Synthesis of organic phase change materials (PCM) for energy storage applications: A review

Abstract The present energy generation from renewable resources does not meet the current global demand for energy supply, and there is a need to come up with more innovative technologies that could bridge the gap between the energy supply and demand. Phase change materials (PCM) are one of the most effective and on-going fields of research in terms of energy storage. Especially, organic phase change materials (OPCM) has grabbed a lot of attention due to its excellent properties that can be combined with thermal energy storage systems to preserve renewable energy. However, the practical application of OPCM is restricted to thermal energy storage due to their low thermal conductivity and leakage during the phase change. Entrapping OPCM in a shell using different encapsulation techniques is the best solution to eradicate the leakage and boost the storage capacity of the material. This review mainly highlights the thermal energy storage and thermal properties associated with it. Moreover, we emphasise the selection of materials based on different properties and different encapsulation processes from macro to nanoscale level. Finally, the use of PCMs in various applications challenges faced, and future directions are also discussed.