The magnesium nitrate hexahydrate with Ti4O7 composite phase change material for photo-thermal conversion and storage

Photo-thermal conversion and storage phase change material has been obtained much attention recently because that the solar radiation energy can be absorbed, the absorbed solar energy is converted into heat energy and the heat energy can be stored in materials. In this paper, Ti4O7 was selected as the photo-thermal conversion material with full band light absorption (200-2500 nm) and high conversion capacity from light to thermal. Magnesium nitrate hexahydrate/Ti4O7 composites were prepared via melt mixing technique. The comprehensive and systematical characterizations were performed, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), photo-thermal conversion performances, corrosion test, etc. Experiment results showed Ti4O7 as photothermal conversion materials played an important effect to improve the absorption capacity of composites from 46.54% of pure MNH to 83.86% of MCT-10. MCT-10 has a high energy storage density of 192.17 kJ.kg(-1) and the efficiency of photo-thermal conversion and storage is approximately 78.60%. Therefore, this new phase change material is an attractive and efficient heat utilization method for solar thermal storage energy systems which contributes to alleviate the energy crisis.

Automated summary

This study investigates a new type of photo-thermal conversion and storage phase change material, in which magnesium nitrate hexahydrate/Ti4O7 composites were prepared with high conversion performance and energy storage efficiency. This material provides an efficient heat utilization method for solar thermal storage energy systems, contributing to alleviate the energy crisis.