Elsevier Next Generation Phase Change Materials for Energy Storage: Fundamentals, Engineering, and Applications

Provides an in-depth exploration of cutting-edge PCM materials, including salt hydrates, ionic liquids, porous-based composites, nano-engineered PCMs and metal-organic frameworks, highlighting their synthesis, thermophysical properties and how innovative modifications improve thermal conductivity, stability and energy storage efficiency. Readers will gain insights into next-generation PCMs including photo-switchable, magnetically multifunctional, and thermo-responsive smart PCMs and how these advanced materials enable adaptive and on-demand thermal management, making them highly relevant for applications in energy storage, electronics, textiles, and biomedical fields. The book emphasizes eco-friendly and bioinspired PCM technologies, including nature-derived materials such as biopolymers and biochar composites. Provides solutions for key challenges in sustainable energy storage, exploring how nature-inspired microcapsules and hierarchical structures improve PCM stability, heat transfer and environmental sustainability. Describes the practical implementation of PCMs, detailing their use in renewable energy systems, flexible electronics, 3D-printed PCM structures and wearable thermal management solutions, including fabrication techniques, scalability and real-world applications, providing valuable insights for researchers, engineer, and industry professionals. Addresses the critical challenge of enhancing thermal energy storage (TES) efficiency through advanced phase change materials (PCMs) Provides an in-depth exploration of next-generation PCMs, including salt hydrate and ionic PCMs, nano-engineered composites, bioinspired materials and smart thermo-responsive PCMs Presents cutting-edge strategies such as nanoconfinement, polymeric modification, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), and 3D printing to enhance PCM performance. Additionally, it covers emerging technologies like photo-switchable and magnetically responsive PCMs, which enable dynamic and controlled heat storage By bridging fundamental principles with advanced material engineering techniques, this book equips researchers, engineers, and industry professionals with the knowledge to develop high-performance, application-specific PCMs. It serves as a comprehensive guide to overcoming existing limitations and accelerating the adoption of innovative PCMs for sustainable energy solutions