Synthesis of shape-stabilized paraffin/silicon dioxide composites as phase change material for thermal energy storage

The shape-stabilized paraffin/silicon dioxide (SiO₂) composite phase change materials (PCM) were prepared by using sol–gel methods. Paraffin was used as the PCM, and silicon dioxide was acted as the supporting material. Fourier transformation infrared spectroscope (FT-IR) and scanning electronic microscope were used to determine the FT-IR spectra and microstructure of shape-stabilized paraffin/silicon dioxide composite PCM, respectively. The thermal properties and thermal stability were investigated by a differential scanning calorimeter and a thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. The SEM analysis showed that the paraffin was well dispersed into the porous network of silicon dioxide. DSC analysis indicated that the mass content of paraffin in silicon dioxide was up to 92.1%, and paraffin/silicon dioxide composites had solidifying temperature of 57.07 °C, solidifying latent heat of 59.66 kJ/kg, melting temperature of 58.10 °C, and melting latent heat of 139.59 kJ/kg.