Magnetic cellulose nanocrystals hybrids reinforced phase change fiber composites with highly thermal energy storage efficiencies

•Magnetic cellulose nanocrystals hybrids reinforced PCF composites were prepared.•Dipole responsive magnetic/solar driven thermal energy storage of PCF composites have reported.•PCF composite exhibited magnetic or solar thermal energy storage efficiencies of 32.1 and 58.6 %.•The PCF composites showed excellent thermal performance and shape stability.•The PCF composites can be used as an integrated collector for potential fruits dryer devices. The intrinsic intermittence of solar energy raises the necessity for thermal energy storage (TES) systems to balance the contradiction between energy supply and demand energy. This work experimentally provides solid-liquid phase change materials (PCMs) with sufficient storage capacity and discharging rate to offer heating for agriculture products by enhancing heat transfer in phase change fiber composites (PCF). To achieve this, we prepared dipole responsive magnetic/solar-driven PCF composites reinforced with magnetic cellulose nanocrystals hybrids (MCNC). The obtained PCF/MCNC-5% showed excellent magnetic property with a saturation magnetization (MS) value of 1.3 emu/g and effective latent heat phase change enthalpies of 69.2 ± 3.5 J/g – 83.1 ± 4.2 J/g. More importantly, PCF/MCNC-5% showed robust high magnetic to thermal energy storage efficiency of 32.5 % and solar light accelerated energy storage efficiency of 58.5 %. These advantages make the PCF composites promising and more desirable for drying and preservation of the fruits and other agriculture products.