Self-luminous wood composite for both thermal and light energy storage

High efficient energy storage devices for both thermal energy and light energy are scarce in the development of modern society to reduce energy consumption. In this work, a novel self-luminous wood composite based on phase change materials (PCMs) with superior thermal energy storage and long afterglow luminescence (LAL) materials with excellent light energy storage is reported. The obtained self-luminous wood composites shows high latent heat of fusion (146.7 J g(-1)), suitable phase change temperature at about 3 degrees C, favorable thermal reliability and thermal stability below 105 degrees C with excellent shape-stability. More importantly, the self-luminous wood composites can absorb ultraviolet and visible light from lighting source and natural light, and emit green light in the dark for 11 h. More interesting, the addition of LAL particles can improve the thermal conductivity of self-luminous wood composites. All results demonstrate self-luminous wood composites can store both thermal energy and light energy, and have great potential in applications including furniture, emergency light, storage and building energy conservation.