Advancements in Phase Change Materials for Nearly Zero Energy Building Design: A Review

Authors

  • Suqi Wang College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Emma Marinie Binti Ahmad Zawawi College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Qi Jie Kwang College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Yihan Wu Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an, 223001 Jiangsu Province, China
  • Congxiang Tian Department of Built Studies and Technology, Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perak Branch, Seri Iskandar Campus, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24191/bej.v22i2.2421

Keywords:

Building envelope, Energy, Nearly zero energy building, PCM, Sustainability eco-building, Passive Energy Saving

Abstract

Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) leverage passive architectural design and active energy-saving technologies to create comfortable indoor environments while minimising energy use. This study aims to explore the utilisation of Phase Change Materials (PCM) to enhance the thermal inertia of building envelopes, reduce indoor temperature fluctuations, and decrease the capacity requirements of heating and cooling systems. The methodology involves a comprehensive review of the categorisation and properties of PCM, examining their integration with solar, air, and other renewable energy sources. The findings indicate that phase change materials applications in walls, windows, roofs, and floors can significantly enhance thermal inertia, reduce indoor temperature fluctuations, and improve energy efficiency. Additionally, incorporating nanoparticles such as Al₂O₃, TiO₂, and ZnO into PCM has been shown to enhance thermal conductivity, further optimising heat storage performance. The use of PCM presents an efficient and sustainable strategy for improving the energy performance of NZEBs. This study provides a valuable reference for the study and design of nearly zero energy buildings, emphasising sustainability and energy efficiency.

Author Biographies

Suqi Wang, College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Suqi Wang is a PhD student at the College of Built Environment, Planning and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, and an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Jiangsu, China. Her research focuses on building energy consumption, architectural and urban design, and traditional architecture. She has led provincial research projects and published in journals such as Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, Journal of Physics, and Journal of Autonomous Intelligence. She holds degrees in Architecture and Civil Engineering. Contact: suqiwang77@gmail.com | 22020001@hyit.edu.cn

Emma Marinie Binti Ahmad Zawawi , College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Emma Marinie Ahmad Zawawi is a Professor at the College of Built Environment, Planning and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia. Her research interests include heritage architecture, cultural landscape, and sustainable development in the built environment. She has led numerous national and institutional research projects and has published widely in areas related to architectural conservation and cultural heritage. Professor Emma actively supervises postgraduate research and contributes to academic development at UiTM through teaching, grants, and consultancy. She is also involved in academic collaborations across Southeast Asia. Email: emma@uitm.edu.my

Qi Jie Kwang, College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia

Qi Jie Kwong is a Associate Professor r at the College of Built Environment, Planning and Surveying, the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia. He specializes in indoor environmental quality, building services engineering, energy management, and thermal comfort. He has led several national research grants and published in journals such as Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, Journal of Building Engineering, and International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation. He is a Professional Engineer registered with BEM and a member of IEM and MEPA. Email: kwong@uitm.edu.my

Yihan Wu, Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huai’an, 223001 Jiangsu Province, China

Yihan Wu is an outstanding undergraduate student in Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, Jiangsu, China. Her research interests focus on building energy consumption and sustainable design. Her academic focus includes energy-saving strategies, indoor thermal comfort, and environmental simulation. wyh1010098312@gmail.com

Congxiang Tian, Department of Built Studies and Technology, Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Perak Branch, Seri Iskandar Campus, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia

Congxiang Tian is an Associate Professor at the College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Perak Branch, Malaysia. He is actively engaged in teaching and research related to [insert research areas, e.g., sustainable construction, urban planning, or building materials]. He contributes to academic excellence through his involvement in research projects, publications, and postgraduate supervision. He is also dedicated to advancing built environment studies in the region.Email: 2022884954@student.uitm.edu.my

References

Abdulmalik, I., Wang, J., Abiodun, B., Salami, S., Oyedele, L. O., & Otukogbe, G. K. (2023). Microencapsulated phase change materials for enhanced thermal energy storage performance in construction materials: A critical review. Construction and Building Materials, 401, 132877. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.132877

Abdalla, A. N., & Amin, S. (2023). An experimental comparative assessment of the energy and exergy efficacy of a ternary nanofluid-based photovoltaic/thermal system equipped with a sheet-and-serpentine tube collector. Journal of Cleaner Production, 395, 136460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136460

Ahangari, M., & Maerefat, M. (2019). An innovative PCM system for thermal comfort improvement and energy demand reduction in building under different climate conditions. Sustainable Cities and Society, 44, 120–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2018.09.008

Al-Yasiri, Q., & Szabó, M. (2021). Paraffin as a phase change material to improve building performance: An overview of applications and thermal conductivity enhancement techniques. Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability, 6, Article 38. https://doi.org/10.1051/rees/2021040

Bake, M., Shukla, A., & Liu, S. (2021). Development of gypsum plasterboard embodied with microencapsulated phase change material for energy efficient buildings. Materials Science for Energy Technologies, 4, 166–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MSET.2021.05.001

Chen, C., Cao, X., Zhang, S., Lei, Z., & Zhao, K. (2022). Dynamic characteristic and decoupling relationship of energy consumption on China’s construction industry. Buildings, 12(10), 1745. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12101745

Deng, Q., Zhang, S., Shan, M., & Li, J. (2023). Research on Envelope Thermal Performance of Ultra-Low Energy Rural Residential Buildings in China. Sustainability 2023, Vol. 15, Page 6931, 15(8), 6931. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU15086931

Economidou, M., Todeschi, V., Bertoldi, P., D’Agostino, D., Zangheri, P., & Castellazzi, L. (2020). Review of 50 years of EU energy efficiency policies for buildings. Energy and Buildings, 225, 110322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110322

Elder, K. E. (2018). Building envelope. In W. C. Turner & S. Doty (Eds.), Energy management handbook (9th ed., pp. 233–260). River Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003151364

Fang, Y., Ding, Y., Tang, Y., Liang, X., Jin, C., Wang, S., Gao, X., & Zhang, Z. (2019). Thermal properties enhancement and application of a novel sodium acetate trihydrate–formamide/expanded graphite shape-stabilized composite phase change material for electric radiant floor heating. Applied Thermal Engineering, 150, 1177–1185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2019.01.069

Facelli Sanchez, P., & Mercado Hancco, L. (2024). Trombe walls with porous medium insertion and their influence on thermal comfort in flats in Cusco, Peru. Energy and Built Environment, 5(2), 194–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbenv.2022.09.003

Fachinotti, V. D., Bre, F., Mankel, C., Koenders, E. A. B., & Caggiano, A. (2020). Optimization of Multilayered Walls for Building Envelopes Including PCM-Based Composites. Materials 2020, Vol. 13, Page 2787, 13(12), 2787. https://doi.org/10.3390/MA13122787

Faraj, K., Khaled, M., Faraj, J., Hachem, F., & Castelain, C. (2020). Phase change material thermal energy storage systems for cooling applications in buildings: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 119, 109579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.109579

Faraj, K., Khaled, M., Faraj, J., Hachem, F., & Chahine, K. (2022). Energetic and economic analyses of integrating enhanced macro-encapsulated PCM’s with active underfloor hydronic heating system. Energy Reports, 8, 848-862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2022.07.099

Guo, S., Yan, D., Hu, S., & Zhang, Y. (2021). Modelling building energy consumption in China under different future scenarios. Energy, 214, 119063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.119063

Hafez, F. S., Sa’di, B., Safa-Gamal, M., Taufiq-Yap, Y. H., Alrifaey, M., Seyedmahmoudian, M., Stojcevski, A., Horan, B., & Mekhilef, S. (2023). Energy efficiency in sustainable buildings: A systematic review with taxonomy, challenges, motivations, methodological aspects, recommendations, and pathways for future research. Energy Strategy Reviews, 45, 101013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2022.101013

