Abstract:
Converting clean solar energy into thermal and electrical energy can effectively alleviate energy shortages and environmental crises. However, the intermittency and low utilization of solar energy are currently urgent issues that need to be addressed. The combination of solar-thermal conversion, heat energy storage, and heat energy utilization has been exploited as an emerging methodology of solar energy utilization. Herein, high-performance solar-harvesting energy storage gels composed of light-absorbing carbon nanotubes, a heat storage medium of an octadecanoic and flexible matrix of SEBS are fabricated by massive screen printing on textiles. The solar absorbance and solar-thermal conversion efficiency of the energy storage gel reach high levels of 96.4 % and 94.8 %, respectively. The printable textiles demonstrate an ultra-high latent heat of 71.12 Jg−1 to enable the large heat storage capacity. The high self-healing efficiency of 92 % ensures its reuse after damage. Due to its efficient photothermal conversion ability and high heat storage capacity, the stored heat can be used for effective thermal compression, providing heat for the human body, and also for thermoelectric conversion. The carbon nanotube dopped energy storage gels provide a state-of-the-art solar-thermal conversion device for the next generation of personal thermal management and thermoelectric power generation.
Su, H., Lin, P., Lu, H., & Chen, Y. (2024). Efficient solar-thermal conversion and thermal energy storage towards personal thermal management and thermoelectric power generation enabled by massive screen printing of carbon nanotube dopped energy storage gels. Journal of Energy Storage, 76, 109782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2023.109782