Preparation of CuO/Al2O3 and NiO Loaded Form-Stabilized Composite Phase Change Materials with Improved Thermal Properties and Comparison of their Thermal Energy Storage Characteristics

Abstract

Alumina supported copper oxide (CuO/Al₂O₃) and Nickel Oxide (NiO) loaded polymer composite matrices supported n-hexadecane (HD) based composite phase change materials (PCMs) are prepared and characterized. The polymer composites assigned as supporting matrices for shape-stabilization of PCM are synthesized by emulsion-templating approach, and the composite PCMs are prepared by impregnation of HD into polymer composite matrices. The effect of CuO/Al₂O₃ and NiO particles of different sizes used as heat transfer promoters in the supporting matrices, on the morphological properties, thermal stabilities, and latent heat storage characteristics (LHS) of the composite PCMs are evaluated using different characterization methods. The melting temperature of the obtained composite PCMs is found to be ≈18 °C and the latent heat of melting values varied in the range of 95.0−114.5 J g⁻¹. The heat transfer properties of the composite PCMs are investigated by performing a T-History test for obtaining heat storage and release curves. The composite PCMs with NiO loaded supporting matrices are exhibited higher thermal stability and heat storage capacity in addition to enhanced thermal conduction properties than the CuO/Al₂O₃ included composite PCMs. According to the results, it is revealed that shape-stabilized, thermally enhanced composite PCMs are remarkable energy storage materials with the potential for use in low-temperature thermal energy storage systems.