Harputlugil, T., & de Wilde, P. (2021). The interaction between humans and buildings for energy efficiency: A critical review. Energy Research & Social Science, 71, 101828. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101828

Hassan, F., Jamil, F., Hussain, A., Ali, H. M., Janjua, M. M., Khushnood, S., Farhan, M., Altaf, K., Said, Z., & Li, C. (2022). Recent advancements in latent heat phase change materials and their applications for thermal energy storage and buildings: A state of the art review. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 49, 101646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2021.101646

Helmi, R. M., Abdallah, A. S. H., Abd-Elhady, M. S., & Aly, A. M. M. (2025). Influence of embedding paraffin wax in Trombe wall on heating of buildings. Journal of Advanced Engineering Trends, 44(1), 298–306. https://doi.org/10.21608/jaet.2025.323900.1346

Hu, Y., & Heiselberg, P. K. (2018). A new ventilated window with PCM heat exchanger—Performance analysis and design optimization. Energy and Buildings, 169, 185–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.03.060

Khan, M., Ibrahim, M., & Saeed, T. (2022). Space cooling achievement by using lower electricity in hot months through introducing PCM-enhanced buildings. Journal of Building Engineering, 53, 104506. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JOBE.2022.104506

Kim, J. T., & Yu, C. W. F. (2018). Sustainable development and requirements for energy efficiency in buildings – The Korean perspectives. Indoor and Built Environment, 27(6), 734–751. https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X18764622

Kurnitski, J. (2013). Cost optimal and nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB): definitions, calculation principles and case studies. Springer Science & Business Media.Koláček, M. (2017). Measurement of four-pane building window filled with a PCM. MATEC Web of Conferences, 125, https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201712502019

Lamrani, B., Johannes, K., & Kuznik, F. (2021). Phase change materials integrated into building walls: An updated review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 140, 110751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.110751

Li, Y., Mao, Y., Wang, W., & Wu, N. (2023). Net-zero energy consumption building in China: An overview of building-integrated photovoltaic case and initiative toward sustainable future development. Buildings, 13(8), 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13082024

Luo, Z., & Xu, H. (2025). Experimental study on the thermal performance of a hut integrated with phase change material combined with an active heating system. Applied Thermal Engineering, 268, 125968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2025.125968

Muzhanje, A. T., Hassan, M. A., & Hassan, H. (2022). Phase change material based thermal energy storage applications for air conditioning: Review. Applied Thermal Engineering, 214, 118832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2022.118832

Navarro, L., de Gracia, A., Niall, D., Castell, A., Browne, M., McCormack, S. J., Griffiths, P., & Cabeza, L. F. (2016). Thermal energy storage in building integrated thermal systems: A review. Part 2. Integration as passive system. Renewable Energy, 85, 1334–1356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2015.06.064

Prajapati, D. G., & Kandasubramanian, B. (2020). A Review on Polymeric-Based Phase Change Material for Thermo-Regulating Fabric Application. Polymer Reviews, 60(3), 389–419. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583724.2019.1677709

Pritom, M. M., Islam, M. A., Moshwan, M. M., et al. (2024). Phase change materials in textiles: Synthesis, properties, types and applications – A critical review. Textile Research Journal, 94(23–24), 2763–2779. https://doi.org/10.1177/00405175241246822

Sá, A. V., Azenha, M., De Sousa, H., & Samagaio, A. (2012). Thermal enhancement of plastering mortars with phase change materials: Experimental and numerical approach. Energy and Buildings, 49, 16–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.02.031

Stazi, F., Mastrucci, A., & Di Perna, C. (2012). The behavioSchossig, P., Henning, H. M., Gschwander, S., & Haussmann, T. (2005). Micro-encapsulated phase-change materials integrated into construction materials. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 89(2–3), 297–306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2004.02.057

