Adipic acid-silica composite phase change materials for thermal energy storage:Preparation and characterization

Adipic acid-amorphous silica composite phase change thermal energy materials are prepared by using a hydrothermal method. The composite materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), and synchronous thermal gravimetric analyzer (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results show no sign of chemical reactions between adipic acid and silicon dioxide at pH of 5 and temperature of 150 ℃. The particle size of the composite phase change material is uniform with 1--2 μm diameter. The phase change temperatures and the latent heats of the composites are respectively 139.0 ℃ and 48.82 J/g for 30% (by mass) adipic acid loading and 140.5 ℃ and 71.89 J/g for 50% (by mass) adipic acid loading.