Thermo-Cell

Overheating in modern smartphones causes thermal throttling, reduced processing performance, accelerated battery degradation, and shortened device lifespan. To address this challenge, PlanetCase developed Thermo-Cell, an energy-free passive cooling smartphone case designed for heavy smartphone users. The solution integrates a Phase Change Material (PCM) within a microporous cellulose aerogel matrix to absorb excess heat via latent heat storage and prevent leakage through capillary forces, where it was overlaid and attache on a high-durability PLA/TPU composite casing. Technically, PCM cellulose aerogel prototype was fabricated using vacuum impregnation for PCM encapsulation, melt blending for composite preparation and FDM 3D printing, with testing conducted to evaluate thermal reduction, tensile strength, and Young's modulus. Experimental results demonstrated that after 10 minutes of heat exposure, the PCM-impregnated cellulose aerogel reduced temperatures from 66.1°C to 52.7°C (20.3% improvement over non-PCM aerogel). Meanwhile, the PLA/TPU achieved a tensile strength of 31.1 MPa and a Young's modulus of 2.19 GPa which is higher up to 211% and 21.7% respectively, compared to the commercial silicone phone case. In conclusion, Thermo-Cell successfully combines advanced bio-based materials with mechanical durability to offer a commercially viable, sustainable thermal management solution aligned with SDG 9 and SDG 12.