Formation of a nanostructured film at the “hydrocarbon — graphene nanofluid” interface

Abstract

The interaction mechanisms between graphene nanoparticles (GN) and oil molecules are crucial for successful oil recovery. More than a hundred studies appear in the press each year showing the effectiveness of using nanofluids based on graphene-like nanoparticles to enhance oil recovery in various reservoirs. Increased oil recovery with nanofluid injection is explained by changes in wettability, reduction of interfacial tension and changes in viscosity. Therefore, knowledge of the interaction mechanisms between graphene nanoparticles and hydrocarbons is an urgent task of modern science, both fundamental and applied. A comprehensive study of the interaction of graphene nanoparticles and hydrocarbons was carried out in order to understand the mechanisms that affect the formation of microheterophase state at the interface of hydrocarbons and graphene nanofluids (GNF). Using the methods of X-ray analysis it was found that the structure of the microheterophase state is a nanocrystalline film. The paper presents the results of the film formation at the “hydrocarbon — graphene nanofluid” interface. It was found that both slow and fast growth of nanostructured films could be observed under different modes of heat sinking from the interface. At fast heat sinking a slow growth of the film with the formation of fractal structures of Mandelbrot set type is observed. With slow heat dissipation, rapid film growth is observed with the formation of a continuous homogeneous structure which is not a fractal.