Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, cilt.301, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Hitec molten salt (7NaNO3–53KNO3–40NaNO2) is widely considered for high-temperature heat transfer and thermal energy storage, yet its relatively limited heat storage capacity and thermal transport performance constrain energy density and charging-discharging efficiency in CSP-TES systems. To address this limitation, Hitec was modified with TiB2 and ZrB2 nanoparticles at loadings of 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 wt% and investigated through a comprehensive experimental framework. Phase integrity and chemical stability were examined by X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Microstructural features, nanoparticle distribution, and elemental homogeneity were evaluated using FE-SEM/EDX. Thermophysical behavior was characterized by DSC to determine specific heat capacity and melting–solidification characteristics, while thermal stability was assessed by TGA. Thermal conductivity was measured using the transient plane source method. ZrB2 provided the strongest heat storage enhancement. Solid-phase Cp increased from 1.44 to 2.22 J g−1 °C−1 and liquid-phase Cp increased from 1.51 to 2.47 J g−1 °C−1 at 1 wt% ZrB2, corresponding to improvements of 54.68% and 63.30%. TiB2 delivered the largest heat-transfer improvement, increasing thermal conductivity from 0.951 to 1.664 W m−1 K−1 at 2 wt% (74.97%). Melting enthalpy increased by up to 16.93% for TiB2 and 21.13% for ZrB2. Thermal stability improved substantially, shifting the decomposition onset from 612 °C (Hitec) to 661 °C and 673 °C for 2 wt% TiB2 and ZrB2, respectively. Overall, TiB2 and ZrB2 exhibit complementary performance profiles, enabling tailored Hitec-based media for higher energy density, improved heat transfer, and extended high-temperature operation in CSP-TES and related thermal management applications.