Microfluidic approach for flexible PCM production

Abstract

Solid-liquid phase change materials (PCMs) have been used to fulfil thermal energy storage (TES) and thermal management functions since ages, even long before these terms were defined. These materials can store high amounts of thermal energy in their melting and crystallization processes at a constant temperature, which allows them to be used as storage reservoirs, or as thermal stabilizers for other objects, systems, or environments. The different families of solid-liquid PCMs provide a wide melting temperature range, which makes them suitable for applications ranging from sub-zero to high temperatures. Nonetheless, solid-liquid PCMs lose their shape stability over their melting point, which promotes leakages and becomes an engineering obstacle for their manipulation and application. To cope with that issue, encapsulation strategies are usually followed to confine and retain the PCMs when they are in liquid state. Moreover, for applications where flexibility is a key factor, the PCMs are usually encapsulated or confined into flexible structures.