Stazi, F., Mastrucci, A., & Di Perna, C. (2012).The behaviour of solar walls in residential buildings with different insulation levels: An experimental and numerical study. Energy and Buildings, 47, 217–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2011.11.039

Shah, K. W., Ong, P. J., Chua, M. H., Toh, S. H. G., Lee, J. J. C., Soo, X. Y. D., Png, Z. M., Ji, R., Xu, J., & Zhu, Q. (2022). Application of phase change materials in building components and the use of nanotechnology for its improvement. Energy and Buildings, 262, 112018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.112018

Shih, Y. F., Chang, C. W., Hsu, T. H., & Dai, W. Y. (2024). Application of Sustainable Wood-Plastic Composites in Energy-Efficient Construction. Buildings 2024, Vol. 14, Page 958, 14(4), 958. https://doi.org/10.3390/BUILDINGS14040958

Soares, N., Costa, J. J., Gaspar, A. R., & Santos, P. (2013). Review of passive PCM latent heat thermal energy storage systems towards buildings’ energy efficiency. Energy and Buildings, 59, 82–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.12.042

Socaciu, L. G. (2012). Thermal energy storage with phase change material. Leonardo Electronic Journal of Practices and Technologies, 20, 75–98. http://lejpt.academicdirect.org/A20/075_098.pdf

Soleiman Dehkordi, B., & Afrand, M. (2022). Energy-saving owing to using PCM into buildings: Considering of hot and cold climate region. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 52, 102112. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SETA.2022.102112

Suresh, C., Hotta, T. K., & Saha, S. K. (2022). Phase change material incorporation techniques in building envelopes for enhancing the building thermal comfort—A review. Energy and Buildings, 268, 112225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.112225

Silva, T., Vicente, R., Soares, N., & Ferreira, V. (2012). Experimental testing and numerical modelling of masonry wall solution with PCM incorporation: A passive construction solution. Energy and Buildings, 49, 235–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2012.02.010

Tyagi, V. V., Chopra, K., Kalidasan, B., Chauhan, A., Stritih, U., Anand, S., Pandey, A. K., Sarı, A., & Kothari, R. (2021). Phase change material based advance solar thermal energy storage systems for building heating and cooling applications: A prospective research approach. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, 47, 101318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2021.101318

Wang, G., Li, X., & Ju, H. (2025). Exterior PCM performance response to multilevel thermal performance and climate change in office buildings. Journal of Energy Storage, 113, 115578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2025.115578

Xing, J. C., Zhou, Y. C., Yu, Y. X., Li, L. F., & Chang, J. M. (2018). Simulation on heat storage and release performance of fatty acid phase change floor used for ground with heating system. Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 54(11), 20–28. https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/full/10.5555/20193192374c

Yang, L., Jin, X., Zhang, Y., & Du, K. (2021). Recent development on heat transfer and various applications of phase-change materials. Journal of Cleaner Production, 287, 124432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124432

Yang, Y. K., Kim, M. Y., Chung, M. H., & Park, J. C. (2019). PCM cool roof systems for mitigating urban heat island—An experimental and numerical analysis. Energy and Buildings, 205, 109537. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.109537

Zhang, G., Wang, Z., Li, D., Wu, Y., & Arıcı, M. (2020). Seasonal thermal performance analysis of glazed window filled with paraffin including various nanoparticles. International Journal of Energy Research, 44(4), 3008–3019. https://doi.org/10.1002/er.5129

Downloads

Published

01-07-2025

How to Cite

Wang, S., Ahmad Zawawi, E. M., Kwang, Q. J., Wu, Y. ., & Tian, C. (2025). Advancements in Phase Change Materials for Nearly Zero Energy Building Design: A Review. Built Environment Journal, 22(2). https://doi.org/10.24191/bej.v22i2.2421

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 2 (2025): Built Environment Journal

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Suqi Wang, Emma Marinie Binti Ahmad Zawawi , Qi Jie Kwang, Yihan Wu, Congxiang Tian

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International