Organic Phase Change Materials

Thermal energy storage in the form of latent heat is important for efficient energy conservation and deployment. In recent years, numerous studies have been performed to develop improved phase change materials for thermal energy storage. Among them, organic materials have attracted particular attention owing to their safety, chemical stability and compatibility with common materials, as evidenced by their use in various industrial applications. In this article, a review of organic phase change materials is conducted. Different types of such materials and their thermophysical properties and applications are presented, alongside a comparison of their individual advantages and disadvantages. Finally, techniques used to provide shape-stabilized organic phase change materials are introduced, followed by a discussion of their potential applications and future perspectives.