A review of the performance and application of molten salt-based phase change materials in sustainable thermal energy storage at medium and high temperatures

作者：Huihui Wang, Jun Liu, Ying Wang, Yuqiong Zhao, Guojie Zhang · 发表于：Applied Energy · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125766 · 被引用次数：62 · 研究领域：Phase Change Materials Research、Adsorption and Cooling Systems、Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems

Growing energy demand and environmental pollution issues are placing greater demands on sustainable thermal energy storage . Research indicates that molten salt phase change materials (MSPCMs) represent a promising alternative for thermal energy storage (TES), effectively addressing the energy supply-demand imbalance. These salts typically have a range of excellent properties, such as high energy storage density , easy availability, and minimal environmental impact. Nevertheless, the widespread application of molten salts is considerably constrained in both industrial and commercial contexts due to their low thermal conductivity (TC) and leakage problems during phase transitions. Based on this, this paper provides a comprehensive examination of the synthesis and energy conversion characteristics of molten salt composite phase change materials (CPCMs), along with the integrated utilization of solid waste materials. Additionally, the potential applications of these phase change materials (PCMs) across various domains are thoroughly explored. The study also addresses the corrosion behavior of encapsulation materials induced by molten salt-based CPCMs. The findings indicate that the development of solid waste-derived and Shape-stabilized CPCMs (SSCPCMs) offers promising solutions to mitigate these challenges. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that conventional energy conversion materials are predominantly organic, and research into molten salt CPCMs remains in its nasc...