MXene-bridged phase change composites with enhanced thermal conductivity for lithium-ion battery thermal management

Phase change materials (PCMs) hold considerable promise for battery thermal management. However, their widespread application is hindered by leakage risk and low thermal conductivity. This study synthesized a novel MXene-modified microencapsulated PCM (MPCM/MXene) via in-situ polymerization, where MXene nanosheets act as bridges connecting multiple microcapsules to enhance thermal conductivity. Morphological analysis confirmed the embedded nature of MXene as an inter-microcapsule bridge. The results of thermal properties showed a substantial improvement in heat transfer performance, with the MPCM/MXene achieving a thermal conductivity of 0.13 W·m −1 ·K −1 , 120 % higher than that of pristine microencapsulated PCM. Thermal cycling tests demonstrated a 50.5 % reduction in leakage rate for MPCM/MXene after 100 cycles, confirming that the MXene bridging network significantly boosts thermal conductivity. This “bridging” structure effectively reduces internal thermal stress within the microcapsules and enhances their mechanical strength. Furthermore, MPCM/MXene exhibits excellent energy storage capability, evidenced by its enthalpy value of 97.1 J/g. Battery thermal management tests underscored the superior cooling performance of MPCM/MXene, effectively controlling the peak temperature of the battery module below 40 °C. Therefore, the developed MPCM/MXene exhibits outstanding thermal performance and demonstrates broad application prospects for battery thermal management systems (BTMS).