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Purpose This study aims to study the mixed convection flow and heat transfer of Al2O3-Cu/water hybrid nanofluid over a vertical plate. Governing equations for conservation of mass, momentum and energy for the hybrid nanofluid over a vertical flat plate are introduced. Design/methodology/approach The similarity transformation approach is used to transform the set of partial differential equations into a set of non-dimensional ordinary differential equations. Finite-deference with collocation method is used to integrate the governing equations for the velocity and temperature profiles. Findings The results show that dual solutions exist for the case of opposing flow over the plate. Linear stability analysis was performed to identify a stable solution. The stability analysis shows that the lower branch of the solution is always unstable, while the upper branch of the solution is always stable. The results of boundary layer analysis are reported for the various volume fractions of composite nanoparticles and mixed convection parameter. The outcomes show that the composition of nanoparticles can notably influence the boundary layer flow and heat transfer profiles. It is also found that the trend of the variation of surface skin friction and heat transfer for each of the dual solution branches can be different. The critical values of the mixed convection parameter, λ, where the dual solution branches joint together, are also under the influence of the composition of hybrid nanoparticles. For instance, assuming a total volume fraction of 5 per cent for the mixture of Al2O3 and Cu nanoparticles, the critical value of mixing parameter of λ changes from −3.1940 to −3.2561 by changing the composition of nanofluids from Al2O3 (5 per cent) + Cu (0%) to Al2O3 (2.5%) + Cu (2.5 per cent). Originality/value The mixed convection stability analysis and heat transfer study of hybrid nanofluids for a stagnation-point boundary layer flow are addressed for the first time. The introduced hybrid nanofluid model and similarity solution are new and of interest in both mathematical and physical points of view.

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