Flexible phase change composite based on loading paraffin into cross-linked CNT/SBS network for thermal management and thermal storage

Phase change materials (PCM), which can release and absorb a large amount of latent heat during phase change, have aroused great interest in the field of energy storage. However, the inherent brittleness of PCM was the trickiest problem in practical applications such as flexible electronic devices and smart textiles. To obtain flexible PCMs, current methods based on physical blending of PCMs and flexible polymers tend to cause uneven composites and leakage of core materials. Here, we report an intrinsically flexible phase change composite with high enthalpy (147.63 J/g), which can be bent and even twisted at room temperature. Thanks to the sulfur cross linkers, PW is filled uniformly in the cross-linked interpenetrating network formed by styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Meanwhile, the addition of 2 wt% CNT nearly doubled the elongation, and the maximum stress was also increased to 1.47 MPa. This work will give insight on rational design of intrinsically flexible PCMs for electronic devices thermal management and solar-thermal energy storage.

Automated summary

Phase change materials (PCM) have great potential in energy storage, but their brittleness poses a challenge in practical applications. This study presents a flexible PCM composite that has high enthalpy and can be bent and twisted at room temperature, achieved through the use of sulfur cross linkers and carbon nanotubes.