The Application of Magnesium Nitrate Hexahydrate/Carrot Nanocellulose/ Graphene-Based Phase Change Aerogel in Solar Thermal Energy Storage

Abstract:

In this study, flexible aerogels were fabricated using carrot cellulose nanofibers (CCNF) combined with graphene oxide (GO) or reduced graphene oxide (RGO). GO was thermally treated to produce RGO in order to enhance the material's thermal conductivity, while retaining some functional groups that react with CCNF to form the aerogel. The 3D porous structure of these aerogels effectively supports phase change materials (PCMs). Magnesium nitrate hexahydrate (MNH) was then adsorbed onto the aerogels as the PCM to form the phase change aerogels. These phase change aerogels can adsorb up to 96.0% of MNH, and their phase change enthalpy reaches 100.9 J/g. The thermal conductivity of the aerogels is 0.4021 W/m·K, and the photothermal conversion storage efficiency reaches 0.591. Therefore, this composite phase change material, with its outstanding photothermal conversion and storage properties, shows promising potential for use as a solar thermal energy storage material.

• Periodical: Advances in Science and Technology (Volume 179)
• Pages: 55-61
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-2eZOWn
• Online since: June 2026
• Authors: Yeng Fong Shih, Wen Ying Lin, Tzu Min Wu, Teng Hsiang Hsu*
• Keywords: Aerogel, Cellulose Nanofiber, Graphene, Magnesium Nitrate Hexahydrate, Thermal Energy Storage

References

[1] F.J. M. M. Nijsse, et al., "The momentum of the solar energy transition," Nat. Commun., vol. 14, Art. no. 6542, Oct. 2023.

[2] X. Wang, X. Tian, X. Chen, L. Ren, and C. Geng, "A review of end-of-life crystalline silicon solar photovoltaic panel recycling technology," Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, vol. 248, Art. no.111976, Dec. 2022.

DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2022.111976

[3] Q. Cheng, et al., "Supercooling regulation and thermal property optimization of erythritol as phase change material for thermal energy storage," J. Energy Storage, vol. 52, Part C, Art. no.105000, Aug. 2022.

DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2022.105000

[4] H. Togun, et al., "A critical review on phase change materials (PCM) based heat exchanger: Different hybrid techniques for the enhancement," J. Energy Storage, vol. 79, Art. no.109840, Feb. 2024.

DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2023.109840

[5] Y. F. Shih, Z. T. Liao, N. C. Tsai, and Y. H. Chen, "The application of magnesium nitrate hexahydrate/hybrid carbon material phase change composites in solar thermal storage," J. Chin. Chem. Soc., vol. 70, pp.1644-1655, Jul. 2023.

DOI: 10.1002/jccs.202300126

[6] P. Liu et al., "Aerogels Meet Phase Change Materials: Fundamentals, Advances, and Beyond," ACS Nano, vol. 16, no. 10, pp.15586-15626, Oct. 2022.

DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c05067

[7] J. Zhao, W. Luo, J.-K. Kim, and J. Yang, "Graphene Oxide Aerogel Beads Filled with Phase Change Material for Latent Heat Storage and Release," ACS Appl. Energy Mater., vol. 2, no. 5, pp.3657-3664, May 2019.

DOI: 10.1021/acsaem.9b00374

[8] D. Wei, C. Wu, G. Jiang, X. Sheng, and Y. Xie, "Lignin-assisted construction of well-defined 3D graphene aerogel/PEG form-stable phase change composites towards efficient solar thermal energy storage," Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, vol. 224, Art. no.111013, Jun. 2021.

DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2021.111013

[9] J. Song, C. Chen, Z. Yang, Y. Kuang, T. Li, Y. Li, et al., "Highly Compressible, Anisotropic Aerogel with Aligned Cellulose Nanofibers," ACS Nano, vol. 12, no. 1, pp.140-147, Jan. 2018.

DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b04246

[10] Z. W. Tang, X. X. Lin, M. Q. Yu, A. K. Mondal, and H. Wu, "Recent advances in TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers: Oxidation mechanism, characterization, properties and applications," Int. J. Biol. Macromol., vol. 259, no. 1, Art. no. 1290811, Feb 2024.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.129081

[11] Z. J. Dong, L. Zhong, Y. H. Zhang, F. Liu, H. Huang, and Z. Y. Xu, "Construction of multifunctional cellulose nanofibers/reduced graphene oxide carbon aerogels by bidirectional freezing for supercapacitor electrodes and strain sensors," Diam. Relat. Mat., vol. 140, Part. B, Art. no. 11055511, Dec. 2023.

DOI: 10.1016/j.diamond.2023.110555

[12] L. S. Mokoena and J. P. Mofokeng, "Synthesis and characterization of graphene oxide (GO) for the removal of lead ions in water," Carbon Trend., vol. 15, Art. no. 100339, Jun. 2024.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cartre.2024.100339

[13] S. Cantor, "DSC study of melting and solidification of salt hydrates," Thermochim. Acta, vol. 33, pp.69-86, Oct.1979.

DOI: 10.1016/0040-6031(79)87030-6

[14] R. Naumann, and H. H. Emons, "Results of thermal analysis for investigation of salt hydrates as latent heat-storage materials," J. Therm. Anal., vol. 35, pp.1009-1031, May 1989.

DOI: 10.1007/bf02057256

[15] H. Wang, Y. Zhang, E. Ci, X. Li, and J. Li, "An experimental study in full spectra of solar-driven magnesium nitrate hexahydrate/graphene composite phase change materials for solar thermal storage applications," J. Energy Storage, vol. 38, Art. no. 102536, Jun. 2021.

DOI: 10.1016/j.est.2021.102536