Review on nanoporous composite phase change materials: Fabrication, characterization, enhancement and molecular simulation

Solid-liquid phase change material (PCM) is the key factor for the development of thermal energy storage (TES) technology, which substantially contributes to the utilization of renewable energy and improving the energy conversion efficiency. However, some inherent problems (e.g. leakage and corrosion during the phase change process) limit the performance of PCMs. The immobilization of PCMs into a nanoporous scaffold in order to derive shape-stabilized composite PCMs (ssPCMs) has been defined as an effective way to overcome above drawbacks. Moreover, it is profitable to explore other properties, such as flame retarding property, magnetic and thermal conduction, and photovoltaic conversion, which are entirely introduced by porous materials. So, this paper reviews the present state of the art of nanoporous ssPCMs, summarizes from the aspects of fabrication, structural and thermal property characterization, and the solutions for thermal performance enhancement. Owing to the confinement, the phase change property will be quite different with pure PCMs considering the size effect and interface effect. We aim to access the controllable parameters which directly affect guest-host interaction via summarizing the progress on molecular dynamics (MD) modeling and prediction. Finally, the challenges and prospective solutions associated with ssPCMs are also provided.