Phase change materials with Fe3O4/GO three-dimensional network structure for acoustic-thermal energy conversion and management

Abstract Sonic energy can be converted into thermal energy by ultrasonic thermal effect, which has significant application value in the fields of denoising and minimally invasive thermotherapy. Acoustic thermal conversion and thermal energy management capacities need to effectively improved during the process of acoustic-thermal utilization. Herein, we report novel PEG/Fe3O4-GO form-stable phase change materials (PCMs) with efficient sound wave absorption, acoustic-thermal conversion and thermal management capability. The PCMs are prepared by in-situ encapsulating polyethylene glycol (PEG) into graphene oxide (GO) network functionalized with Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The unique construction of three-dimensional (3D) network structure not only improve thermal conductive performance but also enhance sound absorption ability effectively. Moreover, the acoustic-thermal conversion is further enhanced through the vibration heat production of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. As a result, the form-stable composites exhibit superior energy storage density (173.7 J/g) and acoustic-thermal conversion performance. Thereby opening up a broad application prospect in the field of acoustic to heat energy conversion and storage.