Cross-linked polyrotaxane based aerogel as supporter for leakage-proof phase change materials with high enthalpies

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Abstract

We developed a series of cross-linked polyrotaxane (C-PLR)-based aerogels using hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as a crosslinker. These aerogels were subsequently used as support materials for the encapsulation of poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG), resulting in stable and leakage-proof PCM composites with high enthalpies. The pore morphology was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The excellent compatibility between the aerogels and PEG resulted in PCMs with outstanding anti-leakage properties. We characterized the phase change behavior of the material using a DSC, including phase change latent heat, supercooling, heat loss, and cycling stability. It is particularly noteworthy that these PCMs exhibited impressive cycle stability and an ultra-high latent heat of 182.34 J g⁻¹. We further designed a simple thermal management model to illustrate the heat regulation function of the PCM. The results showed that maintained much lower temperatures than those without PCM protection. In summary, this work introduces a novel aerogel-encapsulated PEG technique using crosslinked PLR aerogels. This encapsulation allows for a homogeneous integration of the support material and PCM work substance in molten and solid states. It presents a new and effective strategy for shape-stabilized, PEG-based PCMs to prevent leakage during phase transition.