The present invention is directed to the use of an ionic liquid as a dispersant or solvent and as a heat sink in a composition for generating oxygen, the composition further comprising at least one oxygen source formulation, and at least one metal oxide compound formulation, wherein the oxygen source formulation comprises a peroxide compound, the ionic liquid is in the liquid state at least in a temperature range from -10 DEG C to +50 DEG C, and the metal oxide compound formulation comprises a metal oxide compound which is an oxide of one single metal or of two or more different metals, said metal(s) being selected from the metals of groups 2 to 14 of the periodic table of the elements.