Preparation and Characterization of Sodium Sulfate/Silica Composite as a Shape-stabilized Phase Change Material by Sol-gel Method

doi:10.1016/S1004-9541(14)60047-1

Abstract

Abstract: A sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄)/silica (SiO₂) composite was prepared as a shape-stabilized solid-liquid phase change material by a sol-gel procedure using Na₂SiO₃ as the silica source. Na₂SO₄ in the composite acts as a latent heat storage substance for solid-liquid phase change, while SiO₂ acts as a support material to provide structural strength and prevent leakage of melted Na₂SO₄. The microstructure and composition of the prepared composite were characterized by the N₂ adsorption, transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction. The results show that the prepared Na₂SO₄/SiO₂ composite is a nanostructured hybrid of Na₂SO₄ and SiO₂ without new substances produced during the phase change. The macroscopic shape of the Na₂SO₄/SiO₂ composite after the melting and freezing cycles does not change and there is no leakage of Na₂SO₄. Determined by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis, the values of phase change latent heat of melting and freezing of the prepared Na₂SO₄/SiO₂ (50%, by mass) composite are 82.3 kJ·kg^-1 and 83.7 kJ·kg^-1, and temperatures of melting and freezing are 886.0 ℃ and 880.6 ℃, respectively. Furthermore, the Na₂SO₄/SiO₂ composite maintains good thermal energy storage and release ability even after 100 cycles of melting and freezing. The satisfactory thermal storage performance renders this composite a versatile tool for high-temperature thermal energy storage.

Key words: sodium sulfate, silicon dioxide, phase change material, shape-stabilized, sol-gel method

摘要： A sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄)/silica (SiO₂) composite was prepared as a shape-stabilized solid-liquid phase change material by a sol-gel procedure using Na₂SiO₃ as the silica source. Na₂SO₄ in the composite acts as a latent heat storage substance for solid-liquid phase change, while SiO₂ acts as a support material to provide structural strength and prevent leakage of melted Na₂SO₄. The microstructure and composition of the prepared composite were characterized by the N₂ adsorption, transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction. The results show that the prepared Na₂SO₄/SiO₂ composite is a nanostructured hybrid of Na₂SO₄ and SiO₂ without new substances produced during the phase change. The macroscopic shape of the Na₂SO₄/SiO₂ composite after the melting and freezing cycles does not change and there is no leakage of Na₂SO₄. Determined by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis, the values of phase change latent heat of melting and freezing of the prepared Na₂SO₄/SiO₂ (50%, by mass) composite are 82.3 kJ·kg^-1 and 83.7 kJ·kg^-1, and temperatures of melting and freezing are 886.0 ℃ and 880.6 ℃, respectively. Furthermore, the Na₂SO₄/SiO₂ composite maintains good thermal energy storage and release ability even after 100 cycles of melting and freezing. The satisfactory thermal storage performance renders this composite a versatile tool for high-temperature thermal energy storage.

关键词: sodium sulfate, silicon dioxide, phase change material, shape-stabilized, sol-gel method

GUO Qiang, WANG Tao. Preparation and Characterization of Sodium Sulfate/Silica Composite as a Shape-stabilized Phase Change Material by Sol-gel Method[J]. Chin.J.Chem.Eng., 2014, 22(3): 360-364.

郭强, 王涛. Preparation and Characterization of Sodium Sulfate/Silica Composite as a Shape-stabilized Phase Change Material by Sol-gel Method[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2014, 22(3): 360-364.

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