Fabrication of magnetic phase change n-eicosane @ Fe3O4/SiO2 microcapsules on wood surface via sol-gel method

Microencapsulated phase change material (MPCM) has been recognized as one of the best technologies to improve energy efficiency and absorb redundant energy. However, magnetic phase change energy storage performance has rarely been applied on wood. In this paper, magnetic microencapsulated phase change energy storage composite wood was successfully prepared through a sol-gel method which microcapsules containing n-eicosane as the core and Fe3O4/SiO2 composite material as the shell were adhered on wood surface. As a result, microcapsules with an average diameter of 2.5 μm were adhered to the wood surface through hydrogen bonds. Magnetic microencapsulated phase change energy storage composite wood exhibited a magnetism of 3.7 emu/g and energy storage performance of ΔHc 172.5 J/g and ΔHm 170.9 J/g, suggesting the as-prepared composite wood is a probable candidate for temperature control application in furniture field.