Wearable multifunctional phase change composites from heterostructured microcapsules with 3D thermally conductive network

Here, hetero-structure paraffin@lead tungstate (PbWO 4 )@silicon dioxide (SiO 2 )@carbon nanotubes (CNTs) phase change microcapsules (Pa@PWO@SiO 2 @CNTs) by electrostatic self-assembly were prepared. Subsequently, the obtained microcapsules and the tannic acid functionalized graphene (TGE) were incorporated into the aqueous polyurethane (WPU) to fabricate phase change composites (WPCG) with latent heat capacity over 50 J·g −1 .The staggered overlap between the microcapsules and graphene promoted the formation of a 3D thermally conductive network, and the thermal conductivity of WPCG composites reaches up to 0.766 W·m −1 ·K −1 . This contributes to efficient heat dissipation for wearable composites in high-temperature indoor environments. Meanwhile, CNTs and graphene synergistically enhanced the absorption and conversion of sunlight for composites, with the maximum photothermal conversion efficiency of 78.1 %, which helped to achieve rapid heat supply in cold outdoor environments. The multifunctional composites offer the advantages of radiation shielding, efficient heat transfer, and solar utilization, promising applications in wearable radiation shielding materials with thermoregulation. • Heterostructured microcapsules were obtained by electrostatic self-assembly. • CNTs and graphene formed a 3D thermally conductive network. • CNTs and graphene synergistically enhanced photothermal conversion. • The multifunctional composites showed comfortable wearability.