High cyclic sorption stability of chromium-organic aerogel for all-seasons heating and cooling thermal management

High-temperature cooling and low-temperature preheating of lithium-ion batteries is imperative in electric vehicles, ensuring optimal performance, longevity, and safety. Salt hydration based sorption thermochemical energy storage (STES) materials enable controlled heat release and absorption processes. However, the problems of deliquescence and agglomeration of salt hydration limit the stability of use and the heat and mass transfer process. Herein, we have developed a novel ultralight form stable composite thermochemical sorbent, which is the Cr³⁺ metal ion coordination organic (MCO) aerogel with copolymer of maleic and acrylic acid (MA/AA). The synthesized composite sorbent exhibits superior water uptake capacity (2.5 g/g) and high energy density (5102.2 J/g), and most importantly, offers excellent cyclic durability due to it stable ordered porous structure. The MCO aerogel can achieve a cooling temperature difference of 21 °C in cooling mode and a low temperature preheating of −20 to 5 °C in 98 s. Our innovative MCO aerogel holds significant potential for enhancing EV battery performance and longevity throughout all seasons and therefore is a versatile solution for maintaining optimal battery conditions in diverse environmental scenarios.