Pickering Emulsions with Phase Change Materials: Advancing Thermal Energy Storage
S. Sanabria, C. Delgado-Sánchez, A., Tenorio-Alfonso, F.J. Navarro  Pro2TecS-Chemical Process and Product Technology Research Center, Department of Chemical Engineering, Physical Chemistry and Material Sciences. ETSI, Universidad de Huelva. Campus El Carmen 21071 Huelva (Spain) 2025-07-25

Abstract

Concerns about environmental issues and energy consumption have increased the need for efficient renewable energy utilization, with thermal energy storage (TES) systems playing a key role. TES systems using phase change materials (PCMs), which are able to store energy within narrow temperature ranges, show significant potential. One promising approach involves the use of phase change material emulsions, where PCMs are dispersed in heat transfer fluid and stabilized by emulsifying agents. Recently, Pickering emulsions, stabilized by solid particles, have gained interest for their enhanced long-term and thermal stability. This study focuses on oil-in-oil Pickering emulsions, using paraffin as the PCM and polyethylene glycol (PEG400) as the continuous phase, stabilized by solid silica nanoparticles. The thermal-mechanical properties of emulsions with different PCM concentrations were analyzed for energy storage applications.

Key words: Thermal energy storing, Phase change materials, Pickering emulsions.

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