A solar-thermal energy harvesting scheme: enhanced heat capacity of molten HITEC salt mixed with Sn/SiOx core-shell nanoparticlesElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Detailed experimental results are included for the following: SEM images of the HITEC molten salt with and without a mixture of Sn/SiOx core-shell NPs; statistical diameter distribution of pure Sn and Sn/SiOx core-shell NPs; the HAADF image and EDS linescan profile of a Sn/SiOx core-shell NP; XRD analysis for Sn NPs

We demonstrated enhanced solar-thermal storage by releasing the latent heat of Sn/SiO x core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in a eutectic salt. The microstructures and chemical compositions of Sn/SiO x core-shell NPs were characterized. In situ heating XRD provides dynamic crystalline information about the Sn/SiO x core-shell NPs during cyclic heating processes. The latent heat of ∼29 J g −1 for Sn/SiO x core-shell NPs was measured, and 30% enhanced heat capacity was achieved from 1.57 to 2.03 J g −1 K −1 for the HITEC solar salt without and with, respectively, a mixture of 5% Sn/SiO x core-shell NPs. In addition, an endurance cycle test was performed to prove a stable operation in practical applications. The approach provides a method to enhance energy storage in solar-thermal power plants. We demonstrated enhanced solar-thermal storage by releasing the latent heat of Sn/SiO x core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in a eutectic salt.