Advanced materials for intermediate temperature thermal energy storage

As the world shifts to renewable energy, and more than half of the world’s energy is used for heating and cooling, efficient thermal storage becomes crucial. This study develops materials operating at 100–220 °C, including organic salts, eutectics, and co-crystals, which store heat via reversible melting and freezing. Key structural features enhancing storage capacity are explored. A notable discovery is a material with record-high energy storage, utilizing both reversible chemical reactions and phase changes simultaneously. These findings offer valuable insights for designing advanced thermal energy storage materials, hence providing renewable energy solutions.