Advances in PCM–Conductive Polymer Composites: Fabrication Techniques, Limitations, and Future Opportunities

Polymer-enhanced phase change materials (PCMs), particularly those incorporating conductive polymers (CPs), have emerged as a multifunctional platform for advanced thermal energy storage, electrothermal conversion, and intelligent heat management. This review provides a comprehensive, methodologically driven analysis of fabrication strategies for integrating CPs with PCMs, emphasizing techniques such as in situ polymerization, micro/nanoencapsulation, vacuum-assisted impregnation, melt blending, and electrospinning. Each method is critically assessed in terms of its influence on thermal conductivity, latent heat capacity, phase retention, photothermal efficiency, and mechanical stability. The incorporation of CPs such as polypyrrole (PPy), polyaniline (PAni), and PEDOT:PSS not only addresses the inherent deficiencies of conventional PCMs namely low thermal conductivity and leakage but also enables active thermal modulation via electrical or solar input. Furthermore, the synergistic integration of CPs with nanostructured frameworks (e.g. graphene, MXene, CNTs) facilitates the formation of thermally and electrically conductive networks, thereby enhancing charge transport and interfacial heat transfer. This work delineates the structure – function relationship between synthesis methodology and composite performance, offering a detailed roadmap for the design and optimization of high-efficiency, stimuli-responsive CP-PCM systems in energy conversion, thermal regulation, and wearable electronics applications.