A review on thermal energy storage with eutectic phase change materials: Fundamentals and applications

The storage and use of thermal energy have gained increasing attention from various countries. Phase change materials (PCMs) are commonly used in thermal energy storage (TES) applications due to their high latent heat. More than a hundred single-component PCMs have been reported, each with a specific phase change temperature. In addition to single-component PCMs, eutectic phase change materials (EPCMs) are also used in TES. EPCMs are homogeneous mixtures of binary, ternary, or multiple-component PCMs that melt at a unique temperature lower than the melting point of any of the constituents. Compared to single-component PCMs, EPCMs demonstrate superior performance in TES applications, with a broader phase change temperature range and improved phase stability. This review provides an overview of over 250 organic/inorganic EPCMs from eutectic theory, material classification, thermophysical properties, preparation and characterization methods, techniques for thermal performance improvement, and applications. The review also concludes with a discussion of future prospects and findings that EPCMs can enhance heat storage density and thermal stability when compared to single-component PCMs. This information serves as a reference for the development of heat storage materials with improved thermal physical properties in the future. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive summary of EPCMs from their fundamentals to applications.