Researchers at the University of Tokyo are working on a new type of ceramic that can store heat, then release it when subjected to pressure. The scientists believe the material could be used in technologies such as memory storage and solar heat systems.
This news comes to us from the American Ceramic Society:
“The material, stripe-type trititanium pentoxide, undergoes a solid–solid phase change upon absorption of heat from beta-trititanium pentoxide to lambda-trititanium pentoxide, which can store that energy stably for long periods of time.
“This is where the new ceramic diverges from most other heat storage materials, which can only store energy for a short time and release it spontaneously. Bricks are good heat storage materials—they can absorb a fair amount of heat, but how and when that heat is released cannot be controlled.
“Lambda-trititanium pentoxide, however, is different. It can release long-stored energy under pressure. When the scientists applied a relatively weak pressure of just 60 MPa, lambda-trititanium pentoxide released its stored energy and returned to its beta phase. (At 60 MPa, half of the lambda converted to beta.)
“In addition to heat, the ceramic material can also absorb energy from an electric current or light irradiation, expanding its potential applications even wider.”
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