DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v27i3.490

Keywords: Sodium acetate trihydrate; PCM; nano-ZnO; thermal storage; characterization

Abstract

The effective storage of thermal energy is essential for the progress of green energy systems. Sodium acetate trihydrate (SATH), a potential inorganic phase change material (PCM), is frequently constrained by its inadequate thermal conductivity and significant supercooling tendency. This work integrated nano-ZnO particles into SATH at different mass fractions (0–2.0%) to create nano-enhanced phase change materials (nano-PCMs) with increased thermal properties. The nano-ZnO/SATH phase change materials (PCMs) were analysed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and thermal conductivity testing. The findings indicated that incorporating 1.0% mass of nano-ZnO significantly decreased supercooling from 35°C to 1.48°C and attained the maximum latent heat value (239.7 kJ/kg) across all tested nano-PCMs. Thermal conductivity demonstrated a steady increase with nanoparticle concentration, achieving a maximum boost of 27.96% at a 2.0% mass fraction. Increased nanoparticle dosage above 1.0% resulted in reduced latent heat capacity due to clustering phenomena. This study illustrates that optimised nano-ZnO incorporation may significantly boost the efficacy of salt-based phase change materials, with prospective applications in thermal energy storage systems necessitating improved heat transmission and thermal dependability.