Emulsion-templated pullulan monoliths as phase change materials encapsulating matrices

Emulsion-templated pullulan monoliths encapsulating butyl stearate as bio-based phase change material (PCM) were synthesized. Pullulan was crosslinked with sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) under alkaline aqueous conditions leading to an interconnected porous network. The influence of the drying process on the obtained composite material morphology was studied indicating freeze-drying as the most effective technique. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) studies allow to assess that encapsulation of butyl stearate onto pullulan matrix does not alter its phase change thermal properties. This new one-step encapsulating approach appears as efficient and cost-effective and is expected to find a broad development in energy storage applications.