The demand for reliable thermal energy storage (TES) systems is essential for enabling large scale renewable energy integration and reducing industrial carbon emission. There is increasing interest in latent heat storage materials such as Phase Change Materials (PCMs) due to their properties to absorb and release heat while changing phases. However, current TES materials suffer from low thermal conductivity, instability at high temperature, and performance degradation over repeated thermal cycles.
This project proposes the development of advanced TES materials based on hybrid structures combining the Gallium Oxide (Ga2O3), a chemically and thermally stable wide band gap material with high conductive 2D MXene. The objective is to make a hybrid nanocomposite and incorporate it with the molten salts to develop a PCM with enhanced thermal conductivity, increased latent heat, and improved structural stability during long term thermal cycling.
Advanced material characterization (XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, Raman, and FTIR) and thermal testing (DSC, TGA, and LFA) will be employed to understand the structure, thermal stability, degradation behavior insight into nanoparticle dispersion, colloidal stability and potential agglomeration tendencies within the molten salt.
Prototypes of TES systems incorporating the hybrid materials will be developed and subjected to rigorous lab-scale testing. A dedicated workbench will be established for the synthesis, processing, and integration of these materials. Experimental systems will test thermal storage capacity, thermal conductivity, and stability under real-world scenarios.
Expected outcomes include TES systems with enhanced efficiency, stability, and performance, crucial for high-temperature applications in renewable energy and industrial processes. The successful implementation of these hybrid systems could revolutionize thermal energy storage technology, offering scalable solutions for future energy systems and advancing sustainable energy technologies.
