Smart nano-enhanced organic phase change materials for thermal energy storage applications

Among various sources of renewable energy, thermal energy storage has gained a wide popularity to bridge the gap between energy demand and energy generation. Latent heat storage systems, viz. phase change materials (PCMs), are most effective due to reversible high thermal energy storage density within a short temperature span. The organic PCMs suffer from disadvantages of low charging and discharging rates which in effect relates to the thermal conductivity. To enhance this thermal conductivity, nanocomposite PCMs have become hot targets of research to prepare highperformance PCMs. Various supporting materials and additives used for preparing nanocomposite PCMs along with routes of preparation and their performance have been detailed in this chapter. This chapter has been divided into different sections based on the nanomaterial used to enhance the performance of organic and inorganic PCMs followed by concluding remarks. The various sections are based on inorganic, organic (mostly based on nanocarbons) and organometallic nanomaterials.