Pathways to High-Performance Salt Hydrate Thermochemical Energy Storage Materials and Systems
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Thermochemical materials (TCMs) based on salt hydrates are promising for thermal energy storage as they combine high energy densities with low reaction temperatures. However, their adoption is hindered by poor structural integrity and degradation under hygrothermal cycling. Storage performance is governed not only by the chemical reaction, but also by the coupled thermo-chemo-mechanical behavior that evolves with cycling. Understanding and controlling this coupling across length scales (material-to-reactor) is necessary to improve TCM stability and lifetime. In this perspective, we discuss the shortcomings of current characterization approaches and emphasize the need for measuring transport properties and structural transformations using in situ techniques that capture the dynamic evolution of these materials. We also outline opportunities for multiscale modeling frameworks that link thermodynamics and mechanics, enabling predictive evaluation of composite architectures designed for cycling stability. We conclude by identifying research questions that must be addressed to transform TCMs into viable energy storage technologies.
Source: ACS Energy Letters
Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Brigham Young University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Wichita State University, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Office of Science, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, College of Computing, Basic Energy Sciences, Building Technologies Office, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Awards: G1019100964, G121915436, G1645119126, G17040919, G22747034, G2411683797, G2917895714, G2988778103, G3945850812, G3975779611, G3976335900, G4423657506, G473123490, G473396326, G5144343272, G5344189909, G601061201, G6017181652, G6772098146, G7619220232, G807938293, G8269158468, G8570346810, G8807503656, G8906985441
OpenAlex ID: W7119986154