Influence of host matrices on the thermochemical energy storage capacity of novel organic salt hydrate

The interest of scientific community towards materials for thermochemical heat storage has grown significantly in recent years. For low-temperature applications hydrated inorganic salts are commonly used. However, the large-scale employment of this kind of materials is limited by some operational challenges. Hydrated organic salts with a low solubility in water constitute a valid alternative for overcoming deliquescence problems. In this perspective, Calcium Lactate Pentahydrate constitutes a promising candidate considering its high energy density. For surpassing the slow salt hydration kinetics, five Calcium Lactate based hybrid materials were proposed. The performances of the synthesized materials were evaluated under both static and dynamic vapour conditions. In Calcium Lactate composite materials, a positive effect was encountered in terms of the amount of water uptaken with benefits also on the hydration kinetics.