Hybrid nanoparticles

A hybrid nanoparticle comprising:

• a phase change material constituting an inner core of said hybrid nanoparticle, wherein the phase change material comprises one of hydrocarbons, wax, paraffins, salt hydrates, silicones, and polymers;
• a polymer layer, the polymer layer encapsulating the phase change material, and
• an impermeable metal shell encapsulating the polymer layer, said polymer layer and said impermeable metal shell containing said phase change material in different phase change states.

A heat transfer fluid containing suspended nanoparticles, said nanoparticles comprising:

• a phase change material, a polymer layer, the polymer layer encapsulating the phase change material, and a metal shell, the metal shell encapsulating the polymer layer.

A hybrid nanoparticle comprising:

• a phase change material constituting an inner core of said hybrid nanoparticle, and
• a polymer shell embedded with nanoparticles, said polymer shell encapsulating the phase change material, wherein the average diameter of the hybrid nanoparticle is from about 10 nanometers to about 1000 nanometers, and wherein the average diameter of the embedded nanoparticles is from about 1 nanometer to about 20 nanometers.

A heat transfer fluid containing suspended hybrid nanoparticles, said hybrid nanoparticles comprising:

• a phase change material,
• a polymer shell embedded with nanoparticles, said polymer shell encapsulating the phase change material, wherein the average diameter of the hybrid nanoparticle is from about 10 nanometers to about 100 nanometers, and wherein the average diameter of the embedded nanoparticles is from about 1 nanometer to about 20 nanometers.