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Critical assessment of advanced phase change material composites for latent heat thermal energy storage
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DOI：10.3389/fenrg.2026.1865512.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Phase change materials (PCMs) serve as the functional medium in latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) systems; where their thermophysical properties directly dictate system performance. However; most commercial PCMs exhibit low thermal conductivity (0.2–5.0 W/m·K); which limits heat transfer rates and reduces charging–discharging efficiency. In addition; modest specific and latent heat capacities; together with issues related to supercooling; phase segregation; and stability; further constrain their practical deployment. Nano-composite PCMs; formed by dispersing nanoscale additives in the base material; have emerged as a promising route to overcome these limitations. Reported enhancements in thermal properties can exceed three orders of magnitude compared to pristine PCMs. Nevertheless; significant discrepancies remain among experimental observations; theoretical predictions; and reported enhancement mechanisms; indicating an incomplete understanding of the factors that govern nanocomposite behavior. This review presents a unified critical assessment of more than 230 studies covering organic; inorganic; eutectic; and solid–solid PCM nanocomposites. It systematically evaluates the effects of nanoparticle type; morphology; concentration; fabrication route; and processing conditions on thermal conductivity; latent heat capacity; specific heat capacity; and thermal stability. In doing so; it critically examines the contradictory findings reported in the literature and synthesizes the underlying mechanisms that are responsible for both the enhancement and eventual degradation of performance. Based on these insights; key research gaps are identified and recommendations are provided for the development of predictive models and the future design of high-performance PCM nanocomposites.
Keywords:
nanocomposites
performance enhancement
thermophysical properties
latent heat thermal energy storage
phase change material
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2.4
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923
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1.4W
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