Tuning the Dynamic Thermal Parameters of Nanocarbon Ionanofluids: A Photopyroelectric Study

Abstract

The present work delineates the tailoring of the thermal effusivity and diffusivity of the novel class of heat transfer fluids—ionanofluids—by the incorporation of nanocarbons like diesel soot (DS), camphor soot (CS), carbon nanotubes (CN), and graphene (GR). When the thermal diffusivity delivers information on the thermal energy propagation, the thermal effusivity concerns the energy exchange at the interface, enabling energy-efficient thermal system design. The nanocarbons are subjected to morphological characterisation by field emission scanning electron microscopy. Fourier-transform infrared and Raman spectroscopic analyses confirm functional groups and vibrational bands. The microcrystalline size and graphiticity are also understood from the Raman spectrum. Ionanofluids prepared by dispersing nanocarbons into an ionic liquid base 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium methyl sulfate (BMMS) are analysed by nondestructive photopyroelectric calorimetry (PPE). The PPE analysis of ionanofluids demonstrates that nanocarbons influence thermal parameters in the base fluid, with soot ionanofluids exhibiting increased thermal effusivity and diffusivity due to their various carbon allotropic composition. This study underscores the importance of selecting the appropriate carbon allotrope for tailoring ionanofluids’ thermal properties, providing insights into manipulating these properties for enhanced performance across various industrial applications.