A full-band sunlight-driven carbon nanotube/PEG/SiO2 composites for solar energy storage

• Sunlight-driven form-stable phase change material (MCNT/PEG/SiO2) was obtained by the simple ultrasound assisted sol–gel method.
• The η of the OCSPCM was 0.918 (visible light from 400 nm to 700 nm).
• The phase change latent heats of the OCSPCMs were more than 113 J/g.
• The MCNT/PEG/SiO2 composition has excellent form-stable character and good phase-change performance during phase change process.

Carbon nanotube/PEG/SiO2 composites were prepared from multiwall carbon nanotubes, poly(ethylene glycol), and inorganic SiO2, and found to be an efficient full-band sunlight conversion and storage device. Compared with traditional phase-change materials, the composite exhibited rapid and broadband visible light-harvesting characteristics, light-thermal conversion, thermal energy storage ability, form-stable effects, and high thermal conductivity. The results showed that the combination of a light–heat conversion agent and a phase change thermal storage material can effectively improve the efficiency of solar energy applications.

Carbon nanotube/PEG/SiO2 composite was used to harvest UV–visible light of solar irradiation, convert light to thermal energy and store the thermal energy.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide