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Preparation, characterization, viscosity, and thermal conductivity of nitrogen-doped graphene aqueous nanofluids

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Abstract

Nanofluids perform a crucial role in the development of newer technologies ideal for industrial purposes. In this study, Nitrogen-doped graphene (NDG) nanofluids, with varying concentrations of nanoparticles (0.01, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06 wt%) were prepared using the two-step method in a 0.025 wt% Triton X-100 (as a surfactant) aqueous solution as a base. Stability, zeta potential, thermal conductivity, viscosity, specific heat, and electrical conductivity of nanofluids containing NDG particles were studied. The stability of the nanofluids was investigated by UV–vis over a time span of 6 months and concentrations remain relatively constant while the maximum relative concentration reduction was 20 %. The thermal conductivity of nanofluids was increased with the particle concentration and temperature, while the maximum enhancement was about 36.78 % for a nanoparticle loading of 0.06 wt%. These experimental results compared with some theoretical models including Maxwell and Nan’s models and observed a good agreement between Nan’s model and the experimental results. Study of the rheological properties of NDG nanofluids reveals that it followed the Newtonian behaviors, where viscosity decreased linearly with the rise of temperature. It has been observed that the specific heat of NDG nanofluid reduced gradually with the increase of concentration of nanoparticles and temperature. The electrical conductivity of the NDG nanofluids enhanced significantly due to the dispersion of NDG in the base fluid. This novel type of fluids demonstrates an outstanding potential for use as innovative heat transfer fluids in medium-temperature systems such as solar collectors.

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Abbreviations

CNT:

Carbon nanotube

c p :

Specific heat

c p,nf :

Specific heat capacities of nanofluid

c p,np :

Specific heat capacities of nanoparticle

c p,bf :

Specific heat capacities of base fluid

EG:

Ethylene glycol

k bf :

Thermal conductivity based fluid

k nf :

Thermal conductivity nanofluids

k p :

Thermal conductivity of the particle

MWNTs:

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes

NDG:

Nitrogen-doped graphene

FESEM:

Field emission scanning electron microscopy

SWNTs:

Single-walled carbon nanotubes

TEM:

Transmission electron microscope

t:

Time

wt%:

Weight percentage

XRD:

X-ray diffraction

2D:

Two-dimensional

ϕ :

Volume fraction

ρ nf :

Densities of nanofluid

ρ np :

Densities of nanoparticles

ρ bf :

Densities of base fluid,

ɛ :

Molar absorptivity, L (mol−1 cm−1)

μ :

Electrophoretic mobility

η :

Viscosity

D :

Dielectric constant of the liquid in the boundary layer

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Acknowledgements

This research work has been financially supported by High Impact Research (MOHE-HIR) grant UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/ENG/21-(D000021-16001), UMRG grant RP012D-13AET. The author wishes to thank the Bright Sparks unit (University of Malaya) for additional financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering and Advanced Material Research Center, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Mohammad Mehrali, Sara Tahan Latibari, Mehdi Mehrali & Hendrik Simon Cornelis Metselaar

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Emad Sadeghinezhad, Hussein Togun, M. N. M. Zubir & S. N. Kazi

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Thi-Qar, 64001, Nassiriya, Iraq

    Hussein Togun

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  1. Mohammad Mehrali
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Mehrali, M., Sadeghinezhad, E., Tahan Latibari, S. et al. Preparation, characterization, viscosity, and thermal conductivity of nitrogen-doped graphene aqueous nanofluids. J Mater Sci 49, 7156–7171 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-014-8424-8

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