Solid–solid phase transition of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane in nanopores of silica gel and porous glass for thermal energy storage

To extend the use of phase change materials (PCMs) of those with good performance, tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (THAM) is embedded in silica gels (SG) (pore diameter, d  = 15–100 nm) and in controlled porous glasses (CPG) (nominal d  = 12–100 nm). The THAM/SG and THAM/CPG composites are characterized by SEM and XRD. Latent heat storage performance of THAM/SG and THAM/CPG is investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, showing size dependence of phase transition temperature, enthalpy change and supercooling. THAM in the nanopores displays stable transition temperature and heat storage capacity in a short-term thermal cycling. The bulk and the nanosized THAM own the same diffraction patterns. The encapsulation of phase change material in nanoporous media is a promising way of tuning the thermal energy properties of those ideal PCMs for use in a wider range of temperature.