Preparation and temperature regulation properties of TiO2/CNTs-based form-stable phase change materials

Multiscale TiO2/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanofibrous mats were prepared by depositing TiO2 nanofibers on the drawing CNTs membrane as the supporting materials of quinary fatty acid eutectics for thermal storage or release. The morphology, phase change property and the temperature regulation performance were characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the device made in lab. The results indicated that channel-like structured TiO2 fibers distributed randomly on every layer of the drawing aligned CNTs fiber membrane, forming three-dimensional (3D) reticulate structure, which is beneficial to the adsorption of phase change materials (PCMs). DSC results showed the phase change enthalpy of as-prepared form-stable phase change materials (FSPCMs) was about 100 J·g−1, and there is no significant decrease after 100 cycles. The temperature regulation test showed that composite fabrics composed of FSPCMs had the obvious buffering effect on the temperature change compared with pure cotton fabrics. The results demonstrated TiO2/CNT nanofibrous mats are promising supporting materials of FSPCMs in the field of intelligent temperature regulation fabrics.