One-step strategy to construct GA/PEG shape-stabilized phase change material with excellent thermophysical properties

In this paper, a new strategy was studied to fabricate graphene aerogel (GA)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) shape-stabilized phase change materials (PCMs) using a one-step method, i.e., when GA was set up based on the sheets of graphene oxide (GO), PEG was impregnated into the GA, simultaneously. PEG was restricted by GA owing to its capillary forces. Meanwhile, GA acted as supporting materials and thermal conductivity passageway; the GA/ PEG shape-stabilized PCMs presented high heat storage capacity, and the PCMs kept their shapes stable without any leaking owing to GA more than the melting point of PEGs about 40 degrees C; the thermal conductivity of PEG-4K, PEG-6K, and PEG-10K with 1.30 wt% GA were increased about 28.86%, 27.74%, and 33.26% compared with those of pure PEGs, respectively. Generally, this one-step synthesis of GA/PEG shape-stabilized PCMs can support high loading of PEG, exhibited high thermal reliability and thermal conductivity.