Phase change microcapsules with photothermal properties: materials, preparation, applications, and prospects

Phase change material microcapsules are converted into phase change materials to provide sealing protection and effectively address the leakage issue during the phase change process. However, phase change microcapsules can only passively absorb heat and store energy through temperature difference, which has a single function and cannot effectively use other energy sources. Phase change microcapsules with photothermal properties, which combine photothermal materials with phase change materials, have gradually entered people’s field of vision. They achieve direct conversion of solar energy into heat energy storage to reduce energy consumption. In this paper, the classification and basic principle of photothermal conversion materials are systematically reviewed, then the preparation methods of photothermal conversion phase change microcapsules (PCPCMs) are summarized and analyzed. Furthermore, the applications in the field of PCPCMs in the textile industry, building energy conservation, thermal management of electronic equipment, and clean energy are introduced in detail. Finally, the future research directions of PCPCMs are proposed.