Dynamic, melted-particle-flow increases solar thermal storage efficiency 26X, from 1.9 to nearly 50%

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1127794

"solar thermal phase-change materials' top layer melts, turning insulative making it harder for heat to reach the unmelted solid underneath, overcome continuously feeding cold solid particles into concentrated solar rays' focal point/ removing hot melted ones... 2 mm core-shell manganese ferrite particles absorb >91% of solar radiation... 49.7% solar thermal storage efficiency, stable 686°C outlet temperature, survived 1K thermal cycles with 97% mass retention... slow, diffusion-limited now fast, advection-dominated"

Related:

Pitch perfect: synthetic turf sports fields become green energy source
https://environmentjournal.online/headlines/pitch-perfect-synthetic-turf-sports-fields-become-green-energy-source/

New solar thermal collector aims to cut fossil fuel use in industry
https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-solar-thermal-collector-aims-fossil.html

Steelmaking waste could store solar energy, with electric arc furnace slag leading early tests
https://techxplore.com/news/2026-09-steelmaking-solar-energy-electric-arc.html