The robust fluoride-free superhydrophobic thermal energy storage coating for efficient energy storage and thermal management

Multifunctional phase change materials-based thermal energy storage technology is an important way to save energy by capturing huge amounts of thermal energy during solar irradiation and releasing it when needed. Herein, superhydrophobic thermal energy storage coating is realized by spraying mesoporous superhydrophobic C@SiO2-HDTMS nanotubes (NTs), industrial paraffin wax (IPW), and ethyl alpha-cyanoacrylate (ECA) onto the substrate material for durable and highly efficient photothermal energy conversion. In the coating, C@SiO2-HDTMS NTs can adsorb IPW (74.5 wt%) through mesopores resulting in high enthalpy (142.28 J g(-1)), thermal stability, and high photothermal conversion efficiency (87.2%). Moreover, the coating exhibits excellent superhydrophobicity, mechanical durability, ultraviolet resistance, and corrosion resistance under the combined effect of C@SiO2-HDTMS NTs and ECA. Therefore, the multifunctional coating with integrative properties holds great promise in a variety of harsh environments.Graphical abstractThe fluoride-free superhydrophobic thermal energy storage coating exhibits excellent superhydrophobicity, durability and photothermal conversion efficiency, which holds great promise in a variety of harsh environments.