Bird skeleton-inspired 3D hollow diamond-enhanced PEG composite PCM for photothermal conversion and thermal management

Abstract

The use of porous skeletons for encapsulating phase change materials (PCMs) is an effective approach to addressing issues such as leakage, low thermal conductivity, and poor photothermal conversion efficiency. Inspired by the hollow skeletal structure found in birds in nature, high-quality 3D interconnected hollow diamond foam (HDF) was fabricated using a series of processes, including microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD), laser perforation, and acid immersion. This HDF was then used as a scaffold to encapsulate PEG2000. The results demonstrate that HDF significantly reduces the supercooling degree and latent heat discrepancy of PEG2000. Compared to pure PEG2000, the thermal conductivity of the HDF/PEG increased by 378%, while its latent heat reached 111.48 J/g, accompanied by a photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 86.68%. The significant performance improvement is mainly attributed to the combination of the excellent properties of the diamond with the inherent advantages of the 3D interconnected structure in HDF, which creates a high-conductivity transport network inside. Moreover, the HDF/PEG composite extends the temperature cycling time of electronic components by 4 times for heating and 2.3 times for cooling, thereby prolonging the operational lifetime of electronic devices. HDF/PEG offers an integrated solution for solar energy collection, photothermal conversion, heat dissipation in electronic components, and thermal energy transfer/storage. This innovative approach provides innovative ideas for the design and fabrication of composite PCMs and has great application potential, such as solar energy utilization, thermal management, and thermal energy storage.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

phase change materials (PCMs) / porous diamond / photothermal conversion / thermal management

References

[1] Gao H, Wang J, Chen X. . Nanoconfinement effects on thermal properties of nanoporous shape-stabilized composite PCMs: A review. Nano Energy, 2018, 53: 769–797

[2] Feng D, Zhao Z, Li P. . Multifunctional performance of carbon nanotubes in thermal energy storage materials. Materials Today, 2024, 75: 285–308

[3] Feng D, Zhao Z, Zhang X. . Carbon-based nanoadditives induced enhancement of phase change thermal properties of sugar alcohol and interfacial heat transport mechanisms. Composites Science and Technology, 2023, 243: 110258

[4] Kong X, Liu X, Yuan J. . Composite phase change materials with thermal-flexible and efficient photothermal conversion properties for solar thermal management. Journal of Energy Storage, 2024, 78: 110027

[5] Wi S, Jeong S G, Chang S J. . Evaluation of energy efficient hybrid hollow plaster panel using phase change material/xGnP composites. Applied Energy, 2017, 205: 1548–1559

[6] Agyenim F, Eames P, Smyth M. Experimental study on the melting and solidification behaviour of a medium temperature phase change storage material (erythritol) system augmented with fins to power a LiBr/H₂O absorption cooling system. Renewable Energy, 2011, 36(1): 108–117

[7] Yang H, Wang Y, Yu Q. . Composite phase change materials with good reversible thermochromic ability in delignified wood substrate for thermal energy storage. Applied Energy, 2018, 212: 455–464

[8] Wang C, Ouyang Y, Luo Y. . Review on recent advances in phase change materials for enhancing the catalytic process. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2024, 60: 128–157

[9] Geng X, Li W, Wang Y. . Reversible thermochromic microencapsulated phase change materials for thermal energy storage application in thermal protective clothing. Applied Energy, 2018, 217: 281–294

[10] Kong X, Nie R, Yuan J. Shape stabilized three-dimensional porous SiC-based phase change materials for thermal management of electronic components. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2023, 462: 142168

[11] Feng D, Li P, Feng Y. . Using mesoporous carbon to pack polyethylene glycol as a shape-stabilized phase change material with excellent energy storage capacity and thermal conductivity. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 2021, 310: 110631

[12] Li P, Feng D, Feng Y. . Thermal properties of PEG/MOF-5 regularized nanoporous composite phase change materials: A molecular dynamics simulation. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, 2021, 26: 101027

[13] Zhou M, Tan Y, Chen R. . Erythritol supported by carbon nanotubes reinforced alumina-silica aerogels as novel form-stable phase change materials with high photothermal conversion efficiency and greatly suppressed supercooling. Journal of Energy Storage, 2024, 90: 111909

[14] Li S Y, Yan T, Huo Y J. . Polydopamine/copper nanoparticles synergistically modified carbon foam/octadecanol composite phase change materials for photothermal energy conversion and storage. Chemical Engineering Science, 2024, 300: 120601

[15] Li P, Feng D, Feng Y. . Converting bio-waste rice into ultralight hierarchical porous carbon to pack polyethylene glycol for multifunctional applications: Experiment and molecular dynamics simulations. Composites. Part A, Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2024, 178: 107979

[16] Feng X, Zhang Y, Yang Z. . Polyethylene glycol with dual three-dimensional porous carbon nanotube/diamond: A high thermal conductivity of composite PCM. Nanotechnology, 2024, 35(9): 095702

