation enabled by magnetocatalysis

The catalytic hydrogenation of amides with molecular hydrogen (H2) is an appealing route for the synthesis of valuable amines entering in the preparation of countless organic compounds. Running effective amide hydrogenation under mild H2 pressures is challenging although desirable to preclude the need for specialized high-pressure technologies in research and industry. Here we show that magnetocatalysis with standard supported catalysts enables unprecedented amide hydrogenation at mild conditions. Widely available and commercial platinum on alumina (Pt/Al2O3) was functionalized with iron carbide nanoparticles (ICNPs) to allow for localized and rapid magnetic induction heating resulting in the activation of neighboring Pt sites by thermal energy transfer. Exposure of the ICNPs@Pt/Al2O3 catalyst to an alternating current magnetic field enables highly active and selective hydrogenation of a range of amides at a reactor temperature of 150 °C under 3 bar or even ambient pressure of H2. ICNPs@Pt/Al2O3 reacts adaptively to fluctuations in electricity supply mimicking the use of intermittent renewable energy sources. This work may pave the way toward a greatly enhanced practicability of amide hydrogenation at the laboratory and production scales, and demonstrates more generally the broad potential of the emerging field of magnetocatalysis for synthetic chemistry.

Numerical study of a thermal energy storage unit using a star snowflake fractal cross-section loaded and nano-enhanced phase change materials

Abstract Purpose
Storing thermal energy has emerged as a solution for improving energy efficiency by recovering waste heat. Improving heat transmission rates in thermal energy storage (TES) systems is crucial to the TES thermal efficiency. This research examines the thermal efficiency of the TES unit of a Koch snowflake fractal cross-section loaded with nano-enhanced phase change materials (NePCM).
Design/methodology/approach
The porous enthalpy approach is used to represent the phase transition process. The impacts of nanoparticle concentrations (φ=0-8%), the location of the inner tube (down, center, low), and the wavy number of the external shell (N= 4, 6, 8) are presented and analyzed.
Findings
The obtained numerical findings indicated that increasing φ and N, besides placing the inner tube at the lower part of the TES system, enhanced the heat transmission rates and reduced the discharging time of the NEPCM. It was noted that positing the inner tube in the bottom section of the TES system and using an undulation number of 8 improved the heat transmission rate by 66% and 7.6%, respectively. On the other hand, the NEPCM melting time was decreased by 25% when φ=8%.

Quiet Sun Ellerman bombs as a possible proxy for reconnection-driven spicules

Spicules are elongated, jet-like structures that populate the solar chromosphere and are rooted in the lower solar atmosphere. In recent years, high-resolution observations and advanced numerical simulations have provided insights into their properties, structures, and dynamics. However, the formation mechanism of spicules, particularly the more dynamic type II spicules, which are primarily found in the quiet Sun and coronal holes, remains elusive. This study explores whether quiet Sun Ellerman bombs (QSEBs), which are ubiquitous small-scale magnetic reconnection events in the lower atmosphere, are linked to the formation of type II spicules. We analysed a high-quality 40-minute time sequence acquired with the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope. ( data were used to observe QSEBs and spicules, while spectropolarimetric measurements in the photospheric Fe I 6173 Å line provided line-of-sight magnetic field information. We employed (k)-means clustering to automatically detect QSEBs and explored their potential association with spicules. We identified 80 clear cases in which spicules occurred soon after the QSEB onset and not later than 30 s after the ending of the QSEBs. In all these instances, the events involved type II spicules, rapidly fading from the images. The footpoints of the spicules seemed to be rooted in QSEBs, where the onset of QSEBs often preceded the formation of the associated spicules. In addition to these clear cases, we found around 500 other events that hinted at a connection but with some ambiguities. The combined clear and ambiguous cases constitute 34% of the total detected QSEBs and a smaller percentage of the spicules in our dataset. Our findings suggest that a fraction of the type II spicules originate from QSEBs, supporting magnetic reconnection as a potential driving mechanism. In this context, QSEBs and spicules represent the conversion of magnetic energy into thermal and kinetic energy, respectively. We suggest that an observational programme including multiple Balmer lines would likely detect more unambiguous connections between QSEBs and spicules.