title: A solar-thermal energy harvesting scheme: enhanced heat capacity of molten HITEC salt mixed with Sn/SiO(x) core-shell nanoparticles.
abstract: We demonstrated enhanced solar-thermal storage by releasing the latent heat of Sn/SiO(x) core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in a eutectic salt. The microstructures and chemical compositions of Sn/SiO(x) core-shell NPs were characterized. In situ heating XRD provides dynamic crystalline information about the Sn/SiO(x) core-shell NPs during cyclic heating processes. The latent heat of ∼29 J g(-1) for Sn/SiO(x) core-shell NPs was measured, and 30% enhanced heat capacity was achieved from 1.57 to 2.03 J g(-1) K(-1) for the HITEC solar salt without and with, respectively, a mixture of 5% Sn/SiO(x) core-shell NPs. In addition, an endurance cycle test was performed to prove a stable operation in practical applications. The approach provides a method to enhance energy storage in solar-thermal power plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan. ylchueh@mx.nthu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chih-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Wen-Chih
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Wen-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Zhiming M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ming-Chang
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yu-Lun
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chueh