New 2D perovskites with an additional H-bonding in the organic sublattice for renewable energy storage

Abstract

The transition towards an energy model based on renewable sources requires efficient solutions for storing and managing energy in a sustainable manner. In this context, Thermal Energy Storage (TES) emerges as a key technology for storing excess energy from renewable sources and improving the efficiency of industrial processes. Industrial activity is highly energy-intensive and generates large amounts of waste heat from equipment such as furnaces, boilers, and turbines. The recovery and reuse of this heat through TES systems contributes to reducing fossil fuel consumption and associated emissions. Within this framework, solid–solid Phase Change Materials (PCMs) with high latent heat in the intermediate temperature range (100–220 °C) are particularly attractive candidates, as they enable the safe and efficient storage of thermal energy without leakage issues. Among these materials, two-dimensional (2D) hybrid halide perovskites (A2BX4) stand out due to their remarkable chemical versatility, which allows their thermal properties to be finely tuned according to the requirements of specific energy applications. In this work, we report the synthesis of a new series of copper-based 2D perovskites functionalized with aminoalkanoic acids to introduce additional hydrogen-bonding networks. The compounds [COOH-Cn]2CuCl4 and [COOH-Cn]2CuBr4 (n = 5, 7, 9, and 11) were prepared and structurally characterized, including single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of [COOH-C11]2CuCl4. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed a high latent heat value of 66 J g⁻¹ at 145 °C for [COOH-C11]2CuCl4, highlighting its potential as an advanced material for sustainable thermal energy storage systems aimed at waste heat recovery and the efficient integration of renewable energy sources.