Hexagonal Boron Nitride and Phase Change Materials for Thermal Management and Energy Storage
This research community develops advanced materials to store heat, transfer thermal energy efficiently, and manage temperature in electronic and solar applications.
The work centers on two primary material systems: hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and phase change materials (PCMs). h-BN is frequently studied in the form of nanosheets and nanotubes, often combined with graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, or epoxy resins to create composites with enhanced thermal conductivity. These structures are designed for use in thermal interface materials, heat exchangers, and electronic cooling. In parallel, the community investigates PCMs—such as paraffin wax and polyurethane—for latent heat storage. These materials are microencapsulated or integrated into composites to improve heat transfer rates and mechanical stability. Applications include solar stills, concentrated solar power systems, and battery thermal management. Methods include molecular dynamics simulations and the fabrication of hybrid nanocomposites to optimize heat storage and release.
The community is the largest share of boron research, accounting for 26.0% of all boron-related papers, and 13.4% of nitrogen research. It includes 10,765 papers tagged with boron and 10,136 with nitrogen.
There are 20,761 papers in this community, published primarily in the Journal of Energy Storage, Applied Thermal Engineering, and Applied Physics Letters.
Recent work focuses on flexible, self-healing polymer composites for battery jackets and solar-thermal energy conversion. Studies also examine the integration of phase change materials into solar stills and photovoltaic systems to improve efficiency and water production.