title: Confined-Volume Effect on the Thermal Properties of Encapsulated Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage.
abstract: We have encapsulated the heat exchange material, n-docosane, into polyurethane capsules of different sizes. Decreasing the size of the capsules leads to changes of the crystallinity of phase-change material as well as melting/crystallization temperature. The novelty of the paper includes 1) protection of the nanostructured energy-enriched materials against environment during storage and controlled release of the encapsulated energy on demand and 2) study of the structure and surface-to-volume properties of the energy-enriched materials dispersed in capsules of different sizes. The stability of energy nanomaterials, influence of capsule diameter on their energy capacity, homogeneity and operation lifetime are investigated.
authors: Chemistry Department, Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, The University of Liverpool, Chadwick Building, Peach Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZF, UK. P.Felix-De-Castro@liverpool.ac.uk.
authors: Paula F
authors: PF
authors: De Castro
authors: Chemistry Department, The University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZF, UK.
authors: Adham
authors: A
authors: Ahmed
authors: Chemistry Department, Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy, The University of Liverpool, Chadwick Building, Peach Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZF, UK.
authors: Dmitry G
authors: DG
authors: Shchukin
keywords: microencapsulation; n-docosane; phase-change materials; polyurethane; thermal energy storage