This research aims to study the thermal and hydraulic attributes as well as energy efficiency of a new ecofriendly nanofluid including functionalized graphene nanoplatelets in a mini heat sink with three different pin fins. The circular, triangular and drop-shaped pin fins are investigated and compared with each other. The effects of nanoparticle fraction and flow velocity on the thermal resistance, temperature uniformity, convective heat transfer coefficient, maximum surface temperature, average surface temperature, pressure loss and pumping power are assessed. Increasing the concentration or velocity reduces the temperature on the heated wall, and also improves the temperature distribution uniformity. At both constant velocity and invariant pumping power, the heat sink fitted with the circular pin fins leads to the best performance while that equipped with the triangular pin fins results in the worst efficiency. In addition, the Figure of Merit (FoM) is greater than 1 for all conditions, which proves that the nanoparticle suspension possesses a greater merit to be employed as the coolant in the heat sinks compared to the base fluid. (C) 2019 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.