Advances in encapsulated phase change materials for integration in thermal management applications

Abstract Encapsulated phase change materials (ePCMs) have the potential to emerge as a key solution for efficient thermal management in various applications. This review paper explores the recent advancements in ePCMs for thermal energy storage and thermal management. We start with a basic overview of the PCMs and then performance enhancements of PCMs through the encapsulation, critical parameters for encapsulation, various encapsulation methods, and their evaluation are discussed. This review also discusses key properties and proposed figure of merit for ePCMs, impact of encapsulation on thermophysical properties, performance evaluation of ePCMs, thermal management needs, and the role of PCMs. The paper discusses recent advances in ePCMs for thermal management, focusing on advanced materials for encapsulation and nano-enhanced ePCMs, and the integration of ePCMs with heat sinks and heat transfer fluids. Through this comprehensive review, the paper also highlights challenges, research gaps, and future perspectives of ePCMs. This review aims to present a comprehensive resource for researchers and professionals working on ePCMs for thermal management applications.