Bio-Based Temperature Control Material with Regulated Phase Change Behavior for Passive Thermal Management

Abstract

In response to global climate change and the pursuit of sustainable development agendas, nations worldwide are intensifying efforts to enhance the energy efficiency of architectural structures. This study introduces a novel biomass-based temperature control material (Bio-TCM), synthesized from cellulose fiber and sodium sulfate decahydrate via a one-step melt-blending technique augmented by fiber self-assembly. The resulting three-dimensional micro-nano hierarchical porous architecture offers robust support and mitigates phase separation challenges during the solid-liquid transition of eutectic composite phase change materials. Furthermore, this unique structure facilitates the creation of an uninterrupted pathway for heat flow, thus accelerating phonon transmission and promoting rapid thermal exchange between the phase change materials and their surroundings. The thermal conductivity of Bio-TCM improved from 0.544 W/(m·K) in pure sodium sulfate decahydrate to 0.927 W/(m·K). After 100 heating-cooling cycles, the variation in latent heat was confined to less than 5%, illustrating remarkable thermal stability. Additionally, simulations of Bio-TCM application in building energy systems across China indicated a 10% reduction in overall energy consumption. This research heralds the development of high-performance, thermally regulated materials with substantial potential for energy conservation.

Keywords: Phase change materials, Thermal management, Bio-based composites, Energy efficiency, Sustainable building materials