Carbon Nanotube Based Nanomaterials for Solar Energy Storage Devices

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and their nanocomposites are used in various products and technologies due to their unique characteristics. For their future implementation, the manufacturing of CNTs with appropriate specifications has gained momentum in the area of nanoscience and technology. Conventional phase change materials used in solar thermal energy storage have low thermal conductivity. CNTs are used to prepare phase change materials with high thermal conductivity to solve this issue. This chapter addresses the synthesis, structure, and properties of CNTs. The different varieties of solar energy storage systems used to store solar radiation are also discussed. Further, we explain the phase change materials (PCMs) as suitable solar thermal energy storage systems and discuss the methods to prepare CNT-based nanomaterials for use as a heat transfer fluid (HTF) after using the CNTs based PCMs in solar storage systems. CNT based nanomaterials as a heat transfer fluid significantly increase the effective receiving efficiency, thermal conductivity, and absorption coefficient of such storage systems.