Emerging applications of phase-change materials (PCMs): teaching an old dog new tricks.
The nebulous term phase-change material (PCM) simply refers to any substance that has a large heat of fusion and a sharp melting point. PCMs have been used for many years in commercial applications, mainly for heat management purposes. However, these fascinating materials have recently been rediscovered and applied to a broad range of technologies, such as smart drug delivery, information storage, barcoding, and detection. With the hope of kindling interest in this incredibly versatile range of materials, this Review presents an array of aspects related to the compositions, preparations, and emerging applications of PCMs.
The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30332 (USA).
Dong Choon
DC
Hyun
Nathanael S
NS
Levinson
Unyong
U
Jeong
Younan
Y
Xia
D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013672:Technology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
barcoding; drug delivery; phase-change materials; sensors; storage materials