Constructing nanocarbon-loaded precisely phase transition-tuned energy composite eutectics with enhanced thermal conductivity: Nanocarbon’s crystallinity-dependent thermal transport

In this study, a eutectic composition consisting of myristic and stearic acid (MS) are developed to establish a cooling system with suitable operational temperature and enhanced thermal transport by adding a class of carbon nanoadditives (few-layer graphene platelets (FGP), nitrogen-doped tubular carbon (NTC) and deoxygenated graphene oxide (DGO)). Nanoadditives are added to phase transition-tuned eutectic phase change materials to derive at figure-of-merit (FOM) in enhancing thermal transport. MS-FGP exhibited significant thermal conductivity improvement as compared to MS-NTC and MS-DGO for 1 wt% loading. After ascertaining FOM, a system with variable FGP is developed, and it exhibited an increase in thermal conductivity of 128%, 420% and 597% for 1, 3 and 5 wt%, respectively. This study shed light on elucidation of underlying mechanism for nanocarbon’s structutural degree dependent thermal transport. This systematic approach could lay a step forward for controlling extreme operational temperature for thermal safety of an efficient high-powered Li-ion battery system to achieve prolonged life and energy density using phase change materials.