Recent advances and impact of phase change materials on solar energy: A comprehensive review

Phase change metals (PCM) with high latent heat during the solid-liquid phase transition are promising for thermal energy storage applications. However, popular PCM have low thermal conductivity properties, low thermal stability and thermal cycling among other limitations. The current study provides a cutting-edge review of recent literature on thermal energy storage systems for solar thermal management towards photovoltaic performance enhancement. Also, in-depth overview on solar thermal storage mechanisms, such as sensible thermal storage, latent thermal storage and thermochemical thermal storage, were also carried out in the study. Application of phase change materials (PCM), PCM heat transfer enhancement and PCM selection criteria, photovoltaic performance indicator variables were also reviewed in the study. To sum up, this work extensive study of thermal storage configuration methodologies, PCM and hybrids performance, heat and mass transfer fluids, and thermal storage mechanisms compiled the research trend and research gap in PCM adoption to photovoltaic energy harnessing. • Phase Change Materials and its application enhancement and selection criteria, photovoltaic performance indicator variables were fully elucidated • Photovoltaic performance enhancement by retrofitting PCM as thermal storage materials for solar energy harnessing • The thermal storage Mechanism and Thermochemical Thermal Storage were fully elucidated • The incorporation of solar collector with PCM and water solar collected were explained