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Yan et al. Soft Sci. 2025, 5, 8 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/ss.2024.66 Page 13 of 34

Figure 4. Flexible PCCs based on microcapsule encapsulation. (A) Preparation of MXene/MPCM/PUA composites, energy storage
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density, and photothermal conversion properties. Reproduced with permission from ref . Copyright 2024, Elsevier; (B) Preparation of
PAPP composite membranes, thermal storage capacity, and photothermal and electro-thermal conversion. Reproduced with permission
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from ref . Copyright 2024, Elsevier. PCCs: Phase change composites; MPCM: microcapsule phase change material; PUA:
polyurethane acrylate; PAPP: polypyrrole and polydopamine modified microencapsulated films.
conversion efficiency is improved by the PW’s high storage energy density, pleated PPy, and continuous BN
network. This work offers an effective strategy for the development of flexible PCCs with multifunctional
capabilities, which have broad application potential. Designing unique network structures to adsorb PCMs
is also one of the strategies for obtaining flexible PCCs, Cheng et al. prepared a flexible support material
[CS/PVA/CNTs (CPC)] with a folded layer-bridge network structure by dispersing CNTs in an acetic acid
solution of chitosan (CS) and PVA using a directional freezing method, and then vacuum impregnated
polyethylene glycol (PEG) to obtain a CPC@PEG PCC [Figure 5B] . The material’s exceptional
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mechanical qualities and flexibility include a high tensile strength of 2.42 MPa and flexural resistance
surpassing 100 cycles. In addition, it demonstrates excellent latent heat storage (enthalpy up to 152.7 J/g)
because of the many macropores in the multistage pores and the hydrogen bonding contacts between the
PEG molecules and the CPC scaffolds. With its exceptional mechanical qualities and high thermal storage
capacity, the composite PCM holds promise for flexible temperature control materials that can be worn on
the skin in the future. Flexible PCCs not only play a role in solar energy harvesting, electronics thermal
management, and human body thermal management but also have unique applications in the face of
medical thermotherapy, Chen et al. proposed a simple and low-cost organic solvent-free route to construct
3D freestanding flexible cellulose nanofibers (CNF) sponges with layered interconnections, followed by