Heat-storing salogels could cut building heating and cooling bills

Researchers at Texas A&M University reviewed salogels — polymer gels loaded with hydrated salts that store heat as they melt and release it as they crystallize. The materials hold more than twice the heat per volume of paraffin and retain 80–95% of the pure salt's capacity. Small-scale tests in model houses showed passive cooling and warming, though durability and humidity protection remain unresolved.

• Salogels retain 80–95% of pure salt's heat-storage capacity via a polymer network
• Hydrated salts store over twice as much heat per volume as paraffin wax
• A salogel coating kept a 3D-printed house cooler by day and warmer at night
• Barriers include gel strength, humidity protection and long-term durability