IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i3p707-d1583150.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Nanofluids in Thermal Energy Storage Systems: A Comprehensive Review

Author

Listed:
  • Mohamed Shameer Peer

    (Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Mario Cascetta

    (Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Luca Migliari

    (Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

  • Mario Petrollese

    (Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, 09123 Cagliari, Italy)

Abstract

Nanofluids, which consist of nanosized particles dispersed in a base fluid, represent a promising solution to improve the performance of thermal energy storage systems. This review offers a comprehensive overview of nanofluids and their applications in thermal energy storage systems, discussing their thermal properties, heat transfer mechanisms, synthesis techniques, and application in latent heat storage systems. Various types of nanofluids are examined, including metal oxide, carbon-based, and metallic nanofluids, highlighting their effects on thermal conductivity, latent heat and the phase change temperature. A review of experimental and numerical studies showcases the performance of thermal energy storage systems incorporating nanofluids and the factors influencing their thermophysical characteristics and energy storage capacity. Finally, the key findings of current research are summarized, as well as the challenges and the potential future directions in nanofluid-based thermal energy storage systems research, emphasizing the need to optimize nanoparticle concentration and long-term durability.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohamed Shameer Peer & Mario Cascetta & Luca Migliari & Mario Petrollese, 2025. "Nanofluids in Thermal Energy Storage Systems: A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-53, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:3:p:707-:d:1583150
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/3/707/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/3/707/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Soni, Vikram & Kumar, Arvind & Jain, V.K., 2018. "Performance evaluation of nano-enhanced phase change materials during discharge stage in waste heat recovery," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 587-601.
    2. Aydin, Devrim & Casey, Sean P. & Riffat, Saffa, 2015. "The latest advancements on thermochemical heat storage systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 356-367.
    3. Akeiber, Hussein & Nejat, Payam & Majid, Muhd Zaimi Abd. & Wahid, Mazlan A. & Jomehzadeh, Fatemeh & Zeynali Famileh, Iman & Calautit, John Kaiser & Hughes, Ben Richard & Zaki, Sheikh Ahmad, 2016. "A review on phase change material (PCM) for sustainable passive cooling in building envelopes," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 1470-1497.
    4. Zhang, Peng & Li, Kefeng & Liu, Qingyuan & Zou, Qingping & Liang, Ruifeng & Qin, Leilei & Wang, Yuanming, 2024. "Thermal stratification characteristics and cooling water shortage risks for pumped storage reservoir–green data centers under extreme climates," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    5. Zhang, Long & Zhou, Kechao & Wei, Quiping & Ma, Li & Ye, Wentao & Li, Haichao & Zhou, Bo & Yu, Zhiming & Lin, Cheng-Te & Luo, Jingting & Gan, Xueping, 2019. "Thermal conductivity enhancement of phase change materials with 3D porous diamond foam for thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 208-219.
    6. Parameshwaran, R. & Deepak, K. & Saravanan, R. & Kalaiselvam, S., 2014. "Preparation, thermal and rheological properties of hybrid nanocomposite phase change material for thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 320-330.
    7. Hosam M. Saleh & Amal I. Hassan, 2023. "Synthesis and Characterization of Nanomaterials for Application in Cost-Effective Electrochemical Devices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-52, July.
    8. Petrollese, Mario & Cascetta, Mario & Tola, Vittorio & Cocco, Daniele & Cau, Giorgio, 2022. "Pumped thermal energy storage systems integrated with a concentrating solar power section: Conceptual design and performance evaluation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C).
    9. Tian, Heqing & Du, Lichan & Wei, Xiaolan & Deng, Suyan & Wang, Weilong & Ding, Jing, 2017. "Enhanced thermal conductivity of ternary carbonate salt phase change material with Mg particles for solar thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 525-530.
    10. Ma, Zhenjun & Lin, Wenye & Sohel, M. Imroz, 2016. "Nano-enhanced phase change materials for improved building performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1256-1268.
    11. Dahash, Abdulrahman & Ochs, Fabian & Janetti, Michele Bianchi & Streicher, Wolfgang, 2019. "Advances in seasonal thermal energy storage for solar district heating applications: A critical review on large-scale hot-water tank and pit thermal energy storage systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 296-315.
    12. Alva, Guruprasad & Lin, Yaxue & Fang, Guiyin, 2018. "An overview of thermal energy storage systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 341-378.
    13. Yu, Qiang & Zhang, Cancan & Lu, Yuanwei & Kong, Qinglong & Wei, Haijiao & Yang, Yanchun & Gao, Qi & Wu, Yuting & Sciacovelli, Adriano, 2021. "Comprehensive performance of composite phase change materials based on eutectic chloride with SiO2 nanoparticles and expanded graphite for thermal energy storage system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1120-1132.
    14. Calderón-Vásquez, Ignacio & Segovia, Valentina & Cardemil, José M. & Barraza, Rodrigo, 2021. "Assessing the use of copper slags as thermal energy storage material for packed-bed systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    15. Al-Jethelah, Manar & Tasnim, Syeda Humaira & Mahmud, Shohel & Dutta, Animesh, 2018. "Nano-PCM filled energy storage system for solar-thermal applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 126(C), pages 137-155.
