New database to select phase change materials: Chemical nature, properties, and applications

• Generation a PCM database to select the most suitable PCM for each building application.
• Use of CES Selector software.
• More than 300 PCM whit phase change temperatures between −50 °C and 150 °C.
• Commercial and non-commercial PCM were listed.
• PCM classified by their properties.

Today, thermal energy storage materials are proposed as a promising solution to increase the energy efficiency in building sector and to reduce the total energy demand because building sector accounts up to 34% of total energy consumption. Under this situation, phase change materials (PCM) are well-considered as materials to store energy allowing high energy densities (between 50 and 600 MJ/cm3). Available materials to be used as PCM for building application in literature were added to a database for to be used with CES Selector software. More than three hundred PCM whit phase change temperatures between −50 °C and 150 °C and considering commercial and non-commercial PCM were listed and classified by their properties and the values available of the materials have been introduced in this database. The main objective of this study is to generate a PCM database and draw on it in order to facilitate the selection of the most suitable PCM depending on the building application.