Exploring additives for improving the reliability of zinc nitrate hexahydrate as a phase change material (PCM)

•Zinc hydroxyl nitrate and zinc oxide were investigated as nucleators for zinc nitrate hexahydrate.•Zinc oxide and zinc hydroxyl nitrate reduced the supercooling by 8.8 °C and 8.2 °C respectively.•Zinc hydroxyl nitrate and zinc oxide are not susceptible to aging and thermal cycling.•Zinc nitrate hexahydrate is stable up to 500 thermal cycles.•Zinc nitrate hexahydrate is ideal candidate for applications in 36°C range.