LAUSR

Dopamine‐functionalized mesoporous silica (DPMS), which was prepared by using a facile, easy to operate, and environmentally friendly biomimetic method, was synthesized as a new supporter of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to prepare shape‐stabilized phase‐change material (ss‐PCM) of PEG/DPMS with improved enthalpy. The thermal properties of PEG/DPMS were investigated, and the study results demonstrated that dopamine functionalization could regulate the crystallization property of PEG molecules immobilized in PEG/DPMS, and then the enthalpy of PEG/DPMS could be improved effectively. Compared with the ss‐PCM of PEG/SBA‐15 that was synthesized by using unfunctionalized silica molecular sieve (SBA‐15) as the matrix, after dopamine modification, the fusion and solidification enthalpies of 70‐wt% PEG/DPMS increased from 47.25 and 34.96 J/g to 69.77 and 67.54 J/g, respectively. The interaction mechanism study results suggested that the amino groups in the molecule of poly‐dopamines on the surface of DPMS could interact with the oxygen atoms in the molecules of PEG to form hydrogen bonds. Additionally, the PEG/DPMS had favorable thermal reliability and prominent thermal stability. Hence, the DPMS could be applied as a promising supporter for the fabrication of ss‐PCM.