Thermal performance and shape-stabilization of comb-like polymeric phase change materials enhanced by octadecylamine-functionalized graphene oxide

A series of comb-like polymeric phase change materials, composed of poly(ethylene-graft-maleic anhydride)-g-octadecanol (EMC18) and octadecylamine-functionalized graphene oxide (GO-C18) and graphene oxide (GO), denoted as [email protected] and [email protected], respectively, have been prepared through a solution mixing method. The structure, thermal performance, energy storage and release capability, cycle stability are deeply characterized. Shape-stability for [email protected] and [email protected] shows a bigger improvement than that of bulk EMC18 because of the framework role of 2D GO nanosheets. At 160 °C, no liquid leakage appears in [email protected], exhibiting a superior shape stabilization temperature to [email protected], which is contributed by its enhanced interfacial compatibility from the introduced octadecyl side chains. Thermal performance shows a highly dependence upon the content of GO or GO-C18 nanofillers, and the thermal cycling stability reaches 500 times. Four thermal cycles are well repeated for the fabric coated by [email protected]%, and no energy efficiency loses. The maximum temperature difference and thermal buffering time is −15 °C and 375 s at 70 °C working temperature. Good structure stabilization and thermal performance of EMC18 doped by GO-C18 offers a chance to approach the high-efficient thermal energy storage materials.