Three-way storage tested
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Monash University researchers have unveiled a new, more efficient thermal energy storage (TES) material.
The discovery could address critical challenges in storing renewable energy efficiently and sustainably.
The innovation lies in a TES material that integrates three energy storage mechanisms - sensible heat, latent heat, and thermochemical storage - into a single system. This “trimodal” approach delivers exceptional energy density and efficiency.
“By integrating three distinct forms of energy storage into one material, we’ve achieved a level of efficiency and performance that was previously unattainable. This development has the potential to reshape the renewable energy landscape,” says Dr Karolina Matuszek, lead researcher from Monash University’s School of Chemistry.
The material, a eutectic mixture of boric and succinic acids, transitions at around 150°C, storing up to 600 megajoules per cubic metre - nearly double the capacity of many existing materials.
Its ability to withstand over 1,000 heating and cooling cycles without degradation suggests serious benefits in stability and longevity too.
“It's not just about storing energy - it's about doing so in a way that is scalable, sustainable, and cost-effective,” Dr Matuszek says.
The innovation opens new possibilities for Carnot batteries, which convert electrical energy into thermal energy for storage and back into electricity when needed.
The new TES material could serve as the battery’s core thermal storage medium, significantly enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.
“The ability of this material to function so effectively in Carnot batteries could transform how we store renewable energy,” Dr Matuszek said.
Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries that rely on scarce metals, this TES material uses widely available, sustainable resources.
Boric acid, derived from boron ores, and succinic acid, a bio-based chemical, are both low-cost and environmentally benign.
Effective energy storage remains a barrier to maximising renewable energy use. The intermediate temperature range (100–220°C) of this material makes it suited to applications like power grid stabilisation and industrial processes.
Research on the novel material has revealed a high level of reversibility, where the dehydration and rehydration of boric acid play a central role. This process allows energy to be stored and released efficiently, overcoming limitations of existing thermochemical TES technologies.
The discovery represents a promising step toward a renewable energy-driven future.
“If we can store energy more effectively, we make renewable energy more reliable - and that brings us closer to a sustainable, decarbonised future,” Dr Matuszek said.
The latest research is accessible here.
