Low-cost, three-dimension, high thermal conductivity, carbonized wood-based composite phase change materials for thermal energy storage

Abstract Thermal energy storage is important for energy saving and social developing. Low-cost, high thermal conductivity, form-stable composite phase change materials are urgent in energy storage and management. In this work, a novel carbonized wood-based composite phase change materials (TDCW) are fabricated by impregnating of 1-tetradecanol (TD) into carbonized wood (CW). CW as supporting material exhibits porous three-dimensional (3D) structure, high specific surface area and high thermal conductivity. In addition, compared with conventional graphene, carbon nanotubes and other one-dimensional (1D) or two-dimensional (2D) carbon materials, CW is inexpensive and has higher loading content of 73.4 wt%. What's more, CW as supporting material is firstly used in composite phase change materials. According to differential scanning calorimetry measurement and thermogravimetric analysis, TDCW possesses high latent heat, good thermal reliability and favorable thermal stability. In addition, thermal conductivities of PW, CW, TDCW measured at axial direction are all higher than that at radial direction and the thermal conductivity of TDCW is 0.669 Wm −1 K −1  at axial direction at 50 °C, which is 114% higher than that of pure TD. The results of thermal conductivity and surface temperature variation collected by infrared thermal camera under heating and cooling process demonstrate that TDCW is beneficial for thermal management application. This work not only provides a novel and superior supporting material, but also prepares a suitable phase change temperature, high latent heat and high thermal conductivity composite phase change material for thermal energy storage and management civil applications.