Development of photothermal-heat storage concrete incorporating super absorbent polymer

Solar energy absorbed and stored in building materials can reduce heating/cooling loads and energy consumption in buildings. In this study, photothermal-heat storage concrete (PHSC) was developed by using carbon black as the photothermal material and pre-soaked super absorbent polymer (SAP) as the heat storage medium. The resulting photothermal conversion performance and heat storage performance of PHSC were investigated. The results showed that PHSC exhibit excellent photothermal conversion performance, specific heat capacity and heat storage capacity. The heat stored in the PHSC was 1.48 times higher than control concrete when both were exposed to sunlight during the day. PHSC converts and stores the absorbed sunlight during the day and releases the stored heat at night when the temperature drops. PHSC is a 'green', low-carbon and eco-friendly building material, its application in building structures can effectively reduce energy consumption by lowering heating and cooling loads.