Sustainable, form-stable, and fire-safe phase change materials: from structure design to real applications

Phase change materials (PCMs) has attracted much attention of researchers during the past two decades.

However, current PCMs still have seriously potential problems on the fire safety mainly due to the flammability of the PCM substances.

In this context, fire safe PCMs offer some advantages over conventional PCMs, leading to safe PCMs become very promising candidate for advanced energy saving field; but they still have a lot of challenges.

In this project, aiming at solving some key scientific problems of PCMs and providing theoretical basis to the development of new generation fire safe PCM, based on the sophisticatedly structure design and fabrication the fellow will focus on the study of advanced (Sustainable, form-stable, and fire-safe) PCMs.

The main objectives include: (1) To design and realize support materials for phase change materials with low cost, biomass source, good compatibility with organic PCM substances, uniform open pores, and convenience to realize large-scale preparation; (2) To design and prepare biobased phase change materials with fire safety, high thermal conductivity, and form stability: realize adjustable phase change temperature and ultra-high phase change enthalpy; (3) Develop the practical application of this new type of high-performance PCM in solar energy harvesting and storage, energy conservation and temperature regulation abilities; and (4) To expand the application of PLA, ionic liquid, other bio-based molecules (e.g., phytic acid, tannic acid, Chitosan, and Sodium alginate) in the new generation of PCMs.

This proposal presents an interdisciplinary and innovative approach with great significance. These original ideas will bring us bran-new multi-functional and sustainable PCMs. It also provides a practical technical approach for the comprehensive design of PCMs.