Thermochromic phase change materials: Optical – Thermal coupling, fabrication, and applications — A review

Growing energy scarcity and climate change pressures are accelerating the development of thermochromic phase change materials (TPCMs), which couple latent heat storage with temperature-dependent optical modulation for adaptive thermal regulation. This review summarizes their design principles, preparation strategies, structure-property relationships, and emerging applications. Particular emphasis is placed on organic-inorganic hybridization, nanoscale engineering, interfacial regulation, and bioinspired design. Practical deployment remains hindered by low thermal conductivity, poor long-term stability, weak environmental adaptability, high manufacturing costs, and suboptimal energy-storage performance. Future research should prioritize AI-assisted design, sustainable manufacturing, and multifunctional integration. By synthesizing recent advances, unresolved challenges, and research priorities, this review provides theoretical insights and engineering guidance for the practical implementation of TPCMs.