Researchers from the Texas A&M University Department of Materials Science and Engineering have developed a new class of hybrid materials designed to store thermal energy more efficiently. The team calls these materials salogels, which combine inorganic salt hydrates with polymer structures.
Salt hydrates are capable of storing substantial amounts of thermal energy by absorbing heat during the day and releasing it as temperatures drop. They are also highly resistant to burning. However, when used alone, they can leak and break down after repeated use. The introduction of a polymer network addresses these stability issues without reducing storage capacity.
One major finding from the research is that the polymer network alters how salt hydrates crystallize and helps prevent supercooling. This work builds on several years of study by the group led by Dr. Svetlana A. Sukhishvili, professor and director of the Soft Matter Facility (SoMF).
Dr. Kartik Kumar Rajagopalan, a research scientist in the SoMF who led the research, stated that salogels represent a shift from simply storing heat to engineering multifunctional materials that combine thermal energy storage and conversion. He noted that understanding how polymers interact with salt hydrates at the molecular level allows for the design of materials tailored for real-world energy applications.
The findings were featured on the cover of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces in its June 10 issue. Dr. Peiran Wei, SoMF facility manager and senior research scientist, designed the cover art, which depicts a gummy bear-shaped salogel.
