Novel nanofluids based on mesoporous silica for enhanced heat transfer

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 13; no. 11; pp. 6201 - 6206
• Main Authors: Nikkam, N., Saleemi, M., Toprak, M. S., Li, S., Muhammed, M., Haghighi, E. B., Khodabandeh, R., Palm, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.11.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Heat transfer; Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Liquids; Materials Science; Mesoporous Silica; Nanocomposites; Nanofluid; Nanofluids; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology; Optical Devices; Optics; Particle size; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physicochemical properties; Silica; Silicon dioxide; Special Issue: Nanostructured Materials 2010; Thermal conductivity; Viscosity; Zeta potential; Viscosity; Thermal conductivity; Nanofluid; Colloids; Mesoporous silica
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-011-0404-1

Nanofluids, which are liquids with engineered nanometer-sized particles suspensions, have drawn remarkable attraction from the researchers because of their enormous potential to enhance the efficiency in heat-transfer fluids. In the present study, water-based calcined mesoporous silica nanofluids were prepared and characterized. The commercial mesoporous silica (MPSiO 2 ) nanoparticles were dispersed in deionized water by means of pH adjustment and ultrasonic agitation. MPSiO 2 nanoparticles were observed to have an average particle size of 350 ± 100 nm by SEM analysis. The concentration of MPSiO 2 was varied between 1 and 6 wt%. The physicochemical properties of nanofluids were characterized using various techniques, such as particle size analyzer, zeta-potential meter, TEM, and FT-IR. The thermal conductivity was measured by Transient Plane Source (TPS) method, and nanofluids showed a higher thermal conductivity than the base liquid for all the tested concentrations.