Cellulose-reinforced foam-based phase change composites for multi-source driven energy storage and EMI shielding

Abstract

To address the increasingly serious environmental pollution and energy crisis, there is an urgent need to develop multi-source-driven energy storage materials, the field of new energy sources, such as solar thermal power generation, but electromagnetic pollution has become a primary problem that needs urgent resolution. Therefore, the development of multifunctional phase change composites (CPCMs) with multi-source drive capabilities and excellent electromagnetic shielding integration is crucial. In this study, polypyrrole (PPy)-coated conductive fibers were crosslinked with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to form a three-dimensional network, which was then combined with metal foam to prepare Ni–F/PPy@CNF-PVA (PCN) dual-network carriers with high electrical conductivity by vacuum-assisted adsorption and freeze-drying methods. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was subsequently encapsulated via vacuum impregnation to get the shape-stable PEG/Ni–F/PPy@CNF-PVA (PPCN) phase change composites. The PPCN exhibited good stability and high energy storage density (melt enthalpy up to 126.18 J/g, relative enthalpy efficiency over 99 %). Benefiting from its outstanding electrical conductivity (186680 S/m for PPCN-3), light-absorbing properties, and magnetism, the PPCN also exhibits highly efficient photothermal, electrothermal, and magnetothermal conversion capabilities. The electromagnetic interference shielding efficiency reaches up to 110.37 dB within the X-band frequency range (8.2–12.4 GHz). In conclusion, PPCNs are significant for multi-source-driven energy storage and electromagnetic shielding.