Skip to main content
Article
Efficient Solar-to-Thermal Energy Conversion and Storage with High-Thermal-Conductivity and Form-Stabilized Phase Change Composite Based on Wood-Derived Scaffolds
Energies
  • Bolin Chen, Iowa State University
  • Meng Han, Iowa State University
  • Bowei Zhang, Iowa State University
  • Gaoyuan Ouyang, Iowa State University
  • Behrouz Shafei, Iowa State University
  • Xinwei Wang, Iowa State University
  • Shan Hu, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1-1-2019
DOI
10.3390/en12071283
Abstract

Solar-to-thermal energy conversion is one of the most efficient ways to harvest solar energy. In this study, a novel phase change composite with porous carbon monolith derived from natural wood is fabricated to harvest solar irradiation and store it as thermal energy. Organic phase change material n-octadecane is physically adsorbed inside the porous structure of the carbonized wood, and a thin graphite coating encapsulates the exterior of the wood structure to further prevent n-octadecane leakage. The carbonized wood scaffold and the graphite coating not only stabilize the form of the n-octadecane during phase change, but also enhance its thermal conductivity by 143% while retaining 87% of its latent heat. Under 1-sun irradiation, the composite achieves an apparent 97% solar-to-thermal conversion efficiency.

Comments

This article is published as Chen, Bolin, Meng Han, Bowei Zhang, Gaoyuan Ouyang, Behrouz Shafei, Xinwei Wang, and Shan Hu. "Efficient Solar-to-Thermal Energy Conversion and Storage with High-Thermal-Conductivity and Form-Stabilized Phase Change Composite Based on Wood-Derived Scaffolds." Energies 12, no. 7 (2019): 1283. DOI: 10.3390/en12071283. Posted with permission.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
The Authors
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Bolin Chen, Meng Han, Bowei Zhang, Gaoyuan Ouyang, et al.. "Efficient Solar-to-Thermal Energy Conversion and Storage with High-Thermal-Conductivity and Form-Stabilized Phase Change Composite Based on Wood-Derived Scaffolds" Energies Vol. 12 Iss. 7 (2019) p. 1283
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/shan-hu/2/