Probing the thermal resistance of solid-liquid interfaces in nanofluids with molecular dynamics

Carrillo-Berdugo, I., Navas, J. and Grau-Crespo, R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8845-1719 (2024) Probing the thermal resistance of solid-liquid interfaces in nanofluids with molecular dynamics. The Journal of Chemical Physics, 160 (1). 014706. ISSN 0021-9606 doi: 10.1063/5.0177616

Abstract/Summary

The significance of the interfacial thermal resistance in the thermal conductivity of nanofluids is not well understood, in part because of the absence of measurements of this quantity in nanofluids of interest. Here we study the interfacial thermal resistance for metal-oil nanofluids of interest as heat-transfer fluids for concentrating solar power, using density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations. Insights on the role of chemical interactions in the interfacial thermal resistance are revealed. The results presented here showcase a general picture in which the stronger the chemical interactions between species at interfaces, the lower the associated interfacial thermal resistance. The implications towards nanofluid design are discussed. We show that, for this important family of metal-oil nanofluids, the interfacial thermal resistance values are low enough so that it is possible to afford a reduction in particle size, minimising stability and rheology issues while still offering enhancement in the effective thermal conductivity with respect to the base fluid.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-pure-test.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/114340
Identification Number/DOI	10.1063/5.0177616
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Chemistry Central Services
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