Li₄(OH)₃Br-Based Shape Stabilized Composites for High-Temperature TES Applications: Selection of the Most Convenient Supporting Material

• Main Authors: Imane Mahroug, Stefania Doppiu, Jean-Luc Dauvergne, Angel Serrano, Elena Palomo del Barrio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
• Series: Nanomaterials
• Subjects: peritectic compound Li₄(OH)₃Br; phase change materials; thermal energy storage; shape stabilized composites; supporting materials; oxides
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/5/1279

Peritectic compound Li₄(OH)₃Br has been recently proposed as phase change material (PCM) for thermal energy storage (TES) applications at approx. 300 °C Compared to competitor PCM materials (e.g., sodium nitrate), the main assets of this compound are high volumetric latent heat storage capacity (>140 kWh/m³) and very low volume changes (<3%) during peritectic reaction and melting. The objective of the present work was to find proper supporting materials able to shape stabilize Li₄(OH)₃Br during the formation of the melt and after its complete melting, avoiding any leakage and thus obtaining a composite apparently always in the solid state during the charge and discharge of the TES material. Micro-nanoparticles of MgO, Fe₂O₃, CuO, SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ have been considered as candidate supporting materials combined with the cold-compression route for shape-stabilized composites preparation. The work carried out allowed for the identification of the most promising composite based on MgO nanoparticles through a deep experimental analysis and characterization, including chemical compatibility tests, anti-leakage performance evaluation, structural and thermodynamic properties analysis and preliminary cycling stability study.