Rapid large-capacity storage of renewable solar-/electro-thermal energy within phase-change materials by bioinspired multifunctional meshes

Abstract

Storing solar-/electro-thermal energy within organic or inorganic phase-change materials (PCMs) is an attractive way to provide stable renewable heating. Herein, we report a facile dynamic charging strategy for rapid harvesting of solar-/electro-thermal energy within PCMs while retaining ∼100% latent heat storage capacity. A bioinspired multifunctional Fe-Cr-Al mesh with high solar absorptance (∼94%), high electrical conductivity (6,622 S/cm), strong corrosion resistance, and high-temperature stability was used as the movable solar-/electro-thermal charger, which can dynamically track the receding solid/liquid interface. Such dynamic charging has demonstrated rapid thermal response (<1 min) and steady fast-charging rates (≥1.1 mm/min), can be driven by low voltage (≤1 V) and low-flux solar illumination (≤500 mW/cm²), and has achieved a high phase-change solar-thermal (∼90.1%) and electro-thermal (∼86.1%) storage efficiency. The dynamic charging approach is a promising route to efficiently harvest renewable thermal energy from intermittent solar and wind power.