Review on solid-solid phase change materials for thermal energy storage: Molecular structure and thermal properties

• Published in: Applied thermal engineering Vol. 127; pp. 1427 - 1441
• Main Authors: Fallahi, Ali, Guldentops, Gert, Tao, Mingjiang, Granados-Focil, Sergio, Van Dessel, Steven
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 25-12-2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Energy storage; Mechanical properties; Molecular structure; Phase change materials; Phase transitions; Solid state physics; Solid-solid PCM; Solid-state PCM; Storage; Thermal energy; Thermal energy storage; Thermal storage; Thermodynamic properties; Phase change materials; Thermal energy storage; Solid-state PCM; Solid-solid PCM
• ISSN: 1359-4311; 1873-5606
• DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.08.161

•Comprehensive review of the 4 major types of solid-solid phase change materials.•Review relationship between molecular structure and phase transition mechanisms.•Review relationship between molecular structure and thermal properties.•Discuss challenges and future opportunities of solid-solid phase change materials.
Solid-solid phase change materials (SS-PCMs) for thermal energy storage have received increasing interest because of their high energy-storage density and inherent advantages over solid-liquid counterparts (e.g., leakage free, no need for encapsulation, less phase segregation and smaller volume variation). Four main SS-PCMs for thermal energy storage are reviewed, with a focus on their thermal properties and the relationship between molecular structure, processes involved during phase transition, and thermal properties. This review aims to provide guidance for selecting appropriate SS-PCMs for various applications and tailoring the synthesis of SS-PCMs with desired thermal, physical and mechanical properties. Challenges and opportunities to use of SS-PCMs for thermal storage and other applications are also discussed.