Nanocapsules containing phase change material (PCM) n-dodecanol as core and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as shell were synthesized by miniemulsion polymerization with polymerizable emulsifier DNS-86 and co-emulsifier hexadecane (HD). The nanocapsules were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscope (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and laser particle diameter analyzer. The effects of polymerizable emulsifier and co-emulsifier on the properties of nanocapsules were studied. The results show that thermal properties of nanocapsules are affected greatly by the addition methods of HD and the amounts of DNS-86 and HD. Adding HD into water phase is helpful for the encapsulation of n-dodecanol. When the mass ratios of DNS-86 to n-dodecanol and the mass ratios of HD to n-dodecanol were 3% and 2%, the phase change latent heat and the encapsulation efficiency of nanocapsules reached to the maximum value of 98.8 J/g and 82.2%, respectively. Spherical nanocapsules with mean diameter of 150 nm and phase change temperature of 18.2 degrees C are obtained, which are sure to have a good potential for energy storage. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.