A brief strategy for designing self-encapsulated Al-Si base phase change materials with high thermal energy storage performance. (June 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Cuiping; Huang, Yan; Wei, Haiting; Yu, Fangzheng; Wang, Mingshuai; Guo, Yihui; Zhang, Jinbin; Deng, Rui; Yang, Shuiyuan; Liu, Xinjun
• Is Part Of: Journal of energy storage. Volume 62(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-06
• Subjects: Hydrogen generation products -- Al2O3 protective layer -- Al-Si base phase change materials -- Thermal energy storage performance; Energy storage -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Research -- Periodicals; 621.3126
• DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2023.106957
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-152X

Abstract

Abstract: This paper reports a brief strategy for self-encapsulated Al-Si base phase change materials with high thermal energy storage performance using the hydrogen generation products of Al-Bi-Si alloy composite powders. Firstly, Al-10Bi-4Si (wt%) alloy composite powders were prepared through high-pressure gas atomization processing. These composite powders were hydrolyzed in distilled water at 40 °C for producing hydrogen. Secondly, hydrolysis products were calcined under high-temperature nitrogen to prepare Al-Si base phase change materials with an Al2 O3 protective layer. The results show that hydrogen generation products still maintain good sphericity after the hydrolysis reaction, which is conducive to obtaining a large amount of Al-Si thermal energy storage medium. The prepared materials have a thermal energy storage density of 117.3 J/g–240 J/g. In the hydrolysis reaction, the powder surface can continuously react with water, forming an Al(OH)3 layer that tightly covers the unreacted part of the powder. After calcination, the formation of the Al2 O3 layer realizes the self-encapsulation of phase change materials. During thermal cycles, the Al2 O3 protective layer of the phase change materials has a strong ability to withstand thermal stress which is caused by volume expansion at high temperatures; this maintains good thermal energy storage performance under thermal cycles over hundreds of hours. This research is expected to provide a basis for the large-scale production of Al-Si base phase change materials and obtain hydrogen energy during this process. Highlights: Prepared by hydrolysis products of Al alloy, realize utilization of metal wastes. Phase change materials have well thermal energy storage density. Al2 O3 layer has well ability to withstand thermal stress from volume expansion. Materials have great thermal energy storage performance under thermal cycles. Materials have heat storage performance and supply hydrogen during preparation.