Improved Supercooling and Thermal Conductive Properties of Erythritol Using Boron Nitride Nanosheet-Encapsulated Porous Fiber Scaffold

Phase change materials (PCMs) have garnered much attention for their thermal energy storage and release capabilities during phase changes. However, their practical applications are limited by their low thermal conductivity and poor mechanical properties. In this study, a novel approach is proposed to enhance the thermal conductivity and mechanical strength of erythritol by incorporating boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) and a carbonaceous porous skeleton. Porous cotton fabric scaffolds composited with BNNS were utilized to encapsulate erythritol, resulting in improved thermal conductivity, stability, and reduced supercooling degree. Carbonization of the cotton fabric to form a porous carbon fabric scaffold further improves the thermal conductivity and supercooling, with the highest thermal conductivity of 2.36 W K–1 m–1 achieved at a filling rate of 28.3% BNNS while maintaining a supercooling of 58.5 °C. The material exhibits high phase change thermal storage capacity and cycling stability, making it suitable for large-scale thermal management and storage systems.