Topology optimization for next-generation thermal energy storage technologies: recent advances and future directions
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This review examines recent advances in topology optimization for thermal energy storage, covering sensible, latent and thermochemical systems. Reported improvements range from about 10% to several-fold, with representative studies showing 30–50% shorter phase-change times and up to 47% higher heat release in closed thermochemical reactors. Emerging directions, including multi-operating-condition design, AI-assisted acceleration, and manufacturability-aware optimization, are also discussed, highlighting the role of topology optimization in next-generation thermal energy storage technologies.
Date Acceptance
2026-04-08
Citation
npj Thermal Science and Engineering, 1
ISSN
3059-3301
Publisher
Nature Research
Journal / Book Title
npj Thermal Science and Engineering
Volume
1
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2026. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
License URL
Identifier
10.1038/s44435-026-00012-7
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
11
Date Publish Online
2026-07-07