The energy sector is one of the fields of interest for different nations around the world. Due to the current fossil fuel crisis, the scientific community develops new energy-saving experiences to address this concern. Buildings are one of the elements of higher energy consumption, so the generation of knowledge and technological development may offer solutions to this energy demand, which are more than welcome. Phase change materials (PCMs) included in building elements such as wall panels, blocks, panels or coatings, for heating and cooling applications have been shown, when heating, to increase the heat storage capacity by absorbing heat as latent heat. Therefore, the use of latent heat storage systems using phase change materials (PCMs) has been investigated within the last two decades. In the present review, the macro and micro encapsulation methods for construction materials are reviewed, the former being the most viable method of inclusion of PCMs in construction elements. In addition, based on the analysis of the existing papers on the encapsulation process of PCMs, the importance to pay more attention to the bio-based PCMs is shown, since more research is needed to process such PCMs. To determine its thermophysical and mechanical behavior at the micro and macro levels, in order to see the feasibility of substituting petroleum-based PCMs with a more environmentally friendly bio-based one, a section devoted to the excellent PCM with lightweight aggregate (PCM-LWA concrete) is presented due to the lack of description given in other reviews.

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) as reinforcements in polymeric coatings allows for direct interaction with the polymeric chains of the matrix, resulting in a synergistic process through physical (electrostatic forces) and chemical interactions (bond formation) for the improvement of the mechanical properties with relatively low weight concentrations of the NPs. In this investigation, different nanocomposite polymers were synthesized from the crosslinking reaction of the hydroxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane elastomer. Different concentrations (0, 2, 4, 8, and 10 wt%) of TiO₂ and SiO₂ nanoparticles synthesized by the sol-gel method were added as reinforcing structures. The crystalline and morphological properties of the nanoparticles were determined through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The molecular structure of coatings was through infrared spectroscopy (IR). The crosslinking, efficiency, hydrophobicity, and adhesion degree of the study groups were evaluated with gravimetric crosslinking tests, contact angle, and adhesion tests. It was observed that the crosslinking efficiency and surface adhesion properties of the different nanocomposites obtained were maintained. A slight increase in the contact angle was observed for the nanocomposites with 8 wt% compared to the polymer without reinforcements. The mechanical tests of indentation hardness and tensile strength following the ASTM E-384 and ISO 527 standards, respectively, were performed. As the nanoparticle concentration increased, a maximum increase of 157% in Vickers hardness, 71.4% in elastic modulus, and 80% in tensile strength was observed. However, the maximum elongation remained between 60 and 75%, ensuring that the composites did not become brittle.

The addition of nanostructures to polymeric materials allows for a direct interaction between polymeric chains and nanometric structures, resulting in a synergistic process through the physical (electrostatic forces) and chemical properties (bond formation) of constituents for the modification of their properties and potential cutting-edge materials. This study explores a novel in situ synthesis method for PDMS-%SiO₂ nanoparticle composites with varying crosslinking degrees (PDMS:TEOS of 15:1, 10:1, and 5:1); particle concentrations (5%, 10%, and 15%); and sol-gel catalysts (acidic and alkaline). This investigation delves into the distinct physical and chemical properties of silicon nanoparticles synthesized under acidic (SiO₂-a) and alkaline (SiO₂-b) conditions. A characterization through Raman, FT-IR, and XPS analyses confirms particle size and agglomeration differences between both the SiO₂-a and SiO₂-b particles. Similar chemical environments, with TEOS and ethanol by-products, were detected for both systems. The results on polymer composites elucidate the successful incorporation of SiO₂ nanoparticles into the PDMS matrix without altering the PDMS’s chemical structure. However, the presence of nanoparticles did affect the relative intensities of specific vibrational modes over composites from −35% to 24% (Raman) and from −14% to 59% (FT-IR). The XPS results validate the presence of Si, O, and C in all composites, with significant variations in atomic proportions (C/Si and O/Si) and Si and C component analyses through deconvolution techniques. This study demonstrates the successful in situ synthesis of PDMS-SiO₂ composites with tunable properties by controlling the sol-gel and crosslinking synthesis parameters. The findings provide valuable insights into the in situ synthesis methods of polymeric composite materials and their potential integration with polymer nanocomposite processing techniques.