Application of SAXS to the study of particle-size-dependent thermal conductivity in silica nanofluids

作者：Chen Gang^*; Yu Wenhua; Singh Dileep; Cookson David; Routbort Jules

来源：Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2008, 10(7): 1109-1114.

DOI：10.1007/s11051-007-9347-y

• nanofluid
• thermal conductivity
• size effect
• interface
• SAXS
• silica colloids
• nanoparticles
• dispersion

Knowledge of the size and distribution of nanoparticles in solution is critical to understanding the observed enhancements in thermal conductivity and heat transfer of nanofluids. We have applied smallangle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to the characterization of SiO(2) nanoparticles (10-30 nm) uniformly dispersed in a water-based fluid using the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory. Size distributions for the suspended nanoparticles were derived by fitting experimental data to an established model. Thermal conductivity of the SiO(2) nanofluids was also measured, and the relation between the average particle size and the thermal conductivity enhancement was established. The experimental data contradict models based on fluid interfacial layers or Brownian motion but support the concept of thermal resistance at the liquid-particle interface.

• 出版日期2008-10