Constructing High-Performance Photo-Thermal-Storage Integrated Phase Change Materials via 3D Porous Carriers

Yuhao Feng, Jinjie Lin, Kun Wang, Yang Li, Zhaodi Tang, Xiao Chen

Prog Chem ›› 2026, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (5) : 789-808.

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Prog Chem ›› 2026, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (5) : 789-808. DOI: 10.7536/PC20250809
Review

Constructing High-Performance Photo-Thermal-Storage Integrated Phase Change Materials via 3D Porous Carriers

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Abstract

As a key approach for renewable energy utilization, photothermal conversion technology has attracted extensive attention from academia and industry in recent years. Three-dimensional composite phase change materials (PCMs) based on the integrated design of photo-thermal-storage have achieved significant breakthroughs in solar-driven thermal energy storage and intelligent regulation by integrating high thermal conductivity, strong light-absorbing three-dimensional porous carriers with phase change matrices, realizing the synergistic coupling of photothermal conversion and phase change thermal storage. This review focuses on the latest research on photo-thermal-storage integrated three-dimensional composite PCMs, elaborates on the innovative design strategies of three-dimensional porous carriers represented by aerogels, carbon foams, metal foams, expanded graphite, and metal-organic frameworks in PCMs, deeply reveals the physicochemical essence of multiple mechanisms such as localized surface plasmon resonance, non-radiative relaxation, and molecular thermal vibration synergistically enhancing the photo-thermal-storage integrated performance, and comprehensively summarizes the representative applications of such materials in fields including smart wearables, biomedical therapy, building energy efficiency, seawater desalination, and extreme environment protection. Finally, the key challenges currently faced and future development directions are further discussed, aiming to provide valuable theoretical guidance and technical references for the basic research and interdisciplinary applications of photo-thermal-storage integrated composite PCMs.

Contents

1 Introduction

2 Photothermal conversion and storage mechanism of PCMs

2.1 Localized surface plasmon resonance effect of metals

2.2 Interband/intraband transitions and non-radiative relaxation of semiconductors

2.3 Intrinsic photothermal effect of molecular vibration

3 Photo-thermal-storage integrated 3D composite PCMs

3.1 Aerogels-based photo-thermal-storage integrated composite PCMs

3.2 Carbon foams-based photo-thermal-storage integrated composite PCMs

3.3 EG-based photo-thermal-storage integrated composite PCMs

3.4 Metal foams-based photo-thermal-storage integrated composite PCMs

3.5 MOFs-based photo-thermal-storage integrated composite PCMs

4 Advanced applications of photo-thermal-storage integrated 3D composite PCMs

4.1 Smart wearables

4.2 Biomedical therapy

4.3 Building energy efficiency

4.4 Seawater desalination

4.5 Extreme environment protection

5 Conclusion and prospect

Key words

phase change materials / three-dimensional porous supports / photothermal conversion and storage / mechanisms and applications

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Yuhao Feng , Jinjie Lin , Kun Wang , et al . Constructing High-Performance Photo-Thermal-Storage Integrated Phase Change Materials via 3D Porous Carriers[J]. Progress in Chemistry. 2026, 38(5): 789-808 https://doi.org/10.7536/PC20250809

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Funding

Beijing Natural Science Foundation(2264105)
National Natural Science Foundation of China(52502356)
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