Thermal Conductivity Enhancement of Doped Magnesium Hydroxide for Medium-Temperature Heat Storage: A Molecular Dynamics Approach and Experimental Validation

Kur, Anti; Darkwa, Jo; Worall, Mark; Calautit, John; Boukhanouf, Rabah

Abstract

Magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)2, is recognized as a promising material for medium-temperature heat storage, but its low thermal conductivity limits its full potential application. In this study, thermal enhancement of a developed magnesium hydroxide-potassium nitrate (Mg(OH)2-KNO3) material was carried out with aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanomaterials. The theoretical results obtained through a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation approach showed an enhancement of about 12.9% in thermal conductivity with an optimal 15 wt% of Al2O3. There was also close agreement with the experimental results within an error of ≤10%, thus confirming the reliability of the theoretical approach and the potential of the developed Mg(OH)2-KNO3 as a medium heat storage material. Further investigation is, however, encouraged to establish the long-term recyclability of the material towards achieving a more efficient energy storage process.

Citation

Kur, A., Darkwa, J., Worall, M., Calautit, J., & Boukhanouf, R. (2024). Thermal Conductivity Enhancement of Doped Magnesium Hydroxide for Medium-Temperature Heat Storage: A Molecular Dynamics Approach and Experimental Validation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(20), Article 11139. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252011139

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 14, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Oct 17, 2024
• Publication Date: Oct 17, 2024
• Deposit Date: Oct 18, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 18, 2024
• Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Print ISSN: 1661-6596
• Electronic ISSN: 1422-0067
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 20
• Article Number: 11139
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252011139
• Keywords: thermochemical heat storage; magnesium hydroxide; thermal conductivity enhancement; molecular dynamics simulations; medium-temperature heat storage; nanomaterials
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/40589057
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/20/11139