Development of zinc oxide-multi-walled carbon nanotube hybrid nanofluid for energy-efficient heat transfer application: A thermal lens study

Abstract

This paper addresses the need for developing an energy-efficient hybrid nanofluid with zinc oxide–multi-walled carbon nanotube (ZnO-MWCNT) for overcoming the bottleneck of efficient heat transfer in thermal systems. The concentration-dependent thermal diffusivity modifications are analyzed using the highly sensitive mode mismatched thermal lens technique. The hybrid composite is prepared by the solid-state mixing and annealing of a pure multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and zinc oxide (ZnO), synthesized by the solution combustion method. The composite formation is studied by structural, morphological, and optical characterization techniques. Among the three nanofluids ZnO, MWCNT, and ZnO-MWCNT, the composite exhibits a drastic enhancement in thermal diffusivity at a lower solid volume fraction of 0.047 mg/ml containing 0.009 mg/ml of MWCNT. All the nanofluids show an optimum concentration beyond which the thermal diffusivity decreases with the nanoparticle concentration. Thus, this study suggests the potential application of ZnO-MWCNT hybrid nanofluids in thermal system design to enhance internal combustion engines' efficiency during cold-start.