Humidity and temperature control performance of metal organic frameworks and microencapsulated PCMs composite material

Abstract

Building materials capable of simultaneously regulating temperature and humidity play a vital role in enhancing energy efficiency in built environments. This study introduces a novel composite material that integrates moisture-absorbing metal–organic frameworks with temperature-regulating microencapsulated phase change materials. A series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the ability of these composites to buffer indoor humidity at various mass ratios. The optimal composition was found to be 80 percent metal–organic frameworks by mass, offering superior humidity regulation performance. Notably, the composite exhibited enhanced moisture absorption and release during sudden changes in ambient humidity, which is attributed to the isothermal heat transfer effect provided by the microencapsulated phase change material. Further experiments on the optimal formulation examined the material’s humidity control performance under varying temperature conditions, revealing that moisture absorption capacity improved with rising temperature. Additionally, when the composite material was compacted under different pressures, a slight reduction in humidity buffering performance was observed, which then stabilized. Finally, a simulation study assessed the energy-saving potential of applying this composite in building envelopes. The results demonstrated excellent dual temperature and humidity regulation capabilities across two representative climate zones. However, performance varied depending on the building type, with a maximum energy-saving rate of 11.6 percent achieved in lightweight structures.