This dataset contains the optical, morphological, thermal and thermo-optical characterization of a serie of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films containing phase change materials (paraffin) nanoparticles. Phase modulation of these materials is compared to PVA and polydimetoxisilane (PDMS). Data regarding the paraffin nanoparticles, plain PVA, and PDMS, is also reported.

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Grup d’Electroquímica, Fotoquímica i Reactivitat Orgànica (GEFRO). 1. Description of methods used for collection-generation of data: Refractive index measurements: data was obtained using an Abbe refractometer NAR-1T. The temperature was controled with a recirculating thermobath system. 1-bromonaphtalene was used as inmersion oil for PVA film. Transmittance measurements: data was obtained using an Agilent Cary 60 spectrophotometer. The temperature of the samples was controlled with a or with a custom-made holder in which the sample of interest was kept between two sapphire windows attached to two cupper sheets, which were connected to a temperature controller. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements: data was obtained using a TA-instruments Q20. A temperature ramp rate of 10 °C min-1 was used for all the samples. Electron microscopy data: TEM images were acquired with a TEM JEM-1400 (120 kV) microscope. SEM images were acquired with a FEI Quanta 650 ESEM microscope applying a 5 kV voltage. Size histograms were obtained from the microscopy images using ImageJ software. Optical diffraction tomography measurments were obtained according to the methodology described in "Adarsh B. Vasista et al. ,Non–steady state thermometry with optical diffraction tomography.Sci. Adv.10,eadk5440(2024).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adk5440". 2. Methods for processing the data: The data was either obtained directly from the instrument software in csv format or readed analogically and writed in the notebook. All ASCII data was plotyed using Origin and MATLAB. Optical diffraction tomography data was processed using MATLAB according to the methodology described in "Adarsh B. Vasista et al. ,Non–steady state thermometry with optical diffraction tomography.Sci. Adv.10,eadk5440(2024).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adk5440". 3. Instrument- or software- specific information needed to interpret the data: Excel, Origin or MATLAB. 4. Instruments, calibration and standards information: Abbe refractometer NAR-1T; Agilent Cary 60 spectrophotometer; TA-instruments Q20; TEM JEM-1400 microscope; FEI Quanta 650 ESEM microscope. 5. Environmental or experimental conditions: Experiments conducted at atmospheric pressure and controled temperatures.