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Technical institutes

Enhanced Thermal Energy Storage with Advanced Phase Change Materials

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at Karadeniz Technical University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of thermal energy storage by developing a non-leaching composite phase change material (PCM) using expanded graphite, cellulose aerogel, and palmityl alcohol. This innovative material has shown excellent thermal conductivity, high latent heat storage capacity, and thermal stability, making it a promising solution for various applications, including thermal management in battery units, electronic devices, photovoltaic systems, and waste heat storage and release applications.

Key Takeaways:

  • The composite PCM showed no leakage during solid-liquid phase transition with a maximum PAL PCM loading of 50% and 10% EG addition.
  • The CAG/PAL(50%)/EG (10%) composite demonstrated the highest latent heat storage capacity with 147.1 J/g melting enthalpy and 146.3 J/g freezing enthalpy.
  • The addition of EG to CAG enhanced thermal conductivity by 152.9% and increased enthalpy values of the final composite.
  • FTIR results confirmed physical adsorption of PAL in the pores of CAG, and TGA and cycling test results showed high thermal stability and excellent thermal reliability over 600 cycles.
  • The composite material exhibits environmental benefits, such as the disposal of cellulose-based woody plant wastes resulting from pruning.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and published in the Journal of Energy Storage (2025;132).
  • The research team included Ahmet Sari, Tugcenur Bayraktar Erol, Ahmet Can, Mehmet Kaya, R. K. Sharma, Osman Gencel, and V. V. Tyagi.

Statistics:

  • The composite PCM showed a maximum PAL PCM loading of 50% and 10% EG addition.
  • The CAG/PAL(50%)/EG (10%) composite had a latent heat storage capacity of 147.1 J/g (melting enthalpy) and 146.3 J/g (freezing enthalpy).
  • The thermal conductivity of the composite material was enhanced by 152.9% with the addition of EG.
  • The material exhibited high thermal stability and excellent thermal reliability over 600 cycles.
  • The research concluded that the composite material has environmental benefits, including the disposal of cellulose-based woody plant wastes.

Sources:

  • "Expanded Graphite Enhanced Cellulose Aerogel/palmityl Alcohol Composite Phase Change Material With Effective Thermal Energy Storage Properties." Journal of Energy Storage, 2025;132.
  • NewsRx. Researchers at Karadeniz Technical University Target Phase Change Materials (Expanded Graphite Enhanced Cellulose Aerogel/palmityl Alcohol Composite Phase Change Material With Effective Thermal Energy Storage Properties). Energy Weekly News. October 24, 2025; p 607.

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