Ag nanowires modified expanded graphite based composite phase change materials with enhanced thermal conductivity, light/electro-to-thermal performances

Phase change materials with excellent thermal energy storage property displayed great potential application in many fields, such as lithium battery thermal management, energy saving building and waste heat utilization. In this paper, a novel composite phase change material of Ag nanowires modified expanded graphite/lauric-myristic-palmitic acid (AgNWs@EG/LMP) with the function of photo/electro-thermal conversion property was prepared which the AgNWs@EG was acted as the matrix material and LMP was the phase change material. The composite exhibited high latent heat of 118.42 J/g at the phase change temperature of 33.62 °C with the LMP supporting ratio of 76.18%. The thermal conductivity of AgNWs@EG/LMP reached 4.23 W/(m∙K) which enhanced 1914% than that of LMP. The photo-thermal conversion efficiency reached 88.01% and the electro-thermal conversion efficiency was 65.4% with an input voltage of 1.5 V. Further results showed the composite AgNWs@EG/LMP possessed good chemical compatibility, good thermal stability and reliability. Therefore, the novel composite of AgNWs@EG/LMP with good thermal property and multi-energy conversion functions will process potential application in energy storage system and thermal management fields.