[17] Luo W, Zou M, Luo L. . Efficient enhancement of photothermal conversion of polymer-coated phase change materials based on reduced graphene oxide and polyethylene glycol. Journal of Energy Storage, 2024, 78: 109950

[18] Fan R, Zheng N, Sun Z. Enhanced photothermal conversion capability of melamine foam-derived carbon foam-based form-stable phase change composites. Energy Conversion and Management, 2022, 263: 115693

[19] Liu Y, Liu Y, Chen W. . Polyethylene glycol/melamine foam composite phase change materials modified by CdS/Ag exhibits high photothermal conversion performance. Desalination, 2024, 585: 117783

[20] Li T, Wu M, Wu S. . Highly conductive phase change composites enabled by vertically-aligned reticulated graphite nanoplatelets for high-temperature solar photo/electro-thermal energy conversion, harvesting and storage. Nano Energy, 2021, 89: 106338

[21] Zhang W, Ling Z, Fang X. . Anisotropically conductive Mg(NO₃)₂6H₂O/g-C₃N₄-graphite sheet phase change material for enhanced photo-thermal storage. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2022, 430: 132997

[22] Zhang L, Zhou K, Wei Q. . Thermal conductivity enhancement of phase change materials with 3D porous diamond foam for thermal energy storage. Applied Energy, 2019, 233–234: 208–219

[23] Cheng M, Hu J, Xia J. . One-step in-situ green synthesis of cellulose nanocrystal aerogel based shape stable phase change material. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2022, 431: 133935

[24] Zheng C, Zhang H, Xu L. . Carbonized bamboo parenchyma cells loaded with functional carbon nanotubes for preparation composite phase change materials with superior thermal conductivity and photo-thermal conversion efficiency. Journal of Building Engineering, 2022, 56: 104749

[25] Shao W, Ivanov V, Zhen L. . A study on graphitization of diamond in copper–diamond composite materials. Materials Letters, 2004, 58(1–2): 146–149

[26] Atinafu D G, Chang S J, Kim K H. . A novel enhancement of shape/thermal stability and energy-storage capacity of phase change materials through the formation of composites with 3D porous (3,6)-connected metal–organic framework. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2020, 389: 124430

[27] Yan T, Chang X L, Huo Y J. . Preparation and characteristic of palmitic acid/flower-shaped CuS composite phase change material for effective heat storage and photothermal conversion. Materials Today Sustainability, 2024, 26: 100768

[28] Yan D, Li M. Stearic acid-modified MOF-based composite phase change materials for solar-thermal energy conversion and storage. Solar Energy, 2023, 262: 111843

[29] Yang H, He L, Liu R. . Ultralight and flexible carbon-based phase change composites with high porosity for enhanced shape memory and photothermal conversion performance. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2022, 244: 111816

[30] Zhang H, Ling Z, Zhou S. . Preparation and characteristic of wood-based inorganic composite phase change material with effective anisotropic thermal conductivity for thermal energy storage. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2023, 251: 112172

[31] Bao Z, Bing N, Yao H. . Three-dimensional interpenetrating network phase-change composites with high photothermal conversion and rapid heat storage and release. ACS Applied Energy Materials, 2021, 4(8): 7710–7720

[32] Yang H, Bai Y, Ge C. . Polyethylene glycol-based phase change materials with high photothermal conversion efficiency and shape stability in an aqueous environment for solar water heater. Composites. Part A, Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2022, 154: 106778

[33] Zou X, Liu J. Polyoxyethylene based phase change materials with enhanced mechanical property, thermal conductivity and photo-thermal energy charging capacity. Energy Reports, 2020, 6: 2948–2955

[34] Cai Z, Liu J, Zhou Y. . Flexible phase change materials with enhanced tensile strength, thermal conductivity and photo-thermal performance. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2021, 219: 110728

[35] Chen Y, Gao S, Liu C. . Preparation of PE-EPDM based phase change materials with great mechanical property, thermal conductivity and photo-thermal performance. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2019, 200: 109988

[36] Luo X, Hao B, Xiang H. . A novel phase change materials used for direct photothermal conversion and efficient thermal storage. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 2023, 251: 112142

[37] Bai Y, Qiu W, Wang S. D-mannitol-based eutectic composite phase change materials with high thermal conductivity and solar-thermal conversion. International Journal of Energy Research, 2022, 46(11): 15722–15732

[38] Gao H, Bing N, Xie H. . Energy harvesting and storage blocks based on 3D oriented expanded graphite and stearic acid with high thermal conductivity for solar thermal application. Energy, 2022, 254: 124198

[39] Huo Y, Yan T, Chang X. . Expanded graphite@octadecanol composite phase change material with photothermal conversion interface. Solar Energy, 2023, 263: 111922

[40] Wang S, Zhao X, Wang Z. . Micro-encapsulation of a low-melting-point alloy phase change material and its application in electronic thermal management. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023, 417: 138058

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press 2025