Novel light-driven CF/PEG/SiO2 composite phase change materials with high thermal conductivity

•Novel form-stable PCMs were synthesized.•The composite PCMs exhibit capacity of light-thermal energy conversion.•The thermal conductivity of the PCMs is improved.•The energy utilization ratio of the PCMs is improved by the introduction of CF.

Light-driven carbon fiber (CF)/polyethylene glycol (PEG)/silica (SiO2) composite phase change materials (PCMs) with high thermal conductivity, and at low cost were successfully prepared through a sol-gel process. Structural and thermal property were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), and differential thermogravimetry (DTG). The CF/PEG/ SiO2 composite PCMs showed amazing fusion and crystallization enthalpies of 142.6 and 154.4 J/g at CF content of 3%, and the thermal conductivity coefficient reached 0.45 W/(m·K). The prepared PCMs also showed excellent light-thermal energy conversion capability, and a potential for wide application in improving the utilization efficiency of solar energy.

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