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Dynamic tuning of optical absorbers for accelerated solar-thermal energy storage

Author

Listed:
  • Zhongyong Wang

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Zhen Tong

    (University of Michigan–Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Qinxian Ye

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Hang Hu

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Xiao Nie

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Chen Yan

    (University of Michigan–Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Wen Shang

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Chengyi Song

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Jianbo Wu

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Jun Wang

    (A123 Systems Research Center, A123 Systems, LLC)

  • Hua Bao

    (University of Michigan–Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Peng Tao

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Tao Deng

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

Abstract

Currently, solar-thermal energy storage within phase-change materials relies on adding high thermal-conductivity fillers to improve the thermal-diffusion-based charging rate, which often leads to limited enhancement of charging speed and sacrificed energy storage capacity. Here we report the exploration of a magnetically enhanced photon-transport-based charging approach, which enables the dynamic tuning of the distribution of optical absorbers dispersed within phase-change materials, to simultaneously achieve fast charging rates, large phase-change enthalpy, and high solar-thermal energy conversion efficiency. Compared with conventional thermal charging, the optical charging strategy improves the charging rate by more than 270% and triples the amount of overall stored thermal energy. This superior performance results from the distinct step-by-step photon-transport charging mechanism and the increased latent heat storage through magnetic manipulation of the dynamic distribution of optical absorbers.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhongyong Wang & Zhen Tong & Qinxian Ye & Hang Hu & Xiao Nie & Chen Yan & Wen Shang & Chengyi Song & Jianbo Wu & Jun Wang & Hua Bao & Peng Tao & Tao Deng, 2017. "Dynamic tuning of optical absorbers for accelerated solar-thermal energy storage," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01618-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01618-w
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    Cited by:

    1. He, Junjie & Chu, Wenxiao & Wang, Qiuwang, 2024. "Interfacial heat transfer and melt-front evolution at a Fractal Cantor structured interface under various PCM melting conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    2. Zhang, Yuang & Wang, Jiasheng & Qiu, Jinjing & Jin, Xin & Umair, Malik Muhammad & Lu, Rongwen & Zhang, Shufen & Tang, Bingtao, 2019. "Ag-graphene/PEG composite phase change materials for enhancing solar-thermal energy conversion and storage capacity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C), pages 83-90.
    3. Liu, Huan & Tian, Xinxin & Ouyang, Mize & Wang, Xiang & Wu, Dezhen & Wang, Xiaodong, 2021. "Microencapsulating n-docosane phase change material into CaCO3/Fe3O4 composites for high-efficient utilization of solar photothermal energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 47-64.
    4. Du, Xiaosheng & Qiu, Jinghong & Deng, Sha & Du, Zongliang & Cheng, Xu & Wang, Haibo, 2021. "Flame-retardant and solid-solid phase change composites based on dopamine-decorated BP nanosheets/Polyurethane for efficient solar-to-thermal energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 1-10.
    5. Yao, Haichen & Liu, Xianglei & Luo, Qingyang & Xu, Qiao & Tian, Yang & Ren, Tianze & Zheng, Hangbin & Gao, Ke & Dang, Chunzhuo & Xuan, Yimin & Liu, Zhan & Yang, Xiaohu & Ding, Yulong, 2022. "Experimental and numerical investigations of solar charging performances of 3D porous skeleton based latent heat storage devices," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    6. Yongyu Lu & Dehai Yu & Haoxuan Dong & Jinran Lv & Lichen Wang & He Zhou & Zhen Li & Jing Liu & Zhizhu He, 2022. "Magnetically tightened form-stable phase change materials with modular assembly and geometric conformality features," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    7. Ma, Xuke & Yang, Chunyan & Feng, Xuejiao & Shang, Huishan & Zhao, Yafei & Zhang, Bing, 2023. "Halloysite-based aerogels for efficient encapsulation of phase change materials with excellent solar energy storage and retrieval performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 341(C).
    8. Liu, Lu & Fan, Xiaoqiao & Zhang, Yuang & Zhang, Shufen & Wang, Wentao & Jin, Xin & Tang, Bingtao, 2020. "Novel bio-based phase change materials with high enthalpy for thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    9. Gao, Yuan & Zheng, Qiye & Jonsson, Jacob C. & Lubner, Sean & Curcija, Charlie & Fernandes, Luis & Kaur, Sumanjeet & Kohler, Christian, 2021. "Parametric study of solid-solid translucent phase change materials in building windows," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    10. Yafang Zhang & Jiebin Tang & Jialin Chen & Yuhai Zhang & Xiangxiang Chen & Meng Ding & Weijia Zhou & Xijin Xu & Hong Liu & Guobin Xue, 2023. "Accelerating the solar-thermal energy storage via inner-light supplying with optical waveguide," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    11. Lu, Shilei & Lin, Quanyi & Xu, Bowen & Yue, Lu & Feng, Wei, 2023. "Thermodynamic performance of cascaded latent heat storage systems for building heating," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    12. Shi, Lei & Hu, Yanwei & Bai, Yijie & He, Yurong, 2020. "Dynamic tuning of magnetic phase change composites for solar-thermal conversion and energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).

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