A computational methodology for designing ionic liquids (ILs) with an enhanced water absorption capacity to be used in absorption-refrigeration systems is presented here. It is based on increasing the hydrogen bond (HB)-acceptor ability of the anion and combining it with a cation that presents a weak cation-anion interaction. Employing this strategy, we identified and prepared three novel dianionic ILs with an enhanced water absorption capacity, larger than LiBr. ; This work was financed by national funding from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), European Union, QREN, FEDER and COMPETE through the projects PTDC/QUI-QUI/ 121520/2010, PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2013 and PEst-C/EQB/ LA0020/2013. Kiki A. Kurnia acknowledges FCT for the postdoctoral grant SFRH/BPD/88101/2012.