Phase change materials (PCMs) with their phenomenal phase changing behavior hold a key for many developments in renewable energy and engineering systems for sustainable future. PCM which can store and release heat energy over a temperature range has become an eminent candidate for many engineering applications that includes thermal, civil, electronics and textile. In modern days, Nano-PCMs have gained much attention of the engineers in utilizing them for thermal energy storage systems, for cooling microelectronic systems, for space heating or cooling in modern buildings and also in smart textiles for human comfort. Contribution of Nano-PCM based energy systems in energy savings and reduction of global gas emission is of interest now. This review provides an outlook of various types of PCM, choices of nanomaterial for incorporation and applications of nanomaterial incorporated PCMs. The most common types of PCM used are water, paraffin, hydrated salts and bio based PCM. Despite their high latent heat storage advantage, their low thermal property calls for the incorporation of nanomaterials. Nanomaterials with their high surface to volume ratio tune the thermal properties of the base PCM. Nanomaterials used for incorporation in PCM include Al, Cu, SiO2, TiO2, Carbon nanotubes (CNT), Carbon nanofibers (CNF), Al2O3, NaOH KOH etc.

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