NU SEDS researchers lead a landmark global review of energy-saving materials, covering 40 years of research in a top-ranked journal.
Researchers from the NU School of Engineering and Digital Sciences (NU SEDS) have published a first-of-its-kind global review of four decades of scientific literature on phase change materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage in buildings. The study appears in Applied Energy, a top-tier journal ranked #1 in the “Building and Construction” category out of 223 journals, with a high Impact Factor of 10.1 and a position in the top 1% on Scopus.
The review was led by Abrar Ahmad, a NU graduate pursuing his PhD at Washington State University. While at NU, he was a research assistant to Associate Professor Dr. Shazim Memon. Ahmad’s paper critically examines 271 review articles on PCMs—from the earliest published in 1983 through to 2024—offering a unified synthesis of a highly fragmented field.
“This is the only known resource that offers a complete catalogue of all commercially available PCMs, including manufacturer information and direct website links,” said Dr. Memon. “The paper identifies both understudied and well-worn topics, helping guide future investigations. It also offers a critical analysis of PCM systems through the lenses of economic feasibility, environmental sustainability, and future directions, such as machine learning applications and alignment with circular economy principles and climate change goals.”
Ahmad emphasized that the practical implementation of PCM technologies in Kazakhstan and Central Asia hinges on three key factors: high logistics costs, the need for project-specific economic assessments, and compliance with national building standards. Well-designed pilot projects across different climate zones could help demonstrate technical feasibility and pave the way for regional adoption.
Ultimately, the study offers significant practical value for countries like Kazakhstan that experience extreme seasonal temperature shifts, providing both a roadmap for researchers and a foundation for energy-efficient building practices.
