Nanofluids are engineered suspensions of nanoparticles that offer significantly enhanced thermophysical properties. By integrating relating materials science, thermal engineering, artificial intelligence, and sustainability assessment aspects into a unified framework, this book presents smart nanofluids as next-generation heat-transfer media for sustainable energy systems.

The book begins with fundamental concepts of nanofluid thermophysics, including mechanisms for thermal conductivity enhancement, particle-fluid interactions, and rheological behavior. It then explores environmentally responsible synthesis routes, emphasizing green chemistry and eco-design principles for nanoparticle production. Advanced characterization techniques to establish structure–property–performance relationships critical to nanofluid optimization are also discussed.

Next, the book covers artificial intelligence and machine learning in nanofluid design, as well as data-driven approaches, predictive modeling, and digital twin frameworks to accelerating materials discovery and optimizing thermophysical performance. Chapters on applications of smart nanofluids across major energy systems, including solar thermal collectors, hydrogen storage and fuel cells, and waste heat recovery systems highlight system-level performance improvements and engineering trade-offs in real-world applications.

Topics that address sustainability challenges include life-cycle assessment methodologies and circular economy principles. Finally, emerging trends such as magneto-responsive, electro-responsive, and photo-responsive nanofluids are discussed, along with future research directions and industrial challenges.

Dr. Adeola Olaoluwa Borode is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Nanoengineering and Advanced Materials (CeNAM), University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering (2022) from the University of Johannesburg, an M.Eng. (2017), and a B.Eng. (2011) from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. His research specializes in nanofluids, hybrid nanomaterials, thermophysical properties, heat transfer enhancement, and the application of machine learning techniques (ANN, ANFIS, RSM) for modeling and optimizing nanofluid performance in energy systems. He has hands-on experience in nanofluid synthesis, characterization, and stability enhancement, with a focus on graphene-based and advanced hybrid nanomaterials for solar thermal and sustainable energy applications. His work integrates computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with artificial intelligence to develop high-performance nanofluids and has authored peer-reviewed papers in the filed.

Professor Peter Apata Olubambi is a Professor in the Department of Engineering Metallurgy and Head of the Centre for Nanoengineering and Advanced Materials (CeNAM) at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He holds a Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering (2008) from the University of the Witwatersrand, and M.Eng. and B.Eng. degrees from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

His research expertise spans alloy design, nanomaterials, advanced materials processing, and sustainable materials development. He currently leads and coordinates the Master’s program in Sustainable Advanced Materials (research and coursework) within the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.

With over 300 peer-reviewed publications, more than 11,000 citations, and an h-index of 56, Prof. Olubambi is recognized among the world’s top 2% scientists (2022–2025) by Stanford University and Elsevier. His current research focuses on lightweight alloys for aerospace and biomedical applications, high-performance nanomaterials, and sustainable material innovations.