Toward improved engine performance with crumpled nitrogen-doped graphene based water–ethylene glycol coolant

•Synthesizing wrinkled crumpled nitrogen-doped graphene with high surface area.•Functionalization analysis with XPS, Raman and TEM.•Investigation of thermo-physical and electrical properties.•Investigation of the forced convective heat transfer.

Crumpled nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheet (CNDG) is considered a promising carbon-based nanosheet due to its high surface area, superior electrical, thermal and mechanical properties. Herein, CNDG is first prepared and tested as an additive for preparing a new engine coolant. The prepared two-dimensional CNDG feature high electrical conductivity, excellent thermal conductivity and heat transfer properties, permitting the CNDG-based water-ethylene glycol coolants to exhibit excellent Mouromtseff number, electrical properties and heat transfer performance for all temperatures and weight concentrations in a car radiator. Further, steady-state forced convective heat transfer experiments have been performed to evaluate the cooling capabilities of the prepared coolants.