This common material stores and releases waste thermal energy on demand

Japanese researchers have shown that a common material can store heat efficiently and release it quickly, paving the way for its use in a wide range of fields.

A versatile material

The mineral ofmanganese oxide laminate contains potassium ions and water in crystalline form, implying that this common material can be used both for energy storage as well as as catalyst for’hydrolysis. In the context of work published in the journal NatureCommunicationsscientists from thetohoku university and some Rigaku Corporation highlighted another of his “ talent “.

After grinding the mineral into a powder, the team used X-rays and transmission electron microscopy to study its crystal structure when heated and cooled. It turned out that this was not only able to store heat, but also release it on demand, through a mechanism known as water intercalation.

Essentially, when the layered manganese oxide mineral is exposed to a high enough temperature, the water molecules stored inside gain energy and are released into the surrounding air. To release the thermal energy it has stored, simply rehydrate it by exposing it to humid air. In this case, the material was heated to 200°C to trigger its dehydration, then cooled to 120°C to release the stored heat.

Impressive properties

” This intercalation mechanism, where water molecules are reversibly inserted into a layered material, is very advantageous for heat storage. “, highlighted Tetsu Ichitsubo, lead author of the study. ” It is very fast, reversible and does not modify the structure of the material. In addition, ambient oxygen does not degrade the layered manganese oxide crystal and water does not dissolve it.. »

Having an energy density greater than 1,000 megajoules per cubic metre, this durable material can be loaded and unloaded in minutes, which would make it particularly useful for capturing and reusing energy lost in the form of heat in many processes, including industrial ones.

A few weeks ago, Swedish researchers unveiled a liquid device capable of storing solar energy for years and releasing it on demand, laying the foundations for self-recharging electronics.