Evaluation of novel binary imidazolium ionic liquid-based WO3/MgO nanocomposite for light-to-thermal energy conversion and storage- a preliminary study

Ionic liquids are gaining attention for their potential in thermal energy storage due to their unique properties e.g. thermal and chemical stability, tunability, low volatility, and environmental friendliness. Ionic liquid-based nanocomposites have been a popular choice for batteries and supercapacitors and have been utilized as heat transfer fluids; however, no studies have been done with these nanomaterials in light-to-thermal energy applications. This research developed a novel binary imidazolium ionic liquid-based WO₃/MgO nanocomposite and further studied its suitability in light-to-thermal energy conversion systems. The nanocomposite was integrated into 0.2 wt%, 0.4 wt%, and 0.6 wt% concentrations with RT-54 to evaluate the thermophysical properties of the PCMs. A massive rise in optical absorptivity (233.33%) and enhanced thermal conductivity (20.81%) has been achieved. At the same time, the system exhibits thermal stability and excellent thermal reliability, where 0.6 wt% had the most thermal reliability and 0.4 wt% had the highest storage enhancements. With the proven well-rounded properties in our study, this genre of new materials will open new doors for future research in energy storage devices.