Recent Advances and Applications of Flexible Phase Change Composites

ABSTRACT Flexible phase change composites (FPCCs) have garnered significant attention for their ability to combine high latent heat capacity with mechanical flexibility. This combination enables advanced thermal management in emerging fields such as flexible electronics, soft robotics, and wearable...

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Main Authors: Lichang Lu, Hongxu Guo, Ignacio Martin‐Fabiani, Ye Zhou, Helen Willcock, Goran T. Vladisavljević, James JC Busfield, Emiliano Bilotti, Ton Peijs, Han Zhang, Yi Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:EcoMat
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/eom2.70004
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author Lichang Lu
Hongxu Guo
Ignacio Martin‐Fabiani
Ye Zhou
Helen Willcock
Goran T. Vladisavljević
James JC Busfield
Emiliano Bilotti
Ton Peijs
Han Zhang
Yi Liu
author_facet Lichang Lu
Hongxu Guo
Ignacio Martin‐Fabiani
Ye Zhou
Helen Willcock
Goran T. Vladisavljević
James JC Busfield
Emiliano Bilotti
Ton Peijs
Han Zhang
Yi Liu
author_sort Lichang Lu
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Flexible phase change composites (FPCCs) have garnered significant attention for their ability to combine high latent heat capacity with mechanical flexibility. This combination enables advanced thermal management in emerging fields such as flexible electronics, soft robotics, and wearable technologies. Traditional phase change materials (PCMs) excel in energy absorption and release. However, their rigidity limits their applicability in the sectors above. Existing reviews largely focus on encapsulation methods and traditional PCM applications, leaving a gap in the literature concerning flexibility enhancement strategies and FPCC‐specific applications. This review seeks to address this gap by presenting a comprehensive timeline of FPCC development, elucidating the principles of latent heat capacity, and systematically reviewing recent advancements in the field. Emphasis is placed on design strategies at both the structural level, such as fiber and foam configurations, and materials level, including physical blending and molecular engineering. Performance comparisons are provided, evaluating FPCCs in terms of both latent heat storage and mechanical flexibility. Furthermore, the review explores diverse applications of FPCCs in thermal energy storage, transfer, conversion, and release, underscoring their potential in cutting‐edge sectors. By highlighting FPCCs' versatility and interdisciplinary applications, this review aims to inspire further research and integration of FPCCs into domains requiring both mechanical flexibility and thermal energy management solutions.
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spelling doaj-art-5600dc0e14784f0b9394feef7e2df2702025-08-20T02:12:30ZengWileyEcoMat2567-31732025-04-0174n/an/a10.1002/eom2.70004Recent Advances and Applications of Flexible Phase Change CompositesLichang Lu0Hongxu Guo1Ignacio Martin‐Fabiani2Ye Zhou3Helen Willcock4Goran T. Vladisavljević5James JC Busfield6Emiliano Bilotti7Ton Peijs8Han Zhang9Yi Liu10Department of Materials Loughborough University Loughborough UKDepartment of Materials Loughborough University Loughborough UKDepartment of Materials Loughborough University Loughborough UKInstitute for Advanced Study Shenzhen University Shenzhen ChinaDepartment of Materials Loughborough University Loughborough UKDepartment of Chemical Engineering Loughborough University Loughborough UKSchool of Engineering and Materials Science Queen Mary University of London London UKDepartment of Aeronautics Imperial College London London UKWarwick Manufacturing Group, WMG University of Warwick Coventry UKSchool of Engineering and Materials Science Queen Mary University of London London UKDepartment of Materials Loughborough University Loughborough UKABSTRACT Flexible phase change composites (FPCCs) have garnered significant attention for their ability to combine high latent heat capacity with mechanical flexibility. This combination enables advanced thermal management in emerging fields such as flexible electronics, soft robotics, and wearable technologies. Traditional phase change materials (PCMs) excel in energy absorption and release. However, their rigidity limits their applicability in the sectors above. Existing reviews largely focus on encapsulation methods and traditional PCM applications, leaving a gap in the literature concerning flexibility enhancement strategies and FPCC‐specific applications. This review seeks to address this gap by presenting a comprehensive timeline of FPCC development, elucidating the principles of latent heat capacity, and systematically reviewing recent advancements in the field. Emphasis is placed on design strategies at both the structural level, such as fiber and foam configurations, and materials level, including physical blending and molecular engineering. Performance comparisons are provided, evaluating FPCCs in terms of both latent heat storage and mechanical flexibility. Furthermore, the review explores diverse applications of FPCCs in thermal energy storage, transfer, conversion, and release, underscoring their potential in cutting‐edge sectors. By highlighting FPCCs' versatility and interdisciplinary applications, this review aims to inspire further research and integration of FPCCs into domains requiring both mechanical flexibility and thermal energy management solutions.https://doi.org/10.1002/eom2.70004flexibility enhancement strategiesflexible electronicsflexible phase change compositesthermal energy applicationsthermal management
spellingShingle Lichang Lu
Hongxu Guo
Ignacio Martin‐Fabiani
Ye Zhou
Helen Willcock
Goran T. Vladisavljević
James JC Busfield
Emiliano Bilotti
Ton Peijs
Han Zhang
Yi Liu
Recent Advances and Applications of Flexible Phase Change Composites
EcoMat
flexibility enhancement strategies
flexible electronics
flexible phase change composites
thermal energy applications
thermal management
title Recent Advances and Applications of Flexible Phase Change Composites
title_full Recent Advances and Applications of Flexible Phase Change Composites
title_fullStr Recent Advances and Applications of Flexible Phase Change Composites
title_full_unstemmed Recent Advances and Applications of Flexible Phase Change Composites
title_short Recent Advances and Applications of Flexible Phase Change Composites
title_sort recent advances and applications of flexible phase change composites
topic flexibility enhancement strategies
flexible electronics
flexible phase change composites
thermal energy applications
thermal management
url https://doi.org/10.1002/eom2.70004
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