Enhanced thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity of carbon nanotubes ionanofluids

摘要

Ionanofluids represent a new and innovative class of heat transfer fluids which possess fascinating thermophysical properties. They are designable and fine-tunable through their base ionic liquids. Experimental results on effective thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity of ionanofluids as a function of temperature and concentration of multi-wall carbon nanotubes in several ionic liquids are presented. Results showed that ionanofluids exhibit superior thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity compared to those of their base ionic liquids and they further increase with the concentration of carbon nanotubes. Although the enhancement of the effective thermal conductivity of ionanofluids was found to be independent of temperature, the specific heat capacity increases significantly with increasing temperature in the range of 60-90℃. Interaction between ionic liquid ions and dispersed nanotubes is believed to be one of the key factors for the enhanced thermal conductivity of ionanofluids.