A photo-to-thermal energy conversion and heat regulation wood supported by alkylated carbon black for thermal conductive filler

It is of great value to create new bio based green energy-saving and temperature regulating materials under the background of carbon peak and carbon neutralization. In this study, balsa wood was prepared by delignification as encapsulation materials to combine with polyethylene glycol based phase change materials (PCMs) to make phase change energy storage wood (PCES-Wood). In order to improve the thermal conductivity of PCES-Wood, the carbon black grafted with octadecyl isocyanate(aCB)was impregnated into the wood to obtain a thermally enhanced phase change energy storage wood (aCB-PCES@Balsa). The results show that aCB exhibited superior dispersibility and formed thermal conduction pathways in the wood. When the aCB content is 4%, the degree of supercooling of aCB-PCES@Balsa is the smallest, and the melting enthalpy and solidification enthalpy reach 100.34 J/g and 91.10 J/g, respectively. The 4% aCB-PCES@Balsa also exhibits strong hydrophobicity and full-optical-segment absorption. Under the irradiation of a simulated solar light source, the surface temperature of 4% aCB-PCES@Balsa rises rapidly to 28 degrees C and exhibits long-lasting heat storage capacity at low temperatures. After 200 cycles of cooling and heating, the phase change energy storage wood still maintains a high phase change enthalpy value, indicating that the aCB-PCES@Balsa has a good durability. This study provides a new approach for green heat storage in biomass composites.

Automated summary

Creating new bio-based green energy-saving and temperature regulating materials is highly valuable in the context of carbon peak and carbon neutralization. This study utilized delignification to prepare balsa wood as encapsulation materials combined with polyethylene glycol based phase change materials to produce phase change energy storage wood (PCES-Wood). To enhance the thermal conductivity of PCES-Wood, carbon black grafted with octadecyl isocyanate (aCB) was impregnated into the wood, resulting in a thermally enhanced phase change energy storage wood (aCB-PCES@Balsa). The findings demonstrate that aCB exhibited excellent dispersion and formed thermal conduction pathways in the wood. The 4% aCB-PCES@Balsa exhibited the smallest degree of supercooling, with a melting enthalpy and solidification enthalpy of 100.34 J/g and 91.10 J/g, respectively. Additionally, it displayed strong hydrophobicity and full-optical-segment absorption. Under simulated solar light irradiation, the surface temperature of the 4% aCB-PCES@Balsa rose rapidly to 28 degrees C and maintained long-lasting heat storage capacity at low temperatures. After 200 cycles of cooling and heating, the phase change energy storage wood retained a high phase change enthalpy, indicating good durability of aCB-PCES@Balsa. This study presents a new approach for green heat storage in biomass composites.