Nano-silver@polydopamine carbonized melamine foam supported polyethylene glycol phase change materials: With simultaneous improved photo-thermal conversion ability

Ag nanoparticles are commonly used for phase change material (PCM) modification to improve the photothermal convertibility in composite phase change materials (CPCM) owing to enhance carrier's ability to absorb photons by virtue of its unique localized Surface Plasmon Resonance effect (LSPR). Currently, redox method is considered to be the most effective method for the preparation of Ag nano-coating. However, it is still challenging to obtain a dense and uniform Ag nano-coating on the carrier surface due to the difference in the binding force between Ag nanoparticles and different carriers. Herein, a new preparation strategy is demonstrated, in which the carrier is pre-modified by adding a polydopamine (PDA) coating to enhance the bonding between the carrier and the silver nanoparticles, and then a stable three-dimensional silver nano-conducting network is obtained by redox. Consequential stable architecture contributes to polyethylene glycol (PEG) loadings reach 98%, simultaneously with an ultra-high photo-thermal conversion efficiency of 97.9%. Furthermore, this paper demonstrates the effect of carbonization temperature on the flexibility of melamine carbon foam (CMF), and different nano-Ag concentrations on the thermal conductivity of CPCM. This finding provides valuable guidance for the engineering of high photo-thermal conversion performance CPCM and strengthens their practical implementation in solar energy storage and thermal management.