The Effect of CuO and BN Nano-Additives on Paraffin Phase Change Material for Energy Storage Applications

This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of nano-enhanced phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage applications. Although paraffin-based PCMs offer high latent heat storage capacity, their practical use is limited by low thermal conductivity, supercooling and poor thermal reliability. To address these issues, copper oxide (CuO), boron nitride (BN) and hybrid CuO-BN nanoparticles were incorporated into paraffin and their effects on thermal performance were evaluated. The results show that nanoparticle addition significantly improves thermal conductivity, with enhancements of 55% in the solid phase, 50% during melting and 46% in the liquid phase compared to pure paraffin. The hybrid nano-enhanced PCM exhibited superior thermophysical properties, with a higher specific heat capacity (2.43 J/g K) than BN-based (2.34 J/g K), CuO-based (2.27 J/g K), and pure paraffin (2.14 J/g K). The latent heat of fusion also increased to 210.65 J/g for the hybrid composite, compared to 204.72 J/g for BN, 190.63 J/g for CuO, and 174.25 J/g for pure paraffin. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated improved thermal stability, with decomposition temperatures increasing from 299 (pure paraffin) to 318.56 °C for the hybrid PCM. Despite these improvements, challenges such as nanoparticle agglomeration and increased viscosity remain. Overall, hybrid nano-additives significantly enhance the thermal performance of paraffin-based PCMs, making them promising for advanced thermal energy storage applications.