Electric field driven nanoparticle redistribution for adaptive control of PCM melting

High latent heat capacity of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) makes them suitable for temperature regulation. However, their low thermal conductivity limits the net heat transfer rate. Introducing nanoparticles into PCMs and applying electric fields offers an effective way to enhance the thermal performance. The present study explores a coupled nanoparticle (Al₂O₃) - electric field strategy to actively control and enhance thermal transport in PCMs. The nanoparticle mobility and spatial distribution are controlled by tuning nanoparticle size and electric field polarity, enabling precise modulation of thermal resistance and phase transition kinetics. It will adaptively control the PCM melting and the operating temperature of the heating wall effectively. Our findings indicate that adjusting the nanoparticle size from 30 nm to 100 nm enables the forces acting on the particles in the liquid PCMs to approach equilibrium. Additionally, altering the field polarity influences the spatial arrangement of 100 nm nanoparticles within the liquid phase. Under a negative voltage, the composite PCM achieves a 42.0 % reduction in wall temperature and limits temperature fluctuation to just 3.3 °C by lowering thermal resistance in the lower cavity region. This work demonstrates, for the first time, that melting behavior in nanoparticle-enhanced PCMs can be actively tuned via synergistic electric and thermal fields, offering a new paradigm for adaptive thermal management systems.