Projects per year
Organisation profile
Introduction / mission
The Thermo-Chemical Materials Lab studies materials for compact loss free storage of thermal energy (heat and cold). Thermal energy storage is a key element for a successful energy transition as renewable energy production fluctuates. This leads to a mismatch in production and consumption. Presently, there is a lack of materials able to store heat for periods longer than a day. Thermo-chemical materials (TCM’s) form a promising class for compact loss free storage over periods of weeks, months and even a year. In our lab we study salt hydrates for low temperature heat storage based on hydration transitions (water molecules are incorporated into the crystal lattice of the salt). Hydrating a crystal leads to energy release, while dehydration results in energy storage. We study the mechanisms of (de)hydration in order to understand the power output of TCM’s. Further we try to accelerate the power output by doping the crystals and stabilize the performance of TCM’s by making hybrid organic/inorganic matrices.
Highlighted phrase
Without energy storage, no energy transition. Without energy storage materials, no energy storage
Organisation profile
Henk Huinink is an expert in vapor induced solid-solid phase transitions and their application in the field of thermal energy storage. With his team he is investigating hydration-dehydration transitions of crystals in order to utilize these reactions for manufacturing a heat battery. He is involved in two major EU H2020 consortia (CREATE and HEAT INSYDE) that aim for demonstrating long term compact heat storage. Furthermore, he leads the NWO funded Mat4Heat project in which a group of 5 PhD students study crystal hydrates and their application to heat storage.
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Profiles
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Joey Aarts, MSc
- Applied Physics and Science Education, Thermo-Chemical Materials Lab
- Applied Physics and Science Education, Transport in Permeable Media - Postdoc
Person: Prom. : doctoral candidate (PhD), PD : Postdoc
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Martina Cotti
- Applied Physics and Science Education, Thermo-Chemical Materials Lab
- Applied Physics and Science Education, Transport in Permeable Media - Doctoral Candidate
Person: Prom. : doctoral candidate (PhD), Prom. : doctoral candidate (PhD)
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Michaela Eberbach
- Applied Physics and Science Education, Thermo-Chemical Materials Lab
- Applied Physics and Science Education, Transport in Permeable Media - Doctoral Candidate
Person: Prom. : doctoral candidate (PhD), Prom. : doctoral candidate (PhD)
Projects
- 1 Finished
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CTSE1507 Dope4Heat
Noijen, J. (Project member), Dalderop, J. H. J. (Project member), Huinink, H. P. (Project Manager) & Houben, J. (Project member)
1/12/17 → 27/06/22
Project: Research direct
Research output
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Earth Alkali Oxalates for Heat Storage: Linking Crystal Structure to (Ir)reversible (De)hydration
Aarts, J. (Corresponding author), Kirk, C., Adan, O. & Huinink, H., 7 May 2025, In: Crystal Growth and Design. 25, 9, p. 3110–3118 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
Extreme hygroscopic salts do not accelerate the hydration kinetics but reduce the swelling of K2CO3 tablets
Cotti, M., Fischer, H., Adan, O. & Huinink, H. (Corresponding author), 30 Sept 2025, In: Journal of Energy Storage. 131, B, 14 p., 117559.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Graphene Nanoplatelet Distribution Governs Thermal Conductivity and Stability of Paraffin-Based PCMs
Wijkhuijs, L. E. A., Schmit, P., Schreur-Piet, I., Huinink, H. P., Tuinier, R. & Friedrich, H. (Corresponding author), 2 Apr 2025, In: Nanomaterials. 15, 8, 22 p., 587.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile10 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
- 3 Contributed talk
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Hydration of salt hydrates inside different silica gels
Eberbach, M. (Speaker)
22 Sept 2020 → 25 Sept 2020Activity: Talk or presentation types › Contributed talk › Scientific
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Improving power output of K2CO3 by incorporating ions for long term heat storage
Mazur, N. (Speaker)
22 Sept 2020 → 25 Sept 2020Activity: Talk or presentation types › Contributed talk › Scientific
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Improving power output of K2CO3 by incorporating ions for long term heat storage
Mazur, N. (Speaker)
16 Mar 2020 → 18 Mar 2020Activity: Talk or presentation types › Contributed talk › Scientific
Press/Media
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Pioneering the energy transition with revolutionary heat storage systems
Adan, O. C. G. & Mazur, N.
16/01/23
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Expert Comment
Student theses
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Hydration fronts and particle bed mechanics: Visual studies of thermo-chemical heat storage flat-bed reactors: An experimental physics study of sustainable energy storage
van Schaik, B. J. A. (Author), Huinink, H. P. (Supervisor 1) & Cotti, M. (Supervisor 2), 20 Jul 2022Student thesis: Master
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Hydration of a packed bed with K2CO3 particles for thermochemical energy storage: an experimental study
Raemaekers, T. L. E. M. (Author), Donkers, P. A. J. (Supervisor 1) & Huinink, H. P. (Supervisor 2), 1 Sept 2021Student thesis: Master
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Influence of water activity during conidiation of penicillium rubens on germination and hyphal growth
Haaijer, K. (Author), Ruijten, P. (Supervisor 1) & Huinink, H. P. (Supervisor 2), 2016Student thesis: Bachelor
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