Material selection and properties for adsorption heat storage: perspectivity of TMPS series mesoporous silica nano-materials

Six samples from the TMPS family of mesoporous silica nano-materials from Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd. were studied for their potential as a medium for the adsorption thermal energy storage. Selected specimens are distinguished by their pore size from 1.9 to 4.1 nm and aluminium doping. As the adsorbate for the adsorption pair was selected water with the most advantageous properties of high latent heat and safe chemical properties. The tested materials doped with aluminium show high affinity towards the selected adsorbate and high uptakes. The theoretical storage energy density of the materials spans from 700 to 1700 kJ kg⁻¹ based on the adsorption heat. The storage capacity depends mostly on the pore volume and partially on the pore size. The theoretical estimation shows the temperature gain of the adsorption potential as high as ΔT=23∘C for the material TMPS-1.5A with the smallest pore diameter and aluminium doping and as low as ΔT=6∘C for the TMPS-4R with the biggest pore diameter and without aluminium doping.