Open AccessSilver Nanowires Contained Nanofluids with Enhanced Optical Absorption and Thermal Transportation Properties
Author(s) -
Zhu Dahai,
Huang Guiwen,
Zhang Liye,
He Yan,
Xie Huaqing,
Yu Wei
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
energy and environmental materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2575-0356
DOI - 10.1002/eem2.12027
Subject(s) - nanofluid , materials science , photothermal therapy , thermal conductivity , ethylene glycol , energy conversion efficiency , viscosity , heat transfer , absorption (acoustics) , nanofluids in solar collectors , nanowire , nanotechnology , thermal , chemical engineering , optoelectronics , composite material , nanoparticle , thermodynamics , physics , photovoltaic thermal hybrid solar collector , engineering
Two kinds of silver nanowires (100 nm in diameter, 20 μm and 100 μm in length) are prepared. The thermo‐physical characteristics, viscosity, and photothermal conversion performance of the silver nanowires (Ag NW s) contained ethylene glycol nanofluids are investigated in detail. It is found that thermal conductivity of 100 μm Ag NW s contained nanofluids is higher than that of 20 μm Ag NW s with the same diameters of 100 nm. Viscosity test shows that the nanofluid is a Newtonian fluid, and the longer silver nanowires, the greater viscosity. In addition, photothermal conversion efficiency of silver nanowires contained nanofluid is studied. We can observe that the 100 μm Ag NW s contained nanofluid has a higher photothermal conversion efficiency than that containing 20 μm Ag NW s. Moreover, we find that there is a certain correlation between heat transfer and photothermal conversion of nanofluid. It demonstrates that the high heat transfer property of nanofluid will benefit for its photothermal conversion efficiency and the mechanism is proposed. This work provides a new idea to improve photothermal conversion efficiency. We can choose materials with high thermal conductivity and strong light absorption ability to enhance the photothermal conversion performance of nanofluids.