Investigation on phase transitions of 1-decylammonium hydrochloride as the potential thermal energy storage material

1-Decylammonium hydrochloride was synthesized by the method of liquid phase synthesis. Chemical analysis, elemental analysis, and X-ray single crystal diffraction techniques were applied to characterize its composition and structure. Low-temperature heat capacities of the compounds were measured with a precision automated adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 78 to 380?K. Three solid–solid phase transitions have been observed at the peak temperatures of 307.52?±?0.13, 325.02?±?0.19, and 327.26?±?0.07?K. The molar enthalpies and entropies of three phase transitions were determined based on the analysis of heat capacity curves. Experimental molar heat capacities were fitted to two polynomial equations of the heat capacities as a function of temperature by least square method. Smoothed heat capacities and thermodynamic functions of the compound relative to the standard reference temperature 298.15?K were calculated and tabulated at intervals of 5?K based on the fitted polynomials.