Porous organic-inorganic hybrid xerogels for stearic acid shape-stabilized phase change materials

An organic-inorganic hybrid porous metal-organic gel (MOG) based on Cr3+ and bridging benzene-1,3,5- tricarboxylic acid (BTC) was synthesized. The MOG exhibited good porosity, flexibility and a high surface area to encapsulate stearic acid (SA) for phase change materials (PCMs). The porosity of MOG100 (Cr) guaranteed an excellent thermal stability of the encapsulated stearic acid. No leakage of PCMs was observed from the MOG even after heating the SA@ MOG-100 (Cr) composites beyond their melting point. A maximum weight percentage as high as 90% of stearic acid has been achieved without leakage. The melting temperature of the SA@ MOG-100 (Cr) composite was 71.9 degrees C and the total latent heat of fusion of the composite was measured to be in the range of 101-189.3 kJ kg(-1). They present excellent thermal recyclability within at least 15 melting/freezing cycles.