Phase change materials in 2026: overview
Phase change materials (PCMs) absorb or release latent heat as they change state, buffering temperature without continuous power. Their value spans building envelopes, thermal storage, batteries, electronics and cold-chain packaging. The engineering challenge is to match transition temperature and storage capacity to the duty cycle while preventing leakage, improving heat transfer and preserving mechanical and chemical stability over repeated cycling. This makes composite design and system-level heat exchange as important as the base material.
Recent work is tackling those bottlenecks through porous supports, encapsulation and conductive additives. In September 2026, researchers from Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Sunway University and United Arab Emirates University reported a porous hybrid matrix designed to improve heat transport and suppress leakage in organic PCMs. A September 2026 study from China Jiliang University and Zhejiang University used silica-shelled microcapsules and carbon nanostructures to address low conductivity and leakage. Separately, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory demonstrated a 3D-printed phase-change heatsink in September 2026, pointing to compact passive cooling as a practical direction.
- 1Conductivity meets containment: Porous supports and conductive fillers target the linked problems of slow heat transfer and leakage that limit practical PCM deployment.
- 2Composites lead the work: Composite and shape-stabilized materials are a prominent research direction, with designs spanning biomass supports, carbon additives and metal matrices.
- 3Thermal uses diversify: Research and development extend from building and industrial heat storage to battery, electronics and solar-thermal management.
Top organizations working on phase change materials
Ranked by Linknovate activity score · last 24 monthsThe activity score adds up the relevance of every patent, publication, grant and news item linking an organization to phase change materials. Showing 7 of 2,774 organizations.
| # | Organization | Approach | Signals (24 mo) | Momentum | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
Xi'an Jiaotong University
Research · China |
Encapsulated materials | PUB 170 | +15% | Recently, researchers investigated PCM storage-system geometries and fin designs to improve heat transfer and thermal-storage performance; its work also reviews micro- and nanoencapsulated PCMs to address leakage. |
| 2 | 
Guangdong University of Technology
Research · China |
Composite and shape-stabilized materials | PUB 135 · NEWS 1 | -11% | Recently, researchers developed graphene–carbon nanotube phase-change composites for improved heat transport and photothermal conversion, alongside flame-retardant PCMs for battery thermal management. |
| 3 | 
Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS
Research · China |
Composite and shape-stabilized materials | PUB 148 · NEWS 3 | +32% | Recently, researchers developed phase-change composites with biomimetic fibrous structures for photothermal conversion and energy storage, and studied carbon-supported PCMs to improve thermal performance and limit leakage. |
| 4 | 
King Khalid University
Research · Saudi Arabia |
Composite and shape-stabilized materials | PUB 132 | -3% | Recently, researchers experimentally investigated a gallium–hexagonal boron nitride composite PCM for lithium-ion battery thermal management; other work models paraffin-based latent-heat storage systems. |
| 5 | 
Hefei University of Technology
Research · China |
Composite and shape-stabilized materials | PAT 1 · PUB 114 | -2% | Recently, researchers developed galactitol–sodium pyrophosphate composite PCMs for cascade heat storage at 180–250 °C and fabricated geopolymer composites using waste cyanobacterial powder. |
| 6 | 
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
Research · Saudi Arabia |
Composite and shape-stabilized materials | PAT 3 · PUB 81 NEWS 1 |
+58% | Recently, researchers developed copper-coated recycled-fiber/paraffin composites for thermal storage, while other work incorporates biomass-based shape-stabilized PCMs into building materials. |
| 7 | 
University of Science and Technology Beijing
Research · China |
Encapsulated materials | PUB 90 · NEWS 6 | -19% | Recently, researchers developed hierarchical 3D microencapsulated phase-change composites for thermal management and solar-thermal conversion; related work examines microencapsulated PCMs in anti-icing coatings. |
| 8 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 9 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 10 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
Startups to watch and leading research centers
Startups to watch 35 total
Cowa Thermal SolutionsSwitzerlandRecently, Cowa filed patents covering a sodium acetate trihydrate eutectic PCM and a PCM composition with thermally conductive fillers and expanded graphite.
ZeroaviaUnited StatesZeroAvia's patent describes fuel-cell thermal management for aircraft using phase-change thermal storage to reduce cooling-system mass and parasitic power.- MRMawson RoversAustraliaRecently, a triply periodic minimal-surface heat sink containing PCM was demonstrated in orbit aboard the Matilda payload on the Waratah Seed-1 CubeSat for satellite avionics thermal management.
- ··Hidden startupCountryAvailable to registered users, with funding and founding year.
- ··Hidden startupCountryAvailable to registered users, with funding and founding year.
Leading research institutions 2,277 total
- Xi'an Jiaotong UniversityChinaRecently, researchers investigated PCM storage-system geometries and fin designs to improve heat transfer and thermal-storage performance; its work also reviews micro- and nanoencapsulated PCMs to address leakage.
- Guangdong University of TechnologyChinaRecently, researchers developed graphene–carbon nanotube phase-change composites for improved heat transport and photothermal conversion, alongside flame-retardant PCMs for battery thermal management.
- King Khalid UniversitySaudi ArabiaRecently, researchers experimentally investigated a gallium–hexagonal boron nitride composite PCM for lithium-ion battery thermal management; other work models paraffin-based latent-heat storage systems.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
Where phase change materials innovation happens
Share of documents with at least one organization from each country.
