Heat storage: Scientists develop material that is stable, efficient and eco-friendly

Date:
March 29, 2022
Source:
Martin-Luther-Universita"t Halle-Wittenberg
Summary:
A new heat storage material could help to significantly improve
the energy efficiency of buildings. It can be used to store surplus
heat and release it back into the environment when needed. Unlike
existing materials, the new one can absorb significantly more heat,
is more stable, and is made of harmless substances.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A new heat storage material could help to significantly improve the
energy efficiency of buildings. Developed by researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the University of Leipzig, it can be
used to store surplus heat and release it back into the environment when needed. Unlike existing materials, the new one can absorb significantly
more heat, is more stable, and is made of harmless substances. In the
Journal of Energy Storage the team describes the formation mechanism of
the material.


==========================================================================
The invention is a so-called shape-stabilized phase change material. It
can absorb large amounts of heat by changing its physical state
from solid to liquid. The stored heat is then re-released when the
material hardens. "Many people are familiar with this principle from
hand warmers," explains Professor Thomas Hahn from the Institute of
Chemistry at MLU. However, the invention from Halle won't be used in
coat pockets. Instead, it could be used by the construction industry as
large panels that could be integrated into walls.

These would then absorb heat during the sunny hours of the day and release
it again later when the temperature goes down. This could save a lot
of energy: The researchers have calculated that when the new material
heats up, it can store -- under the right conditions -- up to 24 times
per 10 degrees Celsius more heat than conventional concrete or wallboard.

Unlike hand warmers, the panels made of this material mixture do not melt
when they absorb heat. "In our invention, the heat storage material is
enclosed in a framework of solid silicate and cannot escape due to high capillary forces," explains Hahn. Most importantly, the substances used
in its production are environmentally friendly: harmless fatty acids
like those found in soaps and creams. Even the additives that lend the
material its strength and increased thermal conductivity can be obtained
from rice husks.

In the current study, the team describes the steps involved in creating
the structure of the material and how the different chemicals influence
each other.

For this, the team received support from a group of researchers led
by Professor Kirsten Bacia from MLU, who used fluorescence microscopy
to visualise the mechanism. "The knowledge we are gaining can be used
to further optimise the material and to potentially produce it on an
industrial scale," says Felix Marske, who drove the development forward
as part of his doctorate with Thomas Hahn. Until now the material is
still only being produced in small quantities in the laboratory. In the
future, it can be combined with other steps to help to make buildings significantly more energy efficient or to passively cool photovoltaic
systems and batteries, thereby increasing their efficiency.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Martin-Luther-Universita"t_Halle-Wittenberg. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Felix Marske, Joe Dasler, Caroline Haupt, Kirsten Bacia, Thomas
Hahn,
Dirk Enke. Influence of surfactants and organic polymers on
monolithic shape-stabilized phase change materials synthesized
via sol-gel route.

Journal of Energy Storage, 2022; 49: 104127 DOI: 10.1016/
j.est.2022.104127 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220329100018.htm

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