Polyurethane-based solid-solid phase change materials with halloysite nanotubes-hybrid graphene aerogels for efficient light- and electro-thermal conversion and storage.

Abstract In this study, polyurethane-based solid-solid phase change materials with halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)-hybrid graphene aerogel (GA) have been fabricated through vacuum impregnation. As a supporting skeleton, the air-dried HNTs-GA with continuous porous structure endows the system with excellent light-thermal (η = 75.6%) and electro-thermal (η = 67.2%) energy conversion and storage ability. HNTs not only improve the reduction degree of GA, but also enhance the latent heat of the system through heterogeneous nucleation effects. The synthesized materials with high latent heat, excellent thermal reliability and stability, remarkable light/electro-thermal energy conversion ability show great potentials in applications of energy storage devices. Graphical abstract When exposed to the solar heating or supplied by a power, the system could absorb the light quickly and convert it to heat, or transfer the electro to thermal energy, which make the crystals in the system to melt and the thermal energy is stored. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]