Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous new type phase change materials

The thermal energy can be stored as sensible heat or latent heat. Phase change materials (PCMs) are materials that can store latent heat and allow us to this stored energy when is needed. Parafins, fatty acids, polymers and their eutectics can be used as PCMs due to their high solid-liquid enthalpies. Inorganic salts and salt hydrates, despite suffering from most incompatible crystallization can also function as PCMs. Pure PCMs exhibit disadvantages such as leakage, low thermal conductivity and storage capacity due to the large change in molar volume during phase transition. These disadvantages can be alleviated by saturating them in high-porosity matrices. Additionally, promising porous matrix class called mesoporous silica nanomaterials (MSN) can be utilized to eliminate these drawbacks. MSNs offer high surface area, pore volume, chemical and thermal stability and easy applicability. The structural, morphological and surface properties of MSNs can be tailored through chemical synthesis. In this thesis study, nanocomposite phase change materials with mesoporous silica matrices were synthesized. Mesoporous FDM synthesis was carried out using Cetyl alcohol and Dokosan which was carried out in one step at this study. Structural and thermal properties of synthesized FDMs were elucidated using DSC, FT-IR and SEM techniques.