Recent Advances on Enhanced Thermal Conduction in Phase Change Materials using Carbon Nanomaterials

Alternative energy sources are gaining much popularity but their intermittent nature limits their applications. Energy storage is the main concern for the researchers working in the field of alternate energy. Phase change materials (PCMs) are very promising materials for application in energy storage systems to cater to the goal of sustainable development. Their remarkable phase change properties, high-energy storage density, and isothermal heat storage and retrieval properties make them suitable candidates in a variety of applications. However, their poor thermal conductivity limits their widespread application in high power systems. This review discuss the adoption of the method of nanoparticle dispersion in PCM as a suitable approach to enhance the thermal conductivity of the composite. Among various types of nanoparticles, carbon-based nanoparticles due to their high thermal conductivities and significantly lower densities are gaining popularity as the suitable thermal conductivity enhancers of PCM. This review discuss the effect on thermal properties of various PCM enhanced with various mass or volume fractions of different types of carbon nanostructures. The information will be beneficial to various researchers working in the field of energy storage.