Abstract
Thermal energy storage is crucial for various industrial systems. Enhancements in energy storage induced by latent heat have been demonstrated by using phase-change materials. However, these enhancements occur only at the melting points of the materials. In this study, we demonstrated the controllability of latent heat absorption/release in a certain temperature range. A wide endothermic plateau from 370 to 407 °C for the Hitec salt was obtained by releasing the latent heat of alloy particles embedded in the salt. The alloy particle-doped salt was applied to a Stirling engine to demonstrate its effectiveness in enhancing the energy and power outputs of the engine. Compared to pure salt, the alloy particle-doped salt can enhance the engine's energy output by 21%. With the advantages of scalable synthesis and superior thermal properties, the alloy particles have potential applications in energy storage enhancement in various thermal energy systems.