Mixed-dimensional nanofluids: Synergistic thermal enhancement using 2D and 1D materials

Excessive heat generation is a common problem in automobiles due to wear and tear of working parts. A suitable heat transfer system is required to avoid stalling automobiles due to the large quantity of heat generated. Liquids like water and ethylene glycol (EG) serve as a coolant by reducing generated heat. To further increase the effectiveness of these coolants, nanofluids which contain nanosized particles dispersed in base fluid like water, ethylene glycol, or a mixture of these two, can be used. In the present work, hybrid nanofluids using Ti₃C₂ (MXene) (2D) and functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (F-MWCNTs) (1D) nanocomposites are prepared. The prepared material is characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) for structural analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) for morphological and elemental analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for identifying functional groups. The suitability of the prepared nanofluids is tested for heat transfer application by measuring the thermal conductivity and viscosity. The long-term stability of the nanofluids is verified by zeta potential measurement. The addition of the dispersant to the water has shown an enhanced thermal conductivity (about 10.83% at room temperature and 96.76% at 50 °C) while having lower viscosity compared to the base fluid (water), confirming the suitability for heat transfer applications.