From low conductivity to high energy efficiency: The role of conductive polymers in phase change materials
Bibliographic record
Abstract
Phase change materials (PCMs) face a significant obstacle in practical applications and energy efficiency due to their inherently low thermal conductivity. One promising solution to this limitation involves integrating conductive polymers (CPs) into PCMs. This approach not only enhances thermal conductivity—critical for efficient energy storage and release—but also introduces electrical conductivity, enabling dual functionalities such as electrothermal conversion and rapid charging and discharging. Although CPs have been extensively utilized for this purpose, there is a noticeable gap in existing reviews that specifically focus on CP-enhanced PCMs. To address this gap, this comprehensive review examines experimental research aimed at improving the electrothermal characteristics of PCMs, with an emphasis on boosting conductivity and storage efficiency through CP incorporation. The review begins by providing an overview of the fundamental principles of electrical and thermal conduction in materials. It then explores commonly used CPs—such as polypyrrole, polyaniline, and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)—and their integration strategies with PCMs. The discussion highlights the unique properties of these polymers and their contributions to enhancing the thermal and electrical conductivity of PCMs. Additionally, it investigates the formation of conductive pathways and their role in amplifying the energy efficiency of nano-enhanced PCMs, comparing the effects of various nano-additives. The study further explores potential applications of CP-enhanced PCMs across diverse fields, including electronics, wearables, energy systems, and advanced thermally regulative materials. To provide a well-rounded perspective, the review outlines recent advancements, identifies current challenges and limitations, and highlights future research opportunities. By fostering a deeper understanding of the interplay between PCMs and CPs, this review contributes to the ongoing efforts to optimize thermal properties and multifunctionality, paving the way for innovative applications and improved energy solutions.
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How this classification was reachedexpand
Full frame machine prediction
Teacher imitationNot calibrated prevalence, not ground truth. Human validation pending. The Gemma side is a direct model label for every work in the frame, read from the title-only record. The Codex side is a classifier learned from the 10,348 direct Codex labels and calibrated to design-weighted sample rates; fields without enough sample support carry no Codex call. Candidate is the union of the two sides; consensus is their intersection. These outputs are machine_predicted_unvalidated and are not human labels.
Distilled classifier scores by category (both heads)
| Category | Codex | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Metaresearch | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| Meta-epidemiology (narrow) | 0.001 | 0.000 |
| Meta-epidemiology (broad) | 0.001 | 0.000 |
| Bibliometrics | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| Science and technology studies | 0.000 | 0.001 |
| Scholarly communication | 0.002 | 0.004 |
| Open science | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| Research integrity | 0.002 | 0.003 |
| Insufficient payload (model declined to judge) | 0.003 | 0.001 |
Machine scores (provisional)
The two teacher heads of the student model, read on this work. A score orders the frame for review; it never asserts a category, and the validation status ships verbatim with every row.
Baseline scores from an immature model (maturity gate not passed, 7 training rounds). Scores rank; they never assert a category.
score_only:v0-immature-baseline · verbatim from the scoring run: score_only means the number may rank works, and no category label ships from itClassification
machine, unvalidatedMachine predicted; a candidate call from one source (direct Gemma or distilled Codex), not a consensus.
How this classification was reached, model by model and score by score, is at the end of the page under "How this classification was reached".