Percolation network dynamicity and sheet dynamics governed viscous behavior of polydispersed graphene nanosheet suspensions

Abstract

The viscosity of polydispersed graphene nanosheet (5 nm–1.5 μm) suspensions (GNS) and its behavior with temperature and concentration have been experimentally determined. A physical mechanism for the enhanced viscosity over the base fluids has been proposed for the polydispersed GNSs. Experimental data reveal that enhancement of viscosity for GNSs lies in between those of carbon nanotube suspensions (CNTSs) and nano-alumina suspensions, indicating the hybrid mechanism of percolation (like CNTs) and Brownian motion-assisted sheet dynamics (like alumina particles). Sheet dynamics and percolation, along with a proposed percolation network dynamicity factor, have been used to determine a dimensionally consistent analytic model to accurately determine and explain the viscosity of polydispersed GNSs. The model also provides insight into the mechanisms of viscous behavior of different dilute nanoparticle suspensions. The model has been found to be in agreement with the GNS experimental data, and even for CNT (diameter 20 nm, length 10 μm) and nano-alumina (45 nm) suspensions.