    16. Shamberger, Patrick J. & Bruno, Nickolaus M., 2020. "Review of metallic phase change materials for high heat flux transient thermal management applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    17. Han, Dongmei & Guene Lougou, Bachirou & Xu, Yantao & Shuai, Yong & Huang, Xing, 2020. "Thermal properties characterization of chloride salts/nanoparticles composite phase change material for high-temperature thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Zhi & Lu, Yiji & Huang, Rui & Chang, Jinwei & Yu, Xiaonan & Jiang, Ruicheng & Yu, Xiaoli & Roskilly, Anthony Paul, 2021. "Applications and technological challenges for heat recovery, storage and utilisation with latent thermal energy storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    2. Sihvonen, Ville & Ollila, Iisa & Jaanto, Jasmin & Grönman, Aki & Honkapuro, Samuli & Riikonen, Juhani & Price, Alisdair, 2024. "Role of power-to-heat and thermal energy storage in decarbonization of district heating," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    3. Ayah Marwan Rabi’ & Jovana Radulovic & James M. Buick, 2025. "Comparative Study of Different Gases for Packed-Bed Thermal Energy Storage Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-19, March.
    4. Mahdi, Jasim M. & Mohammed, Hayder I. & Hashim, Emad T. & Talebizadehsardari, Pouyan & Nsofor, Emmanuel C., 2020. "Solidification enhancement with multiple PCMs, cascaded metal foam and nanoparticles in the shell-and-tube energy storage system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    5. Behzadi, Amirmohammad & Holmberg, Sture & Duwig, Christophe & Haghighat, Fariborz & Ooka, Ryozo & Sadrizadeh, Sasan, 2022. "Smart design and control of thermal energy storage in low-temperature heating and high-temperature cooling systems: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    6. Kawaguchi, Takahiro & Sakai, Hiroki & Sheng, Nan & Kurniawan, Ade & Nomura, Takahiro, 2020. "Microencapsulation of Zn-Al alloy as a new phase change material for middle-high-temperature thermal energy storage applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    7. Li, Chuan & Li, Qi & Ding, Yulong, 2019. "Investigation on the thermal performance of a high temperature packed bed thermal energy storage system containing carbonate salt based composite phase change materials," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 374-388.
    8. Singh, Aditya Kumar & Rathore, Pushpendra Kumar Singh & Sharma, R.K. & Gupta, Naveen Kumar & Kumar, Rajan, 2023. "Experimental evaluation of composite concrete incorporated with thermal energy storage material for improved thermal behavior of buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    9. Liu, Jiatao & Lu, Shilei, 2024. "Thermal performance of packed-bed latent heat storage tank integrated with flat-plate collectors under intermittent loads of building heating," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    10. Jayathunga, D.S. & Karunathilake, H.P. & Narayana, M. & Witharana, S., 2024. "Phase change material (PCM) candidates for latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) in concentrated solar power (CSP) based thermal applications - A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    11. Tian, Heqing & Kou, Zhaoyang & Pang, Xinchang & Yu, Yinsheng, 2023. "Molecular dynamics simulation on thermophysical properties and local structure of ternary chloride salt for thermal energy storage and transfer system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    12. Xu, Y.X. & Yan, J. & Zhao, C.Y., 2022. "Investigation on application temperature zone and exergy loss regulation based on MgCO3/MgO thermochemical heat storage and release process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PC).
    13. Rostami, Sara & Afrand, Masoud & Shahsavar, Amin & Sheikholeslami, M. & Kalbasi, Rasool & Aghakhani, Saeed & Shadloo, Mostafa Safdari & Oztop, Hakan F., 2020. "A review of melting and freezing processes of PCM/nano-PCM and their application in energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    14. Golmohamadi, Hessam & Larsen, Kim Guldstrand & Jensen, Peter Gjøl & Hasrat, Imran Riaz, 2022. "Integration of flexibility potentials of district heating systems into electricity markets: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    15. Stylianos Flegkas & Felix Birkelbach & Franz Winter & Hans Groenewold & Andreas Werner, 2019. "Profitability Analysis and Capital Cost Estimation of a Thermochemical Energy Storage System Utilizing Fluidized Bed Reactors and the Reaction System MgO/Mg(OH) 2," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-16, December.
    16. Patel, Bhaskar & Rathore, Pushpendra Kumar Singh & Gupta, Naveen Kumar & Sikarwar, Basant Singh & Sharma, R.K. & Kumar, Rajan & Pandey, A.K., 2023. "Location optimization of phase change material for thermal energy storage in concrete block for development of energy efficient buildings," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    17. Rahimi, M. & Ardahaie, S. Saedi & Hosseini, M.J. & Gorzin, M., 2020. "Energy and exergy analysis of an experimentally examined latent heat thermal energy storage system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(P1), pages 1845-1860.
    18. Kassianne Tofani & Saeed Tiari, 2021. "Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials in Latent Heat Thermal Energy Storage Systems: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-34, June.
    19. Lou, Wanruo & Xie, Baoshan & Aubril, Julien & Fan, Yilin & Luo, Lingai & Arrivé, Arnaud, 2023. "Optimized flow distributor for stabilized thermal stratification in a single-medium thermocline storage tank: A numerical and experimental study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    20. Tang, Yaojie & Su, Di & Huang, Xiang & Alva, Guruprasad & Liu, Lingkun & Fang, Guiyin, 2016. "Synthesis and thermal properties of the MA/HDPE composites with nano-additives as form-stable PCM with improved thermal conductivity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 116-129.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:3:p:707-:d:1583150. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.