Abstract
Multi-functional polymer gel materials based on thermal phase change materials (PCMs) are rapidly advancing the application of thermal energy storage (TES) in energy-saving buildings. In this work, we report multi-functional PCM composites with anti-liquid leakage, shape memory, switchable optical transparency, and thermal energy storage. Due to the excellent encapsulation performance of the in situ polymerized polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) porous matrix, polyethylene glycol (PEG2000) PCM is unlikely to leak liquid even if the composites are stretched or sheared at 65 degrees C. The PCM composites reversibly transform from white rigid materials at 35 degrees C to super-elastic materials with a light transmittance of 88.5% at 65 degrees C (fracture strain of 450% and fracture stress of 2600 kPa). The PCM composites for thermal energy storage combine large latent heat (79.9 J g(-1)) with reliable one-way shape memory function. As-prepared composite provides a novel research direction for the design of thermal phase change materials, which is expected to be widely used in the fields of energy-saving buildings, medical equipment, high temperature warning, thermal energy storage, and temperature control in the future.