Optical, rheological, dielectric, and electrical properties of multiple oxides nanosuspended glycerol based semiconductor hybrid nanofluids

Abstract

Semiconductor hybrid nanofluids (SHNFs) of multiple hybrid nano oxides (TiO2 + ZnO, TiO2 + Al2O3, TiO2 + SiO2, ZnO + Al2O3, and ZnO + SiO2) dispersed at fixed concentration (0.01 wt/wt%) in glycerol (Gly) fluid were prepared through solution mixing and probe ultrasonic cavitation process. These formulated SHNFs (i.e., TiO2 + ZnO/Gly, TiO2 + Al2O3/Gly, TiO2 + SiO2/Gly, ZnO + Al2O3/Gly, and ZnO + SiO2/Gly) were characterized by employing an ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectrophotometer (wavelength range 200 – 800 nm), rheometer (shear rate range 1.32 – 5.28 s−1), and precision inductance–capacitance–resistance (LCR) meter (frequency range 50 Hz – 1 MHz). The dependency of UV–vis absorbance on the equal weight amount combinations of semiconductive and insulating nanosuspended hybrid oxides for these SHNFs was explored and analyzed for energy band gaps which showed strongly ruled by the wide band gap semiconductor TiO2 and ZnO materials. Dielectric permittivity, electrical conductivity, impedance, and electric modulus spectra of these SHNF materials were reported at 298.15 K and confirmed the influence of nanosuspended hybrids on the dielectric polarizations and relaxation behaviour. Dynamic viscosity and shear stress study with the shear rate explained the Newtonian behaviour of these SHNF materials. The multi-functionality of these novel SHNFs for the advances in soft condensed matter device/system technologies including optoelectronic, photovoltaic, UV-blocking, sensing, wavelength filtering, nanodielectric, electrical insulator, and thermal energy and mass transporter were demonstrated.