CuSO4/[Cu(NH3)4]SO4-Composite Thermochemical Energy Storage Materials

Abstract

The thermochemical energy-storage material couple CuSO₄/[Cu(NH₃)₄]SO₄ combines full reversibility, application in a medium temperature interval (3 uptake. In order to limit this volume work, as well as enhance the thermal conductivity of the solid material, several composites of anhydrous CuSO₄ with inorganic inert support materials were prepared and characterized with regard to their energy storage density, reversibility of the storage reaction, thermal conductivity, and particle morphology. The best thermochemical energy storage properties were obtained for a 10:1 CuSO₄-sepiolite composite, combining an attractive energy storage density with slightly improved thermal conductivity and decreased bulk volume work compared to the pure salt.