Surface‐Engineered Cenospheres Encapsulating Phase Change Materials for Functional Cementitious Composites

Abstract The escalating global energy demand underscores the critical need for advanced solutions for energy‐efficient buildings. Passive thermal energy storage systems using microencapsulated phase change materials (PCMs) offer promise but face integration challenges in cementitious materials due t...

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Main Authors: Sahand Rahemipoor, Carsten Kuenzel, Toms Valdemārs Eiduks, Andrei Shishkin, Mohammadreza Izadifar, Neven Ukrainczyk, Eduardus Koenders, Navid Ranjbar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Advanced Science
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202417350
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author Sahand Rahemipoor
Carsten Kuenzel
Toms Valdemārs Eiduks
Andrei Shishkin
Mohammadreza Izadifar
Neven Ukrainczyk
Eduardus Koenders
Navid Ranjbar
author_facet Sahand Rahemipoor
Carsten Kuenzel
Toms Valdemārs Eiduks
Andrei Shishkin
Mohammadreza Izadifar
Neven Ukrainczyk
Eduardus Koenders
Navid Ranjbar
author_sort Sahand Rahemipoor
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The escalating global energy demand underscores the critical need for advanced solutions for energy‐efficient buildings. Passive thermal energy storage systems using microencapsulated phase change materials (PCMs) offer promise but face integration challenges in cementitious materials due to weakening mechanical strength, which arises from poor shell strength and weak interfacial bonding with cementitious phases. This study introduces a novel approach for synthesizing functionalized microencapsulated PCMs from fly ash‐based cenospheres addressing interfacial compatibility. Cenospheres are perforated for PCM encapsulation and sealed using two different materials: 1) melamine‐formaldehyde (MF), a standard polymeric shell; and 2) silica, selected for its chemical compatibility with cementitious phases. Experimental results show that the silica sealing improved mechanical strength by 50% over those of MF, corroborated by molecular dynamic simulations showing silica's binding energy with calcium silicate hydrate exceeded threefold, with more than twice the uniaxial tensile strength. Thermal analyses confirmed the preservation of PCM in both sealing approaches. This work establishes a transformative pathway for advancing PCM‐based thermal energy storage in building materials.
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spelling doaj-art-123deda36c8240ad8d8b19f79d20de7a2025-08-20T03:04:57ZengWileyAdvanced Science2198-38442025-07-011226n/an/a10.1002/advs.202417350Surface‐Engineered Cenospheres Encapsulating Phase Change Materials for Functional Cementitious CompositesSahand Rahemipoor0Carsten Kuenzel1Toms Valdemārs Eiduks2Andrei Shishkin3Mohammadreza Izadifar4Neven Ukrainczyk5Eduardus Koenders6Navid Ranjbar7Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering Technical University of Denmark Kgs Lyngby 2800 DenmarkDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering Imperial College London London SW72AZUK UKInstitute of Physics and Materials Science Faculty of Natural Sciences And Technology at Riga Technical University 3 P. Valdena Str. Riga LV‐1048 LatviaInstitute of Physics and Materials Science Faculty of Natural Sciences And Technology at Riga Technical University 3 P. Valdena Str. Riga LV‐1048 LatviaInstitute of Construction and Building Materials Technical University of Darmstadt 64287 Darmstadt GermanyInstitute of Construction and Building Materials Technical University of Darmstadt 64287 Darmstadt GermanyInstitute of Construction and Building Materials Technical University of Darmstadt 64287 Darmstadt GermanyDepartment of Civil and Mechanical Engineering Technical University of Denmark Kgs Lyngby 2800 DenmarkAbstract The escalating global energy demand underscores the critical need for advanced solutions for energy‐efficient buildings. Passive thermal energy storage systems using microencapsulated phase change materials (PCMs) offer promise but face integration challenges in cementitious materials due to weakening mechanical strength, which arises from poor shell strength and weak interfacial bonding with cementitious phases. This study introduces a novel approach for synthesizing functionalized microencapsulated PCMs from fly ash‐based cenospheres addressing interfacial compatibility. Cenospheres are perforated for PCM encapsulation and sealed using two different materials: 1) melamine‐formaldehyde (MF), a standard polymeric shell; and 2) silica, selected for its chemical compatibility with cementitious phases. Experimental results show that the silica sealing improved mechanical strength by 50% over those of MF, corroborated by molecular dynamic simulations showing silica's binding energy with calcium silicate hydrate exceeded threefold, with more than twice the uniaxial tensile strength. Thermal analyses confirmed the preservation of PCM in both sealing approaches. This work establishes a transformative pathway for advancing PCM‐based thermal energy storage in building materials.https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202417350cenospheresetchinginterfacemolecular dynamicsphase change materials
spellingShingle Sahand Rahemipoor
Carsten Kuenzel
Toms Valdemārs Eiduks
Andrei Shishkin
Mohammadreza Izadifar
Neven Ukrainczyk
Eduardus Koenders
Navid Ranjbar
Surface‐Engineered Cenospheres Encapsulating Phase Change Materials for Functional Cementitious Composites
Advanced Science
cenospheres
etching
interface
molecular dynamics
phase change materials
title Surface‐Engineered Cenospheres Encapsulating Phase Change Materials for Functional Cementitious Composites
title_full Surface‐Engineered Cenospheres Encapsulating Phase Change Materials for Functional Cementitious Composites
title_fullStr Surface‐Engineered Cenospheres Encapsulating Phase Change Materials for Functional Cementitious Composites
title_full_unstemmed Surface‐Engineered Cenospheres Encapsulating Phase Change Materials for Functional Cementitious Composites
title_short Surface‐Engineered Cenospheres Encapsulating Phase Change Materials for Functional Cementitious Composites
title_sort surface engineered cenospheres encapsulating phase change materials for functional cementitious composites
topic cenospheres
etching
interface
molecular dynamics
phase change materials
url https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202417350
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