The Forms and Performance Tuning of Carbon Nanofibers in Composite Phase Change Materials

In the context of the global energy transition, the intermittent challenge of renewable energy urgently requires support from efficient energy storage technologies. Phase change materials (PCMs) have emerged as a key solution due to their high-density latent heat storage/release capabilities. However, solid-liquid phase change materials face bottlenecks such as leakage and low thermal conductivity. Carbon nanofibers (CNFs), with their excellent thermal conductivity, porous structure, and mechanical stability, have become an ideal carrier for optimizing composite phase change materials (CPCMs). CNFs can form a continuous thermal conduction network through uniform dispersion and utilize capillary forces to suppress leakage; when combined with materials like graphene to form hybrid systems, they can create multi-dimensional thermal conduction pathways, synergistically enhancing thermal conductivity and alleviating supercooling degree issues; by self-assembling into two-dimensional films or three-dimensional aerogels and other multi-dimensional structures, they can significantly enhance thermal conductivity and encapsulation stability. By leveraging the multi-form regulation strategy of CNFs, CPCMs achieve high energy storage density, rapid thermal response, and excellent cycle reliability, providing an effective pathway for the efficient storage and utilization of renewable energy.