Fabrication of activated biochar-based composite PCM material for electronic cooling applications

In the present work, four different activated biochar composite shapestable phase change materials (PCM) were developed for medium temperature energy storage applications. This study reports an attempt to develop composite phase change materials with improved phase change performance and leak resistance. For this purpose, the activated biochar (A-BC) obtained from the pyrolysis of Calophyllum inophyllum fruit shell biomass was used as a supporting matrix for Phase change material (PCM). The morphology, phase composition, latent heat capacity, and phase change temperature of the fabricated samples were assessed by SEM, XRD, FTIR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The fabricated biochar composite samples exhibited good thermal properties and structural stability compared to pure PCM. Pure PCM and composite PCM materials showed higher phase transition temperature and latent heat in the range of 30.32–36.31°C and 107.23–186.26 kJ/kg. The A-BC composite PCM sample exhibited the lowest leakage value at 20%. The A-BC sample reduces the leakage of PCM and also enhances the thermal conductivity. The composite PCMs have various benefits, including good heat storage capacity and the utilization of a sustainable porous matrix as supporting material.