Open the interactive map with all 2,774 organizationsMain technical approaches
Last 24 months| Approach | What it is | Documents | Leading organizations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic materials | Organic PCMs offer tunable thermal storage, but low conductivity and leakage during melting can limit performance. | 1,680 |
PCM, Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS, GLA University |
| Inorganic materials | Inorganic PCMs can serve higher-temperature storage needs, but corrosion, stability and material compatibility require attention. | 1,082 |
PCM, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Guangdong University of Technology |
| Eutectic mixtures | Eutectic mixtures combine components to tailor transition behavior, with formulation and long-term stability as key trade-offs. | 849 |
Xi'an Jiaotong University, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, King Saud University |
| Composite and shape-stabilized materials | Composites confine PCM within a supporting matrix to reduce leakage and improve heat transfer, while adding material and fabrication complexity. | 3,444 |
Xi'an Jiaotong University, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Guangdong University of Technology |
| Encapsulated materials | Encapsulation contains PCM in protective shells for integration into other materials, but shell design can affect heat transfer and durability. | 749 |
Chang'an University, Hokkaido University, College Engineering |
Emerging trends
Last 12 months vs previous 36 monthsTerms whose frequency in the last 12 months grew the most compared with the previous 36 months.
Funding and investment
Recent funding rounds
Funding data records 143 grants totaling $188,504,020 since 2020. These figures indicate recorded grant activity, not necessarily funding dedicated exclusively to phase change materials.
Patent landscape
Top patent holders · last 24 monthsRecent developments
Latest news, duplicates removed- Sep 2026Dublin, Sept. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "Phase Change Material Market - Global Forecast 2026-2032" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Phase Change Material Market research report examines a…GlobeNewswire - Research Analysis And Reports
- Sep 2026The conversation around cold chain has shifted. For years, packaging sat at the end of the procurement queue, specified late and bought on price. That posture is breaking down. As biologics, cell therapies, and…GlobeNewswire - Advisory
- Sep 2026Johns Hopkins APL has 3D-printed a phase-change heatsink that cuts size and weight by more than half. Engineers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory have developed a heatsink that is additively…Electronics For You
- Aug 2026Designing a Closed‑Loop Energy System From Blueprints, Not Factories I’ve spent several years developing two energy systems that grew out of a simple conviction: renewable energy should not create new ecological…Startup on Medium
- Month 20XXHidden developmentAvailable to registered users with alerts enabled.
Frequently asked questions about phase change materials
What companies are working on phase change materials?
STMicroelectronics, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and LG Corp are among the leading patent holders listed for phase change materials. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd, Huawei and Samsung also appear among the top holders. These names indicate patent activity in the topic, but do not by themselves establish that each company sells PCM products.
Which phase change materials startups are the most promising in 2026?
Cowa Thermal Solutions, Zeroavia and Mawson Rovers are identified startups with phase-change-related work. Cowa has patents for a sodium acetate trihydrate eutectic PCM and conductive filler compositions. Zeroavia describes PCM thermal storage for aircraft fuel-cell cooling, while Mawson Rovers is associated with an in-orbit PCM heat sink demonstration.
Which universities and research centers lead phase change materials research?
Xi'an Jiaotong University, Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS and Guangdong University of Technology are among the prominent research organizations in the data. Their work includes storage-system geometries, micro- and nanoencapsulation, carbon-based composites and photothermal conversion. Other active groups include King Khalid University and Hefei University of Technology.
How much funding has phase change materials received?
The data lists 143 grants totaling $188,504,020 since 2020. Treat this as recorded grant activity associated with the topic, rather than a verified total of funding devoted exclusively to PCM research. The available figures do not identify a single program or grant as the definitive source of support.
Who holds the most phase change materials patents?
STMicroelectronics leads the listed patent holders with 43 patents, followed by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company with 36. LG Corp and Huawei each have 29, while Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd has 28. These figures describe the patent-holder counts in FACTS and do not indicate ownership of every relevant patent worldwide.
Is phase change materials patent activity growing?
No: the reported patent growth is -51.4%, with 1,171 patents in the defined window. Publication activity is also down, by 5.5% year over year, while the overall activity growth figure is -14.0%. These indicators describe recent recorded activity and do not establish whether any particular application or technical approach is growing.
What are the latest developments in phase change materials?
Recent work includes an engineered porous hybrid matrix for improved heat transport and leakage suppression, reported in September 2026 by Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Sunway University and United Arab Emirates University. A study from China Jiliang University and Zhejiang University explored silica-shelled microcapsules with carbon nanostructures. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory also reported a 3D-printed phase-change heatsink.
What are the main approaches in phase change materials and how do they differ?
The main approaches are organic materials, inorganic materials, eutectic mixtures, composite and shape-stabilized materials, and encapsulated materials. Organic and inorganic describe material families; eutectics combine components to tailor thermal behavior. Composites use a supporting matrix to limit leakage or improve heat transfer, while encapsulation contains the PCM within a shell for integration into other materials.
Which countries lead phase change materials?
China leads the listed country totals with 16,310 documents, followed by the United States with 9,762 and India with 4,904. The United Kingdom and Germany follow with 3,261 and 2,306 documents, respectively. These figures reflect recorded documents, not a direct measure of product deployment or commercial leadership.
What are the applications of phase change materials?
The listed applications include batteries and electric vehicles, electronics and data centers, thermal energy storage, buildings and HVAC, cold-chain packaging, and textiles and personal comfort. Batteries and electric vehicles have 1,330 documents, while electronics and data centers have 993 and thermal energy storage has 880. The areas differ in required transition temperatures, heat loads and system integration.