Composite Materials for Energy-efficient Buildings: Thermal Energy Storage and Sustainable Construction

Explore the potential of composite materials in creating energy-efficient buildings through this 49-minute conference talk by Dr. Akanksha Menon from Georgia Tech. Dive into innovative solutions for reducing carbon emissions in the building sector, which accounts for 40% of global carbon emissions. Learn about thermochemical materials (TCMs) for thermal energy storage, offering higher volumetric energy densities than phase change materials and sensible heat storage. Discover the development of salt-polymer composites that enhance water vapor diffusion and achieve high energy storage density. Examine the use of engineered wood and natural fibers as sustainable alternatives to conventional construction materials, addressing the high embodied carbon footprint of buildings. Gain insights into wood-based composites that serve as both structural and thermal insulation materials while sequestering carbon. Understand the importance of replacing petrochemically derived resins and foams with sustainable materials in structural insulated panels (SIPs). Explore how composite materials can be engineered to achieve desired structural and thermal properties, ultimately lowering the energy and carbon footprint of the buildings sector.

Intro
Global energy and water demand are projected to increase significantly
Understanding the water - energy nexus
Heat is the dominant form of energy use in the buildings sector
Renewable electrification is promising for decarbonization, but there is a mismatch
Thermal batteries (energy storage) can be used to decarbonize heat
Thermochemical energy storage in buildings
Limitations of salt hydrates include material instability during hygrothermal cycling
Particle size of the salt has an impact on the reaction kinetics
Dehydration and hydration kinetics are also influenced by the porosity of the salt
Composite materials can overcome inherent limitations of pristine salts
Beyond operational energy use in buildings, embodied carbon is also a concern
Establishing a wood-based building materials economy in Georgia
Engineered wood as a structural and thermally insulating material
High-temperature TES can be used to decarbonize industry Electrical
Ceramic-graphite composites for thermal storage using sintering