We reported a design of novel thermochromic phase-change microcapsules (TCMs) with a sandwich-structured shell for reversible and durable indication of thermal energy storage and management in real-time. Two types of TCMs with red and blue color indicators were successfully constructed by fabricating a silica base shell onto the n-docosane core, followed by formation of a thermochromic indication layer and a polymeric protective layer, and their multilayered configuration and well-defined core-shell structure were confirmed by microstructural investigation and chemical composition analysis. These two types of TCMs not only showed an outstanding latent heat-storage/release capability with a high capacity over 150 J/g, but also exhibited a good shape stability, high thermal stability and excellent phase-change reversibility and durability. The optimum operation conditions for thermal energy charge/discharge were also determined by nonisothermal and isothermal differential scanning calorimetric analyses. Most of all, the two types of TCMs presented an entirely reversible thermochromic behavior individually with high-contrast red and blue color indications for the phase-change state of n-docosane core. Both of them exhibited high reversibility and long cycle life in thermochromic indication, which meets the design requirements for durable indication of latent heat storage and thermal management in real-time. In the light of an innovative configuration of sandwich-structured shell and a smart combination of latent heat-storage and thermochromic functions, the TCMs designed by this study has a great potential for applications in smart fibers and textiles, wearable electric devices, energy-saving buildings, temperature-sensitive medical system, safety clothing, smart windows, aerospace engineering and many more.

我们报道了一种新型热致变色相变微囊（TCM）的设计，该微囊具有夹心结构的外壳，用于实时可逆和持久地指示热能存储和管理。通过将二氧化硅基壳制造到n上，成功构建了两种带有红色和蓝色指示剂的中药-二十二烷核，然后形成热致变色指示层和聚合物保护层，并通过微观结构研究和化学组成分析证实了它们的多层结构和明确定义的核-壳结构。这两类中药不仅显示出出色的潜热储存/释放能力，而且容量超过150 J / g，而且具有良好的形状稳定性，高热稳定性以及出色的相变可逆性和耐久性。还通过非等温和等温差示扫描量热分析确定了热能充放电的最佳操作条件。最重要的是正二十二烷核心。两者在热致变色指示方面均显示出高可逆性和较长的循环寿命，满足了对潜热存储和热管理进行实时持久指示的设计要求。鉴于三明治结构外壳的创新配置以及潜热存储和热致变色功能的巧妙结合，本研究设计的中药在智能纤维和纺织品，可穿戴电子设备，节能方面具有广阔的应用潜力建筑物，对温度敏感的医疗系统，安全服，智能窗户，航空航天工程等等。