The　soaring　global　demand　for　renewable　energy　and　building　energy　efficiency　has　significantly　propelled　the　application　of　phase-change　thermal　storage　walls　in　passive　building　thermal　regulation　and　solar　thermal　energy　harvesting.　This　study　reviews　innovative　designs　such　as　Trombe　walls　embedded　with　phase　change　materials,　multilayer　composite　phase　change　walls,　and　solar　photovoltaic-integrated　phase　change　walls,　revealing　an　average　energy　efficiency　improvement　of　15　%–20　%　in　thermal　energy　storage　and　release.　Compared　to　building　energy　efficiency　of　traditional　insulation　materials,　phase　change　materials　can　achieve　energy　savings　ranging　from　23.5　%　to　52.7　%.　Incorporating　phase　change　materials　into　walls　and　ceilings　not　only　enhances　indoor　comfort　but　also　achieves　a　42　%　cost　reduction　and　a　32　%　decrease　in　energy　consumption.　A　heating　system　combining　solar　air　heaters　with　ventilated　phase　change　wall　exhibits　heat　storage　efficiencies　between　76.3　%　and　87.6　%,　and　heat　release　efficiencies　within　the　range　of　75.2　%–83.2　%.　The　use　of　two　layers　of　phase　change　walls,　each　with　a　thickness　of　30　mm,　can　enhance　energy　efficiency　by　6.4　%　in　summer　and　17.8　%　in　winter.　This　study　enhances　thermal　energy　management　by　summarizing　phase　change　materials　selection,　encapsulation　techniques,　and　new　material　exploration.　It　overviews　phase　change　wall　applications　across　regions,　showcasing　energy　self-sufficiency,　especially　in　solar　energy　use.　Precise　simulations　on　heat　transfer　processes　provide　a　basis　for　design　optimization.　Future　research　will　focus　on　phase　change　materials　performance　optimization,　energy　technology　integration,　intelligent　control,　driving　buildings　towards　greater　energy　self-sufficiency　and　environmental　friendliness.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd